SBCWD Logo

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING
Saturday, July 15, 2017

A.    CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

President Nelsen called the Regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Stinson Beach County Water District to order on Saturday, July 15, 2017, at 9:30 a.m., at the Stinson Beach County Water District office, located at 3785 Shoreline Highway, Stinson Beach, CA 94970.

Directors present:
Morey Nelsen, President
Lawrence Baskin, Director
Barbara Boucke, Director

Directors absent:
Jim Zell, Vice President
Sandra Cross, Director

General Manager present:
Ed Schmidt

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

B.    PUBLIC EXPRESSION

None.

C.    SETTING OF AGENDA

The agenda was unanimously adopted as set.

D.    PUBLIC HEARING

  1. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: a Variance Application for a new wastewater system at 6 Calle del Onda, James and Belinda Zell, Owners, Account No. 0380.
    Director Baskin pointed out that he has no problem with the application and there is no appearance of impropriety, but it is important for the Board to know that this is a conflict of interest situation. District Engineer Rich Souza should have gotten a conflict of interest waiver from the Board before accepting to work as the project's engineer, since he is also the District's engineer.

    Director Cross made a motion to waive this conflict of interest. Director Baskin seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously by the three Board members present, President Nelsen and Directors Baskin and Cross.

    District Engineer Souza summarized his staff report to the Board. This is a voluntary repair, and no new construction is proposed to the approximate 1,851 square foot living area. Thus, notification to the Regional Water Quality Control Board or neighbors is not applicable. The current system is about 68 years old, but passed an inspection in May 2017. To mitigate for loss of treatment in the fast percolating soils and the seasonal high groundwater, a raised bed bottomless sand filter is proposed. The design also includes utilizing an existing 1,200 gallon septic tank, a new 810 gallon sump tank, and a single raised bed bottomless sand filter.

    Variances are required to the District's Title IV, Section 4.15.310 Septic and Sump Tank Design Standards to utilize an existing septic tank of 1,200 gallons; Section 4.15.640 Dispersal Fields to install a single raised bed bottomless sand filter dispersal field; and Section 4.19.020 Use of an Alternative System Design - Repair or Replacement of Failed System to utilize an alternative system. The maximum daily discharge limit will be 300 gallons and should average 200 gallons. The variances were reviewed by the Wastewater Committee at its July 14, 2017 meeting.

    Director Cross made a motion to adopt Draft Resolution No. WW 2017-06 Granting a Variance to the Requirements of the Stinson Beach County Water District Wastewater Treatment Regulations Ordinance No. 2014-04 to Utilize a Single Field Alternative System with an Existing Septic Tank with a 1,200 Gallon Capacity for property located at 6 Calle del Onda, Stinson Beach. Director Baskin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by President Nelsen and Directors Baskin and Cross.

    Vice President Zell would have recused himself had he been present at the hearing.

E.    GENERAL BUSINESS

  1. Discussion and possible direction to staff regarding the establishment of the Gann Property Tax Appropriations Limit for the District for Fiscal Year 2017-2018.
    Article XIIIB of the California Constitution (the "Gann Initiative") and implementing legislation requires each local agency to review its "appropriations limitation" on an annual basis. The "appropriations limit" is the maximum amount of "proceeds of taxes" which the District can receive during the fiscal year. Last fiscal year, we received $785,480. By Resolution No. GB- 2016-04, the Board established the appropriations limit for Fiscal Year 2016-2017 as $1,574,274.

    Based on data released by the Department of Finance on per capita income and population changes, the District's appropriations limit for the coming fiscal year is $1,636,142.

    The June 3, 2014 election set the District's appropriations limit for FY 2014-15 and authorized the District to use that number to calculate limits for the next three years (through FY 2017- 18). Therefore, the District will need to go to the voters again no later than June 5, 2018 to prevent the District's appropriations limit from falling to pre-1998 levels.

    Director Baskin moved to approve Draft Resolution No. GB-2017-03, a Resolution of the Board of Directors Establishing the Appropriations Limit Applicable to the District During Fiscal Year 2017-2018. Director Cross seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously by President Nelsen and Directors Baskin and Cross.
  2. Presentation of compost bin to winner of SBCWD's coloring contest.
    Sergio Vergara, proprietor of the Stinson Beach Market, was the winner of the coloring contest and received a free compost bin having a suggested retail value of $99.

F.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Baskin moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of June 17, 2017. Director Cross seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously by President Nelsen and Directors Baskin and Cross. Vice President Zell was absent at the June 17, 2017 meeting.

G.    APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS

Director Baskin moved to approve the disbursements of June 13, 2017. Director Cross seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously by President Nelsen and Directors Baskin and Cross.

H.    MANAGER'S REPORT

The General Manager discussed his monthly report. A Notice of Exemption for the District's Highlands #1 Water Tank Coating and Repairs Project has been filed with the County. If no questions or issues are raised before July 26, 2017, the District can issue the Notice to Proceed to Euro Style Management for the tank coating and repairs.

The General Manager responded to two requests from Megan Alton of the Marin Community Development Agency regarding the impacts that the District's new well would have on existing groundwater supplies and whether the new well would increase future subdivision potential within the District.

The Board commended the General Manager for his insightful letter dated July 10, 2017 to Steve Ortega, GGNRA, regarding discussion of NPS property in light of potential sea level rise, as well as the General Manager's July 1, 2017 Newsletter interview with Kenny Stevens, Fire Chief.

Director Baskin requested that future District newsletters contain a part that is devoted to updating the number of customers that have registered their online water meter use portals. Also, give an example of how the use of the online portal can substantially shorten the discovery time in case of a major and costly leak.

I.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

Director Cross reported that the Desalination Committee met on July 12, 2017 and discussed various issues relating to site locations, brine disposal, and costs involved.

J.    CORRESPONDENCE

The Board reviewed the correspondence.

K.    ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m. The next regular meeting will be on Saturday, August 19, 2017, at 9:30 a.m.

Return to Index of Board Meeting Minutes