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SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
Randy Vogelgesang, President BOARD MEMBERS Kelly Sheehan, Vice President
Chris Cefalu, Director James R. Jones, Director Nick Exline, Director
John Thiel, General Mand er Shannon Cotulla, Assistant General Mana er
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
April 18, 2019
MINUTES
The South Tahoe Public Utility District Board of Directors met in a regular session, 2:06 p.m., at the
District Office, located at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive, South Lake Tahoe, California.
ROLL CALL:
Board of Directors: President Vogelgesang, Directors Cefalu, Jones, Sheehan, Exline
Staff: John Thiel, Paul Hughes, Shannon Cotulla, Gary Kvistad, Melonie Guttry, Jim Hilton, Bren Hoyle,
Chris Stanley, Steve Caswell, Nancy Hussmann, Julie Ryan, Cliff Bartlett, Ivo Bergsohn, Tim Bledsoe,
Shelly Thomsen,
Guests: Eric Schafer, Dan Gill, Heinz Blaume
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE:
Eric Schafer, District rate payer, encouraged the Board to do what needs to be done to protect the
community for the future. The Board has put a lot of thought into this rate increase.
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA OR CONSENT CALENDAR:
None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Moved Cefalu Second Sheehan/Vogelgesang Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan Yes Exline Yes to
approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
a. FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT FOR CUSTOM HAY HARVESTING AT DIAMOND VALLEY RANCH
(Jim Hilton, Water Reuse Operations Manager)
Authorized the District to negotiate a five-year haying Contract with Sanchez Ranch, LLC.
b. 2019 HEAVENLY 'TANK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT 2019
(Julie Ryan, Engineering Department Manager)
Found Tideflex to be the sole source for passive, internal tank mixing systems and authorize this
brand to be listed without alternative in the Contract Documents for the 2019 Heavenly Tank
Improvements Project.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 18, 2019
........ ......
C. REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: April A 2019
(Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/Clerk of the Board)
Approved April 4, 2019, Minutes
PAGE - 2
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
a. Customer Assistance Program (Paul Hughes, Chief Financial officer) - Paul Hughes reported there are
approximately 320 customers that use the customer assistance program. Language has been
added to include tenants to the program as long as they can illustrate they are financially
responsible for the water and sewer bill. Due to the significant low-income population in the
District's service area, as well as future anticipated rate increases, the Board desires to increase
the discount rate from 20% to 25%. He addressed questions from the Board regarding
disseminating the information to District customers. Shelly Thomsen and Tim Bledsoe further
addressed questions from the Board.
Moved Cefalu Second Sheehan Vo el esan Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan Yes Exline
Yes to approve Ordinance No. 571-19 of the South Tahoe Public Utility District amending Section
6.1.9 of Division 6 of the Administrative Code regarding the low-income customer assistance
program and superseding Ordinance No. 501-07 in its entirety.
b. Sewer Hydraulic Modeling Support Services (Stephen Caswell, Principal Engineer) - Steve Caswell
provided details regarding the proposed sewer hydraulic modeling support services. John Thiel
added these services advance a number of projects and in 18 months, the District will have a
fully functioning model, including staff training.
Moved Jones Second Sheehan Vo el esan Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan Yes Exline
Yes to approve Task Order No. 16 for Carollo Engineers for engineering services in an amount
not to exceed $131,300 to provide as -needed hydraulic modeling services for the sewer system.
c. Temporary Winter Wastewater Treatment Plant Generator Rental Extension
(Stephen Caswell, Principal Engineer and Cliff Bartlett, Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor) -Steve Casewell
provided details regarding the history and need for the proposed temporary winter wastewater
treatment plan generator rental extension.
Moved Sheehan Second Exline Vn el esan Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan Yes Exline
Yes to approve an increase to the Purchase Order to Cashman Equipment, Inc., for the rental of
two 500 kW generators for two additional months in the estimated amount of $32,000.
d. Diamond Valley Ranch Engineering Support Services (Ivo Bergsohn, Hydrogeologist) -Ivo Ber sohn
provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding Diamond Valley Ranch engineering support
services and addressed questions from the Board.
