Director — Marina Coast Water District

I first visited the USA in 1979 and immigrated to Marina in 1981. I have been to many countries. I have lived in Marina since 1981 and worked for cities of Salinas, Marina and Soledad, and County of Monterey. I worked for the City of Marina for about 22 years and involved in the review, management, design, construction and inspection of several city parks, a skate park, several subdivisions, new shopping centers, traffic signals, streets, bike paths, storm drain and percolation pond systems, Marina new post office, etc. I obtained about five millions for the City from various grants. I am a licensed Civil Engineer in California and familiar with water, recycled water and wastewater issues. I worked with Marina Coast Water District staff on many water, recycled water and wastewater projects.  My wife has lived in Marina since 1975. She taught English as a Second Language at Fitch Middle School (ESL), math and ESL at Los Arboles Middle School, and French at Seaside High. We have two grown-up daughters and one grandson. Our daughters are pharmacists. 

I was elected to Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) Board of Directors in 2012 and served for three years. Previously, I served as Chair of the Planning Commission of City of Marina and a member of the Design Review Board. I reviewed and processed some of the large projects such as the Montage or CHOMP Wellness Center, the recently completed VA DoD Clinic, and the CHISPA senior apartment project. At Marina Coast Water District I served as Vice President and was members of the Executive, Budget and Personnel, Community Outreach and Joint City District committees. I also was Board Liaison at Water Conservation Commission. I was Board representative at Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA), Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA) (now Monterey One Water), Local Agency Formation of Monterey County (LAFCO), Special District Association, and FORA Water and Wastewater Oversight Committee. I also was a member of the MCWD negotiation team negotiating with MRWPCA (M1W), Seaside County Sanitation District, Monterey County, CSUMB, and Cal Am on many issues. During my term I spent an average of 20 hours per week of my own time  on District business. I had used my vacation time to attend many meetings during working hours. 

I believe I was the only Director who completed all the classes of the Board Leadership Academy organized by California Special District Association. I attended some workshops and conferences that were useful and relevant to the District such as slant wells, sustainable groundwater management act, aquifer storage and recharge, dealing with the drought, water rights, etc. I paid the transportation and accommodation expenses for these workshops and conferences from my own money.  I made contributions to the District in revising the Board Procedures Manual, completing the first Strategic Plan, updating the Water and Sewer Master Plans, initiating the rates study, updating the Urban Water Management Plan, refinancing the bond and loan, proposing new water supply sources and a new smaller desal plan, etc. I provided technical knowledge, expertise and relevant experience to the Board in addition to writing and submitting various reports from the workshops 

and conferences that I attended. I discovered the potential conflict of interests of the slant well designer and pattern holder. This discovery caused the CPUC to hire new consultants to evaluate the test slant well results and redid the EIR. I want to provide more transparency, avoid costly mistakes such as the failed Regional Desalination Project, and keep low cost delivery of water, recycled water and wastewater collection in City of Marina and the Ord Community. I also want the Ord Community to be annexed to the District. I now can dedicate a lot of my time to make meaningful contributions to the District.  How much do you pay for the failed Regional Desalination Plant? Annually, the Board of Directors must inform all ratepayers how much money has been spent to date on the failed Regional Desalination Project, currently over 20 million dollars, and how long it takes, by raising the water rates, to recover expenses on this major blunder. Beginning on January 1, 2019, MCWD will substantially increase water rates. For Central Marina customers, water rate will increase 17 percent for Tier 1 and 55 percent for Tier 2, in addition to an 8 percent increase in the fixed monthly charge. For Ord Community customers, water rate will increase 12 percent for Tier 1 and 42 percent for Tier 2, in addition to a 6 percent increase in the fixed monthly charge​.  I truly hope that you will scrutinize all the candidates before casting your votes. You must demand certain candidates to be accountable for the costly failure of the Regional Desalination Plan. You must ask which Directors approved the contracts that caused the failure of this project due to the conflict of interests. Additionally, some candidates have been fined from $200 to $4,500 by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for violating campaign laws. Some have brought bad reputation to the District. Do you really want to re-elect these candidates? Haven’t these candidates caused enough damages, in both finances and reputation, to the District? 

