BOARD MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
Saturday, October 20, 2018
A. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
President Zell called the Regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Stinson Beach County
Water District to order on Saturday, October 20, 2018, at 9:30 a.m., at the Stinson Beach
County Water District office, located at 3785 Shoreline Highway, Stinson Beach, CA 94970.
Directors present:
Jim Zell, President
Barbara Boucke, Vice President
Lawrence Baskin, Director
Sandra Cross, Director
Morey Nelsen, Director
Treasurer present:
Judy Stemen
General Manager present:
Ed Schmidt
Staff present:
Helma Schwendig - Office Supervisor
B. PUBLIC EXPRESSION
The General Manager distributed a letter dated October 16, 2018 from John Ratto, Senior
Operations Manager, Recology Sonoma/Marin, requesting the District's approval to rebalance
the commercial front load collection routes effective November 12, 2018. However, the District
has not yet received notification of the new collection routes.
The Stinson Beach Community Center has requested the District's continued support. The
Board unanimously approved a $150 contribution be made to the Community Center.
Local resident, Richard Reasoner, thanked the author of the District's monthly Newsletter (the
General Manager) for his transparency in reporting the District's operations and projects.
Mr. Reasoner also stated that he supports Director Baskin's appointment as SBCWD Director
on November 6, 2018.
C. SETTING OF AGENDA
The agenda was unanimously adopted as set.
D. GENERAL BUSINESS
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Discussion and possible direction to staff re: the proposal
and request of Next Edge Networks to place a sensor near the Highlands Water Tank.
Next Edge Networks, a private contractor working for the Navy, seeks permission from the District to place a sensor next to the Highlands Water Storage Tanks. The sensor does not transmit. Its purpose is to give the Navy a clear channel free of interference to use for their air and sea military operations. Currently, commercial companies such as Verizon and AT&T also use the 3.5 GHz Frequency spectrum, potentially interfering with Navy communications due to congestion. To resolve this issue, these sensors are being deployed every 20 to 25 miles on all three sides of the coastline, and Stinson Beach is one of these locations. If the Navy experiences congestion or interference from commercial companies, the Navy will ping the sensor installed next to the District's tank and all other 3.5 users will be moved to a different part of the network.
At the last Water Operations Committee meeting, the Committee recommended approval of the installation of the sensor. However, a modified Lease Agreement has not been received from Next Edge. The Board has a number of questions concerning the project and will put their thoughts, questions and comments in writing for response by Ana Coeur of Next Edge.
The General Manager telephoned Ms. Coeur to inform her that the Board has continued her proposal and request to a future Board meeting.
E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Director Nelsen made a motion to approve the minutes of September 15, 2018. Director Cross
seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously by President Zell, Vice President
Boucke and Directors Baskin, Cross and Nelsen.
F. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS
Director Baskin moved to approve the disbursements of September 12 and September 26,
2018. Director Cross seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously by President
Zell, Vice President Boucke and Directors Baskin, Cross and Nelsen.
G. MANAGER'S REPORT
The General Manager discussed his monthly report. He had contacted Tom Lai of the County's
Community Development Agency Planning Division regarding a perceived perception of a
moratorium on developing properties located on the Easkoot Creek Floodplain. FEMA updated
the flood maps last year, and parts of the Patios are no longer in the floodplain. Director Baskin
noted that repairs to a property within its existing footprint would still be permissible, but no
permits would be issued for an increase in habitable space. Tom has been requested to send
the District a wall map of the "A" zone.
This has been an extremely busy time for the District. The District's financial audit and field visit
have been scheduled. Beginning on Tuesday, October 23, 2018, advertising starts for the
District's Laurel Water Tank Coating and Repairs Project. A pre-bid meeting and site visit will
take place for contractors on Tuesday, November 6.
Four applicants will be interviewed on October 24, 2018 for the vacant Utility Worker position by
Toby Bisson, Director Nelsen, President Zell, and the General Manager.
The Board of Supervisors will make the appointment for Director Baskin's position on November
6, 2018.
The District has received a check for $10,000 from Brian Johnson to begin the WRA and
Associates Environmental Review for a revised, smaller project at 21 Calle del Onda. The
Board directed the General Manager to inquire from Mr. Johnson which of his three proposals
are to be studied by WRA and remind him that the $10,000 check is only a deposit for WRA's
work.
Marianne Watada, Division of Drinking Water, has approved the concept of the District's
temporary potable water storage plan, allowing the District to remove the Laurel Tank from
service for two months during the Laurel Water Tank Coating and Repairs Project.
The District has received a Deposition Subpoena for Production of Business Records of former
employee and plaintiff Jackie Smale on November 8, 2018. The defendant is Northbay Moving
Storage, Inc. Kurt Franklin of Hanson Bridgett has been notified.
The General Manager and Directors Cross and Baskin will participate in a conference call on
October 29, 2018 with Tim Quinn of ACWA and Andy Sells of JPIA re the River Watch claim.
The General Manager is in the process of discussing claim payouts by other insurance
companies such as Marsh McLennan.
In order to increase customer registration, the Board directed the General Manager to reserve a
dedicated space in the District's monthly newsletter regarding the procedure for customers to
set up their on-line portal to receive leak alerts and monitor their water usage. Also, to place a
message in the next newsletter regarding the care and feeding of your septic system and how
shock loading effects its operation.
The Board also directed the General Manager to follow up with Steve Ortega of the Park
Service to again request a list of possible properties and if the GGNRA is open to a lease or
rental of land.
A possible grant for a Desalination Feasibility Study has a 50 per cent funding match
requirement for the District, estimated at $75,000, to be reviewed by the Desalination
Committee.
H. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Director Nelsen and the Board congratulated Chris Kelley for his
recent outstanding power point presentation on The Wastewater Systems of Stinson, their Form
and Function. The Board would like to have Chris educate the Stinson Beach community in the
history of the Stinson Beach County Water District Wastewater Management Program, its
individual onsite septic systems, and the latest available advanced treatment options. The
Community Center would be the best site.
I. CORRESPONDENCE
None.
J. CLOSED DOOR SESSION
The meeting was adjourned to Closed Door Session at 10:25 a.m.
K. OPEN DOOR SESSION
Out of Closed Door Session at 10:40 a.m. The Board convened in closed session to confer with
legal counsel for anticipated litigation, significant exposure to litigation, pursuant to
California Government
Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) for one case. In the closed session, the Board took action by unanimous vote. Pursuant to
California Government
Code section 54957.1, that action need not be reported at this time. That concludes the open session report.
L. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting will be on Saturday, November 17,
2018, at 9:30 a.m.