02-05-98SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
"Basic Services for a Complex World"
James Jones, President BOARD MEMBERS James Jones, Vice President
Duane Wallace, Director Mary Lou Mosbacher, Director Pembroke Gochnauer, Director
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
FEBRUARY 5, 1998
MINUTES
The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District met in a regular session February
5, 1998, 2:00 P.M., City Council Chambers, 1900 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe,
California.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President Jones, Directors Wallace, Strohm, Gochnauer,
Mosbacher.
ROLL CALL
STAFF:
Baer, Solbrig, Sharp, McFarlane, Rieger, Bird, Noble,
Attorney Neese.
GUESTS:
Judy Brown/City Council Liaison, Dave Kurtzman,
John Horst, John McDougall.
Manager Baer reported on the fire that took place in the
tertiary building this morning at 11:40 a.m. Baer request-
ed this be added to the agenda as an emergency item;
due to the urgent nature of the situation, immediate action
must be taken so that repairs can be made in a timely
manner. Attorney Neese presented the legal framework
required to declare this an emergency item, so that it may
be included as part of this agenda. Baer confirmed an
emergency exists due to the fact that the fire destroyed all
electrical service to the building, impacting the ability to
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA
OR CONSENT CALENDAR
ST057818
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - FEBRUARY 5, 1998 PAGE - 2
process effluent. The file room, containing District
records, was totally destroyed. Additionally, the roof
was damaged, and all windows were broken. The
full extent of the damage is not yet known, but it is
apparent the repairs will exceed the authorization of
the General Manager. Immediate repairs are necessary
to ensure the integrity of the collection system. Lake
Valley Fire Department, and the City of South Lake
Tahoe Fire Department responded to the fire and will
not allow personnel into the building until it has been
determined that there is no immediate danger.
Moved Wallace/Second Mosbacher/Passed Unanimously
that sufficient evidence has been presented to determine
an emergency situation exists. This item will be added to
the agenda as Action Item No. 1.
Consent Items 2 and 3 were brought forward for discussion
prior to Board action.
Moved Strohm/Second Mosbacher/Passed Unanimously
to approve the Consent Calendar as amended:
1) Water Main Installation - Authorized staff to advertise
for bids for purchase of pipe and related items;
4) Highway 50 Waterline Replacement: Wildwood to
Midway - Authorized staff to advertise for bids;
5)
Christmas Valley Water Tank Replacement - A) Deter-
mined that project is exempt from CEQA; and B) Author-
ized filing a Notice of Exemption with the El Dorado
County Clerk;
6)
Gardner Mountain Water Tank Replacement - A) Deter-
mined that project is exempt from CEQA; and B) Author-
ized filing a Notice of Exemption with the El Dorado
County Clerk;
7)
Dressier On-Farm Road Repairs - Authorized increase
to Purchase Order No. 5991, in the amount of $8,490 for
Change Order for Thomas Haen Company, Inc.;
8)
Export Pipeline Grant Funding - Adopted Resolution No.
2666-98 authorizing filing grant application, providing
certain assurances, and committing local matching funds;
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA
OR CONSENT CALENDAR
(continued)
CONSENT CALENDAR
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - FEBRUARY 5, 1998 PAGE - 3
9) Approved Regular Board Meeting Minutes: 12/4/97;
10) Approved Special Board Meeting Minutes: 1/22/98.
CONSENT ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR ACTION I DISCUSSION
(Consent Items 2 and 3 were combined for the purpose
of this discussion and vote.)
Director Mosbacher questioned if this item has been
resolved. Rieger stated it has not.
Unreported water and sewer connections were discover-
on the property located at 945 Brockway Avenue. An
additional living unit was added to this property without
the benefit of the required water connection, sewer permit,
or payment of fees.
Director Mosbacher requested this disconnection not be
implemented until it can be ascertained that the property
owner intends to resolve this matter. Rieger stated he
anticipates the problem will be resolved, and that discon-
nection procedures will only be implemented if it is not.
