February 5, 2001

Regular Board Meeting

Monday, February 5, 2001

Time: 2:00 P.M.

Place: Board Room

29300 Valley Center Rd.

Valley Center, CA 92082

The Valley Center Municipal Water District Board of Directors’ meeting was called to order by

President Broomell at 2:00 P.M.

Board members present were: Directors Broomell, Armstrong, Polito, Aleshire and Stone. Staff

members present were: General Manager Arant, Assistant General Counsel Strand, District

Engineer Jewell, Director of Finance Jarrell, Director of Operations Dacus, Manager of Accounting

Jeffrey, Manager of Human Resources Hale, and Board Secretary Stetson. Spectators present

were: Mr. Ross, Valley Roadrunner Newspaper, and Yadira Galindo, North County Times

Newspaper.

1.

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A summary of the estimated average costs to maintain the STEP pressure sewer

maintenance system was reviewed as set forth below:

Monthly Maintenance $ 8.00

Major Life Cycle Costs:

Pump Rebuild (7 yr. cycle) 4.17

Pump Replaced (7 yr. cycle) 14.29

Sludge Pump Out (5 yr. cycle) 3.33

Sludge Processing Credit (3.00)

Net: $26.79 or $27.00 rounded

No written communications were received regarding the proposed increase in the STEP

pressure sewer maintenance monthly fee and no comments were received from members of

the audience. The public hearing was closed at 2:06 p.m.

3. Request to Amend the Budget to Appropriate Funds to Comply with the OSHA Ergonomic

Regulations:

A goal specified in the District’s current Strategic Plan is to conduct an ergonomic review of

work stations and work environment. Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(OSHA) legislation, Ergonomics Program Standard, became effective January 16, 2001,

which mandates implementation of workplace engineering and administrative controls to

reduce the number of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and injuries occurring in the

workplace.

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ACWA/JPIA Risk Management personnel completed a workplace safety assessment for the

District in which several “at risk” areas of concern were identified. It was recommended that

the District consult with an ergonomic specialist to determine the ergonomically correct

solutions.

Bob Tripp of ARC Ergonomics was retained to perform an assessment of the District’s

workstations to ensure compliance with the Ergonomic Program Standards. Resulting from

the assessment was a recommendation to provide employees with flexible workstations.

Manager of Human Resources Hale explained that, as tasks and employees change, the

recommended workstations are not static or fixed offering an employee flexibility to adjust the

workstation components (i.e. computer keyboard tray, chair, and desk level) for the comfort

and appropriate levels and angles for each employee’s particular needs. The assessment

also resulted in seven workstations identified as “high risk” in which modification or

replacement of the workstations with ergonomically designed equipment was recommended

to minimize the risk of injury and to increase productivity by reducing fatigue. Slides

demonstrating the various ergonomically designed components were viewed; including, the

adjustable keyboard tray, chair, and desk which can be raised with a touch of a finger

permitting the employee to stand and work.

Mr. Bob Tripp of ARC Ergonomics addressed the Board stating that upper body stress injuries

have substantially increased in the workforce as a direct result of maintaining static loads and

utilizing furniture designed prior to use of computers. The more sedentary work in front of the

computer in recent years has increased reports of upper body stress injuries. The State of

Washington conducted a 4-year study in an effort to reduce workers’ compensation costs.

The study attributed the use of an ergonomic (flexible) work chair for the 60% decrease in

injuries and the 90% decrease in workers’ compensation premium costs that were realized.

Mr. Tripp further explained that $1 in every $3 spent today in the United States for workers’

compensation is due to upper body stress or musculoskeletal injuries. It has been shown that

modifying work stations to ergonomically appropriate equipment will lower injury rates and

workers’ compensation costs, reduce absenteeism and fatigue, as well as reduce employee

turn-over and subsequent training costs.

The seven workstations identified in the assessment as “high risk” have been modified or

replaced with ergonomically designed equipment as recommended. The cost for these

improvements ($25,025) was funded by using equipment and furniture funds in the FY 2000-

01 budget. The average cost per workstation was $3,575. To fully implement the ergonomic

recommendations to comply with the Federal OSHA Ergonomic Program Standard in Fiscal

Year 2000-01, an additional $90,069 needs to be appropriated in the current budget.

