12-04-97SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
"Basic Services for a Complex World"
Robed Baer, General Manager Richard Solbri~l, Assistant Manager
Christopher H. Strohm, President BOARD MEMBERS James Jones, Vice President
Duane Wallace, Director Mary Lou Mosbacher, Director Robed Mason, Director
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
DECEMBER 4, 1997
MINUTES
The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District met in a regular session December
4, 1997, 2:00 P.M., City Council Chambers, 1900 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe,
California.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President Strohm, Directors Wallace, Jones, Mason,
Mosbacher.
ROLL CALL
STAFF:
Baer, Solbrig, Sharp, McFarlane, Noble, Bird, Minister,
Schroeder, Rondoni, Brown, Rieger, T. Powers, Forsythe,
R. Johnson, Hussmann, Hoggatt, Twomey, Hydrick,
Attorney Neese.
GUESTS:
Judy Brown/City Counsel Liaison; Rick Madrid, Wes
Weins/Sierra Pacific Power Co.; Jim Baetge/Tahoe Region-
al Planning Agency; Craig Morgan/Avalex; Tina Treis/Perry
Smith & Co.; Patrick McCartney, Dan Thrift/Tahoe Daily
Tribune; Dr. Ranjit Gill, Lisa Dernbach, Bob Dodds/Lahon-
tan RWQCB; Anthony Brown/Komex H20 Science; Rey
Rodriguez/City of Santa Monica; Jim Crowley/Santa Clara
Valley Water District; Roberta Mason; David Kelly;
Pembroke Gochnauer; Joyce Blackstone; Ken Weitzman;
Lanee Batch; M. A. Barett; Tammy Lundquist.
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - DECEMBER 4, 1997
PAGE - 2
President Strohm read aloud Resolution No. 2661,
honoring Director Mason for his service to the District.
Mason was presented with an engraved plaque for
his outstanding service.
TinaTreisreviewed results of the 1996/97 audit. There
were no significant audit adjustments.
Consent Item 1 was brought forward for discussion prior
to Board action. Consent Item 2 was brought forward
for a separate vote.
Moved Jones/Second MosbachedPassed Unanimously
to approve the Consent Calendar, as amended:
3) Approved Regular Board Meeting Minutes of 11/6/97.
PRESENTATION: HONORING
ROBERT F. MASON FOR OUT-
STANDING SERVICE AS
DISTINGUISHED BOARD MEMBER
PRESENTATION: 1996/97 FINANCIAL
STATEMENT AUDIT RESULTS
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA
OR CONSENT CALENDAR
CONSENT CALENDAR
CONSENT ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR ACTION I DISCUSSION
Tim Rieger reported that when staff approved plans for
Rude Brothers Bagel and Coffee in December of 1996,
itwas stipulated that the old parcel no. 26-086-09 must
have its unused sewer fixtures properly capped off. It
was also specified that water meter(s) and backflow
assembly(s) be properly installed by October 1997. As of
December 4, 1997, the property owner has failed to meet
the conditions of the plans, approved nearly one year ago.
Rieger noted that the owner did install a grease interceptor,
as required.
WATER DISCONNECTION PRO-
CEDURES: FAILURE TO INSTALL
WATER METER(S) AND BACKFLOW
ASSEMBLY(S)
(Consent Item No. 1)
Moved Mason/Second Mosbacher/Jones Abstained/
Passed to authorize implementation of the two-week dis-
connection procedures on the property located at 3117
Harrison Avenue, APN 26-086-07. (Director Jones ab-
stained due to a potential conflict of interest.)
Moved Strohm/Second Mosbacher/Mason Abstained/
Passed to adopt Resolution No. 2661.
RESOLUTION NO. 2661 HONORING
ROBERT F. MASON FOR OUTSTAND-
ING SERVICE AS DISTINGUISHED
BOARD MEMBER
(Consent Item No. 2)
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
Chris Twomey reported nine bids were received for this
project, at the December 2 bid opening.
