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Home My WebLink About2006-01-04 Min - Board '"- REGULAR MEETING January 4, 2006 In accordance with District Code Section 2.08.010, the TDPUD minutes are action only min- utes 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 7:03 PM in the TDPUD Board room by President Hemig. ROLL CALL: Directors Joe Aguera, Ron Hemig, and Tim Taylor were present. Directors Patricia Sutton and Bill Thomason were absent. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Neil Kaufman, Mary Chapman, Peter Holzmeister, Ed Taylor, Sanna Schlosser, Jim Wilson, Pat Waite, Nancy Waters, Jessica Kosfiszer, Steve Hollabaugh and Kim Sczcurek. CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Steve Gross OTHERS PRESENT: Frank and Juanita Schneider, Pat Davison, Rolf Godon, Geoff Stephens, Christine Stanley and one other member of the public. PUBLIC INPUT Juanita Schneider wanted to thank the TDPUD for the personal call service during the recent out- age as her husband is on oxygen. PUBLIC HEARING —At 7:00 PM 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) The draft budget for 2006 b) A draft ordinance increasing water rates c) A draft ordinance increasing electric rates d) A draft ordinance increasing water connection fees e) A draft ordinance increasing electric connection charges The public hearing began at 7:13 PM. Peter Holzmeister said the idea is to give the public an opportunity to comment on the budget proposal. Mr. Holzmeister gave a presentation of the budget process in the last six months and the focus of the 2006 budget. He stated that this is a public hearing only and no action is being taken on the budget or rates. There will be an action item on the next agenda of January 18, 2006. Mr. Holzmeister read a letter received from Frank and Susan Casella stating no to the rate increase and asking the PUD to listen to the people. Juanita Schneider feels the increase is not unreasonable for the TDPUD to serve the community. Her Southwest Gas bill went up far more than the PUD increase will go up. Geoff Stephens, General Manager of the Glenshire Residents Association (GRA), met with Mr. Holzmeister to go over the letter the Association had sent. The GRA is not opposed to a 2% reserve fund. Mr. Stephens asked if customers will see a 2% rate increase each year on water and electric for the reserve funds. Mr. Holzmeister stated that the reserve for the electric will be part of the rate structure and will gradually ramp up the electric rates to where they may be when the 1 Minutes: Jan. 4, 2006 TDPUD must enter into a new power contract. Smaller gradual increases over the next 2-3 years are more palatable to customers than a single large jump in one year. GRA has a general consensus that it will support the 2%for reserves and a 3% for operations. Mr. Stephens is asking the PUD to sharpen their pencil and take 2-3%off budget. Rolf Godon feels the PUD should be able to tighten up the expenses. He did some research about other local water rates. In Glenshire, the rate used to be $25.00 per month before the PUD took over the system and Fulton Water Co. in Cedar Flats charges $36.60 per month. On the electric side, Mr. Godon's daily average is $5.54. Whereas North Shore-Sierra Pac power rate per day is under $4. There seems to be a discrepancy in charges. ACTION ITEMS CONSIDERATION OF A REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNSEL REGARDING AMENDING THE CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ELECTRIC SYSTEM TRANSFORMERS, POSSIBLE ACTION Director Aguera moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion to authorize staff to negotiate with the existing vendors (Howard and ERMCO) for the lowest possible price increase to the contract amounts for transformers, and authorize the general manager to sign contract amendments for the new price until the District has awarded new contracts for the purchase of transformers. ROLL CALL: Directors Sutton and Thomason, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF AN INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND DRAFT NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR BROCKWAY TRANSMISSION PIPELINE PROJECT (FILE THE PROPOSED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL INITIAL STUDY WITH THE OFFICE OF THE NEVADA COUNTY CLERK, WITH RESPONSIBLE AND INTERESTED AGENCIES, AND WITH THE STATE CLEARINGHOUSE; AND AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION A NOTICE OF PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD AND PUBLIC HEARING) Director Taylor moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to authorize staff to file the pro- posed mitigated Negative Declaration and Environmental Initial Study for the proposed Brockway Road Transmission Pipeline project with the Office of the Nevada County Clerk; authorize staff to file the proposed mitigated negative declaration and environmental study with responsible and in- terested agencies and with the State Clearinghouse; authorize staff to publish a Notice of Public Review Period and Public Hearing on the proposed mitigated Negative Declaration; and set a pub- lic hearing date at the regular Board Meeting on February 1, 2006. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton and Thomason, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF AMENDING THE CONSULTING SERVICE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND INLAND ECOSYSTEMS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY FOR THE BROCKWAY TRANSMISSION PIPELINE PROJECT. Director Aguera moved and President Hemig seconded, a motion to amend the existing contract with Inland Ecosystems to increase the total contract amount from $7,590.00 to $14,570.00 in regards to the Brockway Road Transmission Pipeline CEQA.. ROLL CALL: Directors Sutton and Thomason, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. 2 Minutes: Jan. 4, 2006 "r CONSIDERATION OF ENTERING INTO A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE BROCKWAY TRANSMISSION PIPELINE ACROSS RAILROAD PROPERTY Director Taylor moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to approve the Pipeline Crossing Agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad; and authorize a payment of $15,420.00 to the Union Pacific Railroad with the funding source to be Facility Fees for the Brockway Transmission Pipeline project. ROLL CALL: Directors Sutton and Thomason, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF A REPORT ON BIDS RECEIVED AND POSSIBLE AWARD OF A CONTRACT FOR PURCHASE OF A PUMP AND MOTOR FOR THE OLD GREENWOOD WELL. Director Aguera moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion to award the contract for well pump and motor for the Old Greenwood Village Well in the amount of $151,482.00 to Flowserve Corporation of Chico, California and authorize the transfer of funds from Facility Fees. ROLL CALL: Directors Sutton and Thomason, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. 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 and Thomason, absent; All other Directors, aye by voice vote. SO MOVED. ROUTINE BUSINESS APPROVAL THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 7, 19 AND 21, 2005 Director Taylor moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board approve the minutes of December 7, 19 and 21, 2005, noting Director Taylor's absence on December 7, 2005. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton and Thomason, absent; All other Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM. TRUCKE DO"-OR PUBLIC U ILITY DISTRICT / A J. \ emig, esident Prepared by Barbara Cahill, Deputy District Clerk bhc 3 Minutes: Jan. 4, 2006