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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-01-18 Min - Board REGULAR MEETING January 18, 2006 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 7:02 PM in the TDPUD Board room by President Hemig. ROLL CALL: Directors Joe Aguera, Ron Hemig, Tim Taylor and Bill Thomason were present. Director Patricia Sutton, absent. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Neil Kaufman, Mary Chapman, Peter Holzmeister, Ed Taylor, Sanna Schlosser, Jim Wilson, Pat Waite, Nancy Waters, Jessica Kosfiszer, Steve Hollabaugh, Scott Terrell, Joe Horvath, Mark Thomas, Alan Harry, Kathy Neus and Kim Sczcurek. CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Steve Gross OTHERS PRESENT: Frank and Juanita Schneider, Pat Davison, Rolf Godon, Geoff Stephens, Christine Stanley and Denny Dickinson PUBLIC INPUT Denny Dickinson voiced his concerns about the upcoming Brockway Road pipeline project. He feels the project will have a major impact on the community and wants to make sure the PUD works with the public to resolve all problems. The CEQA public hearing review will be held on February 1, 2006. ACTION ITEMS Director Aguera said he received calls from Ellie Hyatt, Rolf Godon and Christine York who expressed an interest in attending the board meeting to speak about the rates, but the poor weather conditions kept them from doing so. Juanita Schneider said after years, Mr. Holzmeister has never guided the Board in an improper direction and operates the PUD in a business way. Pat Davison asked the Board to be consistent with the effective dates of the water and electric connection fees, making them either 30 days or 60 days. Geoff Stevens stated that the Glenshire Devonshire Homeowners Association got involved only two months ago when something substantial was brought forward to the public regarding the rate increase. He wants to reiterate their position on the income part of the ledger and reduce expenses, and cap the rate increase at 5%. He wants District staff to address the capital from Donner Lake and the Broadband issue. Christine Stanley of the Sierra Sun asked for a clarification of how the rate increases would affect non-permanent homeowners. Mr. Holzmeister said the water rates are the same for permanent and non permanent; the electric rates are slightly higher. Rolf Godon thought the rate increase article in the Sierra Sun was thorough. The PUD's intention to have yearly rate increase is scary to him. He asks the PUD to do all they can in house to cut costs, 1 Minutes: Jan. 18, 2006 possibly the PUD could hire an independent outside evaluator who could suggest where cuts can be made. He verified that the water rates include the cost of maintenance. Director Thomason read from an article in National Rural Electric Magazine and had the following positions: • Communicate to the public the external pressure which force up business costs through inserts, contact with agencies and general public outreach • Use the utilities more efficiently. There needs to be more public awareness that Scott Terrell is available to consult customers on utility use. • Utility owned by rate payers. The delayed response to Glenshire Homeowners Association was unacceptable • Need to manage operating costs effectively. Staff made little attempt to look at prior spending and reduce cost. Instead budget cuts were taking off the wish list of the staff. Director Thomason still questions the two million budget overage from 2004 and broadband. He feels the only way Broadband would cost us money is if the Board does nothing. Director Thomas wants proof of effective management of the staff. Way to cost money is to Director Thomason moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to postpone action on agenda items 4 through 8 dealing with electric rates, water rates, electric connection, water connection and adoption of the 2006 budget. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent, Directors Hemig and Taylor, no; All other Directors, aye. NOT CARRIED. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE DISTRICT'S ELECTRIC RATES Director Aguera moved and Director Thomason seconded, a motion to adopt an ordinance amending current electric rates by 5% (3%for operations and 2%for reserves). ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent, Directors Hemig and Taylor, no; All other Directors, aye. MOTION NOT CARRIED. Item moved to the next board meeting. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE DISTRICT'S WATER RATES Director Aguera moved and Director Thomason seconded, a motion to adopt an ordinance amending the current water rates by 5% (3%for operations and 2%for reserves). ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent, Directors Hemig and Taylor, no; All other Directors, aye. MOTION NOT CARRIED. Item moved to the next board meeting. