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SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
"Basic Services for a Comp/ex World"
Richard Solbri , General Manager Paul Sciuto, Assistant Manager
Mary Lou Mosbacher, President BOARD MEMBERS Dale Rise, Vice President
James R. Jones, Director Eric W. Schafer, Director Ernie Claudio, Director
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
AUGUST 6, 2009
MINUTES
The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District met in a regular session,
August 6, 2009, 2:00 P.M., District Office, 1275 Meadow Crest Drive, South Lake Tahoe,
California.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: ATTENDEES
President Mosbacher, Directors Rise, Claudio, Schafer,
Jones.
STAFF:
Solbrig, Sharp, Sciuto, Hughes, C. Stanley, Adams,
Callian, Coyner, Henderson, Morse, Ryan, Nolan,
R. Johnson, Barnes, Hoggatt, Baugh, W. Stanley
Thiel, Curtis, Attorney Kvistad
GUESTS:
Joyce Blackstone, Peggy Cocores, John Runnels,
Ken Curtzwiler, David Makovec, Vicki InFerrera,
Paul Morris, Chris Cefalu, Scott Swift, Donna Rise
Paul Morris led the pledge to the flag. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Ken Curtzwiler read aloud a statement (on file) he pre- COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
pared stating his views on an August 5 letter to the
editor printed in the Tahoe Daily Tribune from Wanda
Stanley. John Runnels and Wanda Stanley added to
the comments.
Moved Schafer / Second Rise / Passed Unanimously CONSENT CALENDAR
to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted:
a. 2009 Sonora Waterline Replacement Project -
Approved Change Order No. 1 to Campbell
Construction Co., Inc., in the amount of
$128,045.81;
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - AUGUST 6, 2009 PAGE - 2
b. Unpaid Assessments - Adopted Resolution CONSENT CALENDAR
No. 2867-09, authorizing delinquent accounts (continued)
be added to the 2009/10 El Dorado County Tax
Assessor's Roll;
c. InfraMap Software Purchase - Authorized purchase
of six licenses of InfraMap software from iWater,
Inc., for $2,459 each, for a total of $14,754, plus
tax;
d. GIS Maintenance and Development - Approved Task
Order No. 10 amendment to Arete Systems, to provide
additional consulting and support services, in the
estimated amount of $49,000;
e. 2009 Water Meter Installation Project - Authorized
staff to advertise for bids;
f. Final and Secondary Efflluent Pump Station -
Approved Change Order No. 7 to Pacific Mechanical
Corporation, in the amount of $8,259.99;
g. Rocky Point Erosion Control - Authorized staff to
pay invoice received from City of South Lake Tahoe
for water and sewer relocation, in the amount of
$10,890;
h. Annual Software Support Costs for Financial/Payroll
Software - Approved payments to SunGard Public
Sector for annual maintenance costs in the amount
of $15,921.46, plus tax.
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
During routine camera viewing of the District's sewer main, REQUEST TO APPEAR BEFORE
roots were discovered in the lateral located at 2290 THE BOARD RECEIVED FROM
Montana Avenue. Staff sent a letter notifying property JOYCE BLACKSTONE
owner, Joyce Blackstone, of the roots as a courtesy
since roots can eventually lead to a clog. The customer is
required to maintain the sewer lateral from their property to
the main. Roots were located a couple of feet up the lateral
from the main, and not in the District's main.
Ms. Blackstone appeared before the Board and presented
photos taken by Apollo Plumbing, and stated the photos
confirm the roots were not from her property. She requested
the Board approve reimbursement of $307.50 for the amount
incurred to have the sewer line cleaned of roots, and also
requested continued maintenance by STPUD of this area
to prevent reoccurrence.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - AUGUST 6, 2009 PAGE - 3
Ms. Blackstone attended the August 3 Water and REQUEST TO APPEAR BEFORE THE
Wastewater Operations Committee, where ownership BOARD RECEIVED FROM JOYCE
and maintenance of private sewer laterals was BLACKSTONE
discussed. On their recommendation, she approached (continued)
the Helping Hands program for financial assistance and
found that the program only helps those who are in
arrears in paying their bills, and she did not meet that
criteria, hence her request for reimbursement.
Moved Claudio / Second Mosbacher / to split associated
costs with Ms. Blackstone. The motion was subsequently
withdrawn because the invoice from Apollo Plumbing
included labor costs incurred to bring her sewer cleanout
up to grade. She will reappear before the Board at a later
date with a revised bill.
No Board action.
David Makovec filed a claim with the District in excess of LIABILITY CLAIM AGAINST STPUD
$21,000 as a result of work performed to excavate and RECEIVED FROM DAVID
remove an old septic tank as well as replace a sewer MAKOVEC
lateral that was in need of repair due to root intrusion.
