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SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
Randy Vogelgesang, President BOARD MEMBERS Kelly Sheehan, Vice President
Chris Cefalu, Director Duane Wallace, 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
September 17, 2020
MINUTES
The South Tahoe Public Utility District Board of Directors met in a regular session, 2:01 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, Wallace, Sheehan
Via Conference Call: Director Exline
Staff: John Thiel, Paul Hughes, Shannon Cotulla, Melonie Guttry, Chris Stanley, Brian Bartlett, Shelly
Thomson, Tim Bledsoe
Via Conference Call: Gary Kvistad, Brent Goligoski, Chris Skelly, Doug Van Gorden, Jessica
Henderson, Julie Ryan, Liz Kauffman, Stephen Caswell, Trevor Coolidge
Guests: Margie Maxhimer, Paula Peterson, Rick Lind, Shane Romsos, Tanya Sullivan, David Peterson
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA OR CONSENT CALENDAR:
None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Moved Cefalu/Second Sheehan/Vogelgesona Yes/Cefalu Yes /Sheehan YesjExline YeslWailace Yes
to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
a. SURPLUS EQUIPMENT
(Heidi Baugh, Purchasing Agent)
Authorized TNT Auction of Nevada Inc., to auction District surplus equipment at public on-line
sale.
b. LIBERTY UTILITIES RATE INTERVENTION
(Paul Hughes, Chief Financial Officer)
Authorized staff to execute a Contract with Jeff Inge, formally Kinect Energy Group, to provide
professional consulting services to support the intervention in a general rate case filed by
Liberty Utilities, in an amount not to exceed $25,228.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES September 17, 2020 PAGE - 2
C. ANNUAL SOFTWARE SUPPORT COSTS FOR THE DISTRICT'S SCADA SOFTWARE
(Chris Skelly, Information Technology Manager)
Approved payment to Wonderware California, DBA E&M Electric & Machinery Inc., for annual
supervisory control and data acquisition software maintenance and support in the amount of
$32,265.
d. 2020 SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
(Brent Goligoski, Associate Engineer)
Authorized staff to file a Notice of Completion with the El Dorado County Clerk for the 2020
Sewer Improvements Project.
e. 2020 WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT HAZARD FUEL MITIGATION PROJECT
(Julie Ryan, Engineering Department Manager and Heidi Baugh, Purchasing Agent)
Approved Project Closeout Agreement and Release of Claims with Ronwright Logging Lumber
Construction Inc., for the 2020 Wastewater Treatment Plant Hazard Fuel Mitigation Project.
CAPITAL OUTLAY ACCOUNTS ROLLOVER
(Shannon Cotulla Assistant General Manager and Debbie Henderson Accounting Manager)
Authorized staff to direct rollover funds budgeted in 2019/2020 Fiscal Year to the 2020/21 Fiscal
Year.
g. REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: September 3, 2020
(Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/Clerk of the Board)
Approved September 3, 2020, Minutes
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
a. Replace Two 700 Horsepower Pumps at Luther Pass Pump Station (Chris Stanley, Manager of Field
Operations) -Chris Stanley provided details regarding replacing two 700 horsepower pumps at
Luther Pass Pump Station and addressed questions from the Board. The process to receive these
pumps takes approximately 10 months.
Moved Cefalu/Second Sheehan/Vooeloesano Yes/Cefalu Yes/Sheehan Yes/Exline Yes/Wallace
Yes to (1) Ratify District staff negotiations with Flowserve for the purchase of two 700 horsepower
pumps since they can only be obtained from one source and, as a result, further competitive
bidding would not produce an advantage; and, (2) Authorize the District to purchase two 700
horsepower pumps, including a factory performance noise and vibration testing for the Luther
Pass Pump Station from Flowserve in the amount of $648,409.33. The purchase price includes
estimated tax and shipping costs.
b. Approve Payment of Claims (Debbie Henderson, Accounting Manager)
Moved Sheehan/Second Cefalu/Vogelgesang Yes/Cefalu Yes/Sheehan Yes/Exline Yes/Wallace
Yes to approve Payment of Claims in the amount of $1,838,681.16.
STANDING AND AD -HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Directors Exllne and Wallace provided details regarding the Operations Committee Meeting on
September 14, 2020.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES September 17, 2020 PAGE - 3
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS:
Director Exline reported he is participating in activities from October 5-10, for Climate Week.
EL DORADO WATER AGENCY PURVEYOR REPORT:
Director Sheehan reported the regular meeting was cancelled and a Special Meeting is scheduled
for Friday, September 18, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
GENERAL MANAGER REPORT:
John Thiel reported on several items:
Provided a staffing update including the retirement of long-time staff member Nancy
Hussmann. Liz Kauffman has been promoted to Human Resources Director effective
September 17, 2020, and the Board congratulated Liz Kauffman.
There are no known COVID-19 Cases at the District to date. The El Dorado County active
cases and test positivity rates are declining and the County may move to the next phase on
Monday, September 21. The Lake Tahoe Unified School District will possibly make a change to
a hybrid program starting October 12. The District's Customer Service Office will open on
Monday, September 21, with telework continuing as recommended by Barton and field crews
working 12-hour shifts, with possible changes back to 10-hour shifts soon.
The District will be celebrating its 70th Anniversary, which will be shared with local media and
there will be a small celebration at the October 1, 2020, Regular Board Meeting.
STAFF/ATTORNEY REPORTS:
Tim Bledsoe reported improvements are continually being made to the Customer Rate Relief process
and application, including more prominent advertising on the District website. Customer Service is
receiving positive feedback from customers and as of today, 207 applications have been received
for total of $80,200 in relief for District sewer customers. Of those applications, 25 have been for
commercial accounts totaling $56,800; 24 multi -family accounts for a total of $10,100; 158 single
family totaling $13,300. The Rate Relief Program will be brought back to the Board to provide staff
direction regarding continuing this program into the next quarter. The Board thanked staff for their
continual improvements to the program.
Chris Stanley reported details regarding a cracked water pipe, which flooded the foundation at the
new Lake Tahoe Community College Child Development Center, which took place on Friday, August
21. It took time to shut the water down, which overflowed into the Demonstration Garden, but not
into the river below. The cost of repairs including staff time was approximately $68,966. Shannon
Cotulla added that the College staff were very complimentary of District staff and did not charge the
District for their staff time on the incident.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION: 2:40 p.m.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION: 2:42
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 United States District Court,
Case No. 2:20-CV-01514-WBS-CKD, Alpine County v. South Tahoe Public Utility District; et al
No reportable Board action
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES September 17, 2020
PAGE - 4
b. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b) of the California Government Code,
Conference with Legal Counsel regarding Potential Litigation (one case)
No reportable Board action
ADJOURNMENT: 2:43 p.m.
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Melonie Guttry, Clerk of the VCard
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Randy Vogelgesang, Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District