Minutes of the ISD November 17, 2015 Special Workshop Board Meeting

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE

IRONHOUSE SANITARY DISTRICT

 

November 17, 2015

 

The Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD) Board of Directors met in Special Session on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

 

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

 

1. Call to Order - President David Contreras called the meeting to order at 5:07 p.m. 
   Present were Directors: Contreras, Lauritzen, Morgan, Painter and Scheer and General Manager Chad Davisson.
   Pledge of Allegiance
   At 5:10 p.m., the meeting was adjourned to closed session for item 2 on the agenda.
    
   2.         CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957:
               Public Employee Performance Evaluation
   Title: General Manager
    
   At 6:35 p.m. the Board took a short break.
    
   At 6:42 p.m. the Board met in open session.
    
   3.         Report of Action (if any) Taken in Closed Session
   President Contreras reported that the performance evaluation of the General Manager was performed and accepted.
    
               Members present:                    David Contreras, Chris Lauritzen, Susan Morgan, Michael Painter, and Doug Scheer
    
               Members absent:                     None
    
   Staff/Consultants present:      Chad Davisson, General Manager
   Jenny Skrel, District Engineer
   David Dal Porto, Ranch, Levee & Reclamation Superintendent
   Susan Walde, District Secretary
   Keith Whitener, Robertson-Bryan, Inc.
   Randy Megar, Department of Water Resources
    
               Interested parties present:       none
                                                              
   4.         Approval of the Agenda -M/S C. Lauritzen, D. Scheer and the Board voted unanimously to approve the Agenda. 
   In favor: D. Contreras, C. Lauritzen, S. Morgan, M. Painter and D. Scheer.  Opposed:  None. Absent: 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.         Public Workshop for the Marsh Creek Restoration Project

 

6A.      Status Report on Marsh Creek Delta Habitat Enhancement

Mr. Keith Whitener of Robinson Bryan stated that he and Randy Megar of DWR are here tonight to review the project with staff and the Board.  He handed out a presentation and gave a power point presentation on the Marsh Creek Delta Habitat Enhancement Project.  The project objectives are to restore, create and provide an 80-90 acre intertidal marsh, a mosaic of riparian, shaded riparian and aquatic habitats.  Habitat for aquatic, avian and terrestrial species and up to 600,000 cubic yards of material for fill on the adjacent Dutch Slough Tidal Marsh Restoration project.

AB 360 that requires DWR levee maintenance funded the project and improvement projects to contribute to net long-term habitat improvement in the Delta and to restore native habits and improve existing habitats.

An overview of the project history was given from:

• March 2010- release of project solicitation package to reclamation districts,
• June 2010- RD 830 submitted a proposal of the Marsh Creek,
• June 2013 – ISD Board Workshop on Marsh Creek Project,
• July 2013 ISD Board unanimously approved agreement between ISD and Rd 830.  RD 830 Board unanimously approves ISD/RD 830 and RD 830/DWR agreements
• April 2015 ESA Inc. contracted by RD 830 for planning, design, regulatory compliance, engineering and construction observation services.

Mr. Whitener gave the Board an overview of the three alternatives that were considered for the project with the Alternative #2 as the preferred project. Project projections for 2016 were reviewed.  Discussion was held with the implications to ISD:

• $2.5 million for 600,000 cubic yards of excavated material.
• Permanent loss of use of 100 acres of land.
• Future land use of 100 acres will be fixed as habitat and eliminates other potential uses.
• Permanent loss of use of 100 acres.
  Mr. Whitener reviewed the current project issues:

• EPA approval for land use changes.
• Mineral Rights issues – subsurface mineral rights held by Porter Estates.
• Surface Easements – EBRPD has surface easement on project site.
• Work with CCFCWCD who owns levee adjacent to south parcel.
• Work with Mosquito and Vector Control to address concerns.
• Changes to DWR agreement with RD 830 to clarify off-ramps and conservation easement requirements.
• Long-term ownership, management, and maintenance.

Mr. Whitener stated that going forward they need ISD Board input on the project and will provide regular updates to the Board and ISD management.

Discussion was held with Mr. Megar of DWR and Mr. Whitener of Robertson Bryan, Inc. about the options going forward and the next steps to be taken by all the Districts.  Items to be considered are the value of the land to ISD. 

 

6B.      Assessment Status Report

Mr. Chad Davisson gave a report on the status of the Assessments.  He reported that the reports to the Board are challenging to keep on top of and have not been done to management staff satisfaction.  He wants them to be addressed differently.  He is recommending changing strategy and prioritizing and categorizing the assessments into like buckets of broader topics.  He is developing a strategy to determine priority by category and address groups of assessments which will provide a greater level of results.

Mr. Davisson asked the Board, conceptually is this concept acceptable to the Board.  The Board will look forward to future assessment reports from the General Manager

 

.           Adjournment

There being no further business, President Contreras adjourned the special meeting at 8:40 p.m.

 

 

 

APPROVED                                                                       ____________________________                                                    

                                   President                                                          District Secretary

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