Water issues coming to forefront in months ahead

By Sherri Lightner

It looks like we have six more weeks of winter in store. Unfortunately, winter on the West Coast may not add to the snow pack we need for our water supply. As a member of the Natural Resources and Culture Committee of the City Council, I plan to devote significant time and attention in the coming year to water issues.

San Diego - which is already under a Level 1 water emergency - may be facing a Level 2 emergency, including fines, by July 1, 2009. The city is looking at ways to allocate water for residential uses, and we hope you will share with us your ideas on this issue.

The mayor is conducting public workshops about water allocations on the evenings of Feb. 9, Feb. 10 and Feb. 12. We encourage you to attend the hearing on Tuesday the 10th from 6 to 7:30 pm at Rancho Penasquitos Branch Library, 13330 Salmon River Road.

For the times and locations of the other community workshops, please visit

www.sandiego.gov

The City Council is also actively seeking community input about the budget, including identifying funding priorities and areas where cuts should be made. This outreach includes Budget Committee hearings on Feb. 14, Feb. 21 and Feb. 26. I plan to attend the hearing on Feb. 14 from 9 am to noon at Mira Mesa Library, 8405 New Salem St., and I hope to see you there. For the times and locations of the other budget hearings, please visit

www.sandiego.gov

.

On Jan. 22, our office sponsored a University City Community Forum regarding the Dec. 8 military jet crash, and we were pleased with the turnout. Next, we are looking forward to receiving the accident report from the U.S. Marine Corps in late February, which we will make available to the public via our web site,

www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/cd1

.

Please contact me at (619) 236-6611 or

SherriLightner@sandiego.gov

if we can be of assistance, or if you would like to share an opinion or a helpful suggestion.

Sherri S. Lightner is the councilmember for the First District.