BOARD MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2010
A. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
President Lawrence A. Baskin called the Regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Stinson Beach County Water District to order on Saturday, December 18, 2010, at 9:30 a.m.,
at the Stinson Beach County Water District office, located at 3785 Shoreline Highway,
Stinson Beach, CA 94970.
Directors present:
Lawrence Baskin, President
Scott Tye, Vice President
Barbara Boucke, Director
Elizabeth Sapanai, Director
Jim Zell, Director
General Manager present:
Ed Schmidt
Staff present:
Helma Schwendig - Administrative Asst.
B. PUBLIC EXPRESSION
None.
C. SETTING OF AGENDA
The agenda was unanimously adopted as set.
D. PUBLIC HEARING
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Consideration of a request from North Bay Corporation/Redwood Empire Disposal to
raise garbage rates by 1.83% (No Franchise Fee Increase) to be effective on January 1,
2011, continued from the Saturday, November 20, 2010, Board meeting.
The request of a garbage rate increase was first discussed as a public hearing agenda item at last month's Board of Directors meeting. The Board reviewed a multitude of supporting documentation, including the Consumer Price Index, the existing garbage rates, the Public Hearing Notice card that was mailed to all customers, the existing Garbage Collection Contract, and Draft Resolution No. GB-2010-00 [subsequently renumbered GB-2010-11], A Resolution Amending Exhibit "A" Rates and Services of North Bay Corporation/Redwood Empire Disposal. The Resolution was unanimously approved.
Steve McCaffrey, Director of Governmental Affairs, North Bay Corporation/Redwood Empire Disposal, spoke regarding the safety hazards experienced by his drivers: narrow roads, low hanging wires, parked cars, utility poles, roads in poor condition. Many of the roads in the Calles and Patios are unpaved, narrow private roads, sandy, and contain numerous parked vehicles. There is insufficient room for the garbage trucks to turn around. Over the past few years, customers have filed claims involving damage to their roads, cars and wires. He has consulted with his Risk Manager to ensure safety for his employees and neighborhood residents. His Risk Manager has advised him that henceforth, customers must bring their garbage cans to the end of their private drives for pickup.
In Seadrift, the previous practice of the residents bringing the cans to the edge of the road for pickup has stopped for some unexplained reason. There have been complaints that the disposal company's employees have damaged house sidings and garage doors when the employees brought out the customers' cans to the curb and subsequently returned them to the property after pickup. The Seadrift Homeowners' Association can arrange to have the cans brought out to the curb and brought back after service.
Mr. McCaffrey will notify his customers in the affected areas that in order to receive garbage service in the future, garbage cans must be brought out to the main paved roadway for pickup. He will work with anyone having special needs.
E. GENERAL BUSINESS
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Election of District Board President and Vice President for 2011.
The Board unanimously elected Vice President Scott Tye as its President and Director Elizabeth Sapanai as its Vice President for 2011.
Outgoing President Baskin expressed his appreciation of working with a good staff and Board during his term of office as President. -
Discussion and possible District Committee Membership changes by the Board
President.
The Board decided to wait until the January Board meeting to decide whether or not to maintain existing committees or establish new ones. Director Sapanai suggested maintaining the present Ad Hoc Committee of Water Reliability and Sustainability. This suggestion was confirmed under agenda item I, Committee Reports. -
Discussion and possible direction to staff re: Adopting a Cafeteria Plan for Active
Employees.
The General Manager and the Personnel Committee researched Cafeteria Plans, in the process conferring with other agencies, reviewing their plans, sharing e-mails since March of this year. The District's Hanson Bridgett attorneys drafted the Plan Document with an effective date of January 1, 2011. The General Manager held two lengthy employee meetings concerning the cafeteria plan. Each active employee will be asked to sign a Benefit Election Form.
Director Boucke moved to approve Draft Resolution No. GB-2010-00 [subsequently renumbered GB-2010-12] Approving and Adopting a Cafeteria Plan for Active Employees. Director Zell seconded the motion. The Resolution was unanimously approved. -
Discussion and possible direction to staff re: an amendment to the District's
CalPERS Retirement Contract.
