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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-11-01 Min - Board REGULAR MEETING November 1, 2000 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 perpetu- ally 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 7:04 PM in the TDPUD Board room by President Hemig. ROLL CALL: Directors Joe Aguera, James Maass, Patricia Sutton, Nelson VanGundy and Ron Hemig were present. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Mary Chapman, Susan Craig, Ian Fitzgerald, Alan Harry, Steve Hol- labaugh, Peter Holzmeister, Neil Kaufman, Bob Quinn and Ed Taylor. CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Attorneys Andy Morris and Steve Gross; Consulting Engineer Keith Knibb. OTHERS PRESENT: Among those present in the audience were Charlie White, Lyn Zucconi, Roger Terneuzen, Don McCormack, Karen Sessler, Kathy Poloucha-Kessler, John Byrne, Dave Baker and Glen Curtis. PUBLIC INPUT Karen Sessler brought the Board's attention to the problem of frequent power outages in Prosser Lakeview Estates. The Electric Superintendent, Bob Quinn, explained that most of the outages were caused by blown fuses due to new construction. For the short term, the load has been transferred to make the system more balanced. The long term fix is to build another line into the back part of the subdivision. It will be about 1,200 feet and has been placed in the pre- liminary budget for 2001. PUBLIC HEARING to receive oral and/or written comments from members of the public regarding the District's intent to adopt a Negative Declaration on the acquisition and up- grade of the Donner Lake water system At 7:15 PM, the President opened the public hearing to receive comments on the proposed mitigated negative declaration for acquisition and upgrade of the Donner Lake water system. The 30 day comment period is still running, so no action is necessary at this time. Director VanGundy left the room because of a possible conflict of interest. There was no public comment and the hearing was closed at 7:16 PM. CONSIDERATION OF COMMENCING THE PROCEEDINGS FOR FORMATION OF DONNER LAKE WATER ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 00-1; POSSIBLE ACTION — Consideration of a resolution requesting consent of the Truckee Town Council to form and acquire im- provements for the benefit of Donner Lake Water Assessment District No. 00-1 —Consid- eration of a resolution requesting consent of the Placer County Board of Supervisors to form and acquire improvements for the benefit of Donner Lake Water assessment District No. 00-1 11/1/00 Page 1 The District is in the process of evaluating the acquisition and upgrade of Donner Lake water system. The process involves three separate but related efforts moving along simultaneously — CEQA, assessment district formation and acquisition. Consultants have been retained to work on these efforts. What emerges from the consultants' efforts is the information needed for the Board to make a decision. Eventually a notice will be mailed to property owners at Donner Lake asking them to approve formation of an assessment district. They will be asked to agree to being assessed for the cost of water system acquisition and improvements. By the time that notice is sent out, staff will have a highly refined estimate of the cost of acquisition and upgrade and the amount that each parcel will be assessed. However, to get to that point, the District must obtain permission from the Town and Placer County to form an assessment district. The Board reviewed the proposed resolutions that would accomplish this and authorize that certified copies be transmitted to the Town and Placer County. After some discussion, Director Maass moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board adopt Resolution No. 2000-21 requesting consent of the Truckee Town Council to form and ac- quire improvements for the benefit of Donner Lake Water Assessment District No. 00-1 and Resolution No. 2000-22 requesting consent of the Placer County Board of Supervisors to form and acquire improvements for the benefit of Donner Lake Water Assessment District No. 00-1. Kathy Poloucha-Kessler, Donner Lake resident, noted that the owner of Donner Lake Water Company, Bob Fortino, has sent a letter to his customers describing Del Oro's capital improve- ment program. She stated she understands that the building moratorium will be reinstated. Also, she said there will be an audit of Del Oro to see where the funds already paid were spent. ROLL CALL vote on the motion: Aguera, Maass, VanGundy and Hemig, aye; Sutton, no. SO RE- SOLVED. Director VanGundy returned to the meeting. CONSIDERATION OF BROADBAND (TELECOMMUNICATION) ISSUES; DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION Director Maass advised of a school technology meeting he attended recently. Discussed at that meeting was the plan to bring kindergarten through 12 grades into the digital network that now has hubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Three nodes are recommended for the Auburn, Placerville and Truckee areas. 3Com is considering a partnership with the schools; they would set up facilities where teachers could design on-line lessons. The Board has been discussing the possibility of offering broadband (telecommunications) services to the Truckee community. On October 24, the General Manager and Telecommunica- tions Manager met with SR Jones, Executive Director of the Nevada County Local Agency For- mation Commission to discuss the District's application for the activation of its latent power to provide telecommunications services. SR Jones indicated that the District's application could be placed on the Commission's November 16 agenda as a workshop item where these topics would be focused upon: services to be provided; an evaluation of revenues and expenses to show that the business is self-supporting; method of infrastructure financing; risk mitigation. Also, Ms. Jones has asked the District to provide clarification on other issues relating to TDPUD entry into the broadband business and staff has developed a draft response, copy attached. The draft was thoroughly discussed and several changes to the letter were approved. Concerns with �-- franchising and financing were brought up. Don McCormack, a LAFCo representative speaking personally, outlined the mechanisms of the LAFCo decision-making process. Thereafter, Direc- tor VanGundy moved, and Director Maass seconded, that the Board authorize staff to transmit 11/1/00 Page 2 the amended letter to SR Jones. ROLL CALL: all Directors aye, with the exception of Director Sutton who voted no. SO MOVED. It was noted that in taking this action, it is understood that the Board is not granting its approval to enter into the broadband business. This action is just one decision point in the process by which the Board clarifies its intent if it ultimately decides to proceed with the project. The ultimate decision whether to enter the broadband business will depend on many factors not yet fully explored. