Minutes of the ISD Regular Meeting March 6, 2012

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE

IRONHOUSE SANITARY DISTRICT

March 6, 2012

The Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD) Board of Directors met in regular session on Tuesday, March 6, 2012.

The place of meeting was the Ironhouse Sanitary District office at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley, California.

1.         Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by President Doug Hardcastle at 7:00 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance:              The pledge of allegiance was led by Director Lauritzen

Roll Call

Directors present:                   David Contreras, Doug Hardcastle, David Huerta,                  C. Lauritzen and Michael Painter

Directors absent:                       none

Staff/Consultants present:      Tom Williams, General Manager

                                                            Jenny Skrel, District Engineer

David Dal Porto, Ranch/Livestock Rec. Superintendent

Susan Walde, District Secretary

                                                            Michael Welty, Utonomy, Inc.

                                                            Fred Etzel, District Counsel

                                                           

                                                           

Interested Parties:                   Dave Moss, Jersey Island

                                                Erika Matos, Oakley

                                                Jamie Duran, Solar Harmonics

                                                                                               

2.         Approval of the Agenda

Mr. Williams stated that Mr. Dave Moss was here For Items 6B and 6E.  He asked that item 6E be moved to follow 6B.  M/S M. Painter, D. Huerta and the Board voted to approve the agenda with the change of moving Item 6E.

3.         Approval of the Minutes of the February 7, 2012 Regular Meeting

M/S D. Contreras, C. Lauritzen and the Board voted to approve the minutes of the February 7, 2012 regular meeting of the Board.

4.         Public Comments – Communications from the public on subjects not on the agenda. 

Mr. Jamie Duran of Solar Harmonics introduced himself to the Board.  He has been working with staff putting together options for implementing solar power alternatives on the ISD property.  He is willing to answer any questions the Board may have on solar.   

5.  CONSENT CALENDAR

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

Staff Report – M. Welty

Mr. Welty reported to the Board that he submitted a staff report and will comment on the budget changes during new business.

M/S D. Contreras, D. Huerta and the Board voted unanimously to approve the consent calendar.

6.  BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD

          6A.     CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED REVISED FORMAT FOR BUDGET PROCESS.

Mr. Welty reported to the Board that he has been working with Mr. Williams and has met with the finance committee regarding the proposed changes to the budget format and process.  The changes made are to simplify the format and structure the budget to more closely parallel ISD’s annual audit report format using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).  Mr. Williams reviewed with the Board the changes being presented.  Staff’s recommendation is to adopt the new format for implementation in ISD’s fiscal year 2012/13 budget and years going forward.

M/S D. Contreras, C. Lauritzen and the Board voted to adopt the new budget format to more closely parallel ISD’s annual audit report using GAAP. 

    

          6B.     CONSIDERATION OF PURCHASE OF A NEW/USED MOBILEHOME FOR THE JERSEY ISLAND CARETAKER. 

Mr. Williams reviewed with the Board the history of Reclamation District No. 830 (RD-830) improving the levee and the need to relocate the buildings near the levee, in the vicinity of Jersey Island Headquarters.  One of these structures is the mobilehome currently occupied by ISD’s caretaker, Leo David Moss Sr.  Rd-830 has completed the new housing pad for the relocation and the new electrical line from PG&E is ready to be hooked up.  ISD can now go forward with the purchase of a new/used mobilehome for placement on the elevated pad.  Mr. Williams reviewed in detail the other necessary appurtenances needed for the new caretaker location.  Staff presented a breakdown of the informal bids received to complete the job.  The costs of the relocation will be funded mostly by non-operating cattle sales and by RD-830.  Discussion was held on security at the new site.  Director Lauritzen voiced his concern for a barrier on the perimeter of the elevated pad.  Mr. Dal Porto stated that staff would need to get security for one week after the mobile set-up to complete the caretaker move to the new residence.  The Board asked Mr. Dal Porto to get a pre and post inspection of the structure. 

M/S M. Painter, C. Lauritzen and the Board voted to approve the purchase of the new/used caretaker mobilehome and appurtenances and authorize staff to proceed with the purchase and installation of the new caretaker facilities on Jersey Island in an amount not to exceed $145,000. 

6E.   REVIEW THE JERSEY ISLAND CARETAKER SERVICE CONTRACT AND LANDLEASE FOR MOBILEHOME.

Mr. Williams reviewed with the Board that the Moss family (Dave Sr., his wife Carolyn and their daughter Laurie) live on Jersey Island in a mobilehome owned by Delta Properties Inc.  The mobilehome is located inboard of the levee bordering the northwest coast of Jersey Island along the San Joaquin River.  RD 830 will be extending this portion of the levee inboard and the extension will occupy the site on which the mobilehome is located.  ISD will buy a replacement mobilehome and strategically locate this new mobilehome at the intersection of Jersey Island Road and the Ferry Road.  With the move of the Moss family to the new location and into a new mobilehome, staff recommends updating the Landlease for Mobilehome entered into on April 21, 1993 and amended on November 6, 2007.  Attorney Mr. Etzel reported he is working on updating the Landlease for Mobilehome which could take the form of an amended and restated Landlease for Mobilehome.  Discussion was held to add an annual inspection of the residence and staff noted that there may be a future need for another mobilehome at this site.  Staff also recommended that ISD hire a contract security guard to guard the new mobilehome until it is actually occupied by the Moss family.  The Board thanked Mr. Moss for his many years of service to the District as the caretaker.  The Board directed attorney Etzel to go forward with necessary revisions to the Landlease for Mobilehome with the Moss family and bring it back to the Board for approval at the April 3, 2012 or a later meeting.

