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Home My WebLink About1997-07-16 Min - Board . REGULAR MEETING July 16, 1997 In accordance with District Code Section 2.08.010, the TDPUD minutes are action on/v 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 7:06 PM in the TDPUD Board Room by President Hemig, ROLL CALL: Directors Jones, Maass, Sutton and Hemig were present; Director Aguera was absent. EMPLOYEES PRESENT.- Susan Craig, Steve Hollabaugh, Peter Holzmeister and Ed Taylor, CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Attorney Steve Gross; Consulting Engineer Keith Sauers OTHERS PRESENT. Among those present were Frederick Penfield, Helen Stoltz, Ann Penfield, Bob Broyer and Dan Wendin; Tom Schuler from PacBell. PUBLIC INPUT There was no public input. • USE OF DISTRICT OWNED PROPERTY FOR PLACEMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES - CONSIDERATION OF A POLICY, A STANDARD FORM AND A STANDARD LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY TO LAND USE REGULATORY AGENCY - CONSIDERATiON OF A REQUEST SUBMITTED BY PAC BELL MOBILE SERVICES TO PLACE A MONOPOLE TYPE ANTENNA AND RELATED FACILITIES ON THE PONDEROSA PALISADES WATER TANK SITE FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS PURPOSES The Manager presented a letter from Michael Graham, resident of Ponderosa Palisades, objecting to the placement of wireless communication facilities on the Ponderosa Palisades water tank site. A copy of that letter is attached to these minutes for reference. Several months ago, PacBell requested permission to install a monopole and antenna on the Ponderosa Palisades water tank site. Residents who live hear the tank site are opposed to having any more antennas on the site. Ann and Frederick Penfield voiced concerns that if one more pole is allowed on site it will be followed by several more; that placement of any antennas violates a restriction in the deed which transferred the land to the District; that the wireless facility emits a type of radiation associated with electro-magnetic force; and that it is not the purpose of the PUD to install towers and collect money for them. Director Maass moved, and Director Hemig seconded, that the Board adopt the policy regulating the placement by lease of wireless communications facilities on District owned property and that PacBeil's request to place wireless communications facilities on the Ponderosa Palisades tank site be denied. Concern about whether or not the District has authority to be involved in telecommunications in any fashion was mentioned. To date, the District has had no policy to deal with these matters and each 7/16/97 Page 1 • issue comes before the Board for decision. Provisions for setting public hearings relating to placement of communications facilities were discussed. Tom Schuler representing PacBell Mobile Services, gave background on why the Ponderosa Palisades tank site was selected. He advised that an installation on this site will contribute an important service to the entire community. A sample pole was installed at Manager Hoizmeister's request and PacBell has offered to work with residents and try to improve visual effects. Director Sutton moved to amend the motion to split the two issues. MOTION FAILED FOR LACK OF A SECOND. Dan Wendin from Donner Lake recommended changing the draft policy to require that the District Manager call a public hearing if he determines provisions in law concerning a public hearing at town level would not be held(such as where public agencies are involved and where zoning may allow use). He also suggested using consistent language to describe visual impacts. Director Maass moved to amend his motion to include the suggestions made by Mr. Wendin; Director Hemig seconded the motion. ROLL CALL vote on Director Maass' motion that the Board adopt the policy, as amended, regulating the placement by lease of wireless communications facilities on District owned property and that PacBeil's request to place wireless communications facilities on the Ponderosa Palisades tank site be denied., Jones, no; Maass, yes; Sutton, no; Hemig, yes. MOTION FAILED. • Director Maass moved to adopt the policy regulating the placement by lease of wireless communications facilities on District owned property; Director Jones seconded the motion. After some discussion about whether the District should be generating revenues from leasing its properties for commercial ventures and the intrusion of these ventures into residential neighborhoods, a ROLL CALL vote was taken: Jones, Maass and Hemig, aye; Sutton, abstain; Aguera, absent. SO MOVED. Director Maass moved, and Director Jones seconded, that the request of PacBell to place wireless communications facilities on the Ponderosa Palisades tank site be denied. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF CONTINUING THE EMERGENCY ACTION RELATING TO REPAIR OF THE TAHOE DONNER SUBSTATION TRANSFORMER The failing Tahoe Donner substation transformer has been shipped to Edison Energy Services for repair. Until the unit is rebuilt and re-installed, there continues to be an emergency situation. Director Maass moved to continue the emergency action; seconded by Director Jones. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. AGENDA AMENDMENT The Manager asked if the Board would consider amending the agenda to consider a request which • was made after the agenda was prepared. The Truckee High School cheerleaders would like to use District facilities for a street dance to raise money for their projects. The request to amend the agenda was denied as the Board did not consider this an emergency situation. 7/16/97 Page 2 • WORKSHOP ITEMS Discussion of the requirements of AB 1890 regarding a public benefits program Scott Terrell made a presentation regarding the requirements of AB 1890 that all publicly owned electric utilities institute a public benefits program. There was a great deal of discussion and questions from the Directors. Scott was directed to prepare a draft public benefits program and submit it to the Board as part of the 1998 budget process. Discussion of possible cooperation between Truckee Donner PUD and Del Oro Water Company Manager Holzmeister made a presentation on the possible areas where the District and Del Oro Water Company(serving the Donner Lake area) could cooperate. He discussed the possibility of drilling a new well to provide water to Donner Lake, but noted that it would take a minimum of two years to implement. He discussed making water available from current District sources, but pointed out that the TDPUD needs to use its wells during the same time Del Oro needs water, that being busy summer week-end periods. He discussed having TDPUD build and operate the filtration plant using Safe Drinking Water Funds, but there is a prohibition on use of tax exempt funds to benefit profit making firms. Discussion of the work program of the Water Operations Department • Ed Taylor made a presentation of the work program that has been developed for the Water Operations Department. He described the operations and maintenance standards that are being established for the department and explained how the entire department will receive updated training to standardize the professionalism within the department. The Directors commented on the aggressiveness of the overall program. Discussion of monthly staff reports The monthly staff reports were briefly discussed. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:55 pm. TRUCKEE DO ER PUBLIC U ILITY DISTRICT J. R mig, President Susan M. Craig, Deputy DistrW Clerk • smc 7116197 Page 3