The future of the Dixon-Solano Water Authority hangs in the balance.
Tonight, the Dixon City Council will take up the issue during a special meeting to talk about the feasibility of entering the water business on its own and dissolving its relationship with Solano Irrigation District - the other half of the partnership with the city that forms the DSWA.
The DSWA is essentially broke, and the DSWA wants to raise water pay rates. This has caused ripples of concern among ratepayers and council members alike, and has raised the possiblity of the city dissolving its relationship with SID to enter the water business on its own.
But there are many logisitical issues in entering the water business that need to be discussed. Who on the city's current payroll has the expertise to run such a water service? Who will own the project? How much will it cost to city, and in turn, the ratepayers?
These are some of the topics that the council will need to examine if it does leave the partnership.
The council is also set to discusss and act on the proposed Sunshine Ordinance (Dixon Open Governance Act) drafted by Dixon resident Ourania Riddle.
Riddle and Publisher Dave Scholl along with their supporters gathered enough signatures to place the ordinance on the November ballot. Voters will have the opportunity to vote for the ordinance during the November election.
Tonight, city staff is asking the council to establish the deadline for submitting arguments against the ordinance on Aug. 2, instead of the Aug. 7 deadline.
