Bolinas Community Public Utility District
A Regular Meeting  Of  The Board  Of  Directors
January 15, 2014    270 Elm Road, Bolinas


1.   Call to Order.

 

           7:30 p.m.

 

2.   Roll.

 

            Directors Amoroso, Comstock, Godino, Siedman and Smith present; director Siedman presiding.

 

3.   Manager’s Report.

 

-- Update on the Terrace Avenue Bluff Stabilization Project.

 

Staff is in the process of interviewing planning consultants to lead the process of obtaining a permit from the California Coastal Commission to install a bluff stabilization project at Surfer’s  Overlook.  The Bolinas Working Group envisions that once a consultant is selected, a meeting will be held with key stakeholders to discuss and ideally agree upon rhe funding for the permit application phase of this project.

 

-- Update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Pump Station and Electrical Upgrade Project (see item 8).

 

-- Update on Removal of Obstructions in Zebra Right-of-Way:  BCPUD Letter re: Removal of Structure.

 

      Staff directed the Board’s attention to a draft letter in the Board binders to Lawrence Juniper regarding the location of his obstructing structure in the Zebra  right-of-way.  Unfortunately, although the neighboring property owner is willing to allow the structure to be relocated onto his property, the County of Marin will not permit him to do so.  Staff recommended that the district send Mr. Juniper a letter to make clear that he does not have the permission of the district to locate his structure in the public right-of-way and request that he remove it.   Staff also recommends the structure be inspected to ensure there is no connection to the BCPUD water system.

 

L. Comstock/V. Amoroso                all in favor         to approve sending a letter to Mr. Juniper requesting the removal of his structure from the Zebra right-of-way.

 

-- Update on Shared Personnel Between BCPUD and Bolinas Fire Protection District.

 

      Staff met with Fire Chief Anita Tyrrell-Brown to discuss a schedule for the joint training of the two district staffs.  The schedule will depend on Assistant Fire Chief Steve Marcotte’s schedule as he will conduct the training on behalf of the fire department.  The two districts hope to have a complete training schedule developed by the end of February.

 

-- Update on BCPUD’s Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan.

 

      Staff directed the Board’s attention to spreadsheets in the Board binders which constitute a first draft of an inventory of all district assets.  Staff noted that there are separate categories of assets, each of which has numerous individual assets: Raw Water Transmission, Water Treatment, Water Distribution, Sewer Collection, Sewage Treatment, Sewage Disposal, 270 Elm Road, Corporation Yard.   Staff will evaluate the lifespan and cost of replacement or rehabiliatation of each of these assets and rank them as “good”, “fair”,  or “poor”.   Director Comstock said he thinks this is a very valuable process and appreciates the amount of work that has gone into developing it.  He said he feels that the “remaining useful life” and “replacement cost” are the most important features of the spreadsheet so that the district can begin planning to replace and/or rehabiliate those assets – this is the basis of a capital improvement plan.   Director Comstock said that this asset inventory also will inform a second key analysis, which is the adequacy of the district’s capital reserves.   Director Comstock said that the topic of reserve adequacy has significant budget implications that will need to be addressed very soon.  Director Smith said it is difficult to believe that the entire analysis can be completed before the upcoming fiscal year budget process is complete.  Staff said that the district can incorporate as much as possible of the information into this year’s budget planning process and suggested that the district can continue the analysis during the July – January timeframe, when the Finance Committee typically takes a break in its work.

 

On the water side of operations, staff reported that consumption increased alarmingly in December in the downtown area of Bolinas; staff noted that the topic of the district’s current water supply will be discussed in much more detail during item 8 on the agenda and the topic of rising consumption will be addressed further then.  Staff has been invited to the January 28th meeting of the County of Marin’s Board of Supervisors, along with other water district managers in Marin, and has been asked to update that Board on the status of the County’s water supply.  The district managers are coordinating their presentations and will have lunch following the meeting to exchange information.

