07-05-07
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SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
"Basic Services for a Complex World"
R. ichard So.lbri.w, General Mana9. er.
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Eric W. Schafer, President
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BOARD MEMBERS
. .. . ~aul Sciuto:. Assist~nt ~anaier
James R. Jones, Vice President
Duan~~aUac_e!pire~or _ ~._.~.,. Ma!y ~o~.IYI<>.s~~~h.~r, Dire<?!~i.H"
Kathleen Farrell, Director
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REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
JULY 5, 2007
MINUTES
The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District met in a regular session,
July 5, 2007, 2:00 P.M., District Office, 1275 Meadow Crest Drive, South Lake Tahoe, Ca.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President Schafer, Directors Wallace, Jones, Farrell,
Mosbacher.
ROLL CALL
STAFF:
Solbrig, Sciuto, Sharp, Coyner, R. Johnson, Cocking,
S. Gray, Donovan, Brown, Callian, T. Powers, Hoggatt,
Ryan, Bird, Bergsohn, Attorney Herrema. (McFarlane
participated via teleconference.)
GUESTS:
Dr. Tormey and Meghan Cauzillo/ENTRIX, Inc.;
Ernie Claudio, Lesly Fleck, Herman Marty,
Hank Raymond, Karyn and Ron Yost.
Hank Raymond relayed his concerns about water
supply for fire suppression and system vulnerability
in the North Upper Truckee neighborhoods during a
catastrophic fire. He offered suggestions for
consideration.
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
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Dan Freeman, Lukins Water Co. customer, reported
on the lack of water pressure, and dirt that comes
through the lines at his residence on 15th Street.
Mr. Freeman also reported on the mandatory water
restrictions imposed in the areas served by the Lukins
Water Co. He was told the restrictions were in place
because the water company was filling up fire trucks
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - JULY 5, 2007
PAGE - 2
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during the Angora Fire. Upon further investigation,
he determined Lukins did not use water for fighting
the Angora fire, and felt the restrictions were in place
due to the dilapidated system. He also reported he
witnessed Lukins' tap into the District's water system
in January.
Moved Jones / Second Farrell / Passed Unanimously
to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted:
a. Seasonal Help - Approved issuing Purchase Order
to the Substitute for seasonal help, in the amount
not to exceed $30,000;
b. WWTP Emergency Generator Diesel Spill - Approved
the proposal from Farr West Engineering to complete
a groundwater assessment for the WWTP emergency
generator diesel spill in the estimated amount of
$10,992;
c. Indian Creek Reservoir TMDL - Approved proposal
from SubAquatic Solutions to complete diving
services at Indian Creek Reservoir, in the estimated
amount of $2,827.
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
(continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR
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ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
Lisa Coyner reported staff has received requests for
relief from water/sewer service charges longer than the
typical six-month waiver period for those owners whose
homes were destroyed by the Angora Fire. Because of
the severity of the fire and the large amount of recons-
truction necessitated by this natural disaster, she
recommended the Board provide additional relief from
service charges.
The Board directed staff to bring a proposal to the
July 19 Board meeting to waive fees up to three years
(with a review at the two year mark), or until services
were requested to be turned back on. At the end of three
years, individual situations could be assessed and
provided with a longer waiver if necessary.
Coyner reported penalties resulting from the 2nd quarter
billing would be waived for all customers since nearly
everyone was affected by the fire in some way.
No Board action.
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SERVICE CHARGE RELIEF FOR
ANGORA FIRE VICTIMS
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - JULY 5, 2007
PAGE - 3
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At the June 21 Public Hearing, the Board removed
from consideration action on the final environmental
documentation package. Certification of the Negative
Declaration of Environmental Impact was tabled for
two weeks to allow Board members additional time
to consider written comments received during the
public review period and accompanying responses to
those comments. Certification will allow staff to file a
Notice of Determination with the Office of Planning
and Research and with the EI Dorado County Clerk.
Filing the Notice of Determination will enable the
District to provide evidence of CEQA (California
Environmental Quality Act) compliance to meet the
California Department of Health permitting require-
ments.
