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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-05-01 Min - Board REGULAR MEETING MMay 1, 1989 The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District was called to order by President Maass at 7: 05 P.M. in the TDPUD Board Room. ROLL CALL: Directors Aguera, Corbett, Sutton, White and Maass were present. CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Counsel John Phelps. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Debi Black, Paul Colburn, Andy Hyde, Peter Holzmeister and Susan Craig. OTHERS PRESENT: Among those present in the audience were Matt Rusanoff, Arnold Schmidt, Wayne Stewart, Terry Khim, Shawn Van Enoo, Adria Aslanian, Steve Randall, W. R. Austin, Anthony Rivara and Dick VanLandingham. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Director White moved, and Director Sutton seconded, that the minutes of March 20, 1989 be approved as written. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. Director Sutton moved, and Director White seconded, that the Secretary be directed to prepare the minutes of March 27, 1989 in final form as written. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. Director Sutton suggested a correction to the draft minutes of April 3 , 1989 . Thereafter, Director Corbett moved that the Secretary be directed to prepare the minutes in final form as corrected; seconded by Director White. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. Counsel Phelps provided written corrections to the draft minutes of April 17, 1989 and Director Sutton indicated she would also like to submit corrections. The Chairman put over consideration of these minutes to the next regular meeting. BILLS FOR APPROVAL AND STATEMENT OF GENERAL FUND After a brief review, Director Corbett moved that the bills presented for consideration be approved for payment; seconded by Director White. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. MANAGER'S REPORT Proposition 55 . Mr. Holzmeister advised that Ms. Black prepared a report on the status of the District' s Proposition 55 loan application, which was included in the Board packet. He said he thinks the District will 1 be given a contract sometime in June. ® Director Sutton asked that the Board be copied with the detailed project report and State Department of Health Services ' summary report referred to in Ms. Black's April 19, 1989 memo. After brief discussion, the Manager indicated he would be presenting a complete package to the Board regarding engineering and inspection services for the Proposition 55 projects. Electric system maintenance and construction plan Mr. Buckhouse was unable to attend the meeting, but provided a written report of the work program for the line crews for the 1989 construction season. The Board reviewed the report briefly, and Director Sutton asked that Mr. Buckhouse provide cost estimates and narrative on the benefits to be derived from doing the work proposed. Legal requirement for public notices Counsel Phelps provided information on legal publication requirements, and the Board asked the Secretary to prepare a simple reference chart to include the information applicable to the District. • Budget report Mr. Holzmeister noted that the Investment Report as of March 31 and the Electric and Water Balance Sheets through March were provided in the Board packet. PUBLIC INPUT There was no public input. CORRESPONDENCE Letter dated 4/21/89 from Paul Simmons re groundwater lawsuit Chairman Maass noted the District's victory in the groundwater ordinance litigation against the County of Nevada. Counsel Simmons stated that judgment in favor of the District will be entered immediately. COMMITTEE REPORTS There were no committee reports. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FROM TRUCKEE DONNER RECREATION AND PARR DISTRICT FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN ACQUIRING DONNER LAKE PROPERTY • Steve Randall, General Manager of the Recreation and Park District, advised the Board that his District is very interested in acquiring 2 a 3/4 acre parcel located adjacent to the West End Beach. The ® parcel is identified in the TDR&PD' s ten-year master plan as property to be acquired for the expansion of the beach; it is a vacant lot and could be easily integrated with the beach facility by the addition of a lawn, some picnic tables and some improvements to its beach. It is the last and only parcel on the north side of the lake available for expansion. Mr. Randall went on to say that the parcel, owned by the Santa Fe Pacific Realty Company, is being sold to a developer for a price of $400, 000. The developer intends to divide it into four parcels and construct custom residences for resale. The Park District has begun condemnation proceedings and fully intends to acquire the parcel if financing can be arranged. Mr. Randall explained an obsolete borrowing restriction which virtually prohibits the Park District from obtaining commercial financing, and noted that Legislature is being asked to amend this provision. The TDR&PD needs, Mr. Randall said, short term financing for the acquisition of the parcel ; long-term financing is also necessary, but of less immediate concern. He explored several different financing methods with the Board and expressed the hope that the PUD be able to assist without any loss or financial risk. He suggested both Districts check into the legality of such a transaction prior to moving forward. • After some discussion, Director White moved that the Board state its intent to pursue all avenues in hopes of participating with the Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District to acquire a 3/4 acre parcel located adjacent to the TDR&PD' s Donner Lake West End Beach and presently owned by the Santa Fe Pacific Realty Co. Manager Holzmeister was directed to consult with legal counsel from the McDonough firm since Counsel Phelps is representing the Park District in the related condemnation proceedings. The motion was seconded by Director Sutton. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. Director Sutton suggested preparing an analysis of usable funds that are not development related. REVIEW AND POSSIBLE AWARD OF METER BIDS Director Corbett moved, and Director Sutton seconded, that the meter bids on Schedules A, B and D be awarded to General Pacific for unit prices of $28 .95, $386 and $330 respectively. