VALLEY CENTER MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
Regular Board Meeting
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Place: Board Room
29300 Valley Center Road
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.
ROLL CALL
Board members present were: Directors Broomell, Polito, Aleshire and Stone. Director Haskell was absent. Staff members present were: General Manager Arant, General Counsel de Sousa, Director of Finance Jeffrey, Director of Operations Hoyle, District Engineer Jewell, and Board Secretary Stetson. Spectator present was Mr. John Christopher.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
1. Board action on the agenda item titled “Agreement for Communications Site Lease Agreement with Pacific Bell” will not be requested as the existing agreement which terminates on February 28, 2005, will not be renewed by Pacific Bell.
CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Stone and unanimously carried, the following consent calendar items were approved:
• Minutes of the Board meeting held January 18, 2005
• Selection of six engineering firms for “As-Needed Engineering Services”
• Concept approval of the Monica/Calamia water main extension project consisting of approximately 900 feet of 8-inch water main, three 6-inch fire hydrants and other appurtenances
• Concept approval of the Thrash water main extension project consisting of approximately 1,350 feet of 8-inch water main, two 6-inch fire hydrants and other appurtenances
• Concept approval of the Baldwin water main extension project consisting of approximately 795 feet of 8-inch water main, one 6-inch fire hydrant and other appurtenances
• Concept approval of the Marshburn water main extension project consisting of approximately 1,562 feet of 8-inch water main, two 6-inch fire hydrants and other appurtenances
• Audit demand check numbers 102436 through 102683
• Treasurer’s Reports and Financial Statements for the periods ended December 31, 2004 and January 31, 2005
• Board of Director’s request for per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses
ACTION AGENDA
3. Authorization to Apply for Federal and State Disaster Assistance:
Resolution No. 2003-01 previously adopted designated the General Manager, Director of Finance and Director of Operations as the District’s agents for the purpose of filing for disaster assistance. The Board had directed that specific Board authorization be obtained prior to applying for disaster funds.
Staff requested board authorization to apply for federal and state disaster assistance to recover costs incurred for pipeline repairs resulting from the storms which occurred between December 27, 2004 and January 11, 2005.
Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Polito and unanimously carried, the Board authorized staff to apply for federal and state disaster assistance to recover costs incurred as a result of the California storms between December 27, 2004 and January 11, 2005.
4. Termination of License Agreement with Pacific
Bell
for Use of a Portion of the McNally Reservoir:
Director of Finance Jeffrey reported that the agreement with Pacific Bell for use of a portion of the District’s McNally Reservoir for communication equipment, which was initially executed in 1990, expires effective February 28, 2005. Pacific Bell has removed its microwave dishes and will not be renewing the agreement. Staff has requested a plan for removal of the tower and building from the District’s site.
5. Recertification of Participants in the MWD Interim Agricultural Water Program:
Certification of participants in the Metropolitan Water District’s Interim Agricultural Water Program which provides a discount in the water rate in exchange for an interruptible status had been completed in 1994 with initiation of the current Program. Staff feels it would be prudent to recertify participants in this Program at this time.
A cover letter explaining the procedures for participants’ recertification in Metropolitan’s Interim Agricultural Water Program (IAWP) and a Certification and Acknowledgement form will be mailed to all current IAWP participants with a requested return date of June 1, 2005. The recertification process will assist staff in:
▪ Determining if participants meet the qualifications of the Program as set forth by Metropolitan
▪ Providing participants with provisions of the Program
▪ Obtaining data on acreage and crops under cultivation
▪ Obtaining updated emergency contact information
If a current participant in the IAWP program does not respond to the request for data, the customer will no longer be a participant in the program, effective as of July 1, 2005. However, customers will not be eliminated from participating in the Program until staff has forwarded a reminder notice emphasizing that properties not meeting the deadline for recertification or submitting incomplete information will be removed from Metropolitan’s IAWP with a mandatory one-year waiting period to re-enter the Program.
GENERAL MANAGER’S AGENDA
6. Review of Miscellaneous Informational Items:
Pat Jewell’s Retirement – District Engineer Patric Jewell’s last day of work will be Friday, April 8th. General Manager Arant reported that Wally Grabbe has been appointed to the position of District Engineer which will become effective April 4, 2005.
PERS Consultant – A consultant, Mr. Don Wilcox, will be retained to assist in the District’s efforts to receive consideration from the PERS Board and Executive Staff regarding the District’s unfunded liability for prior service purchases. Mr. Wilcox was the former Chief Consultant with the Assembly Committee on Public Employees; Retirement. It is estimated his services will be utilized for two months at a cost of $7,500 per month.
Long-Range Financial Plan – A draft long-range financial plan will be presented to the Board prior to June 30th which incorporates the adopted scenarios of bond financing, corporate facility constructed in 2015.
Board of Directors’ Per Diem – A survey completed by Otay Water District on Board per diems and miscellaneous information was reviewed as well as an article in the North County Times on board member compensation. The District’s Board compensation of $100 per diem is one of the lowest of those reported in the surveys. The last adjustment in the per diem was in 1993. Per the Government Code, the per diem amount may be increased by 5% per calendar year since the date of the last adjustment or to $179.60 per day of Board business. The Board elected to retain its current compensation of $100.00 per diem.
Final Installment of Williams’ Settlement – A check was received from Best, Best & Krieger in the amount of $289,543.42 which represents the final installment from the Williams’ settlement (Valley Center Municipal Water District v. Dynegy).
Lake Turner Recreational Development - A meeting was held with District Engineer Patric Jewell, Valley Center Parks & Recreation District General Manager Joyce Johnson and Consultant Erica Ryan of Berryman & Stephenson regarding the preliminary planning process for recreational development on the District’s Lake Turner property. A meeting will be arranged with the County to initiate the Major Use Permit process.
San Diego County Water Authority’s 100 MGD Water Treatment Plant – At the January 27th SDCWA Board meeting, staff was directed to amend the Request for Proposals to design, build and operate the Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment Plant to be for a single-phase 100 MGD project rather than two-phase, 50/100 MGD plant. This change is in response to revised water demands and projected local water development not progressing as once predicted. To be analyzed is the need for additional raw water supply and an accelerated need for the construction of Pipeline 6.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ AGENDA
7. Survey on Knowledge of Special Districts:
Director Aleshire distributed a summary of the survey conducted for the Association of California Water Agencies and California Special Districts Association on the public’s familiarity or knowledge of the role of special districts which indicates that most member of the public are not familiar with special districts (22% of those polled were familiar with special districts government). The survey revealed that the respondents’ rating of special districts substantially improved once informed of what special districts are and their role in a community. With the knowledge on special districts, the favorability ratings of special districts were 79% favorable and 18% unfavorable with 3% not knowing. Prior to being informed about special districts, the ratings on special districts had been 27% favorable, 24% unfavorable and 49% not knowing. The survey shows the importance of educating the public on the role of and services provided by special districts.
ADJOURNMENT
8. Upon motion by Polito, seconded by Aleshire and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at
3:36 p.m.
ATTEST: ATTEST:
____________________________ _______________________________
President Secretary