Bolinas Community Public Utility District
A Regular Meeting Of The Board Of Directors
January 18, 2006 270 Elm Road, Bolinas
1. Call to Order
7:30 p.m.
2. Roll
Directors Amoroso, Kimball, McClellan, Siedman and Smith present; Director
Siedman presiding.
3. Manager’s Report
Staff reported that the BCPUD’s systems performed well during the severe
New Year’s Eve weekend storms, with no interruption of services to the district’s
customers. While monitoring the district’s systems over the holiday
weekend, BCPUD staff worked with Disaster Council and Fire Protection District
volunteers to help distribute sand bags and assist with flood control efforts
downtown. The storm did cause damage to the Arroyo Honda watershed
that will require a significant expenditure of time and resources to remediate;
the damage consists primarily of landslides, destroyed or damaged culverts,
undermining of the access road and siltation of the upper dam. Staff
has filed the requisite storm damage assessment with the County Office of
Emergency Services to document the status of the Arroyo Honda watershed,
as well as the damage to local roads, including Terrace and Wharf, and significant
bluff erosion. Following the storm, the district temporarily drew its
water supply from the Woodrat reservoir until staff was able to complete
sufficient clean-up in the watershed to reestablish the lower dam.
The water distribution system experienced a break in the waterline at the
end of Oak Road on December 26th . Staff abandoned the line up to the
top of Oak Road and, with the approval of affected customers, plans to reestablish
service for the two customers at the end of Oak Road via the hydrant on Nymph
Road.
Staff met recently with the district managers of North Marin Municipal Water
District and the Inverness Public Utility District in connection with the
grant recently awarded to the Tomales Bay Watershed Council to prepare an
Integrated Coastal Watershed Management Plan. The planning grant envisions
significant participation by West Marin water and utility districts to assess
existing water supply and operations demands; identify mutually agreeable
solutions to address issues such as lack of storage capacity, impacts of
water withdrawal, water supply reliability, water quality, water delivery,
and flood control; implement municipal stormwater management strategies;
and engage in septic system education and outreach. Staff will continue to
regularly update the Board during the Plan development process, which is
anticipated to take place over the next 18 months.
Staff met recently with property owners at the end of Brighton Road to discuss
reestablishing the vegetation located in the BCPUD easement which was burned
in the fire that occurred there last summer. Staff apprised the
Board of the property owners’ garden design plans, including the installation
of a fence at the top of the slope, and conveyed the owners’ request that
BCPUD pay for the planned garden “hardscaping” (e.g., installation of rock
wall terraces). After some discussion, the Board concluded it had no
objection to the construction of the fence, but that the district could not
pay for the requested hardscaping. The Board agreed that the
district could donate erosion control cloth and/or up to $200 toward the
purchase of ground cover to be planted on the slope and staff was directed
to convey this offer to the property owners.
Tom Ridder of Empire Waste Management contacted the BCPUD the prior week
regarding the company’s requested rate increase. Mr. Ridder stated
that the company’s community liaison, Sadonna Cody, resigned from her employment;
accordingly, the company needs more time to assemble the financial information
requested by the Board. Mr. Ridder indicated that he will inform the
BCPUD as soon as Ms. Cody’s replacement is on board and the financial information
is ready for distribution.
BCPUD received revised building plans from Pam Whitehead for her proposed
single family residence at 271 Poplar Avenue. The Board directed staff
to request an extension of time in which to respond to the revised plans
from February 3, 2006 to February 17, 2006 in order to allow time for the
matter to be considered at the February 15, 2006 regular meeting. If
the extension is not granted for any reason, the Board agreed to convene
a Special Meeting on February 1, 2006 to consider the revised building plans.
Staff updated the Board on correspondence sent and correspondence received
by the district since the last regular meeting of the Board.
- Drainage Project Manager’s Report
Drainage Project Manager Lewie Likeover reported that he has met with more
than 30 Bolinas residents since the last Board meeting and assisted them
with their drainage-related concerns, including but not limited to locating
and cleaning out culverts. Lewie currently is developing a culvert
management program. He reported that Overlook Road residents are particularly
interested in drainage and this is an area he plans to focus on in the Spring.
