08-01-2019SOUTH 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 Manager
Shannon Cotulla, Assistant General Manager
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
August 1, 2019
MINUTES
The South Tahoe Public Utility District Board of Directors met in a regular session, 2:02 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, Exline
Absent: Director Sheehan
Staff: John Thiel, Shannon Cotulla, Paul Hughes, Gary Kvistad, Marla Sharp, Tim Bledsoe, Brent
Goligoski, Shelly Thomsen, Brenlyn Hoyle, Heidi Baugh, Lynn Nolan, Julie Ryan, Star Glaze, Trevor
Coolidge, Nancy Hussmann, Jim Hilton, Jason Paul, Chris Stanley, Doug Van Gorden, Jeremy
Rutherdale
Guests: Robert Haen and Tom Haen; Haen Constructors, Inc.
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA OR CONSENT CALENDAR:
None
Director Exline provided compliments regarding the 4 d Water Wise House Call Program and
appreciates the efforts. Shelly Thomsen responded to questions regarding Liberty Utilities.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Moved Cefalu Second Jones Vo el esan Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan Absent Exline Yes
to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
a. TEMPORARY HELP FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT
(Tim Bledsoe, Manager of Customer Service)
Approved a Contract with Blue Ribbon Personnel Services for a temporary Customer Service
Representative in the estimated amount of $25,000.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 1, 2019
PAGE - 2
b. TAHOE KEYS AND UPPER TRUCKEE BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
(Stephen Caswell, Principal Engineer)
Authorized staff to increase the cost ceiling for Task Order No. 13 with Sierra Ecotone Solutions
for preparation of a Biological Assessment for the Tahoe Keys and Upper Truckee Pump
Stations Design Project in the amount of $5,300.
C. 2019 LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE
(Shannon Cotulla, Assistant General Manager)
Approved Resolution No. 3116-19 adopting the 2019 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update.
d. SIERRA ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION AGREEMENT FOR WATER WISE HOUSE CALLS
(Shelly Thomsen, Public Affairs and Conservation Manager)
Approved the Contract Service Agreement with Sierra Energy and Water Conservation to
complete Water Wise House Calls in the amount of $20,000.
e. TAHOE WATER SUPPLIERS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP DUES
(Shelly Thomsen, Public Affairs and Conservation Manager)
Approved membership dues for the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association in the amount of
$14,920.
LIBERTY UTILITIES STREET LIGHTS
(Tim Bledsoe, Manager of Customer Service)
Directed staff to provide notice to Liberty Utilities of the District's intention to discontinue street
light service billing and notify Liberty Utilities to terminate the street light service accounts in
the District's name as of October 1, 2019.
g. REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: JULY 18 2019
(Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/Clerk of the Board)
Approved July 18, 2019, Minutes
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
a. Larch Avenue Sewer Pipeline Emergency Repair (Julie Ryan, Engineering Department Manager) -
Julie Ryan provided details regarding the Larch Avenue Emergency Project. Completion is
near with paving scheduled for next week. She presented pictures of the damaged pipe and
video of the new installed pipe. District staff has been on site assisting with inspections.
Shannon Cotulla extended compliments to Underground Repair Sewer, Engineering staff and
all involved for the great collaboration on the job.
Moved Cefalu Second Jones Vo el esan Yes Cefalu Yes .tones Yes Sheehan
Absent/Exline Yes to continue emergency action to replace approximately 100 linear feet of
sewer pipe on Larch Avenue near Sonora Avenue pursuant to Resolution No. 3114-19.
b_ Geronimo Way Sewer Pipeline Emergency Repair
(Julie Ryan, Engineering Department Manager) - Julie Ryan provided details regarding the emergency
repair on Geronimo Way providing video showing the extensive damage. Repairs will start
next week with the same contractor that is completing the emergency work on Larch
Avenue.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 1, 2019
PAGE - 3
Moved Cefalu Second Janes Va el esan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Jones Yes/ Sheehan
Absent/Exline Yes to Determine an emergency exists pursuant to Section 1 102 of the Public
Contact Code; (2) Determine substantial evidence has been presented to authorize an
exception be made pursuant to Section 22050 of the Public Contract Code that this
emergency will not permit a delay resulting from a competitive solicitation for bids and that
this action is necessary to respond to the emergency; (3) Adopt Resolution No. 3117-19
delegating authority to the General Manager and Assistant General Manager/Engineer to
order any action necessary to respond to this emergency; (4) Determine this project is
exempt from California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Public Resource Code section
10808(b) (2); and, (5) Approve expenditures necessary to start emergency repairs, estimated
to be $250,000.
C, 2019 Rocky Point II Waterline Replacement Project (Rebid)
(Julie Ryan, Engineering Department Manager) - Attor lqy Kvistad outlined details of the procedure
for the protest that was received from Vinciguerra Construction. Julie Ryan provided details
regarding the seven items of the protest that was filed and provided rebuttal to all items. No
public comments were made. Attorney Kyistad provided additional details regarding the
change in corporate structure of Haen Construction to Haen Constructors, Inc.
