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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-10-03 Min - Board Corbett, Jones and Maass, aye; Sutton, no, stating the reason as being the very significant change of policy allowing the District to fund money to developers of undeveloped parcels. SO RESOLVED. DISCUSSION OF THE TOWN OF TRUCKEE'S NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED TRUCKEE GENERAL PLAN The Town of Truckee is preparing a General Plan. A preliminary map has been circulated and Town officials are at the point of preparing an Environmental Impact Report. The General Plan is intended to guide growth and development of the Town through the year 2014. Truckee is providing an opportunity for public comment; the deadline is October 14, 1994. After some discussion, by consensus, the General Manager was directed to respond to the Town and advise that the District will review the Environmental Impact Report after it has been drafted and may provide comments at that time. PUBLIC INPUT There was no public input. ® MARTIS VALLEY FEEDER NO. 3 PROJECT- STATUS REPORT- CONSIDERATION OF A PROGRESS PAYMENT REQUEST The construction work along Highway 267 being done by Harker& Harker is progressing on schedule and in a satisfactory manner. At this time, 2,780 lineal feet of underground trench has been completed and crews will be arriving within the next two weeks to begin pulling the underground conductor and commencing the overhead rebuild portion of the contract. Harker & Harker has submitted a request for partial payment in the amount of 588,269, which is for approximately 35% of the contract price. With the 10% retention, this payment would be in the amount of 579,422.10. Director Aguera moved, and Director Jones seconded, that the Board approve Harker& Harker's Periodic Estimate for Partial Payment No. 1 for the period July 1, 1994 to August 31, 1994 in the amount of 579,442 for work on the Martis Valley Feeder #3 Project. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 19, 1994 Director Aguera moved, and Director Sutton seconded, that the Board approve the minutes of September 19, 1994 as presented. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO • MOVED. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF BILLS 1013194 Page 2 • Director Jones moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the bills presented for consideration be approved for payment. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. CORRESPONDENCE Letter dated 9119194 from Embree Cross regarding Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Association The Board acknowledged receipt of the letter regarding the Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Association. Letter dated 9127194 from Robert Yoder regarding purchase of APN 18-010-10 The Board stated the District is retaining APN 18-010-10, on which McGlashan Springs is located, for its own purposes. Letter dated 9127194 from the State Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Region, re groundwater assessment at District complex/clean-up and abatement order The Board acknowledged receipt of the letter from Lahontan. FINANCIAL REPORT ® A complete copy of the Financial Report is attached. There was no discussion of the item. SPECIAL BUSINESS Discussion of District water system design criteria and water for fire protection Jimmy Osburn, Don Delaney and Harry Chapell of the Truckee Fire Protection District, Mike Terwilliger and Joanne Robique of the California Department of Forestry, Bill Stewart, Sam Lemon and John Bailey of the Tahoe Donner Association and Chris Breen of the Sierra Sun were present at the invitation of the District to participate in conversation relating to the PUD water system design criteria and water for fire protection. Director Maass clarified that staff prepared for discussion of this item by consensus of the Board, not at his direction only. The General Manager noted that there are three separate issues up for discussion - 1) Wildland fires and how they are fought; 2) Structure fries; 3) Wells constructed for the Tahoe Donner Golf Course. He explained the difference between a structure and wildland fire. The District is required to meet water capacity and distribution standards set forth by the Fire District to help them effectively fight structure fires. Traditionally, a structure fire is fought by spraying the structure and area on fire by water taken by fire engines from hydrants. . Mike Terwilliger of the CDF noted that wildland fire suppression is not reliant upon large quantities of water from hydrants. WiIdland fire containment is totally different than 1013194 Page 3 • fighting structure fires. Tahoe Donner, where there are structures located in a forested area, is called an urban interface or '7 Zone" because the type of fire that occurs is a wildland fire. 1 Zones present unique problems and, when a wildland fire starts, the fire fighters use a pump and run method. A structure fire is a very stable one; a wildland fire is static and keeps moving. When people build homes in a forest and then a fire breaks out, they create an untenable situation for firefighters. Normally a fire suppression crew will attack a fire from the sides and work its way to the front, eventually controlling it. When the CDF has to fight fires and protect homes, they are risking their lives because they have to get in front of the fire and try to create a barrier so that it will not destroy the home. Their main weapons are hand crews, aircraft and bulldozers in the case of wildland fires. While water is used, it is not the most important component to controlling a fire. They spray a structure if it is on fire. if the fire is in an area like Tahoe Donner, they would protect each house to a certain point, but their mission is to control and eventually suppress the fire, not preserve the individual homes. Once a home is 25% consumed by fire, CDF moves on and attempts to stop the fire from reaching other houses. The most important thing any homeowner can do to protect their property is maintain a defensible space. Fire-safe planning regulations save structures (clearance around homes, metal roofs and road width. Harry Chapell and Don Delaney of the TFPD stressed the importance of defensible space around structures and the management of vacant lots. Joanne Robique, CDF, noted that fire-safe plants can be used for landscaping, also. ® Using calculations from John Bailey's letter to the Editor of the Sierra Sun regarding the amount of water needed to fight structure fires in a wildland fire situation in Tahoe Donner, the Manager described a water system that would provide 8,000 and 15,000 gallons per minute. This construction would increase monthly bills by $127 and $152 respectively. According to firefighting professions, that amount of water would not ever be necessary since other methods of firefighting are used in wildland fires. There is mutual coordination between the Truckee Fire Protection District, California Department of Forestry and U. S. Forest Service. CDF Battalion Chief Terwilliger stated that the fire suppression preparedness in this area is one of the best. The water system in place is more than adequate for their uses in combating any type of fire; there is no worry about running out of water. Mr. Hoizmeister summed up the discussion by noting that the CDF fights wildland fires successfully without the use of water; the best way for homeowners to protect their homes is by creating defensible space around their home and using fire resistant materials; the PUD adequately provides water for fighting structure fires and it is not logical or economically feasible to build a water system to fight wildland fires. Sam Lemon of Tahoe Donner brought up the Tahoe Donner Golf Course wells. The Chairman indicated that this item would be discussed at another meeting. • ADJOURNMENT 1013194 Page 4 • There being no further business before the Board, Director Corbett moved that the meeting be adjourned at 9:10 PM; seconded by Director Aguera. SO MOVED. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT J es A. Maass, Pre ent Prepared by - Susan M. Craig, Deputy District Clerk smc 1013194 Page 5