MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF THE
IRONHOUSE
SANITARY DISTRICT
March 3, 2015
The Board of Directors of the Ironhouse
Sanitary District (ISD) met in regular session on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, in
the Board meeting room at ISD’s offices at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley,
California.
1. Call to Order
President David Contreras called the
meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
Roll Call was taken with Directors
Contreras, Lauritzen, Morgan, Painter and Scheer present.
Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Bob Henn
At 6:33 pm, the President announced the
Board would now go into Closed Session for Item 2 shown on the agenda.
2. CLOSED SESSION:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL
COUNSEL--EXISTING LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: Ironhouse Sanitary District vs. Harrison Engineering et al
(No. C13-01903, Contra Costa County Superior Court)
At 7:05 pm, the Board reconvened in open
session.
3. Announcement of
Actions Taken in Closed Session, if any.
The
President reported that no action was taken in Closed Session.
Roll Call
Directors present: David Contreras, C.
Lauritzen, S. Morgan, Michael Painter and Doug Scheer
Members absent: None
Staff/Consultants
Present: Tom Williams, General Manager
Jenny
Skrel, District Engineer
Susan
Walde, District Secretary
Bob
Henn, District Counsel
Michael
Welty, Financial Officer
Dave
Dal Porto, Ranch, Levee, Reclamation Superintendent
Louie
Solana, Maintenance Supervisor
Roni
Gehlke, Outreach Consultant
Interested Parties: Vanessa Perry, City of Oakley
Leah
Orloff, Contra Costa Water District
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mr. Williams
asked the Board to address item 8E. Consideration of entering into a Lease
Agreement with Department of Water Resources Regarding use of ISD Lands for
Drought Emergency Temporary Rock Barrier, West False River, before Agenda item
8C.
M/S D. Scheer, M.
Painter and the Board voted unanimously to approve the agenda as amended.
In favor: D.
Contreras, C. Lauritzen, S. Morgan, M. Painter and D. Scheer. Opposed: None. Absent none.
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES of the February
3, 2015 Regular Meeting, Minutes of the Special Workshop Meeting February 11,
2015, and the Special Meeting on January 29, 2015.
M/S S. Morgan, D.
Scheer and the Board voted to approve the minutes of the February 2, 2015
Regular Meeting, the February 11, 2015 Special Workshop Meeting, and the
January 29, 2015 Special Meeting of the Board.
In favor: D.
Contreras, C. Lauritzen, S. Morgan, M. Painter and D. Scheer. Opposed: None. Absent none.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS. Communications from the public on
subjects not on the agenda.
There were no
public comments.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
-
7A. Approval
of Payment Order, Report on Financial Position & Operating Performance.
7B. Approval
of Posting & Publishing of Approved Ordinance No. 57/Order No. 15-05 Water
Softener Regulations Ordinance (B.O. 15-07)
M/S D. Scheer, C.
Lauritzen and the Board voted to approve the Consent Calendar.
In favor: D.
Contreras, C. Lauritzen, S. Morgan, M. Painter and D. Scheer. Opposed: None. Absent: None.
8. BUSINESS BEFORE THE
BOARD
8A. PRESENTATION
BY IGOR SKAREDOFF, SPECIAL DISTRICTS REPRESENTATIVE, UPDATE ON CONTRA COSTA
COUNTY LAFCO.
This Item was tabled to a future meeting.
8B. PRESENTATION
FROM CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT REGARDING UPDATES ON RECYCLED WATER AND WATER
SUPPLY.
Ms. Leah Orloff, Contra Costa Water District’s Water
Resources Manager gave a presentation to the Board on long range planning of
water supply planning and long range planning for recycled water.
Ms. Orloff commented that CCWD is committed to 20
percent additional recycled water reuse by year 2020 and long term will commit
to looking at additional recycled water for potable reuse research. Stating it is a valuable part of California’s
water future.
Director Lauritzen spoke regarding the meeting in
Clarksburg also attended by Ms. Orloff that the well water EC’s are so high
that the local residents cannot drink the well water. He expressed his concern regarding the False
River barriers and how the high EC’s going to affect wells on Bethel Island and
Jersey Island. The current situation is
much like Sherman Island 30 years ago.