William Lee

3167 Eucalyptus Street, Marina, CA 93933

Tel #:  831-905-9299            Email: nobadwater@aol.com

U.S. Citizen: Yes

Veterans’ Preference: U.S. Army (O-4); Military Service: 12/1970 to 05/2010

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND:

SECURITY SYSTEMS MANAGER (TIER-4)

Advantor / Infrasafe -- Orlando, FL -- September 2011 to Present

Brief the Director of Field Operations Advantor Systems on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. Supervise the maintenance of security systems on 85 bases and locations nationwide, including Hawaii, Samoa, Puerto Rico, Korea and Japan. Manage 15 Tier 4 support personnel embedded throughout Department of Defense (DOD) facilities. Coordinate physical security requirements with the Headquarters, Advantor Systems. Provides functional area support to the Advantor staff, subordinates and other agencies. Ensure physical protection of personnel, facilities, and assets against criminal, terrorist, or hostile activities for Advantor Systems clients. Provide guidance for the selection of physical security equipment including intrusion detection systems, access control systems, duress systems, CCTV, fencing, lighting and barriers to effectively protect personnel, facilities and assets.  Reviews physical security inspection compliance reports, outlines deficient areas and recommend corrective actions to Headquarters, Advantor Systems. Performs duties concerning the physical protection of conventional arms, ammunition and explosives (AA&E) against theft, sabotage, terrorism, loss or other criminal acts. Resolves conflicts between physical security requirements and organizational mission requirements. Recommends techniques to resolve conflict without compromising the integrity of the physical security program or the assets to be protected. Performs duties concerned with maintaining and managing all intrusion detection systems (IDS) for the Client. Works with unit personnel to properly manage the IDS personnel identification number (PIN) system for Client units. Possesses working knowledge of locks, keys and other devices to secure equipment, assets, and personnel. Skilled in the development of local policies or the augmentation of existing regulations concerning physical security, locks and keys, and crime prevention programs.  Clearly conveys complex security requirements and recommendations orally and in writing to Advantor Systems officials. Articulate the accomplishments of the tier-4 Maintenance Team. The updates focus on the annual budget, delivery of services, communications, strategic plans, tactical plans, utilization of resources and resolutions, 30 day goals, and contractual compliance.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Tier-4

Advantor / Infrasafe -- Orlando, FL -- September 2009 to September 2010

Supervisor: Rich Harrison   Tel #: 407-342-6979  Email: Harrison@advantor.com

Provide weekly & monthly and annual briefings to the Maintenance Service Supervisor on the status of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) at Fort Hunter Liggett Military Base.

Provides input to support the development of Physical Security Plans for supported organizations. Reviews proposals for AA&E physical security construction/upgrade projects and new and modified construction projects to ensure compliance with existing DOD regulations and directives. Performs duties associated with the DOD Force Protection Program. Provides guidance to management officials in regards to adequate protection of personnel and assets. Provides subject matter expertise and oversight over all Intrusion Detection and Access Control Systems (IDS, ACS). Reviews and approves all requests for the acquisition, installation, maintenance, modification and budgeting of commercial Physical Security Equipment. Reviews, analyzes and recommends physical security needs for leased, new construction and modifications to facilities. 

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

Anzu Technology -- Marina, CA -- January 2008 to Sep 2009

Supervisor: Tom White    Tel #:    Email:

Inspect facilities warehousing to ensure compliance with established policies of respective client organizations.  Provide briefings on the status of all equipment to include equipment types, inventory, usage and distribution.

JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN

Allegiance Electrical Contracting -- Marina, CA -- Jun 1994 to Dec 2008

Certified Electrician

CORRECTIONAL OFFICER

Correctional Training Facility, Soledad, California -- October 1979 to June 1994

Supervisor:   Assigned Sergeant  Tel#:             Email

As a sworn peace officer, provides public protection by enforcing State and Federal laws and administrative regulations while supervising the conduct of inmates or parolees of a State correctional facility or camp; and to do other related work.  Provide daily briefing/updates to supervisor concerning inmate activities.

