[ca-gw] Strategy

Wed Apr 22 12:37:10 PDT 2009

On the other hand, it would hardly take even a day to emulate the proven graywater codes that have already been crafted by Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.  California doesn't have to reinvent the wheel - It's already rolling in those states and could be here too.

>>> "Steve Bilson" <stevebilson at rewater.com> 4/22/2009 12:30 PM >>>
At this stage, any draft Rowland has is probably what he'll present on
Monday.  Our point now is to get him resigned to having to go through this
process again.

The first time the state went through the process per Ab3518, it took DWR 2
1/2 years, and DWR had the benefit of having just completed chairing the
California Ad-Hoc  Graywater Committee for 2 years.  The second time per
AB313, it took DWR 2 years.  DHCD trying to get it done correctly and fast
with no background in this area is impossible.

From: John [mailto:john at greenbuildersofmarin.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 11:31 AM
To: john at greenbuildersofmarin.com; 'Brock Dolman'; 'Oasis Design';
ca-standard at graywater.org; stevebilson at rewater.com; 'Sonia Diermayer'
Cc: 'Mauricio Mendez'
Subject: RE: [ca-gw] Strategy

Just heard back from Jared.  He will be preparing a letter this week, and
possibly having someone from his office attend the meeting on Monday.  I
emphasized the importance of getting the letter to Jim Rowland before the
weekend, so any input can be given before the final draft of the new
proposal.  Don't know what time Brock is meeting with Jared, but it seems
important to get letter from Jared to Jim Rowland on or before Friday.  

He will send me a copy of his letter, which I will forward to group when I
get it.

John Shurtz, 

LEED AP, CGBP & Green Point Rater

President, Green Builders of Marin

Tel: 415.884.0700

Fax: 415.884.0713

 <http://www.greenbuildersofmarin.com/> www.greenbuildersofmarin.com 

  _____  

From: ca-standard-bounces at graywater.org 
[mailto:ca-standard-bounces at graywater.org] On Behalf Of John
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 10:24 AM
To: 'Brock Dolman'; 'Oasis Design'; ca-standard at graywater.org;
stevebilson at rewater.com 
Cc: 'Mauricio Mendez'
Subject: Re: [ca-gw] Strategy

Hi All,

I got this message to Jared yesterday, and trust that your meeting with him
will be fruitful Brock.  He has been sympathetic for to this effort for the
last 18 months or more, and as we all know, now is the time for him to step
up.  Good luck.

Will see the rest of you in Sacto next week.

John

John Shurtz, 

LEED AP, CGBP & Green Point Rater

President, Green Builders of Marin

Tel: 415.884.0700

Fax: 415.884.0713

 <http://www.greenbuildersofmarin.com/> www.greenbuildersofmarin.com 

  _____  

From: ca-standard-bounces at graywater.org 
[mailto:ca-standard-bounces at graywater.org] On Behalf Of Brock Dolman
Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 3:35 PM
To: Oasis Design; 'ca-standard at graywater.org'
Cc: Mauricio Mendez
Subject: Re: [ca-gw] Strategy

Hi All,

Unfortunately I will not be able to make the next meeting in Sac!

However I will be able to be at an event with Assembly Member Jared Huffman
this Friday. I know Jared well enough that I am planning on connecting with
him very specifically about this issue of our collective lack of
satisfaction with HCD's direction and leadership on this policy process and
our need for more involved opinions from the legislature.

Thanks to all of you who have posted specific thoughts and letters, I will
try to review them and encapsulate some talking points for Jared.

Brock

I appreciate the thoughtful posts about how to go forward. I agree about
keeping this list focused on the new CA graywater standard...there isn't
much time left to improve it.

It seems that there are several fronts:

1) Offer suggested changes--including radical changes-- to the current
draft, with supporting rationale for the statement of reasons-Ideally in a
consolidated, consensus format (i.e., we do the work of sorting through and
reconciling conflicting suggestions, rather than hoping James can work all
this out). I've asked Mauricio, the new graywater.org webmaster, (take a
bow, Mauricio!) to post the current draft and meeting notice...its 4/27/2009
now...to http://graywater.org/graywater-policy/from-hcd.

2) Make a new, better law from scratch, with supporting rationale for the
statement of reasons-I don't think this is practical at this point. (I
started out in favor of  this as the main thrust, but we are seriously short
of time. Jim Rowland says he has to turn in his final draft a week after the
next meeting. It is true that chapter 16 is a disaster, but I've been
persuaded that this is the only practical route towards a somewhat improved
policy in 2011. Besides the short time available, SB1258 itself does not set
the stage for a really good greywater standard; it defines greywater wrong,
and it only lets locals make more stringent standards. Perhaps once we've
recovered from this effort we could rally to get a better standard made from
scratch for the next pass).

3) Get legislators to demand a progressive new standard

4) Get public health experts to weigh in in support of a progressive new
standard

How about we divide ourselves amongst these tasks/ others?

I am planning to work on 1.

I propose we gather ideas and connections for 2, but keep it on the back
burner until the next cycle. This hurts, but I think if we go for a brand
new, good code at this point we'll miss the boat entirely.

If there is someone who could identify sympathetic legislators and suggest
what we could write them, that would be great. I would be happy to write
letters, if fed addresses...

>From what I understand, engineer expert testimony would carry less weight
than that of public health officials. Steve Bilson is working on getting Dr.
Gerba (Dr. Germ) to come to the next meeting...he'd be perfect. This will
cost money; perhaps the hat could be passed for this.

Art