Minutes of the Ironhouse Sanitary District March 4, 2014 Board Meeting

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE

IRONHOUSE SANITARY DISTRICT

 

March 4, 2014

 

The Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD) Board of Directors met in regular session on Tuesday, March 4, 2014.

 

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 David Huerta at 6:30 p.m. who announced that the Board would go into the closed Session shown as Item 1. on the agenda.
    
               Closed Session
               Conference with Legal counsel – Anticipated Litigation
               Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government code Section 54956.9
   Subdivision (d) (4) – one case.
    
   At 6:55 p.m. the President called for a short recess.
    
   At 7:00 p.m. the Board reconvened in Open Session
    
   2.        Roll Call:
   Directors present:                   David Contreras, David Huerta, Chris Lauritzen, Michael Painter and Doug Scheer
    
               Members absent:                    None
    
   Staff/Consultants present:      Tom Williams, General Manager
   Jennifer Skrel, District Engineer
                                                               Susan Walde, District Secretary
                                                               John Moore, General Council
                                                               Fred Etzel, District Counsel
                                                               Michael Welty, Financial Officer
                                                               Joe Mueller, Environmental/Process Compliance Manager
                                                               Dave DalPorto, Ranch/Levee/Reclamation Superintendent
                                                               Nicholas Denijs, Ranch Operator
                                                               Louis Solana, Maintenance Supervisor
    
               Interested Parties:                   Randy Pope, City of Oakley
                                                               Susan Morgan, Oakley
                                                  
               Pledge of Allegiance:             Led by Director C. Lauritzen
    
               Introduction of New Employee - Mr. Dave DalPorto introduced Nick Denijs as our new Ranch Operator.  Nick has been working as part-time summer help prior to being hired in this position.  President Huerta welcomed Mr. Denijs aboard on behalf of the Board.
    
   3.        Approval of Agenda
   M/S M. Painter, D. Scheer and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Agenda.
   In favor: D. Contreras, D. Huerta, C. Lauritzen, M. Painter and D. Scheer.  Opposed: None.
    
   3a.     Report of Action Taken in Closed Session – President Huerta reported the Board gave District Council direction to move forward with the case.
    
   4.       Approval of the Minutes of the February 4, 2014 Regular Meeting.
               Approval of the Minutes of the February 19, 2014 Special Meeting
    
   M/S M. Painter, D. Scheer and the Board voted to approve the minutes of the February 4, 2014 Meeting and the February 19, 2014 Special Meeting of the Board. 
   In favor: D. Contreras, D. Huerta, C. Lauritzen, M. Painter and Doug Scheer.  Opposed: None.
    
   5.        Public Comments – Communications from the public on subjects not on the agenda. 
   There were no comments from the public at this time.
    
   6.        Consent Calendar
               A.        Approval of Payment Order, Report on Financial Position & Operating Performance.
   M/S C. Lauritzen, M. Painter and the Board voted to approve the Consent Calendar.
    
   7.       Business Before the Board
    
   7A.     CONSIDERATION TO ACCEPT THE ISD ACTUARIAL STUDY OF RETIREE HEALTH LIABILITIES AS OF JULY 1, 2013 PREPARED BY TOTAL COMPENSATION SYSTEMS, INC.  (Conference call with Geoff Kischuk of Total Comp.).
               Mr. Williams reviewed that ISD contracted with Total compensation Systems, Inc. (TDC) to prepare an actuarial study of retiree liabilities as of July 1, 2013 to comply with GASB 45 and reporting requirements of CalPERS Ca Employers’ Retirement Benefit Trust (CERBT) requiring an Actuarial valuation as of June 30, 2013.   Mr. Williams and Mr. Welty have been working with Mr. Kischuk of Total Compensation Systems, Inc. to perform the valuation and introduced Geoff Kischuk via a conference call to review the valuation with the Board.  Mr. Kischuk gave a thorough and detailed overview of the Actuarial Study prepared for ISD dated January 17, 2014.  Mr. Kischuk reported that CalPers reduced interest assumptions and long term assumptions which effected our long term assumption which increased the District’s obligation.  Discussion was held on what the trends are in the industry and future impact on the District.  Staff recommended accepting the report.
   Director Contreras asked Mr. Kischuk how does the Board keep appraised of any changes and Mr. Kischuk said he will be sending out email updates to his clients.
   M/S D. Contreras, C. Lauritzen and the Board voted unanimously to accept the report.
   In Favor: D. Contreras, D. Huerta, C. Lauritzen, M. Painter and D. Scheer.  Opposed: None
   Director Lauritzen thanked staff for staying on top of this information.  We recognized the need to have this in place and recognized that ISD started funding 2 years before the mandate.
    
