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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-03-04 Min - Board REGULAR MEETING March 4, 1998 in accordance with District Code Section 2.08.010, the TDPUD minutes are action only minutes. All Board meeSngs are recorded on auafio tapes which are preserved perpetuallyand made available for listening to any interested party upon their request. The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District was called to order at 7:07 PM in the TDPUD Board Room by President Maass. ROLL CALL: Directors Ron Hemig, Bob Jones, Patricia Sutton and James Maass were present. Director Joe Aguera was absent but expected. EMPLOYEES PRESENT. Mary Chapman, Susan Craig, Steve Hollabaugh, Peter Holzmeister, Kathy Neus, Bob Quinn and Ed Taylor. CONSULTANTS PRESENT. Attorney Steve Gross and Consulting Engineer Dean Marsh. OTHERS PRESENT: Mark Stebbins of the Sunrise Rotary Club. PUBLIC INPUT Mark Stebbins explained the Sunrise Rotary Club's Angel Network Program. The organization has created a community network whereby anyone can donate furniture in good condition and have it picked up and distributed to households that are in need. A flyer was provided and the Manager was asked to bring the program to the employees' attention. The Board commended the club for the idea and effort. (It was noted that this TDPUD meeting should be considered a make-up Rotary meeting since at least six Rotarians were present....) PUBLIC HEARING RE COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENT FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER The public hearing to discuss a possible salary increase for the General Manager was opened at 7:15 PM. it was noted that Mr. Holzmeister's performance review was conducted at the last Board meeting. There were no comments from the public; the hearing was closed. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE ADJUSTING THE SALARY OF THE GENERAL MANAGER The Board reviewed a salary survey Mr. Holzmeister conducted several months ago. It reflected salaries ranging from $84,876 to $108,310; the average General Manager salary is $95,320. The Manager's current salary is $88,895. After some discussion, Director Hemig moved that the Board adopt Ordinance 9801 effecting a 3% compensation adjustment for the General Manager with another review in a year. The motion was seconded by Director Sutton. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO ORDAINED. CONSIDERATION OF CONTINUING THE EMERGENCY RELATING TO REPAIR OF THE SECOND FAILED TRANSFORMER AT THE TAHOE DONNER SUBSTATION Director Jones moved, and Director Hemig seconded, that the emergency action relating to repair of Tahoe Donner substation transformer#2 be continued. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO THE DISTRICT'S DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN 3/4/98 Pagel The District maintains a defined benefit pension plan for its hourly employees through Wayne Richardson Company. Recently, one of the employees went through a divorce and the terms of the divorce settlement provided that the former spouse would be entitled to a portion of the employee's accrued pension benefit; further, that she would be allowed to withdraw that cash value immediately. Subsequently, it was learned that the District's pension plan document does not permit a spouse to cash in his or her portion of a pension benefit awarded in a divorce. The Board reviewed and discussed the draft amendment to the pension plan document that would allow a divorced spouse to cash in the pension plan cash value awarded in a divorce and allowing the employee, as an option, to borrow against the plan cash value to cash out the divorced spouse. There is no financial impact on the District. The matter was discussed with Union representatives and they are in favor of adopting the amendment. Director Hemig moved that Resolution No. 9806 adopting the eighth amendment to the District's defined benefit pension plan be adopted with two changes. The administrator should be "General Manager"rather than "Peter Hoizmeister"and the maximum loan amount is to be changed from $50,000 to $25,000. Director Jones seconded the motion. ROLL CALL:Aguera, Hemig, Jones and Maass, aye; Sutton abstained stating she was not comfortable adopting the amendment without further input from Wayne Richardson Company. CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZING THE BOARD PRESIDENT TO SEND A LETTER TO NEVADA COUNTY LAFCo OBJECTING TO PROPOSED CHANGES iN THE DISTRICT'S SPHERE OF INFLUENCE MAP As the Board discussed at the last meeting, Nevada County LAFCo is proposing that the District's traditional sphere of influence be significantly reduced. The Board determined that it may be advisable to go on record as opposing the change. The draft letter was reviewed and thereafter, Director Jones moved that the president be authorized to sign the letter opposing LAFCo's modifications to the District's sphere of influence map; seconded by Director Aguera. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. DISTRICT'S JOINT PURCHASING POLICY— CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION CLARIFYING THE POLICY AUTHORIZING THE DISTRICT TO PURCHASE MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES THROUGH JOINT PURCHASING PROGRAMS — CONSiDERATION OF AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OFA NEW BACKHOE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ITEMS OF THE DISTRICT'S JOINT PURCHASING POLICY The 1998 budget contains funding in the amount of$90,000 for purchase of a new backhoe for the Water Department. Ed Taylor has arranged to purchase a backhoe by piggy-backing on a bid purchase of another public agency. if the District purchases the backhoe in this way, the price will be $10,000 under budget and also save considerable time. The current policy needs to be clarified to make sure it is the District's intent to do joint purchasing with other public agencies, such as a city or another special district, in addition to the state. After some discussion, Director Jones moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board adopt Resolution No. 9807 clarifying the policy authorizing the purchase of materials, equipment and supplies through joint purchasing programs. