BOARD MEETING MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING
Saturday, December 20, 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, December 20, 2014, at 9:35 a.m., at the Stinson Beach County Water District office, located at 3785 Shoreline Highway, Stinson Beach, CA 94970.

Directors present:
Barbara Boucke, President
Lawrence Baskin, Vice President
Sandra Cross, Director
Morey Nelsen, Director
Jim Zell, Director

Treasurer present:
Judy Stemen

General Manager present:
Ed Schmidt

Staff present:
Rich Souza - District Engineer
Helma Schwendig - Office Supervisor

B.    PUBLIC EXPRESSION

Steve McCaffrey, Director of Government Affairs, North Bay Corporation/Redwood Empire Disposal, thanked the Board for their leadership during 2014.

C.    SETTING OF AGENDA

The agenda was unanimously adopted as set.

D.    GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Election of Stinson Beach County Water District Board President and Vice President for Calendar Year 2015.
   President Boucke stated that 2014 had been an exciting year and it was her privilege to serve as Board President. The District is well regarded in the community, and she thanked all Board members, the General Manager, Judy, Rich and staff for dealing successfully with a wide range of water, septic, and grant issues.
   
   Director Zell moved to elect Vice President Baskin as the new President for 2015. Director Nelsen seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. Outgoing President Boucke then turned the meeting over to newly elected President Baskin, who thanked her for doing a wonderful job as President during 2014. Director Nelsen moved to elect Director Cross as Vice President. Director Boucke seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

E.    PUBLIC HEARING - 9:40 A.M.

1. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: a Variance Request for replacement of an existing septic system with an alternative type system, 50 Buena Vista Avenue, Account #3630, Matthew Rolandson/SamanthaTripodi, owners.
   Vice President Cross recused herself and left the meeting, as she lives within 300 feet of the proposed project.
   
   This proposed project would replace the existing 32 year old dual gravity wastewater system with an alternative system having a maximum and average daily wastewater loading rate of 150 and 100 gallons, respectively. Also proposed is an increase of the existing habitable space from 661 square feet to 1,400 square feet on a 3,000 square foot lot. Wet weather testing was conducted by District staff, and the highest recorded groundwater elevation was 44 inches from existing grade.
   
   A variance to the requirements of the District's Onsite Wastewater Management Code Sections 4.15.100, 4.19.010 and 4.19.150 would need the Board's approval for the following items: (1) Installation of an alternative wastewater system; (2) reduction of a drip dispersal field setback from 25 to 13-foot to a cut bank; (3) reduction of a drip dispersal field setback from 5 to 1-foot to an adjoining property line; (4) Reduction of a drip dispersal field setback from 25 to 8-foot to a downslope property line; (5) reduction of a septic/pretreatment tank setback from 5 to 1-foot to an adjoining property line; (6) reduction of a septic/pretreatment tank setback from 10 to 5-foot to a downslope property line; (7) installation of a drip field sized for 167% of the design daily flow.
   
   The Board felt that the above multiple variances requested by septic designer Noadiah Eckman were not adequately shown on the drawings she provided. The Board requested Ms. Eckman to furnish 11x17" plans showing the proposed building improvements and the setbacks listed above. Also, the variance findings of fact should be refined. The plans and revised findings of fact will then be reviewed at the next Wastewater Committee meeting before the matter is rescheduled to be heard at the next Board meeting.
   
   Several neighbors expressed their approval of the proposed project.
   
   Vice President Cross returned to the meeting.

F.    GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Discussion re: District Committee Membership changes by the Board President. President Baskin stated that he would retain the 2014 committee members for the year 2015, as follows:
   
   FINANCE COMMITTEE - Director Boucke, Director Zell
   
   LEGAL COMMITTEE - President Baskin, Vice President Cross
   
   PERSONNEL COMMITTEE - Director Nelsen, Director Zell
   
   WASTEWATER COMMITTEE - President Baskin, Vice President Cross
   
   WATER OPERATIONS COMMITTEE - Director Boucke, Director Nelsen AD HOC COMMITTEE: to review Title II, Board rules, President rules, etc. - Vice President Cross, Director Boucke
   
   In addition, President Baskin set up a new ad hoc committee titled the IT AD HOC COMMITTEE, consisting President Baskin and Director Nelsen. Judy was reappointed as the District's Treasurer.
2. Discussion on the status of a Compliance Program for a Change of Use Request; necessary for modifications being made at the Bolinas-Stinson Beach School in Stinson Beach.
   District staff conducted a hydraulic load and dye test of the School's septic system on November 24, 2014. The test result was satisfactory. Local contractor Shane Boyce has been hired to tie in the Pre-school to the School's septic system. The Board requested Shane to furnish Rich with a revised drawing which shows the permitted setback to the Bolinas Lagoon.
3. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: Call for Nominations - Marin Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Regular Special District Member and Alternate Special District Member.
   Nomination forms to fill the four-year terms that will end in May 2015 for Regular Member Dennis Rodoni and Alternate Member Jack Baker must be received by LAFCO no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 12, 2015, including a statement of the candidate's qualifications.
4. Discussion of receipt of President's Special Recognition Awards from the Association of California Water Agencies/Joint Powers Insurance Authority (ACWA/JPIA) for low loss ratios in Workers' Compensation and property damage claims.
   Walter "Andy" Sells, the CEO of ACWA/JPIA commended the District for its hard work in reducing claims. The Board directed the General Manager to place a copy of these awards in the employees' personnel file.

G.    FINANCIAL REPORTS

The Board reviewed the Operating Report, Balance Sheet Summary, Quarterly Schedule of Cash and Investments and Cash Flow as of September 2014. President Baskin stated that the District's bookkeeper, Robyn Dismuke of Maze & Associates, is doing a great job.

H.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Nelsen moved to approve the minutes of November 15, 2014. Director Zell seconded the motion. The motion was approved by President Baskin, Vice President Cross and Directors Boucke, Nelsen and Zell.

I.    APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS

Director Boucke moved to approve the disbursements of November 10, November 24 and December 4, 2014. Vice President Cross seconded the motion. The motion was approved by President Baskin, Vice President Cross and Directors Boucke, Nelsen and Zell.

J.    MANAGER'S REPORT

The General Manager discussed his monthly report. The final payment due AshLin Pacific for the Calles Pipeline Replacement Project has been held up until the completion of the District's Project Manual Labor Compliance provisions, expected to be finalized by the first week in January 2015.

The flow of Fitzhenry Creek behind the Community Center measured 1,858 gallons per minute on December 15, 2014.

Doreen, the District's new Billing/Customer Service Representative, is doing a good job interacting with the public and is well liked by District staff.

President Baskin thanked both the General Manager and Helma for the high quality of reports issued by the District. President Baskin stated that the District is fortunate to have a great staff and also complimented Toby, Chris, Buck, Donny and Sito for their good work during the past year.

K.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

Director Zell will attend the next meeting of the West Marin Mosquito Council (WMMC) on January 6, 2015. The WMMC wishes to continue the use of very low-toxic protocol for the control of mosquitoes in West Marin by the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District.

L.    CORRESPONDENCE

None.

M.    ADJOURNMENT

The motion to adjourn the meeting was approved by unanimous vote. The meeting was adjourned at 11:17 a.m.