BOARD MEETING MINUTES

REGULAR MEETING
Saturday, February 19, 2022

A.    CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

President Morey Nelsen called to order the Regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Stinson Beach County Water District on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., held via Zoom teleconferencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with Assembly Bill 361, which modifies government code 54953.

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

Treasurer present:
Judy Stemen

General Manager present:
Ed Schmidt

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

B.    PUBLIC EXPRESSION

None.

C.    SETTING OF AGENDA

There being no modifications, a motion to adopt the agenda as set was made by Director Zell, seconded by Director Baskin, and unanimously approved by the board.

D.    GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Consider and reaffirm Resolution GB-2021-07 making findings pursuant to Assembly 361 that the proclaimed state of emergency continues to impact the ability to meet safely in person.
   Discussion included Director Boucke questioning whether it's possible to continue holding committee meetings via Zoom teleconference, given the convenience of gathering from multiple locations rather than all participants driving to Stinson Beach. General Manager Schmidt stated that the governor will issue new state guidelines at the end of February affecting public meetings. Mr. Schmidt will check with District counsel on the options for continuing meetings on Zoom.
   
   Director Baskin agreed that meeting via teleconference works well, and he moved to reaffirm the resolution. The motion was seconded by Director Cross and President Nelsen, and unanimously approved by the board.

E.    PUBLIC HEARING

1. Variance request for a new alternative wastewater system at 228 Seadrift Road, Sue and Todd Carter, Owners. Account 6610.
   Wastewater Engineer Souza reminded the board that they had approved this request at their December 2017 meeting, stating that the new request represents a delay in construction, with no changes in either design or District code since that approval. He also stated that the new request was approved at the December 2021 and February 2022 Wastewater committee meetings.
   
   Speaking for the committee, Director Cross affirmed approval. Director Boucke motioned for board approval, which motion Director Cross and President Nelsen seconded. The board voted unanimously for approval.
2. Variance request for a new alternative wastewater system at 2 Alameda Patio, Sue Werner Jensen and Max Werner Jensen, Owners. Account 1110.
   Wastewater Engineer Souza noted two variance requests, for an alternative system and for a setback to a building. The new system is needed in light of a failed inspection in 2021.
   
   Speaking for the Wastewater committee, Director Cross affirmed approval and noted an address correction needed in the draft resolution. Director Baskin motioned for board approval, subject to the resolution edit, and Director Cross seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously for approval.
3. Variance request for installation of a new alternative wastewater system at 17 Avenida Olema, Annika and Craig Miller, Owners. Account 4540.
   Engineer Souza led the brief discussion, following which Director Baskin moved for approval, which motion Director Boucke seconded. The board voted unanimously for approval.

D.    GENERAL BUSINESS (cont.)

2. Discussion and possible direction to staff re: update on sea level rise and wastewater resiliency by CivicKnit.
   General Manager Schmidt introduced Steve Kinsey and Breeze Kinsey of CivicKnit, who are working with the District's wastewater engineer. The Kinseys reviewed implementation of and funding available from California's 2021 Senate Bill 1, which directs the California Coastal Commission to take sea level rise into account in its planning, policies, and activities, and creates a cross-governmental collaborative commission to educate on feasible mitigation efforts.
   
   Funding for SB 1 is included in Senate Bill 45, a $5.5 billion bond measure that includes $970 million for coastal protection and restoration.
   
   Steve Kinsey noted that it's been an uphill climb getting the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to respond to requests to discuss this project.
   
   The Kinseys referenced the County of Marin's Community Development Agency's ARC project (Stinson Beach Adaptation and Resilience Collaboration), which they described as bringing together diverse interests and agencies. The first ARC public meeting may take place this spring.
   
   Mr. Schmidt noted that local mitigation efforts could include a Bolinas Lagoon marsh restoration project to protect endangered species and birdlife.
   
   An updated budget was included in board materials, covering phase two of the team's overall climatic adaptation study.
3. Discussion and possible direction re: authorization to begin drilling the Ranch Well replacement.
   General Manager Schmidt reminded the board that the District has received two County approvals for drilling a replacement well at the Ranch tank site in Stinson Gulch, one from Environmental Health Services and the other from the Planning department; he noted that the latter agency continues to process the District's coastal development permit (CDP) application, as it has been doing for eight months.
   
   At this point, drilling could begin in March and the board gave its consensus to begin.
   
   Director Boucke asked about a $9,200 invoice submitted to the District last month by the County, related to the Ranch well project. Mr. Schmidt responded that the County subsequently reduced that amount by $1,500.
4. Discussion and possible direction re: new groundwater well research by Allan Richards.
   Mr. Richards reviewed his work with District Water Supervisor Toby Bisson on researching potential new well sites. Previous Water Operations committee and board reviews had narrowed a host of options to two sites, the Bolinas-Stinson School, located at the mouth of Stinson Gulch, and the Stinson Beach Community Center, located near the fire station at the south end of town.
   
