Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-17 Min - Board REGULAR MEETING January 17, 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 7:10 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: Nancy Waters, Alan Harry, Ed Taylor, Craig Beede, Kim Szczurek, Kathy Neus, Mary Chapman, Jessica Wilson, Sanna Schlosser, Peter Holzmeister and Barbara Cahill CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Steve Gross, Kris Richards and Todd Morris OTHERS PRESENT: Frank and Juanita Schneider, Pat Waite, Christine Stanley, Rolf Godon, Ellie Hyatt, Chris Worcester, Neal Mock and 4 other members of the public. PUBLIC INPUT Director Hemig wanted to draw attention to the fact that Plumas Sierra Rural Electric is raising their .. rates in the range of 12-14%. He also read that Roseville is planning to raise their water rates by 6-8% for the next two years for infrastructure. Director Sutton wanted to inform the public that Truckee Donner PUD is the winner of Geospatial In- formation Technology Association's 2007 Excellence Award for the electric industry. Ian Fitzgerald, GIS coordinator, is to be commended. ACTION ITEMS. (Action item discussions will utilize the following format: (a) staff report, (b) public input, and (c) Board discussion and action CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD NO. 45 RELATED TO ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS This item involves establishing a fund for deposit of monies to be used to pay the cost of post employment benefits and provides for the investment of those monies in the Local Agency Investment Fund. Director Sutton moved and Director Taylor seconded, a motion to approve a resolution adopting Gov- ernmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) No. 45: Accounting and Financial Reporting by Em- ployers for Post employment Benefits other than Pensions ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. 1 Minutes: Jan. 17, 2007 . . CONSIDERATION OF DISPENSING WITH BIDDING AND ISSUING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF A NEW PHONE SYSTEM INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OF HARD- WARE, SOFTWARE, INSTALLATION AND ON-GOING SUPPORT SERVICES AND TRAINING. This item involves a review of a draft Request for Proposal prepared by the District's telecom consultant, issuing the request for proposal and a resolution to dispense with bidding Director Hemig moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to approve the resolution to dispense with bidding and issue a request for proposal as presented for the purchase of a new phone system. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTING A VEHICLE USE POLICY This item involves establishing a formal District vehicle use policy Director Aguera moved and Director Thomason seconded, a motion to approve and adopt the policy for District Owned Vehicles. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF AN INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND DRAFT NEGATIVE DECLA- RATION FOR THE PROPOSED ALDER DRIVE PUMP STATION PROJECT This item involves filing 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 Clearing- house; authorizing publication a notice of public review period and public hearing on the proposed negative declaration and authorizing staff to set a public hearing date. Director Hemig moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to authorize staff to file the proposed mitigated Negative Declaration and Environmental Initial Study for the proposed Alder Drive Pump Station project with the Office of the Nevada County Clerk; authorize staff to file the proposed miti- gated negative declaration and environmental study with responsible and interested 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 public hearing date at the regular Board Meeting on February 7, 2007. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF AN INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY AND DRAFT NEGATIVE DECLA- RATION FOR THE PROPOSED FIBREBOARD WELL PROJECT This item involves filing 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; au- thorizing publication a notice of public review period and public hearing on the proposed negative declaration and authorizing staff to set a public hearing date. Director Hemig moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to authorize staff to file the proposed mitigated Negative Declaration and Environmental Initial Study for the proposed Fibreboard Well pro- ject with the Office of the Nevada County Clerk; authorize staff to file the proposed mitigated nega- tive declaration and environmental study with responsible and interested 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 public hearing date at the regular Board Meeting on February 7, 2007. ROLL CALL: All Directors, aye. SO MOVED. Director Sutton reserves the right to comment on the environmental impact at the hearing. 2 Minutes: Jan. 17, 2007 WORKSHOP ITEMS DISCUSSION OF STREAMING VIDEO OF DISTRICT BOARD MEETING This item involves the possibility and cost of putting District Board meetings live on the internet. Alan Harry told the board that the current video and audio cannot be modified to stream onto the internet. To provide adequate coverage, the District would need to purchase an IP streaming server and high end single stationery camera, at a cost of about $19,000. Board comments were: • This is cutting edge technology • Consider in the 2008 budget process • This is a subset of Public Outreach and its continued improvement • How about fiber optics between the TDPUD and the Town of Truckee? • What about videoing the meetings? • What is channel 6 charging now to televise the board meetings? The Board asked staff to bring back additional information for another workshop. DISCUSSION OF THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT This item involves what direction the Board would like to take for any type of cele- bration activities that may take place to celebrate its 80th birthday, May 279 2007. The board agreed it would be a great idea to place historical information in the Sierra Sun about why the District formed in the first place and how Sierra Pacific was previously Truckee River Electric Company. This is an opportunity to enlighten the public and place on the web site. Director Hemig suggested there be a bill stuffer and have a celebratory cake with 80 candles in May. DISCUSSION OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CUSTOMER SURVEY This item involves the survey results conducted by Satisfaction Development Systems. Todd Morris of SDS Research said 400 telecommunications surveys were randomly conducted the end of September/early October. He said very few people did not want to take part. The questions covered four main areas: phone service, internet, video and should the PUD be allowed to provide additional services. He explained that price, product, promotion and partnership are prime components in a customer's decision about services. Plus there is the satisfaction versus loyalty factor. Public input: • How has the two million to date been funded? • Results do not guarantee prescription rates • Trend line for Sudden Link