 

Staff reported that the district experienced three leaks this month; one leak was on Walnut Road and caused by a breakdown of aging infrastructure (a line already determined to be in need of replacement).  Another leak occurred on Olema-Bolinas Road when a customer hit the district’s water hydrant.  A third leak occurred on the district’s water main on Cherry near Pine – the district’s asbestos/concrete pipe cracked as a result of ground movement underneath the pipe.  Fortunately, the district’s water losses were very low as a result of these leaks because they were reported and repaired immediately.

 

The district’s chlorine disinfection byproduct pilot project is moving forward, albeit at a slightly slower pace because a close family member of the district’s outside consultant regrettably experienced a serious health event. 

 

Staff directed the Board’s attention to sections of the minutes from past Board meetings during the 1970s and 1980s concerning property owner Gregg Welsh; staff  reminded the Board that Mr. Welsh has a pending request to transfer one of the water meters from his building at 22 Brighton Avenue based on his understanding that he is eligible to do so.  At a prior meeting, the Board had directed staff to research the meeting minutes in an effort to find documentation of an understanding between Mr. Welsh and the district on this topic.  Staff reported that the minutes from this time period neither confirm nor deny Mr. Welsh’s claim that he was assured by the district that he could later transfer a meter he had taken out of service as long as he continued to pay the annual service fee and as long as all plumbing previously connected to that meter was permanently removed from the building.  Staff requested direction from the Board as to next steps.   Director Amoroso suggested that the minutes at some point in the later 1980’s likely will document the start-up of the new laundry mat (Mr. Welsh’s meter previously served a laundry mat at 22 Brighton Avenue) and that might be a fruitful area of inquiry.

 

Staff reported that Paul Harris submitted a neighbordhood contribution of $500 toward the removal of the tree in the Fern Road right-of-way per the district’s request for such a contribution and staff therefore will schedule the tree removal. 

 

Staff referenced a brief report from the district’s consulting hydrogeologist regarding the irrigation well at the Resource Recovery site and noted that the hydrogeologist has expressed a concern about possible seawater intrusion at the well.  Director Smith suggested taking certain samples to assess this and asked staff to confer with the hydrologist for a simple and cost-effective protocol for this purpose.

 

Staff reported that the Pipeline newsletter will be distributed beginning in January with a feature article about retiring operator Lewie Likover.

 

ACWA/JPIA’s training representative will come to the district next week to conduct classes on the safe handling of asbestos/concrete pipe and on First Responder Awareness.  Staff noted that operators from the Bodega Bay water district also plan to attend.  In addition, the district has been asked to sign on to ACWA/JPIA’s Commitment to Excellence Program; the Board had no objection and directed staff to agendize this for action at an upcoming meeting.  Staff was pleased to report that the district has received a “Special Recogition Award” for losses of less than 20% in its property, liability and workers’ compensation programs.

 

Staff directed the Board’s attention to a letter from the East Shore Planning Group expressing concern about language in certain proposed  amendments to the regulations governing the State Land Commission which seems to grant the Commission “sovereign fee ownership” over tideland properties alog the shore of Tomales Bay that are owned by private parties.

 

On the wastewater side of operations, the current flows into the system are very low, averaging 12,000 – 22,000 gallons per day.  Finally, the Board reviewed correspondence sent and received since the last regularly scheduled Board meeting.

 

-- Drainage Project Manager’s Report.

 

The Board received a written report from the Draininage Project Manager.

 

4.    Community Expression.

 

Director Siedman said he would like to acknowledge the recent death of community member John Nassarah, a very important and beloved member of the Bolinas community.

 

5.   Request for Financial Relief from Quarterly Water Bill pursuant to BCPUD Resolution 553 – 231 Alder Road  (N. Heiner).

 

Director Smith said he contacted the plumber who performed the repair of the leak in question as the recount of the repair in the paperwork seems to suggest that perhaps the faucet was left on; however, he has not yet heard back from the plumber.  Directo Godino said she read the paperwork to suggest that perhaps the fixture at issue was a restaurant-like faucet which can be turned off at the fixture with a knob at the end of the faucet.  Director Smith said he would like to obtain clarification from the plumber before making a decision on this request.  Director Siedman directed staff to defer the item to the next meeting pending more information.