A stakeholders group was established between
District staff and concerned neighbors. The group
met on June 29. Lesly Fleck, who attended the
meeting, reported to the Board she felt a good faith
effort was made to meet the concerns presented by
the group. The advisory group will remain in affect
to allow for future discussions if there are more
problems. She stated she has a positive feeling for
the project and no longer opposes it.
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Discussion took place regarding the design of
the building and the location of the discharge stack.
Dr. Tormey explained to the Board the standard
of measurements established by the EPA (Environ-
mental Protection Agency), and also spoke regarding
radon concentrations.
Moved Jones / Second Wallace / Mosbacher Voted No /
Passed to accept the draft Initial Study with staff
comments for the South Upper Truckee Well Controls
Building and Treatment Facility and certify the
Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact.
(Director Mosbacher voted no because she felt some
windows should be installed in the doors to give the
building a more residential feel, and that the discharge
stack should be raised.)
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During the June 21 Public Hearing concerning the
Initial Study and Negative Declaration of Environmental
Impact for the project, written comments were
received regarding potential long-term noise and
radon emission environmental health and safety impacts
from the project. In consideration of those comments,
staff requested ENTRIX to prepare two cost proposals.
SOUTH UPPER TRUCKEE WELL
CONTROLS BUILDING AND
TREATMENT FACILITY
SOUTH UPPER TRUCKEE WELL
CONTROLS BUILDING AND
TREATMENT FACILITY
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - JULY 5, 2007
PAGE - 4
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The first proposal is to conduct an ambient noise
monitoring survey at the project site. Information from
this noise survey will be used as a baseline to assess
potential noise impacts from operation of the facility.
The second proposal is to develop a sampling program
for outdoor air monitoring of radon. The sampling
program would be used to monitor background radon
concentrations before and after operation of the treat-
ment facility to determine any increase above
background levels.
District staff believes that the project without mitigation
has a less than significant environmental impact.
The monitoring programs are being implemented in
response to the neighborhood concerns and direction
of the Board. Results from the baseline noise monitor-
ing and the radon monitoring program will be provided
to the community through a stakeholders group that
was established between District staff and concerned
neighbors.
Ivo Bergsohn described the monitoring programs and
standards that will be used.
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Moved Farrell / Second Mosbacher / Passed
Unanimously to approve proposals from ENTRIX, Inc.,
to: (1) Complete an ambient noise monitoring survey;
and (2) Conduct a two-year outdoor air sampling pro-
gram for radon monitoring at the South Upper Truckee
site, in the estimated amounts of $10,000 and
$20,000, respectively.
The Angora Fire, which began June 24, 2007, has
resulted in moderate to major damage of over 220
homes thus far in the North Upper Truckee, Tahoe
Paradise, and Angora Highlands neighborhoods. Each
of the affected lots has a water connection and a
sewer connection which need to be abandoned in
order to protect the remainder of the system. Also,
there are a hundred or more fire hydrants in the
fire area that may have been damaged by the fire or
during evacuation and fire-fighting operations. These
hydrants need to be tested and, if necessary, replaced.
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Time is of the essence in performing these repairs
for a number of reasons. First, unrepaired leaks at
damaged and destroyed properties can affect the
water pressure available on the water system. Staff
has been working diligently to turn off water at these
lots, but additional work is anticipated to secure the
water services at these lots until they are needed again.
Second, the foundations of destroyed structures pool
water and debris and funnel it into open sewer laterals,
increasing the potential for blockage of the sewer
SOUTH UPPER TRUCKEE WELL
CONTROLS BUILDING AND
TREATMENT FACILITY
(continued)
ANGORA FIRE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - JULY 5, 2007
PAGE - 5
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system and/or upset of the wastewater treatment
plant. Last, fire hydrants in the affected area need
to remain operational, as the risk for flare-ups and
spot-fires in this area will remain high for some time
into the future.
