Strategic Plan 2013-2015
Governing Board of Directors Maria Gutzeit, President B. J. Atkins, Vice President Kathy Colley Daniel Mortensen Lynne Plambeck
District Management Stephen L. Cole, General Manager Michael Alvord, Director of Operations Karin Russell, Director of Finance/Admin. & Board Secretary
Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
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Table of Contents Message from the Board of Directors and General Manager.....................................3 Strategic Plan Overview....................................................................................................4 Strategic Planning Process................................................................................................6 Mission Statement and Core Values................................................................................7 Vision Statement................................................................................................................8 Strategic Elements and Goals..........................................................................................8 Communications...........................................................................................................9
Resource Management.............................................................................................11
Operations and Asset Management.......................................................................13
Organizational Efficiency...........................................................................................15
Financial Management.............................................................................................17
History of Newhall County Water District.......................................................................19 Appendix A Definitions....................................................................................................21 Appendix B Plan Development & Continuation Process............................................22
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Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
A Message From the Board of Directors and General Manager Dear Customers, We are pleased to present Newhall County Water District’s 2013-2015 Strategic Plan. For more than 60 years, Newhall County Water District has served its customers with quality drinking water at a reasonable cost. True to the District’s history, we have taken a proactive approach in continuing to meet the changing needs of this community. In service to our customers, the Board of Directors and District Management have focused on a living Strategic Plan presenting five strategic goals to address the current and future challenges and opportunities facing our District. This Plan also identifies the necessary measures to ensure the District remains productive and successful. Through this Plan, the Newhall County Water District Board of Directors and our dedicated employees reaffirm our pledge to provide excellent water service to you, the residents and businesses of the Santa Clarita Valley.
Stephen L. Cole, Maria Gutzeit, General Manager President of the Board of Directors for Newhall County Water District
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Strategic Plan Overview
Newhall County Water District (District) is pleased to present its 2013-2015 Strategic Plan. This Plan is a living document, used to guide our operations and decision-making, while maintaining a steadfast commitment to strong fiscal stewardship.
business processes more efficiently and effectively, and to improve our customers’ experience. This Plan adopts the motto of “doing more with less and in a more competitive environment”. We are committed to responsible stewardship of resources and financial accountability of every dollar for the benefit of our customers. This has required some innovative policymaking and implementation. For example, we have been able to reduce staff by 13 percent, mostly through attrition, and the District is within a few years of implementing a pay-as you-go funding policy.
The strategies, objectives and goals of this Plan will guide the future of our District. Initiatives supporting our goals are contingent on appropriate funding levels. This Plan identifies actions, activities, and planning efforts which are currently active and needed for continued success in operations and management of the District. We are committed to stretching every dollar for the benefit of our customers. We are committed to utilizing developing technology to cut costs, manage internal
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The District has been aggressively replacing its infrastructure, but still, a large portion of our infrastructure is more than 50 years old and will continue to degrade over time. Capital investments are required to upgrade, maintain and replace infrastructure. Environmental and regulatory requirements for treating water continue to be even more stringent and treatment technologies
Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
will continue to evolve. Costs of importing water have and are expected to continue increasing significantly over the next five years, a situation outside of NCWD’s control. The District continues to refine and streamline its water rate structure to assist its customers in achieving water use efficiency.
Newhall County Water District is a public agency, a Special District of the State of California. We provide water to more than 44,000 residents in portions of the City of Santa Clarita and unincorporated Los Angeles County communities, including Newhall, Canyon Country, Valencia and Castaic. The District traces its roots back to 1913, when it became the Santa Clarita Valley’s first public water utility. Our commitment is to continue to be an important part of the Santa Clarita Valley community, providing quality water and quality service to our customers.
The District is governed by a five-member Board of Directors elected by voters to four-year terms. Customers can find their Board member representative’s name and bio on the Newhall County Water District website (www.ncwd.org).
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Strategic Planning Process The following flow chart shows how Strategic Goals and resultant actions are linked to the Core Values, Mission and Vision of the District:
MISSION STATEMENT
VISION STATEMENT
CORE VALUES
STRATEGIC ISSUES/ ELEMENTS
STRATEGIC GOALS/ OBJECTIVES
WORK PLAN
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Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
D. Mission Statement and Core Values The Mission of NCWD is to provide quality water service at a reasonable cost by practicing careful stewardship of natural resources, utilizing innovative measures, and providing a quality working environment.
