01-07-2021REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES January 7, 2021 PAGE-2
d.REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: December 3, 2020, and December 17, 2020{Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/Clerk of the Board)
Approved December 3, 2020, and December 17, 2020 Minutes
PRESENTATION Vice President Sheehan presented the Municipal Information Systems Association of California
Excellence in Information Technology Practices for 2020 award to the District's Information
Technology Department. The Board congratulated the IT Department on this award.
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
a.Wastewater Treatment Plant and Field Stations Condition Assessment (Julie Ryan, Engineering
Department Manager) -Julie Ryan presented details regarding the Wastewater Treatment Plant
and Field Stations Condition Assessment project and addressed questions from the Board.Director Peterson reported that he has worked with the owner of Water Systems Consulting, Inc.
in the past, but is retired now and no longer has business dealings with him nor HDR.
Moved Peterson/Second Sheehan/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/ExlineYes to (1) Authorize staff to make minor modifications to the proposed Scope of Work from
Water Systems Consultants to perform the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Field Stations
Condition Assessment; (2) Approve the revised Scope of Work; and, (3) Authorize the General
Manager to execute Task Order No. 1 in the amount $159,645.
b.Department of Energy, Connected Communities Grant (John Thiel, General Manger) -John Thiel
reported regarding a meeting with the City to participate in a Concept Paper to the
Department of Energy for a potential Connected Communities Grant and addressed questions
from the Board. Director Exline expressed his support of this opportunity and Director Romsos
agreed, suggested highlighting the 30% match by the District.
Moved Cefalu/Second Exline/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline Yes to
authorize the District to join the City of South Lake Tahoe and other community partners in the
submittal of a Concept Paper to the Department of Energy for a potential Connected
Communities Grant and subject to edits to accommodate Board of Director comments.
c.Election of Board Officers {Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/Board Clerk) -The Board discussed
nominations.
Moved Cefalu/Second Peterson/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline Yes
to elect Kelly Sheehan as Board President for 2021 Calendar Year.
d.Election of Board Officers {Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/Board Clerk) -Dave Peterson
Moved Cefalu/Second Sheehan/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline Yesto elect David Peterson as Vice President for 2021 Calendar Year.
e.Approve Payment of Claims {Debbie Henderson, Accounting Manager)
Moved Sheehan/Second Cefalu/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline Yesto approve Payment of Claims in the amount of $2,323,241.16.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES January 7, 2021 PAGE-3
STANDING AND AD-HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS: President Sheehan announced the next Operations Committee Meeting will be held before Committee Appointments on January 19 and Directors Peterson and Romsos will attend.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS:
Director Romsos wished everyone a healthy New Year,
and Director Exline congratulated President Sheehan on her nomination.
EL DORADO WATER AGENCY PURVEYOR REPORT:
President Sheehan reported the next meeting is Wednesday, January 13, and Director Peterson
would like to attend.
GENERAL MANAGER REPORT:
John Thiel reported on several items:
•Provided a staffing update.•Provided a COVID-19 update reporting the District is currently operating at Risk Level 3 with no
current staff illness.•Water flows are averaging just over 4 million gallons per day, slightly above average, and
sewer flows are slightly lower than average, likely due to low precipitation and groundwater
levels. He further reported that, based on City data, they collected approximately $2 million in
Transient Occupancy Tax for September 2020 which was the highest September on record.
Down about 15 to 20 percent for the year however.•District staff is preparing to meet with Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association WaterCompany representatives to review their current water challenges and potential need for
assistance from the District.
He is working on a draft set of 2021 goals, which will be brought back to the Board on January
21, 2021.
STAFF/ATTORNEY REPORTS: Tim Bledsoe reported the second round of COVID-19 relief ended December 31, 2020, and the
District received 537 applications, totaling $99,262 for the quarter, which totals approximately
$280,000 spent on the relief program to date. Paul Hughes reported that an additional $260,000 of
late fees have been waived so far. Director Exline suggested that possibly a broader relief program
could be reviewed going forward for rate payers who are continuing to struggle. The Board discussed
continuing the COVID-19 relief program, versus a more expansive, ongoing program. Paul Hughes
reported the allocation for the entire program was $1 . l million, which approximately half has been
spent to date. This item will be brought back for Board consideration on January 21, with additional
information as requested.
Julie Ryan reported there is not much of an update regarding the solar project at this time, but she
provided details regarding the project progress since the last report and addressed questions from
the Board. Attorney Kvlstad added comments regarding three areas that the consultant requested
clarification on and addressed questions from the Board. Denver Williams provided information
regarding the project and reported that he plans to have a comprehensive update on January 21,
2021.
BREAK AND ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION: 3:32 p.m.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES January 7, 2021
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION: 4:00 p.m.
PAGE-4
a.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
b.Pursuant to Section 54956.9(0) 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 Manufacturing
Company, Inc. and Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A., Civil Action No. ED CV06-0055-GW,
United States District Court for the Central District of California.
No reportable Board action
c.Pursuant to Section 54956.9(0) 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
d.Pursuant to Section 54957 of the California Government Code, Closed Session may be held
regarding public employee evaluation for unrepresented employee position -
General Manager.
No reportable Board action
15.Mobley Claim for Damages (John Thiel, General Manager)
Moved Sheehan/Second Cefalu/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline
Yes to reject the Mobley Claim for Damages and direct staff to send a written rejection notice
to the Claimants.
ADJOURNMENT: 4:03 p.m.
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Melonie Guttry, Board
South Tahoe Public Utility District
��ard President South Tahoe Public Utility District