Big Bear Lake council unanimously appoints two to DWP board after interviews

The Big Bear Lake City Council voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Craig Horace and Matt Scriven to four-year terms on the city’s Department of Water and Power board of commissioners.

The council made the appointments after a series of timed, 20-minute interviews with applicants for two open seats. The vote to appoint Horace and Scriven was 5-0, with Council member Herrick, Council member Putz, Mayor Pro Tem Segovia, Council member Hicks and Mayor Melnick all voting in favor. The new terms run through June 30, 2029.

The DWP board is a five-member body established under the city charter and chapter 13.24 of the municipal code to exercise the city’s powers over the purchase, supply, generation, distribution and sale of water and power. City Attorney Steve summarized board rules for the council before interviews began, including staggered four-year terms, removal rules and compensation authority. "The board of commissioners is a 5 member board appointed by a majority vote of the city council from qualified electors who come from within the service area of the Department of Water and Power of the city," the city attorney told the council during the meeting.

Nut graf: The appointments come as DWP and the city continue planning the Replenish Big Bear project, a local wastewater-treatment and reuse initiative meant to help sustain lake levels. Several applicants described experience with water or utility operations and cited the project and routine infrastructure work as reasons to serve.

In interviews, Craig Horace, a current DWP commissioner, described more than a decade of service and technical experience from a 37-year career at Boeing, saying, "I enjoy working on the sustainability projects that we are working on." Horace told council members he has participated in DWP decisions including a COVID-era rate decision and said he aims to keep rates as low as practicable without jeopardizing operations.

Matt Scriven, a longtime village business owner who said he has been active with the village business association and Visit Big Bear, told the council he wants to contribute local business and community perspective. "I love Big Bear Lake... I want to contribute more," Scriven said during his interview, and he noted he believes the Replenish project ``will be hugely beneficial'' to lake levels and tourism.

Other applicants interviewed included Michael (surname not specified) and James Smith. Each interview format allocated seven minutes before a seven-minute warning beep; the city clerk, Erica, explained the council would use a ranking card process to collect preferences and that the council planned to appoint two commissioners at the end of the meeting. "We were planning to use the same process that we thought worked pretty successful during the June 11 planning commission appointment process," City Clerk Erica told the council.

City Attorney Steve also reviewed statutory and charter constraints noted in chapter 13.24 and the charter amendment adopted in November 2010, including that commissioners must be qualified electors from the DWP service area (the 2010 amendment expanded the pool to include electors in the service area who live outside the city). Steve said vacancies are filled for the remainder of the term only and that board compensation is set by the city council upon the board’s recommendation.

The council’s deliberation used ranked preference cards; after tabulation council members nominated Horace and Scriven and proceeded to a roll-call vote. The council also discussed keeping candidates engaged for future openings. The council adjourned after the appointments.

Ending: The two appointees will be sworn to four-year terms (expiring June 30, 2029) and city staff said they will notify candidates who were not present later in the afternoon. The DWP board continues to meet the fourth Tuesday of every month and will continue work on Replenish Big Bear and routine utility matters.