On Aug. 2, the Otay Water District announced that board member Tim Smith, representing division one, resigned from the Otay board of directors after nearly a decade of service to the community.
“After nearly 10 years of public service to my division and the District, I am ready to embark on the next chapter of my life. This decision was not easy, but I leave with confidence knowing that the district is in capable hands with this board and staff,” said Smith in a press statement. “Reflecting on my time in the water industry and my service alongside my fellow Otay board members, I am extremely proud of our accomplishments. Together, we have diligently served our ratepayers and fostered greater collaboration among water agencies across the region and state. Through the combined efforts of the board, the general manager, and the staff, we have consistently fulfilled our mission of providing exceptional water and wastewater services to our customers while managing Otay’s resources transparently and responsibly. It has been an honor to represent the customers of the Otay Water District.”
Smith was first elected to the Otay board in December 2014 and has successfully been re-elected to the office since. His resignation, effective Aug. 2, was formally submitted in a letter. The Otay board will discuss the process for selecting a replacement, either by appointment or election, to serve the remaining two years of Smith’s term during its meeting on Aug. 7.
During his tenure at Otay, Smith served as president of the board of directors in 2018, 2021, and 2022. He also chaired several key committees, including engineering, operations, and water resources; finance and administrative; public relations, legal, and legislative; desalination project; general manager evaluation ad hoc; recycled water agreement ad hoc, and City of San Diego Matters ad hoc. Smith’s expertise allowed him to collaborate closely with other public agencies, enabling him to set policies that prioritize customer interests and address community needs.
Otay Board President Jose Lopez stated he was grateful of Smith for his dedication and leadership, which extended beyond the Otay Water District to the entire Southern California region.
“We regret seeing Director Smith step down from our board,” stated Lopez. “He has been an invaluable asset to our District and his constituents. Smith’s inquisitive nature led to many discussions on critical issues. His extensive water knowledge, combined with 30 years of engineering experience and a strong commitment to collaborative goals, will be greatly missed. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
The Otay Water District is a public agency providing water, recycled water, and sewer service to more than 240,000 customers within approximately 125 square miles of southeastern San Diego County, including the communities of eastern Chula Vista, Bonita, Jamul, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, unincorporated areas of El Cajon and La Mesa, and eastern Otay Mesa along the international border with Mexico.
