04-02-2020Z -
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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 Manager Shannon Cotulia, Assistant General Manager
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
April 2, 2020
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, Director Sheehan
Board of Directors Via Conference Call: Directors Cefalu, Jones, Exline
Staff: John Thiel, Paul Hughes, Melonie Guttry, Julie Ryan
Staff Via Conference Call: Shannon Cotulla, Gary Kvistad, Lynn Nolan, Shelly Thomsen
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA OR CONSENT CALENDAR:
None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Moved Sheehan/Second Vogelgesang/Vogelgesong YeSLCefalu Yes/Jones Yes/Sheehan Yes/Exline
Yes to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
a. OPERATOR IN TRAINING EMPLOYMENT EXTENSION
(Jeff Lee, Manager of Plant Operations and Liz Kauffman, Interim Human Resources Director)
(1) Approved an extension of the current Operator in Training employment term through June
30, 2020, end of the 2019/20 Fiscal Year; and, (2) Approve the policy of providing medical
insurance to this classification as required by the Affordable Care Act and PERS contributions
as required by CalPERS hour requirements.
b. GENERAL MANAGER SALARY
(Liz Kauffman, Interim Human Resources Director)
Approved the General Manager's Salary for 2020-21 Contract Year.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 2, 2020
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
PAGE - 2
a. Secondary Clarifier No. 3 Rehabilitation Project (Stephen Caswell, Principal Engineer) - Julie Ryan
provided details regarding the Secondary Clarifier No. 3 Rehabilitation Project.
President Vogelgesang opened the Public Hearing at 2:13 p.m. to receive comments regarding
the designation of the Secondary Clarifier No. 3 Rehabilitation Project as "substantially complex"
under Public Contract Code Section 7201. Julie Ryan provided details regarding the project
and addressed questions from the Board. There were no Public Comments received and the
Public Hearing was closed at 2:17 p.m.
Moved Vogelgesan91Second SheehanjVogelgesang Yes/Cefalu YesjJones Yes/Sheehan
YeslExline Yes to pursuant to the facts, find the project is substantially complex and requires a
10% retention limit; and, authorize staff to advertise for construction bids.
b. 2020 Diamond Ditch Inverted Siphon Lining Project (Trevor Coolidge, Senior Engineer and Heidi Baugh,
Purchasing Agent) - Julie Ryan provided details regarding the 2020 Diamond Ditch Inverted Siphon
Lining Project and addressed questions from the Board. Only one bid has been received with
deviations from requirements. After two advertisements, staff is requesting approval to negotiate
with the bidder without going out to advertise a third time. Shannon Cotulla provided details
regarding the siphon and backup siphon and explained that this contract will be contingent
upon the lifting of shelter in place.
Moved Vogelgesang/Second Sheehan/Vogelgesang YeslCefalu Yes/Jones Yes/Sheehan
Yes Exline Yes to (1) Reject the bid of Christian Brothers Lining Company due to the significant
deficiencies in its bid for the 2020 Diamond Ditch Inverted Siphon Lining Project; (2) Find that
rebidding the 2020 Diamond Ditch Inverted Siphon Lining Project would not be useful, desirable
or beneficial to the District; and, (3) Authorize the District to negotiate and enter into a Contract
for the 2020 Diamond Ditch Inverted Siphon Lining Project with Christian Brothers Lining
Company consistent with the requirements of the bid documents and Christian Brothers Lining
Company's bid.
C. 2020 Luther Pass Pump Station Improvements Project (Brent Goligoski, Associate Engineer) -Julie Ryan
provided details regarding the 2020 Luther Pass Pump Station Improvements Project bid
summaries. She provided details regarding TNT's Bid Bond and addressed questions from the
Board.
