Bolinas Community Public Utility
District
A Regular Meeting
Of The Board Of Directors
January 16, 2013 270 Elm Road, Bolinas
MINUTES
1. Call to Order.
7: 32 p.m.
2. Roll.
Directors Amoroso, Kimball, Siedman and Smith; director
Bender absent. Director Siedman presiding.
3. Manager’s Report.
-- Update on the Terrace Avenue Water Main Relocation Project.
The district continues to await receipt of the amended
loan documentation for this project from the California Department of Public
Health (“CDPH”). CDPH staff has confirmed repeatedly that the loan
amendments have been approved and are under review by the state’s legal department.
Assuming that the documentation is received soon, staff plans to begin the
project in mid-March. A pre-construction site meeting is set for the
beginning of March. Staff also is coordinating with the Marin County’s
Department of Public Works to ensure that the project is installed prior
to the County’s planned paving in Bolinas this summer.
-- Update on the Terrace Avenue Bluff Stabilization Project.
Staff directed the Board’s attention to copies of drilling
permits issued by the County’s Environmental Health Services department for
the three borings at Surfer’s Overlook proposed by SAGE for the next phase
of the bluff stabilization project, which is planned for April 2013.
-- Update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Pump Station and Electrical Upgrade
Project.
West Yost is scheduled to conduct a site visit to the sewer ponds on January
24th in connection with the preparation of the engineering plans and specifications
for the relief pipe replacement.
Water consumption was up again slightly in the most recent quarter as compared
to the same time last year. In fact, the year-end total consumption
district-wide for 2012 is higher than 2009, for the first time since mandatory
rationing was imposed. Revenue from water sales also is up: the
district billed $125,804 in water sales for 2012 as compared to $99,552 in
2011. Staff commented that as long as consumption doesn’t increase
further, the district is at a good place overall since consumption is still
relatively low compared to historic (pre-rationing) levels and the district
is billing its budgeted amount in water sales.
The Board reviewed three notices of non-compliance sent to customers who
were out of compliance with the terms of their expanded water use permits
during the most recent quarter.
Staff continues to work on its project to reduce the levels of chlorine disinfection
byproducts in the district’s treated drinking water. Lewie Likover
and Director Smith have been meeting regularly to evaluate and model the
chemistry of the district’s water. Director Smith commented that the
district needs a more accurate measurement of the chlorine in the distribution
system. In addition, staff is communicating with the Inverness Public
Utility District (“IPUD”) about a nano-filtration unit IPUD is renting –
the unit removes additional organics post-filtration, which is another approach
to reducing chlorine disinfection byproducts. Staff noted that the
most recent quarterly lab testing of the district’s water chemistry indicated
high levels of TTHMs, which staff believes is due to the district’s use of
reservoir water (and consequent higher use of chlorine) during the winter
storms in December 2012.
The district is preparing for the commencement of the Terrace Avenue Water
Main Relocation Project this Spring. Specifically, staff is completing
the installation of a new water main for several homes on Hillside and assessing
the easement between Rafael and Park Avenues. The district will need
to remove encroaching vegetation and some trees that have grown in the easement
in order to ensure access to the water main there, particularly as this water
main will become the sole water source for the Little Mesa when the water
main on Terrace Avenue at Surfer’s Overlook is abandoned.
On the wastewater side of operations, staff is following-up with customers
to alert them about needed repairs to broken or cracked laterals that were
revealed in the district’s recent video-inspection of the collection system.
The affected customers have been very cooperative and are attempting to coordinate
their repairs and work with the same contractor to potentially reduce costs.
Staff also will be sending out letter to property owners on the lagoon side
of Wharf Road as the district has identified portions of laterals in this
area that need repair, as well.
The Board reviewed correspondence sent and received since the last
regular meeting, including an update by the San Francisco Bay Area Regional
Water Quality Control Board staff on proposed changes to the reporting requirements
under the state’s Sanitary Sewer Overflow order, a letter from CalPERS notifying
the district about changes to the employer contribution for the new fiscal
year, and a call for nominations for the LAFCO special district member.
-- Drainage Project Manager’s Report.
The Board reviewed a written report submitted by Drainage Project Manager
Lewie Likover.
4. Community Expression.
None.
5. Carlin Lot Line Adjustment (LL 13-4) -- Carlin (350
Ocean Parkway) and Tede (165 Rosewood Road).
Jon Carlin explained that he has a shed encroaching on his neighbor’s property;
he and his neighbor have agreed to do a lot line adjustment to resolve the
matter. The County has reviewed the property survey and appears to
have no objection to the proposed lot line adjustment. There
was no public comment on this agenda item.
6. Expanded Water Use Permit Application – 65 Crescente
Avenue (A. Saleh).
Keith Webster, a general contractor, was present on behalf of property owner
Alber Saheh. He told the Board that the planned remodel of the property
will result in a reduction of the current footprint of the house, as well
as a reduction in the number of bathrooms. After a brief discussion,
director Amoroso moved that the Board approve an unconditional expanded water
use permit. Director Kimball questioned whether the permit should be
conditional; director Amoroso said since there is no expansion of the home
footprint or of the number of number of bedrooms and bathrooms, there is
no demonstrated increase in water use to be anticipated – as such, the permit
should be unconditional.