The Board also reviewed the Service Contract between ISD and Dave Moss entered into on November 16, 2007 and did not have any comments at that time.

          6C.    REVIEW OF STATUS OF STATE REVOLVING FUND LOAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW WATER RECYCLING FACILITY, AND CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING ADDITIONAL FACILITY COSTS TO FULLY UTILIZE ISD’S STATE LOAN

Mr. Williams reviewed the status of our State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan for the new water recycling facility.  We still have available, $6,000,000 of borrowing capacity on the SRF loan.  Staff’s recommendation to the Board was to authorize the General Manager to request up to the full amount of the available SRF loan and direct staff to further investigate the implementation of one megawatt renewable solar project and return to the Board. 

Director Lauritzen expressed his concern of the cost of being green and also our need to stay within our fiscal means.  Discussion was held on the possible and/or savings costs of a project to the rate payer.  Director Contreras stated his concern of how do we present this to the rate payers?  He suggested we hold a workshop to involve the rate payers.  Ms. Skrel was asked to set up a spread sheet showing a forecast of cost/savings to the District. 

M/S D. Hardcastle, M. Painter and The Board voted to table the item until the public outreach has been extended to the rate payers in the form of two workshops; one on Bethel Island and one at the City of Oakley Council Chambers and bring back to the Board at the April ISD Board meeting for review and consideration. 

         6D.     ADOPT JOINT RESOLUTION OF CONTRA COSTA STAKEHOLDERS REGARDING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AND THE SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA.          

Mr. Williams reported that staff and Board received a letter from County Supervisor  Mary Piepho’ office asking for our support in joining the Contra Costa County Delta Stakeholders Coalition  and adopt a joint Resolution of Contra Costa Stakeholders regarding the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta supporting the Delta and to help build a stronger alliance.

M/S C. Lauritzen, D. Hardcastle and the Board voted to adopt the Joint Resolution of the Board of Directors of Ironhouse Sanitary District in the matter of Water, Ecosystem Health and Other Issues Related to the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta and join the Contra Costa County Delta Stakeholders Coalition to support State and Federal elected officials and other committees working on Delta issues. (Res. No. 12-05)

7.         Staff Reports

Jenny Skrel – Ms. Skrel handed out a written report to the Board. 

Tom Williams - Mr. Williams reviewed his written staff report with the Board. 

Fred Etzel – Mr. Etzel reported he has started updating the Jersey Island Land Use Plan Background Report, which he prepared for the Board in April 2003, to reflect the changes on Jersey Island over the last 9 years.

8.         Board Member Advisory Reports

President Hardcastle – Director Hardcastle reported he participated in a tour of the new ISD Water Recycling Facility and was very impressed with the progress of the lab.  He attended the City Council meeting.  He also attended the Finance Committee meeting with Director Lauritzen and Mr. Williams to meet on the new budget structure and the District finances. 

 Director Contreras –Director Contreras reported on behalf of the Public Outreach Committee which met on Thursday, March 1st.  They are working on the Fats, Oils and Greats (FOG) campaign and now have signs on the ISD trucks telling how people can find out more about how to minimize/dispose of FOG.  The committee is inquiring to use the City electronic board for additional public awareness.  The committee is working on a salt reduction program which may include rebates for salt reductions and rebates for water softeners.  The committee is looking into possibly applying for some grant money through the county clean water group NPDES program to help further find public outreach efforts regarding FOG, and other sources of pollution.  In addition, the public outreach committee is looking into other funding sources, like the Delta Grants Coalition, to help inform and educate the public on pollution prevention.  The committee would like to recommend that $200,000 of the PG&E rebate be used to reduce FY 2012/2013 rates to the rate payers, and a portion to go to investing in energy and public outreach functions. The Oakley Science week event at ISD will be held on April 28, 2012. 

Director Lauritzen – Director Lauritzen submitted three written reports to the Board.

Director Painter – Director Painter reported on the Delta Science Center.  He reported that The DSC supports the Aquarium in the Classroom program and he attended the Fish release at Contra Loma on March 7, 2012.  DSC is continuing to work with the East Bay Regional Park District on the future site for possible Delta Science Center educational opportunities. 

9.     Adjournment

President Hardcastle adjourned the regular meeting at 8:45 p.m. until Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. for the next regular meeting in the Ironhouse Sanitary District offices at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley, California.