HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-01 Min - Board .. REGULAR MEETING
April 1, 2009
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 perpe-
tually 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 6:02 PM in the TDPUD Board room by President Hemig.
ROLL CALL: Directors Joe Aguera, Jeff Bender, Ron Hemig, John Hillstrom and Pat Sutton
were present.
EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Neil Kaufman, Ed Taylor, Kathy Neus, Mark Thomas, Michael
Holley and Barbara Cahill
CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Steve Gross
OTHERS PRESENT: Juanita Schneider, Carol & Russell Pauli, Paul Crandall and Gregg
Bashford
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
General Manager Holley asked workshop item number 17, Discussion of a Backflow
Program be pulled from the agenda.
PUBLIC INPUT
There was no public input.
DIRECTOR UPDATE
President Hemig distributed an article from the Sacramento Bee tilted "SMUD proposes two-
stage rate hike of 13 percent". A sentence in the article stated "Rate hikes are needed to
offset the recession-induced decline in power usage from business customers and higher
costs in natural gas contract, renewable energy purchases and borrowing costs". President
Hemig asked about the affect of similar implications for Truckee Donner PUD, and what is
happening with TDPUD load this year. Staff will schedule a workshop.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Prosser Dam Road Pipeline CEQA Initial Study
Neil Kaufman gave a brief presentation. President Hemig opened the public hearing for
comment.
Carol Pauli wanted to thank the District for extending the comment period. She is in favor
and feels there are no environmental impacts.
1 Minutes: April 1, 2009
Julie Vietor of 12320 Prosser Dam Road asked her email to be read into record:
I have reviewed the CEQA Initial Study/ Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for the
Prosser Dam Road Pipeline Project and Appendices. I am, consequently, of the opinion that
there are no negative impacts of this project, and that the fire protection, from the water that
the project will provide, is of utmost importance to our neighborhood and well worth the
short-term inconvenience of the pipeline construction. I am totally in support of the pipeline
project.
President Hemig closed the public hearing.
ACCEPT INPUT REGARDING PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL REPORT
Ed Taylor gave a brief presentation about the Public Health Goal Report. President Hemig
opened the public hearing for comment.
There was no public comment. President Hemig closed the hearing.
CONSENT CALENDAR
CONSIDERATION OF DECLARING VEHICLES SURPLUS This item involves declaring
vehicles surplus.
ACCEPT PUBLIC HEALTH GOAL REPORT This item involves the acceptance of the
Public Health Goal Report.
Director Hillstrom moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board approve the
consent calendar. ROLL CALL: All Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED
ACTION
ADOPTION OF THE CEQA MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE PROSS-
ER DAM ROAD PIPELINE This item involves the adoption of the Mitigated Negative
Declaration for the Prosser Dam Road Pipeline.
Director Aguera moved, and Director Hillstrom seconded, that the Board
• 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 De Minimis 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 mitigated negative
,. . declaration reflect the District's independent judgment
ROLL CALL: All Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED
2 Minutes: April 1, 2009
ADOPT A RESOLUTION FOR REVISIONS TO TITLE 8, DISTRICT PROPERTY This
item involves approval of a resolution to adopt the revisions to District Code, Title 8,
District Property.
Kathy Neus gave a presentation about the revisions to Title 8, District Property. Board
discussion followed with a number of questions, suggestions and a request to bring this item
back for action at the April 15, 2009 Board meeting.
CONSIDERATION OF THE AWARD OF GENERATOR SETS This item involves the
purchase of generators for pump stations.
Director Aguera moved, and Director Hillstrom seconded, that the Board award the
purchase of two emergency generator sets to Cummins Rocky Mountain of Sparks, NV in
the total amount of $116,815.96 not including tax; and authorize a budget transfer from the
Water Department Facility Fees Fund to the Water Department General Fund for this
purchase. ROLL CALL: All Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED
CONSIDERATION OF THE AWARD TO PERFORM ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL
REVIEWS FOR THE METER BOX RETROFIT PROJECT TO INLAND ECOSYSTEMS
This item involves a contract to document biological and cultural resources during
the Meter Box Retrofit project.
Director Aguera moved, and Director Bender seconded, that the Board award a Task Order
to Inland Ecosystems in an amount not to exceed $23,900 to perform biological and cultural
resource studies associated with the Meter Box Retrofit Project.
ROLL CALL: All Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED
CONSIDERATION OF THE AWARD FOR PURCHASE OF PUMPING EQUIPMENT This
item involves the purchase of Fibreboard Well pump, motor, column, 100' of column
and shaft for Glenshire Well, and 380' of column and shaft for Airport Well.
Director Hillstrom moved, and Director Bender seconded, that the Board award the contract
for pumping equipment in the amount of $163,542.00 (plus tax) to Layne Christen Company
of Fontana, CA; and authorize the transfer of $140,836.00 (plus tax) from the Water
Facilities Fees to the Water Department Operations fund.
ROLL CALL: Director Sutton, abstain; all other Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED
CONSIDERATION OF THE AWARD OF FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL BID
This item involves the purchase of materials needed for the construction of
Stockholm Booster Station and Fibreboard Well piping.
Director Aguera moved, and Director Bender seconded, that the Board award the contract
for facilities piping materials and appurtenances in the amount of $48,411.00 (plus tax) to
Ferguson Waterworks of Sparks, NV; and authorize the transfer of $48,411.00 (plus tax)
from Water Facilities Fees to the Water Department Operations Fund.
