February 2, 2011 Minutes of the Board

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
IRONHOUSE SANITARY DISTRICT

February 1, 2011

The Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD) Board of Directors met in regular session on Tuesday, February 1, 2011.

The place of meeting was the Ironhouse Sanitary District Office at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley, California. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Michael Painter at 7:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order

Members present: Doug Hardcastle, David Huerta, Chris Lauritzen, Don Lew and Michael Painter

Members absent: None

Staff/Consultants present: Tom Williams, General Manager
Dave Dal Porto, Reclamation, Levee and Ranch Superintendent
Marc Haefke, Operations Superintendent
Jenny Skrel, District Engineer
David Smith, Maintenance Superintendent
Neil Sterud, Maintenance Supervisor
Susan Walde, District Secretary
Bob Henn, District Counsel

Interested Parties: Randy Pope, City of Oakley

2. Approval of Agenda
M/S Hardcastle, Lew, and the Board voted to approve the agenda.

3. Approval of the Minutes of the January 4, 2011 Regular Meeting
M/S Lauritzen, Lew and the Board approved the minutes of the January 4, 2011 Regular Meeting of the Board.

4. Public Comments – Communications from the public on subjects not on the agenda.
Mr. Randy Pope, newly elected councilmember of City of Oakley, introduced himself to the Board and staff of ISD and stated he would like to build a cooperative relationship with the District. He gave his correct email address for the Board to feel free to communicate with him. Member Lauritzen asked Mr. Pope if he could work with ISD to use the City’s lighted board to publish the ISD Board meetings.


5. Consent Calendar
A. Approval of Payment Order, Income/Expense Statement & Bank Balances.

M/S Hardcastle, Huerta and the Board approved the consent calendar.


6. BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD

6A. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION SUPPORTING DOUG HARDCASTLE BEING NOMINATED AND SERVING AS MEMBER-AT-LARGE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF CONTRA COSTA SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION (CCSDA) Res. 11-03
Mr. Williams reported to the Board at the Special District’s meeting, a new officer was elected as Special District’s representative to LAFCO and the President and Vice President as incumbents were reelected. The executive committee has opened nominations for a member at large to serve on the executive committee of the Contra Costa Special District’s Association. Staff recommends the Board to support member Hardcastle as a candidate for the position. M/S Lauritzen, Painter and the Board voted to nominate Doug Hardcastle as being nominated to serve as member-at-large on the executive committee of Contra Costa Special Districts Association. (CCSDA). Res. 11-03.

6B. APPROVE MOU TERMINATION AGREEMENT WITH CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
Mr. Henn reported to the Board the actions of the closing chapter of the Franchise Agreement transfer with the County completing the MOU termination agreement. Staff recommends a motion to approve the MOU Termination Agreement. The Termination agreement would then go the Board of Supervisors for approval and would terminate upon their action. M/S Hardcastle, Huerta and the Board voted to adopt the MOU Termination Agreement between Contra Costa County and Ironhouse Sanitary District for the solid waste collection and disposal services in the unincorporated area of Contra Costa County. (BO. 11-04)

6C. UPDATE ON STAFF ORGANIZATION CHART, PROMOTIONS, NEW JOB CLASSIFICATIONS, PROPOSED SALARY RANGES.
Mr. Williams review the new organizational chart and staff changes with the Board. These changes include: Marc Haefke to Operations Superintendent; Dave Smith to Maintenance Superintendent; Neil Sterud to Maintenance Supervisor; Eric Robertson to Lead Vehicle/Heavy Equipment Mechanic. Internal positions will be open for Lead Maintenance Worker. Staff will be interviewing for a Vehicle/Heavy Equipment Mechanic and will be accepting applications for Operations Supervisor. Mr. Williams thanked Mr. Sterud and Mr. Smith for their experience, longevity and willingness to make these staff moves. With the retirement of Dennis Nunn, Mr. Smith will be covering the Safety Management of the District, Susan Walde will be covering Workers’ Compensation and consultant Michael Welty will continue to handle financial matters of the District.



6D. REVIEW AND REORGANIZATION OF BOARD MEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
Chairman Painter reviewed the Article 6 Advisory Committees of the ISD Board By-Laws and the recommended changes made by Mr. Williams. The standing committees would be changed to advisory committees and the distention of Ad hoc and Liaison as designation. After much discussion the Board set a Special Workshop meeting for the 15th of February for review of the By-Laws. The meeting was set for 7:00 p.m. and the Board Secretary was directed to post the agenda and meeting time.

6E. CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZING USE OF ISD BOARD ROOM FOR LIONS CLUB MEETINGS.
At the last meeting of the Lyons Club, Member Hardcastle and Painter were asked to check the availability of ISD’s Board room for a meeting place for the Lyons club. Member Painter reported that with all considered, the Lyons club decided to keep their meeting place at their current location. No action was taken.


7. Staff Reports
Michael Welty – Mr. Welty reported to the Board he is getting more and more acclimated to the District. He will be working this next month on the Budget process and have the budget in place. He will be at the District office this next Tuesday.

