04-15-2021SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
David Peterson, Vice President BOARD MEMBERS Kelly Sheehan, President
Chris Cefalu, Director Shane Romsos, Director Nick Exline, Director
John Thiel, General Manager Paul Hughes, Chief Financial Officer
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
April 15, 2021
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 Sheehan, Directors Cefalu, Romsos, Peterson, Exline
Staff: John Thiel, Paul Hughes, Gary Kvistad, Melonie Guttry, Liz Kauffman, Julie Ryan, Tim Bledsoe, No
Bergsohn, Marla Sharp, Heidi Baugh
Guests: Kirk Wooldridge, General Manager, Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association Water
Company; Stacey Sheston, Best Best and Krieger
CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA OR CONSENT CALENDAR:
None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Moved Sheehan/Second Peterson/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline Yes to
approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
a. 2020 WATER METER INSTALLATION PROJECT - PHASE 5B
(Trevor Coolidge, Senior Engineer)
Approved the Closeout Agreement and Release of Claims for Vinciguerra Construction Inc.,
for the 2020 Water Meter Installation Project - Phase 5B.
b. LOCAL AGENCY INVESTMENT FUND FINANCIAL TRANSACTION AUTHORIZATION
(Debbie Henderson, Accounting Manager)
Adopted Resolution No. 3169-21 authorizing certain staff to conduct Local Agency Investment
Fund financial transactions.
C. WATER AND SEWER SERVICE CHARGE LATE/PENALTY FEES
(Paul Hughes, Chief Financial Officer)
Approved waiving late fees on water and sewer service charges through March 31, 2021, and
begin applying late fees on the July 2021 bills for the fourth quarter (April - June) service
charges not paid by June 30, 2021.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 15, 2021 PAGE -2
d. TAHOE KEYS SEWER PUMP STATION REHABILITATION PROJECT
(Adrian Combes, Senior Engineer)
1) Approved the Proposal from Carollo Engineers, Inc., in the amount of $180,100 for
engineering services during construction for the Tahoe Keys Pump Station Rehabilitation
Project; and, 2) Authorized the General Manager to execute Task Order No. 14A to the Master
Services Agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc.
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
a. Paloma Well Rehabilitation Project (ivo Bergsohn, Hydrogeoiogist) -President Sheehan opened the
Public Hearing at 2:05 p.m. to receive public comments on the designation of the Paloma Well
Rehabilitation Project as "substantially complex. No Bergsohn provided details regarding the
project and addressed questions from the Board. There were no public comments received and
the Public Hearing was closed at 2:13 p.m.
Moved Sheehan/Second Romsos/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Absent/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline
Yes to 1) authorize staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the El Dorado County Clerk; and, 2)
Authorize staff to solicit construction bids for the Paloma Well Rehabilitation Project
Due to technical difficulties, .Director Cefalu was able to successfully rejoin the meeting at 2:15 p.m.
b. Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) Annual Report (ivo Bergsohn, Hydrogeologist) -.President
Sheehan. opened the Public Hearing at 2:15 p.m. to present the Tahoe South Subbasin (6-005.01)
Annual Report for the 2020 Water Year. No Bergsohn provided a PowerPoint presentation and
addressed questions from the Board. There were no public comments received and the Public
Hearing was closed at 2:26 p.m.
c. Memorandum of Understanding for Excess Sewer Capacity Units (Tim Bledsoe, Customer Service
Manager) - Tim Bledsoe provided details regarding the Excess Sewer Capacity Units
Memorandum of Understanding and addressed questions from the Board. The Board
commended staff of their efforts on this program and they look forward to program updates.
Moved Romsos/Second Peterson/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline Yes
to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the South Tahoe Public Utility District
and the El Dorado Community Foundation for Excess Sewer Capacity Units.
d. Keller -Heavenly Water System Improvements Project, Phase I - Rebid (Trevor Coolidge, Senior
Engineer) — Julie Ryan provided details regarding the Keller -Heavenly Water System Improvements
Project, Phase I - Rebid and addressed questions from the Board.