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACT DOCU- MENTS AND ISSUING A CALL FOR BIDS FOR DRILLING TEST HOLES AND A PRODUC- TION WELL IN THE MARTIS VALLEY Nimbus Engineering has completed the plans, specifications and contract documents for test hole drilling, production well drilling and pumping development for the new water supply. Staff is asking for authorization to advertise for and accept bids for the project with bid opening date of November 13, 2000. Director Maass moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board authorize staff to adver- tise for and accept bids for the drilling of test holes, drilling of a production well and pumping development with a bid opening date of November 13, 2000. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF CONSTRUCTING A CASING FOR A FUTURE WATER LINE UNDER THE HIGHWAY 267 BYPASS BY MEANS OF A CHANGE ORDER TO A CAL TRANS CON- TRACT AND ACQUISITION OF CASING MATERIAL FROM TRUCKEE SANITARY DIS- TRICT Staff has identified the need to bring a new well on line by next summer. Nimbus Engineering has identified potential sites for a high production well and the sites have been added to the draft Water Master Plan Update which is nearing completion. The hydraulic model for the Martis Valley area show a need for a large diameter casing under the 267 bypass to bring water from a new well to the District's system. CalTrans is in the proc- ess of construction the bypass and there was an opportunity to have the water pipeline casing installed by the CalTrans contractor at a very reasonable cost as a change order to the contract. With the weather rapidly changing, the Manager saw the need to move quickly; he authorized installation of the casing as a change order at a total cost of$46,149.54. Director Aguera moved, and Director Maass seconded, that the Board approve the installation of the casing under the 267 bypass and authorize staff to execute payment for work and materi- als in the amount of$46,149.54. ROLL CALL: Sutton, no; all other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. DISCUSSION OF THE NEVADA COUNTY LAFCO SPECIAL DISTRICT ALTERNATE SE- LECTION PROCESS; POSSIBLE ACTION Bob Nix currently serves as the alternate special district member of Nevada County LAFCo. He will no longer be eligible since he's decided not to seek re-election to the Penn Valley Dire Dis- trict. The Board reviewed the revised method for electing the alternate special district member which was provided by SR Jones. Selection of the new member will be conducted by the special dis- trict selection committee which is made up of the presiding officer of each special district in Ne- vada County. The meeting of that committee is scheduled for 1:00 PM on December 4, 2000. 11/1/00 Page 3 Director Sutton moved, and Director VanGundy seconded, that the Board send its president to cast a ballot for a new alternate special district member. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF TROA ON TTSA PLANT EXPANSION AND ON USE OF WATER ALLOCATION; POSSIBLE ACTION After reviewed a draft letter regarding TTSA's efforts to expand its treatment plant, Director VanGundy moved, and Director Maass seconded, that the Board authorize the President to send a letter to the Director of the California Department of Water Resources and the Director of the California Resources Agency supporting the TTSA plant expansion. ROLL CALL: all Direc- tors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE NON-PROFIT TDPUD FINANCING CORPORATION AND SETTING A DATE FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING David Casnocha, bond counsel to the District advises that the District Board can appoint itself to the Board of the financing corporation. He suggests that after this is done, the by-laws be amended to state that the Board of the District shall serve as the Board of the financing corpo- ration. Two members of the current financing corporation Board have resigned, Herb Gaarder and Harry Smith. The terms of two other members recently expired, Bruce Turner and Sharon Gu- tierrez. Ruth Frishman has indicated she is willing to resign to allow the reorganization. After brief discussion, Director Maass moved that the Board appoint the TDPUD Directors to serve as the Board of Directors of the TDPUD Financing Corporation; seconded by Director Aguera. ROLL_ CALL: Sutton abstained; all other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. Director VanGundy moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the manager be directed to schedule the annual meeting of the financing corporation for December 20, 2000 as part of the regular TDPUD Board meeting and that the manager be directed to write letters of gratitude to the outgoing members of the financing corporation. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. PRESENTATION OF THE 2001 BUDGET The Directors were presented with copies of the 2001 draft budget. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 16 AND 28, 2000 Director Maass moved, and Director VanGundy seconded, that the Board approve the minutes of August 16, 2000 as corrected and the minutes of August 28, 2000 as presented. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. TREASURER'S REPORT — APPROVAL OF THE MONTHLY REPORT AND APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS Director Maass moved, and director VanGundy seconded, that the Board approve the monthly Treasurer's report. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. Director Maass moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board approve the disburse- ments. ROLL CALL: Sutton, no; all other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. 11/1/00 Page 4 CLOSED SESSION — CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — EXISTING LITIGATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(a), TWO CASES: TDPUD vs. USA MEDIA AND USA MEDIA vs. TDPUD The Board adjourned to closed session at 9:27 PM. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION The Board returned to public session at 10:12 PM. There was no action taken or direction given as a result of closed session. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:13 PM. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Ja 7 s A. Maass, Pr ident Prepared b _ Susan M. Craig, Deputy District Clerk 11/1/00 Page 5