Planned Town Hall Meeting on SB149

March 5, 2003

State Senator Bruce McPherson
15th District, State Senate
State Capitol Room 3076
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Senator McPherson,

The League of Women Voters of the Monterey Peninsula is very concerned about your planned town hall meeting on SB 149 (dissolution of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District). We have been informed that this meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday, March 13, 2003, at CSUMB from 7 to 9 p.m.

The purpose is to get community feedback on SB 149, but the only public notification will be through a press release to the media with the expectation that the media will announce the meeting. The location is inappropriate, not being within District boundaries, not centrally located, and inconvenient for many to attend.

The League believes that all views should be represented on the panel, not just those of the jurisdictions (cities) affected. As a signer of the ballot argument against dissolution, the League should be invited to be on such a panel, as well as representatives with other perspectives such as environmentalists, public process advocates, those with historical perspective on MPWMD, etc.

The point of a town hall meeting is to have honest and open exchange among parties with interests at stake in the subject, in a convenient location, with adequate notice.

Thank you for your timely attention to this issue.

Sincerely,

Beverly G. Bean, VMD
President, LWV of the Monterey Peninsula