BOARD MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Saturday, July 18, 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, July 18, 2015, 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
Sandra Cross, Vice President
Barbara Boucke, Director
Morey Nelsen, Director
Directors absent:
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
Lance Meade, a local homeowner, stated that he observed trash accumulating near the barn
area and requested its removal. He also requested that the District act more vigorously in
situations where property owners, such as his neighbors for example, convert nonhabitable
space into habitable space. He stated their garage is still being rented as habitable space.
President Baskin replied that the owners' representative is working with the County to remove
the unpermitted work. The matter had most recently been discussed at the July 8, 2015
Wastewater Committee meeting and will continue to be monitored to ensure compliance to
the District's wastewater regulations.
C. SETTING OF AGENDA
The agenda was unanimously adopted as set.
D. PUBLIC HEARING
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Discussion and possible direction to staff re: a Variance Request for replacement of
a failed wastewater system, 90 Calle del Ribera, Account #0680, Giacomo A. Russo,
Owner.
The variance application is in response to a failed routine inspection by District staff on January 22, 2015. There is no increase in habitable space. No neighbor or Regional Water Quality Control Board notification is required as the proposed septic system is for the repair/replacement of a failed system. The Wastewater Committee reviewed the design application at its June 17, 2015 meeting, and the matter was heard at the June 20, 2015 Board meeting. It was discussed again at the July 8, 2015 Wastewater Committee meeting. Items of concern related to the new system's construction schedule, groundwater separation, location of the existing water main, and the quantity of the requested variance items.
The design meets regulations to groundwater and water main separation. The many variance requests are necessary due to the existing site and building conditions. The proposed alternative system, which will utilize a peat fiber pretreatment system with a raised bed dispersal field, provides similar or better treatment quality to an intermittent sand filter. The maximum design load is limited to 150 gallons per day to mitigate the existing 1,200 gallon septic tank capacity.
A Board member expressed concern regarding the two setback variances for the hot tub, but other Board members felt that, although removing the hot tub would reduce the number of variances, they are not health and safety issues. A maintenance contractor will be required along with a telemetry control panel for future operation reliability. Construction of the new system is set for mid-October 2015.
Director Nelsen moved to adopt draft Resolution No. WW 2015-07, Granting a Variance to the Requirements of the Stinson Beach County Water District Wastewater Treatment Regulations Ordinance No. 2014-04 to Utilize an Alternative Dispersal Field Size for 100% of the Maximum Design Load and to Reduce Site Criteria Setback Requirements and to Utilize an Existing 1200 Gallon Septic Tank. President Baskin seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-1. President Baskin, Vice President Cross, and Director Nelsen voted "aye" and Director Boucke voted "no." -
Discussion and possible direction to staff re: a Variance Request for a new
wastewater system for a vacant lot located at 287 Seadrift Road, APN 195-320-27,
Christophe and Anne Bertrand, Owners.
The design application for a new sand filter wastewater system for a single family residential home with up to 1,900 square feet of habitable space was reviewed and discussed at the June 17, 2015 Wastewater Committee meeting. The wastewater design consists of a new 1,500 gallon septic tank, a 810 gallon sump tank, intermittent sand filter, and dual raised bed leach fields on a 60' x 125' vacant lot with the Seadrift lagoon located along the northerly property line. Based on the proposed raised bed leach field, there is over 36 inches of vertical separation from seasonal high groundwater to the leach field bottom. The owner will relocate the water mainline to maintain the required 10 foot setback to the septic system.
President Baskin requested that condition b. of the variance in draft Resolution No. WW 2015- 06 is revised subject to "Relocation of the water main to maintain a 10-foot minimum setback to the wastewater system prior to the issuance of the wastewater discharge permit." With this revision, Director Boucke moved to adopt draft Resolution No. WW 2015-06, Granting a Variance to the Requirements of the Stinson Beach County Water District Wastewater Treatment Regulations Ordinance No. 2014-04 to Reduce Site Criteria Setbacks to a New Intermittent Sand Filter Wastewater System. Vice President Cross seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by President Baskin, Vice President Cross, and Directors Boucke and Nelsen.
E. GENERAL BUSINESS
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Discussion and possible direction to staff regarding the establishment of the Gann
Property Tax Appropriations Limit for the District for Fiscal Year 2015-2016.
