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BOARD MEETING MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING
Saturday, April 19, 2014

A.    CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

President Boucke called the Regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Stinson Beach County Water District to order on Saturday, April 19, 2014, at 9:30 a.m., at the Stinson Beach County Water District office, located at 3785 Shoreline Highway, Stinson Beach, CA 94970.

Directors present:
Barbara Boucke, President
Sandra Cross, Director
Morey Nelsen, Director

Directors absent:
Lawrence Baskin, Vice President
Jim Zell, Director

Treasurer present:
Judy Stemen

General Manager present:
Ed Schmidt

Staff present:
Rich Souza - District Engineer
Helma Schwendig - Administrative Asst.

B.    SETTING OF AGENDA

The agenda was unanimously adopted as set

C.    PUBLIC EXPRESSION

None.

D.    PUBLIC HEARING

  1. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: a Variance Request for a new alternative type septic system, 168/170 Seadrift Road, Christopher Bently, Owner, Acct. #6350 and 6360.
    This project had previously been discussed at Wastewater Committee meetings on October 14, 2013 and February 5, 2014. The major items that were discussed included reducing the peak flow rate from 900 to 600 gallons per day and the Findings of Fact. The new system will be installed with a new 6,000 square foot single family residence located on two lots which will be merged and together total 58,080 square feet. The peak and average flow rate shall be 600 and 400 gallons per day, respectively. The two existing single family residences at 168 and 170 Seadrift Road will be demolished, and their wastewater systems will either be abandoned or removed.

    A variance is required to the District's Title IV Onsite Wastewater Management Code Section 4.19.010, Use of Alternative Wastewater System Designs, for the alternative system components using Advantex recirculating textile filters and drip dispersal fields. A variance is also required to Section 4.19.050 Residential Systems - High Volume. A copy of the application was mailed to the Regional Water Quality Control Board on September 23, 2013, but no comments have been received. Neighbor notifications within 300 feet of the property were sent on March 20, 2014.

    Director Cross moved to grant the variances under Sections 4.19.010 and 4.19.050 and directed staff to delete several irrelevant statements under findings of fact in draft Resolution No. WW-2014-01. Also, it should be inserted in the Resolution that prior to the issuance of the Discharge Permit, a single water meter will be installed to serve a single family residence on the combined parcels. Another WHEREAS clause should also be added to the Resolution, stating that this project, as approved by the District, is for a septic system design approval permit, and does not guarantee any water supply amount, and shall be subject to all water rationing ordinances for a single family residence. This latter statement is to be included in the Design Approval Permit as well.

    Director Nelsen seconded the motion to adopt the Resolution, subject to the modifications requested by Director Cross. The motion was approved unanimously by President Boucke and Directors Cross and Nelsen.
  2. Discussion and probable postponement of the District's Water Rationing Program as a result of additional rainfall and customer water conservation cooperation and success.
    The General Manager reported that due to additional rainfall and the result of good water conservation by our customers, the Water Operations Committee recommended that the water rationing program be postponed until August or September. Also, the District's legal counsel had not completed his review of the new draft Water Rationing Ordinance. However, if demand goes back up and if the District's well supplies diminish, the Board may need to approve an Ordinance for implementation in September.

    Director Nelsen made a motion to postpone the implementation date for water rationing until August 1, 2014, but to monitor the situation closely to see if an emergency arises before then. President Boucke seconded the motion. The three Board members in attendance (Ms. Boucke, Ms. Cross, and Mr. Nelsen) voted unanimously to approve the motion. The matter will be discussed again at the August Board meeting. The General Manager was directed to write an updated newsletter for insertion with the April water bills.