Staff intend to schedule a meeting with County Department of Public Work
personnel to discuss the installation of culverts at the proper levels along
Overlook Road to facilitate drainage. Lewie also met with former volunteer
committee member Andy Blake, who produced an annotated drainage map (now
hanging in the BCPUD offices) and highlighted areas of concern to discuss
with the County Surveyor. Director Smith is attempting to schedule
a meeting with the County Surveyor for the purpose of reaching agreement
upon the extent and cost of the survey work to be done for the BCPUD on the
Big Mesa; this survey work is a necessary part of the implementation
of the Todd drainage plan.
Lewie reported that he has been measuring peak stream flows on Alder Creek;
he has confirmed that a significant amount of the flow into lower Alder comes
from areas of the Mesa other than Larch right-of-way. Lewie is working
with local resident Rob Gailey, who is a professional hydrologist, to map
water flows and quantities. Lewie believes on the basis of the information
gathered to date that some of the water now reaching the Alder Creek can
be diverted earlier on the Mesa to other watersheds (such as the north side
of Poplar Avenue) and lessen the impact on the lower Alder Creek. Finally,
Lewie reported that he has met with numerous bluff zone residents who are
concerned about the Todd Plan recommendation that surface water be directed
toward the bluffs; this particular recommendation is not advisable
and should be reexamined because it may well exacerbate existing erosion.
4. Community Expression
Matt Lewis commented that the damage Bolinas experienced from the recent
storms should serve as a reminder to all residents about the need to undertake
drainage work. For example, he noted that the drainage ditches around
the BCPUD sewer pond property should be recut and the flow on the south side
toward Marin Way should be assessed. Matt suggested that the work throughout
Bolinas that should be done is likely beyond the current financial ability
of the BCPUD; he urged that a ballot measure be considered to raise
additional funds.
Director Amoroso offered a correction to the current issue of the Pipeline,
which states that the West Marin Mosquito Control Committee (“WMMCC”) placed
Measure E on the November 2005 ballot. Director Amoroso said that the
BCPUD, not the WMMCC, placed the measure on the ballot.
5. Volunteer Committee Reports
-- Alternative Energy: Nothing to report. Director Kimball observed
that the committee should regroup; she suggested that Director Smith
and Bolinas resident Tom Williard should be invited to participate in committee
meetings and contribute their expertise.
-- Beach: Nothing to report.
-- Community Paths Group: Nothing to report
-- Downtown Parking and Traffic: Update on plans for February 7, 2006
Community Meeting. Director Amoroso said that the
committee has planned a meeting to be held at the Bolinas Community Center
as a further outreach effort to the community to explain the plan and answer
questions before the committee undertakes plan implementation.
-- West Marin Mosquito Control Committee: Nothing to report.
Director Siedman noted that the Board has received a letter from Stacey Henderson
inquiring about the status of the committee under the Brown Act. Specifically,
her letter notes that if the committee is a BCPUD committee, then its meetings
should be held within—and not outside of--the district; alternatively,
if the committee has become a West Marin committee, it should be officially
separated from the BCPUD. After some discussion, the Board directed
staff to prepare a response to Stacey confirming that the BCPUD’s ultimate
intention is that the committee become a West Marin committee, apart from
the BCPUD; the committee has changed its name and is reaching out to
other West Marin districts and entities to expand participation.
-- West Nile Virus Task Force: Director Kiimball reported that
the next meeting of the Task Force will take place in March; she also
plans to attend the national West Nile Virus conference in San Francisco
and will report on that proceeding.
-- Resource Recovery: Financial report for December 2005. The
Board received the December 2005 financial report. Staff reported that
the Resource Recovery Project (“RRP “) soon will have fully repaid its debt
to the BCPUD for the purchase of the tractor, which reduce its month expenses
by $1,500. In addition, Supervisor Kinsey has agreed that the County
will reimburse the RRP for the most recent grind conducted at the site, which
cost $5,850. Finally, RRP has applied for a grant of $250,000 to purchase
its own tub grinder which, if obtained, will further reduce operating expenses.
6. Request from Bolinas Fire Protection District to relocate
the above-ground fuel tank to the BCPUD corporation yard on Elm Road.
Fire Chief Anita Tyrell-Brown stated that subsequent to her submittal of
a written request to the BCPUD to relocate the above-ground fuel tank to
the BCPUD corporation yard, she has had further discussions with BCPUD staff
and would like to amend her request to locate the tank to the sewer pond
property, inside the fence near the irrigation pumps. She explained
that her ultimate intent is to obtain County approval to leave the tank at
the Fire District site; it is a triple containment tank that is suitable
for locating inside a building and the County’s objection to its current
location, in Anita’s opinion, is unreasonable. However, the Fire District
site currently is not accessible by the school bus in any event while the
construction is underway. Accordingly, the Fire District would like
to move the tank, at least temporarily, to the sewer pond site. Anita emphasized
that the Fire District will be responsible for all costs associated with
the relocation of the tank, including maintenance of the road on BCPUD property
to the tank relocation site.
