BOARD MEETING MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING
Saturday, November 21, 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, November 21, 2015, at 9:37 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:
Helma Schwendig - Office Supervisor

C.    PUBLIC EXPRESSION

President Baskin updated the Board on the status of the Employee Recognition Dinner. Director Boucke suggested that the Board revisit the District's Title IV Onsite Wastewater Management Code in view of projected sea level rise concerns and if septic tank shut off valves can be installed for septic systems that are located in the Calles and Patios areas of Stinson Beach. President Baskin replied that this is a complicated issue, and that the matter will be reviewed and a policy, if needed, formed at the next Wastewater Committee meeting.

B.    SETTING OF AGENDA

The agenda was unanimously adopted as set.

D.    PUBLIC HEARING

1. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: a Hearing for Property located at 141 Calle del Arroyo, Victor Zilinkas and Tanya Zilinskas Naouri, Owners, Account #1420.
   On April 29, 2015, the District revoked the Discharge Permit, as the septic system was found to be in violation of SBCWD Ordinance 2014-04, relating to violation of Sections 4.01.430 (Alterations and Additions not amounting to new construction), 4.01.290 (Failure to Obtain Required Permit) of Stinson Beach County Water District Title IV, and violation of Title 19 of Marin County Code and Section 105 of the California Building Code (Dated 2/27/2015) posted at the property. A Failed System Citation was issued on June 1, 2015, and the matter was discussed at several subsequent Wastewater Committee meetings. The owners had hired an "expediter" to obtain a permit from Marin County Planning Division to return their illegal habitable space back into a garage. To date, the District has not received a copy of a written repair schedule, repairs made to date, or why it has taken so long to complete the work.
   
   Tanya Zilinskas Naouri, one of the owners, stated she had hired Steven Podesta (the "expediter") to assist with drawing up plans to remove the unpermitted work. His plans included the installation of a garage door and windows. Mrs. Zilinskas Naouri stated that the garage space was too small for use as a garage for a car and that the space would only be utilized as storage space, not habitable space. Mrs. Zilinskas Naouri also stated that she recently received a new list of requirements from the county building inspector and that she has hired a local contractor to do the required work.
   
   A Board member expressed frustration at the amount of time (7 months now) that has elapsed without significant progress having been made. The Board gave Mrs. Zilinskas Naouri until December 1, 2015 to submit to the General Manager a schedule of the work completed to date and including a final completion date. If this does not happen, Mrs. Zilinskas Naouri will be requested to appear at a Wastewater Committee meeting which may result in the termination of her water service.

E.    GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Discussion and possible direction to staff to issue a Notice of Award and Contract for the drilling of a test well to be located at the District's Laurel Water Treatment Plant.
   The District received three bids for a new test well, which were opened on November 9, 2015. No well drillers attended the voluntary pre-bid meeting on November 2. The apparent low bid was ABC Liovin Drilling for $79,594. The other bids were Weeks Drilling $101,750 and Cascade Drilling $108,830. The County requires a Coastal Development Permit and a fee of $7,215. The Engineer's estimate was $75,000 for the project. If references come back positive and the Coastal Development Permit is granted, the District can proceed with issuing a contract, Notice of Award, and Notice to Proceed to ABC Liovin Drilling. If references are unsatisfactory, the District will proceed with the next lowest bidder.
   
   President Baskin inquired as to the incremental cost of drilling deeper than the target depth of 260 feet that is described in the bid documents. Also to be confirmed by Allan Richards of Stetson Engineers is the conversion of the test well to a potable well. The Board approved by consensus for the General Manager to proceed as planned.
2. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: a request for contribution of funds to the Resource Recovery Center, Bolinas.
   The Bolinas Public Utility District (BPUD) is requesting a $5,000 maximum contribution, 25% of an estimated $20,000, by the SBCWD for engineering, environmental and permitting costs for a berm repair project, which had been completed without permits. The operation of the Resource Recovery Center in Bolinas benefits the communities of Stinson Beach, Bolinas, the Bolinas Fire Protection District and the Stinson Beach Fire Department. Director Zell made a motion for the SBCWD to contribute 25% of the cost, up to a maximum of $5,000, to obtain the required permits. Director Boucke seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by President Baskin, Vice President Cross, and Directors Boucke, Nelsen and Zell.
3. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: the purchase of the Springbrook utility billing system from Accela Corporation, San Francisco, CA.
   The Finance Committee has been discussing various types of utility billing systems for the past 10 months and did a survey of water agencies, their customer count and their utility billing system in March of this year. Two popular utility billing systems, Core Utilities and Accela (Springbrook) were contacted and compared. The District's IT person, Joe Bender, also reviewed their interface and concluded that Springbrook presented a better product to meet the District's needs. The Board thanked staff for their efforts. The Board approved by consensus for the General Manager to proceed with the purchase of the Accela (Springbrook) utility billing system for $15,692 to be installed before the installation of the new water meters. The purchase of the on-line bill pay software will be considered at a future date.
4. Update from staff on the pending purchase of new water meters from National Meter and Automation, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA.
   On Thursday, November 19, 2015, the General Manager received an e-mail from Kathy Richards of National Meter and Automation, Inc., which he distributed to the Board, wherein Ms. Richards gave the District an additional discount of 3 1/2% for the purchase of 730 new Badger water meters, a total discount of 7% from the original pricing provided in May. The Board directed the General Manager to proceed with the purchase order for the new meters for $191,552.25.
5. Review of information from the Special Board Meeting held on Saturday, November 14, 2015 on Sea Level Rise and possible direction to staff.
   On November 14, 2015, the C-SMART (Sea Level Rise) team discussed and presented a Community Preference Survey on Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategies for Marin's Ocean Coast, for Stinson Beach residents to complete. The public comment period is through December 14, 2015, not enough time to evaluate strategies that will impact residents' lives and properties for years to come.
   
   The survey will be discussed more in depth at a Special Board meeting to be agendized and held at the District office on Monday, November 30, 2015, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The survey can be completed online or mailed to the Marin County Community Development Agency in San Rafael by January 17, 2016.

F.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Zell moved to approve the minutes of October 17, 2015. Director Boucke seconded the motion. The motion was approved by President Baskin and Directors Boucke, Nelsen and Zell. Vice President Cross had been absent at the October 17, 2015 meeting.

G.    APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS

Director Nelsen moved to approve the disbursements of October 13 and October 28, 2015. Vice President Cross 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 District is compiling invoices for all four of its grant projects. Invoicing will include all expenses incurred up to December 31, 2015. The first invoice will be sent to ABAG by February 15, 2016. After their review, ABAG will forward the invoices to the Department of Water Resources. The District expects to receive payment by May 31, 2016. Future invoices will be sent in quarterly with project progress reports.

The General Manager had written a letter to the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito Vector Control District in support of a one-year extension of the existing non-toxic protocol agreement until December 31, 2016.

He will consult with the National Marine Fisheries of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) regarding the need for continued monthly creek monitoring. This would save the District about $25,000 annually.

The Board directed the General Manager to follow up with Albert Coles regarding his nonpayment of his water bill and that if payment is not received by December 4, 2015, initiate proceedings to turn off Mr. Coles' water. The Board also requested that the General Manager write follow up letters to high water users where warranted.

President Baskin expressed approval of the General Manager's November 3, 2015 Drought Newsletter.

I.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

None.

J.    CORRESPONDENCE

The Board reviewed the correspondence.

K.    ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:22 a.m. The next regular meeting will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2015, at 9:30 a.m.