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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes,July18, 2001 REGULAR MEETING July 18, 2001 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 perpetual- ly 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 7:04 PM in the TDPUD Board room by President James Maass. ROLL CALL: Directors Joe Aguera, Ron Hemig, Patricia Sutton, Nelson VanGundy and James Maass were present. EMPLOYEES PRESENT: Ed Taylor, Alan Harry, Peter Holzmeister, Mary Chapman, Ian Fitz- gerald, Steve Hollabaugh and Susan Craig. CONSULTANTS PRESENT: Steve Gross and Keith Knibb. OTHERS PRESENT: Among those present in the audience were Juanita and Frank Schneider, Chuck Holt, Warren Pfall, John Byrne and Lin Zucconi. PUBLIC INPUT There was no public input. PUBLIC HEARING – INCREASE IN ELECTRIC RATES Because of the increasing wholesale electric rates, the District proposes to raise retail electric revenues for the first time since 1986. Even with this increase, the District’s rates will be signifi- cantly lower than they are for most electric customers in California. The public hearing was opened at 7:05 PM Power Supply Engineer Steve Hollabaugh present- ed material showing how the District’s wholesale price will increased form 2000 through 2009. In 2000 the PUD was paying $35.35 per MWh, which is the same as 3.535 cents per Kh. In 2001 the wholesale price went to 4.602 cents per kilowatt-hour. In 2002 it will go to 7.054 cents per kilowatt hour. Finally, in 2003 it will go to 8.25 cents per kilowatt-hour. In 2002, the district will be paying an additional 2.452 cents for wholesale power and the retail rates will need to go up a like amount. In 2003, wholesale power costs will go up another 1.196 cents per kilowatt hour, and retail rates will again need to go up by that amount. Current resi- dential retail electric rate is 6.811 cents per kilowatt hour. A letter was received from Kendall Green who owns a vacation home on East Alder Creek. He noted that although he uses less water and electricity than permanent residents, he pays more. He objected to the rate charged to part time electric customers. Chuck Holt of Estates Drive posed several questions about the long-term contract, the District’s relationship with UAMPS and NCPA, the possibility of lower rates when the supply is sufficient, and generation at Boca and Stampede that were answered by Mr. Hollabaugh and the Board. 7/18/01 Page 1 The public hearing was closed at 7:20 PM. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE DISTRICT’S RETAIL ELECTRIC RATES Director Hemig moved, and Director Van Gundy seconded, that the Board adopt Ordinance No. 2001-03 changing electric rates implementing Option a, a 50% increase now and a 50% in- crease in January 2002. ROLL CALL: Aguera, Hemig, Sutton, Van Gundy and Maass. SO OR- DAINED. CONSIDERATION OF A DRAFT LEASE AGREEMENT FOR LEASE OF SPACE IN THE DIS- TRICT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING TO THE TAHOE TRUCKEE UNIFIED SCHOOL DIS- TRICT Manager Holzmeister reported that he has had several conversations with Pat Gemma during the past few months regarding the School District’s interest in leasing office space in the TDPUD building. It is his opinion that the District is able to provide some space now and possi- bly more space after PUD plans are completed. A draft lease was provided to the Directors. It offers to lease to TTUSD one half of the unused space on the second floor, which is approximately 760 square feet. It proposes a rent amount of $1.95 per square foot, which is what the Town would have been paying at this time under the terms of their lease. The draft lease does not permit use of the Board room or conference rooms and it limits parking spaces to six. Attorney Steve Gross said this would not be a gift of public funds since the rental amount is fair market value, and he was unaware of any other provisions of the law that would prohibit renting to the School District. Director Hemig moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board approve the draft lease of space allowing the Tahoe Truckee School District to rent 760 square feet of space in our build- ing at the rate of $1.95 per square foot subject to a CPI adjustment annually, for a term of three years. ROLL CALL: Director Sutton abstained; all other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. DONNER LAKE WATER SYSTEM Status report Consideration of draft joint trench agreements with Southwest Gas for installation of wa- ter mains at Donner Lake Consideration of calling for bids for a contractor to install water mains at Donner Lake Consideration of a proposal from Garcia and Associates to perform services related to wetland issues at Donner Lake Consideration of a contract change order related to installation of the new lake intake fa- cilities Consideration of approving plans and specifications and contract documents and au- thorizing staff to solicit bids for replacement of the Southside water storage tank at Don- ner Lake 7/18/01 Page 2 Consideration of continuing the emergency action relating to the Donner Lake water sys- tem rehabilitation Water Superintendent Taylor gave a brief status report on the improvements to the Donner Lake water system. At the present time, the District is constructing a project at Donner Lake in which the District’s contractor is digging the trench and Southwest Gas is installing gas pipeline in conjunction with the contractor. SWG is proposing to install 13,000 plus feet of gas pipeline at the west end of Donner Lake and has proposed a joint trench agreement with the District to excavate the trench, backfill and repave the trench line for a fee of $33.25 per foot. The District will furnish and install the pipe and fittings in the open trench and will install new service lines next construction