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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-05-05 Min - Board REGULAR MEETING May 5, 1999 In accordance with District Code Section 2.08.010, the TDPUD minutes are action only minutes. All Board meetings are recorded on audio tapes which are preserved perpetually and 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 approximately 7:04 PM in the TDPUD Board Room by President Jones. ROLL CALL: Directors Joe Aguera, Ron Hemig, Bob Jones, James Maass and Patricia Sutton were present. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Mary Chapman, Susan Craig, Steve Hollabaugh, Joe Horvath, Peter Holzmeister, Bob Quinn and Ed Taylor. CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Consulting Engineer Keith Knibb and District Counsel, Steve Gross; Marty Skeer and Rick Blumenfeld. OTHERS PRESENT: There were no other present in the audience. PUBLIC INPUT: There was no public input. CONSIDERATION OF A REPORT ON POSSIBLE ACCEPTANCE OF THE 1998 AUDIT OF THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Rick Blumenfeld of Arthur Andersen & Company reviewed the draft audit report for 1998 with the Board. He discussed the balance sheets, statements of operations and cash flows and notes to financial statements. He answered questions relating to the difference between defined benefit pension plans and deferred contribution plans, the Y2K issue and Nevada County assessment district funds. Director Maass moved, and Director Hemig seconded, that the Board accept the audit as presented. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF A STATUS REPORT ON THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FEASIBILITY STUDY, POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO FILE AN APPLICATION WITH NEVADA COUNTY LAFCo, AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATING TO FIBER OPTICS Peter Holzmeister and Marty Skeer are working to identify opportunities, assets, strengths, and weaknesses of the District with respect to the telecommunication industry and to develop multiple strategies and options available with the anticipated benefits, costs and risks in the competitive public network and telecommunication business. He reported that he and Mr. Skeer met with the owners of USA Media Group, the company that purchased WestStar Communications, to discuss arrangements by which the District and USA Media could cooperate on installation of a fiber optic system. Mr. Holzmeister has also had communication with Williams Communications and the National Rural Telecommunications Council. 5f5l99 Page 1 After discussion, Director Maass moved, and Director Hemig seconded, that the General Manager and appropriate consultants be directed to pursue approaching both Nevada and Placer County LAFCos to activate powers this District may have regarding provision of telecommunication services. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. Director Maass moved that the District continue to aggressively pursue the feasibility study on telecommunications and authorize the General Manager to discuss any and all options with potential partners and to bring back any draft concepts to the Board for further review. The motion was seconded by Director Hemig. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. Director Maass moved that the General Manager be authorized to expand the scope of services of the professional services agreement with Resource Management International to include preparation of construction costs and financing possibilities for going forward with fiber optic installation this summer; seconded by Director Hemig. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. PALISADES DRIVE ELECTRIC FACILITIES RELOCATION PROJECT — CONSIDERATION OF REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNSEL—CONSIDERATION OF BIDS AND POSSIBLE CONTRACT As part of its project with CalTrans to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Highway 267 and Palisades Drive, the town requested the District, at its own expense, to relocate overhead electric facilities that are in conflict with the project. Based on the law and his analysis, Counsel Gross believes that the District is required to pay the associated costs. The conclusion is based on Mr. Gross's understanding that the facilities in question exist in the highway right-of-way pursuant to a statutory right to do so rather than by a franchise right or an encroachment permit issued by the town, county or state. A public entity accepts franchise rights in public streets subject to an implied obligation to relocate its facilities at its own expense when necessary to make way for proper governmental use of streets. Six bids were received on the Palisades Drive/Highway 267 Electric Relocation Project. The low bidder was Al Pombo Construction; the bid is in order. Director Maass moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board award the contract for the Palisades Drive/Highway 267 Electric Relocation Project to Al Pombo Construction in the amount of$21,417.95. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. BROOKSTONE DRIVE WATER PIPELINE REPLACEMENT— ENGINEERING SERVICES The 1999 budget includes the replacement of the pipeline in Brookstone Drive from Lausanne to Schussing. Sauers Engineering proposes to perform the environmental review, project design and construction bidding for$12,650 and agency coordination, construction engineering and inspection for a not- to-exceed amount of$11,000. Director Hemig moved, and Director Maass seconded, that the Board approve the agreement with Sauers Engineering regarding the Brookstone Drive Pipeline Replacement Project in the amount of $12,650 for fixed fee tasks and $11,000 for the not-to-exceed tasks defined in their proposal dated April 27, 1999. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. ELECTRIC CONNECTION CHARGES — REVIEW OF PROPOSED CHANGES AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION The current connection charges do not fully fund the cost of making new electric service connections and they create a pricing incentive for a developer to install overhead services. Mr. 5/5/99 Page 2 Holzmeister presented four tables for review: 1)The connection charge summary, which shows the District's current connection charge and the components that make up the overhead and underground fees. 2) The summary of revenues and expenses for 1998, demonstrating that the current fee structure does not recover District costs to install overhead and underground services. 3) Electric connection charges showing the current fee and a proposed fee that may solve the two problems. The proposed fee equalizes the overhead service with a temporary power pole and an underground service without a temporary power pole at$860. 4) Current and proposed connection charges: impacts on revenues, showing that the proposed fee would generate an additional $10,390, which substantially solves the problem of fully funding District costs to install services. After some discussion, Director Hemig moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that a public hearing be scheduled to consider an amendment to the electric connection fees. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. DISCUSSION OF LEGACY PROJECT The Rotary Club has asked the District to bear the expense of moving boulders off the proposed bike trail (below the Martis Valley Substation) at a cost of between $6,500 to $10,000. A main TTSA sewer line and manhole is located in that area and it is not believed that the District owns the property. Staff was asked to determine who owns the property and to make recommendations on how to proceed. CONSIDERTION OF MINUTES OF APRIL 7, 1999; POSSIBLE APPROVAL Director Hemig moved, and Director Sutton seconded, that the Board approve the minutes of April 7, 1999 as presented. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. TREASURER'S REPORT — APPROVAL OF THE MONTHLY REPORT — APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS Director Maass moved that the Board approve the monthly Treasurer's report. The motion was seconded by Director Aguera. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. Director Maass moved, and Director Hemig seconded, that the disbursements be approved. ROLL CALL: Aguera, Hemig, Jones and Maass, aye. Sutton, no. SO MOVED. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, Director Hemig moved that the meeting be adjourned at 10:04 PM; seconded by Director Aguera. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. TRU00-=E DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Robert A. Jo0s, Ore "dent Prepared by Susan M. Craig, Deputy District Clerk smc 5l5199 Page 3