ROLL CALL: All Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED
3 Minutes: April 1, 2009
CONSIDERATION OF THE AWARD OF INSTALLATION OF PUMPING EQUIPMENT
This item involves adding 100' of column and shaft to the Glenshire Well, replacing
380' of column and shaft on the Airport Well, and installing a pump and motor on the
Fibreboard Well.
Director Aguera moved, and Director Hillstrom seconded, that the Board award the contract
for installation of pumping equipment in the amount of $30,900.00 to Carson Pump of
Carson City, NV; authorize the transfer of $13,100.00 from Water Facilities Fees to the Wa-
ter Department operations fund. ROLL CALL: All Directors aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED
WORKSHOPS
DISCUSSION OF A BACKFLOW PROGRAM This item involves the discussion of
additional inspections and service for the Cross-Connection Program.
This agenda Item was moved to the meeting of April 15, 2009.
PUBLIC OUTREACH REGARDING 2009 WATER DEPARTMENT CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS This item is a discussion of the public outreach procedures for construc-
tion projects.
Neil Kaufman gave a presentation:
• The Water Department undertakes a number of construction projects each Summer
• The goal of the District is to minimize the impact of these projects on the District's
customers and on the general public
• Almost all of the 2009 construction work will occur in the Tahoe Donner area
• Typical public notification efforts
o Newsletter articles —Tahoe Donner HOA Newsletter
o TDPUD website
o Mailings to owners
o Printed door hanger notices distributed about one week prior to construction
o Contact person and phone number is given on PUD notices
• Specific notices listing date and times are distributed by door hanger two working days in
advance of scheduled outages
• Typical areas of concern: traffic control, noise, dust, working hours
• Contractors are instructed to refer complaints to District personnel
There was no public input.
Board discussion
• What has been the longest outage
• Do residents have to walk to their homes at times when the street is blocked
• Does the Town of Truckee require a permit for trenching
• How long will the project be underway
• Why allow so much time to complete the projects
4 Minutes: April 1, 2009
PRELIMINARY DATA FROM RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER CONSUMPTION STUDY This
discussion involves the data and effectiveness of the meter reading system.
Neil Kaufman gave a presentation:
• Background / History
o AB 2572 requires that the District begin reading all water meters installed since 1992
and commence billing on a volumetric basis
o AB 2572 requires that all connections be equipped with water meters and billed on a
volumetric basis by January 1, 2025
o In the Fall of 2008, the District awarded a contract to MCS for an automated meter
reading (AMR) system and the installation of water meters as part of a pilot program
o The purpose of the pilot program is to gather data on residential water consumption
to be used in developing volume-based water rates and to verify that the selected
system will function in Truckee given the local climate and construction practices
• New Information
o Installation of meters and meter mounted radios associated with the pilot program is
complete
o 439 meters total
■ 112 are Badger meters with Alcara radios
■ 297 are Neptune meters with Alcara radios
■ 30 are Badger meters with Datamatic radios
■ With Aclara radio system, the Badger meters do not have automated leak detec-
tion capabilities
o Information gathered during the pilot program will be used to refine the District's costs
associated with Phases 2 and 3 of the Water Meter Implementation Plan
o Data will also be used by the consultant conducting the water rate study
• Consumption Data
o Average winter consumption is 182 gallons per day (gpd)
o For 2008, average winter production was about 253 gpd
o For 2008, overall annual average production was about 400 gpd
o For 2008, peak day production was about 800 gpd
o Larger than expected usage was found at a number of accounts
■ 19 accounts with usage above 500 gpd
■ Nine of those exceeded 1,000 gpd
■ Largest usage was over 8,700 gpd
■ Largest user has confirmed leak at about 6.4 gallons per minute. Property owner
was contacted and informed
■ In April, District will begin contacting other property owners with apparent leaks
0 47 of the 297 Neptune meters were registering a constant leak. 75 % of those resi-
dences were built in the 1980s or earlier
o Approximately 50 meters were registering an intermittent leak
0 28 of the 33 largest water users are registering a constant leak. Other five largest
users are assumed to also have a constant leak
o Highest average usage in the Sierra Meadows (265 gpd )
o Lowest average usage in the Martiswoods (121 gpd), Pine Forest (119 gpd) and
Prosser Lakeview (120 gpd) areas
5 Minutes: April 1, 2009
o The highest average usage is occurring at houses constructed in the 1970s and
1980s at about 270 gpd
o Winter water usage is not influenced by house size or lot size
• Technology Testing
o Prior to 2008, the District's standard construction practices called for the use of cast
iron lids on residential meter boxes
o Metal lids cause significant interference with the radio signals. Change out of these
lids from metal to plastic is necessary to optimize performance of the AMR system
There was no public input.
Board discussion:
■ Is it too early to draw conclusions about leaks
■ With the Badger meters, have to research what is going through the meter
■ Is there no plan yet to resolve leaking
■ Are there only 112 Badger meters in the District
■ How does staff get the leak information on the Badger
■ How often does information get reported back electronically
■ Are some of the pilot meters in areas of town where water leaks are located in district
pipeline
■ How are the plastic meter covers holding up
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.
TRUCKEE DO NER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT
J. o emig, President
Prepared by/
Barbara C ill, Deputy District Clerk
6 Minutes: April 1, 2009