03-03-2022SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
David Peterson, Vice President
Chris Cefalu, Director
John Thiel, General Manager
BOARD MEMBERS
Shane Romsos, Director
Kelly Sheehan, President
Nick Exline, Director
Paul Hughes, Chief Financial Officer
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
March 3, 2022
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 Sheehan, Directors Cefalu, Romsos, Peterson, Exline
Staff: John Thiel, Gary Kvistad, Melonie Guttry, Ryan Lee, Stephen Caswell, Julie Ryan, Chris Stanley,
Adrian Combes, Shelly Thomsen, Buck Mclelland, Bren Borley, Tim Bledsoe, Star Glaze, Heidi Baugh,
Jason Glaze, Chris Skelly, Jim Kelly
1.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2.COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None
3.CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA OR CONSENT CALENDAR:
Melonie Guttry reported that there is a change to Action Item 6c -Board Member Extended
Absence, American Airlines should be corrected to Alaska Airlines.
Director Peterson requested Consent Item 4b be brought forward to Action for discussion/action.
4.ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR:
Moved Peterson/Second Cefalu/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline Yes to
approve the Consent Calendar with changes as presented.
a.DECEMBER 31, 2021. FISCAL YEAR TO DATE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Paul Hughes, Chief Financial Officer)
Receive and file the December 31, 2021, Income Statement and Balance Sheet Reports.
b.REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: February 17, 2022
(Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/Clerk of the Board)
Approved February 1 7, 2022, Minutes
5.CONSENT ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION/ACTION
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: March 3, 2022 PAGE-2
a.Virtual Board Meetings Related to Assembly Bill 361 Due to COVID-19 State of Emergency
Proclamation (John Thiel, General Manager) -Director Peterson suggested eliminating Resolution
No. 3207-22 allowing for remote meetings. The Board discussed the Resolution noting that for
flexibility reasons, it does not hurt to continue with the Resolution.
Moved Sheehan/Second Romsos/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline
Yes to approve Resolution No. 3207-22 allowing for South Tahoe Public Utility District to conduct
virtual public meetings for 30 days.
6.ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION
a.2022 Asphalt Patching Services Bid (Buck Mclelland, Supervisor, Underground Repair Water and Heidi
Baugh, Purchasing Agent) -Buck Mclelland provided details regarding the 2022 Asphalt Patching
Services Bid and addressed questions from the Board.
Moved Sheehan/Second Cefalu/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline Yes
to award a Contract to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, Tieslau Paving & Excavating,
in the amount of $303,031.
a.2022 Bijou Waterline Replacement Project (Adrian Combes, Senior Engineer) -Adrian Combes
provided details regarding the 2022 Bijou Waterline Replacement Project and addressed
questions from the Board. Julie Ryan provided details regarding the project budgeting.
Moved Peterson/Second Sheehan/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson
Yes/Exline Yes to (1) Waive minor deviations identified for the apparent low bidder, (2)
Award the 2022 Bijou Waterline Replacement Project to the lowest responsive, responsible
bidder, Vinciguerra Construction, in the amount of $1,993,600; and (3) Enter into a Road
Repairs Agreement with the City of South Lake Tahoe in an amount not to exceed
$256,750.
b.Board Member Extended Absence (Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/Board Clerk) -
Melonie Guttry reported that it has come to the Board's attention that Director Cefalu will
be absent for an extended period of time due to training for a position with Alaska Airlines.
According to Board Policy, if a Board Member is absent for six consecutive meetings, a
vacancy occurs unless the Board Member is granted permission by the Board. This
Resolution grants that permission.
Moved Peterson/Second Sheehan/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson
Yes/Exline Yes to in accordance with Board Policy adopt Resolution No. 3208-22, granting
permission for an extended absence from Board of Director meetings for Director Cefalu.
c.Approve Payment of Claims (Debbie Henderson, Accounting Manager)
Moved Sheehan/Second Cefalu/Sheehan Yes/Cefalu Yes/Romsos Yes/Peterson Yes/Exline
Yes to approve Payment of Claims in the amount of $1,503,480.33.
7.STANDING AND AD-HOC COMMITTEES AND LIAISON REPORTS:
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: March 3, 2022 PAGE-3
President Sheehan announced that Director Cefalu has resigned from the Finance Committee
effective March l, and therefore she is appointing Director Peterson to the Finance Committee
retroactive to March l , 2022.
President Sheehan reported there was a Finance Committee Meeting on March l, 2022, and the
committee reviewed information that will be brought back to the Board soon. Director Peterson
added that the committee made some recommendations to alleviate the need for high rate
increases due to multiple years without increases. Further, staff recommended monthly District
billing to assist with high delinquency rates.
Shelly Thomsen provided information regarding public outreach efforts in connection with
potential rate increases and addressed questions from the Board. The Board discussed public
outreach options and would like to see information included in the District's billing in a simplistic
nature, along with email notices, but do not recommend public meetings as they are not well
attended.
Director Exline reported the Solar and Community Power Committee met February 17, 2022, and
the options are coming together to save the District's return on investment. He further reported
the details from the System Efficiency and Sustainability Committee meeting on March 1, 2022.
8.BOARD MEMBER REPORTS:
Director Peterson suggested staff consider a second reserve fund be established that could be
drawn from for overages on bids. This fund could also be deposited into when projects are under
budgeted.
Director Romsos suggested a voluntary donation option could be added to District's billing
statements earmarked for things such as sustainability, solar, conservation, etc.
9.EL DORADO WATER AGENCY PURVEYOR REPORT:
Director Peterson reported the next meeting is March 9, 2022, and John Thiel added that lvo
Bergsohn will be presenting at this meeting regarding Groundwater Management.
10.STAFF/ATTORNEY REPORTS:
Steve Caswell and Ryan Lee provided an annual update on the 2020 Water Audit Results and
addressed questions from the Board.
11.GENERAL MANAGER REPORT:
John Thiel reported on several items:•Provided a staffing update•Provided a COVID-19 update including no COVID illness at the District and mask mandates
have been dropped by the State as well as here at the District.•Provided a Legislative Affairs update including work the District is doing with ENS, the
California Tahoe Alliance, North Tahoe and Tahoe City Public Utility District.
12.NOTICE OF PAST AND FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS
13.BREAK AND ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION: 3:43 p.m.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION: 4:30
a.Pursuant to Section 54956.9(d) ( 1) of the California Government code, Closed Session may
be held for conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation: Yolo County
Superior Court Case CV 2021-1 686, Alpine County vs. South Tahoe Public Utility District; et al.
No reportable Board Action
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: March 3, 2022
ADJOURNMENT: 4:31 p.m.
Melonie Guttry, Clerk of the Board
South Tahoe Public Utility District
PAGE-4
Kelly Sheehan, Board President
South Tahoe Public Utility District