E.    GENERAL BUSINESS

  1. Discussion and possible direction to staff to grant a Water Use Charge Reduction Request for Mrs. Caroline Todd, 71 Dipsea Road, Stinson Beach, Account #07880.
    Mrs. Todd, who was unable to attend today's Board meeting, appealed the General Manager's decision to deny her Water Use Charge Reduction Request for the period January 29, 2014 to March 3, 2014, which amounted to $2,127.46 for 9,900 cubic feet of water. The General Manager could not grant any relief to Mrs. Todd as her water loss resulted from the failure of toilets and components. He had, however, granted Mrs. Todd the option to pay the $2,127.46 over a 12 month period. Director Nelsen moved to grant Mrs. Todd a reduction based on recalculating her water usage above 4,000 cubic feet (5,900 cubic feet) at the District's current cost of delivering a gallon of water, which is $.023 per gallon. Director Cross seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously by President Boucke and Directors Nelsen and Cross.
  2. Discussion and possible direction to staff to submit 7 grant applications to the California Department of Public Health, for water supply acquisition and planning projects for the District in response to the Governor's Drought Declaration.
    The Board directed the General Manager to submit the grant applications totaling $1,650,000 to the California Department of Public Health.
  3. Discussion and possible direction to staff to accept the plans and specifications for the replacement of the water lines in Calle del Pinos, Calle del Pradero, Calle del Onda and Calle del Embarcadero and to proceed with the advertising and bidding process.
    The Board directed the General Manager to proceed with the advertising and bidding process. After the bids are opened, they will be discussed by the Water Operations Committee. If the lowest bid seems too high, the District will decide on another course of action
  4. Stinson Beach County Water District Resolution No. GB-2014-03, Proposing an Election be held in its jurisdiction and requesting the Board of Supervisors to consolidate with any other election conducted on said date, and requesting election services by the Marin County Elections Department.
    The Statewide General Election will be held on November 4, 2014. There are two Board members positions to be elected for four year terms (Vice President Baskin and Director Zell). President Boucke moved to adopt draft Resolution No. GB-2014-03. Director Cross seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously by President Boucke and Directors Cross and Nelsen.
  5. Stinson Beach County Water District Resolution No. GB-2014-04, whereby the Board of Directors sets forth and establishes a policy relating to the Candidate's Statement of Qualifications.
    Current District policy under Resolution No. GB-2012-03 states that the cost of printing and filing is the responsibility of the candidate. President Boucke moved to ratify the current policy and to adopt draft Resolution No. GB-2014-04. Director Cross seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by President Boucke and Directors Cross and Nelsen.
  6. Discussion and possible direction to staff to "opt out" of the Marin Clean Energy (MCE) program.
    Patrick Sterns, a member of the audience, stated that he is employed by a solar technology company and volunteered to assist the District in its further comparison of PG&E rates to MCE rates. The Board, therefore, decided to postpone opting out of MCE for the 12 month period.

F.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Nelsen moved to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting of March 12, 2014. Director Cross seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by President Boucke and Directors Cross and Nelsen. The Minutes for the Special Meeting of March 24, 2014 will be reviewed at the May 17, 2014 Board meeting, as Director Nelsen was not present at the March 24, 2014 Board meeting.

G.    APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS

Director Cross moved to approve the disbursements of March 13, 2014 and March 27, 2014. Director Nelsen seconded the motion. The disbursements were approved by President Boucke and Directors Cross and Nelsen.

H.    MANAGER'S REPORT

The General Manager discussed his monthly report. He is preparing salary surveys for all employees, showing their titles, base salary and total cost as compared to the other Bay Area Water and Sanitation Districts as shown on the website of the Bay Area News Group Public Employee Salaries. The survey results will be presented to the Personnel Committee at its May 12 meeting.

The mapping project of the District's water lines is about 50% completed.

Mr. Bill Falik, who owns properties at #7 and #9 Sacramento Patio, requested to switch his proposed water allotment between his two properties. However, since the Board voted to postpone possible rationing until the August 16 Board meeting and there is no water rationing ordinance in effect, the matter need not be addressed at this time.

ACWA, our insurance authority, has sent the District a refund check for $6,496.33.

I.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

None.

J.    CORRESPONDENCE

The Board reviewed the correspondence.

K.    ADJOURNMENT

The motion to adjourn the meeting was approved by unanimous vote. The meeting was adjourned at 11:44 a.m.

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