               7B.      ADOPT THE EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN, APPROVE THE RESOLUTION NO. 14-05 AND NOTICE OF EXEMPTION AUTHORIZING GENERAL MANAGER TO SIGN PLAN.
               Ms. Skrel stated that in order to be eligible for future state grant funding through the Department of Water Resources, the ISD Board must adopt the updated East Contra Costa County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.  ISD in the past, has been awarded grant money for our Recycled Water Master Plan and Recycled Water Feasibility Study through the IRWM process.  She reminded the Board that we have been participating in the plan since 2006.  Staff’s recommendation to the Board is to adopt the East Contra Costa county Integrated Regional Water management Plan, authorize the General Manager to sign the Plan and Notice of Exemption and approve the Board President to sign Resolution No. 14-05.
   M/S D. Contreras, M. Painter and the Board voted unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 14-05; adopting the East Contra Costa County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan and authorizing the General Manager to sign all related documents.  (Res 14-05)
   In Favor: D. Contreras, D. Huerta, C. Lauritzen, M. Painter and D. Scheer.  Opposed: None
    
               7C.      CONSIDERATION OF A DRAFT LETTER FROM THE BOARD TO THE BAY DELTA CONSERVATION PLAN (BDCP) PROPONENTS COMMENTING ON THE DEIR/DEIS.
               Mr. Williams reviewed with the Board that in November 2013, the Board authorized staff to prepare for the Board’s review and signature a letter to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, collectively referred to as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan Proponents, commenting on the BDCP and its combined EIR and EIS.  He reported that the deadline for response has been moved to June 13, 2014.  Staff will be working with surrounding agencies in preparation on the response letters for ISD and RD830.  He stated that Staff will be bringing back the letters for Board review by the June meeting.
   Mr. Etzel reported there is a workshop scheduled at CCWD on April 25^th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and encouraged the Board to attend this meeting.  He is working on the responses and taking consideration of the claim to the water rights to the District. 
   Director Lauritzen thanked Mr. Etzel for his hard work on this issue and in preparing the response letters for ISD and for RD830.
    
             7D.     UPDATE ON STATUS OF THE JERSEY ISLAND CARETAKER TRAILER SETUP AND TEMPORARY SECURITY GUARD.
               Mr. Williams reported that he included a report for the Board in the packet with update of details.  Mr. DalPorto reported that today staff completed a final walk through with a representative for the mobile home company.  There were items on a punch list which have been dealt with and the mobile home is clear for the Moss family to move into.  Mr. Dal Porto reported they hired security to watch the home and the costs got away from the budget due to the delays in setup. 
   Director Contreras thanked Mr. Dal Porto for the update on the Caretaker trailer setup and temporary security guard. 
    