Moved Cefalu Second Vo el esan Vo el esang Yes/Cefalu Yes ones Yes/Sheehan
Absenf Exline Yes to: 1) Reject the bid protest from Vinciguerra Construction; 2) Waive the
minor irregularities in the bid from Haen Constructors; 3) Find that Haen is the lowest,
responsible bidder; and, 4) Award the Contract for the 2019 Rocky Point II Waterline
Replacement REBID and large Meters Replacement Project including all added alternate bid
items to Haen Constructors in the amount of $2,358,141.50.
d. Temporary Engineering Staffing - (Julie Ryan, Engineering Department Manager) -Julie Ryan provided
details regarding the additional staffing needed for Engineering with the consideration for the
position to be either in-house or Blue Ribbon Personnel Services.
Moved Cefalu Second Exline Vo el esan Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan
Absent Exline Yes to authorize staff to extend the term for the Part -Time Engineer, for a
duration not to exceed ten months, and in an amount not to exceed $60,000.
e. Water and Sewer Field Operations Department Staffing
(Jeremy Rutherdale, Pump Station Supervisor and Chris Stanley, Manager of Field Operations) - Chris Stanley
provided details regarding the long-term employees that are planning to retire within the
near future and the need to have additional staff trained.
Moved Cefalu Second Jones Va el esan Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan
Absent/Exline Yes to authorize staff to hire an additional Pump Station Operator in the Water
and Sewer Field Operations Department.
f. Grants Department Staffing
(Lynn Nolan, Grants Coordinator and Paul Hughes, Chief Financial Officer) - Paul Hughes provided details
regarding the Grants Assistant position being hired with the transition to full-time and the
District savings.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 1, 2019
PAGE - 4
Moved Cefalu Second Va el esan Vo el elan Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan
Absent/Exline Yes to authorize District staff to bring the position of part-time Grants Assistant in
house and convert to full-time in May 2020.
g. Approve Payment of Claims (Debbie Henderson, Accounting Manager)
Moved Cefalu Second Exline Vo el esan Yes Cefalu Yes Jones Yes Sheehan Absent
JEAne Yes to approve Payment of Claims in the amount of $3,100,393.81.
STANDING AND AD-HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS:
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS:
Director Exline reminded the Board that he will be absent for the August 15 Board Meeting and also
the Summit.
EL DORADO COUNTY WATER AGENCY PURVEYOR REPORT:
The EI Dorado County Water Agency Board Meeting is scheduled for August 14 at 10:00 a.m. at the
District.
GENERAL MANAGER REPORT:
John Thiel reported on several items:
• Provided a staff update and announced that Cavin Ross, a temporary employee for two
years was hired full time in Underground Repair Sewer.
• Presented details regarding his recent attendance at the CEO Roundtable luncheon.
• Provided details regarding the meeting of California Tahoe Alliance.
• Provided details regarding the staff changes at the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association.
• Presented staff changes at the Lakeside Park Water Association.
• Provided an update regarding the City Paving Plans and provided details regarding the
District's progress.
STAFF ATTORNEY REPORTS:
Shelly Thomsen provided a report regarding blue-green algae testing at Indian Creek Reservoir and
the steps the District has taken for testing and notification and details for future testing and steps.
She reminded Board Members that the Tahoe Summit is scheduled for August 20 and the Western
Caucus August 14-16 and to RSVP if interested.
Chris Stanley and Jeremy Rutherdale provided a report regarding the failure of the motor at the
Valhalla Well. A new motor is being installed and the pump is being refurbished while the work is
being completed. Shannon Cotuila provided details regarding a Well Monitoring Program that is
being developed for routine inspections of District wells to prevent issues like this.
BREAK AND ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION: 3:51 p.m.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION: 4:10 p.m.
a. Pursuant to Section 54956.9(a) of the California Government Code, Closed Session may
be held for conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation: False Claims Act
Case: United States, the States of California, Delaware, Florida, Nevada, and Tennessee
and the Commonwealths of Massachusetts and Virginia ex rel. John Hendrix v. J -M
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 1, 2019
PAGE - 5
Manufacturing Company, Inc. and Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A., Civil Action No.
ED CVO6-0055-GW, United States District Court for the Central District of California.
No reportable Board action
b. Pursuant to Section 54956.9(a) of the California Government Code, Closed Session may
be held for conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation: Los Angeles County
Superior Court, Case No. BC459943, State of Nevada, et al. v. J -M Manufacturing, et al.
No reportable Board action
c. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d) (2)/Conference with Legal Counsel
regarding Significant Exposure to Litigation (one case).
No rel2ortable Board action
d. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b)/Conference with Legal Counsel
Potential Litigation (two cases).
No reportable Board action
ADJOURNMENT: 4:10 p.m.
Marla harp, Assistant Cf rk of the Board
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Randy Vogelgesang, Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District