Antioch has not been able to pump water out of the river and they are
being subsidized by the CCWD. He asked
for CCWD to drop barriers and work together with the local agencies for the
benefit of the rate payers of California to work together using the recycled
water and working together for beneficial reuse. He reminded everyone we are in a four year
drought.
Ms. Orloff stated greater local coordination needs
to happen. CCWD has determined that
there may be a time we need the temporary barriers. She stated these are all real needs and real
concerns and acknowledged local agencies need to work together.
President Contreras asked if future restrictions are
put on potable water he would like to see discussions happen sooner on working
together on the use recycle water.
The Board thanked Ms. Orloff for attending the
meeting tonight and giving her presentation.
8E. CONSIDERATION
OF ENTERING INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES REGARDING
USE OF ISD LANDS FOR DROUGHT EMERGENCY TEMPORARY ROCK BARRIER, WEST FALSE
RIVER.
Mr.
Williams reported to the Board that it has been one year since the Board held a
workshop on the Barrier on False River.
RD830 has barrier has already completed their work in preparation for
the project. Mr. Williams addressed
discussions of the lease agreement with Department of Water Resources with
several items remaining. He reported the
barriers could go in as early as May but are not likely at this point.
Mr.
Henn gave the details of working out the 10-year lease with DWR. Mr. Henn will start working with the DWR
attorney to get the lease concluded.
Current concerns are flood damage to Jersey Island. Mr. Williams would like to have the agreement
completed at the time of his leaving the District. RD830 will review a revised draft with the Jersey
Island Committee who will tentatively meet at the District office on March 19,
2015.
8C. REPORT
FROM BRENT IVES ON PROGRESS OF GENERAL MANAGER RECRUITMENT.
Director Contreras reported on behalf of the adhoc
committee on the progress of the General Manager recruitment. The BHI report has 9 current candidates but
Brent reported in an email he now has 12 and is expecting more. He is working hard to receive more
interest. Mr. Ives is tentatively asking
for a date of April 14 or 15 to review resumes. Discussion was held on
availability of the Board.
8D. RETAIN
INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER, including possible approval of Employment and
Independent Contractor Agreements and ratification of actions of Ad Hoc
Committee.
President Contreras reported on behalf of the adhoc
committee, the recommendation is to retain Phil Batchelor to act as Interim
General Manager of Ironhouse and Manager of RD 830 until the new General
Manager is hired and in place pursuant to the employment agreement. Mr. Batchelor has approved the documents and
reported the salary is in line with what the two districts are contributing for
compensation. All is in order.
M/S C. Lauritzen, M. Painter and the Board voted to
adopt Resolution No. 15-01 approving Employment Agreement with Interim General
Manager, retaining Phil Batchelor as acting Interim General Manager of
Ironhouse and Manager of RD 830 until the new General Manger is hired and in
place pursuant to the Employment and Independent Contractor Agreements.
In favor: D.
Contreras, C. Lauritzen, S. Morgan, M. Painter and D. Scheer. Opposed: None. Absent: None.
8F. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL TO IMPLEMENT THE
BIOSOLIDS PILOT PROJECT. At a Cost not
to exceed $17,200 annually over the next three years and purchase of a used
disc for a cost not to exceed $21,000.
Ms. Skrel reported that the Board has had two
meeting on the Biosolids Pilot Project and staff will need to submit a report
to the State Water Resources Control Board.
It would be in the best interest of the District to keep future Biosolids
disposal options open. Staff’s
recommendation is to approve implementation of the Biosolids pilot project at a
cost not to exceed $17,200 annually over the next three years and purchase of a
used disk for a cost not to exceed $21,000.
M/S S. Morgan, C. Lauritzen and the Board voted to
approve implementation of the biosolids pilot project at a cost not to exceed
$17, 200 annually over the next three years and approve purchase of a used disk
for a cost not to exceed $21,000.
In favor: D.
Contreras, C. Lauritzen, S. Morgan, and M. Painter. Opposed: D. Scheer. Absent: None.
