Bebee seated as FPUD's CWA representative

Jack Bebee has replaced Brian Brady as the Fallbrook Public Utility District's representative on the San Diego County Water Authority board.

Bebee was seated at the Jan. 25 SDCWA meeting. "I think it's important that we have a voice in what's happening regionally, and I'm happy to fill that role for the district," he said.

Brady, who retired Jan. 12, had been FPUD's representative on the CWA board since October 2011.

Bebee was raised in the Chicago suburb of Lake Bluff. He received his bachelor of science degree in physics from Washington and Lee University in 1998 and his master of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois in 2000.

Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., hired Bebee after he received his graduate degree and based him in the firm's Carlsbad office. Bebee's activity with Malcolm Pirnie included working on FPUD's ultraviolet disinfection facility at Red Mountain.

FPUD chief engineer Joe Jackson retired in October 2009 and FPUD engineering manager Mike Page retired in February 2010. Bebee was hired by FPUD in 2009 to fill the consolidated position and originally held the title of engineering and planning manager.

FPUD added the operations of the district's wastewater treatment plant to Bebee's responsibilities in 2013 and changed his title to assistant general manager. In Brady's final months with FPUD he focused on external matters and Bebee was given the title of acting general manager.

San Diego County's Local Agency Formation Commission has a Special Districts Advisory Committee which makes recommendations for the LAFCO board to consider. Members of the 16-member (in the absence of vacancies) advisory committee can be either board members or staff of an independent (voter-elected) special district. Bebee was elected to the Special Districts Advisory Committee in 2016.

The CWA representative does not need to be a board member or even on the staff of the member agency. After FPUD board member Paul Algert passed away, board member Leo McGuire replaced Algert as FPUD's representative on the CWA board. McGuire served from September 1982 to March 1983 and recommended that it would be in the best interest of FPUD if FPUD general manager Gordon Tinker served as the district's CWA representative.

Tinker retired from FPUD in June 1999 but remained on the CWA board until August 2001, when FPUD general manager Keith Lewinger became the CWA representative. Brady replaced Lewinger on the CWA board after Lewinger retired.

The agency's governing body must appoint the CWA member. FPUD's board voted 5-0 Dec. 11 to designate Bebee as Brady's replacement on the CWA board.

CWA board seats have specific six-year terms, although board members can be reappointed or leave prior to the end of a term. Bebee's term runs through July 14, 2022.

His position on the SDCWA board also includes assignment to two committees. Bebee will be on the Engineering and Operations Committee and the Water Planning Committee. Brady had served on those two committees prior to his retirement.