NCWD Core Values: • We are committed to meeting or exceeding every Federal and State standard for public health and safety. • We are committed to vigorously protecting the water supplies of the District from contamination or degradation and ensuring supply availability. • We are committed to an efficient and cost effective operation. • We are committed to prudent management of the District’s infrastructure and resources. • We are committed to providing excellent customer service including public information and outreach. • We are committed to long range planning. • We are committed to responsible regional and community relationships. • We are committed to conducting our business in an open, honest and ethical manner.
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E. Vision Statement The Vision of NCWD is to provide long term availability of high quality water through leadership and collaborative partnerships.
F. Strategic Elements and Goals Strategic Elements and Strategic Goals represent the vital areas of the District’s operation, planning, and management. Strategic Elements are derived from the foundational Mission, Core Value, and Vision statements of the District. They are linked to action through Strategic Goals within the five-year period serving to assure important areas of the District are well supported and moved forward per Board direction. Strategic Elements and supportive Strategic Goals are presented in the following five (5) sections. The District staff creates an annual “Work Plan” to accomplish each goal. The Strategic Elements are:
Communications
Financial Management
Resource Management
Operations and Asset Management
Organizational Efficiency
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Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
Communications
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stablish a wide range of beneficial relationships to strengthen the District by promoting and sustaining effective communication between the District, its customers the community and stakeholders.
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Customer Relations • Reach out to understand and anticipate customers needs • Develop and implement programs which build relationships with our customers meeting their needs Community and Stakeholder Relations • Ensure permanence of Assembly Bill 134 and the importance of separation between wholesale and retail operations • Facilitate open and transparent two-way communication between the District and the community • Actively participate in leadership roles in professional, industry and community organizations • Pursue mutually beneficial partnerships on common issues to support the District’s goals and objectives Governmental Relations • Maintain positive relationships with local, city, county, state and other inter-governmental agencies • Pursue legislative advocacy
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Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
Resource Management
M anage water resources and pursue new water sources to insure a sustainable supply by strategic collaboration, using sound water efficiency methods, evaluating technical information and carefully monitoring supply and demand projections.
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Manage NCWD’s Water Efficiency Target (WET) Programs • Continue to develop and promote water efficiency policies • Implement a water efficiency strategy to achieve compliance with 20x2020 legislation Integrated Regional Water Resource Planning • Participate in regional organizations to assist in developing programs and projects enhancing the health of the local water resources Water Supply Reliability Program • Vigorously protect District’s historical usage of local groundwater • Maintain and further develop a diversified portfolio of water supplies, including; imported water; local groundwater; recycled water; water use efficiency; supplemental water; and alternative water supplies • Partner with other SCV water suppliers to ensure necessary water banking and supplemental water programs Water Quality Monitoring and Protection Program • Actively pursue the protection and enhancement of local groundwater resources • Achieve all water quality standards
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Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
Operations and Asset Management
C
ost effectively maintain, replace and construct infrastructure to provide a safe and reliable water supply for current and future customers by using quality materials, progressive methods, and continuing preventive maintenance programs.
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Plan, design and construct facilities using the most efficient, innovative and reliable technologies. • Focus on implementing innovative design and technological solutions to support achievement of all strategic objectives Maintain a Highly Effective Asset Management Program • Maintain and fund Long Range Capital Improvement Program (CIP) • Provide preventative routine maintenance to the District’s infrastructure • Identify and catalog the District’s critical assets and systematically develop a replacement and restoration program
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Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
Organizational Efficiency
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reate and maintain an organizational culture promoting innovation, teamwork, integrity, leadership and efficiency. Ensure employment and retention of high quality, motivated workforce by providing competitive compensation and benefits, safe workplace, and opportunities for training and development.
