03-04-10SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
Richard Solbrig, General Manager
Paul Sciuto, Assistant General Manager
Dale Rise, President
James R. Jones, Director
BOARD MEMBERS Mary Lou Mosbacher, Vice President
Eric W. Schafer, Director Chris Cefalu, Director
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
MARCH 4, 2010
MINUTES
The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District met in a regular session,
March 4, 2010, 2:00 P.M., District Office, 1275 Meadow Crest Drive, South Lake Tahoe,
California.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President Rise, Directors Cefalu, Jones, Mosbacher,
Schafer
STAFF:
Solbrig, Sharp, Sciuto, Hughes, Cocking, W. Stanley,
Thiel, Bledsoe, Curtis, Hammond, Attorney Herrema
GUESTS:
Adam Jensen/Tahoe Daily Tribune, Ken Curtzwiler,
John Cefalu, John Runnels, Ernie Claudio, Ken
Weitzman, Nicole Murphy/Murphy & Associates
ROLL CALL
John Runnels led the pledge to the flag. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Ken Weitzman questioned water meter installations,
fees, and the District's billing process. He also expres-
sed his support for term limits. Chief Financial Officer,
Paul Hughes, will meet with Mr. Weitzman to answer
his questions.
Moved Mosbacher / Second Schafer / Passed
Unanimously to approve the Consent Calendar as
submitted:
a. Arrowhead Well No. 3 Arsenic Treatment Facility -
Approved Change Order No. 5 to KG Walters, in
in the credit amount of ($269);
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
CONSENT CALENDAR
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 4, 2010 PAGE - 2
b. GPS Survey of Water Meters - Approved Task Order CONSENT CALENDAR
No. 11 to Arete Systems to provide consulting sup- (continued)
port services for the GPS survey effort, in the
amount not to exceed $10,710;
c. North Apache Booster Station - Authorized staff to
advertise for construction bids;
d. Meyers Waterline Replacement Project - Authorized
staff to advertise for construction bids;
e. Approved Regular Board Meeting Minutes:
February 4, 2010;
f. Approved Regular Board Meeting Minutes:
February 18, 2010.
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
Smart Covers are used in place of conventional manhole SMART COVERS
covers to electronically monitor sewer surcharges and
intrusion. They are being installed in problematic areas
of the sewer system. The covers are attached to existing
manhole covers and are self-contained, with their own
power source. Data is accessible to the District using a
dedicated website to monitor flow levels. 3T Equipment
Co. is currently the only area distributor offering this
type of remote technology.
Staff gave an on-line presentation of the software and
demonstrated how this technology can monitor sewer
levels via a "real-time reading," and help to successfully
prevent sanitary sewer overflows.
Moved Schafer / Second Mosbacher / Passed Unanimously
to: (1) Find that Hadronex is the only manufacturer of the
Smart Cover system; (2) Find that 3T Equipment Co. is
the sole area supplier; (3) Waive bidding procedures, as
outlined in the District's Purchasing Policy, for sole brand/
sole source supplier; (4) Authorize purchases of Smart
Covers from 3T Equipment Co., in the total amount of
$24,823, for six covers.
This item, proposed by Directors Rise and Mosbacher, TERM LIMITS FOR DIRECTORS
recommended three, four-year term limits be placed on ELECTED 2011 FORWARD
newly elected board members. The process requires
that the Board adopt a resolution to send to the El
Dorado County Registrar of Voters requesting the
question about implementing director term limits be
placed on an upcoming election ballot for the voters to
support or oppose.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES — MARCH 4, 2010 PAGE - 3
Board members and several members of the public
expressed their opinions.
Ideas in favor included:
California voters have shown support for term limits
in statewide offices;
Could create more competitive local elections;
- Could decrease longtime board members' tendency
towards becoming more influenced by District staff
than ratepayers;
- "It's the right thing to do";
- Long-term members could lose sight of the public;
- Stimulates new ideas and fresh perspectives;
- Gives voters' opportunity to decide if term limits
should be implemented.
Ideas against included:
- Terms should be four, four-year terms as the maximum;
- Could eliminate institutional knowledge and
experience from the Board;
Could diminish the voters' ability to choose by elimin-
ating their right to decide when to keep an effective
board member, or to vote out an ineffective board
member;
Since 1950, only six (including two current members)
would have been effected, so there is no need to
make a change;
Might be good for higher forms of government, but
against the norm for special districts to do;
- Removes valuable leadership;
- Depending on which ballot (2010 or 201 1) could be
costly;
- Majority of District ratepayers live out of town and
cannot participate in voting process.