 

6.   Request for BCPUD Letter on Behalf of Community Members in Favor of the Use of Rodenticides to Eradicate Invasive Mice on the South Farallon Islands (G. Geupel).

 

Geoff Geupel thanked the Board for considering his draft letter and he briefly summarized its contents.  He said that because some of the Board members had concerns about the Department of Fish & Wildlife process in this matter, he addressed those concerns in written comments submitted with his draft letter.  Finally, he noted that the Department proceeded in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) in the drafting of the EIS for this project.  Director Smith said that he is bothered by the relationship between Island Conservation and the Department of Fish & Wildlife for the reasons set out in a recent article in the Huffingont Post questioning the ethics of allowing Island Conservation to be involved in drafting the EIS when it also is anticipated that Island Conservation will conduct the mice eradication program.   Director Smith said this appears to be a conflict of interest.  Geoff said he is not familiar with the Huffington Post article, but it is his understanding that Island Conservation will not  necessarily conduct the mice eradication program.

 

Director Amoroso said that the district’s initial letter on this topic stated that the Bolinas community opposes the use of rodenticides to eradicate invasive mice on the Farallon Islands; however, at the most recent meeting of the Board it was clear that there is not a community consensus on this topic.  Director Amoroso said the Board should say it withdraws its objection to the use of rodenticides (since it is not clear what the community’s position is) and leave it at that;  the district also should say that if the issue remains unresolved as the November 2014 election approaches, it ­may include an advisory question on ballot for the community to express its views.  

 

Director Siedman said that the BCPUD Board meetings provide a forum for the community to express its views; the BCPUD Board need not take a position on the merits of any particular topic but rather should convey the views of the community.  Director Comstock stated that the Board should clarify that there does not appear to be a consensus in the community in favor of or in opposition to the use of rodenticides to eradicate mice on the Farallon Islands; he said the Board should not withdraw its first letter but rather issue a clarification.  Discussion ensued about the draft letter submitted by Mr. Geupel and members of the audience offered potential revisions to that letter.   Jennie Pfieffer said the letter should be kept simple and should merely state that there is no consensus on this topic in the community; Arline Matthews agreed.   Directo Godino said that if part of the Board’s function is to express community opinion, since the Board conveyed one opinion, it should express the other opinion in this letter and not simply state there is no consensus.  Director Siedman summarized the collective suggested comments about the draft letter and read potential revisions to the letter for consideration; he noted the letter  will close by saying that the BCPUD Board takes no position on the merits of the topic but functions to convey the views of the community

 

V. Amoroso/L. Comstock           all in favor                   to send the letter as revised during the meeting.

 

7.    Review and Consideration of Bids – Replacement of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Control Panels and Related Electrical and Piping Upgrades Project.

.

     Staff reported that the district received only two bids for the project:  Blocka Construction submitted a bid in the amount of $195,130 and Fort Bragg Electric submitted a bid of $199,390, both of which are more than the engineer’s estimate.   Staff recommended that the Board reject both bids as not being in the best interest of the district and direct staff to evaluate the project for cost reduction opportunities.

 

D. Smith/L. Comstock   all in favor         to reject all bids as not being in the best interest of the district and to direct staff to evaluate the project for cost reduction opportunities.

 

8.   Water Supply Update: Water Conservation and Dry Year Water Use Reduction Program; Community Mailer.

 

Staff reminded the Board that last month staff reported that the district is experiencing conditions similar to those it experienced five years ago (in 2009) when it imposed mandatory rationing.  Specifically, the 2013-14 winter thus far is very dry and this dry winter follows an exceedingly dry 2013 calendar year.  Staff reported last month that consumption in the district was averaging 70,000 – 80,000 gallons per day (far below the historic average of approximately 104,000 gallons per day), which is less than the ration amount imposed in 2009, but staff expressed concern that as the days lengthen and the weather warms, consumption will rise.  Staff reported that if consumption returns to its historic averge of 104,000 gallons per day and creek flows hold as-is, the district will be out of stored water by August 25, 2014; if the creek flows dry up tomorrow, the district will be out of stored water in approximately 120 days.

