BOARD MEETING MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING
Saturday, June 19, 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, June 19, 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
Lawrence Baskin, Director
Barbara Boucke, Director
Jim Zell, Director

Treasurer present:
Judy Stemen

General Manager present:
Ed Schmidt

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

B.    PUBLIC EXPRESSION

Mr. Richard Reasoner presented the Board with his ideas regarding irrigation system reviews.

C.    SETTING OF AGENDA

There being no modifications, the agenda was adopted as set.

D.    PUBLIC HEARING

1. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: Variance Hearing for the installation of a new alternative wastewater system for a property located at 183 Seadrift Road, Stinson Beach, Anne Kerr and Matthew L'Heureux, Owners. Account #7575.
   Engineer Souza presented the project, itemizing the four variance requests, summarized as, 1) a new alternative system; 2) parking over a portion of the distribution bed; 3) reducing a property setback from 5 feet to 1.8 feet; and 4) reducing the dispersal bed-to-tank setback from 5 feet to 2 feet. The fourth was requested in order to avoid architectural changes to the residence.
   
   Board discussion centered on the fourth variance request, initially suggesting approval if the fourth request were withdrawn. Further conversation between the Board, the owner, the system designer, and the owner's architect concluded that the applicant would work with his team on a revised proposal to be submitted to the District next month.
2. Review and adoption of an Operations and Maintenance Budget and Capital Improvement Program Budget for Fiscal Year 2021/2022. This item is continued from the last Board meeting on Saturday, May 15, 2021.
   General Manager Schmidt introduced the item, noting that the proposed budget shows a $12,000 decrease in backflow testing fees, due to reduced District activity and reflecting a projected increase in the availability of local retired fire chief Kenny Stevens to perform this work.
   
   Mr. Schmidt also noted a projected increase in County property tax and ERAF (Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds) income to a combined $2.48 million. He informed the Board that 60% of District income currently comes from these two sources, whereas the figure had previously been closer to 45%.
   
   As a result of increased County revenue, the budget shows a projected excess of $200,000, not including savings from the impending retirement of Buck Meyer and new hire at a lower expense.
   
   Following discussion, and a request that future budgets show month-to-month figures, Director Baskin moved that the budget be approved, which motion was seconded by Director Boucke; the Board voted unanimously in approval.
3. Review and adoption of a Draft Resolution Establishing an Employee Benefit Program for the Fiscal Year 2021/2022. This item is continued from the last Board meeting on Saturday, May 15, 2021.
   General Manager Schmidt reviewed the item and its progress through the Finance and Personnel committees in both May and June. Following a brief discussion, Director Baskin moved that the resolution be approved, which Director Boucke seconded; the Board unanimously approved the resolution.
4. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: the establishment of the Gann Property Tax Appropriations Limit for the District for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.
   Following a brief review and discussion, Director Baskin moved that the resolution be approved, which Director Nelsen seconded; the Board unanimously approved the resolution.

E.    GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: graywater recycling.
   Engineer Souza introduced the item, reviewing the County's recent waiver of environmental health fees for new residential graywater systems in unincorporated Marin, and the resulting press coverage. He explained that such systems are not ideal in Stinson Beach due to minimum groundwater separation requirements and smaller lot sizes.
   
   The Board requested that this perspective be included in the next District newsletter.
2. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: drought ordinances.
   The Board was joined in discussion around water usage at Stinson Beach park by Laura Castellini, Sustainability Coordinator, Planning and Environmental Programs, National Park Service at Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
   
   Discussion touched on past and potential future use of portable toilets, and their expense as compared to the monthly water bills faced by the park; past and potential future options to temporarily eliminate use of public showers during droughts; and the fact that the park is the District's largest user of water.
   
   Discussion moved on to overall current water and persistently dry weather conditions; the Board agreed that it's time to declare a drought emergency and instructed the General Manager to proceed with Proposition 218 notification towards a public hearing at the August 21st Board meeting.
3. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: reconnaissance-level study to identify options for new groundwater wells.
   General Manager Schmidt introduced the study, informing the Board that the Water Operations had approved a review by Stetson Engineers to identify options for new groundwater wells. Following discussion over the capacity of the District's water treatment plant to accommodate additional water - the plant is capable of doing so - it was the consensus of the Board that the study proceed.

F.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Approval of Minutes for May 15, 2021. Following discussion of four corrections to the minutes, Director Nelsen moved for, and Director Baskin seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the May 15, 2021 Board meeting as presented. The motion was approved unanimously.

G.    APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS

April 29, 2021 through May 26, 2021. Director Baskin moved, Director Nelsen seconded, and the Board adopted unanimously a motion to approve the disbursements as presented.

H.    MANAGER'S REPORT

General Manager Schmidt reviewed the required Proposition 218 public notification process mentioned above in item E-2, Drought ordinance, and the implementation of procedures contingent on the District reaching the defined trigger point.

Mr. Schmidt shared the announcement of an entry-level Utility Worker job opening, and the acquisition of water re-use buckets to be made available to District customers through an announcement in the July newsletter.

I.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

None.

J.    CORRESPONDENCE

None.

K.    ADJOURNMENT

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