Irrigation District to Sponsor Spartans' Solar-Powered Boat

In the name of water conservation, the will again sponsor the Spartans in the Solar Cup boat-building competition.

The board of directors voted unanimously Tuesday at its monthly meeting to match last year's contribution. The board will donate $1,000 to helpstudents enter Solar Cup 2012, which is organized by the Metropolitan Water District.

Teams build a single-seat boat powered by the sun and race them in a one of the district's reservoirs and promote water conservation. Solar Cup 2011 was held at Lake Skinner in Temecula and featured 42 teams from the six counties that comprise the Southern California region.

"Teams are required to submit three technical reports, create a water-conservation public service announcement, and present a water- conservation activity at the ... event," according to the MWD.

Budget Approval

Also at the meeting, the board unanimously approved a $4.5 million budget for fiscal year 2011-12.

Last year's budget was $4.9 million, which yielded a $500,000 surplus, said Board President Richard Meyers, who anticipated a "break even" financial course. Projected costs and expenditures range within 1 percent of the current $4.5 million allotment. Water consumption is down, so the district's revenue is in turn less than last year, Meyers said. The district serves 40 percent of La Cañada Flintridge residents and receives more than 90 percent of its water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, according to its website.

Reservoir Storage Site

The district would like to enhance its storage capability in the west side of its coverage area, Meyers said. Officials determined a site previously considered to host the facility became unusable after the 2009 Station Fire, which ravaged foothill communities.

But District Manager Doug Caister reported a lack of response from the National Forest Service regarding a letter he sent in June that inquired about the availability of federally owned land. Board members urged Caister to press Forest Service personnel with phone calls.

Escalante Drive Fence Request

The board denied a request from a resident of the city's northwest section regarding a 70-foot chain-link fence with screening material, the construction of which he asked the district to fund. The homeowner, whose property borders an Irrigation District facility, alerted officials of privacy concerns after it removed a wall that used to be located in the area.