BOARD MEETING MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2005

A.    CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

President Jim Zell called a Regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Stinson Beach County Water District to order at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2005, at the District Office located at 3785 Shoreline Highway in Stinson Beach, California.

Directors present:
Jim Zell, President
Scott Tye, Vice President
John Gilbert, Director
Elizabeth Sapanai, Director
Joe Veit, Director
Treasurer Present:
Barbara Boucke

Staff present:
Richard Dinges, General Manager/Secretary to the Board
Raven Schauf, Recording Secretary

B.    PUBLIC EXPRESSION

Mr. Scott Tye, as a member of the public, reminded the Board that last Tuesday was World Water Day and suggested that the Board may wish to consider a Resolution identifying the District's platform regarding the World Water decade.

C.    SETTING OF AGENDA

Motion to revise the agenda, moving item 7, Title IV, ahead of item 4, Wetlands Contract, made by Director Sapanai, seconded by Director Tye, revised by unanimous vote.

D.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to approve February 9, 2005 minutes made by Director Sapanai, seconded by Director Tye, approved by unanimous vote.
Motion to approve February 26, 2005 minutes with amendments made by Director Sapanai, seconded by Director Veit, approved by unanimous vote.

E.    APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS

Motion to approve January, 2005 and February 2005 disbursements made by Director Sapanai, seconded by Director Veit, approved by unanimous vote.

F.    PUBLIC HEARING

1. Continuation of Variance Request for Property Located at 7000 Panoramic Highway, AP # 195-233-10, Wendy Hunt, Owner, Dave Horning, Agent: Director Sapanai excused herself from the hearing. Director Tye stated that the Wastewater Committee had reviewed the application and had questions regarding setbacks and questions regarding the necessity of installation of a new system for change of use as opposed to replacement due to failure. Mr. Dinges summarized the Manager's Report. Director Veit clarified that the current system use was for an average of 200 gallons per day and a maximum of 300 gallons per day, which accommodates up to 1,900 square feet of conditioned space. Director Veit stated that the applicant may want to dig up, test and certify the system to verify if it would handle loading of 300 gpd average and 450 gpd maximum which would support up to 2,800 square feet. Director Tye stated that another alternative would be to install the alternative system without increasing the square footage, and reclassifying the system as a standard system in the future if the Advantex system was considered a standard system by District Code. Director Tye further stated that the actual square footage should be verified as there were discrepancies in the different reports. The Board discussed problems making findings number two. Mr. Horning stated that the system had supported two houses at some point in the past, and stated that he felt testing the system would be a good solution and that the soils were very different at the locations of the current and proposed systems. Mr. Tanner, system engineer for the applicant, stated that it was probable that the percolation rate would be slow in that area, and that the system would probably not meet today's Code although it is currently operating well. Mr. Horning, of 6986 Panoramic Highway, submitted a document into the record addressing property conditions and the Variance request. Mr. Hunt requested that the application be continued, and stated that it would require 60 to 90 days submit more information to the Board.
2. Adoption of Resolution WW-2005-04 Granting a Variance for Property Located at 144 Seadrift Road, AP # 195-041-15, Richard Volk, Owner: Director Sapanai stated that the application does not include any requests which could not be accomplished with a conventional system, that the proposed system was a good solution for the sandy location and that findings number two can be made. Mr. Dinges stated that staff was now requesting installation of a UV system. Mr. Volk stated that the performance of an Advantex system was superior to a sandfilter system in this situation. Motion to adopt Variance Resolution WW-2005-04 made by Director Sapanai, seconded by Director Veit, adopted by unanimous vote.
3. Adoption of Ordinance No. 2005-01 Imposing a Lien on Property Located at 275 Calle del Mar, AP# 195- 173-01, Mary Robinson, Owner: Mr. Dinges summarized the Manager's Report recommending adoption of the Ordinance. Director Zell questioned whether the repayment terms could be revised prior to adoption of the Ordinance. Mr. Dinges clarified that the five year term could be adjusted. Ms. Robinson stated that she had been through many difficulties while replacing the system and requested that the lien not be imposed. The Board stated that the lien would not be attached to the property tax roll until September of 2005. Director Sapanai suggested that Ms. Robinson report the errant system designer to the State Licensing Board. Director Tye stated that it was the District's responsibility to protect the ground waters and expedience in this matter by the contractor would be helpful. Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2005-01 with a five year term made by Director Veit, seconded by Director Sapanai, adopted by unanimous vote.
7. Review of Draft Title IV Onsite Wastewater Management Policy: The Board discussed the current draft and identified critical sections that had been revised. Mr. Dinges stated that he had concerns regarding setbacks and stream buffers in a riparian area. Mr. Hurt submitted sections from the draft Marin County Wide Plan referencing riparian protection and restoration and stated that Liz Lewis of the County could facilitate the identification of the "top of bank". Director Veit stated that top of bank is open to wide interpretation, and that if there is language included that the definition be precise and which defines the confines of the bank. Director Sapanai stated that it would be difficult to write a definition as it is under State law and open to interpretation and further stated that there were liability issues. The Board discussed various ways to interpret riparian vegetation, top of bank, artificial banks and blue line creeks. The Board directed the Wastewater Committee to review these issues and to define a procedure to address them. Mr. Dinges stated that the negative declaration for Title IV would be reviewed by District counsel.
4. Adoption of Resolution GB-2005-01 Authorizing a Contract Amendment with Wetlands Research Associates: Mr. Dinges summarized the Manager's Report recommending adoption of the Resolution for an amendment in the amount of $11,284.00. Director Tye requested that the contract include a clause that Ms. Amy Parravano conduct as much of the contract work as possible. Motion to adopt Resolution GB-2005-01 made by Director Tye, seconded by Director Veit, approved by unanimous vote.
5. Adoption of Resolution GB-2005-02 Authorizing a Contract with Stetson Engineers: Mr. Dinges summarized the Manager's Report recommending adoption of the Resolution for a contract in the amount of $4,000.00. Mr. Alan Richards, of Stetson Engineers clarified that the services would only be rendered upon request by the General Manager. Motion to adopt Resolution GB-2005-02 made by Director Tye, seconded by Director Veit, approved by unanimous vote.