 

Since the January Board meeting, 2013 officially has been declared the driest year in recorded history in California.  Bolinas has received 5.6 inches of rain since July 1, 2013; during the same time the prior year ( which also was a relatively dry year), Bolinas had received 17.3 inches of rain.   The district currently has approximately 32 acre feet (or 10 million gallons) of stored water in its reservoirs.  Worrisomely, consumption is creeping up; thus far in January, consumption is averaging approximately 85,000 gallons per day and the district has used 458,888 gallons of its stored water to meet hit demand.   No significant rain is in the national weather forecast; instead, a persistent ridge of high pressure has diverted storms off of their usual path for the last 13 months.  Staff emphasized that the district needs to take action now to reduce the amount of stored water it is drawing from its reservoirs.

 

Staff therefore recommended that the Board adopt the proposed Water Conservation and Dry Year Water Use Reduction Program and direct staff to issue a mailer to inform the community about the need to conserve and conduct targeted outreach to high water users.  The Program is designed to be simple and easily understood:  it has two stages (1) Heightened Voluntary Conservation Alert and (2) Mandatory Rationing.  Unlike most communities, Bolinas is in an on-going water emergency (which prompted the imposition of the water moratorium many years ago); now, however, even greater vigilance is needed in light of the extreme drought conditions.   Staff proposed that the Heightened Voluntary Conservation Alert Stage be triggered based the following three criteria:  10 million gallons of water or less in storage, staff assessement of creek flows relative to historic conditions, and/or consumption patterns.   Staff recommended the district request a 25% reduction in historic consumption levels to 78,000 gallons per day (which is 132 gallons per day per customer)  by eliminating ALL landscapre irrigation (including hand watering) and eliminating water waste.  The objective is to preserve the district’s stored water supply at sufficient levels to make it 300 – 365 days until next winter’s rains start; staff is assuming for purposes of these recommendations that the district will not receive any additional rain until November 2014.  If the community is able to achieve this heightened level of conservation, it will enable the district to defer the imposition of  mandatory rationing – such rationing will be triggered under the program by the following three criteria:  8 million gallons of water or less in storage, staff assessment of creek flows, and/or consumption patterns.   At this point in time, the district may be 30 – 60 days away from mandatory rationing.

 

Chief Operator Bill Pierce confirmed that the district’s water supply is very dependent on the creek flows and he said he has never seen it this dry in Bolinas.  A significant unknown is what will happen to those creek flows once the growing season for the lush Arroyo Hondo valley begins.  Staff is not able to predict right now where the creek levels will be in October, for example, which often is the highest consumption period in the district.  As such, it is critical that heightened conservation begin now;  it will take a serious community effort.

 

Director Amoroso noted that there is a groundwater aquifer tapped by the irrigation well installed at the Resource Recovery site several years ago; although some of that water is committed to Mesa Park and existing uses at the Resource Recovery site, he suggested that staff should explore the process and costs involved for the district to treat and use this water to supplement its water supply.  He acknowledged that the district already is assessing the water quantity present in this aquifer via its water supply study, but said it also should look in at the water quality.  Director Amoroso further remarked that most of the district’s water quality problems in terms of the chlorine disinfection byproducts are a result of using the reservoir water that is high in organics; he suggested that the use of ground water may be a way to resolve that problem, too. 

