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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-07 Min - Board REGULAR MEETING March 7, 2007 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 7:03 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: Alan Harry, Nancy Waters, Mark Thomas, Peter Holzmeister, Steve Hollabaugh, Jessica Wilson and Barbara Cahill CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Steve Gross OTHERS PRESENT: Frank and Juanita Schneider, Howard Wright, Rolf Godon, Ron Colby, Robert Mowris, Chris Worcester, Pat Davison, Neal Mock, Charlie White, Bob Johnston, Christine Stanley, Peggy Townes, Brian Woody and Rick Schroeder. PUBLIC INPUT -M. Robert Mowris distributed a handout with comments: • Slide 3 from his presentation on February 21, 2007 should be removed for insufficient data • Seek Board approval for 1998-2006 Public Benefit Program spending & information • Seek Board approval to evaluate customers best and most efficient use of power resources • Seek Board approval for Scott Terrell to maintain his previous position • Seek Board approval to collect 2.85% on electricity bills per AB1890 &AB995 • Seek Board approval to establish a 2007 budget for conservation & energy of $550,000 • Management support to Scott Terrell's conservation & energy efficiency programs Bob Johnston wants strong conservation beginning with re-lamping and low flow toilet and shower fixtures. Juanita Schneider asked if the presentation by Robert Mowris & Associates was paid for by the District. Neal Mock distributed books (Plan B 2.0 by Lester R. Brown) to the board regarding energy efficiency, conservation and global warming scenarios. He asked the Board to take action to com- ply with all the new energy regulatory laws. Peggy Townes commented that the PUD has increased their debt, yet the General Manager is requesting a pay increase. She feels the rate payers are paying more for poor management. Make management accountable for the debt and reduce overhead. Managers are self serving- they should be serving rate payers. Early retirement should be encouraged. The PUD needs new Fes. direction of managers who are informed of new energy policies. Charlie White wanted to make the Board aware that the Donner Lake level will be up early. Normally the plug is put in place on April 15 so the lake fill by Memorial Day. 1 Minutes: March 7, 2007 Chris Worcester distributed a letter about forgiveness: • Staff said coal is the way of future, sign a 50 year contract; public expressed reasons not to sign, cost for coal research changed from $5,000 to $100,000 • Idaho Power contract bail out cost $33M to get out of and would have cost $18M to stay in • Glenshire Water takeover- promise of $45 per month water rates- now costing $63. • Broadband has cost over$2M to ratepayers. Management was hired to see to fruition. • UAMPS says we can have all the wind power we want for$45Mw- but didn't they previously say wind or solar weren't ready • California conservation priority by law. PUD response: reprimand conservation specialist • Consider raise for the General Manager- you must be joking Steve Hollabaugh stated for the record: • Look at the entire body of work regarding Idaho Power • Getting out of the Idaho contract saved customers money and netted $7M to the good (from 1998 to 2006, savings of $40M less $33M contract) • Legislative and regulatory efforts are being addressed by Alan Harry so Scott Terrell can focus on community conservation Ron Hemig is concerned with the structure of the meetings. Is the Board doing the people's business- agendas are getting fuller and 11:00 PM is becoming the standard time for a meeting to end. He suggests starting the meeting at 6:00 PM and public involvement. POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE ADJUSTING THE SALARY FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER Director Sutton moved and Director Thomason seconded, a motion to delay the public hearing until the Board has the opportunity to discuss when to have a public hearing for adjustment of the salary for the General Manager. ROLL CALL: Directors Aguera, Hemig and Taylor, no; All other Directors, yes. MOTION FAILED. The public hearing was closed. POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF AN INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE PROPOSED ALDER DRIVE PUMP STATION The public hearing was opened. There was no public comment. The hearing was closed. STAFF UPDATES ON PUBLIC REQUESTS REPORT ON DISTRICT COMPLIANCE WITH VARIOUS REGULATORY LAWS a.) This item relates to a statement made by a member of the public asking for information on how the District will comply with various energy efficiency regulations promulgated by the State of California Alan Harry said the TDPUD does not evaluate legislation. Northern Californai Power Association (NCPA) and California Municipal Utiltiy Association (CMUA) does the evaluations and helps the PUD follow compliance. NCPA hired an independent firm - the Rocky Mountain Institute through an RFP process to do an analysis and recommend conservation programs. Mr. Harry will work with NCPA and CMUA and come back to the board before June with recommendations to meet energy efficiency requirements. All requirements are unfunded state mandates. 