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. Director Corbett moved that the Board award the meter bid on Schedule C to Ace Supply for a unit price of $339. 06; seconded by Director Aguera. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RETENTION OF FUNDS • REPRESENTED BY UNPROCESSED CHECKS With respect to checks issued by the District that have not been 3 deposited and the retention of funds that are owed to customers who cannot be located, Director Sutton stated she would like the Board involved in this process so there is a public record in the minute book of the appropriation of funds. The Finance Supervisor suggested formal action be taken in conjunction with the annual consideration of write offs, and the Board agreed. Director White moved, and Director Corbett seconded, that the Board adopt Resolution No. 8912 authorizing the retention of funds represented by unprocessed checks. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO RESOLVED. REVIEW OF LETTER OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND SINGLE AUDIT ACT REPORT FROM TOUCHE ROSS AND CO. Director White suggested discussing this matter at a Finance Committee meeting prior to Board consideration; the Chairman agreed, and tabled the item to a future time. CABLE TELEVISION SURVEY; POSSIBLE DIRECTION Director Maass advised that two more cable television companies were contacted; WestStar, who serves both Truckee and Squaw Valley, is the company charging the highest monthly rate, $23 . 12 . He said he would like to contact public agencies in the State of California who are operating cable systems for comparison purposes. Director . Sutton suggested checking out the cost of connection as well as the monthly rate. She also asked if WestStar offered a reduced rate to second home owners. Director Maass said he would continue to investigate this matter. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSAL FROM TOUCHE ROSS TO PROVIDE CONSULTING ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING A REVISED INVESTMENT POLICY Mr. Holzmeister recommended that the Board review the way funds are invested in order to maximize earnings while protecting principal. He said he would like to retain Touche Ross to work with staff and the Finance Committee in developing a revised investment policy. Director Sutton noted that the Special District Association is offering a seminar in Special District Finance, and the Chairman authorized the Manager, Finance Supervisor and members of the Finance Committee to attend. Consideration of revising the investment policy is to be placed on the June 19 meeting agenda. CLOSED SESSION HIRSCHDALE WATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT The Board adjourned to closed session pursuant to Government Code 54956. 9 (a) at 8: 25 P.M. to discuss the Suter arbitration. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION The meeting was returned to public session at 9: 15 P.M. The Chairman advised that, because the District is in arbitration, not 4 much can be done relative to the Hirschdale water project at this time. A resident of Hirschdale advised the Board that there are some people already connected to the District' s system, and Director Maass directed the Manager to check into this matter and advise the Board. Jamie Carlysle and Greg Lamb both questioned when hook-ups would be permitted. Civil Engineer Hyde noted connections may be made as soon as the Rivara wells have been abandoned and the foot valve has been repaired. Director Maass asked for a status report on these two items at the next meeting. BI-STATE COMPACT NEGOTIATIONS - STATUS REPORT - CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSAL FROM HYDROSEARCH TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL CONSULTING ASSISTANCE Mr. Holzmeister advised that he and Counsel Paul Simmons have been attending meetings with the California negotiating team working on the new bi-state compact. Everything was going smoothly, he said, until around the middle of December 1988, at which time the negotiations took a turn that is detrimental to the District' s interests. The old compact allocated 10, 000 acre feet annually as a direct . diversion from the Truckee River for use in the Truckee River Basin, plus it allocated 6, 000 acre feet annually from storage at Stampede. That compact was ratified by California and Nevada, but not by Congress. The compact was basically silent on any allocation of groundwater. It permitted the District to use groundwater provided the surface water flows going to Nevada are not reduced. The Paiute Tribe has proposed that in the Truckee River Basin there be an allocation of 16, 000 acre feet annually without regard to source. Users of water in the Truckee River Basin could use 16, 000 acre feet from surface water or groundwater in any combination - groundwater use would be counted as part of the allocation. Mr. Holzmeister and Mr. Simmons have been opposing this concept vigorously. In order to make a convincing case, the assistance of John Sharp of HydroSearch is necessary. At a technical meeting with the Tribe's consultants, Mr. Sharp would seek to satisfy the Tribe' s fears that groundwater use is detrimental to their interests. Director Corbett moved that the Board authorize the retention of John Sharp to act as technical consultant in matters regarding the bi-state compact. The Manager is to advise the Board when $5, 000 has been expended; seconded by Director Sutton. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. • 5 MEETING RE OPERATION OF THE TAHOE SYSTEM BY THE WATER MASTER �• Director Sutton advised that she received notice of a meeting at the Forest Service regarding operation of the Tahoe System by the Water Master. She indicated she would provide additional information to anyone interested in attending. CLOSED SESSION The Chairman adjourned the meeting to closed session at 9 :45 P.M. to discuss personnel items. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION The meeting was returned to public session at 10:05 P.M. No action was reported. ADJOURNMENT Director Aguera moved, and Director Sutton seconded, that the meeting be adjourned at 10:05 P.M. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT By ail • Jam A. Maass, President Prepared by r " - Susan M. Craig, Deputy District Clerk smc • 6