MILITARY EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND:

Performed duties as a Budget Officer, Observer controller, Operation Officer, Logistic Officer, Company Commander, Executive Officer, Platoon Leader, Computer Repairman-Active Duty.  Enlisted: Dec 1970-Jan 1979-- Officer: Aug 1982-May 2010

At the Enhanced Brigade level, Briefed the Commander in regards to monthly review & analysis of budgetary information and financial outcomes. Developed Mission management SOP, Prepared monthly management information reports on costing commitments & obligations. Documented monthly expenditures & review for quality control. Consolidated and formatted incoming statistical budgetary information. Controlled resource management and maintained quality assurance.  Planned for and tracked all expenditure for protection of personnel, facilities, and assets against criminal, terrorist, or hostile activities for the Brigade.

EDUCATION:

Institution: California Department of Corrections' Training Academy

Six-week training program at the California Department of Corrections' Training Academy and a formal two-year apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship program requires satisfactory completion of a minimum of 3,600 hours (two years) of experience in the designated work process categories.

Completion Date: 22 October 1981

Institution: California Military Academy

Completion Date: August 1982

Degree: Certification as Commissioned Officer

Institution: Hartnell Community College

Completion Date: January 1, 1988

Degree: Associate in Arts (AA) -- Graduated Cum Laude

Institution: University of California at Berkeley

Completion Date: June 1, 1987

Credential: Teaching Credential

Institution: San Jose State University

Completion Date: June 10, 1989

Credential: Supervision & Coordination of Education Programs

CERTIFICATIONS:

Company Name: State of California

Title: Certified General Electrician Lic # 145255

Date Received: 7/7/2009

SPECIAL TRAINING:

Physical Security Officer Training Program Sep 22, 2011

Anti-Terrorism Awareness Training Feb 2010 (annual)

Advantor System Training Sep 2009

Pass & ID training Advantor Systems 2009-2014

Advantor Systems Administrator Certification 2009-2014

Advantor Systems Operator Training 2009-2014

Matt was born into a military family and grew up all over the United States. He eventually went to Cornell University on an ROTC scholarship, earning a bachelors in Engineering and and masters in Environmental Management.

In 2001, Matt commissioned into the Air Force as a civil engineering officer and was assigned to Dyess Air Force Base in central Texas where he was the planning engineer for over $36 million in construction projects, including a $10 million project to repair and replace failing water mains and sewer lines. At the start of the war in Iraq, he was in charge of installing the infrastructure for a new Air Force compound at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE. After returning to Texas, he was the base environmental compliance officer and his work with unit environmental coordinators was instrumental in the base's record-setting zero discrepancies and exceptional rating during the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality inspection.

He was then assigned to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska where he re-vamped the installation's recurring maintenance program before taking command of the installation's emergency management flight and developed plans and training to plan for and protect against natural disasters, major accidents, and terrorist attacks. Under his command, his flight earned the Pacific Air Force's Emergency Management Flight of the Year award.

In 2006, he deployed to Afghanistan and was the Chief of Construction Planning and Design for the country's largest military base. He planned and developed major infrastructure projects, including the base's first integrated water and wastewater distribution systems. He also went on missions as a consultant with the local Provincial Reconstruction Team and as a liaison to the Afghans' local irrigation board.

In 2007, he moved to California and earned a PhD in ecology from UC Davis, studying cooperation and conflict in environmental problems and warfare.

Matt moved to Monterey County so his wife, Emily, could work as an ecologist restoring the Salinas river and he could teach and conduct research at the Naval Postgraduate School. After moving all of his life, as a military brat, a military officer, and a scientific researcher he is excited to finally settle down in the diverse and vibrant city of Marina. He hopes that he will be able to contribute his experience and steady temperment to serve you on the Marina Coast Water District board.

