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2003 03-20SOUTH TAHOE pUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT "Basic Services for a Complex World" Robert G. Baer, GeneralRichard James R. Jones, President BOARD MEMBER let Eric Schafer, Vice President REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT MARCH 20, 2003 MINUTES The Board of Directors of the South Tahoe Public Utility District met in a regular session, March 20, 2003, 2:00 P.M., City Council Chambers, 1900 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe, California. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: L~ President Jones, Directors Schafer, Wallace, Becker, Mosbacher STAFF: Baer, Solbrig, Sharp, McFarlane, Metz, Frye, M. Alsbury, Cocking, Donovan, W. Stanley, Adams, Thiel, Eddy, Bird, Hussmann, D. Johnson, Coyner, Zaninovich, Hoggatt, T. Powers, Schrempp, Swain, Schroeder, Rassmussen, R. Johnson, Rondoni, Henderson, Brown, Thiesen, Curtis, Bergsohn, J. Alsbury, Eckenrode, Attorney Kvistad. Michael McLaughlin/Feldman Shaw, LLP, Millie Russ, James Russ, Jim FergusonlFerguson Excavating, Judy Harkins/EI Dorado County Board of Supervisors, Justin Baer, Brian Baer, Chris Strohm Consent Item f. was brought forward for a separate vote. CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA O.R CONSENT CA!F-NDAR PAGE - 2 REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 20~ 2003 Moved Mosbacher / Second Schafer / Passed Unanimously to approve the Consent Calendar as amended: CONSENT CALENDAR a. 2003 Asphalt Paving - Authorized staff to advertise for bids for annual paving and patching needs; Alpine County's Summer 2003 Fish Purchases - Authorized payment to Alpine County in the amount $30,000; District's Bank Account at U.S. Bank - Adopted Resolution eliminating individual names and listing positions of persons authorized to withdraw funds from the District's bank account, superceding Resolution No. 2690-99 in its entirety; District Alpine County Facilities: Temporary Help - Approved hiring a seasonal employee, from April 1 through September 1,2003, from the Substitute Personnel & Business Services (the Substitute) in the amount of $2,400 per month, plus the Substitute's administrative overhead costs; Amendment to Resolution No. 2663 Related to the District's Deferred Compensation Plan -Adopted Resolution updating the trustees for the deferred compensation plan to reflect the positions of General Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Human Resources; f. See Consent Items Brought Forward; g. Adopted Regular Board Meeting Minutes: March 6, 2003. CONSENT ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR'DISCUSSION I ACTION Moved Becker / Second Schafer / Mosbacher Abstained / Passed to approve Task Order No. 31 to Parsons, in the amount of $24,500 B-LINE PHASE 3: EXPORT PIPE- LINE REPLACEMENT (Consent Item f.) REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 20~ 2003 PAGE - 3 ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION Gary Kvistad read aloud a resolution of appreciation honoring General Manager, Robert Baer, for twenty- five years of exceptional service and wishing him much happiness in his retirement. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO ROBERT G. BAER, GENERAL MANAGER Moved Schafer / Second Wallace / Passed Unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2750-03. John Thiel reported request for proposals for architectural services were received and reviewed by a selection com- mittee comprised of District staff. The committee interviewed the top six candidates and selected the Smith Design Group as their final recommendation. Thiel stated the amount requested should be increased from $25,000 to $30,000. The Operations Committee reviewed this item and recommended approval. ADMINISTRATION BUILDING EXPANSION AND REMODEL Moved Schafer / Second Becker / Passed Unanimously to approve Task Order No. 1 to Smith Design Group for architectural services in the approximate amount of $30,000. Director Jones and Schafer disqualified themselves from participation in this item due to potential conflicts of interest. (Director Jones has worked for this property owner in the past; and Director Schafer's spouse is employed by the law firm representing the property owner). Lisa Coyner reported this issue was heard by the Planning Committee on October 16, 2002. The property owners requested reimbursement for excavation costs incurred when the District required them to cap off their sewer lateral. While the committee determined that the District was not responsible for the excavation costs, they presented two options regarding selling/transferring the property's sewer unit(s). REQUEST RECEIVED FROM JAMES AND MILLIE