Senate Rules Committee Confirms Appointees to Delta Council

The Senate Rules Committee today recommended confirmation of three appointees to the Delta Stewardship Council. The appointments will now go to the full Senate.

The council is charged with creating a plan to address water supply issues and ensure conservation of the Delta’s troubled ecosystem. It was established as part of the comprehensive water package enacted by the Legislature in November 2009.

On a 3-0 vote, the committee recommended confirmation of Phil Isenberg as chair of the council and former ACWA President Randy Fiorini and retired biotechnology executive Hank Nordhoff as members of the council.

During a brief hearing before the vote, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg asked the appointees how they planned to approach the council’s task and whether they would represent regional or statewide views.

Fiorini said he had gained broad exposure to statewide water issues through his experience leading ACWA as president.

“My responsibility is to the co-equal goals as identified in the comprehensive legislation,” Fiorini said. “That means finding a way to restore and maintain the ecosystem health of the Delta and finding a way to provide California with a reliable, high quality water supply into the future.”

Nordhoff said he would bring a business perspective to the job. “Business is about solving problems, seizing opportunities,” he said. “I see my role as bringing a business and economic view to things. We have to be fact-driven.”

Recounting the marathon negotiations that led to the comprehensive package, Steinberg expressed confidence in the appointees’ ability to move ahead. “I know how difficult it was for us to pass the package. We know you are up to the challenge of implementing it, not only to the letter but to the spirit of the legislation.”

ACWA was among the organizations testifying in support of the appointments. No one testified in opposition.