 

Director Siedman asked if staff will recommend a specific ration amount of water per household as it did in 2009.  Staff said that it will do so if necessary, but the specific amount will be determined via a resolution process similar to the one the Board enacted in 2009.  For now, staff recommends that the Board adopt the Water Conservation and Dry Year Water Use Reduction Program effective immediately, approve the customer mailer and direct staff to conduct targeted outreach to the district’s highest water users.   Discussion ensued and in response to questions from the Board, staff estimated that the district loses more water via leaks at customer properties than it does via leaks on the district’s infrastructure since the later are detected and addressed almost immediately, whereas customer leaks can go on for weeks or months before they are detected.   Staff agreed to include an insert in the customer mailer about how to read a water meter/how to detect leaks.   Director Comstock inquired whether the staff  should read meters monthly in order to catch potential leaks more quickly, although he recognized this would be a significant burden on staff time.  Staff said that the reason behind the recommendation to target high water users and request more significant reductions is to use staff time as efficiently as possible and recommended the district defer consideration of monthly meter reading at this time due to the amount of staff time involved.  Remick Hart suggested that a volunteer committee could be assembled to assist the district with water conservation efforts; director Siedman said this suggestion could be discussed during the volunteer committee section of the meeting agenda.  Director Godino said that other means of customer outreach might be effective to encourage conservation, as well, such as a StuArt sign at the entrance to town.

 

V. Amoroso/G. Godino             all in favor         to adopt the Water Conservation and Dry Year Water Use Reduction Program.

 

D. Smith/V. Amoroso    all in favor         to approve the community mailer.

 

9.   Resolution 627:  Clarifying Process for Board of Directors’ Determination of  the Amount of Water Use Allowed For Conditional  Expanded Water Use Permits.

 

Director Siedman explained that Nick Jacobs, counsel to the district, is present via telephone during this agenda item.  Director Siedman said that the resolution to be discussed is intended to codify an existing Board practice of allocating the amount of water granted under conditional expanded water use permits based on the community average water usage when there is no representative historical water usage for the meter in question, such as where the house has been vacant for a long period of time.

 

Director Smith said this this seems to be an opportunity for the Board to examine the fairest basis of allocating  water amounts when approving conditional expanded water use permits.   He said he has always been uncomfortable with applying the historic use because it rewards water wasters and punishes water conservers.  He suggested it would be more appropriate for private homes to be granted a reasonable fixed amount of water, such as two hundred gallons per day, and for nonresidential properties with legitimate public-serving purposes, such as the Coast Café or the Gibson house, to be allocated water on a different basis based on their legitimate needs and the available water supply.  He said this approach would be more fair; he also suggested that the district’s tiered water rate structure perhaps should be revised for entities with public-serving purposes so that those entities don’t get punished with extremely high water bills.

 

Nick Jacobs stated that the district has broad powers to determine water usage under emergency circumstances, but any change in the district’s rules or any change in application of the existing rules should not result in a situation where the community’s water supply is at risk of being overtapped more than it already is.  Director Siedman inquired whether the district would need to make a finding to that effect in each such case and Nick Jacobs confirmed that the district should do so.  Director Amoroso commented that the district already made an exception to the tiered rate structure for the laundry mat because it made the determination that the laundry mat actually reduces the community’s overall water use as a result of its extremely efficient machines.  He said he does not support generally revising the tiered water rates because those rates strongly reward water conservation and punish water wasters.  Finally, he urged the Board tonight to pass the resolution before it to codify its existing practice; to the extent the Board wishes to further revise its expanded water use permit procedures, he said it should establish a committee to do so. 

 

Matt Lewis asked director Smith how his proposed approach would deal with future public recreational uses, such as swimming pools.  Director Smith said he is proposing that for any expanded water use permit applicant, if that applicant is a private resident the Board will allow a fixed amount of water (rather than apply the historical average water use) and if that applicant is a public-serving entity, the Board will make a finding as to the reasonable amount of water to allow under the circumstances.  He explained that this will allow the Board the discretion to assign a higher allotment to a public-serving entity, provided that it won’t burden the district’s ability to serve  its customers, and that this is is more fair than awarding water use based on the historic amount used.   Nick Jacobs reiterated that any approach adopted by the Board must not jeapordinze the district’s ability to provide water to existing customers, reserve a sufficient amount in emergency storage, meet firefighting needs, and so forth and the Board should make factual findings on these points.