Moved Vogelgesang/Second /Sheehan/Vogelgesana YeslCefalu Yes/Jones YeslSheehan
YeslExline Yes to waive the bid irregularities and award the contract for the 2020 Luther Pass
Pump Station Improvements Project to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, TNT, in the
amount of $1,829,537.
d. COVID-1 Emergency - Procurement of Protective Masks for Barton Memorial Hospital
(John Thiel, General Manager) - President Vogelgesang reported the details of the donation to Barton
Hospital Foundation.
Moved Vogelgesang/Second Sheehan/Vogelgesong YeslCefalu Yes/Jones YeslSheehan
YeslExline„Yes to (1) Find that the South Tahoe Public Utility District's procurement of N95 and
P95 protective masks to Barton Hospital Foundation will serve an important public purpose by
protecting Barton Memorial Hospital's healthcare workers to enable them to continue providing
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 2, 2020
PAGE - 3
healthcare service to the general public, including the District employees, in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Ratify the South Tahoe Public Utility District's procurement of N95 and
P95 protective masks to Barton Hospital Foundation; and, (3) Authorize the District procurement
of P95 protective masks to Barton Hospital Foundation as needed.
e. Fiscal Year 2020/21 Board Budget Workshop (Paul Hughes, Chief Financial Officer and John Thiel, General
Manager) - Paul Hughes reported that the Board Workshop is currently scheduled for April 27. He
provided details regarding preparing budget information regarding various rate increases and
addressed questions from the Board. The Board discussed having staff prepare several options
including a zero rate increase and delaying the Workshop to the latest date possible. By
Consensus, the Board agrees to schedule the Budget Workshop on Tuesday, May 5, preparing
for 0% rate increase with incremental increases. The Board would like staff to provide outreach
to District customers regarding the option for monthly rate payments.
f. Approve Payment of Claims (Debbie Henderson, Accounting Manager)
Moved Sheehan/Second Vogelgesang/Vogelgesang Yes/Cefalu Yes/Jones Yes/Sheehan
Yes/Exline Yes to approve Payment of Claims in the amount of $1,081,578.01.
STANDING AND AD-HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Nothing to report
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS:
Director Exline provided kudos to John Thiel for his leadership during this COVID-19 Emergency.
EL DORADO COUNTY WATER AGENCY PURVEYOR REPORT:
John Thiel and Director Sheehan may attend the April 15 meeting via conference call.
GENERAL MANAGER REPORT:
John Thiel reported on several items:
Provided a staffing update including position hiring delays
Provided an update regarding the COVID-19 Response Plan, including state and county
counts for confirmed COVID cases. The District is currently at Risk Level 3, and staff has been
outstanding, including IT staff, which has assisted many remote workers. Staff is social
distancing and performing all the expanded hygiene protocols. John Thiel further detailed the
Families First program and thanked the Board for all of their support.
STAFF/ATTORNEY REPORTS:
Shelly Thomsen provided an overview of the South Tahoe Public Utility District Environmental Policy,
which has been reviewed and refined by the Operations Committee. Director Exline announced his
support of the plan and believes it will assist with future federal and state funding. Shelly Thomsen will
provide a complete copy of the plan via email.
John Thiel provided a brief overview of fuels funding through the Forest Service and Lynn Nolan
provided details regarding the projects for the funding. The District will be receiving $500,000 for fuels
reduction to be split among Tahoe City Public Utility District, North Tahoe Public Utility District and
South Tahoe Public Utility District, and $500,000 for water infrastructure fire improvements will go to
Douglas County for the Cave Rock project. Today the integrated regional water management grant
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 2, 2020 PAGE - 4
application was funded for $289,000 for a new water conservation program to encourage rate
payers to fix leaks that they may not be able to afford to fix on their own. The Board congratulated
staff on these efforts.
Attorney Kvistad reported that Ivo Berasohn hosted a webinar on Tuesday, March 31, to present the
South Y Feasibility Study. He further reported that the Governor just released another Executive Order
prohibiting water shutoff's after March 4.
ADJOURNMENT: 3:28 p.m.
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Melonie Guttry,`Clerk of the Board
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Randy Vogelgesang, Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District