In a time when citizens are asking for more transparency from their governments, a South Bay water agency is amongst the best for its openness to the way it governs.
Sweetwater Authority received the District Transparency of Excellence from the Special District Leadership Foundation for its efforts to promote transparency and good governance. The Special District Leadership Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization from Sacramento formed to create good governance and best practices among California’s special districts through certification, accreditation and other recognition programs, according to its website.
The water agency first received the award in 2014 and got recertified this year. Every three years, special districts can reapply for recertification.
“Just because you do it one time, doesn’t mean you get this and you have it forever,” said Public Affairs Manager, Leslie Payne. “You have to go through the process and reaffirm your certification every three years.”
A special district is defined as an entity that has elected officials.
The Special District Leadership foundation sets out a 15-point criteria that special districts must meet in order to be awarded a transparency certification.
These points include basic transparency requirements, Website requirements and outreach requirements. The 15 points are mandatory requirements, that include offering ethics training for board members, compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and handling of public records.
“With these 15 items, you have a very transparent government,” said Sweetwater Authority General Manager James Smyth. “As opposed to an agency where you go on their website or call and it takes a lot of effort, it certainly makes it more difficult for the public to try to understand where their money is going.”
Others who reached the transparency mark are the Helix Water District, Olivenhain Municipal Water, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Rincon del Diablo Water District , the Vallecitos Water District and the Vista Irrigation District. There are 24 water agencies in the San Diego County Water Authority, which means only seven agencies in the county have the certification through the Special District Leadership Foundation.
Smyth said trying to meet the foundation’s transparency marks holds the agency accountable.
“This shows that we don’t do things in secret,” he said.
Sweetwater Authority provides water service to approximately 189,000 people residing in National City and the South Bay Irrigation District which includes portions of Chula Vista and most of Bonita.
