10-15-2020SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
Randy Vogelgesang, President
Chris Cefalu, Director
John Thiel, General Manager
BOARD MEMBERS Kelly Sheehan, Vice President
Duane Wallace, Director Nick Exline, Director
Shannon Cotulla, Assistant General Manager
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
October 15, 2020
MINUTES
The South Tahoe Public Utility District Board of Directors met in a regular session, 2:03 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, Sheehan, Wallace, Exline
Staff: John Thiel, Paul Hughes, Shannon Cotulla, Gary Kvistad, Melonie Guttry, Brian Bartlett, Tim
Bledsoe, Julie Ryan, Shelly Thompson,
Guests: Denver Williams, Seth Mauer
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA OR CONSENT CALENDAR:
None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Moved Cefalu/Second Sheehan/Vogelgesang Yes/Cefalu Yes/Sheehan Yes/Wallace Yes/Exline Yes
to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
a. RESOLUTIONS TO SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SECONDARY
CLARIFIERS UPGRADES PROJECT LOAN FROM STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD CLEAN
WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND (Lynn Nolan, Grants Coordinator)
Adopted Resolution No.'s 3153-20 and 3154-20 to apply for Wastewater Treatment Plant
Secondary Clarifiers Upgrades Project.
b. 2020 SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
(Brent Goligoski, Associate Engineer)
Approved Change Order No. 1 to Burdick Excavating Co., Inc., in the amount of
<$21 1,448.85>.
C. ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER AGENCIES 2021 DUES
(John Thiel, General Manager)
Authorized Association of California Water Agencies 2021 Membership Dues Renewal in the
amount of $26,275.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES October 15, 2020 PAGE -2
d. REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: October 1, 2020
(Melonie Guttry, Clerk of the Board)
Approved October 1, 2020, Minutes
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
a. Solar Energy and Economic Development Fund Sierras (Julie Ryan, Engineering Department Manager)
- Julie Ryan presented details regarding the Solar Energy and Economic Development Fund
Proposals and addressed questions from the Board. Denver Williams, the project preferred
vendor, provided details regarding the scale of the project. Attorney Kvistad is reviewing this
Proposal and recommends bringing in a consultant, such as HDR, to evaluate the Proposal for
feasibility. Denver Williams, added that the system is fairly maintenance free other than
cleaning, and it is in their best interest to be sure the system is in operation at all times. Attorney
Kvistad added that the District needs a definitive project description in order to run financials for
the District's facilities. He further recommends contracting with HDR to assist with the analysis, so
that the District can be sure the financial benefits and system options are in order. Special
California Public Utility Code (CPUC) permission may be required and Denver Williams assured
the Board, the liability rests with them, there is no liability with the District for construction.
Moved Voggl�esang/Second Sheehan/Vogelgesong Yes/Cefalu Yes/Sheehan Yes/Wallace
YeslExline Yes to direct staff to enter negotiations with the short-listed vendor for solar projects
at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
b. Approve Payment of Claims (Debbie Henderson, Accounting Manager)
Moved Sheehan/Second Cefalu/Vogelgesong Yes/Cefolu Yes/Sheehan Yes/Wallace YeslExline Yes
to approve Payment of Claims in the amount of $1,539,844.63.
STANDING AND AD -HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Director Cefalu reported the Finance Committee met to discuss increasing the General Manager's
Purchasing Authority from $25,000 to $75,000, in order to streamline certain expenditures. This will be
brought forward for action at the November 5, 2020, Board Meeting.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS:
Nothing to report
EL DORADO WATER AGENCY PURVEYOR REPORT:
Director Sheehan reported there was a meeting October 14, that she was unable to attend. John
Thiel provided details regarding the meeting and the next regular meeting is December 9, 2020.
GENERAL MANAGER REPORT:
John Thiel reported on several items:
• Provided a staffing update.
• Reported there is no COVID-19 illness within the District, although one staff member has had a
positive test result, that staff member has not been at the District and has quarantined at
home.
• A Customer Assistance Program summary will be reported at the November 5 Board Meeting.
• Reported that staff has reduced the level of patch paving requirements with the County by up
to 50%. John Thiel thanked Shannon Cotulla and his crews on these efforts.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES October 15, 2020 PAGE - 3
Provided a Lukins Brothers Water update.
Provided an update regarding proposed affordable housing projects and provided details for
proposed projects on the corner of Ski Run Boulevard and Pioneer Trial and Tata Lane across
from Tahoe Verde. The District plans to assist by facilitating the transfer of sewer units. The City
has approximately 56 sewer units to transfer for such a project. District staff and Attorney
Kvistad are reviewing whether privately owned sewer units can be incentivized to donate to
such projects.
STAFF/ATTORNEY REPORTS:
Shannon Cotulla provided details regarding water loss regulations. New models and proposed
regulations should be released near the end of October and will keep the Board apprised.
Shannon Cotulla provided an update regarding the Highway 50 issue, where the District and Thomas
Haen Company found what appears to have been a cap or plug, left in the line underneath
Highway 50 in front of Integrity Locksmith. The District is working with Caltrans on reimbursement for
this work and he thanked District crews and staff for their work on this project.
There appears to be a failure at the Paloma Well affecting water quality in the Tahoe Sierra. The well
has been shut down to determine appropriate repairs and the water issues have been resolved.
There were no bacterial issues. The zone will be flushed, which will be carefully monitored as the
process puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the lines.
ADJOURNMENT: 3:31 P.M.
Randy Vogelgesang, Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Melonie Guttry, Clerk of the l5oard
South Tahoe Public Utility District