News Blog
Mayors Sign Confidentiality Agreement On Regional Desal Project
July 29, 2011
As the Regional Desalination Project teeters on collapse, thanks in large part to the Ag Land Trust lawsuit and the Steve Collins conflict-of-interest scandal, the mayors of the Monterey Peninsula agree that one thing is needed: less public transparency.
Documents obtained by the Weekly July 28 confirm that the mayors, city managers and city attorneys of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Seaside and Sand City, along with the president and lawyer for California American Water, have signed a confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement regarding the latest legal threats to the Regional Project.
"Various recent developments have raised questions concerning the Project's timing and feasibility (including financial feasibility). These developments include a pending lawsuit filed against the Project by Ag Land Trust, and investigations into the approval of the Project by [Monterey County Water Resources Agency] in light of a possible conflict of interest by one of its Directors," the confidentiality agreement states, in apparent reference to Collins.
"Because of these recent developments the Cities desire to communicate openly among themselves about how these matters affect the Project or an equivalent alternative project, the adequacy and effectiveness of the present Project governance, and related concerns for Project timing to meet critical water supply deadlines set forth in the CDO," it continues, referenceing the cease-and-desist order issued by the state water board to Cal Am, which is illegally overpumping the Carmel River.
The agreement covers the period of June 17-September 17, 2011.
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