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Employee training, career development and retention • Maintain a workforce planning and career development program providing organization staffing assessments, education and training • Commitment to be a leader in developing sustainable solutions for resolving long-term benefit liabilities Establish a clear policy for District’s standards of work achievement, work environment, safe work practices and personnel evaluation • Communicate work expectations and quality standards on a regular basis utilizing performance feedback sessions, coaching and other methods • Ensure appropriate training for Board of Directors and staff • Periodically review and update the District Strategic Plan
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Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
Financial Management
M
anage operating revenues and expenses to maximize value to the customer. Monitor short and long-term finances to provide appropriate financial data for making decisions while providing a transparent commitment to financial excellence.
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Commitment to financial excellence • Comply with accounting and financial reporting regulations • Employ performance based budgeting which continues ensuring revenue covers all the District’s financial obligations • Maintain a strong financial position providing for short and long-term District needs • Maintain a reserve fund providing for the variables associated with District funding requirements Financial transparency and accountability to customers and public • Assure critical financial issues impacting customers are adequately communicated to the public • Provide timely financial reporting to the Board and the public • Manage and invest cash to maximize yield, minimize risk and meet cash flow requirements Long range planning • Manage revenue programs to provide for replacement, system betterment, and meeting regulatory requirements • Ensure developer agreements are supporting the funding of long-term master plans • Ensure budget has addressed and is providing for a long range CIP program
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Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
History of Newhall County Water District In 2013, Newhall County Water District celebrated 60 years of service in the Santa Clarita Valley. However, the District’s roots can be traced back one century. In fact, the origins of the present day water district begin 1913 when the former Newhall Water Company was created. At that time, it used six underground wells to supply less than 300 people in the southernmost district of the Santa Clarita Valley. The present day Newhall County Water District was officially formed in January 13, 1953, by a vote of the people who decided it was in the best interest of the community to have a public agency operating the water system. The private Newhall Water Company was sold for $130,000, and is now governed by five publicly elected directors accountable directly to the District’s customers.
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Today, the District covers approximately a 34-square mile service area and serves more than 44,000 residents in Newhall, Castaic, Pinetree and Tesoro. Each year, the District delivers more than 3 billion gallons of water – or approximately 10,000 acre-feet, the standard measurement for water. Importantly, nearly 60 percent of this water is sourced from local groundwater wells. The District maintains an annual budget of approximately $11 million for operating costs and $2 million for capital improvements.
Under the guidance of this Strategic Plan, the District is well suited to provide a safe, reliable and cost-effective service to the local community for another 100 years.
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Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
Appendix A Definitions 1. Mission Statement: A declaration of an organization’s purpose. Ideally, all activities of the District should be in support of the Mission Statement. 2. Vision Statement: Describes the program and its potential impact in the future. A District’s Vision Statement provides a framework to achieve long range goals through strategic action plans. 3. Core Values: Statements of principal beliefs to which the District and its employees are committed. Activities and the general business of the District should be conducted with the Core Values in mind. 4. Strategic Issues/Elements: These are the broad, primary areas of District operations, planning, and management that need to be addressed and supported by Strategic Goals/Objectives to ensure optimum progress. 5. Strategic Goals/Objectives: Strategic Actions are specific and measurable activities or targets addressing the strategic elements. 6. Work Plan: Day-to-day actions and projects (not covered in detail in the Strategic Plan) designed so the Strategic Goals are accomplished.
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Appendix B Plan Development and Continuation Process
In 2005, the Board of Directors retained BHI Management Consulting to facilitate and coordinate the initial Strategic Plan development. BHI first gathered input from District employees at two meetings. The following items were discussed; mission statement, core values, current and future issues. The Board supported this process as a way to allow all employees to participate in the foundation of the Strategic Plan. BHI then asked the Board of Directors to complete a questionnaire that was used to begin defining the framework for the desired plan elements for the District. Two Board/upper management workshops were conducted to develop
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the following plan elements: Mission Statement, Core Values, Strategic Elements, and initial work on Strategic Goals. A steering committee consisting of the Board president and upper management worked with BHI to complete the list of Strategic Goals and refine the Plan prior to presentation to the full Board for review and final approval. Since then the District’s Plan has been proactively updated on a frequent basis by the District’s Board and staff. The Plan will be continually monitored and reviewed.
Newhall County Water District Strategic Plan 2013
Tel. (661) 259-3610 23780 North Pine Street • Newhall, CA 91321