   8.         Staff Reports
   Jenny Skrel – Ms. Skrel reported that she prepared a staff report on the use of Recycled Water for the Board.  She briefly reviewed this report with the Board.  ISD is in the process of completing the Recycled Water Feasibility Study which takes a more in depth look at providing recycled water to users in the ISD service area.  Preliminary results of the study indicate that it is not cost-effective to provide recycled water to potential users in our service area.  As a rule of thumb it becomes somewhat cost-effective to install recycled water infrastructure if the cost per acre foot is below $2,000.  Preliminary costs show ISD’s projects to be above the $2,000 per acre-foot threshold.  A majority of potential users are not using potable water.  Users such as City parks and schools are using groundwater wells and many of the vineyards only need water once or twice per year for short periods of time.  There are two potential future users, The Contra Costa Generating Facility and the 55 acre park proposed as part of the Dutch Slough Restoration project.  She reported that in checking with the developers of the Emerson Ranch they will not need any of our recycled water as they currently use water from their dewatering operation for dust control.  She is still concerned as to whether we would have users. 
   She recommended we need to hire Hydro-Focus to evaluate injecting water into the groundwater.  She also is working on a direct discharge to the Contra Costa Water District canal.  She will meet with Diablo Water District after she obtains more data.  She talked with staff on possibly putting in a water station.  The estimated cost for the station could vary from $2,000 to 20,000 depending on ISD’s use of existing equipment and the amount of staff time ISD wants to dedicate to this effort.  She reported that to file a report of waste discharge with the state there is a $3,000 filing fee.  She is working with the County for Public Health regulations.
   Director Scheer asked what it would take for ISD to have developers put in a live for recycled water.  Ms. Skrel said that it is up to ISD to complete the Recycled Water Feasibility Study and then we can mandate developers to comply.  After discussion, Ms. Skrel stated that she will keep the Board apprised of the water development.
   Director Contreras asked if we have seen any decrease in the flows and staff responded that we have not.  He asked what is the cost of the Recycled Water Feasibility Study and Ms. Skrel stated that it is grant funded. 
   Director Lauritzen stated that in the short term the Board would like to see the District sell some of its water.  He stated that the Cline winery is irrigating at this time.  He would like the District to be prepared to support local industry and bring industry to Oakley that will use our water.  He also suggested we work with Delta Diablo to sell the water.
    
   Ms. Skrel reported that the solar is up and working.  They are on a schedule to be totally operable by March 31, 2014.  They are moving forward with the project.
    
   Joe Mueller – Mr. Mueller reported he attended a Water Conservation Federation conference in Georgia.  It was a popular event with local attendees.  He reported on possible revenue streams that cities are working on with legislation. He spoke of an insurance program for laterals and working getting creative for funding facilities.  Director Scheer was very interested in this opportunity and would like to District to review more.  The conference was also on motiving employees comparing to private industry.  Overall it was a good conference.
   Director Contreras stated that resource recovery has been the theme at CASA for years.
   Mr. Mueller reported on the back pulse tank – they modified the tank and were able to limit the flows.  They can run one single channel a percentage of the time.  It is possible.  They are working to limit what the NBR is producing which will allow less usage of the bulbs.
    
   Sue Walde – Ms. Walde reported that she is working with staff and the Board to complete the 700 forms. 
    
   9.         Board Members Advisory Reports
   Director Contreras – Director Contreras reported on behalf of the Outreach Committee.  He reported the committee is working on the District of Distinction award working with Ms. Gehlke, Ms. Walde and Mr. Williams.  He updated the Board that the committee will be working with staff on updating the policies and will bring back to the Board for review.  The committee had a request from the Maintenance/Collections department to develop a brochure to use for maintenance emergency calls and public outreach.  This is a well-deserved action.
    
   10.       Future Agenda Items for Consideration      

No Future Agenda Items were presented to the President.

 

At 8:45 p.m. the President called for a short recess.

 

At 8:48 p.m. the Board entered into Closed Session:

 

11.      Closed Session to consider:

          CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957:

            Public Employee Performance Evaluation (General Manager).

 

At 9:23 the Board reconvened in Open Session

 

12.      Actions Resulting From Discussion in Closed Session – There were no actions reported.

 

13.      Adjournment

President Huerta adjourned the regular meeting at 9:25 p.m. until Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. for the next regular meeting in the Ironhouse Sanitary District offices at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley, California.