Water Management & Restrictions
MAINTENANCE:
Sierra Brooks is a metered system managed through Sierra County. For more information contact the Public Works Department PublicWorks publicworks@sierracounty.ca.gov or Current Coordinator: Bryan Davey bdavey@sierracounty.ca.gov. Billy Sturcke is the water system operator, and the person services the Sierra Brooks system.
Click here to see the Water Bond and Resolutions
Sierra County Department of Transportation
PO BOX 98, 101 Courthouse Sq.
Downieville, CA 95936
Ofc (530) 289-3201
Cell (530) 615-9730
Do not sent water payments to the HOA Office. Sierra County controls and maintains the water system, not the HOA. You can choose to use their online payment portal: https://go.utilitybilling.com/billing/SrvCustomerPortal/SierraCountyWater.
Water costs run $19.58 a month, for 59,288 gallons of water. Over usage costs $2.27 per 1000 gallons.
RESTRICTIONS:
Per Sierra County Guidelines, we are currently in the Phase I Water Conservation; the requirements are all voluntary. *** Water payments from metering are made to Sierra County, not the HOA. We do want to encourage compliance with the phase one restrictions for sure. This will help keep us from going to phase two mandatory restrictions.
Phase One – Voluntary. This is a voluntary water conservation program where property owners and residents served by the CSA, during all months of the year, are requested to practice and conduct outside irrigation/watering conservation. Irrigation of lawns and landscaping would be authorized on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays of each week for odd numbered addresses and on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays of each week for even numbered addresses. No outside watering would occur at any time on Mondays of any week during summer months defined as May through October of each year. There would be no watering for any dust control purposes and no irrigation of native landscaping. Outside irrigation during the authorized and stated days (odd or even numbered addresses) would be limited to the time periods between 5:00 a.m. through 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. No outside irrigation would be authorized during the hours before or after these stated hours of each day.
When in doubt.. 1, 2, 3. Watering restriction days are as follows:
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding a water issue contact the Association at (530) 993-4917 or: Department of Public Works & Transportation, PO Box 98, Downieville, CA 95936 | (530) 289-3201 or (530) 289-2828
Sierra Brooks is a metered system managed through Sierra County. For more information contact the Public Works Department PublicWorks publicworks@sierracounty.ca.gov or Current Coordinator: Bryan Davey bdavey@sierracounty.ca.gov. Billy Sturcke is the water system operator, and the person services the Sierra Brooks system.
Click here to see the Water Bond and Resolutions
Sierra County Department of Transportation
PO BOX 98, 101 Courthouse Sq.
Downieville, CA 95936
Ofc (530) 289-3201
Cell (530) 615-9730
Do not sent water payments to the HOA Office. Sierra County controls and maintains the water system, not the HOA. You can choose to use their online payment portal: https://go.utilitybilling.com/billing/SrvCustomerPortal/SierraCountyWater.
Water costs run $19.58 a month, for 59,288 gallons of water. Over usage costs $2.27 per 1000 gallons.
RESTRICTIONS:
Per Sierra County Guidelines, we are currently in the Phase I Water Conservation; the requirements are all voluntary. *** Water payments from metering are made to Sierra County, not the HOA. We do want to encourage compliance with the phase one restrictions for sure. This will help keep us from going to phase two mandatory restrictions.
Phase One – Voluntary. This is a voluntary water conservation program where property owners and residents served by the CSA, during all months of the year, are requested to practice and conduct outside irrigation/watering conservation. Irrigation of lawns and landscaping would be authorized on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays of each week for odd numbered addresses and on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays of each week for even numbered addresses. No outside watering would occur at any time on Mondays of any week during summer months defined as May through October of each year. There would be no watering for any dust control purposes and no irrigation of native landscaping. Outside irrigation during the authorized and stated days (odd or even numbered addresses) would be limited to the time periods between 5:00 a.m. through 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. No outside irrigation would be authorized during the hours before or after these stated hours of each day.
When in doubt.. 1, 2, 3. Watering restriction days are as follows:
- Even Property Addresses: Thursday & Sunday 5-10 am & 5-10 pm
- Odd Property Addresses: Tuesday & Saturday 5-10 am & 5-10 pm
- No watering on Monday, Wednesday & Friday!!
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding a water issue contact the Association at (530) 993-4917 or: Department of Public Works & Transportation, PO Box 98, Downieville, CA 95936 | (530) 289-3201 or (530) 289-2828
(PREVIOUSLY) Water Project Overview
Below is a response from Tim Beals in an effort to clear up any confusion or mis-information regarding the Sierra Brooks water project and what it would entail should it be approved.
Below is a response from Tim Beals in an effort to clear up any confusion or mis-information regarding the Sierra Brooks water project and what it would entail should it be approved.
