Experience | otaymark

Otay Water District, Board of Directors

Mark has been your elected Director at Otay Water District since 2004 and was re-elected in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020. His experience has been invaluable to the Otay ratepayers.

Mark is currently the Treasurer of the Board, having previously been its President and Vice-President. He is the Chair of Otay's Engineering, Operations, and Water Resources Committee. He is also on its Conservation, Public Relations, Legal, and Legislative Committee, Ad Hoc Salt Creek Golf Course Lease and Property Disposition Committee and the Desalination Project Committee.

Mark is Otay's representative to the Metro Commission, having been its Chair, which makes recommendations for sewer infrastructure improvements throughout the County of San Diego. Mark fought to keep sewer rates affordable by carefully scrutinizing the City of San Diego's costs they passed along to the Participating Agencies.

Mark is the President of the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College and has been involved since it opened in 1999. During that time the Garden grew substantially and earned many notable distinctions for its work in water conservation in the region as well as nationally.

Through Mark's efforts the seed money and water agency approvals for a new "sustainable urban landscape degree and certificate program" was developed and implemented at Cuyamaca College. The curriculum has been a model program and was adopted locally by MiraCosta and Southwestern Colleges.

Mark is a leading voice both regionally and statewide on water issues, primarily through his Twitter account https://twitter.com/OtayMark. Mark also runs the Twitter site https://twitter.com/yestotap which is a leading tap water advocacy site.

Otay recycles the sewage created by its customers in the Rancho San Diego/Mt Helix area at its reclamation plant in Rancho San Diego. It then pipes all of the water to Chula Vista for use there. Otay also has connection to the City of San Diego reclamation plant in the Southern service area, where it can receive 6 Million Gallons a Day (MGD). With this in mind, Mark has pushed for the use of its locally produced water (approx. 1.25 MGD) in the Rancho San Diego area where it can be used for such things as sports fields, along freeways and golf courses.

San Diego, East County, Chula Vista, Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce

Mark is active in all four chambers, including on the Sustainability & Industry Committee of the San Diego Chamber and the Government Affairs Committee of the East County Chamber.

East County and South County Economic Development Council

Mark is a member of both the East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC) and South County Economic Development Council (SCEDC). The purpose of them is to promote primary industry retention and growth in both regions.

El Cajon Elks Lodge

Mark is the Government Relations Director for the Lodge. He coordinates with local government agencies and officials for the betterment of the Lodge.

Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Board of Directors

Mark was a former Director with a neighboring water district, Padre Dam Municipal Water District (PDMWD).

Mark was elected as a Director to PDMWD and served from 1996 through 2000. While on PDMWD, Mark held the positions as President and Treasurer.

During Mark's tenure as President of the Board, the Competitive Challenge program was instituted which has saved Padre Dam ratepayers $1,800,000 annually to date.

Mark also served as the Director overseeing Santee Lakes, which made numerous upgrades to the Park including the adoption of a new Master Plan. Mark also was instrumental in the construction of a new Disabled Access Fishing Pier that was opened in June 2004.

Boy Scouts of America

Mark was on the National Staff of the 2017 National scout Jamboree

Mark served on the Board of Directors of the San Diego-Imperial Council. He helped extensively with the marketing and properties committees.

Mark served as the District Chairman for the Heartland District from 2015-2016.

Mark was an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 362 in Rancho San Diego. He did the website for the Troop, as well as photography and social media. His son was a member of the Troop.

Jamul Little League

Mark was a Manager for a team in 2011 and is was the League Information Officer doing the photography, website and publicity for the League.

Rancho San Diego ASA Softball

Mark had done the photography and publicity for the organization.

Santee Youth Foundation

Mark was the Founder and President of the Santee Youth Foundation (SYF). The SYF was created to enhance youth recreational opportunities in Santee. One of the significant accomplishments of the SYF was the creation of a $25,000 scholarship fund in the names of Randy Gordon and Bryan Zuckor, the two Santana High School students that were slain in 2001. The SYF, which was incorporated into the Santee-Lakside Rotary Foundation also donated $36,000 of its monies to the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County.

El Cajon Valley Lions Club

Mark was active with the El Cajon Valley Lions Club, where he served as its President in 1998-1999. The El Cajon Valley Lions, which was founded in 1947 is a leading service Club in East County with 80+ members. The Club's main service project is providing eye exams and eyeglasses for needy children throughout East County.

Other Organizations

American Motorcyclist Association - Lifetime Member
City of El Cajon - Blue Ribbon Commission - Former Commissioner
Commercial Real Estate Alliance of San Diego - Board Member
La Mesa Historical Society - Member
La Mesa Village Merchants - Member
National Federation of Independent Businesses - Member
San Diego Association of Realtors - Member
San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce - Infrastructure & Land Use Committee
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce - Sustainability & Industry Committee
San Diego State University - Lifetime Alumni