Homeless people are barred from living along regional waterways owned by Santa Clara County’s largest water agency — and could be charged with an infraction or misdemeanor and face up to $500 fines if they’re caught camping there. The Valley Water board of directors voted 6-1 on Tuesday to enact the Water Resource Protection Zones...
Silicon Valley water agency addresses impact of homelessness
Santa Clara County’s largest water district is weighing how to address the hundreds of homeless people living along local waterways — including potential penalties for those camped on district land. Valley Water officials on Friday hosted the Unhoused People and Environment Summit featuring district staff, housing nonprofits and county officials to discuss challenges and how...
Silicon Valley water district candidates run for open seat
Self-proclaimed tech evangelist Bill Roth and former Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition leader Shiloh Ballard are competing for a seat on the Santa Clara Valley Water board of directors this November. Ballard and Roth are vying for the District 2 seat, the only competitive race, with Director Barbara Keegan terming out at the end of the year. Two other seats up...
Santa Clara water agency wins lawsuit against its director
Santa Clara Valley Water District has won its lawsuit against one of its directors who took thousands of pages of internal documents. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Ellen E. Williams has ordered Valley Water Director Rebecca Eisenberg to return a roughly 2,000-page report to Valley Water officials within five days. The report was the...
UPDATE: Silicon Valley water agency delays decision to fine homeless people
The penalization of homeless people living along regional waterways appears to be less imminent after leaders of Santa Clara County’s largest water agency delayed a policy on penalties and fines for later this year. The Valley Water board of directors on Tuesday postponed voting on a policy that poses $500 fines or up to 30...
Silicon Valley water supplier plans rate hikes
Santa Clara County residents could see higher water bills in the upcoming year, as one water agency looks for ways to cover costs. Valley Water, the region’s main water supplier, is proposing raising groundwater production charges on cities and private water retailers. The increase will be passed on to household ratepayers through local water companies such...
Silicon Valley agency freezes hiring amid deficit
Silicon Valley’s main water supplier is tightening its wallet in the face of a structural deficit and in an effort to keep water rates from rising. Santa Clara Valley Water District officials have frozen hiring for 72 job vacancies amid a $222 million budget deficit for the current fiscal year ending in June. The skyrocketing...
Silicon Valley water district sues one of its directors
The region’s largest taxpayer-funded water supplier is suing one of its own board directors weeks after they censured her. Santa Clara Valley Water District officials said they plan to file a lawsuit against Director Rebecca Eisenberg at the March 26 board meeting, but did not provide further details. Eisenberg’s colleagues censured her last month for...