12-20-07
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SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
"Basic Services for a Complex World"
Richard Solbriw, General Mana?er
Eric W. Schafer, President
BOARD MEMBERS
Paul Sciuto, Assistant Man'ier
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James R. Jones, Vice President
Dale Rise, Director
Mary Lou Mosbacher, Director
Ernie Claudio, Director
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REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
DECEMBER 20, 2007
MINUTES
The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District met in a regular session,
December 20, 2007, 2:00 P.M., District Office, 1275 Meadow Crest Drive, South Lake
Tahoe, California.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President Schafer, Directors Mosbacher, Jones, Rise,
Claudio
ROLL CALL
STAFF:
Solbrig, Sciuto, Sharp, McFarlane, Whalen, Hoggatt,
Ryan, S. Gray, C. Stanley, Bird, Donovan, Rasmussen,
Van Gorden, R. Johnson, Lee, Pinkel, Brown, Coyner,
Callian, Cocking, Henderson, Carrion, Adams, Frye,
Eidam, Long, Hammond, Attorney Herrema
GUESTS:
Ted Long/City of South Lake Tahoe Councilmember,
Jeff Miner, Donna and Casey Rise, John Cefalu,
Mark Lily, John Runnels
Consent Item b. (Utility Billing) was brought forward
for discussion prior to Board action.
Moved Mosbacher / Second Jones / Passed
Unanimously to approve the Consent Calendar as
amended:
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA
OR CONSENT CALENDAR
CONSENT CALENDAR
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a. Cattle Grazing Permit 2008: Alpine County -
Awarded contract to the highest responsive,
responsible bidder,_Urrutia Ranch, in the amount
of $14,600;
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - DECEMBER 20, 2007
PAGE - 2
b. See Consent Items Brought Forward;
CONSENT CALENDAR
(continued)
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c. Application to Present a Late Claim Received from
Bryan J. Golden - Granted application;
d. New Ford 350 4X4 Trucks for Heavy Maintenance
and Equipment Repair - A warded bid to the lowest
responsive, responsible bidder, Downtown Ford Sales,
for one crew cab in the amount of $23,826.22; and
for one regular cab in the amount of $20,795.21;
e. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Mitigation
Payment - Authorized payment to TRPA for 5%
mitigation fee on new sewer connections, in the
amount of $59,368.45;
f. Financial Statement Auditor Contract - Authorized
execution of a contract with Grant Thornton, LLP,
to provide annual financial statement audit services;
g. Approved Regular Board Meeting Minutes:
November 15, 2007.
CONSENT ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR DISCUSSION/BOARD ACTION
4..,
Director Mosbacher received clarification that InfoSend, UTILITY BILLING
Inc., did not hold foreign investments, nor do they out- (Consent Item b.)
source their work to other countries. She stated approval
of this item would represent a significant cost savings.
Moved Mosbacher / Second Claudio / Passed Unanimously
to approve proposal from InfoSend, Inc., for print and mail
services for utility billing, in the approximate amount of
$3,000 quarterly, plus postage.
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
Jeff Miner distributed a letter that summarized his
request to go above and beyond regulations and
dedicate money for treatment of radon in the water
supply. Discussion took place re: the fact that no
radon levels have been set by the state.
REQUEST TO APPEAR BEFORE
THE BOARD: JEFF MINER
No Board action.
Julie Ryan reported 10 bids were received for this
project at the November 14 bid opening. Pacific
Mechanical Corporation was the apparent low bidder.
Their bid had a minor deviation pertaining an insur-
ance issue about a waiver of subrogation to the
builders in their insurance certificate.
FINAL/SECONDARY EFFLUENT
PUMP STATION REPLACEMENT
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - DECEMBER 20, 2007
PAGE - 3
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This project was put out for bid last spring and only
one over-priced bid was received. Staff revisited the
project and streamlined it in order to attract a more
competitive bidding environment. This second round
of bidding resulted in a $2 million dollars savings
compared to the first round.
Moved Jones / Second Rise / Passed Unanimously
to award bid to the lowest responsive, responsible
bidder, Pacific Mechanical Corporation, in the
amount of $6,011,817; and to waive the minor
bid deviation described above.
The District is in need of completing Nutrient Manage-
ment Plans for its recycled water application. (This
will ensure the correct volume of water is supplied
according to each ranch's individual soil type, slope,
etc.)