Moved Wallace/Second Gochnauer/Mosbacher Voted No/
Passed to authorize implementation of the two-week dis-
connection procedures on the property located at 1966
Kokanee Way, APN 22-251-86 (Consent Item No. 2); and
to authorize implementation of the two-week disconnection
procedures on the property located at 945 Brockway Ave.,
APN 31-254-07 (Consent Item No. 3).
This item will be included on the next regular Board
meeting agenda.
SEWER DISCONNECTION PRO-
CEDURES: FAILURE TO PURCHASE
ADDITIONAL SEWER CAPACITY
(Consent Item No. 2)
SEWER DISCONNECTION PRO-
CEDURES: FAILURE TO PURCHASE
ADDITIONAL SEWER CAPACITY
(Consent Item No. 3)
REQUEST TO APPEAR BEFORE
THE BOARD: DAVE KURTZMAN,
REGARDING 1328 DICK LAKE ROAD
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
This emergency item was added to the agenda by a
unanimous vote of the Board. Attorney Neese orally
presented Resolution No. 2667-98. Baer confirmed
the findings and determinations.
TERTIARY BUILDING FIRE
EMERGENCY ITEM
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES -FEBRUARY 5, 1998 PAGE -4
By adopting Resolution No. 2667-98, the Board will make
the following findings: sufficient evidence was presented
to determine that an emergency situation exists, repairs
are necessary to maintain service and to mitigate the emer-
gency, the timely progress of repairs would be impacted by
the formal bidding process, and immediate action is neces-
sary to respond. The resolution also stipulates that the
Board delegates authority to the General Manager to order
any action in response to the emergency. Additionally,
because of the emergency status, the project is exempt
from CEQA requirements.
Moved Wallace/Second Gochnauer/Passed Unanimously
to adopt Resolution No. 2667-98.
Moved Strohm/Second Gochnauer/Passed Unanimously
to approve payment in the amount of $987,042.23.
Moved Gochnauer/Second Mosbacher/Jones Abstained/
Passed to approve Special Board Meeting Minutes:
January 6, 1998. (President Jones was excused from
that meeting.)
Water and Wastewater Operations Committee: The
committee met February 2 and discussed several items
on this agenda. Minutes from the meeting are available
upon request.
Executive Committee: The committee met February 3
to discuss the employment contract proposed by the
Human Resources Director, an unrepresented employee.
Finance Committee: The committee met January 26.
Minutes from the meeting are available upon request.
The committee will review the 1998/99 budget in March.
Legislative Funding Ad Hoc Committee: President Jones
will attend ACWA's Washington D.C. Legislative Confer-
ence to be held March 2-4. Baer will travel to Washington
D.C. to seek funding for the 1999 export pipeline relocation
project March 4-6. Jones and Baer will meet with represen-
tatives of Holland and Knight to develop a funding strategy.
TERTIARY BUILDING FIRE
EMERGENCY ITEM
(continued)
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
BOARD MEMBER STANDING
COMMITTEE REPORTS
BOARD MEMBER AD HOC
COMMITTEE REPORTS
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - FEBRUARY 5, 1998 PAGE - 5
H20 Program (Helping Hands Outreach Program) Ad Hoc
Committee: Aspects of the program are being coordinated
with El Dorado County. A fully structured program will be
presented to the Board in March.
Director Gochnauer reported on his attendance at a three-
day conference hosted by the Board Management Institute.
He will prepare and distribute a summary.
President Jones will attend a Governor's Advisory Panel
meeting regarding underground storage tanks and refueling
at Marinas, on February 18. He will also attend the ACWA
Washington D. C. Legislative Conference in March.
Director Wallace reported the Transportation and Water
Quality Coalition are in the process of developing a "Tahoe
Bill," designed to finalize funding requests for the Presiden-
tial Deliverables package. The name of the bill is being
debated.