The California Constitution requires each local agency to review the appropriations limit on a yearly basis. This is the maximum amount of property taxes which the District can receive during the fiscal year. Although the District receives approximately $650,000 per year in property tax revenue, it is eligible to receive more.
The June 3, 2014 election set the District's appropriations limit for fiscal year 2014 - 2015 and authorized the District to use that number to calculate limits for the next three years. The District will need to go to the voters again no later than June 2018 to prevent the District's appropriations limit from falling to pre-1998 levels, which was $141,212.
Vice President Cross moved to approve draft Resolution No. GB-2015-02, to establish the appropriations limit for fiscal year 2015-2016 as $1,490,931. Director Nelsen seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by President Baskin, Vice President Cross, and Directors Boucke and Nelsen. -
Discussion and possible direction to staff to publish a Request for Proposal for the
supply and delivery of water meters and an automatic meter reading system.
Last December, the Board formed an ad hoc Information and Technology Committee to research the various levels of technology and applicability of new water meters for the District. This project has been approved for Proposition 84 grant funding. The District plans to replace approximately 730 customer water meters and install up to five new in-line water meters in strategic locations throughout its distribution system.
The General Manager introduced Kathy Richards, California Sales Manager for National Meter and Automation, Inc., Santa Rosa, a major distributor of Badger Meter products for the municipal water utility market. Ms. Richards showed the Board a Badger Meter with stainless steel threads at each end which are stronger and have a much better ability to adapt to installation than others with plastic threads. She also showed a cellular transmitter which goes in the meter box and which can send out a text message once per day to a customer's smart phone or tablet, alerting them to their water usage. She stated the meters are designed as a 20 year product and the sealed lithium-thionyl chloride batteries will last for 10 years. Their Beacon Advanced Metering Analytics software is compatible with several different kinds of billing systems.
The Information Technology Committee believes that automatic meter reading is the most advantageous for the community. Community acceptance is a factor to be considered. Vice President Cross requested more information regarding the output power of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure System (AMI).
The Board authorized the General Manager to place a Request for Proposal in the Marin Independent Journal and the Point Reyes Light. The deadline for submission of all proposals is 30 days from the public notice advertisement date. Demonstrative experience is a requirement.
F. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Director Nelsen moved to approve the minutes of June 20, 2015. Director Boucke seconded
the motion. The motion was approved by President Baskin, Vice President Cross, and
Directors Boucke and Nelsen.
G. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS
Director Nelsen moved to approve the disbursements of June 24, 2015. Vice President Cross
seconded the motion. The motion was approved by President Baskin, Vice President Cross,
and Directors Boucke and Nelsen.
H. MANAGER'S REPORT
The General Manager discussed his monthly report. Eric West submitted the high bid for the
surplus 1/2 ton Ford 150 pickup truck, but unfortunately he placed his bid on the wrong vehicle.
He meant to place his bid on the 3/4 ton Ford 250 pickup. Robert Farley submitted the high bid
of $2,550 for the 3/4 ton pickup. The next highest bidder on the 1/2 ton pickup was Toby Bisson
at $501. The Board concurred that the 1/2 ton pickup goes to Toby.
The District's new financial auditor, John Cropper of Cropper Accountancy Corporation,
performed his field work in the District Office on June 23, 2015. Governmental Accounting
Standards Board (GASB) Statement 68 requires that public agencies' unfunded retirement
liability be disclosed in its financial statements.
Both the Calles and Patios Pipeline Replacement Projects have been completed. The District
received the Certificate of Substantial Completion for the Patios Pipelines Replacement
Project as of June 23, 2015. The District may receive its first grant reimbursement in
November of 2015.
The State of California Department of Industrial Relations - Division of Labor Standards
Enforcement has sent a Notice of Investigation and Request for Information to the District and
AshLin Pacific Construction, the District's contractor on the Calles Project, to confirm
compliance with the Public Work Laws.
The Board reviewed the District's Quarterly Schedule of Cash and Investments as of June
2015.
I. COMMITTEE REPORTS
None.
J. CORRESPONDENCE
None.
K. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 a.m. The next regular meeting will be held on Saturday,
August 22, 2015, at 9:30 a.m.