There are eight plans that would be completed if grant
funding is available. If grant funding is not available,
staff would still like to complete the plan for Diamond
Valley. Three proposals from engineering firms were
received.
f...,
Moved Mosbacher / Second Claudio / Passed
Unanimously to approve consulting engineering services
by Wood Rodgers, Inc., in the amount of $51,520.
Hal Bird reported in order to work on the nutrient
management plans, cooperation will be needed from
the ranchers and landowners to access their property
to obtain samples, etc. This agreement is a requirement
of the grant process.
Moved Mosbacher / Second Jones / Passed Unanimously
to authorize execution of the Cooperation Agreement
with ranchers/landowners.
Moved Schafer / Second Jones / Mosbacher, Rise, and
Claudio Vote No / Motion Failed to approve Director
Jones as Board President for 2008.
Moved Claudio / Second Rise / Jones and Schafer Voted
No / Passed to approve Director Mosbacher as Board
President for 2008.
Richard Sol brig presented Director Schafer with a token
of appreciation for serving as Board President for 2007.
t...
Moved Claudio / Second Mosbacher / Jones Voted No /
Passed to approve Director Rise as Vice President
for 2008.
FINAL/SECONDARY EFFLUENT
PUMP STATION REPLACEMENT
(continued)
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN -
ALPINE COUNTY
COOPERATION AGREEMENT RE:
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN -
ALPINE COUNTY
ELECTION OF BOARD OFFICERS:
BOARD PRESIDENT
ELECTION OF BOARD OFFICERS:
VICE PRESIDENT
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - DECEMBER 20, 2007
PAGE - 4
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Moved Claudio / Second Mosbacher / Passed
Unanimously to approve payment in the amount of
$919,718.25.
Finance Committee: The committee met December 20.
Grant Thornton completed the audit and did an
excellent job.
Director Jones, Dennis Cocking, and Richard Solbrig
attended a meeting of the agency on December 12.
The meeting centered around the water rights disagree-
ment they were haYing with Georgetown DiYide to
secure 40,000 acre-feet of water to accommodate
agricultural needs. Language was proposed that may
end the dispute.
The coalition for Proposition 50 and round two of the
application process were also discussed.
Director Claudio relayed his appreciation to staff for
helping to bring him up to speed as a new board
member.
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Director Schafer reported on an agency that sold
water rights to treated effluent for $67M to a private
company.
General Manaoer: Richard Sol brig reported on two
items:
1) A group, spearheaded by Tahoe City PUD, and
including the North Tahoe PUD and the Corp
of Engineers, was formed to develop projects that
could be included in the 219 funding request. The
group will also pursue other avenues, including Section
509, for grant funding for a possible joint project.
2) Since the District's application for second round of
funding under Prop. 50 was not correctly rated, staff
will review what went wrong and determine if an
appeal process will be necessary.
3) He received a letter from AI Moss regarding the
District's crew in Alpine County. Their community
involvement, which includes volunteer service on the
fire department, is much appreciated.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
BOARD MEMBER STANDING
COMMITTEE REPORTS
EL DORADO COUNTY WATER
AGENCY PURVEYOR
REPRESENTATIVE REPORT
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
GENERAL MANAGER REPORTS
District Information Officer: Dennis Cocking reported STAFF REPORTS
the District obtained a $1 M earmark for funding through
the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act. If approved, this
funding would be used for water system infrastructure
improvements, including the upgrade of undersized
waterlines.
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - DECEMBER 20, 2007
PAGE - 5
Cocking also reported the State of California is in the
midst of another budget crisis. He expressed concern
the state may attempt to take property taxes again.
Chief Information Officer: Rhonda McFarlane reported
the District's participation in the new City redevelopment
proposal will be very important since the District's
finances and resources could be at stake.
Clerk of the Board: Kathy Sharp reminded the Board to
contact President Mosbacher with their input regarding
2008 committee assignments. Results will be
announced at the January 3 Board meeting.
STAFF REPORTS
(continued)
ACTION / REPORT ON ITEMS DISCUSSED DURING CLOSED SESSION
No reportable Board action.
3:30 P.M.
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.
ADJOURNMENT
A TTESTt:-:::
Kathy Sh
South Ta
V
r President
tility District