03-04-99SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
"Basic Services for a Complex World"
Robed Baer, General Mana er Richard Solbri , Assistant Mana er
James Jones, President BOARD MEMBERS Christopher H. Strohm, Vice President
Duane Wallace, Director Mary Lou Mosbacher, Director Pembroke Gochnauer, Director
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
MARCH 4, 1999
MINUTES
The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District met in a regular session March 4,
1999, 2:00 P.M., City Council Chambers, 1900 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, California.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Vice President Strohm, Directors Gochnauer, Mosbacher.
President Jones and Director Wallace were absent due to
District business.
ROLL CALL
STAFF:
Baer, Solbrig, Sharp, McFarlane, Noble, Hussmann,
Hydrick, Zaninovich, Bergsohn, Forsythe, Hoggatt,
M. Alsbury, Schroeder, Reid, Attorney Kvistad.
GUESTS:
Judy Brown/City Council Liaison, Andy Bourelle/Tahoe
Daily Tribune; Chris Wessel and Dale Bugenig/AGRA
Earth & Environmental, Dan Howell and Dave Pratzed
CSRMA, Lisa Dernbach/Lahontan Regional Water Quality
Control Board, Steve Denzler, Joyce Blackstone, Roy
Hampson, Chuck Nelson.
Consent Item No. 9 was brought forward for discussion
prior to Board action.
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA OR
CONSENT CALENDAR
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 4, 1999 PAGE - 2
Moved Mosbacher/Second Gochnauer/Jones and Wallace
Absent/Passed to approve the Consent Calendar, as
amended:
CONSENT CALENDAR
1)
Asphalt Patching for 1999 Contract Season - Awarded
contract to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder,
G. B. Construction, in the estimated amount of $75,000;
2)
Approved Task Order No. 1 for Kennedy Jenks Consul-
tants review of pretreatment technologies for MTBE
contaminated groundwater (costs to be reimbursed by
discharger);
3)
Lookout Tank Replacement - Approved Task Order
No. 48 for Carollo Engineers to design tank foundation
in an amount not to exceed $20,300;
4) Flagpole and Lookout Tank Replacement Projects -
Authorized staff to advertise for bids for site work and
tank construction;
5) Airport Well: New Generator - Authorized staff to solicit
bids for a generator set for the Airport Well;
6) Bijou Pump Station Variable Frequency Drives (VFD's) -
Authorized staff to solicit bids for two VFD's at Bijou
Pump Station;
7)
Bijou Pump Station - A) Authorized exception to bidding
requirements for a sole source purchase; and B) Authoriz-
ed purchase of two pumps from Pump Engineering in the
amount of $16,445 each, plus tax;
8)
Highway 50 Waterline: Midway to Pioneer Trail - A) Made
determination that the project is exempt from CEQA; and
B) Authorized filing a Notice of Exemption with the El
Dorado County Clerk;
10) Approved Regular Board Meeting Minutes:
February 4, 1999.
CONSENT ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR ACTION / DISCUSSION
Director Mosbacher stated her objection to adding
additional options to the task order. She felt the
information already gathered was sufficient to base
decisions on.
INTERIM OFFICE NEEDS STUDY
(Consent Item No. 9)
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 4, 1999 PAGE - 3
Moved Strohm/Second Gochnauer/Jones and Wallace
Absent/Mosbacher Voted No/Motion Did Not Carry to
postpone consideration of this item until the March 18
Regular Board Meeting.
No Board action. (This item will be placed on the next
Regular Board Meeting Agenda.)
Roy Hampson reported he attended the UC/MTBE Public
Hearings. He commended President Jones and Director
Strohm for doing an excellent job on the District's behalf.
Progress is being made towards banning MTBE.
Mr. Hampson offered his insight relating to other MTBE
issues.
Representatives from CSRMA were present to recognize
members who excel in reducing their claims costs. A
plaque was presented, as a testament to District staff, for
creating a safe and positive workplace.
INTERIM OFFICE NEEDS STUDY
(Consent Item No. 9, continued)
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
PRESENTATION: CSRMA's
Workers' Compensation Committee
1997-98 Safety Award in the Lowest
Claim Frequency Cate.qory
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
Using an overhead slide presentation, representatives
from AGRA Earth & Environmental, Inc. illustrated the
three-dimensional model that was created to understand
the aquifer's characteristics.
The District began the aquifer study in the fall of 1995.
The purpose of the study was to understand the size and
characteristics of the aquifer that underlies the south shore
of Lake Tahoe, with special emphasis on that part of the
aquifer underlying the Al Tahoe area, where the Al Tahoe
and Paloma Wells are located. The study included the
creation of a three-dimensional computer model to gain an
understanding of the aquifer's characteristics, recharge
rate, contaminant transport, and other features important
to long-range planning. The study and improvements to the
model will be continued by District staff in the future.
(3:20 p.m. - Manager Baer left at this point in the meeting.)
Rick Hydrick reported staff will review the report and its
conclusions, and will make a recommendation to the
Board at a later date.
No Board action.
AL TAHOE AQUIFER STUDY:
PRESENTATION OF RESULTS
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 4, 1999 PAGE - 4
Moved Gochnauer/Second Mosbacher/Jones and
Wallace Absent/Passed to approve payment in the
amount of $508,965.99.
