Orange County Water District voted 6-2 to approve terms for a new, non-binding agreement with privately-owned Poseidon Water for a Huntington Beach desalination project. If the District decides to move ahead with the deal once the plant is fully permitted, the agreement would commit Orange County ratepayers to buying Poseidon’s desalinated water for 30-35 years, while guaranteeing a significant profit for Poseidon’s investors.
Author Archives: Theresa Sears
Theresa Sears is Involvement Editor for Voice of OC and works with active residents throughout Orange County helping to lift their voices by facilitating the publication of daily Op-eds from a broad array of perspectives.
Theresa also handles office administration and works to help organize Voice of OC civic training programs and policy events.
With an intimate knowledge of Orange County civic issues, Theresa has worked as an active grassroots community leader on a host of public land use and regional public-benefit issues across the region for the past three decades.
As a solutions oriented activist, she has taken a leadership role in grass roots efforts supporting the public’s right to know and petition their government, community engagement, legal remedies and direct democracy.
Her efforts have preserved Orange County’s fairgrounds, Barham Ranch which is now part of Santiago Oak Regional Park, as well critical open space in East Orange. She’s also led efforts to protect Orange County’s regional park system as a leader with the Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks
Languages spoken: English and some Spanish
Areas of expertise: Community organizing, direct democracy, open government – public oversight, land use, civic engagement and protecting public assets.
Posted inPress Releases
Orange County Water District Approves Water Purchase Agreement Term Sheet with Poseidon Water
The Orange County Water District Board of Directors voted to approve an amendment to the 2015 water purchase agreement term sheet with Poseidon Water for the purchase of 56,000-acre feet per year of drinking water from the proposed Huntington Beach Desalination Project.
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OC Animal Care Hires New Director
A new director will join OC Animal Care after a competitive nationwide recruitment to fill the high-level position. Mike Kaviani comes to OC Animal Care after most recently serving as the Director of Lifes Saving Operations for the non-profit Austin Pets Alive in Austin,Texas
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Board of Supervisors Approves Option and Master Agreement for Dana Point Harbor Revitalization
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Option and Master Lease Agreements for the revitalization of Dana Point Harbor (“Harbor”) with Dana Point Harbor Partners (“DPHP”).
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OC Animal Care Waives Fees Calls On the Public to Adopt
Due to an abundance of dogs, cats and other animals, OC Animal Care will immediately begin waiving fees for animals available for adoption longer than seven days.
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Judge Rules Against Destructive Harmony Development in Southern California
In an important victory against sprawl, a judge has ruled against a large proposed development in Southern California. Real Parties in Interest are County of Orange, OC Flood Control District and OC Board of Supervisors. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by public interest groups over the Harmony project, which proposed constructing 3,600 houses in habitat for endangered species, rare wetlands and crucial wildlife connectivity corridors while bringing more air pollution and traffic to the community.
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Lake Forest 2018-19 Budget Pays Off Last of City Debt
The City of Lake Forest will be debt free by the end of the year. On June 19, 2018, the City’s $84 million budget was approved unanimously by the City Council.
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Lawsuit on 2020 Census Citizenship Question Updated to Include Native American Groups and Charge Government Conspiracy
Native American groups have joined a lawsuit filed by attorneys representing Latino and Asian American plaintiffs alleging that the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census was motivated by racial animus and will result in a severe undercount of minorities, according to civil rights attorneys.
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City of San Clemente: TCA Sued for Violations of California Public Records Act
The City of San Clemente filed a lawsuit today in Orange County Superior Court alleging the Transportation Corridors Agencies (TCA) is failing to comply with the California Public Records Act, a violation of California law.
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Group of Muslim Women Ejected From Urth Caffe Obtain Settlement
Seven Muslim women ejected from an Urth Caffe restaurant by its management have obtained a settlement agreement requiring the restaurant chain to hold diversity trainings for its employees and update its policies.
