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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-02-20 Min - Board REGULAR MEETING a February 20, 2008 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 6:03 PM in the TDPUD Board room by President Taylor. ROLL CALL: Directors Joe Aguera, Ron Hemig, Patricia Sutton, Tim Taylor and Bill Thomason were present. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Mary Chapman, Scott Terrell, Steve Hollabaugh, Mark Thomas, Kathy Neus, Nancy Waters, Michael Holley and Barbara Cahill CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Jill Vacchina OTHERS PRESENT: Dan Warren, Howard Wright and Doug Grandy PUBLIC INPUT Dan Warren would appreciate if the Board would look at Boca feasibility for hydro electric power. DIRECTOR UPDATE There were no Director requests. Director Taylor apologized for missing the last meeting and thanked Director Thomason for stepping in. ACTION ITEM The first agenda item was moved up to allow for the public hearing time of 6:15. CONSIDERATION OF A BID AWARD FOR THE NORTHSIDE WELL ARSENIC TREATMENT SYSTEM. a. This item involves the purchase of an arsenic treatment system. Director Hemig moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to find the bid from Filtronics to non-responsive; award the purchase of the Northside Well Arsenic Treatment System to Severn Trent Services in an amount of $237,280 (includes tax and shipping); and funding to come from rates as part of 2008 Water Department Budget for the purchase and start up of an arsenic treatment system. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:15 PM, OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE, A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD FOR RECEIVING WRITTEN AND/OR ORAL COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE MISCELLANEOUS FEE SCHEDULE. President Taylor opened the public hearing. There was no public input. The hearing was closed. ACTION ITEM CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE MISCELLANEOUS FEE SCHEDULE. - a. This item involves adoption of the ordinance amending the Miscellaneous Fees schedule Director Aguera moved and Director Thomason seconded, a motion to adopt an ordinance amending the Miscellaneous Fees schedule to be effective in 30 days. ROLL CALL: Director Taylor, absent; All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. 1 Minutes: Feb. 20, 2008 WORKSHOPS REPORT FROM THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE a. This item involves the Conservation Committee report. Doug Grandy gave his report: • No speaker at the last meeting, the committee worked on the water and energy conservation plan. • Committee is happy the 2008 budget increased and would like the 2009 to increase even further • There is concern that success be achieved • There has been an increase in work load and a reduction in staff at the TDPUD- committee would like to help out the District with any overload • Conservation committee are only volunteers/no authority • The Water and Power Conservation Plan outline is not a recommendation or proposal. o All committee writings are considered and will not be placed into a draft format until there is consensus o Doug is the editor in chief- will put together and circulate to members o Draft sections will be given to the Board o July 2008 will be the final report No public comment. Board discussion • What does the committee mean by help to the District and who would monitor • Problem with volunteers doing the work that employees perform • There may be places where the committee could be useful- say in Solar house tour or the Memorial Day home show • Outline is a reasonable approach- written communication of members ideas. • Once committee consensus, public can biome involved. • Volunteers can be used in appropriate channels- free is good • Draft is over the top- seems like it is the text book of conservation • Draft that comes to the board for analysis and comprehension should be keep simple in breath and depth • Caution that an immense document is hard for the Board to digest • Items seem like they are outside the core charge of the committee- broad effort • Efforts are appreciated • The purpose of this committee is to bring the best forward and the Board implements • Make sure staff is in the loop as to the technical aspect. • Spoon feed the draft chapters to the Board • Develop the report from conservation plan • Rate and rate design- what would they come up with • There is a presumption that people in the committee have a background- the opinion should be more in the realm of a lay opinion on what the Board may want to explore. • Conservation committee does not expect the Board to adopt rate they suggest • Do not want to limit committee- but want the report in term that can be understood • No problem with volunteering- but make sure the General Manager is comfortable • Maybe part of the report could be where volunteers could be used • Good idea to get draft chapters out early- have a page with all committee signatures for draft chapters- do not submit parts of chapters • Outline- make sure this is a realistic program and something that can be done by staff. • Make sure all community understands- seems technical 2 Minutes: Feb. 20, 2008 • Asked committee for a summary where they sit on the five main topics of the resolution- feel the committee is not addressing on the monthly status updates and concerned not addressed in the final outline. Want a status report each on how the resolution bullet points are addressed. This is not getting to the Board the way expected. o The plan needs to satisfy the requirements of the public benefits program related to conservation. o The plan needs to give special attention to assisting low income persons o The plan must deal with the issue of irrigation water practices. o The plan needs to evaluate the cost/benefit ratio of various conservation methods and recommend those practices that represent the best investment of the District's limited resources o The District has a preference for established and successful conservation practices. Experimental conservation practices or conservation practices that are still in the experimen- tal or developmental phase are to be avoided. • Want the committee to look at overall conservation • Want a better feel- there is a lot of work the conservation