8G. RECLAMATION
DISTRICT NO. 830 BOARD OF TRUSTEES: REVIEW ELECTION PROCESS, REQUIREMENTS AND
VACANCIES.
Mr. Williams reported that Director Lauritzen
requested that the process for RD 830 trustees be added to the agenda for
review. Mr. Williams stated he will be
retiring from the RD 830 Board at the end of March. All three of the trustee positions will be
before the Board for recommendation in the November 2015 election. The RD 830 Board will be recommending
appointing Mr. Welty to the open position as trustee. Mr. Henn stated that as landowners the ISD
Directors nominate and elect eligible persons to serve as the Trustees on RD
830. Discussion was held on the history
and restriction of candidates for the office.
Discussion was held on the financial cost of Michael Welty and his
additional time would be adjusted on the management agreement.
8H. CONSIDERATION
OF SENDING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY’S $2,750,000 GRANT
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE DUTCH SLOUGH TIDAL MARSH RESTORATION PROJECT.
Mr.
Williams stated the Dutch Slough Tidal Marsh Restoration Project has been on
the books for many years and is nearing the point of construction. The project proposes to restore the 1,200 acres
of property east of Marsh Creek to tidal wetlands and other upland and Delta
habitats. Staff recommends the Board
review the letter and authorize the Board President to sign the letter of
support.
M/S
M. Painter, D. Scheer and the Board voted to authorize the Board President to
sign the letter of support for the Coastal Conservancy’s $2,750, 000 grant for
construction of the Dutch Slough Tidal Marsh Restoration Project.
In
favor: D. Contreras, C. Lauritzen, S. Morgan, and M. Painter. Opposed: D. Scheer. Absent: None.
9. STAFF REPORTS
Director
Painter asked Ms. Skrel to report on the demolition project on Jersey
Island. Ms. Skrel reported the project
will go out to bid the end of March or first of April.
Tom Williams – Mr. Williams reported that as a result of the recruitment for operators
at the Water Recycling Facility, staff has made an offer to two
candidates. Enrique Vargas will be
starting on March 9 and Walter Haynes will start on April 1, 2015.
10. BOARD MEMBER ADVISORY REPORTS
Susan Morgan –
Director Morgan reviewed her written report with the Board. She reported on the Capital Projects
meeting. The committee met working on a
five-year plan and will be working to develop projections for a ten-year
plan. She met with the
Maintenance/Collections committee, which met on March 2. Dave Smith held the meeting and the committee
addressed equipment replacement, building replacement, need for staffing and
the need for future reserves.
Chris Lauritzen – Director Lauritzen reported that he attended the EC square
meeting. He reported that it was a very
good meeting with the east county participants.
He also reported on the meeting held in Clarksburg on the emergency
barriers with DWR. BIMID voiced a concern
for a meeting in the Bethel Island community for outreach to help smooth over
the issues. It was a concern that DWR is
not taking the time to educate the public.
David Contreras – Director Contreras reported the Outreach Committee met on February 5
at the ISD conference room. Discussions
at the meeting included the Salt and Biosolids campaign, Distinction Award
preparation, ISD Clean business Award and Operational Facility. Discussions were held on how to present Bethel
Island committees with the operational problems experienced during the December
storms that impacted UV transmittance and operational adjustments causing the
addition of alum for filtration enhancement and diversion of flows to holding
ponds. The committee is also working on
Science week being held at the ISD facility on Saturday, April 25, 2015. They are working on a fieldtrip to the Dublin
San Ramon Services District’s facility to view the recycle water fill station sometime
in May. He also reported he received an
email from San Caldwell on behalf of CCSDA President Bette Boatmun asking if he
would be interested in serving as the Chapter’s Vice President. He is investigating the demands of the
position and considering it.
11. FUTURE
AGENDA ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
There
were no future agenda items at this time.
12. ADJOURNMENT
President Contreras
adjourned the regular meeting at 9:14 p.m. until Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 7:00
p.m. for the next regular meeting in the Ironhouse Sanitary District offices at
450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley, California.