 

Director Comstock said he agrees with director Amoroso that the Board should focus tonight on codifying its existing practice because director Smith’s proposal is a huge topic that needs careful analysis.  He said he agrees that the district’s approach should be based on fairness, but that the Board needs to carefully assess and consider any unintended consequences of changing its existing approach of allocating water use under conditional  expanded water use permits.   Director Siedman reiterated that the resolution before it simply ratifies existing practice and clearly articulates this as Board policy.   Director Smith inquired whether passing this resolution tonight precludes a different approach toward expanded water use permits in the future; director Siedman said no, it does not -- the Board always can amend its practice in the future but it should get this resolution in place while the Board considers other approaches.

 

V. Amoroso/L. Comstock             all in favor      to approve Resolution 627 to clarify the process for the Board’s determination of the amount of water use allowed for conditional expanded water use permits.

 

10. Local Agency Formation Commission of Marin County (“LAFCO”) Countywide Water Municipal Service Review: Notice of Study and Request for Information.

 

Staff explained that LAFCO is conducting a County-wide municipal service review of the water districts and has requested specific information from each of the districts; staff summarized the district’s draft response to each of the topic areas in the LAFCO questionnaire and requested the Board’s approval of the response.

 

L. Comstock/D. Smith   all  in favor       to approve the BCPUD’s response to LAFCO’s request for information.

 

11. BCPUD Response to Marin County Civil Grand Jury Request for Completion of “Sanitation Agencies Survey”.

 

V. Amoroso/D. Smith    all in favor        to approve the BCPUD’s response to Marin County Civil Grand Jury Request for Completion of a “Sanitation Agencies Survey”.

 

12. Letter of Authorization from National Park Service to Continue Terms and Conditions of BCPUD’s Special Use Permit MSC-8530-6000-2006.

 

L. Comstock/D. Smith      all in favor      to approve the letter of authorization from the National Park Service to continue the terms and conditions of BCPUD’s special use permit MSC-8530-6000-2006.

 

13.  Election of BCPUD Board Officers/Committee Assignments.

 

G. Godino/L. Comstock             all in favor         to elect director Siedman as president of the Board and to elect director Amoroso as vice president of the Board.

 

Director Amoroso said that he is willing to step aside from his position on the finance committee if someone else wants to do it as he has been on the committee for more than 30 years.  Director Comstock said that he is interested in serving on the finance, operations and roads committees but is not seeking to have anyone currently on those committees step aside.   Director Godino said she would be happy to serve on the personnel and legal committees, as well as the ACWA/JPIA director position.  After a brief discussion, director Siedman said that if the other directors remain on their current committees,  directors Comstock and Godino become members of their preferred committees, and alternates are selected as discussed,  then the composition of the Board committees will be as follows:

 

Finance:  Amoroso and Comstock (Smith as alternate)

Legal: Siedman and Godino (Amoroso as alternate)

Mesa Septic, Flood Control and Roads:  Smith and Comstock (Siedman as alternate)

Operations:  Smith and Comstock (Amoroso as alternate)

Parks and Recreation:  Amoroso and Siedman  (Smith as alternate)   

Personnel:  Godino and Siedman (Comstock as alternate)

Sewer:  Amoroso and Smith (Siedman as alternate)

ACWA/JPIA Governing Board Member:  Godino

           

D. Smith/G. Godino       all in favor         to approve the above-listed BCPUD Board committee assignments.

 

14.  Approve Budget Schedule for the BCPUD’s Fiscal Year 2014-15 Budget.

 

D. Smith/G. Godino       all in favor         to approve the schedule for the district’s Fiscal Year 2014-15 budget.

 