The project is estimated at $2.8 million dollars. We negotiated a $600,000 outright grant so that left $2.2 million dollars to be funded by a USDA loan for a 40 year payback schedule and at an interest rate of 2.125%. We negotiated the interest rate down quite a bit from the first proposed rate and this new rate that we have locked into is very favorable to the property owners. The debt service to repay this loan over the 40 year period will be $18 per month per parcel within Sierra Brooks-whether or not the parcel is improved. This project is based upon the premise that everyone share equally in the debt service to repay the loan. The $18 is all that is needed per month to serve this debt service of $2.2 million dollars over the life of the loan. The $18 monthly assessment can only be implemented if the Sierra Brooks residents support the assessment in an election. If the residents reject this assessment, then we terminate the project and it is over. The County cannot just walk in an assess the residents...an election is required and the residents control the outcome...not the County. Now understand this project includes new mains to areas not currently served...new fire hydrants to replace the standpipes...a booster station near the substation to control pressures, particularly at the north end of the subdivision...a new well and pump station...a new water tank...meters installed for every service...an emergency generator for use during power outages...and a number of other improvements. The project is designed to cover the subdivision through its build-out in terms of supply and storage.
The final leg of this project is the increase in operation and maintenance costs. The existing assessment of $240 per year only generates around $65000 per year. This only covers 50% of our existing maintenance costs. Power bills alone exceed $25000 annually so add a part time water operator and all of the remaining costs that make up a reasonable operation and maintenance budget and you can see that it is significantly underfunded. So, this project will increase operation and maintenance costs and will require the maintenance and reading/billing for meters as well. At this point, we have designed a budget for operation and maintenance that will require additional funds as you can imagine. This budget would require each property to pay between $15 and $18 per month to support the increased costs. So, the third and final leg of the project financing would be an election to support a fee of $15 to $18 to cover the projected increased costs of operation and maintenance.
So putting all of this together. The existing assessment (no change proposed) is $240 per year ($20 per month)...the new assessment that will be based on an election will serve a debt service-loan payback requirement that will be $216 per year ($18 per month). This assessment will be covering the entire subdivision and the only way that this assessment can occur is with support of the residents and a successful election to impose the fee. The County CANNOT just arbitrarily impose nor raise this assessment. A new election is required by law if the assessment is ever to increase but it will not increase as it is affixed to the parcels and the debt and payback needs are a known quantity over the 40 year payback period. The operation and maintenance costs will require a second election to impose a monthly fee of $15 to $18 ($180 to $216 annually) to cover the increased operation and maintenance costs. Again, this fee needs the support of the residents and a successful election to implement it and it cannot be increased in the future without an election of the residents. So, in summary, the financial implications of this project to the residents is the sum total of $20 per month to serve the existing assessment...$18 per month to serve the loan payback...$15 to $18 per month to serve the increased operation and maintenance costs of the new project. A monthly water bill of $53 to $56 (sum total of the three assessments)!!! This is one of the lowest monthly water rates that I have ever become aware of, particularly when you are improving the system to a point that it becomes so reliable and capable for future years. The impact alone to property values and quality of life should be an overriding concern with these low monthly costs.
Anyway, that is my response in a nutshell so if you have more questions, let me know.
Tim Beals
The final leg of this project is the increase in operation and maintenance costs. The existing assessment of $240 per year only generates around $65000 per year. This only covers 50% of our existing maintenance costs. Power bills alone exceed $25000 annually so add a part time water operator and all of the remaining costs that make up a reasonable operation and maintenance budget and you can see that it is significantly underfunded. So, this project will increase operation and maintenance costs and will require the maintenance and reading/billing for meters as well. At this point, we have designed a budget for operation and maintenance that will require additional funds as you can imagine. This budget would require each property to pay between $15 and $18 per month to support the increased costs. So, the third and final leg of the project financing would be an election to support a fee of $15 to $18 to cover the projected increased costs of operation and maintenance.
So putting all of this together. The existing assessment (no change proposed) is $240 per year ($20 per month)...the new assessment that will be based on an election will serve a debt service-loan payback requirement that will be $216 per year ($18 per month). This assessment will be covering the entire subdivision and the only way that this assessment can occur is with support of the residents and a successful election to impose the fee. The County CANNOT just arbitrarily impose nor raise this assessment. A new election is required by law if the assessment is ever to increase but it will not increase as it is affixed to the parcels and the debt and payback needs are a known quantity over the 40 year payback period. The operation and maintenance costs will require a second election to impose a monthly fee of $15 to $18 ($180 to $216 annually) to cover the increased operation and maintenance costs. Again, this fee needs the support of the residents and a successful election to implement it and it cannot be increased in the future without an election of the residents. So, in summary, the financial implications of this project to the residents is the sum total of $20 per month to serve the existing assessment...$18 per month to serve the loan payback...$15 to $18 per month to serve the increased operation and maintenance costs of the new project. A monthly water bill of $53 to $56 (sum total of the three assessments)!!! This is one of the lowest monthly water rates that I have ever become aware of, particularly when you are improving the system to a point that it becomes so reliable and capable for future years. The impact alone to property values and quality of life should be an overriding concern with these low monthly costs.
