Timothy F. Brick Re-Elected Chairman of Metropolitan Water Board of Directors

Timothy F. Brick, whose leadership has helped guide one of the nation's largest regional water agency’s response to unprecedented supply and financial challenges, was unanimously re-elected today as chairman of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Brick—the city of Pasadena’s representative on the Metropolitan board since June 1985 and the longest tenured MWD board member—will begin a second two-year term as chairman Jan. 1.

"As we scan the horizon for what the water future holds, Metropolitan is facing unparalleled challenges to the reliability and availability of our imported water supplies because of drought, along with the unpredictability of financial markets throughout the nation and worldwide,” Brick said.

“I believe a time of great challenges, however, is a time of great opportunity. Through the vision and equanimity our board has displayed in overcoming past adversities, I am confident we will rise to meet the district’s mission of providing a reliable, high-quality and affordable water supply for the 19 million Southern Californians we serve," he said.

With his re-election, Brick continues as Metropolitan’s 16th chairman in the district’s 80-year history. As the head of Metropolitan’s 37-member board, Brick represents district policies and programs at national, state and local levels. He also presides over monthly meetings of the board and its executive committee. In addition, he appoints members of the district’s seven standing committees, as well as the leaders of any special committee or task forces.

In acknowledging the board’s support following his re-election vote, Brick said sustainability and stewardship would remain the themes of his administration. He identified fixing the environmental health as well as the water system reliability and quality problems in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; expanding local water management projects and programs through an updated Integrated Resources Plan; and meeting the energy challenges as goals for his next term.

“To get through these challenging times, we need every member agency, every local retail agency, every consumer and every business to step up and take responsibility to be part of the solution to our water issues,” Brick said.

Among the achievements realized during Brick’s first term, Metropolitan’s board adopted a water supply allocation plan calling for the equitable distribution of the district’s imported deliveries throughout Southern California in response to more challenging supply conditions caused by drought.

Under Brick’s leadership, the Metropolitan board addressed sustainability and climate change issues. In May, Metropolitan hosted a Spring Green Fair, highlighting the latest innovations in green, sustainable technology and products for homes, gardens, businesses and industry. With the board’s support, the district continued its commitment to reduce the district’s carbon footprint by investing in renewable energy.

Acknowledging his leadership of sustainability and environmental stewardship in the Southland, the Los Angeles chapter of the Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California presented Brick with its 15th annual Engineering Achievement Award.

Brick also championed Metropolitan’s World Water Forum program, which provides grants to Southern California colleges for educational efforts addressing regional and world water problems. In 2006, he represented the Metropolitan board at the World Water Forum in Mexico City, where he delivered a presentation on Southern California conservation and integrated planning efforts.

A cooperative of 26 member public agencies, Metropolitan provides about half the water used by consumers and businesses in six Southland counties. The district’s 5,200-square-mile service area covers most of urbanized Southern California.

Metropolitan imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and provides financial incentives to help local agencies develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other water management programs. Metropolitan has an annual operating/capital budget of $1.8 billion, about 1,800 employees and more than 30 facilities throughout Southern California.

An organizational consultant, Brick currently is managing director of the Arroyo Seco Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to the protection and promotion of the Arroyo Seco watershed, a major tributary of the Los Angeles River. He previously served as an executive and consultant for a wide variety of business, governmental and nonprofit organizations, including the Hahamongna Operating Company, Pasadena AIDS Community Coordinating Committee, Hospice of Pasadena, the Pasadena Health Department and USA for Africa. Brick also was a member of the advisory committee of the Business Technology Center of Southern California.

He serves on the board of directors of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, a national organization to promote conservation and the wise use of water and as a member of the advisory board to the Water Resources Center Archives of the University of California.

Brick served 14 years on the Pasadena Utility Advisory Commission, which directs the municipal water and power department, including four terms as chair. He is a member of the Colorado River Water Users Association, National Water Resources Association and a member of the board of POWER (Public Officials for Water & Environmental Reform). He also belongs to the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy and the Society for Ecological Restoration.

A native of Omaha, Neb., Brick received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from California State University at Los Angeles and has pursued further studies in broadcast journalism and resource economics.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26 cities and water agencies serving 19 million people in six counties. The district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource-management programs.

Note to editors: A digital photograph of Timothy F. Brick is available upon request.