The District is proceeding with the Contract Amendment for the second tier plan of 2% at age 60. This would only affect employees hired after January 18, 2011. Vice President Tye moved to approve the Schedule of Agency Actions consisting of the following four documents: Resolution of Intention, Certification of Governing Body's Action, Certification of Compliance, and the Certification of Compliance with Government Code Section 20475. Director Boucke seconded the motion and all four documents were unanimously approved. The Final Resolution will be presented to the Board at the January meeting. -
Discussion and possible action re: SBCWD, Onsite Wastewater Management
Program Annual Report, to the Regional Water Quality Control Board, July 1, 2009
through June 30, 2010.
Director Sapanai noted that the words "annual" or "biennial" on Page 1 of the Report, Monitoring Program Summary, line 3, should read "annually" or "biennially." On Page 4, line 4, "samples" should read "sample." After these corrections are made, the Report can be forwarded to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.
F. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Director Sapanai moved to approve the minutes of November 20, 2010. Director Boucke
seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by unanimous vote.
G. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS
Director Zell moved to approve the disbursements for November 22 and December 1, 2010.
Director Sapanai seconded the motion. The disbursements were approved by unanimous
vote.
H. MANAGER'S REPORT
The General Manager discussed his monthly report. The District saved $14,700 by rebidding
for the new well at the Steep Ravine Tank Site. The results were $135,594.80 bid from K.W.
Emerson, Inc., and $144,625.00 bid from Nor-Cal Pump & Well Drilling Inc., the same bidders
from last month. When we get approval from Patrick Miyaki, we can proceed with the
construction. Vice President Tye suggested that the original bid specifications may have been
too onerous and discouraged other well drillers from bidding. President Baskin noted that if
the specifications are not sufficiently detailed in the bid document from the beginning, any later
specifications might substantially increase the cost of drilling the well.
The General Manager has identified 7 solar companies that are located nearest to the District
Office and e-mailed these companies a Request for Letter of Interest for Future Proposal
Consideration for the Design& Construction of a Photovoltaic System for the District Office site.
Director Boucke emphasized that the District is not eligible for any solar credits. Director
Sapanai suggested obtaining a real, but not binding, estimate for both the Laurel Treatment
Plant as well as the District Office.
The General Manager sent a letter to the county concerning the December 16 hearing for #6
Francisco Patio, requesting a condition similar to that which the county required for #4
Francisco Patio. County Planner Lorene Jackson stated that she will ask the DZA to require a
notarized deed restriction stipulating that the garage will not be converted into habitable space.
One of the items on the November Task List concerned preparing construction applications for
funding for the Surface Water Treatment Plant (Phase 2), and the new Groundwater Well at
Steep Ravine. Since Stinson Beach is not considered a "disadvantaged" community, the
District is not eligible for a grant under the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
We will talk to Patrick Miyaki prior to sending out another letter regarding the Robinsons'
encroachment onto the District easement.
I. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Director Sapanai thanked the Board for assisting in setting up the Recognition Dinner honoring
the District staff on December 15. The staff greatly appreciated the dinner.
Director Sapanai reported on the accomplishments of the Water Reliability and Sustainability
Committee during 2010. Last December, the Board President appointed Directors Sapanai
and Zell to the committee. The committee met with staff and consultants to focus on three
specific areas: (1) efficient management of existing supplies, (2) conservation, and (3)
developing additional supplies.
Three new flow meters were installed at the Black Rock and Highlands catchments. These
state-of-the art meters put the District in compliance with a new law that requires use of
improved water metering equipment by water agencies.
In May 2010, the District sent letters to riparian property owners who divert water from local
creeks to irrigate their gardens. The letter invited the property owners to cooperate with the
District's efforts to maintain suitable flows in the creeks during the summer months for the
threatened steelhead.
A comprehensive report of water use trends over the past decade was compiled. It is
suggested that this report be posted on the District's website.
The District has reduced the amount of water taken from creeks, using more groundwater.
A new well is to be drilled at the Steep Ravine Tank Site. A contract for its construction will be
reviewed by the Board at the January meeting.
There is additional work to be done by the committee, and Directors Sapanai and Zell are
willing to serve for another year. President Baskin then reconfirmed the committee for 2011
and reappointed Directors Sapanai and Zell as members.
J. CORRESPONDENCE
The Board acknowledged and thanked A West Marin Taxi, John Posadas, for his input.
K. ADJOURNMENT
The motion to adjourn the meeting was approved by unanimous vote. The meeting was
adjourned at 10:30 a.m.