4:00 p.m.
4:15 P.M.
Finance Committee: The committee met on March 1
to review the 1999/00 budget. A Budget Workshop
will be held March 15.
Water and Wastewater Operations Committee: The
committee met March 1. Minutes of the meeting are
available upon request.
County Water Agency/EDWPNLAFCO Committee:
An EDWPA meeting was held today to discuss the
future of the County Water Agency. Purveyors on
the west slope would like the agency to continue on,
and requested the District's support.
Legislative Funding Ad Hoc Committee: Directors Jones
and Wallace are in Washington D. C. to garner support
for funding of the export pipeline project. While there, they
interviewed three firms to supply continued representation
in Washington. It was their recommendation to contract
with ENS Resources.
Rhonda McFarlane reported on the status of the revised
grant application. EPA signed and mailed the application
despite District staff's belief two items were still under
negotiation. Nona Reid reported on submission of pay-
ment requests under the grant; two additional require-
ments were added.
Director Gochnauer reported on the meetings that were
held regarding raising the money needed for the local
match to fund the EIP (Environmental Improvement
Program).
Director Mosbacher reported on five items:
1 ) She suggested the District send letters to local
water companies regarding disposal of MTBE
contaminated water.
PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
MEETING BREAK
MEETING RESUMED
BOARD MEMBER STANDING
COMMITTEE REPORTS
BOARD MEMBER AD HOC
COMMITTEE REPORTS
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 4, 1999 PAGE - 5
2) During last week's TCORP meeting, they discussed
dump stations and pump stations at Camp Richardson.
Currently, there is one at the campground, and one at
the pier.
3) She attended the Alpine County Board of Supervisors
meeting on March 2. The board will send a letter to
Assemblyman Rico Oiler supporting the use of recycled
water for fire suppression purposes.
4) Alpine County has been audited by the State Board of
Equalization. The State Board contends the county should
have charged tax for the sale of agendas, and plans &
specifications. The county sent in two claims and objected
to the third, which their legal counsel will continue to re-
search.
5) Alpine County received a letter from the state soliciting
recommendations for an appointee to the Lahontan Re-
gional Board. Chris Gansberg will be recommended for
the position.
Manaqer of Customer Service: Diane Noble reported that
the methodology used in developing the cost of service
portion of the sewer rate study was provided to Board
members. A rate setting workshop will be held in April to
provide the public with the opportunity to participate.
Assistant General Manager: Richard Solbrig reported, as
a result of the District's presentation to the League to Save
Lake Tahoe/Lake Tahoe Transportation & Water Quality
Coalition regarding the funding needs for the export pipe-
line project, the Technical Advisory Committee for the
export pipeline project is developing a report to support
the District's position regarding repair vs. replacement
options.
Richard Solbrig reported on the status of the remaining
emergency project:
Gardner Mountain Replacement Well Emergency of
9/17/98 - An independent consultant has been selected,
in conjunction with the USFS, to act as consulting hydro-
geologist/biologist for the project. The firm will develop a
scope of work. In the meantime, Ivo Bergsohn has been
working with the geophysicist who will be hired to survey
the depth-to-bedrock near Camp Richardson (the area that
the USFS requested the District consider as a possible
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
(continued)
STAFF REPORTS
STATUS OF EMERGENCY PROJECT
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 4, 1999 PAGE - 6
alternative site). The work should be completed by mid-
March. The survey results and background data will be
sent to the independent hydrogeologist to confirm a site
selection.
District Information Officer: Dawn Forsythe reported staff
will give a presentation to the City Council on March 16
to update them on the status of MTBE. April 1 is the City's
deadline for consideration of a ban on MTBE.
District General Counsel: Gary Kvistad reported on two
items:
1 ) He has been working with staff on developing the
Groundwater Management Plan. The Stakeholder's
Advisory Group will meet March 19.
2) An attorney from Hatch & Parent works with the Water
Resources Reuse Association. He inquired if the District
would like to make a presentation before the association,
regarding recycling water in South Lake Tahoe. It may be
a useful forum to relay the impacts of MTBE, since being
discovered in the District's recycled water.
5:45 P.M.
5:50 P.M.
6:10 P.M.
STATUS OF EMERGENCY
PROJECTS
(continued)
STAFF REPORTS
MEETING BREAK
MEETING RESUMED AND
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
RECONVENE TO REGULAR
SESSION
ACTION / REPORT ON ITEMS DISCUSSED DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION
Legal counsel updated the Board regarding the status
of this item.
No Board action.
Legal counsel and staff updated the Board and
received direction regarding these items.
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(c) of
California Government Code/
Conference with Legal Counsel
Anticipated Litigation (two cases)
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REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 4, 1999 PAGE - 7
Legal counsel and staff updated the Board regarding
the status of this item.
No Board action.
Pursuant to Section 54956.9(a) of
California Government Code/Con-
ference with Legal Counsel Existing
Litigation - STPUD v. ARCO, et al,
San Francisco County Superior
Court, Case No. 999128
6:10 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
J~R. Jones, Board ~resident
~th Tahoe PubliclY District
ATTEST:
Kathy Sharp,,~erk of the Boar¢
South Tahoe'Public Utility District
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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
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