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE DISTRICT'S ELECTRIC CONNECTION CHARGE Director Aguera moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion to adopt an ordinance amending the District's current electric connection charges by 5%. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent; Director Thomason, no; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE DISTRICT'S WATER CONNECTION CHARGE Director Aguera moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion to adopt an ordinance amending the District's current water connection charge by 5%. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent; Director Thomason, no; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. 2 Minutes: Jan. 18, 2006 CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR 2006 AND ESTABLISHING ACCOUNTING OVERHEAD RATES This item will be postponed to the next board meeting. PUBLIC HEARING — AT 7:30 OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING WRITTEN AND OR ORAL COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING A DRAFT ORDINANCE INCREASING THE SALARY OF THE DISTRICT GENERAL MANAGER Geoff Stevens asked if the salary increase for the General Manager would have been in the Budget or would have been passed prior to? He thought the adjustments should be firm before the budget. President Hemig said salary adjustments are usually done months after budget. Due to recent discussions, the Board asked staff to bring action items on salaries in tandem with the budget. Juanita Schneider stated that Mr. Holzmeister has taken on a lot of responsibility in the last few years. Rolf Godon asked what perks above the salary does the General Manager receive. President Hemig said there is an array of benefits standard to all PUD department heads and similar to other utilities. RETURN TO ACTION ITEMS CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE SALARY OF THE DISTRICT'S GENERAL MANAGER President Hemig moved to adopt an ordinance setting the salary of the General Manager at Step 5 $142,849.00 in the salary scale. There was no second to the motion. MOTION NOT CARRIED. Director Thomason moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion to adopt an ordinance setting the salary of the General Manager of Step 4 $137,492.00 in the salary scale as of January 1, 2006, effective 30 days from the date of passage of the ordinance. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF ESTABLISHING A SALARY SCALE FOR MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT Director Thomason recused himself from the dais and moved to a seat in the audience. He is a tax advisor to five or six District employees. Director Taylor moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to approve year one of the recommendation in the salary survey report and authorize the General Manager to place employees within the scale. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent; Director Thomason, recused; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. 3 Minutes: Jan. 18, 2006 CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSAL TO PERFORM SERVICES RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED DISTRICT PIPELINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM —2006 Director Aguera moved and Director Thomason seconded, a motion to accept the proposal submit- ted by Inland Ecosystems and award a contract for preparation of the CEQA Initial Study associated with the District Pipeline Replacement—2006 in an amount not to exceed $4,893.00. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF TRANSFERRING FUNDS FROM THE BUILDING RESTRICTED FUND THE TO GENERAL FUND FOR INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE TELEVISING OF DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS Director Taylor moved and Director Thomason seconded, a motion to authorize staff to transfer $13,372.15 from the Electric Building Fund to reimburse the Electric General Fund for the installation of video equipment installed to televise board meetings ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. Director Thomason suggested, and the board agreed, to wait to authorize an additional $4,763 from the Electric Building Fund for a Cebridge invoice for equipment and fiber optic cable. An attempt is being made to have the fee for installation of equipment waived. CONSIDERATION OF THE OUTSOURCING OF UTILITY BILL PAYMENT PROCESSING Agenda item postponed. CONSIDERATION OF CONTINUING THE EMERGENCY ACTION RELATED TO PURCHASE OF A TRANSFORMER FOR THE TAHOE DONNER SUBSTATION. Director Aguera moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion that the Board continue the emergency action relating to the Tahoe Donner Substation Transformer. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent; All other Directors, aye by voice vote. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTING A NEGOTIATOR FOR SALE OF PARCELS OF DISTRICT OWNED LAND AND DETERMINING THE METHOD OF SALE. Director Aguera moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion the Board appoint the District General manager as negotiator for the sale of District owned land. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent; All other Directors, aye by voice vote. SO MOVED. ROUTINE ITEMS STAFF REPORTS No action taken. 4 Minutes: Jan. 18, 2006 CLOSED SESSION CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR PURSUANT TO SECTION 54956.8 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE. PROPERTY: 10449 SOMERSET DRIVE, 12324 RICHARDS BOULEVARD, 15670 DONNER PASS ROAD. NEGOTIATING PARTIES: PETER L. HOLZMEISTER OR THE PERSON APPOINTED UNDER AGENDA ITEM 17 ABOVE REPRE- SENTING THE DISTRICT AND ANY INTERESTED PURCHASER. Director Aguera moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion to for the District's negotiator, Peter Holzmeister, to retain the services of Nelson Van Gundy to market the property located at 15670 Donner Pass Road (APN 17-170-12 & 17-170-45). ROLL CALL: Director Thomason, recused, Director Sutton, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. President Hemig moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion to authorize the District negotiator, Peter Holzmeister and staff to market and sell the properties located at 10449 Somerset Drive (APN 40-120-28) and 12324 Richards Boulevard (18-500-05). ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL — EXISTING LITIGATION PURSUANT TO SUBDI- VISION (A) OF SECTION 54956.9 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE: CYNTHIA BILLINGS V. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT AND ROBERT CLARK, AND DEBBIE HOUSE ON BEHALF OF MINOR LINDSEY HOUSE V. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT, ROBERT CLARK Driector Thomason moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion to authorize General Counsel to take appropriate action to defend the District and employee Robert Clark, should Mr. Clark tender his lawsuits to the District; and to defend the District and Mr. Clark reservation of rights should the carrier not respond to the District's request or tender in a sufficient time for the District to answer. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM. TRUCKEE D ER PUBLIC TILITY DISTRICT 1 H ig, Presi en Prepared by Barbara Cahill, Deputy District Clerk bhc 5 Minutes: Jan. 18, 2006 Public Ordinance No. 2006 - 01 AMENDING THE ELECTRIC CONNECTION CHARGES WHEREAS District staff has prepared a budget for District operation for 2006; and WHEREAS, on January 4, 2006, a public hearing was held to receive comments from the public concerning the 2006 budget; and WHEREAS the budget for 2006 recommends that electric connection charges be increased to cover increases in costs of providing District services; and WHEREAS on January4,2006,a public hearing was held to receive public comments on proposed rate increases; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED by the Board of Directors of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District as follows: Effective 60 days from the date this ordinance is adopted the following electric connection charge schedule shall be effective. ELECTRIC CONNECTION FEES Size and Type of Service Connection Fee A. Single phase, 120/240 service—200 amp Three-wire overhead 1) Temporary Actual cost 2) Permanent connection to structure $1,212 3) Temporary connection to customer-owned power pole and $1,489 subsequent transfer to structure B. Single phase, 120/240 service—200 amp Three-wire underground (overhead transformer) 1) Permanent connection to structure $1,212 2) Temporary connection to customer-owned power pole; $1,489 removal of same and installation of underground permanent service to structure C. Single phase, 120/240 service—200 amp Three-wire underground (padmount transformer) 1) Permanent connection to structure $1,212 2) Temporary connection to customer-owned power pole; $1,489 removal of same and installation of underground permanent service to structure Ordinance 2006-01 1 D. Single phase, 120/240 service—400 amp Three-wire underground or overhead 1) Permanent connection to structure $2,295 2) Temporary connection to customer-owned power pole; $2 572 removal of same and installation of underground permanent service to structure E. Three phase, 208v, 240v or 480v service Four-wire overhead 1) Permanent connection to structure Actual Cost 2) Temporary single phase 120/240 service for construction Actual Cost purposes to become three-phase permanent service to structure Section 3. If no protest is made pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 16078, then this ordinance shall be effective sixty days after adoption by the board of directors of the District. Section 4. The Clerk of the District shall immediately cause a copy of this ordinance to be published in a newspaper of general circulation and posted in three places within the District. Section 5. The provisions of other Ordinances shall remain if effect to the extent that they do not conflict with this ordinance. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District at a meeting duly called and held within the District on the eighteenth day of January 2006 by the following roll call vote: AYES: Directors Aguera, Taylor and Hemig NOES: Director Thomason ABSENT: Director Sutton TRUCKS ONN UBLIC UT L TY DISTRICT By J. n emig, President of the Board ATTEST: Peter L. Holzmeister, Clerk of the Board Ordinance 2006-01 2 TRUCKEE DONNER Public Utility District 11 Ordinance No. 2006 - 02 Establishing Water Connection Fees WHEREAS the District's current Connection Fee schedule was established on April 6, 2005; and WHEREAS,the District has been experiencing increased costs for labor,fuel, materials and other items since that time; and WHEREAS on January 4, 2006 a public hearing was held to receive public comments on the proposed Connection Fee increase; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED that the Board of Directors of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District does hereby enact the following: 1. Connection fees are charged to reimburse the District for the actual administrative, material and labor costs of connecting to the water system (excluding the service lateral). 2. Connection fees shall be charged according to the following schedule: METER SIZE CONNECTION (inches) FEE 5/8 x 3/4 $ 1,145.00 3/4 1,180.00 1 Actual cost 1 %2 Actual cost 2 Actual cost 3 Actual cost 4 Actual cost 6 Actual cost 3. Fee review - On or about March of each following year, the District's staff shall review the estimated cost of the described capital improvements, the continued need for those improvements and the reasonable relationship between such need and the impacts of the various types of development pending or anticipated and for which these fees are charged. The staff shall report its findings to the Board of Directors at a noticed public hearing and recommend any adjustment to this fee or other action as may be needed. Page 1 Ordinance 2006-02 4. If no protest is made pursuant to Public Utilities Code Section 16078,then this ordinance shall be effective sixty (60) days after the date it was adopted by the Board of Directors. 5. The Clerk of the District shall immediately cause a copy of this ordinance to be published in a newspaper of general circulation and posted in three places within the District. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors at a meeting duly called and held within the District on the eighteenth day of January 2006 by the following roll call vote: AYES: Directors Aguera, Taylor and Hemig NOES: Director Thomason ABSENT: Director Sutton TRUCKEE DONNER LIC UTILITY DISTRICT By !!�? J. n ig, President ATTEST: Peter L. Holzmeister, Clerk of the Board Page 2 Ordinance 2006-02 CKEE DONNER Public Utility r-- District Ordinance No. 2006 - 03 Effecting a compensation adjustment for the General Manager WHEREAS the board of directors employs a general manager to manage the day by day affairs of the District; and WHEREAS there exists a salary scale for the position of general manager; and WHEREAS the board establishes the salary scale for general manager and determines the place within that scale at which the general manager's annual salary is to be set; and WHEREAS the board of directors wishes to amend the scale and set the general manager's salary within that scale for 2006; Now therefore be is ordained by the Board of Directors of the district that effective thirty days from the date of passage of this ordinance the following action occur: 1. The salary scale for the position of general manager shall be such that it reads as follows: Step 5 $142,849 Step 4 137,492 Step 3 132,135 Step 2 126,778 Step 1 121,422 2. The salary for the general manager shall be set at Step 4 effective January 1, 2006 3. The Deputy District Clerk of the District is directed to publish this ordinance in accordance with the laws of the State of California. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors at a meeting duly called and held within the District on the eighteenth day of January 2006 by following roll call vote: AYES: Directors Aguera, Taylor, Thomason and Hemig NOES: None ABSENT: Director Sutton TRUCK DON PUBLIC LITY DISTRICT By. J.LKo emig, President of the Board ATTEST:'} Peter L. Holzmeister, Clerk of the Board