Anyway, that is my response in a nutshell so if you have more questions, let me know.
Tim Beals
WATER UPDATE MARCH 2014
At this time we are encouraging all members to attend the next Quarterly Meeting to be held on March 13, 2014 at 7pm at the Sierra Brooks Lodge. During this meeting the Board will have a current update on the water project and will be available to answer any questions you may have regarding the next steps in this process. Below is a copy of the "Dear Neighbor" letter that was sent out back in 2013. It has been a while since the last major public water meeting so it is here only to serve as a refresher on where the Association and the Water Project stands. Again, if you have any questions please contact us (see our "Contact Information" page) or attend the next Quarterly Meeting!
July 31, 2013
PLEASE NOTE: The first round of ballots were expected to go out around August 2nd. However, due to some questions that arose at the last public water meeting they may be delayed. The Board is hard at work trying to resolve these concerns and will do their best to have the ballots out as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the office and leave a detailed voice mail and someone will get back to you ASAP.
Also, to clear up some confusion, there will be 3 items that will be voted on. The 1st will be on whether to updated the CC&R's, 2nd to convey a piece of our property to Fish & Game and last, the actual water project including figures for what the home owners would pay. We CAN NOT get to the last vote without passing the first 2 and once we get to the last vote, if you decide that you are not in favor of it passing, vote no. If the last item is voted against there will be no conveyance and no project.
Also, to clear up some confusion, there will be 3 items that will be voted on. The 1st will be on whether to updated the CC&R's, 2nd to convey a piece of our property to Fish & Game and last, the actual water project including figures for what the home owners would pay. We CAN NOT get to the last vote without passing the first 2 and once we get to the last vote, if you decide that you are not in favor of it passing, vote no. If the last item is voted against there will be no conveyance and no project.
Vote YES for the future of Sierra Brooks!
7 years ago the beginning of the water project was initiated to help Sierra Brooks update the current water system. The vision being that an updated system would equal better and more reliable water resources for the Sierra Brooks community. As of today the pumps and tanks are not up to state standards. In addition to this, what we do currently have can not support the Sierra Brooks sub-division adequately and is so worn down that breaks in the pipeline have led to boil notices and days of being without water.
The good news: the Association has been approved for a $600,000 USDA grant and a low interest rate due to the 2000 census report used for this project. Then the interest rate was lowered even further due to our history of boil notices and water issues!
So why act now? Neighborhood beautification, elimination of water restrictions, the need for better fire protection (remember the Cottonwood fire?), being in compliance with California's state regulations, maintaining property values, our yards and our livestock, not having to worry about water system failures and potential contaminated water notices. If we act now we can take advantage of the best interest rate we will ever see and a substantial grant that will help pay for the new system.
What you need to know: in order to move forward we need a YES vote to pass the update on our CC&R's (which were created to protect the investors of Sierra Brooks and not the property owners). Next we will need a YES vote to pass the conveyance of two lots between SBPOA and Fish and Game. Once this is finalized we will need one more YES vote from you to pass the project and begin construction.
Please help us in this mission to keep our small community alive and thriving off of a better water system! Vote YES on this project! The future of Sierra Brooks is in your hands so help protect what is yours!
(all ballots will be sent via mail. please contact the SBPOA office at 530.993.4917 with any questions or concerns.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amended Ordinance for Sierra Brooks: Schedule of Fees & Water Conservation Regulations
7 years ago the beginning of the water project was initiated to help Sierra Brooks update the current water system. The vision being that an updated system would equal better and more reliable water resources for the Sierra Brooks community. As of today the pumps and tanks are not up to state standards. In addition to this, what we do currently have can not support the Sierra Brooks sub-division adequately and is so worn down that breaks in the pipeline have led to boil notices and days of being without water.
The good news: the Association has been approved for a $600,000 USDA grant and a low interest rate due to the 2000 census report used for this project. Then the interest rate was lowered even further due to our history of boil notices and water issues!
So why act now? Neighborhood beautification, elimination of water restrictions, the need for better fire protection (remember the Cottonwood fire?), being in compliance with California's state regulations, maintaining property values, our yards and our livestock, not having to worry about water system failures and potential contaminated water notices. If we act now we can take advantage of the best interest rate we will ever see and a substantial grant that will help pay for the new system.
What you need to know: in order to move forward we need a YES vote to pass the update on our CC&R's (which were created to protect the investors of Sierra Brooks and not the property owners). Next we will need a YES vote to pass the conveyance of two lots between SBPOA and Fish and Game. Once this is finalized we will need one more YES vote from you to pass the project and begin construction.
Please help us in this mission to keep our small community alive and thriving off of a better water system! Vote YES on this project! The future of Sierra Brooks is in your hands so help protect what is yours!
(all ballots will be sent via mail. please contact the SBPOA office at 530.993.4917 with any questions or concerns.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Amended Ordinance for Sierra Brooks: Schedule of Fees & Water Conservation Regulations
amended_ordinance_sierra_brooks_fees.pdf |