MAKING SAUSAGE

My father was a high school agriculture teacher for over 30 years.  He would often take me along for a ride  in the pickup when he visited his students’ ag projects on evenings and weekends.  (There were no video games back then, we still had an old black and white t.v. and record player.)  Dad was the consummate educator, always trying to teach me something.

I remember one time when Dad  took me to the butcher shop.  He wanted me to see how hamburger and sausage were made, and the ingredients that went into them.  It appeared to me to be a mix of just about everything, meat, fat, muscle and tissue.  Although I was surprised at what I saw on that occasion, I still enjoy eating the finished product today.

I am sometimes reminded of that visit to the butcher shop when I attend city council meetings.  It’s been said that, “legislation is like sausage.  You want the outcome but you don’t want to see how it’s made.”  Most city council agenda items are routine, and usually council members can reach prompt consensus.  Other times, its like watching sausage getting made.  I was reminded of this during the months of January, February and March, when the council discussed the current drought, and debated how best to respond to it.  Each of us had different ideas, although we were united in wanting to do something aggressive to conserve our water.  We finally cobbled together ordinance no. 2014-05, and implemented new stage 4 restrictions, effective April 17, 2014.  While I argued for fewer mandatory restrictions, and more voluntary compliance and education, I generally support the end result.  As I wrote in last month’s article, Visalia has had mandatory stage 3 water restrictions since 1991, due to water consumption concerns.  I was successful in suggesting that a sunset clause be added to the ordinance.  Accordingly, these new stage 4 restrictions will automatically terminate in one year, unless re-authorized by city council by resolution.  This re-authorization would presumably come in the event that our drought conditions persist at that time, and after further discussion and deliberation.

Stage 4 allows watering one day a week March - April and November - December, two days a week in May and October, and three days a week June - September.  No watering will be allowed in January or February.  These changes will bring an estimated additional 25% annual reduction in landscape irrigation (beyond the conservation efforts already being taken by Visalians), which is responsible for about 60% of total water usage in the city.

During months where one watering day a week is allowed, odd numbered addresses will water on Saturdays, even on Sunday.  During months where two days a week are allowed, odd numbered addresses will water on Tuesday and Saturday, even on Wednesday and Sunday.  During the summer months when three days a week are allowed, odd numbered addresses will water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and even on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Visalia has had an active groundwater recharge program since 2005.  On March 27, 2014, we broke ground for the water conservation plant upgrade, whereby we will be investing $140 million to bring our sewer plant up to the highest standards, allowing us to turn wastewater into high-quality recycled water which will be reused for farming, and for irrigation purposes on city properties.  This project alone will save Visalia thousands of acre feet of water annually, and will assist in recharging our aquifer.


Residents and businesses are urged to check irrigation systems to make sure they don’t have leaks, adjust any misaligned sprinklers, reduce lawn size, mulch beds to help keep moisture in the soil and plant roots cooler in the summer, and replace old toilets or clothes washers with new high-efficiency models.  Other water saving ideas include taking shorter showers, and shutting the water off while brushing your teeth.  For more information on our citywide outreach effort and more stage 4 details, visit www.gogreenvisalia.org. For low-water use landscape ideas, visit www.visalia.watersavingplants.com.

Join me, my fellow council members, city staff and all Visalians in an effort to save and preserve our water.  Then enjoy barbequing some hamburgers or sausages this summer, knowing that together we can get the job done.

If you have questions or topics regarding the city  which you would like to have addressed in future articles, please email Warren at wgubler@ci.visalia.ca.us, or call (559) 713-4400 x 3313.  For past articles, visit directfromwarren.blogspot.com.



Warren Gubler
Visalia Vice Mayor