DRESSLER ON-FARM ROAD
REPAIR
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - DECEMBER 4, 1997
PAGE - 3
Moved Wallace/Second Jones/Mason Abstained/
Passed to award bid to the lowest responsive,
responsible bidder, Thomas Haen Company, in the
amount of $18,740. (Director Mason abstained due
to a potential financial conflict.)
DRESSLER ON-FARM ROAD
REPAIR
(continued)
Twomey noted FEMA has provided reimbursement
in the amount of $13,240 for this project.
Ross Johnson reported by entering into an agreement
with New Energy Buyers' Alliance, the District is guaran-
teed a 5% reduction in electricity costs. An estimated
savings of $63,000 per year could be realized.
Wes Weins encouraged the Board to consider the ramifica-
tions that could occur if the District were to switch providers.
Currently, Sierra Pacific cannot go out to bid because they
are regulated. Their company is trying to enter the dereg-
ulated electricity market by setting up an affiliated company
that would be free to compete with other providers. Weins
pointed out the generation plants and transmission lines that
would be used by New Energy Ventures to deliver the elec-
tricity are owned by Sierra Pacific. New Energy Ventures
does not have an agreement with Sierra Pacific that would
allow for delivery of the electricity to South Lake Tahoe.
NEW ENERGY BUYERS' ALLIANCE:
ACWA-USA GROUP MEMBER
AGREEMENT
It was the consensus of the Board to table the proposal
from New Energy Ventures until more information is avail-
able.
No Board action.
Rick Hydrick introduced representatives from the City of
Santa Monica, and the Santa Clara Water District. Hydrick
reported actions the District has taken to date, including
amounts spent investigating and remediating MtBE
and PCE contamination to District wells. The City of Santa
Monica experienced severe MtBE contamination in their
groundwater, resulting in the loss of 71% of their water
supply. Detailed presentations were given that described
the problems faced by each agency and their progress in
resolving them.
PRESENTATIONS: CITY OF SANTA
MONICA (REY RODRIGUEZ &
ANTHONY BROWN); SANTA CLARA
WATER DISTRICT (JIM CROWLEY).
Bob Dodds and Dr. Gill, LRWQCB, spoke regarding leaking
underground fuel tanks. MtBE appears to come from tanks
which have already been upgraded and tested. Detection
systems may not have the level of sensitivity needed.
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - DECEMBER 4, 1997 PAGE - 4
Jim Baetge, TRPA, questioned MtBE's impacts on surface
waters. He expressed concern that it could possibly enter
the intake lines of those who use the lake as a drinking
water source.
4:30 P.M.
4:40 P.M.
A lengthy question and answer period ensued where
MtBE impacts, remediation, and regulations were dis-
cussed.
PRESENTATIONS: CITY OF SANTA
MONICA (REY RODRIGUEZ &
ANTHONY BROWN); SANTA CLARA
WATER DISTRICT (JIM CROWLEY)
(Continued)
MEETING BREAK
MEETING RESUMED
No Board action.
Moved Strohm/Second Wallace/Passed Unanimously
to approve payment in the amount of $741,832.67.
5:40 P.M.
5:50 P.M.
7:15 P.M.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
MEETING BREAK
MEETING RESUMED AND
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
RECONVENE TO REGULAR
SESSION
ACTION / REPORT ON ITEMS DISCUSSED DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION
Hal Bird updated the Board on the status of this case.
No Board action.
The Board directed legal counsel and staff regarding
this item.
No Board action.
Discussion on this item was postponed until the next
Regular Board Meeting.
No Board action.
Pursuant to Section 54956.9(a) of
California Government Code/Con-
ference with Legal Counsel Existing
Litigation: Schwake v. STPUD,
Federal Case No, CV-N-93-851-DWH
Pursuant to Section 54956.9(b) of
California Government Code/
Conference with Legal Counsel -
Anticipated Litigation (one case)
Pursuant to Section 54957.6 of
California Government Code/
Conference with Labor Negotiators
re: STPUD Management Staff
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - DECEMBER 4, 1997 PAGE - 5
7:15 P.M.
