Project Highlights

Community relations for public works construction projects is a necessary component to gaining public support for sensitive projects that may impact the community.

Constructive Community Relations aims to minimize construction impacts to the public and help diminish any opposition, which could potentially cause costly project delays, political issues and a negative perception of the project and the agencies involved.

Groundwater Replenishment System

The Groundwater Replenishment System is a $485 million innovative water purification system recently constructed by the Orange County Water District (OCWD) and Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD).

Constructive Community Relations partners, Jill DeCriscio and Kira Woodruff-Erquiaga were key members of the public outreach program development and implementation team, and were instrumental in gaining community support and acceptance of the four-year project and its temporary construction inconveniences.

Construction included a state-of-the art water treatment facility, installation of several barrier facility wells and construction of 13 miles of pipeline along the Santa Ana River.Construction impacted numerous businesses and residents in areas throughout Orange County, including the cities of Anaheim, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Orange, Santa Ana and the County of Orange.

Several community relations challenges existed throughout the four-year project, however, through our successful community outreach approach, we were able to gain community project support, keep the public informed of project milestones and construction impacts and facilitate successful communications between the multiple parties involved in the project.

Community Outreach Highlights:

• No organized neighborhood opposition

• Gained city, county and elected official support and cooperation for construction activities

• Obtained neighborhood and business support for GWR System

• Created community good-will and a positive image of OCWD and OCSD

Bushard Avenue Trunk Sewer Project-Phase 2

Orange County Sanitation District’s $68 Million Bushard Trunk Sewer Replacement pipeline project involved replacing a 108-inch diameter pipeline that stretched four miles through the heart of the cities of Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach. Strong neighborhood opposition and significant communication challenges were present resulting from the previous construction phase and impending neighborhood litigation.

The CCR team is credited with developing and implementing a successful community outreach program that engaged and informed neighbors by handling their questions and concerns in a professional and timely manner. Through our proven tactics, we were able to gain positive media exposure and convert highly skeptical neighbors into project supporters by the end of the project.

Our outreach efforts allowed the district to illustrate the important role neighbors play in a project of this magnitude and restore neighbors' faith in the district.

Community Outreach Highlights:

• No organized community opposition and only minor damage claims

• Gained positive media coverage and project acceptance from highly skeptical neighbors

• Established a partnership with the community, project team, city, county and elected officials and facilitated successful project communications

Capital Improvement Program

Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District’s (EVMWD’s) $70 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP) consists of more than 30 individual projects designed to enhance the water and wastewater infrastructure that supplies safe and reliable water to Elsinore Valley residents. To support the CIP program, CCR developed and implemented a comprehensive public awareness and construction outreach program designed to inform residents and gain their support of the program and its unprecedented amount of construction work required within an aggressive timeline.

A variety of communication methods were developed including:

• Community meetings/open houses

• Resident newsletters

• Construction alerts

• Cable TV broadcasts

• City newsletters

• News releases

• Program web site (evmwdcipo.com)

• Resident meetings

• Rotary/city council presentations

• Business/chamber of commerce meetings

• Special events

• Monthly progress reports

• Program hotline

The community has been overwhelmingly appreciative of the information and timely resolutions to their questions and concerns throughout the program.

Community Outreach Highlights:

• Achieved community understanding of program needs and benefits

• Obtained community program support and participation

• Extensive communication vehicles made multiple community impressions possible

• CCR outreach program sets standard for future EVMWD construction outreach programs

Seawater Barrier Upsizing Project

This Orange County Water District project involved installing a new, larger pipeline to allow increased flows to their expanded seawater intrusion barrier.

The project took place at the same time and vicinity as OCSD’s Bushard Trunk Sewer Project. Neighbors were frustrated with the extensive construction in their area and concerned about project detours, and safety, particularly near one local elementary school.

CCR successfully developed a program to inform residents of the project and its community need and benefits, and to address neighbor and school concerns.

A project hotline was established and multiple construction and safety alerts were distributed to concerned neighbors.

Residents soon recognized CCR as a trusted and reliable source for accurate and timely construction information.

Community Outreach Highlights:

• Neighbors appreciative of information in spite of heightened construction frustrations

• Facilitated communications with multiple project teams and agencies to provide accurate information to residents and to coordinate outreach activities

• Became a trusted, reliable source for local construction information