Moved Sheehan Vo el esan Second Vo el esan Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan
Yes/Exline Yes to accept the Cost Proposal from Domenichelli and Associates, Incorporated, for
engineering support services including instrumentation systems and operations training,
agronomic soils testing and monitoring and reporting at Diamond Valley Ranch on an annual
basis over a three-year period.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 18, 2019 PAGE - 3
e. Approve Payment of Claims (Debbie Henderson, Accounting Manager)
Moved Sheeran Second Cefaiu V❑ el elan Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan YesExline
Yes to approve Payment of Claims in the amount of $1,137,939.27.
STANDING AND AD-HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS:
President Vogelgesang reported the Ad -Hoc City Council Committee met this morning to discuss
several things including Liberty street lights. He reported that without the burden of the Proposition
218 process for the increase in Liberty fees, it is best for the community that the District continues
billing. The increase in fee will be passed onto Liberty customers, while the City prepares to take over
responsibility for the street lights. President Vo-gelgesang provided an update regarding workforce
housing and John Thiel added that the relationship with the City continues to be positive.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS:
President VogelQesang apologized for missing the last Board Meeting due to unavoidable
circumstances. Director Jones reported he attended an Association of California Water Agencies
meeting in Sacramento this week and provided details regarding headwaters and fire issues. Director
Exiling reported that there is a community wildfire preparedness event scheduled for April 25, at 6:00
p.m. Monday is Earth Day followed by an Earth Day Celebration at Bijou Park on Saturday, April 27,
2019.
EL DORADO COUNTY WATER AGENCY PURVEYOR REPORT:
Director Sheehan reported the April meeting was cancelled and the May meeting is scheduled for
May 8, 2019.
GENERAL MANAGER REPORT:
John Thiel reported on several items:
• Provided a staffing update regarding several positions vacated through staff promotions.
• He is presenting to a number of community organizations including South Lake Tahoe Lodging
Association, the Tahoe Chamber and Tahoe Douglas Rotary, with several more on the
schedule in the coming months.
STAFF ATTORNEY REPORTS:
Shelly Thomsen and Tim Bledsoe provided details regarding Earth Day activities and an elementary
school field trip on the MS Dixie. The Proposition 218 notices have been mailed and an email has
been sent to approximately 8,000 customers regarding the Public Workshop tonight. Several ads
have printed along with radio and television advertising. Tim Bledsoe reported 181 protests have
been received including 7 that were invalid. That equates to 1.2% on the water side and 1 % on sewer
side. In 2014, the District received a 2% protest overall. Director Exline reported he spoke with a
customer regarding the Proposition 218 rate proposal and had a good, positive conversation.
BREAK AND ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION: 2:53 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION:
a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 549.57(a)/Conference with Labor Negotiators re:
Memorandum of Understanding with Stationary Engineer, Local 39. Present at this Closed
Session will be Agency Negotiators: John Thiel, General Manager, Shannon Cotulla,
Assistant General Manager, Paul Hughes, Chief Financial Officer; and Nancy Hussmann,
Human Resources Director.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 18, 2019 PAGE - 4
No reportable Board action
b. Pursuant to Government Code Section 549.57(a)/Conference with Labor Negotiators re:
Memorandum of Understanding with the Management Group. Present at this Closed
Session will be Agency Negotiators: John Thiel, General Manager, Shannon Cotulla,
Assistant General Manager, Paul Hughes, Chief Financial Officer; and Nancy Hussmann,
Human Resources Director.
No reportable Board action
c. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4)/Conference with Legal Counsel
regarding Potential Initiation of Litigation (one case).
No reportable Board action
ADJOURNMENT: 3:47 p.m.
Randy Vogelgesang, Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Melonie Guttry, Clerk of the Board
South Tahoe Public Utility District