BOARD MEETING MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING
Saturday, January 17, 2015

A.    CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

President Baskin called the Regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Stinson Beach County Water District to order on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at 9:32 a.m., at the Stinson Beach County Water District office, located at 3785 Shoreline Highway, Stinson Beach, CA 94970.

Directors present:
Lawrence Baskin, President
Sandra Cross, Vice President
Barbara Boucke, 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.    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 replacement of an existing septic system with an alternative type system, 50 Buena Vista Avenue, Account #3630, Matthew Rolandson/SamanthaTripodi, owners [continued from the December 20, 2014 Board meeting].
   Vice President Cross recused herself and left the meeting, as she lives within 300 feet of the proposed project.
   
   This proposed project was previously discussed at the December 20, 2014 Board meeting as well as the November 12, 2014 and January 14, 2015 Wastewater Committee meetings. After the December Board hearing, the septic designer, Noadiah Eckman, submitted plans which included the proposed building improvements and the horizontal setbacks requiring a variance request. The Findings of Fact letter was also revised to include each variance request and a more detailed response to the four findings.
   
   The 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.
   
   Director Nelsen moved to approve the application and draft Resolution No. WW 2015-01, granting a variance to the requirements of the Stinson Beach County Water District Wastewater Treatment Regulations Ordinance No. 2014-04 to reduce site criteria setback, to utilize an alternative wastewater system, to utilize a dispersal field sized for 167% of the design daily flow. Director Boucke seconded the motion. The motion was approved by President Baskin and Directors Boucke, Nelsen and Zell.
   
   Vice President Cross then returned to the meeting.
2. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: a Variance Request for replacement of an existing septic system with an alternative type system, 285 Belvedere Avenue, Account #5120, Judith Hunt, owner.
   This project had been discussed at the January 14, 2015 Wastewater Committee meeting. The variance application is to replace the failed single field gravity system with a new alternative type wastewater system, which will increase the maximum flow rate from 150 to 300 gallons per day. The lot size is approximately 9,200 square feet and the existing habitable space is approximately 1,500 square feet. Approval of the variance would allow a future building addition not exceeding 1,900 square feet of habitable space. Soil profile holes revealed no indication of seasonal high groundwater. The proposed alternative system will have a maximum and average daily wastewater loading rate of 300 and 200 gallons, respectively.
   
   Vice President Cross moved to adopt draft Resolution No. WW 2015-02, granting a variance to the requirements of the Stinson Beach County Water District Wastewater Treatment Regulations Ordinance No. 2014-04, Section 4.15.100, to reduce site criteria setback and Section 4.19.010 to utilize an alternative wastewater system. Director Boucke seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously by President Baskin, Vice President Cross, and Directors Boucke, Nelsen and Zell.

E.    GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Review of the District's Basic Financial Statements and the Memorandum on Internal Controls as at June 30, 2014.
   The Board reviewed and accepted the draft Financial Statements consisting of Management's Discussion and Analysis, the Basic Financial Statements and Required Supplementary Information as prepared by the District's auditor, Maze & Associates. Their report stated that the financial statements are fairly represented in all material respects. The net position of the District's business-type activities increased in fiscal year 2014 by $213,277 compared to the net position of the District at June 30, 2013. The Board requested that the General Manager respond to Maze & Associates that all audit items shown on the Memorandum on Internal Controls had already been corrected. Maze & Associates will make a presentation at the February 21, 2015 Board meeting.
   
   The District must obtain a new auditor for its 6-30-15 financial audit, as its current bookkeeper is employed by Maze & Associates. The Finance Committee will shortly interview several potential CPA candidates.
2. Discussion and possible direction to staff regarding (1) Approval of the District's Patios Pipeline Replacement Project; (2) Approval to issue the Notice of Award to the apparent low bidder.
   This project involves replacing the decades old and undersized water pipelines totaling approximately 1,500 feet in the Patios area of Stinson Beach, consisting of Alameda, Rafael, Jose, Francisco and Sacramento Patios. It is one of four sub-regional projects approved for grant reimbursement by the Department of Water Resources. The District's budget estimate is $300,000.
   
   Director Nelsen moved to direct the General Manager to proceed according to the list of the Pertinent Dates for Bidding and Contract Processes for the Patios Pipelines Replacement Project. Vice President Cross seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously by President Baskin, Vice President Cross, and Directors Boucke, Nelsen and Zell.
3. Discussion of status of the addition of the portable classroom to the School District septic system.
   The District has been working with the School District and Preschool for the past four months to hook up the bathroom in the new portable building to the School's existing septic system. The School has been under a Revocation of Discharge Permit since October 23, 2014. The new sump tank for the Preschool has been installed about 80 feet from the lagoon, instead of the 100 feet required by its designation as a wetland.
   
   After much back and forth discussion by the Board, including input from John Carroll, the School's Principal, and Martin Honzik, Maintenance, the Board directed the School District to submit an application for a three year variance to the Stinson Beach County Water District Wastewater Treatment Regulations Ordinance No. 2014-04 to reduce the site criteria setback from the sump tank to the lagoon. The application will then be discussed at the next Wastewater Committee meeting and will be heard at the February 21, 2015 Board meeting.

F.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Nelsen moved to approve the minutes of December 20, 2014. Director Zell seconded the motion. The motion was approved by President Baskin, Vice President Cross and Directors Boucke, Nelsen and Zell.

G.    APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS

Vice President Cross moved to approve the disbursements of December 22, 2014. Director Nelsen seconded the motion. The motion was approved by President Baskin, Vice President Cross and Directors Boucke, Nelsen and Zell.

H.    MANAGER'S REPORT

The General Manager discussed his monthly report. The Board approved giving Sito a raise of $2,500 for obtaining his T2 Water Treatment Operator Certification.

On January 22, 2015, the General Manager will meet with several other Marin Water Managers in Bolinas to discuss a report prepared by Keene Simonds, Executive Officer, Marin Local Agency Formation Commission, concerning inaccurate assumptions and calculations of the District's water availability. After the meeting, the General Manager will send Mr. Simonds a letter of clarification regarding the District's water conservation.

A Special Board meeting will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2015, 6:30 p.m., at the Community Center, where the National Park Service will present the proposed design of the park's wastewater rehabilitation project.

The Board will place the District's Flood Control position, necessary as a matter of public health and safety, on the February 21, 2015 Board agenda. A special election will be held on March 3 (Measure A) to levy a tax of $250 annually per improved parcel and $50 per unimproved parcel. The tax would benefit all Stinson Beach residents and would be used to dredge Easkoot Creek, restore wetlands and creek habitat, remove sediment and maintain vegetation.

The Board authorized Pax Water Techologies' marketing department to film a short video at the District's Steep Ravine tank site.

The Board approved moving the August Board meeting ahead one week, from August 15 to August 22, 2015, as both the General Manager and Helma will be out of town during the preceding week.

I.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

None.

J.    CORRESPONDENCE

None.

K.    ADJOURNMENT

The motion to adjourn the meeting was approved by unanimous vote. The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 a.m.