has been moving up in Customer Satisfaction • Data contradiction: 80% satisfied, yet 60% say other technology needed • Wireless is coming • Even thought the cost of technology is decreasing, the cost of construction is increasing • The cable company internet quality is poor • Fiber has no band width limitation- cannot predict the need for band width • Want to see competition in Truckee for services -. • Person depends on internet connection for his living • Wants a better option- wants the PUD to move forward 3 Minutes: Jan. 17, 2007 Board comments: • Under whelmed with results- expected a stronger dissatisfaction • Survey does not give direction • Comes back to cost • Have lost track of customers in the last two years • Need to have new assessment and business plan • If the price is lower, we should move forward • Get a new look at cost, design and technology • Need complete SCADA system for electric and water • Not happy as was not able to listen to any of the survey calls • Listened to a few survey calls, SDS staff was very professional • Not a good idea for the PUD on its own, but if the PUD could partner with someone else, would be in favor • Need to see hard costs • The District should be able to offer this • Phase one shows the temperament of the community and Phase two would show the updated costs to build the system and costs to the customer for services. • Costs will drive on or stop • Good survey- but not a plus for the PUD • Court case with Sudden Link still in appeal process • Will the price be comparable • Need to establish a new cost to build as the board went out to bid three years ago. Want to know a solution for people- better system • Fiber optics between Reno and Roseville • Do something with the cable and contract with a provide to bring specific services to meet peoples needs- plus the District's requirements for SCADA • Could this be wireless instead of fiber optic DISCUSSION REGARDING FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL REPORTING TO THE BOARD This item involves discussion of what types of information and reports the Board would like to see going forward. Peter Holzmeister to the Board: • Is the staff providing what the Board wants to see in the financial reports? • The Board needs to monitor cash changes. • There are a lot of reports- is this bad if the Board cannot find what it needs? • Are the monthly staff reports adequate? Mary Chapman to the Board: • Reports annually or more often • Areas not achieved- need to work on some goal area or change goals • Investment policy- quarterly Board responses: • Reports are more meaningful with a person doing an overview • Staff reports need more meat- each month seems to cover the same thing- actually want what the department did; what happened to an issue brought up at a board meeting by the public or Director • Need a copy of the detail of an item that is applicable to an issue or decision 4 Minutes: Jan. 17, 2007 • What is it that the Board needs to deal with during meetings- lack of trust with the report- ing process • Board are the thinkers and should deal with larger issues • Consent calendar could allow routine items to get done quickly. • Pay more attention to staff reports- do a verbal quarterly • Likes having financial reports as uses for public questions outside the board room • What reports are easiest to prepare and which ones are the hardest • Want to follow COP's and investments • More innovative format The Board asked to :Fold another workshop with alternatives to decide which reports should be elimi- nated, done annually, how prepared, desired information ROUTINE BUSINESS STAFF REPORTS No action taken. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:23 PM. TRUCKEE DONNE BLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Tim F. Taylor esident Prepared by f Barbara Cahill,Lpeputy District Clerk bhc 5 Minutes: Jan. 17, 2007 SPECIAL MEETING OF THREE BOARD MEMBERS SELECTED TO ACT AS A SKELLY HEARING PANEL January 17, 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 special meeting of three Board Members selected to act as a Skelly Hearing Panel of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District was called to order at 6:35 PM in the TDPUD Board room by Peter Holzmeister. ROLL CALL: Directors Joe Aguera, Patricia Sutton and Bill Thomason were present. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Nancy Waters, Alan Harry, Ed Taylor, Craig Beede, Peter Holzmeis- ter and Barbara Cahill CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Steve Gross OTHERS PRESENT: Ron Hemig, Tim Taylor, Frank and Juanita Schneider, Pat Waite, Christine Stanley, Rolf Godon, Ellie Hyatt and 4 other members of the public. PUBLIC INPUT There was no public input. Director Thomason moved and Director Aguera seconded, a motion to nominate Director Sutton as chairperson for the Skelly Hearing for Scott Terrell. ROLL CALL: Directors Aguera, Sutton and Thomason. SO MOVED. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO THE PROCEDURES OR THE SKELLY HEARING FOR SCOTT TERRELL AND POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL. Director Sutton explained that an employee is entitled to a Skelly hearing with a panel of Board members selected by the employee. This is a method for the employee to have a fair hearing process on a disciplinary or termination matter. Board counsel Steve Gross stated that he must remove himself as the Skelly Hearing counsel as he has been advising the District regarding employment of Scott Terrell. Counsel Gross did explain that all public employees are entitled to due process, a notice to be heard pursuant to District policy and have a Skelly hearing. The employee can have the proposed action reviewed by the General Manager or by three Board members of the employee's choosing. A Skelly Hearing is an informal process that gives the employee an opportunity to have due process. It gives the Board member panel a chance to hear the employee and the reason for the discipline. According to the Brown act, three Board members are a quorum, so the hearing f must be publically noticed. Scott Terrell has chosen to be heard in open session. The board members can then deliberate in closed session. 1 Minutes: Jan. 17, 2007-special meeting The purpose of this meeting is to discuss when the Board members will be available to hold the Skelly hearing and whether to contact Richard Brown of McDonough, Holland and Allen, a law firm in Sacramento, CA. that specializes in Public Agency law. Director Aguera moved and Director Thomason seconded, a motion to secure Richard Brown of McDonough, Holland and Allen, Sacramento, CA and direct Nancy Waters (TDPUD Human Resources) contact Mr. Brown. ROLL CALL: Directors Aguera, Sutton and Thomason. SO MOVED. Director Sutton asked staff to provide: the District disciplinary procedure, correspondence to Scott Terrell, the response from Scott Terrell and other helpful information. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 PM. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Patricia Sutton, Peel Chairperson F Prepared by Vuw-gj) 6 Barbara Cahi , Deputy District Clerk bhc 2 Minutes: Jan. 17, 2007-special meeting