Moved Sheehan/Second Peterson/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline
Yes to waive the minor irregularities award the Keller -Heavenly Water System Improvements
Project, Phase I - Rebid to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, White Rock in the amount
of $1,828,775.
e. Approve Payment of Claims (Debbie Henderson, Accounting Manager)
Moved Sheehan/Second Peterson/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline
Yes to approve Payment of Claims in the amount of $1,331,461.18.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 15, 2021
PAGE - 3
STANDING AND AD -HOC COMMITTEES AND LIAISON REPORTS:
Director Romsos provided details regarding the Operations Committee Meeting on April 12, 2021.
Director Peterson recommended that the Operations Committee have a discussion regarding the
hiring of District consultants at the next committee meeting.
Director Rornsos provided details regarding the Ad -Hoc Solar Committee Meeting on April 13, 2021.
Details will potentially be ready for Board approval in June or early July. Director Peterson inquired
regarding the life of the project and what options are available for the cost of disposing of the solar
panels at the end of their expected life. Director Exline complimented staff on their diligence with this
project.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS:
None
EL DORADO WATER AGENCY PURVEYOR REPORT:
Director Peterson reported that the April 14 meeting was cancelled.
GENERAL MANAGER REPORT:
John Thiel reported on several items:
• Provided a COVID-19 update, with no current illness at the District and approximately half of
staff have received their first vaccine. Today the front office has reopened and the field crews
have transitioned to 10-hour shifts, with all staff reporting back to regular office hours in June.
Director Peterson recused himself at 2:59 p.m., after requesting that the conflict of interest with the
Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association be revisited.
John Thiel provided an update regarding the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association Water
Company (Tahoe Keys) situation and the District taking a community approach to helping
them. One well is currently down with elevated uranium levels, with a second well likely to go
down soon. In addition, the Tahoe Keys has zero water storage, which contributes to the issue.
Attorney Kvistad and Julie Ryan provided details regarding a draft letter with the Tahoe Keys.
Attorney Kvistad mentioned that the work staff is currently doing is permissible as a public
agency, but if further capital improvements are required, necessitating staff time, a
reimbursement agreement to compensate the District may be necessary. Kirk Wooldridge
thanked District staff for their work and cooperation to date.
ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION CONTINUED
a. Water Trucks for Landscape Irrigation (John Thiel, General Manager) — John Thiel provided details
regarding the options for assisting the Tahoe Keys in the most responsible way possible and
addressed questions from the Board. Director Romsos expressed that Option Two seems to be
a good compromise and President Sheehan along with Director Cetalu agreed. Director
Exline expressed strong opposition to assisting the Tahoe Keys unless they agree to
conservation efforts that are consistent with District water conservation practices. The Board
continued to discuss these details and Paul Hughes addressed questions regarding the
standard rate of water for purchase, followed by Kirk Wooldridge addressing questions
regarding planned irrigation within the Tahoe Keys for both residential and commercial
purposes.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 15, 2021 PAGE -4
Moved Cefalu/Second Romsos/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Absent/Exline
No to approve Option Two, the Lukins partnership for a water truck filing station to assist the
Tahoe Keys and to approve Resolution No.3170-21, restricting the use of water from fire
hydrants, with one minor change in language to include residential and commercial.
STAFF/ATTORNEY REPORTS:
None
BREAK AND ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION: 3:41 p.m.
,RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION: 4:13 p.m.
a. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(a)/Conference with Labor Negotiators:
Memorandum of Understanding with Stationary Engineers, Local 39. Present at this Closed
Session will be Agency Negotiators: John Thiel, General Manager; Paul Hughes, Chief Financial
Officer; and Liz Kauffman, Human Resources Director.
No reportable Board action
b. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(a)/Conference with Labor Negotiators:
Memorandum of Understanding with Management Group. Present at this Closed Session will
be Agency Negotiators: John Thiel, General Manager; Paul Hughes, Chief Financial Officer;
and Liz Kauffman, Human Resources Director.
No reportable Board action
ADJOURNMENT, 4:14 P.M.
Kelly Sh ehan, Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Melonie Guttry, Clerk of the Board
South Tahoe Public Utility District