2 Minutes: March 7, 2007 REPORT ON STORM WATER DRAINAGE ISSUES AT DONNER LAKE a.) This item relates to a request made by a member of the public for assistance in dealing with worsening storm water drainage issues at Donner Lake. Neil Kaufman explained that Inland Ecosystems did a study in July 2006 which made suggestions on drainage modifications. The TDPUD as a good neighbor cleared ditches and culverts. Crews will check any impact a recent pipeline project had on drainage. Plus resent Southwest should be contacted to see if their construction filled in a drainage ditch. Mr. Kaufman feels there will continue to be drainage issues due to 180 and Cal Trans runoff. The Town of Truckee was consulted and suggested the neighborhood form an assessment district to rectify the drainage issues. ACTION ITEMS (Action item discussions will utilize the following format: (a) staff report, (b) public input, and (c) Board discussion and action CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE INCREASING THE SALARY OF THE GENERAL MANAGER. a.) This item relates to a review of the salary of the General Manager and im- plementation of findings from the compensation survey conducted by Koff & Associates Director Thomason moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to pull this item from the agenda and move the item to closed session. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF AN AMENDED RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARD a.) This item relates to the possible update of the District's RPS by establishing specific goals with a specific timeline. Director Hemig moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to adopt the revised Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and place a RPS resolution on the consent calendar of the March 21, 2006 agenda. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF AN AMENDED MISSION STATEMENT a.) This item relates to amending the District Mission Statement to clarify the District's commitment to renewable energy and conservation practices. Director Hemig moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to adopt the amended Objective 5 of the Mission Statement changing aggressively pursue to "actively seek" and adding "energy' to resource mix and adding "strengthen its programs" to water and electric power conservation. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A WATER AND ELECTRIC CONSERVATION COMMITTEE a.) This item relates to establishing a citizen committee, by Board appointment, to study and report recommendations to the Board regarding water and electric conservation practices. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A POWER SUPPLY COMMITTEE a.) This item relates to establishing a citizen committee, by Board appoint- ment, to study and report recommendations to the Board regarding power supply options. Director Hemig moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to adopt the Resolution Establish- ing a Citizen Advisory Water and Power Conservation Committee; and the Resolution Establishing a Citizen Advisory Power Supply Committee, noting "approximately' twenty members, adding. "or any appropriate time" and language of openness of meetings. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. 3 Minutes: March 7, 2007 CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING AN APPLICATION FORM FOR SOLICITATION OF INTER- EST FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR APPOINTMENT TO CITIZEN COMMITTEES a.) This item relates to adoption of an application form to be used by the Board in soliciting citizen interest in serving on the conservation committee or power supply committee. Director Hemig moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to adopt an application form for membership on a citizen advisory committee. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR THE FIBERBOARD WELL PROJECT. a.) This item relates to possible adoption of the Final Negative Decla- ration; approval of the project for purposes of CEQA; authorize the filing of the Notice of Determination with the Nevada County Clerk, and the Governor's Office of Planning and Re- search; adoption of the De Minimis Impact Finding and authorize the filing of the Certificate of Fee Exemption with the Nevada County Clerk; and adoption of a finding that the draft documents as circulated and the Mitigated Negative Declaration reflect the District's inde- pendent judgment. Director Hemig moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board take the following action regarding the environmental review for the Fibreboard Well Project: • Adopt the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration • Approve the project for purposes of CEQA . • Approve the Mitigated Monitoring Plan • Authorize the filing of the Notice of Determination with the Office of the Nevada County Clerk and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research • Adopt the DeMinimus Impact Finding and authorize the filing of the Certificate of Fee Exemption with the Nevada County Clerk • Adopt a finding that the draft documents as circulated and the negative declaration reflect the District's independent judgment. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF A REQUEST FOR PAYMENT OF EXTRA COSTS RELATED TO INSTALLATION OF THE TRUCKEE BIOMASS PLANT a.) This item relates to a request submitted by the contractor for the construction of the Biomass building for additional compensation to cover unanticipated overruns. District Counsel Steve Gross stepped down from the dais as he is also counsel for the Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District. Director Sutton moved to amend the motion made by Director Aguera to forward a preliminary agreement payment proposal to the Truckee Donner Recreation and Park board, to receive a response to the proposal and then the TDPUD can proceed with payment to the TDR&P. The motion died for a lack of a second. Director Aguera moved and Director Thomason seconded, a motion to issued a check to Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District (TDR&P) to pay Michael Horn $27,932.81 for the extra costs related to installation of the Truckee Biomass Plant; and get a signed contract with the TDR&P 4 Minutes: March 7, 2007 stating once the equipment is sold, all proceeds received through the sale of any equipment associated with the Truckee Biomass Facility be transferred to the Truckee Donner PUD; and if the Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District is unable to sell the equipment associated with the Truckee Biomass Facility, it will contact Truckee Donner PUD and offer the equipment free of charge to the TDPUD prior to disposing of it. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, no (made a motion requesting a preliminary agreement before payment is made to the TDR&P- motion died); All other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. WORKSHOP ITEMS DISCUSSIONS OF DISTRICT POLICY RELATED TO DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO THE DISTRICT GENERAL MANAGER a.) This item is to discuss any necessary revisions to the existing Minute Order 86-17 of delegation of authority to the General Manager in 1986. Board comments regarding the General Manager's delegations: • Cannot take independent action without Board direction • Goes beyond full charge delegations and works of the District • Examine actual actions by previous Board • Has negotiated with management employees • Needs to be more specific when negotiations begin Director Sutton would like this item back on the agenda. President Taylor will take under advisement. DISCUSSION OF THE PRACTICE OF USING PLASTIC WATER SERVICE LINES a.) This item is a discussion of the District's use of plastic water service lines. Discussion points: • Plastic pipe used for service laterals since 1991 • Donner Lake construction tool place between 2001 and 2005 • Alert owners to lower the lateral line from the main box to their home. • Allow strapping mechanism to allow line to thaw • Contact president of Donner Lake Homeowners to place article in the newsletter or possibly have a PUD staff member speak at a homeowner meeting • Pipe should be 4 feet deep CONSIDERATION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH SIERRA COLLEGE REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF A PIPELINE EXTENSION a.) This item is a discussion of the possibility of an agreement for installing a potable water pipeline with Sierra College. Neil Kaufman explained the PUD has an opportunity to partner with Sierra College and install a water pipeline and electrical conduits within the Sierra College pedestrian bridge that crosses Donner Creek along Highway 89 South. In addition, Mr. Kaufman said there is an opportunity to install a 12" pipe from the campus site on top of the hill down to State Route 89 South which now has existing 16" and 10" pipes that feed the Gateway area and additional growth that could occur at PC-1, Donner Lake and Tahoe Donner. Mr. Kaufman will return to the board in April with a joint agreement with Sierra College. 5 Minutes: March 7, 2007 ROUTINE BUSINESS CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES: JANUARY 30, FEBRUARY 7, 14 AND 21, 2007 The Board asked that the minutes of January 30, 2007 be placed on the next agenda after some clarifications, and review by Richard Brown of McDonough Holland &Allen PC. Director Hemig moved, and Director Thomason seconded, that the Board approve the minutes of February 7, 14 and 21, 2007. ROLL CALL: All Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:17 PM. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Tim F. Taylor, Pres' nt z . Prepared by Barbara Cahil eputy District Clerk bhc 6 Minutes: March 7, 2007