V. Amoroso/D. Smith four in favor, director
Bender absent to approve an unconditional expanded water
use permit.
7. Request for BCPUD Letter to the County of Marin Regarding
the Dissolution of the Bolinas Lagoon Technical Advisory Committee. (C. O’Connor).
Rudi Ferris and Ralph Camiccia, both members of the new Bolinas Lagoon Advisory
Council (“BLAC”) were present to discuss this agenda item. They expressed
concern about issuing a letter now, before the new BLAC has had more than
one meeting; they said that while the dissolution of the Bolinas Lagoon
Technical Advisory Council was unfortunate, any complaints voiced now about
the BLAC would be based only on assumptions. Ralph noted that a “town
meeting” is planned for June 2013. In response to questions from the
Board, Ralph explained that under the former construct of the Bolinas Lagoon
Technical Advisory Committee, all members of the committee (including local
community representatives) had the same amount of “power”. Under the
new construct, a group of four agencies has all of the power: the County
of Marin, the Gulf of the Farallones, the Golden Gate National Recreation
Area (“GGNRA”) and the National Park Service (“NPS”). Ralph and
Rudi expressed concern that the local communities bordering the lagoon will
no longer have as much input on lagoon issues. Rudi gave the example
of the Ed Letter property – when he raised questions at the BLAC meeting
about the County’s plans for this property, he was told that local opinions
were not desired. Rudi and Ralph said it is not clear whether local
communities can have input on the BLAC agenda; the bylaws of the BLAC state
that the chair sets the agenda. The Board suggested that Rudi and Ralph
request an agenda item to discuss the disposition of the Ed Letter property
as this is an issue of significant local interest; if their request is denied,
they should come back to request a letter from the BCPUD Board at that time.
8. Approve Fats, Oils and Grease (“FOG”) Informational
Mailing to BCPUD customers.
V. Amoroso/B. Kimball four in favor,
director Bender absent to approve the Fats, Oils and Grease
Informational Mailing to BCPUD customers.
9. Approve Budget Schedule for the BCPUD’s Fiscal Year
2012-13 Budget.
Director Siedman noted that the Memorandum of Understanding with the staff
is up for renegotiation this year and that will have an impact on the budget;
staff was asked to present its proposal by February 5, 2013 if at all possible.
B. Kimball/V. Amoroso four in favor,
director Bender absent to approve the budget schedule.
10. Election of BCPUD Board Officers/Committee Assignments.
D. Smith/B. Kimball four in favor, director
Bender absent to reaffirm the existing slate of board officers
and committee assignments.
11. Update on Water Supply Augmentation Project.
Director Smith reported that the district is continuing to collect data from
the pressure transducer in the well at Resource Recovery.
12. Volunteer Committee Reports
-- Alternative Energy: Nothing to report.
-- Bolinas Lagoon Advisory Committee: Nothing further to report.
-- Community Path Update: Nothing to report.
-- Downtown Parking & Traffic Committee: Nothing to report.
-- Resource Recovery: The Board reviewed recent compost test results
from Analytical Sciences.
-- West Marin Mosquito Control Coordinating Council: Director
Kimball reported that the council met on December 3, 2012 and has a new member
from Stinson Beach. Also, director Kimball said she just learned that
council member Natalie Gates from the National Park Service has been promoted
to be the superintendent of Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui.
Director Kimball said she would like to write a letter of appreciation to
Ms. Gates for the BCPUD approval at the February meeting. Director
Amoroso recommended instead that the letter be circulated via e-mail for
any objections.
13. Other Business
a. Board Committee Reports
-- Finance: Nothing further to report.
-- Legal: Nothing to report.
-- Mesa Septic, Flood Control and Roads: Nothing to report.
-- Operations: Nothing to report.
-- Park and Recreation: Director Amoroso expressed concern that Mesa
Park has not yet been able to locate documentation to support the match in
the proposed budget for the irrigation project. Director Siedman said
he would follow-up. Staff reported that Superintendent Larry Enos has
inquired if Mesa Park intends to place a measure on the ballot in June for
a renewed parcel tax. The school is considering when to place its parcel
tax measure on the ballot and would like to coordinate with Mesa Park.
Staff was directed to suggest that Mr. Enos confer with Mesa Park board member
Patricia Hickey.
-- Personnel: Nothing further to report.
-- Sewer: Nothing to report.
b. Minutes of the December 19, 2012 Regular Meeting.
Director Amoroso offered a clarifying correction to the minutes of the December
19, 2012 regular meeting.
D. Smoth/B. Kimball four in favor, director Bender absent
to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2012 regular meeting.
c. Warrants
D. Smith/B. Kimball four in favor, director
Bender absent to approve the warrant list.
d. Scheduling of Next Meeting(s)
February 20, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
14. Adjournment.
9:12 p.m.