   It turns out that the school's well is too shallow to be of much use and so the ongoing research is now focused on the hillside behind the community center. Regulations require a clear one-hundred-foot radius from the well, a requirement that is met by the site. Mr. Richards screenshared a topographic map of the site, showing proposed drill location, surrounding gradient and structures, and possible vehicle approach to the well.
   
   The board discussed formalizing an agreement with the District's water supervisor, Mr. Bisson, who also serves as the community center's board president, in order to prevent any possible conflict of interest. Pending discussion with the community center board, which General Manager Schmidt will initiate, and given potential remuneration to the center should the project be successful, Mr. Schmidt will discuss such an agreement with District counsel.
   
   Mr. Richards concluded his presentation by reminding the board that the same implementation steps used for the recent Laurel well and the current new Ranch well projects will need be applied to any community center well site. The board continued this discussion to the next board meeting.
5. Discussion and possible direction re: Senate Bill 1383 ordinance update.
   General Manager Schmidt reviewed the background of Senate Bill 1383, Organic Waste Regulations, which aims to reduce food scraps going to landfill through diversion to the green waste bin for composting. The decomposition of landfill food waste contributes to greenhouse gases and climate change. The legislation requires a 20% increase in edible food recovery and a 75% reduction in organic waste sent to landfill. He quoted a statistic that greenhouse gases from current food waste in landfill is equivalent to the exhaust of one million motor vehicles.
   
   Mr. Schmidt informed the board that beginning with the District's March newsletter he will roll out in stages the ramifications of the new regulations, including education, effects on restaurants and other commercial businesses, and enforcement. As the jurisdiction for implementation, the District is not only burdened with enforcement and issuance of fines to non-compliant individuals and business, but it also could itself be subject to fines for failure to implement the regulations. Mr. Schmidt will research further the potential for the District being fined.
   
   The board discussed staffing needs for organic waste inspection, another of the District's obligations, and enforcement, and it was agreed that General Manager Schmidt should continue his discussions with Bolinas Public Utility District regarding potential sharing of a part-time hire.
   
   By year 2025, the District will be responsible for ensuring that 25% of available food waste is rerouted to a food bank. This goal may likely be met by diversion of local restaurant food waste.
   
   The board approved an order of 600 more kitchen waste compost buckets, small enough to fit on or under the kitchen counter. The District had previously distributed several hundred waste compost buckets, free of charge to customers on a one-per-household basis.
   
   A formal notice of intention to comply with the regulations is required by March 1st. A copy of the draft compliance document was shared with the board and will be reviewed with District counsel prior to submission. The board approved by voice vote unanimously the accompanying Authorizing Resolution 2022-01 adopting the notice of intention to comply.
   
   A copy of District counsel's edits of the draft Garbage Organics and Recyclable Materials ordinance was distributed to the board, and further deliberation was continued to the March meeting.
6. Discussion and update on 2021 audit.
   General Manager Schmidt and members of the Finance committee reviewed their ongoing dialogue with the auditors; the 2021 audit is now three months late. A draft audit was received too late for inclusion in board materials and will be reviewed at the next Finance committee and board meetings.

F.    APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Approval of the Minutes for January 15, 2022. Director Zell moved, Director Baskin seconded, and the board unanimously approved the minutes of the January 15 meeting.

G.    APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS

December 24, 2021 through February 7, 2022. Director Baskin moved, Director Boucke seconded, and the board unanimously approved the disbursements of December 24, 2021 through February 7, 2022.

H.    MANAGER'S REPORT

General Manager Schmidt's review of his February report covered the following items:
* Numerous committee meetings held since the January board meeting;
* The potential for small community wastewater treatment sites located at either the community center site or the vacant lot located just north of and adjacent to the District office;
* Delay of the California Public Utility Commission's decision on Pacific Gas and Electric's proposed solar power surcharge;
* Activities of Stanford University's local research into potential effects of septic systems on the geocline at the saltwater and groundwater interface;
* The District's cash flow statement and the need of adding any new well project budget, once determined, to the next iteration; and
* A notice from the Federal Environmental Protection Agency regarding the potential availability of funds from the recent Federal infrastructure legislation. A total of $609 million has been allocated for California's water infrastructure and Mr. Schmidt will track further developments.

I.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

Treasurer Stemen, representing the Finance committee, noted that the current ageing report shows that the District is in good shape.

J.    CORRESPONDENCE

The board reviewed a thank you note from a happy customer, two emails regarding water conservation from another customer, and a letter from a third customer in support of affordable housing.

K.    ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Director Boucke moved to adjourn in memory of the recent deaths of three local community leaders, which motion the Board unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next regular meeting will take place on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at 9:30 a.m.