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Who is the
Citizens Advisory Committee?

CAC members may serve two terms of three years. Membership is comprised of three Denver customers, one suburban customer, two Western Slope members, one environmental representative, one public interest group representative, one representative from the Home Builders' Association, and one suburban distributor representative. Committee members are selected as a result of CAC recommendations to the Board of Water Commissioners.

Current Members

Becky Long (2008 Chair) represents Denver citizens and has a strong knowledge of Colorado water issues through her work with the Colorado Environmental Coalition (CEC).  She has served as Water Caucus Coordinator for CEC since June 2006, and in that position works with 15 nonprofit organizations to develop and advocate for the adoption of water supply and management decisions that are environmentally and economically sustainable.  Becky received her BA in Political Science from Metropolitan State College and her Masters of Public Administration from the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado-Denver.  She is a fifth generation native of Colorado.


– Appointment 1/07 - 12/09, 1st term

Barbara Boardman (2008 Vice Chair) represents suburban citizens. She is a Colorado native, born in Palisade, who received a BS in Horticulture, summa cum laude, and a MS in Horticulture from Colorado State University.  Barbara has written gardening columns for area newspapers in Boulder, Longmont, Greeley, Lafayette, Louisville, Nederland and Loveland, and has received awards for her three-volume series of books, entitled "Gardening in the Mountain West."  Barbara was the second female horticulture agent in the United States and was an extension agent for Colorado State University from 1973-1990.


– Appointment 4/07 - 12/09, 1st term

Deborrah Pilon represents the suburban distributors. Ms. Pilon is the district manager for Willows Water District, a suburban distributor in the City of Centennial. She worked for Motorola Communications for ten years prior to joining Willows Water District in 1990 as Assistant Manager of Accounting and Administration. Ms. Pilon was named District Manager in 2004.

– Appointment 1/06 - 12/08, 1st term

Myrna Poticha represents environmental groups. She is presently on the Executive Committee and the Political Advisory Committee of the Sierra Club, and she is active with the national office of Clean Water Action. She is a political consultant to The Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, as Project Director for the Project on Campaign Conduct. She is a past three-term city council member for Greenwood Village. From 1975-1985 she served four terms on the State Water Quality Control Commission. She served on the Cherry Creek Basin Authority, which addresses issues pertaining to the Cherry Creek Reservoir. She served for six years on Mayor Webb's South Platte River Advisory Commission, with a particular interest in riparian natural areas. Poticha is a member of the Denver Water Planning Task Force charged with exploring and advising on post-Two Forks water use issues. She received her MSW in 1967 from the University of Illinois.


– Appointment 1/03 - 12/08, 2nd term

Steve Ormiston represents the Metro Denver Homebuilders Association. Steve is the Vice President for Planning for Shea Homes and has more than 33 years of professional community planning experience. Steve is a graduate of California Polytechnic University and has bachelor and master degrees in Urban Planning. In 2001, Steve received the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Local Government Innovation Award for Private Partnerships for the School District 27J Capital Facilities Fee Foundation. Steve and his family have lived in Highlands Ranch since 1982.


– Appointment 12/07

Rick Sackbauer resides in Vail and represents the citizens of Colorado's Western Slope. He is a Project Manager in design and construction for the Vail Resorts Development Company. Rick served as Chairman of the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, the second largest water provider on the Western Slope. He is president of the Eagle Park Reservoir Company. He actively participated in the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI).  He represents Colorado's recreation industry at the Colorado River Basin Roundtable. He is also a member of the Colorado River Headwater Forum, Club 20, the Colorado Water Congress and the Summit County Water Forum. He is an avid golfer and skier; he received a BS in Restaurant Management from Kansas State University.


– Appointment 10/04 - 12/07, 2nd term

Jason Randall is the public interest group representative on the CAC.  He is currently a Board Member of Denver Trout Unlimited and the Metro Housing Coalition -- Home Builders Association of Denver.  Jason is a fourth generation Coloradan and is Manager of Development Planning for Wonderland Homes.  His professional background includes the Department of Regional Planning for Los Angeles County, the Office of Science & Technology Policy for The White House and various political associations.  Jason has a BA in Economics/Business from the University of Colorado-Boulder, an MPH-Environmental from George Washington University and an MA-Urban Planning & Development from the University of California at Los Angeles.


– Appointment 1/07 - 12/09, 1st term

 

David Spector represents Denver citizens.  He is an attorney at Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP, where his practice focuses on public sector and policy matters in land use and transportation law.  David also has a background in public finance law, and has represented municipal issuers in bond transactions to finance wastewater treatment systems, among other projects.  He holds a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and a bachelor of science from Georgetown University.  He has a background in economic development and public policy, as well a stint with the U.S. Agency for International Development as a research analyst.  David is a Denver native, whose civic activities include serving on the board of Greater Park Hill Community Inc. and volunteering for University of Denver Law School Lawyering Process program.


– Appointment 4/07 - 12/09, 1st term

 

Melvin Rettig, a farmer on Orchard Mesa near Grand Junction, represents the Grand Valley and the Western Slope. Melvin has spent his lifetime on the same fruit and vegetable farm he currently operates. He attended Colorado State University, earning his degree in Agricultural Engineering and specializing in irrigation and drainage. He is a current or former member of the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District, Mesa County Farm Bureau, Mesa Conservation District, Colorado State Conservation Board, Colorado and Mesa County noxious weed advisory committees, Colorado Farm Bureau Water Committee, Colorado Ag Water Alliance Committee, Colorado Basin Round Table and the Ute Water Conservancy District. While a member of the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District, Melvin was involved in negotiations in Water Court concerning Wolford Mountain Reservoir and the Orchard Mesa Check Structure.


– Appointment 4/08

 

 

If you would like to be informed about openings on the CAC when they occur, please contact:

Joe Sloan
Liaison to CAC at
Denver Water
1600 West 12th Avenue
Denver, CO 80254
303-628-6320
CitizensAdvisoryCommittee@denverwater.org