BOARD MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2008
A. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
President Zell called the Regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Stinson Beach
County Water District to order on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 9:30 a.m., at the District
Office located at 3785 Shoreline Highway in Stinson Beach, California.
Directors present:
Jim Zell, President
Barbara Boucke, Vice President
Lawrence Baskin, Director
Elizabeth Sapanai, Director
Scott Tye, Director
General Manager present:
Ed Schmidt
B. PUBLIC EXPRESSION
None.
C. SETTING OF AGENDA
Director Sapanai moved to adopt the agenda as outlined. Director Boucke seconded the
motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
D. OATH OF OFFICE FOR CANDIDATES APPOINTED IN LIEU OF ELECTION
President Zell administered the oath of office for Larry Baskin, as a candidate appointed by the
Board of Supervisors in lieu of an election for the Full Term vacancy.
E. ELECTION OF DISTRICT BOARD PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR 2009
Director Sapanai nominated Barbara Boucke for President and Larry Baskin for Vice
President, Scott Tye seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
F. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Director Sapanai moved to approve the minutes of November 15, 2008. Director Tye
seconded the motion. Director Sapanai recommended the following amendment to page 5,
line 38, add the words "which offer is now off the table". The motion was approved by
unanimous vote.
G. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS
Director Sapanai moved to approve the disbursements of November 19th. Director Boucke
seconded, and the motion was approved by unanimous vote. Director Sapanai moved to
approve the disbursements of December 3rd. Director Boucke seconded, and the motion was
approved by unanimous vote.
H. PUBLIC HEARING
- Discussion and possible action regarding: a Variance request for 380 Belvedere Ave., Account #4940, Bruce Guile. The applicant seeks permission to replace the existing septic system with an alternative system. The applicant proposes tearing down the existing residence and building a new residence with less than the existing "conditioned" space of 2,874 sq.ft. with a peak daily flow of 300 gallons. The General Manager reviewed this item with the Board stating the applicant is applying for 2 Variances. 1) A new alternative septic system with a permitted daily flow of 300 gallons and 2) a single family residence with up to 2,874 sq.ft. of "conditioned" space. Director Sapanai moved to approve the resolution. Director Tye seconded the motion. Director Sapanai stated with the last application for variance on this property the Board could not make the second finding of substantial property rights because of the projected increase in square footage. The owner reviewed his application and plans, and came back to the Board with less conditioned space than that which exists, and will stay within the square footage of the existing house. Therefore, there is no problem with the second finding. Director Sapanai commended the applicant, the engineer, and the architect for doing this. In addition, the Board appreciated the action taken by Mr. Guile, his engineer, and architect in keeping the conditioned space within the pre existing range of 2,874 sq. ft. President Zell called for the question and the motion was approved unanimously.
- Consideration of a request from Redwood Empire Disposal to raise garbage rates by 6.98% (No Franchise Fee Increase), continued from the November 15, 2008 Board Meeting. The General Manager introduced Mr. Steve McCaffrey and Casey Williams, Public Outreach and Customer Service representative. Discussion followed regarding the following issues; road charges, and debris box rates. Director Sapanai moved approval of the resolution for a rate increase of 6.98%. Director Boucke seconded the motion. President Zell called for the question and the motion was approved unanimously.
I. GENERAL BUSINESS
- Discussion and possible direction to staff Re: a proposal from Stetson Engineers for permitting assistance, site geology research, specification writing, well construction oversight and well design for a new groundwater well at Steep Ravine Tank site. The General Manager explained the proposal from Stetson and referred to his staff report regarding this issue. The General Manager explained that the more we replace surface water with ground water, the less we are subject to droughts. We are also less subject to new regulations that are in the process of being written by the State Water Board. The General Manager would like direction from the Board to pursue groundwater well development at the Steep Ravine Tank site. President Zell and the Board gave the General Manager permission to pursue the proposal from Stetson Engineering for a new groundwater well at the Steep Ravine site.
J. MANAGER'S REPORT
The General Manager informed the Board that Mr. Korchinsky has paid his invoice and we do
have a Performance Bond for $36,500. Director Baskin explained to the Board the
Performance Bond process.
The Community Center has been reserved for the Cell Tower Public Hearing on Monday,
January 19th. Notification post cards are being mailed out to all customers. Director Baskin
informed the Board that the website, "emfservices.com" has a link which is related to cell
towers. It has some very interesting and informative approaches to the problem of emf's and
cell towers. He also stated that there was a lot of misunderstanding in the community as to
who decides this issue. The Board is conducting the public hearings to gather input from the
community so the Board can make an informed decision about what we will do regarding the
proposed Cell Tower Lease. Discussion followed regarding cell phone, land line use, and the
internet. The Board discussed a flyer posted at the Post Office depicting cell phone radiation
impacts on the human brain. Director Baskin stated that the information was not with regard to
cell towers but cell phones. The Board reviewed an email from Aaron Salars who discussed
guidelines for limits on human exposure. The conclusion was; "Based on information and
analysis, it is my professional opinion that the base station proposed by Verizon Wireless near
Panoramic Highway in Stinson Beach, California, will comply with the prevailing standards for
limiting public exposure to radio frequency energy and therefore, will not for this reason cause
a significant impact on the environment. The highest calculated level in publicly accessible
areas is much less than the prevailing standards allow for exposures of unlimited duration.
This finding is consistent with measurements of actual exposure conditions taken at other
operating base stations". The Board has set the next Public Hearing date for January 19, 2009
at the Community Center.
The General Manager stated that at the most recent Finance Committee meeting, the
committee reviewed a proposal from Jake Boomhower, of C.D.M., to provide a Water Rate
Study. Based on the committee report, the General Manager would like to proceed with task
2, 3, & 4 for a total of $3,780. We will be provided with a copy of the computer model that we
can then manipulate to answer any "what if" questions. Discussion followed regarding rate
studies, format sharing, user analysis, strategic planning and the minimum number of tasks
involved in this study. The consensus of the Board based on the Finance Committee
recommendation was to proceed with the study.
The General Manager reviewed meeting dates with the Board. Director Tye notified the Board
and General Manager that there will be another LCP meeting, on January 28, 2009, at the
BPUD Fire Station at 6:00 pm.
The General Manager reviewed the ongoing work being done at the Treatment Plant. The
next step will be the solicitation of bids for retaining wall work. The cutoff date for temporary
employee applications is December 24. We have received four applications so far.
K. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Director Boucke reported that the Finance Committee discussed the need to secure a line of
credit. The committee would like the General Manager and Janice Payne, to work on a
condensed cash flow analysis for the needs of the water treatment plant. Director Boucke also
reported on the $278,169 in property tax funds received December 15, the District share will
be $513,450 which is $78,000 above budget.
L. CORRESPONDENCE
None.
M. ADJOURNMENT
President Zell called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Director Baskin made the motion,
and Director Sapanai seconded the motion. The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
The next meeting will be held on January 17, at 9:30 a.m.