committee is pulling together- want implementation ability • Make sure Board is brought along DISCUSSION OF A PROPOSED TRUCKEE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ASSESSMENT a. This item provides information on the "Fire Suppression Assessment" Kathy Neus gave a presentation: • Truckee Fire Protection District has recently scheduled a vote for all property owners within its service area to approve a "Fire Suppression Assessment". • TDPUD has approximately 63 land parcels that would be subject to this assessment. • The annual cost to the District for this assessment is less than $2,000 per year based upon estimates provided by the Fire District. No public comment. Board discussion: • Why not be supportive • Are there other assessments on District properties • Seems like we are always getting assessed • Already pay fire fees for fire protection programs- what is new with this assessment? • Have a great Fire District • Community growing- need more dollars- but the Fire Department gets more tax dollars. • What is the Fire District's budget annually • Not sure if this process is legal- will speak with someone at the Fire District • A new assessment should go to the voters- not a mail ballot • What about the economy- now ones know the impact on businesses • Can assessment pay for labor and benefits • Not opposed- but have questions to look into • Object to the open ballot- this is not like the hospital vote • Community supports districts • Have to decide yes or no. • How do we compare to our rate increase? • Look at from the District viewpoint DISCUSSION OF DISTRICT CODE TITLE 1 REVIEW. a. This item relates to Title 1, General Provisions of the District Code. 3 Minutes: Feb. 20, 2008 Michael Holley summarized the proposed changes: • Two objectives (#3 Manage the District in an open manner. & #4 Manage the District is a responsible manner.) have been consolidated into a single new objective o "Responsibly serve the public." — Conduct the District's business in a legal, ethical, open, and transparent manner. — Implement a proactive public outreach program. — Promote communication and cooperation with other public and private agencies. — Develop and implement high standards of customer service. — Develop and implement high operational standards, procedures and Codes of Conduct. • A new objective has been added o "Provide a healthy and safe work environment for all District employees." — Reduce the OSHA reportable injury frequency and severity rates relative to previous reporting year. — Comply with all State and Federal regulations regarding worker safety. — Maintain the District's wellness program. — Maintain an active and effective safety program. No public comment. Board discussion: • Item 2.1, the word reduce was used- other verbs are not a challenging word. "Reduce" introduces a whole other concept which is you are taking on a specific challenge with a report- able and measurable operating requirement or benchmark. • Item 6.4 states "Conduct an Active Cost Control Program"- conduct is hard to measure. Make sure this is the place where these are ongoing goals forever until we change them. • A move through this process, have understanding on what you are trying to accomplish • In addition to being fiscally responsible, we get into a discussion of reviewing and updating financial goals our policy, achieve stability- need to have something about reserves- maybe just part of a sentence. • Would like to see OSHA records and benchmarks • Agree with comments- good changes • Board sees General Manager and staff have goals • Like the idea of more discussion on reserves REPORT ON TELEVISING THE BOARD MEETINGS. a. This item provides an update on the costs involved in televising Board meetings. Mary Chapman gave a presentation: • Background of televising the meetings o December 2004: received a proposal from TTCTV6. o February 2005: purchased equipment and began installation. o August 18th, 2005: began live broadcasting of with TTCTV6. • Costs associated with televising o Equipment purchased $13,372 o TTCTV6 camera operator from 2006 through 2007$10,687.50 • Options for providing streaming video on the web o Granicus Inc. provide a solution for on-demand streaming media: equipment estimated at $100,000 and $4,000 per month to maintain. o The Media Center in Reno offers live web-streaming of meetings: equipment estimated at $20,000 and $750 per month to live stream to the web and provide video on demand service. 4 Minutes: Feb. 20, 2008 Public input: -- Eric Matlock with TTCTV6 said they would like to work with the PUD on this venture and with the Town to lower costs overall to perform services. Board discussion: • Collaborate with other agencies on web streaming and with Channel 6 transmission • Credit Bill Thomason with bringing up televising the meetings • Want something on line- live or even taped • Good idea- even if delayed ROUTINE BUSINESS TREASURER'S INTERIM REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2007 Approval of the report: Director Sutton moved, and Director Hemig seconded, that the Board approve the interim Treasurer's report through December 31, 2007. ROLL CALL: All Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED Approval of disbursements: Director Hemig moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board approve the December 2007 disbursements report. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, no (feels the Board should approve the checks before they are mailed); All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 6, 2008. Director Hemig moved, and Director Thomason seconded, that the Board approve the minutes of February 6, 2008, amending the signature to Vice President Thomason. ROLL CALL: All Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. STAFF REPORTS No comment. Director Sutton recused herself as she owns property on East River Street. CLOSED SESSION CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR PURSUANT TO SECTION 54956.8 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE. PROPERTY: 10297 EAST RIVER STREET, APN 19-160-34, UNDER NEGOTIATION: PRICE AND TERMS. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION No reportable action ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT A Tim F. Taylor, PresIdent Prepared by j{AJ Barbara Cahill; Deputy District Clerk 5 Minutes: Feb. 20, 2008