Adherence to the safety practice of utilizing the flexibility offered by the ergonomic equipment

will be encouraged and monitored to reduce the problems associated with upper body stress

injuries as well as the practice of intermittent exercises to prevent the onset of these injuries

as recommended by physical therapists.

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4. Request for a Budget Adjustment for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Pilot

Program:

A pilot program for SCADA had been approved by the Board in October 2000 that included

installing a SCADA computer at the Operations Center and transmitting SCADA information

from the Lower Moosa Canyon Wastewater Plant and Lilac Pump Station to the District’s

Operations Center. The SCADA pilot program will provide proof of concept for the selected

equipment for a future District-wide SCADA project and assurance that we are proceeding

in the appropriate direction without incurring excessive costs. The pilot program provides

for installation of equipment that would have been included in the District-wide SCADA

project.

Staff was directed to utilize radio communications for the Lilac Pump Station. Adding radio

communication to the SCADA pilot program will require installation of radios at the Oak Glen

Reservoir, McNally Reservoir and the Operations Center. Radio communication in the pilot

program; including, evaluation of radio systems, design and project management, purchase

and installation of radios at the three sites, and incorporation of facility signals at the three

sites requires that an additional $30,000 be funded. An estimated total cost for the SCADA

pilot project is $130,000.

Completion of the SCADA pilot program will result in the following:

~ A SCADA computer in the Operations Center

~ Office network and direct dial-in access to the SCADA system

~ Moosa SCADA information connected to the SCADA network via the existing T1 phone

line

~ Lilac Pump Station, Oak Glen Reservoir and McNally Reservoir connected to the

SCADA network via radio communication

~ A radio survey of all the remaining District sites indicating the acceptability of the

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proposed spread spectrum system

~ A Request for Proposal for a design/build District-wide SCADA implementation project.

5. Amendment No. 2 to the District’s “Standard Specifications for the Construction of Water

Mains and Facilities”:

Amendment No. 2 to the District’s

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6. Request for Approval to Purchase Five New Vehicles:

As approved in the 2000-01 budget, bids were solicited for four ½ ton full size trucks and one

1½ ton full size truck. Twelve bids were received with the lowest being submitted by North

County Ford for all five vehicles. The total for the four ½ ton trucks is $92,540.95 and

$33,788.33 for the 1½ ton truck. Approval for the purchase of these five vehicles from North

County Ford was recommended.

7. Update on Electricity Deregulation:

An accounting of the District’s Pumping Reserve fund for Fiscal Year 1999-00 and the first

half of Fiscal Year 2000-01 was reviewed which details the depletion of the reserve fund

resulting from the escalating electrical and natural gas prices in the wake of California’s

electrical deregulation. As of December 31, 2000, the Pumping Reserve has a negative

balance of $290,826.77. The District’s energy costs for water pumping averaged $0.2315

per kWh on its January bills, while its December bills had averaged $0.2051 per kWh. An

analysis of energy costs/pumping zone income for the Moosa Sewer Treatment Fund and

Skyline Sewer Treatment Fund was provided and is attached as Exhibit “A”.

It was estimated that the District’s pump zone rates would need to be increased 70% to fully

fund the District’s water pumping expenditures if current energy rates continue. State

legislation (AB 1-X) was approved to create a pool of money to buy energy. Director of

Finance Jarrell reported the price for energy purchased from this pool is unknown at this time

as bids are expected today with the purchase of power to be initiated tomorrow, February 6

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generation of hydroelectric power. Staff will continue to evaluate the energy market and keep

the Board informed of any new developments.

8. Report on the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors’ Meeting:

President Broomell reported that, at the San Diego County Water Authority Board of

Directors’ meeting of January 25

9. A Closed Session was called by President Broomell at 3:42 p.m. pursuant to:

• Government Code §54956.9(c), Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation.

Name of case: Sweetwater Authority vs. Dynegy

• Government Code §54957.6(a) – Conference with Labor Negotiators

Designated Representatives: Gary T. Arant, Jere L. Jarrell and Linda Hale

Employee Organization: Valley Center M.W.D. Employees’ Association

Bargaining Unit

The regular meeting was reconvened at 4:21 p.m. No action was reported.

10.