BOARD MEETING MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING
Saturday, May 15, 2021

A.    CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

President Sandra Cross called to order the Regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Stinson Beach County Water District on Saturday, May 15, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., held via Zoom teleconferencing due to COVID-19 in accordance with the Governor's Executive Orders.

Directors present:
Sandra Cross, President
Morey Nelsen, Vice President
Barbara Boucke, Director
Jim Zell, Director

Directors absent:
Lawrence Baskin, Director

General Manager present:
Ed Schmidt

Staff present:
Rich Souza - District Engineer
Marc Matheson - Administrative Assistant

B.    PUBLIC EXPRESSION

General Manager Schmidt raised three items not on the agenda:

1. Customer Bonnie Sullivan (Account 3090) requested in writing a one-year extension on compliance with a wastewater maintenance order. Following discussion, the Board granted a six-month extension.
2. The Bolinas Community Public Utility District (BPUD) has requested a temporary loan of three portable District water tanks, each of which have a 4,600 gallon capacity. Following discussion in which the Board was joined by BPUD General Manager Jennifer Blackman, the request was granted.
3. Mr. Schmidt informed the Board that the Marin County Board of Supervisors will provide a drought update at its May 18th regular meeting, and that he would provide details by email.

D.    PUBLIC HEARING

1. Review of the Draft Operations and Maintenance Budget and Capital Improvement Program Budget for Fiscal Year 2021/2022 and continue the Public Hearing until the next Board meeting on Saturday, June 19, 2021.
   General Manager Schmidt introduced the item, outlining the work of District staff, the District's bookkeeper, and the Finance Committee. He reviewed both the proposed budget and the May 12th cash flow. Engineer Souza reviewed the status of two greywater projects, listed on the cash flow as, "greywater reuse grant application" and "septic effluent relocation".
   
   Mr. Schmidt informed the Board that the new Ranch tank will have a smaller footprint, as the District no longer requires as large a tank as the current tank, resulting in lowering construction costs by $100,000. He noted that the smaller footprint will allow California Coastal Commission approval at the County level. In response to a question, he estimated that the old tank might be worth approximately four or five thousand dollars in scrap metal.
2. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: a Draft Resolution Establishing an Employee Benefit Program for the Fiscal Year 2021/2022 and continue the Public Hearing until the next Board meeting on Saturday, June 19, 2021.
   General Manager Schmidt reviewed the employee benefits spreadsheet and resolution, reminding the Board that both had already been reviewed and discussed twice each by the Finance and Personnel committees. The resolution will be voted on at the June meeting.

E.    GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Review and possible direction to staff to submit the 2021 Water Quality/Consumer Confidence Report to all District customers if requested.
   The Board affirmed the report, approved submittal to the State Water Resources Control Board, and approved making the report available to District customers. Notice of availability will be included with the June billing statements.
2. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: Seadrift Lagoon Setback Variance Requests.
   President Cross introduced and provided background of ongoing Seadrift Lagoon setback variance requests, noting that frequent ten-foot variance requests have become the norm. She pointed out the challenges and expense of related occasional water main moves. Engineer Souza iterated criteria, procedures and policy currently implemented when such requests are received.
   
   Board discussion touched on the variance phrase, "substantial property right" and its relation to house size; whether building a larger house is such a property right; and whether applicants might be directed towards revising proposed house and wastewater system sizes to work within existing lot size and District policy.
   
   Discussion also referenced the applicability of these policies and procedures to other water bodies, such as hillside creeks.
   
   It was the unanimous sense of the Board that future setback variance requests be managed within these policy clarifications and provide the District's Wastewater Engineer with increased flexibility in responding to such requests.

F.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Approval of Minutes for April 17, 2021. Subject to a correction regarding the Board's vote on Public Hearing item number two, Director Boucke moved for and President Cross seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the April 17, 2021 Board meeting as presented. The motion was approved unanimously.

G.    APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS

March 30, 2021 through April 8, 2021, and April 8 through April 28, 2021. Director Zell moved, Director Boucke seconded, and the Board adopted unanimously a motion to approve the disbursements as presented.

H.    MANAGER'S REPORT

General Manager Schmidt reviewed movement among Tiered Usage Report "top ten" customers, noting that while some higher-tier customers have reduced their water usage, some lower-tier customers have increased their usage. If the District implements the 2014 mandatory water reduction ordinance, setting a limit of 125 gallons a day, a 3,750 monthly limit is well below the tens of thousands of gallons currently used by such "top ten" accounts.

Board discussion on the drought covered the continuing issues of high usage, outdoor irrigation and leaks, the 2014 ordinance trigger point, the ordinance variance process for requesting additional water, and use of Proposition 218 guidelines in communicating the 2014 ordinance at that time. A suggestion was made that Board members attend a forthcoming Stinson Beach Village Association meeting in order to address questions regarding the District's drought's response. Director Nelsen, the District's representative at these meetings, stated that the next monthly Village Association meeting takes place on Saturday, June 5th.

Mr. Schmidt reviewed the second phase of the Recology waste management contract, noting that infrastructure expenses are cited by the vendor as justification for the forthcoming rate increase.

I.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

None.

J.    CORRESPONDENCE

None.

K.    CLOSED DOOR SESSION

The meeting was adjourned to Closed Door Session at 11:07 a.m., pursuant to California Government Code Section 54957, Public Employee Performance Evaluation, Title: General Manager, to review his performance and 2021/2022 salary.

L.    OPEN DOOR SESSION

Consideration of Amendment to Agreement with General Manager for Possible Modification to Salary and/or Benefits. The meeting emerged from Closed Door Session at 11:15 a.m. and agreed on a proposed raise.

M.    ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:17 a.m. The next regular meeting will take place on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at 9:30 a.m.