Staff proposed to contract with one or more local
contractors (to be determined) the week of July 9
abandoning water and sewer connections and testing
and replacing fire hydrants. Work will be performed
on a time and materials basis, since the amount of
effort required may vary significantly from lot to lot
and from hydrant to hydrant. Staff originally requested
$500,000 as listed in the agenda, but now expects
the work to cost at least $600,000; a more detailed
budget was not available at that time. The project is
not in the budget because it was not anticipated.
Allocated funds will be split between the water and
the sewer budgets, as needed. Staff will provide the
Board with bi-weekly updates of project progress and
the need for additional funds.
The State of California, Office of Emergency Services
has indicated that these costs will be eligible for
disaster fund reimbursement.
4.,
The major water system structures in this area (water
tanks and booster stations) appear to have sustained
little damage so far, but will need to be assessed more
fully before allocating funds for their repair, and so are
not included in this allocation request.
Moved Wallace / Second Jones / Passed Unanimously
to: (1) Determine an emergency exists pursuant to
Section 1102 of the Public Contract Code; (2) Determine
substantial evidence has been presented to authorize
an exception be made to Section 22050 of the Public
Contract Code that this emergency will not permit a
delay resulting from a competitive solicitation of bids
and that this action is necessary to respond to this
emergency; (3) Adopt Resolution No. 2834-07
delegating authority to the Assistant General Manager
to order any action necessary to respond to this
emergency; (4) Determine that the project is exempt
from CEOA, as is appropriate because EI Dorado
County has been declared a disaster area; and
(5) Approve $600,000 to start emergency repairs
to sewer and water systems.
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Director Jones thanked all District staff for their
excellent response to the fire.
ANGORA FIRE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE
(continued)
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - JULY 5,2007
PAGE - 6
Moved Farrell / Second Schafer / Passed Unanimously
to approve payment in the amount of $1,055,621.76.
Director Wallace reported Director Jones will attend
the July 11 water agency board meeting. Funding for
supplemental water rights will be the major topic of
discussion.
Director Wallace relayed his support for the District
employees and members of the community who were
impacted by the Angora fire.
President Schafer stated the Tahoe Daily Tribune
reported the District pumped over 50 million gallons
of water per day during the fire. The correct number
should have been more like 17.6 million gallons per
day (which is about 20% more than our previous
maximum).
Richard Solbrig reported three District employees lost
their homes in the Angora fire. A collection is being
taken for them. He also reported on the tanks
impacted by the fire.
District Information Officer: Dennis Cocking reported
appropriation requests are being considered to help
defray the costs of the Angora fire. He will write a
letter to the Tahoe Daily Tribune regarding the District's
water crews and their performance during the fire.
Clerk of the Board: Kathy Sharp reported the election
nomination period begins July 16 and ends on August 10.
A detailed memo of the process was distributed to
Board members and staff.
3:50 - 4:00 P.M.
4:10 P.M.
PA YMENT OF CLAIMS
EL DORADO COUNTY WATER
AGENCY PURVEYOR
REPRESENTATIVE REPORT
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
GENERAL MANAGER REPORTS
STAFF REPORTS
MEETING BREAK AND ADJOURN-
MENT TO CLOSED SESSION
RECONVENED TO REGULAR
SESSION
ACTION I REPORT ON ITEMS DISCUSSED DURING CLOSED SESSION
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No reportable Board action.
Pursuant to Government Code
Section 54956.9(a)/Conference
with Legal Counsel - Existing
Litigation re: Meyers Landfill Site:
United States of America vs. EI
Dorado County and City of South
Lake Tahoe and Third Party
Defendants, Civil Action No.
S-01-1520 LKK GGH, U.S. District
Court for the Eastern District of Ca.
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - JULY 5, 2007
PAGE - 7
No reportable Board action.
No reportable Board action.
4:10p.M.
ATTEST:
Pursuant to Government Code
Section 54956.9(a)/Conference
with Legal Counsel - Existing
Litigation re: Action Filed by
Advanced Companies against
Nicholas Construction, Inc.,
EI Dorado County Superior Court
Case No. SC-2007-0042
Pursuant to Government Code
Section 54956.9(b)/Conference
with Legal Counsel - Anticipated
Litiqation (One Case)
ADJOURNMENT
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