Director Comstock said that he is concerned about the structure of the budget and whether the district is “under reserving” in light of its need to replace or rehabilitate its assets.  He said he will know more when the staff inventory of the district’s assets is complete, but he does not think the district should wait until the following year’s budget to start addressing this issue.  Director Amoroso said that there may well be a conflict within the finance committee on this topic; if so, the committee will need to bring the matter to the full Board for a decision, which he noted has never happened.  Director Amoroso suggested that if director Comstock has a specific budget proposal he would like to present, it would be helpful if he would do so.  Director Comstock said that although he knows the the staff is working on the asset inventory analysis, he is concerned that the staff will not be able to complete this work in time for the finance committee or Board to fully take it into consideration during this year’s budgetary process.   Director Godino said there may be sufficient data by the Spring to make decisions for the upcoming year and, as additional data comes in, additional decisions can be made.  Director Siedman said that whatever groundwork can be done at the finance committee level should be done by the Board members on that committee, and any conflicts or need for direction can be brought to the full Board.

 

15.  Volunteer Committee Reports

 

Director Sieman said he would like to discuss Remick Hart’s suggestion of a new committee to help the Board and staff assist the community with water conservation, such as how to read water meters.  Stockton Buck said he is concerned about a worst case scenario with the drought and the potential for wild fires.  Director Siedman said the Bolinas Disaster Council, headed by the Fire Department, was established to plan for exactly these scenarios.   After further discussion, the Board decided to call this committee the “Water Conservation Assistance Committee” and directed staff to put a notice in the Hearsay announcing the formation of this committee and requesting interested persons to apply.

 

-- Alternative Energy:   Director Smith said this committee report item can be removed from the Board’s regular agenda.

 

-- Bolinas Lagoon Advisory Committee:  Nothing to report.

 

-- Downtown Parking & Traffic Committee:  Nothing to report.

 

-- Resource Recovery:  Director Siedman noted that there is a recent County inspection report in the Board binders.

 

-- West Marin Mosquito Control Coordinating Council:   Director Siedman noted that former director Kimball served on this council and would like a Board member to replace her.  Director Amoroso suggested that two Board members agree to share this responsibility since the council meets two times per year.  Directors Godino and Amoroso agrees to do so.  Staff was requested to notify former director Kimball and seek her assistance in informing the council of the new Board members willing to serve.

 

-- Sewer Pond Land Management Committee:  Staff reported that the next meeting of the committee is scheduled for January 24th at 2:00 p.m.

 

16.          Other Business

 

a.       Board Committee Reports

 

-- Finance:   Nothing further to report.

 

-- Legal:  Director Siedman inquired whether the Legal Committee is the appropriate committee to evaluate the Expanded Water Use Permit process and potential revisions suggested by director Smith earlier in the meeting.  Director Amoroso said that he would favor the establishment of a special, ad hoc committee for this purpose.   Director Amoroso cautioned that issues relating to the expanded water use permit process arose during the litigation over the moritorium and should be reviewed as a part of any revisions to that process.   Director Comstock urged that the committee also consider a further revision of the tiered water rate structure to encourage further conservation at the highest consumption levels.  After a brief discussion, staff was directed to agendize the appointment of an ad hoc committee on the February meeting agenda.

 

-- Mesa Septic, Flood Control and Roads:   Nothing to report.

 

-- Operations:   Nothing to report.

 

-- Park and Recreation:  Director Amoroso reported that the most recent meeting of the Mesa Park Board of Directors was cancelled for lack of a quorum.  Staff reported that the coastal permit application for the installation of the Mesa Park Ballfield Irrigation and Public Restroom project is being processed by the County of Marin.

 

-- Personnel:  Nothing to report.

 

-- Sewer:    Director Smith said he has some ideas about the restructuring of the electrical control panel project that he would like to discuss with staff after it meets to evaluate the project for cost reduction opportunities.

 

b.       Minutes of the December 18, 2013 Regular Meeting.

 

L. Comstock/D. Smith          all in favor         to approve the minutes of the December 18, 2013 regular meeting.

 

c.       Warrants

 

V. Amoroso/D. Smith           all in favor         to approve the warrant list.

 

d.       Scheduling of Next Meeting(s) 

 

February 19, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

 

17.  Adjournment.

 

           10:27 p.m.