Marina has a looming water crisis – both short term, with the CalAm slant well project threatening to take our groundwater, and in the long term, as our existing water supply dwindles. I will dedicate my time on the Marina Coast Water District board to maintaining  safe and affordable drinking water while working with Marina’s leadership to secure a long-term sustainable water supply.  Our problems seem daunting, but if we are willing to work with our local partners to solve them we can ensure that we have water for our children and grandchildren. I worked collaboratively to solve daunting water problems as an Air Force civil engineering officer in Texas, Alaska, the middle east and Afghanistan. My PhD in Ecology trained me to think about water issues as large-scale problems requiring large-scale solutions. We need to proactively seek regional solutions to our water challenges so we won’t have to worry about entities like CalAm threatening our water again.

Major Issues: 1. Protecting Marina’s groundwater. The most immediate and critical issue facing the Marina Coast Water District is protecting our groundwater from CalAm’s proposed slant well project. There are many problems with this project, but three problems important to the people of Marina are (1) the high likelihood that the slant well will draw on our ground water and contaminate our aquifers through salt water intrusion, (2) the desalinated water will go to communities on the peninsula instead of to Marina, (3) CalAm has no legal right to our groundwater. That these issues have not yet been adequately considered by state agencies in unconscionable. As a private citizen I have worked with Citizens for Just Water to oppose the slant well and have spoken against it at the CPUC meeting in San Francisco. If the slant well is not stopped administratively, I support working with the City of Marina and other allies to stop it through the courts. Litigation can be expensive, but it is a question of whether we pay some now for a lawsuit or a lot more later when desalination is our only source of water. As an alternative to the slant well, I support expansion of the Pure Water Monterey recycling program. On the MCWD board, I will focus on leading other regional agencies in developing a long-term regional water supply. 2. Smart annexation. With the Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA) scheduled to end, I intend to make sure that the MCWD plans for smart annexation of former Fort Ord communities. We are already servicing those communities and paying FORA a fortune for the privilege. With annexation, we will no longer pay FORA. However, I want to make sure that the lower-income parts of Marina do not end up subsidizing the expansion of expensive infrastructure into higher-income developments. I support (1) keeping separate cost centers to make sure that we fairly allocate administrative and infrastructure costs between the older and newer parts of Marina - at least until the infrastructure costs have balanced between the two areas; (2) making sure that developers pay the infrastructure costs for new developments up-front so that existing former Fort Ord residents do not see these costs added to their water bill; (3) evaluating low-income housing in in-fill areas for incorporation into the central Marina cost center on a case-by-case basis. 3. Developing a long-term water supply. I will work to ensure a sustainable water supply in Marina for my family in the decades to come. I will work with the City of Marina and our regional allies to establish a regional long-term water supply to ensure safe, affordable water for future generations. There is no reason that Marina Coast Water District cannot lead in this area and, as the most prominent public water agency in the region, we should. Responsible communication with the public: I believe that MCWD board members should represent themselves, the water district, and the people of Marina with professionalism and respect. The Marina Coast Water District has done amazing work for Marina. The staff are knowledgeable, responsible, and hard-working. The current manager, Keith Van Der Maaten, is incredibly smart and collaborative and puts the needs of Marina first. Current board members Tom Moore, Jan Shriner, Bill Lee, and Herbert Cortez have all been extremely generous to me with their time, experience, and ideas as I have prepared to represent you on the board. Any of the bad reputation associated with the MCWD (constant in-fighting, etc) in the past does not apply to most of the current leadership. Whenever you hear about the MCWD in the newspaper, on Nextdoor, or from your neighbors, I want it to *always* be about our accomplishments and good work for Marina. There has been a lot of discussion at board meetings and candidate forums about whether MCWD board members have the constitutional freedom to say what they want. While I agree that board members have these constitutional rights, I am more concerned about how we choose to exercise them. I believe that elected officials should be recognized as the servants of all of the people of their district – regardless of their race or creed. If you elect me to represent you on the MCWD board, I promise that I will comport myself and speak publicly in a professional manner that emphasizes the good work of the Marina Coast Water District in protecting and sustaining our water and that is inclusive to all of the people of Marina. In our fight to protect Marina’s water, we can’t be distracted by conflict between ourselves and our natural allies. To achieve a sustainable water supply, the Marina Coast Water District needs to work collaboratively with our city council and regional partners. In Afghanistan, I worked with US military and civilian engineers, local Afghan contractors and our NATO and South Korean allies to solve a complicated array of engineering problems. I will use the same collaborative problem-solving approach to serve you on the MCWD board. Our water problems can be solved - as long as we work together.