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO RESOLVED. Director Jones moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board authorize purchase of the backhoe in accordance with the terms set forth in Ed Taylor's memorandum of March 4, 1998. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. 3/4/98 Page 2 .. CONSIDERATION OF AWARDING SURPLUS COMPUTER EQUIPMENT TO SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS The Board recently declared older computers surplus and bids were solicited through ads placed in the Sierra Sun. There was some discussion about rejecting the very low bids and donating the equipment to charitable organizations and requiring a reasonable minimum bid on surplus equipment in the future. Director Jones moved, and Director Hemig seconded, that the Board award the bids for surplus computer equipment to the high bidders. ROLL CALL: all Directors, with the exception of Director Sutton who voted no. SO MOVED. Director Sutton requested that the Board review the surplus equipment policy at the next workshop meeting. CONSIDERATION OF AWARDING A CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRIC METERS Two bids for single phase meters with radio communication modules were received and opened on March 2, 1998; both are in order. After brief discussion, Director Hemig moved, and Director Jones seconded that the Board award the bid to Wesco Distribution of San Francisco, the low bidder, for the amount of$65.10 per meter. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION DECLARING CERTAIN VEHICLES SURPLUS AND AUTHORIZING STAFF TO DISPOSE OF THEM iN ACCORDANCE WITH DISTRICT POLICY During the past six months, new vehicles have arrived and Units 12, 20, 27 and 30 are no longer necessary for use by the District. Director Hemig moved, and Director Jones seconded, that the Board adopt Resolution No. 9808 declaring vehicles surplus and issuing a call for bids. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO RESOLVED. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 21 AND FEBRUARY 4, 1998 Director Jones moved that the Board accept the minutes of January 21 and February 4, 1998 as presented; seconded by Director Hemig. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. MONTHLY TREASURER'S REPORT—APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS—ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL OF MONTHLY REPORT Director Jones moved, and Director Hemig seconded, that the Board approve the disbursements. ROLL CALL: Aguera, Hemig, Jones and Maass, aye. Sutton, no. SO MOVED. Director Hemig moved, and Director Jones seconded, that the Board accept and approve the monthly Treasurer's report. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. REPORTS OR COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 3/4/98 Page 3 .. ... _ _ TROA - Director Sutton advised that TROA's final environmental documents are being released soon. The documents will be presented at an evening meeting on March 24 and a public hearing at the District complex has been set for May 11 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Hearings and workshops are also being scheduled at other locations, too. Mr. Holzmeister and Director Sutton will present a report at the next Board meeting. TOWN PLANNING PROCESS - Director Hemig mentioned that the Town discussed soliciting additional public input regarding planned communities and the master plan. The statement was made at the meeting that perhaps there will be another level of input, a concept plan meeting. The Town may ask special districts to be involved in order to maximize input from the public and generate support. CEMETARY DISTRICT- Note was made of a letter copied to the Directors from Joe Straub of the Cemetery District. NCPA-Elton Cotton, former head of electric operations at Los Angeles Water and Power, has been selected to act as interim manager. NCPA expects to have a new manager on board about mid- summer. NCPA dinner- NCPA is hosting a dinner at the Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento on April 22. Assemblyman Richter and Senator Leslie have been invited. This is a good opportunity for the Directors to speak with them about current issues facing the District. AIRPORT WELL- The Airport Well is experiencing two indicators of a problem-there is a vibration and the production rate has dropped off. A representative of Byron Jackson was brought in and he agrees that the pump needs to be pulled, sent to Sacramento and checked out. They will give a quote of what it will cost to rebuild the unit. Four years ago, the District spent$15,000 on repairs that should have lasted six years. The Water Superintendent will travel to Sacramento and oversee the process. There may be an item on the next agenda. The Board indicated it was willing to call a special meeting if necessary. TRANSMISSION OUTAGES- The District has had numerous transmission outages during the past few months attributable to the 60KV transmission line going between Sierra Pacific's Truckee substation west over Donner Summit where PG&E has responsibility for the line, to PG&E's Spaulding substation. (Mien there is an outage anywhere between Sierra's Truckee substation and PG&E's Spaulding substation, the District's customers at Donner Lake and Tahoe Donner are effected. Discussions have been held with resperesentatives of SPPCo and PG&E to discuss the problem and possible solutions. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, Director Hemig moved and Director Jones seconded, that the meeting be adjourned. SO MOVED by consensus. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT By --------.' I t r ' James , Maass, President , Prepared by. .� . Susan M. Craig, Deputy District Clerk smc 3/4/98 Page 4