03-15-12SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
Richard Solbrig, General Manager Paul Sciuto, Assistant General Manager
Eric W. Schafer, President
Chris Cefalu, Director
BOARD MEMBERS James R. Jones, Vice President
Randy Vogelgesang, Director Kelly Sheehan, Director
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
MARCH 15, 2012
MINUTES
The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District met in a regular session,
March 15, 2012, 2:00 p.m., at the District Office, located at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive,
South Lake Tahoe, California.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: ROLL CALL
President Schafer, Directors Cefalu, Jones, Vogelgesang, Sheehan
STAFF:
Solbrig, Sharp, Sciuto, Hughes, Cocking, Brown, C. Stanley, Curtis,
Nolan, Bird, Rasmussen, Bledsoe, Ryan, Cocking, Johnson, Swain,
Van Gorden, Cullen, Hussmann, Attorney Kvistad
GUESTS:
Rick Lind /EN2 Resources, Inc., Austris Rungis /IEDA, John Runnels,
John Cefalu
Moved Jones / Second Vogelgesang / Passed Unanimously C ONSENT CALENDAR
to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted:
a. Alpine County's Summer 2012 Fish Purchases - Authorized
payment to Alpine County in the amount of $51,000;
b. Rejected liability claim against STPUD Received from
Theodore and Janice Ornellas;
c. GPS Units and Reporting /Monitoring Services - (1) Approved
purchase of 35 GPS units; and (2) Approved one (1) year
monitoring service contract from RMJ Technologies, in the
total amount of $27,243.51;
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 15, 2012
PAGE - 2
d. Cold Creek Filter Plant and Ralph Tank SEZ Restoration
Projects - Extended Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, Inc.,
contract for consulting services, in the amount of $5,682.04;
e. Department of Water Resources Grant Application - Adopted
Resolution No. 2906 -12 to the Department of Water Resources
for the Integrated Regional Water Management Funding for
Tahoe Sierra Integrated Regional Water Management Plan
revision;
f. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Memorandum of
Understanding - Authorized execution of a new MOU between
TRPA and the District;
g. Contract for Audit Services - Authorized execution of a three -
year contract for audit services with Grant Thornton LLP in the
amount of $157,000 plus $3,000 per year for each required
program under the single audit.
CONSENT CALENDAR
(continued)
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
John Runnels, on behalf of the Citizens Alliance for Responsible
Government, sought disclosure of the mailing addresses for
District ratepayers, including email addresses, with the intention
of providing District customers unbiased information re: District
activities, and in particular, about Proposition 218 rate increase
notifications. Staff denied his request to release this information
in December 2011 since Mr. Runnels did not present any infor-
mation demonstrating a public interest in disclosure would be
served. Mr. Runnels requested this issue be decided upon by a
vote of the Board, and presented his request at the January 19,
2012, Board meeting, where it was discussed at length. It was the
consensus of the Board to table this item to the March 15 Board
meeting when a full Board was convened.
Comments for and against the release of this information were
received from staff, legal counsel, Mr. Runnels, John Cefalu, and
Board members. The Board reported it had previously discussed
that the Proposition 218 notices would be sent separate from the
quarterly bill, and include language on the envelope to bring
customers' attention to the important rate increase information
enclosed. A majority of Board members concluded that based
on the information presented, disclosure of customer contact
information did not clearly outweigh their right to privacy.
Moved Jones / Second Sheehan / Cefalu Voted No / Passed
to deny the Public Records Request for release of District rate-
payers mailing addresses, and email addresses.
REQUEST TO APPEAR
BEFORE THE BOARD:
PUBLIC RECORDS
REQUEST FOR MAILING
ADDRESSES FOR THE
DISTRICT'S RATEPAYERS
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 15, 2012 PAGE - 3
Staff gave an update on activities underway to address the UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER
emergency situation. Problems have been encountered with SEWER LINE PROTECTION
the permitting processes from Lahontan and the Army Corps PROJECT
of Engineers, and if they cannot be resolved, the project might
not be able to be completed within the timeline hoped for.
Moved Vogelgesang / Second Jones / Passed Unanimously to
continue emergency action declared on January 5, 2012.
Due to the unexpected permitting problems and new regulatory UPPER TRUCKEE RIVER
agency requirements that were not anticipated as part of the SEWER LINE PROTECTION
original scope of work, a cost increase is necessary for added PROJECT
engineering services from Northwest Hydraulic.
Moved Jones / Second Sheehan / Passed Unanimously to
authorize an increase in the amount of $20,162 to Purchase
Order P24808 for added environmental permitting services;
biological monitoring, revegetation inspection; and post -
construction monitoring.
The last C -Line hydro feasibility study was completed in June 2001. C -LINE HYDRAULIC POWER
Several factors have changed in the interim and power utilities GENERATION FEASIBILITY
are under increased pressure to produce renewal energy. ANALYSIS
Diamond Valley Ranch improvements are expected to alter the
C -line terminus as well as create new power requirements. The
first phase of this project will be to perform a condition assessment
of the C -Line to determine the remaining useful life and the
feasibility of hydro power generation. Based on the outcome of
the feasibility study, the contract may move on to design.
El Dorado County Water Agency is providing $50,000 funding for
the condition assessment, and $50,000 for the design phase of the
project.
The District received four proposals from engineering consulting
firms. Staff ranked and reviewed the proposals and recommended
Carollo Engineers to provide engineering design services.
Moved Jones / Second Cefalu / Passed Unanimoujy to approve
proposal from Carollo Engineers for engineering planning and
design services, and allow staff to enter into an agreement with
Carollo Engineers to complete this work up to a total contract
amount not to exceed $200,000.
