After discovering that approximately 500 homes hadnot been paying for water, the City of Delano proposed contracting with a thirdparty to collect utility fees. This partnership would result in biannual lumpsum utility payments, now paid along with property taxes. The cost of utilities would likely increase and missing a payment may lead to home foreclosure.

Informed Delano residents were outraged by these implications. Ignited by the resident's passion, CRPE started a petition asking the City Council not to vote on this issue since the majority of residents were unaware of the proposed change. With only a week to organize, CRPE helped residents flood the City Council with calls, voicemails, and even Facebook messages, urging them to consider the impact this would have on Delano's most marginalized and vulnerable residents. CRPE faxed close to 900 signaturesto each Council Member. In response, the Council made a different motion rather than vote on the proposed agenda item to change how the utility fees arecollected. The motion was made to startover with the process and come back in six months after starting over with workshops. The residents now have 6month to help the city come up with good solutions. This win was a directresult of the work CRPE and Delano residents started in the CommunityLeadership Institute in November 2011. We look forward to continuing ourcommunity education program through Smart Valley Places, and the many wins thatwill follow.