Biologist/Educator/ Business Owner/ Public Servant

Jan grew up in Hawaii and graduated from Punahou School in 1975. President Obama graduated from this school four years later. Her father’s career was in the military and her family’s military history spans throughout the family tree for generations. “I am 13th generation born to this soil to have embraced ‘the American dream.’ Beginning with my parents, family marriages are a melting pot representing Korea, China, Nicaragua, Brazil, and Africa. I am proud to say I truly come from a diverse ‘All-American’ family.” states Jan.

She earned BS in Biology from the University of Washington in 1983, paying her own way through jobs with seasonal fisheries research and hospitality work.

Jan has always lived by water, working with fisheries, biotechnology, sea kayak instruction and now environmental education through a regional parks system. Her passions for ecology, community and water shine. Her leadership is known for innovation, consistency, and effectiveness.

She regularly attends and participates in a wide range of public meetings, including those of the Marina City Council; its planning commission, the County Board of Supervisors, and the regional water board.

She is experienced, informed, and committed to the people of Marina.

Education: Bachelor’s in Biology, University of WA, 1983

Work Experience:

• Park Interpreter—County of Santa Clara Parks & Rec.* 2003-present
• Field Tech.—Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve, 2002-03
• Co-Owner/Partner—Santa Cruz Eskape Kayak 1993-2002
• Proprietor—Rock Island Oyster Farm, Jefferson Co., WA, 1986-94
• Research Technician—Immunex (Amgen), Seattle WA, 1987-92
• Washington State Fish & Game Biologist—Brinnon, WA, 1983-85

Recent Community Involvement:

—Marina Coast Water District Board 2010-present
—Marina Coast Water District Board, Vice President 2018
—Marina Coast Water District, Executive Committee 2018
—Marina Coast Water District, Joint City District Committee, Chair 2018
—Protect Monterey County 2016-present
—Water Conservation Commission 2011-present
—Liaison to LAFCO of Monterey County, 2014
—California Native Plant Society, 2003-present   
—Marina Cypress Knolls Project Proposal Review, 2010
—Marina Public Works Commission, 2008-2010

Recognition:
—“Unity in Diversity” Award(s) from County of Santa Clara Chief Executive Officer for
     building community through collaboration, 2007 (individual) & 2010 (team member)
—Top 10 Women Contributors to Paddlesports Industry 2003
—National Outdoor Book Award for Best Guidebook 2000 (co-author)

* for identification purposes only

Dear Friends & Neighbors:
I am running for re-election for the Board of Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) in November 2018. With your support, this will be my third term.

• I defend groundwater quality. I am volunteering with Protect Monterey County, promoting the ban of fracking and trying to stop injection of untreated wastewater into the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin (SVGB).

• I work on groundwater management. In 2016 I participated with the Environmental Caucus of the Collaborative Working Group of the SVGB for the new Groundwater Sustainability Act. In 2017, I supported Marina Coast to establish Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for central Marina and Ord Community.

• I strive to create science-based policies such as applying Stanford’s Aerial Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey. Scientists can provide AEM imagery to help us determine and maintain specific underground drinking water resources.

• I see reducing the carbon footprint of MCWD as part of the next five-year Strategic Plan.

• I do not accept donations from large corporations.

Key endorsements include: Monterey County District 4 Supervisor Jane Parker, Marina City Councilmembers Frank O’Connell and Gail Morton, MCWD Board President Tom Moore, MCWD Board Member Herbert Cortez and MPUSD Board Member Wendy Root-Askew.

Please support my re-election for continued work on your clean, healthful water.
www.shriner4water.com