Mr. Makovec claimed it was the District's responsibility as
he was not aware of the septic tank and subsequent
research showed a District permit card which said that the
septic tank was "pumped and filled." Mr. Makovec stated
that had the septic tank been properly inspected, the sewer
overflow would not have occurred.
Lisa Coyner and Mike Adams explained that Mr. Makovec
should have been aware of the existence of the septic tank
as his Grant Deed listed a leach field, which is used for a
septic tank. The District also notified the owner, every year
for three years, that his sewer lateral continued to back sew-
ge out of the cleanouts because there was root intrusion
and he needed to replace or repair his sewer lateral (which is
his property and not the District's responsibility). Mr. Makovec
did not repair his sewer lateral until there was another backup
in April of this year.
The District's claim adjuster, Carl Warren & Company, agreed
that this is not the District's responsibility and recommended the
claim be rejected.
Pursuant to Section 54956.9(b) of the California
Government Code, the Board adjourned to closed
session at 3:20 p.m. to discuss the merits of the claim
with legal counsel and staff. They reconvened to
open session at 3:40 p.m.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - AUGUST 6, 2009 PAGE - 4
Moved Claudio / Second Schafer / Passed Unanimously LIABILITY CLAIM AGAINST STPUD
4W to reject claim in accordance with Government Code RECEIVED FROM DAVID
Section 913. MAKOVEC
(continued)
Moved Schafer / Second Jones / Passed Unanimously PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
to approve payment in the amount of $3,796,757.37.
Water and Wastewater Operations Committee: The BOARD MEMBER STANDING
committee met August 3. Minutes of the meeting are COMMITTEE REPORTS
available upon request.
The next meeting of the Water Agency will be held at EL DORADO COUNTY WATER
the District on August 12. There are problems with AGENCY WATER PURVEYOR
Policy 4 (guidelines for funding of purveyors' cost-share REPORT
projects) that are being worked on.
Director Jones relayed his exasperation with a Board BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
member over an article in the Tahoe Daily Tribune
that accused the District of not being transparent. Other
Board members added to the comments.
Director Claudio read a list of suggestions to provide
openness and transparency to District customers and
urged utilizing new technologies where possible to
provide the public with more information.
He distributed a typed report and reported on the July 22
Board workshop, questions he had on the agenda, the
recycled water EIR, and his concerns about sprinkling
recycled water in Alpine County.
Director Schafer reported he will attend the next CASA
Conference and would bring back information if anyone is
interested in anything listed on the agenda that is posted
on their web site.
Director Mosbacher reported water shortages are a serious
problem in some areas, and some are forced to purchase
it from others.
General Manager: Richard Solbrig reported on the July 22 GENERAL MANAGER REPORTS
Board workshop, outreach for the metering program, the
status of the City Water MOU, and that District projects
plus the 2/3 reimbursement for utility relocations will be
included in the reauthorized Lake Tahoe Restoration Act.
4:40 - 4:55 P.M. MEETING BREAK
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - AUGUST 6, 2009 PAGE - 5
Grants Coordinator: Lynn Nolan reported that the water STAFF REPORTS
41W audit program was cut from the metering grant. She
distributed a report showing the status of all grants
applied for, and received to date.
Water Conservation Specialist: Shelly Barnes distributed a
handout and reported on the status of the successful turf buy-
back program, which concludes at the end of this growing
season. She also reported on educational outreach plans.
Chief Financial Officer: Paul Hughes gave an update on
the impacts of the state budget that was recently passed.
Clerk of the Board: Kathy Sharp gave an update on the
list of candidates running for seats on the Board in the
November elections.
5:30 P.M. ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED
SESSION
ACTION / REPORT ON ITEMS DISCUSSED DURING CLOSED SESSION
No reportable Board action. Pursuant to Section 54956.9(b)/
Conference with Legal Counsel-
Anticipated Litigation (One Case)
See Page 3 & 4 for action on this item. Pursuant to Government Code
Section 54956.9(b)/Conference
with Legal Counsel re: Liability
Claim Against STPUD Received
from David Makovec
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. El
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.
No reportable Board action. Pursuant to Government Code
Section 54956.9(a)/Conference
with Legal Counsel - Existing
Litigation: Tahoe Asphalt, Inc., and
Tahoe Asphalt Materials Company,
LLC, vs. STPUD, Case No.
SC20090104, El Dorado Superior
Court
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - AUGUST 6, 2009 PAGE - 6
No reportable Board action. Pursuant to Government Code
4W Section 54957/Public Employee
(Note: This item was added by Addendum, which Release
met all noticing requirements.)
6:15 P.m. ADJOURNMENT
Mary; u Mosbacher, Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District
4
ATTEST:
Kathy Sharp, rk of the Bo d
South Tahoe ublic Utility District
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