Dave Dal Porto –– Mr. Dal Porto reported that staff sold 60 head of bred heifers @ the Red Bluff sale with the highest price of $84,000 gross, $80,000 net. January has been a very mild month. Staff has been working on the crossing over Ferry Road. Staff used the vaccon and the jetter truck through the crossing. They were able to lower the north end of the canal with the long reach to give a deeper flow of water. Staff will be working on weed control for the next two weeks. The crops all look great. If the weather stays good and continues to be dry staff will be working on the levee job.
Staff has questions with PG&E with clarity of project before the electricity gets over to the caregivers new location.

Neil Sterud – Mr. Sterud reported on the Honey Lane project. Staff are working on getting an easement to re-align the force main. Staff re-plumbed the lift station on Bethel Island. It was a big project, had a blow-out, staff was able to work well, complete the project with everything going very smooth.

Dave Smith – Mr. Smith reported to the Board that the electrical panels on island are old, 1970’s. Staff worked to rebuild the panels on Taylor Road last month. Mr. Smith reported he continues to work on safety items in the office. He is working on setting up spill prevention and hazardous material awareness plans. He will have the final draft of the IIPP training for staff on next Tuesday. Is working on the lock-out tag-out procedures. We currently have a policy, and are working on procedures and developing for distribution with MSDS book with the lock-out tag out in front of it.

Marc Haefke – Mr. Haefke reported that the applications for mechanic closed on Friday. The interviews will be held this next week and the possibility of two interviews. He hopes to fill the position by the end of the month. He reported he will be posting a job announcement for Operations Supervisor for the new position at the treatment plant. Staff are performing functional testing at the plant then will be performing operational testing. He reported he will be working with Dave Smith to make the transition of position changes a smooth one.

Bob Henn – Mr. Henn reported to the Board that he has been working on the MOU termination agreement working with staff.

Jenny Skrel – Ms. Skrel reported that she met with the Regional Board last week regarding the land discharge requirements. Working on requirement issues for NPDES discharge instead of land discharge. She has had conversation with a consultant with Oakley power station regarding using recycled water.
Ms. Skrel reported she submitted the outfall to the State Lands Commission and staff are working out a few issues. She reported the plant is on schedule to open in October of 2011.
Member Hardcastle reminded staff we need to plan ahead for the invitations to politicians and legislature for the grand opening of the wastewater treatment plant.

Tom Williams - Mr. Williams reported on the CASA conference held January 11-14 which he attended with member Huerta. The topic of discussion was water is a resource. California’s water is going to become more and more valuable. Mr. Williams reported on his meetings with the Special Districts, Mayors Conference, and Levee Commission. The Delta Protection Commission meeting had a speaker, professor from UC Berkeley who spoke on a disaster analysis of the delta levees.
He reported he is a new Board member representing ISD on the Oakley Chamber of Commerce. He will be working on the entertainment committee for the Almond Festival. Mr. Williams reported he will be meeting with the Department of Water Resources on Friday regarding the 2.5 million vs. the 5 million anticipated for projects.
Mr. Williams met with Westervelt and hopes to have a presentation by Westervelt at the next Board meeting on the Mitigation Banking.
Mr. Williams met with Brian Montgomery of the City of Oakley over a week ago and is planning to meet with him and Jim Frasier along with Chairman Painter on Monday February 7.
Emerson Property and DWR are moving forward on their project. The permitting will be delayed to the spring of 2012.
Mr. Williams met with Delta Properties regarding the Jersey Island property Lot 1 purchase on January 24th. The notice to proceed to Phase 1 contractor on Lot 1 agreement has began.
Mr. Williams reported on a public records request act request from Thomas Peele of the media with a request for information on Board and staff. Mr. Williams is working with staff to complete this request.


8. Board Member Advisory Reports
David Huerta – Mr. Huerta reported on his attendance at the CASA Conference held on January 11-14, 2011. He reported the conference was fascinating and a very informative conference. He reported on the significance of the time period of moving water away from waste to water as a resource. He attended workshops and found them very interesting. He attending a workshop held by CalOSHA reporting on the clarity that the Board is also liable. Mr. Huerta reported on testing of water and false positive reports and how they effect determining compliance. Mr. Huerta reported he met a lot of people from organizations he worked with in the past. Overall, it was a great experience and a good conference.

Doug Hardcastle – Mr. Hardcastle reported on the Special Districts meeting, that it was the most attended meeting. He reported that Michael McGill was elected as the representative to the LAFCO Board. Mr. Hardcastle reported on the City Council meeting. The City is pulling funds from redevelopment to the City to be able to complete the redevelopment projects.

Michael Painter – Mr. Painter reported on the progress of the Delta Science Center; on the updates of the amphitheatre, fire pit and cement poured pad is complete. The project is moving forward. Member Painter reported the Mike McGill, Central San Chairman of the Board came to ISD and met with him and Mr. Williams and was here to complete a tour of the new wastewater treatment plant.
Member Painter reported there were 338 passes given out on Jersey Island and $3,800 received in revenue.
Chairman Painter announced to the Board the By-Laws special workshop meeting will be held on Tuesday February 15, 2011 at the District office at 7:00 p.m.


9. Adjournment
Chairman Painter adjourned the regular meeting at 8:53 p.m. until Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. for the next regular meeting in the Ironhouse Sanitary District offices at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley, California.