Discussions also included whether the question should
be placed on the 2010 or 2011 ballot, given that the
2010 voter turnout might be greater, and therefore
warrant the expense of moving forward sooner. The
lengths of terms were discussed, as well as the issue of
whether it would be three consecutive four-year terms
only, or allow three consecutive four -terms with a four-
year break in between.
The suggestion was made to include the question on the
upcoming Customer Service Satisfaction Survey. The
pros and cons of that idea were discussed at length.
Moved Cefalu / Second Rise / Mosbacher, Schafer and
Jones Voted No / Motion Failed to adopt Resolution
2879-10 as written to be included on the 2010 general
election ballot.
TERM LIMITS FOR DIRECTORS
ELECTED 2011 FORWARD
(continued)
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES — MARCH 4, 2010 PAGE - 4
It was the consensus of the Board to direct staff to TERM LIMITS FOR DIRECTORS
include this question on the Customer Service Satis- ELECTED 2011 FORWARD
faction Survey, and to determine the timetable for (continued)
doing so.
Moved Schafer / Second Jones / Passed Unanimously PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
to approve payment in the amount of $1,206,477.28.
Water and Wastewater Operations Committee: The
committee met March 1. Minutes of the meeting
are available upon request.
Finance Committee: A full board workshop on the
budget was held March 3.
BOARD MEMBER STANDING
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Management/Union Medical Plan Negotiations Ad Hoc BOARD MEMBER AD HOC
Committee: The committee met February 25 with staff COMMITTEE REPORTS
and representatives from BB&H, to discuss health risk
assessments. A presentation will be made at the March
11 meeting by the Principal Group.
The agency will meet March 10 to continue discussions EL DORADO COUNTY WATER
about areas for savings, such as moving offices. Under AGENCY PURVEYOR
current rules, 2010 will be the last year the District will REPRESENTATIVE REPORT
receive a return on the property taxes diverted by the
agency.
Director Jones reported on the recent trip he and
Dennis Cocking made to Washington D.C., where they
met with various legislative and congressional offices.
They received assurances that the requested appropria-
tions will be funded, and that the 10% grant manage-
ment costs being taken by the USFS will be investigated.
It was a very beneficial trip and the legislators were
very complementary of the District's efforts.
Director Schafer reported he will attend the CASA
(California Association of Sanitation Agencies)
conference in Washington D.C. He reviewed the
topics various congressional panels will address.
Richard Solbrig reported on his attendance at a recent
Joint Utility Management Conference. Wastewater
agencies, both nationally and internationally, developed
10 common areas for effective utility management to
create the framework for a continuous improvement
process.
Clerk of the Board: Kathy Sharp reported the State
of California recently restored their State Mandated
Cost Program and the District stands to receive
reimbursement for the time and costs associated
with preparing a regular meeting agenda in
accordance with the Brown Act.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
GENERAL MANAGER REPORT
STAFF REPORTS
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 4, 2010 PAGE - 5
District Information Officer: Dennis Cocking reported STAFF REPORTS
on the Washington D.C. legislative trip. He also invited (continued)
interested board members to attend the ACWA Legis-
lative Symposium that will be held March 17 in
Sacramento.
4:00 - 4:10 P.M. MEETING BREAK AND ADJOURN-
MENT TO CLOSED SESSION
ACTION / REPORT ON ITEM DISCUSSED DURING CLOSED SESSION
No reportable Board action.
4110 No reportable Board action.
No reportable Board action.
No reportable Board action.
Pursuant to Government Code
Section54956.9(a)/Conference with
Legal Counsel -Existing Litigation re:
False Claims Act Case: United
States, the States of California,
Delaware, Florida, Nevada, and
Tennessee and the Common-
wealths of Massachusetts and
Virginia ex rel. John Hendrix v.
J -M Manufacturing Company, Inc.,
and Formosa Plastics Corporation,
U.S.A., Civil Action No. ED CV06-
0055-GW, United States District
Court for the Central District of CA
Pursuant to Government Code
Section 54956.9(b)/Conference
with Legal Counsel -Anticipated
Litigation (One Case)
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.
Pursuant to Government Code
Section 54956.9(b)/Public
Employee Evaluation
Unrepresented Employee Position:
General Manager
Agency Negotiators: Board of
Directors
5:25 P.M. ADJOURNMENT
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES — MARCH 4, 2010 PAGE - 6
ATTEST: �k
Kathy Shar , Clerk of the Board
South Taho Public Utility District
411
/fTh
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Dare Rise, Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District
r
DATE:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
GUEST SIGN -IN SHEET
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT: COMPLETION OF THIS INFORMATION IS VOLUNTARY,
NOT MANDATORY, AND IS NOT A PRECONDITION FOR ATTENDANCE.
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