RUSS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF EXCAVATION COSTS RESULTING FROM CAPPING SEWER LINE AT MAIN DUE TO INACCURATE DIGS MARKINGS Michael McLaughlin, Esq., Jim Ferguson, James and Millie Russ, and District staff described the circumstances surrounding the excavation. District legal counsel, Attorney Kvistad, recommended that this agenda item be considered a claim. Sufficient information REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 20~ 2003 PAGE - 4 has been provided to give guidance in making a decision. Michael McLaughlin, Esq., agreed that this should be considered a formal claim and should include the issues of past payment, capping of the lateral, and excavation costs. Moved Wallace / Second Becker / Directors Jones and Schafer Abstained / Passed Unanimously to consider this a claim, and directed staff and legal counsel to research this issue and present a recommendation at a future Board meeting. Lisa Coyner reported the purpose of this ordinance is to adopt certain requirements and additions to the Adminis- trative Code. It became apparent the definitions in the Code were too convoluted to be understood by staff and District customers. Staff has met with interested persons and stakeholders in the community to assist in developing the amendments and additions. Clarifications were made to definitions of: remodeling, old sewer laterals, and existing sewer laterals. Moved Schafer/Second Becker/Passed Unanimously to enact Ordinance No. 484-03, amending the Adminis- trative Code Sections 1.1.101 and 4.3.9, and adding Section 1.1.48, Division 3, of the Administrative Code regarding remodeling and use of exiting sewer laterals (including minor changes suggested by Director Schafer). Dennis Cocking presented proposals from ENS Resources and Impact Strategies for continued legislative advocacy in Washington D.C. on behalf of the District. It was noted that the dates of the contracts are not correct, and should be effective from March 1 through December 31, 2003 (to coincide with the congressional year). It was the consensus of the Board to require an annual visit from both firms to update the Board on their activities, and to include this issue on the agenda for the November 6 regular Board meeting. Moved Schafer/Second Mosbacher/Passed Unanimously to: (1) Authorize execution of contract with Impact Strategies, L.LC. in the amount of $50,000; and (2) Authorize execution of contract with ENS Resources in the amount of $52,280. (Both contracts will include the date change and annual visit as described above.) REQUEST RECEIVED FROM JAMES AND MILLIE RUSS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF EXCAVATION COSTS RESULTING FROM CAPPING SEWER LINE AT MAIN DUE TO INACCURATE DIGS MARKINGS (continued) ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AMENDMENTS 2003/2004 WASHINGTON D.C. LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY SERVICES REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 20r 2003 PAGE Moved Schafer / Second Mosbacher / Passed Unanimously PAYMENT OF CLAIMS to approve payment in the amount of $909,827.94. Executive Committee: The committee met March 19 regarding existing litigation with Lakeside Park. A report will be made during closed session. BOARD MEMBER STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS Water and Wastewater Operations Committee: The committee met March 18. Minutes of the meeting are available upon request. CalPERS Pro.qram Ad Hoc Committee: The committee met March 11. A report will be made during closed session. BOARD MEMBER AD HOC COMMITTEE Director Becker reported the agency met, but District representatives were not able to attend. The meeting agenda included hiring a consulting firm to do projects that benefit the agency and El Dorado Irrigation District. EL DORADO COUNTY WATER AGENCY PURVEYOR REPRESENTATIVES REPORT Director Mosbacher reported on three items: 1 ) She attended a meeting of the Upper Truckee Watershed Focus Group. She relayed to staff that a consultant for the Conservancy will contact the District regarding locating the export line that runs through the former Sunset Stables. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS She also spoke to a man who intends to start a nursery project for ecological restorations. Hal Bird may be interested in this. 2) The Alpine County Board of Supervisors removed a water well request from Integrated Water from their meeting agenda. President Jones reported on his trip to Washington D.C. where he, along with Dennis Cocking, attended the ACWA conference. They attended various meetings and met with legislators. The main topic of discussion was the proposed safe harbor in the energy bill that would protect MTBE polluters from lawsuits General Manager: Robert Baer reported on two items: 1 ) Baer reported on the transition process underway for Richard Solbrig to assume duties of the General Manager. GENERAL MANAGER / STAFF REPORTS REGULAR BOARD Mr:_FTING MINUTES - MARCH 20~ 200,3 PAGE - $ 2) A new release of MTBE was discovered at Tahoe Tom's. Lahontan is trying to get funding for cleanup. The sale of MTBE gasoline has been banned at Lake Tahoe, so the question is how could it have been a new release? Assistant Manager: Richard Solbrig reported on two items: 1) He has been assuming many of the duties of General Manager to prepare for the transition to Interim General Manager on March 21. 2) He, along with Rob Bruek (Parsons), gave a presentation to the TRPA APC regarding the B-line draft EIRJEIS. Comments from the League to Save Lake Tahoe regarding use of the MTBE lawsuit settlement funds to construct route Alternative C were responded to. 5:15 - 5:20 P.M. 5:20 P.M. 6:17 P.M. ACTION I REPORT ON ITEM DISCUSSED DURING No reportable Board action No reportable Board action GENERAL MANAGER I STAFF REPORTS (continued) MEETING BREAK ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION RECONVENED TO REGULAR SESSION CLOSED SESSION Pursuant to Govemment Code Section 54956(a)/Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: STPUD vs. F. Heise Land & Live Stock Company, Inc., William Weaver, Eddie R. Snyder, Crockett Enterprises, Inc., ClV S-02-0238 MLS JFM United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, Sacramento, CA Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.(a)/Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: STPUD vs. John Breese Mumford, et al., El Dorado County Superior Court Case No. SC20020030 REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 20, 2003 PAGE - 7 No reportable Board action No reportable Board action No reportable Board action Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a)/Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation re: Meyers Landfill Site: United States of America rs. El Dorado County and City of South Lake Tahoe and Third Party Defendants, Civil Action No. S-01-1520 LKK GGH, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Ca. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.6(a)/Conference with Labor Negotiators: Agency Negotiators - Board of Directors; Employee Organization - Represented and Unrepresented Employees Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6(a)/Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation: STPUD vs. Lakeside Park Association, et al., County of El Dorado, Superior Court Case No. SC20010165 6:17 P.M. ADJOURNMENT >~uth Tahoe Pu ~c~lity District K&t~y Sharp,~lerk of the Board South Tahoe Public Utility District REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 20~ 2003 PAGE Moved Schafer / Second Mosbacher / Passed Unanimously PAYMENT OF CLAIMS to approve payment in the amount of $909,827.94. Executive Committee: The committee met March 19 regarding existing litigation with Lakeside Park. A report will be made during closed session. BOARD MEMBER STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS Water and Wastewater Operations Committee: The committee met March 18. Minutes of the meeting are available upon request. CalPERS Program Ad Hoc Committee: The committee met March 11. A report will be made during closed session. BOARD MEMBER AD HOC COMMITTEE Director Becker reported the agency met, but District representatives were not able to attend. The meeting agenda included hiring a consulting firm to do projects that benefit the agency and El Dorado Irrigation District. Director Mosbacher reported on three items: 1) She attended a meeting of the Upper Truckee Watershed Focus Group. She relayed to staff that a consultant for the Conservancy will contact the E)i.st. ri~t, recJ.ardin~locating the export line that runs t h-~u~~t Stables. . ~ She ................ ~, ~ ~ u spoke to a man who intends to sta~ a nurse~ project for ecologi~l restorations. Hal Bird may be interested in this. ~ The Alpine County Board of Supe~isors removed a water well request from Integrated Water from their meeting agenda. EL DORADO COUNTY WATER AGENCY PURVEYOR REPRESENTATIVES REPORT BOARD MEMBER REPORTS President Jones reported on his trip to Washington D.C. where he, along with Dennis Cocking, attended the ACWA conference. They attended various meetings and met with legislators. The main topic of discussion was the proposed safe harbor in the energy bill that would protect MTBE polluters from lawsuits General Manager: Robert Baer reported on two items: 1) Baer reported on the transition process underway for Richard Solbrig to assume duties of the General Manager. GENERAL MANAGER / STAFF REPORTS z zz ~:z ~-0 oo (.3 Z