Staff gave a brief history of the detection level included in the
MtBE policy, which was first developed in 1999, and revised in
2003. The policy is more restrictive than EPA and California De-
partment of Public Health standards for drinking water. Staff
believes that raising the detectable levels to 0.5 ppb will increase
operational flexibility of the water system and reduce added
DISTRICT METHYL TERTIARY
BUTYL ETHER (MtBE) POLICY
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 15, 2012
PAGE - 4
laboratory costs required to maintain the MtBE policy. It will also
maintain water quality at a level that is at least 10 times lower
than the state and federal maximum contaminant levels. This will
allow use of some of the District's drinking water sources that
were shut down in the past.
Moved Jones / Second Cefalu / Passed Unanimously to
authorize revision of the current MtBE policy by allowing the
detectable limit to be raised from 0.2 ppb to 0.5 ppb.
As part of the dissolution process of redevelopment agencies in
California, successor agencies are designated to administer the
remaining debts and obligations of the former redevelopment
agencies. Each successor agency will have an Oversight Board
in place by May 1, 2012. The Oversight Board has a fiduciary
responsibility to holders of enforceable obligations and the
taxing entities that benefit from the distribution of property tax
and other revenue. The Oversight Board is required to direct
the successor agency to take certain actions to wind down
the affairs of the redevelopment agency.
The Oversight Board is composed of seven members; two
appointed by the City of South Lake Tahoe, two appointed
by the County, one appointed by the largest special district
(STPUD), one appointed by the County Superintendent of
Schools, and one appointed by the Chancellor of the
Community College.
Discussion ensued re: whether to appoint a staff person or a
Board member. Most of the appointees are elected officials
at this point. Since Director Vogelgesang is the Board's liaison
to the City of South Lake Tahoe, he agreed to serve on the
oversight committee initially, with the possibility of reassigning it
to a staff person in the future.
Moved Schafer / Second Sheehan / Passed Unanimously to
appoint Director Vogelgesang to the Oversight Board of the
Successor Agency to the former South Tahoe Redevelopment
Agencies.
Moved Cefalu / Second Vogelgesang / Passed Unanimously
to approve payment in the amount of $1,188,190.76.
Water and Wastewater Operations Committee: The committee
met March 12. Minutes of the meeting are available upon
request.
DISTRICT METHYL TERITARY
BUTYL ETHER (MtBE) POLICY
(continued)
APPOINTMENT TO OVER-
SIGHT BOARD OF THE
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO
THE FORMER SOUTH TAHOE
REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCIES
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
STANDING COMMITTEE
REPORTS
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 15, 2012 PAGE - 5
Director Jones reported on his attendance at the recent ACWA
(Association of California Water Agencies) Washington D.C.
conference. While there, he spoke to various representatives who
are willing to assist the District in resolving unexpected permitting
problems and new regulatory requirements imposed on the
Upper Truckee River sewer line protection project.
Director Vogelgesanq stated he was aware that the last Board
had considered televising Board meetings and making them
available on the internet, but chose not to move forward with
it due to costs. He would like to revisit this item again since it
appears the Board is moving towards some sort of rate increase,
and would like to use a small portion of that money to get a
system (such as Granicus) placed on the internet in order to
make more information available to the public. It was the
consensus of the Board to direct staff to revisit this item after
the Public Budget Meeting is held in May.
The March 14 Board meeting was cancelled. The District's
request for project funding of in -kind services was well received
at the staff level. The Board will consider the request at their
April 11 meeting.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
EL DORADO COUNTY
WATER AGENCY REPORT
Richard Solbriq reported a District outreach presentation will be GENERAL MANAGER
given to the Kiwanis Club. Additional presentations are planned REPORT
during the summer.
District Information Officer: Dennis Cocking reported on his
attendance at the ACWA Legislative Symposium, and on
additional legislative contacts made during the ACWA
Washington D.C. trip.
He also described in detail the language that would be used
on the Proposition 218 mailing envelopes, and on the idea to
provide a portion on the ballot to register opposition. It was
the consensus of the Board to direct staff to proceed. Staff
will send a sample to the Board to allow for further review and
comment prior to finalizing the order. Rate information will also
be posted on the District's web site and on the internal intranet
site as well.
STAFF REPORTS
3:45 - 3:50 P.M. MEETING BREAK
3:50 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT TO
CLOSED SESSION AND
RECONVENED TO OPEN
SESSION
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 15, 2012 PAGE - 6
ACTION / REPORT ON ITEM DISCUSSED DURING CLOSED SESSION
a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(a) /Conference with Labor Negotiators
Agency Negotiators: Austris Rungis /IEDA, Richard Solbrig /General Manager,
Nancy Hussmann /Human Resources Director, Paul Hughes /Chief Financial Officer
Employee Organization: Management Unit
No reportable Board action was taken
b. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(a) /Conference with Labor Negotiators
Agency Negotiators: Austris Rungis /IEDA, Richard Solbrig /General Manager,
Nancy Hussmann /Human Resources Director, Paul Hughes /Chief Financial Officer
Employee Organization: Stationary Engineers
No reportable Board action was taken.
c. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 /Public Employee Evaluation
Unrepresented Employee Position: General Manager
No reportable Board action was taken.
5:20 P.M.
ATTEST:
RECONVENED TO OPEN
SESSION AND
ADJOURNMENT
Eric W. Schafer, oar President
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Kathy Shar Jerk of the Board
South Tahoe Public Utility District
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