Director Strohm reported TRPA has requested that several
local entities participate in committing funds to hire a con-
sultant to conduct an economics study. The study will cost
$100,000; the community has been asked to fund $20,000
as the local's match. The South Lake Tahoe Chamber of
Commerce has pledged $1,000 towards this study.
Director Gochnauer stated the Recreation Committee hopes
the TRPA economic study recognizes that recreation contri-
butes a major source of revenue to the area's economic
picture.
The SLT Chamber of Commerce has considered the Lodging
Association's idea of rezoning hotels in the "Y" area. The
City of South Lake Tahoe will consider the request at their
upcoming meeting. Director Gochnauer will report on any
actions taken.
General Manager: Baer reported the adoption of the
Environmental Improvement Program is listed on the
TRPA's APC February 11 agenda.
Richard Solbrig reported on the status of the emergency
projects:
BOARD MEMBER AD HOC
COMMITTEE REPORTS
(continued)
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
STAFF REPORTS
STATUS OF EMERGENCY PROJECTS
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - FEBRUARY 5, 1998 PAGE - 6
Millich Ditch/Snowshoe Thompson Ditch No. 1 Emergency
Proiect of March 20, 1997 - The project will go out to bid,
upon finalization of all agreements and easements. A
request to authorize solicitation of bids will be included
on the March Board agenda.
Upper Truckee River Gravity Sewer Line Crossing (near
Morton Dr. and South Upper Truckee Road) Emergency
of 10/2/97- V.C. Construction and Thomas Haen, Co., have
completed the work on this project for a total amount of
nearly $30,000.
The line has been protected. Lahontan and TRPA are
satisfied with the work, as performed. Rocks, wood chips,
and filter fence were used to reinforce the river banks. A
layer of wood chips was used to protect the access road
(the wood chips were removed after the work was complet-
ed). The line was televised to verify that inflow/infiltration
was not entering the system.
A nearby property owner has claimed the wood chips used
to protect the access road were placed on his property. A
survey will be performed this spring to determine correct
property boundaries. The property owner also asked if the
District would request that the U.S. Forest Service install a
fence to separate the properties.
Any future work associated with this project will require a
competitive solicitation for bids.
3:10 P.M.
3:15 P.M.
4:20 P.M.
STATUS OF EMERGENCY
PROJECTS
(continued)
MEETING BREAK
MEETING RESUMED AND
ADJOURNED TO EXECUTIVE
SESSION
RECONVENE TO REGULAR
SESSION
ACTION / REPORT ON ITEMS DISCUSSED DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board directed legal counsel and staff regarding this
item.
No Board action.
Pursuant to Section 54956.95 of
California Government Code/Confer-
ence with Legal Counsel Regarding
Liability Claim against STPUD,
received from Tahoe Chalet Inn
ST057823
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES -FEBRUARY 5, 1998 PAGE- 7
The Board directed legal counsel and staff regarding this
item.
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.
Human Resources Director: Nancy Hussmann gave an
updated report on the fire in the tertiary building. There
were no injuries. The fire was contained in the file storage
room area. Lake Valley Fire Protection District and the City
of South Lake Tahoe Fire Department crews are cleaning
debris from the building. All windows were broken. Effluent
flows will be temporarily routed to the emergency retention
basin, to allow for repairs. There is possible damage to the
air lines and pneumatics, and to the meter storage area.
The extent of the damage will be better assessed when
District staff are granted access to the building. Staff has
been directed to compile lists of items stored in the building.
CSRMA (the District's liability insurance carrier) requested
all costs associated with the fire be tracked for reimburse-
ment. The fire may have been caused by welding sparks.
4:35 P.M.
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
TERTIARY BUILDING FIRE
EMERGENCY ITEM
ADJOURNMENT
[Ja~nes R. Jones,/B~ard President
)uth Tahoe Pu~_.~ Utility District
ATTEST: ~-~C~¢'./', z.,,-~,~¢'~4 ,o
Kathy Sha~, Clerk of the¢ Board
South Tahoe Public Utility District
ST057824
DATE:~_?-~__~ ~%:
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
ST057825