7:20 P.M.
Water and Wastewater Operations Committee: The
committee met December 2 and discussed several items
on this agenda. Minutes from the meeting are available
upon request.
Comments received during the November 13 sewer unit
workgroup were reviewed by the committee. A follow-up
session will be held December 17, where volunteers who
attended the first workgroup will expand on issues identified
and will help formulate the group's recommendation.
A grease management workgroup session will be held
December 16 to gather public input regarding grease
protection issues and to develop the elements of a
program suited to meet the needs of the community.
Le.qislative Funding Ad Hoc Committee: Baer attended a
Transportation and Water Quality Coalition meeting (the
committee responsible for coordinating Presidential Del-
liverables). Funding requests for fiscal year 1998/99 for
projects contained in the deliverables were not submitted
to Washington; the meeting was held to compose a letter
to request that funding. Several members of the coalition
questioned the District's EPA funding request. Reed
Schmidt, Bartle Wells, will present the District's Five-Year
Financial Plan to the coalition on December 19. The pre-
sentation will detail how the export pipeline EPA grant will
impact the financial plan, and will also include three alter-
native construction plans.
The coalition supports the idea of Lake Tahoe Basin sewer
agencies removing sewer lines from sensitive areas. A
maximum of $100,000 may be available from the Corps of
Engineers to conduct a feasibility study. Sewer agencies
would be required to provide matching funds for any costs
exceeding $100,000.
Baer and Director Jones met with Senator Boxer during
the ACWA conference on November 20. Chris Rissetto,
Holland & Knight, is working on obtaining export pipeline
funding for next year.
MEETING BREAK
MEETING RESUMED
BOARD MEMBER STANDING
COMMITTEE REPORTS
BOARD MEMBER AD HOC
COMMITTEE REPORTS
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - DECEMBER 4, 1997 PAGE - 6
Representatives from the District will attend Senator
Boxer's MtBE hearing in Sacramento on December 9.
Director Wallace received a request for the Chamber of
Commerce to host a public meeting near the end of
January with Attorney General Dan Lungren.
Lahontan/SWRCB Communications Ad Hoc Committee:
Lahontan may be meeting in Ontario on December 5 to
discuss personnel matters.
FEMA Ad Hoc Committee: Senator Boxer's staff is working
on the District's appeal to FEMA Region IX. A hearing will
be held in January with FEMA's new regional director.
Director Mason recounted events of his 14-year tenure
as a Board member. He welcomed Pembroke Gochnauer
to the Board. Director Mason thanked his wife, Roberta,
and District staff for their support during his terms of
service.
Director Jones reported on his attendance at the November
ACWA Conference in Long Beach.
District Information Officer: Dawn Forsythe reported the
County and District are working together to administer
the proposed H20 Outreach Program. President Strohm
assigned Directors Gochnauer and Mosbacher to an ad hoc
committee to assist with the program's implementation.
Attorney Neese is reviewing legal aspects of the program.
Richard Solbrig reported on the status of the emergency
projects:
Millich Ditch/Snowshoe Thompson Ditch No. 1 Emergency
Proiect of March 20, 1997 - Millich Ditch is now operational.
The area is being revegetated. Final easements for the
Snowshoe Thompson pipeline project are being developed.
Payroll requirements are being reviewed.
Upper Truckee River Gravity Sewer Line Crossing (near
Morton Dr. and South Upper Truckee Road) Emergency
of 10/2/97 - The permit applications have been submitted to
TRPA and Lahontan. Staff will meet with property owner
Jon Corley regarding access to the project site.
BOARD MEMBER AD HOC
COMMITTEE REPORTS
(continued)
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
STAFF REPORTS
STATUS OF EMERGENCY PROJECTS
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - DECEMBER 4, 1997 PAGE - 7
8:00 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
Christopher H. Strohm, Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Kat~hy Shar~:;le~ of'the B~-ard
South Tahoe"Public Utility District
ST007266
DATEL~)~_ z~ /~
REGULAR 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,
ST057197
REGULAR 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
ST057198