G.    GENERAL BUSINESS

6. Presentation of 2004 Creek Flow Monitoring Report by Alan Richards of Stetson Engineers: Mr. Richards presented information and data related to creek flow monitoring and stated that the primary objective was to determine the amounts of water available for implementation of water conservation policies. Mr. Richards further discussed Fitzhenry Creek, Black Rock Creek, Stinson Gulch, Webb Creek, air and water temperature fluctuations. Mr. Richards recommended that the District continue to monitor and to collect data, to reduce diversion takes during summer months, to attempt to divert water at lower and more constant rates over longer periods of time, to cease diversion during extreme temperatures, to evaluate options for increasing Webb Creek diversions, to execute leak detection and repair, to evaluate diversion metering, to improve accuracy of creek flow estimates, to continue discharge measurements, to continue water and air temperature monitoring, and to identify private water users on Fitzhenry and Black Rock Creeks. The Board discussed increased storage capacity, utilizing Webb Creek diversion, water use by creek side consumers and consumer leaks. Director Tye asked how much of the monitoring could be conducted by District staff. Mr. Richards answered that District staff would begin monitoring in March of 2005.
8. Discussion of Proposed Cingular Wireless Antenna Testing: Mr. Dinges summarized the Manager's Report recommending that the Board consider the proposal as submitted. The Board discussed the proposal and suggested that an agreement be executed which allowed Cingular Wireless to conduct testing only with a 60 day limit. Director Tye stated that he objected to allowing Cingular Wireless to move equipment at the Laurel site and suggested that the construction clause be stricken from the proposal. Mr. Dinges stated that the access clause should be limited to regular business hours, not 24 hours per day. The Board directed the legal committee to review the proposal and to make a recommendation to the Board.

H.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

Director Tye stated that the State OES was currently preparing a tsunami risk and evaluation profile map and reported on West Nile Virus statistics.
Director Zell stated that the Resource Recovery Project was currently researching grants for purchase of a grinder.
Director Veit stated that he is resigning from the Personnel Committee and is joining the Legal Committee, and stated that the Personnel Committee had met with the employees to discuss "meet and confer" issues and PERS retirement funding issues.

I.    MANAGER'S REPORT

Mr. Dinges questioned the Board regarding a presentation from Allan Lilly. The Board requested that the presentation cost be kept to a minimum.

J.    ADJOURNMENT

Motion to adjourn made by Director Veit, seconded by Director Tye, meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m. by unanimous vote.