sea- son. Director Van Gundy moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board authorize the Gen- eral Manager to enter into an agreement with Southwest Gas for joint trenching of pipelines in the Donner Lake area. ROLL CALL: all Directors, aye. SO MOVED. Counsel Gross and Neil Kaufman are putting together a formal joint trench agreement. Director Aguera moved, and Director Van Gundy seconded, that the Board authorize staff to advertise for, accept and open bids for the installation of eight-inch pipe for the joint TDPUD – Southwest Gas project at Donner Lake. The bid opening date will be July 30, 2001. All Direc- tors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. The reconstruction of the water system at Donner Lake will affect areas that are wetlands. To properly address all of the issues which will effect the area and the mitigation of these issues requires a complete study to determine the actions required. Mr. Taylor noted that Garcia and Associates has extensive knowledge of the area and come highly recommended to provide the services needed to complete the project. Staff has reviewed the proposal from Garcia and rec- ommends that the Board approve the contract. Director Hemig moved, and Director Van Gundy seconded, that the Board authorize the Gen- eral Manager to enter into an agreement with Garcia and Associates for services related to wet- lands issues at Donner Lake for an amount not to exceed $92,971. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. Previously, the Board awarded the contract for construction of the Donner Lake Intake Re- placement to F & M Engineering. After the start of the project, additional items were identified by staff which required modification of the project: 1) increase the size of the lake intake screen; 2) increase the number of anchor blocks; and 3) additional subsurface and underwater survey work requiring additional diving mobilization. Director Hemig moved, and Director Van Gundy seconded, that the Board authorize Contract Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $15,391.02. ROLL CALL: Sutton, no; all other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. Plans and specifications for a water storage tank at the Donner Lake Southside location have been prepared. This project is part of the emergency compliance order issued by the State Health Department and requires completion this year. After some discussion, staff was asked to rename the Donner Lake Southside tank so it is not confused with the Southside well on High- way 267. 7/18/01 Page 3 Director Hemig moved, and Director Van Gundy seconded, that the Board authorize staff to ad- vertise for and accept bids for the construction of a 500,000 gallon water storage tank at the Donner Lake Southside location with a bid opening on August 10, 2001. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. Director Van Gundy moved, and Director Aguera seconded, that the Board continue the emer- gency action relating to the Donner Lake water system rehabilitation. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVING PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACT DOCU- MENTS FOR MODIFICATION OF THE I-80 UNDER CROSSING NEAR THE DONNER STATE PARK INTERCHANGE CalTrans is widening Interstate 80 from the Donner Pass Road interchange to the top of Donner summit. The District has a pipeline under crossing in the area to be widened and CalTrans has given notification that the under crossing of the pipeline must be extended outside of the Inter- state 80 right-of-way. This project also involves the fiber conduits inside the casing under the roadway. Plans and specifications for the construction of the extension of the District’s I-80 under crossing are complete. Director Aguera moved, and Director Van Gundy seconded, that the Board authorize staff to advertise for and accept bids for the construction of the extension of the District’s Interstate 80 under crossing with a bid opening on August 8, 2001. All Directors, aye, by voice vote. SO MOVED. CONSIDERATION OF A CONTRACT FOR FINAL DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED BROAD- BAND SYSTEM On June 20, The Director of Telecommunications Services submitted a matrix summarizing in- formation received through the District’s request for proposals for broadband design services. An agreement for engineering services has been drafted incorporating Counsel Gross’ sugges- tions. Mr. Harry has reviewed the background of Thirdnetworks staff assigned to the District’s project and has provided biographies for Board review. The firm does not have a licensed PE on staff; however, Moffat & Nichol Engineers has been retained to provide civil and/or structural engineering advice and approval that may be required for the project. Mr. Harry has contacted representatives in Newnan and Monroe, Georgia. He was advised that the system design by Thirdnetworks was prepared to provide a level of future proofing, while the engineering work conducted ultimately streamlined the construction process. After some discussion, Director Van Gundy moved, and Director Hemig seconded, that the Board authorize the General Manager to execute the general agreement for engineering ser- vices between TDPUD and Thirdnetworks for design of the proposed broadband system. ROLL CALL: Sutton, no; all other Directors, aye. SO MOVED. REVIEW OF MONTHLY STAFF REPORTS Staff reports were provided in the Board meeting packet. There were no questions. 7/18/01 Page 4 CLOSED SESSION Counsel advised that there was no new information to be discussed. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:37 PM. TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT ________________________________________ James A. Maass, President Prepared by _____________________________ Susan M. Craig, Deputy District Clerk smc 7/18/01 Page 5