Director Amoroso expressed concern as to whether the berms that form the
sewage treatment ponds are engineered to withstand the increased, heavy vehicular
traffic that would occur if the tank is relocated near the irrigation pumps;
he also noted that the Regional Water Quality Control Board would need to
be informed about the proposed tank relocation. On the other hand, Director
Amoroso said that he prefers the sewer pond site to the corporation yard
site because it will minimize the impact on residential neighborhoods. Director
Smith suggested that any impact to the berms could be monitored by Fire District
and BCPUD staff over time. Discussion ensued during which the Directors
expressed a general willingness to work with the Fire District to temporarily
relocate the tank, but they urged Anita to seek permission from the County
to permanently locate the tank back at the Firehouse. Directors expressed
support for another possible lot line adjustment, if such would be necessary
to obtain County permission to locate the tank at the Firehouse. Anita
thanked the Board and agreed to work further with BCPUD staff to finalize
a specific proposal for the tank relocation, including details as to whether
the relocation is temporary or permanent, and details regarding the Fire
District’s financial commitment to the tank relocation.
7. Appointment of a BCPUD representative -- Moritz Stream
Conservation Area Management Plan implementation
Director Siedman noted that the Board received a letter from Cela O’Connor
urging the Board to appoint the General Manager to serve as the BCPUD representative
and further noted that Bolinas resident Tony Lewis also expressed an interest
in serving as the representative. Tony confirmed his interest in the
position and emphasized the environmental significance of the Pine Gulch
Creek watershed. Director Kimball said that she was contacted by the
Environmental Action Committee (“EAC”) to urge the BCPUD to include the National
Park Service in the Stream Conservation Area Management Plan implementation
process; the EAC strongly supports protecting the Pine Gulch Creek from the
deleterious impacts of cattle grazing. Doug Gallagher expressed concern
about the potential impacts on the creek to farmers downstream from the cattle
grazing on the Moritz property. Cela O’Connor stated that the Local
Coastal Plan specified a 100 foot setback for cattle grazing from any creeks
and urged the Board to push for such a set back in this instance. After
further discussion, Director Siedman asked for a motion.
V. Amoroso/J. McClellan all in favor
to appoint the General Manager to serve as the BCPUD representative, with
assistance from Director Kimball and to consult as needed with the National
Park Service.
8. 261 Larch Road – County Environmental Health Services
Department
Director Siedman observed that the Board received a letter from Debbi Beckman,
who lives at 261 Larch Road. Director McClellan stated that he had
placed this item on the Board agenda because he believes Ms. Beckman was
not well-served by the County’s Environmental Health Services Department
in connection with the recent upgrade to her septic system and he wants to
raise the issue with the Department Head, Phil Smith. Director Siedman
said he received a call from Ms. Beckman stating that she does not want this
item on the agenda or for her name to be used in connection with any BCPUD
communication to the County. After further discussion, during which
various directors emphasized Ms. Beckman’s desire not to be involved, the
Board resolved not to pursue the matter.
9. Status of County Inspection/Enforcement – Kidson property
Staff reported on recent conversations with County Senior Code Enforcement
Officer Debbie Poiani regarding the status of the path constructed on the
Kidson property and its virtual destruction during the recent storms.
Ms. Poiani referred the matter to the Coastal Commission for an opinion and
the Coastal Commission staff has determined that a coastal permit should
have been obtained for the path construction; accordingly, Ms. Poiani
has informed Mr. Kidson that he must either remove the rock, rebar, wood
and gravel that he installed, or seek a coastal permit. Ms. Poiani
advised BCPUD staff that she also has inquired about the status of the drainage
plan and biological assessment that Mr. Kidson had promised to do and requested
an update. In addition, County Department of Public Works engineer
Dave Mickelson visited the Kidson property the prior week to inspect numerous
slides reported by Bolinas residents on and near the path. Mr. Mickelson
consulted with John Wooley, a former county engineer who is very familiar
with the bluff site. Mr. Mickelson concluded that because the entire
hillside is known to be geologically unstable and because of the severity
of the recent storms, it is unlikely that path alone was the sole cause of
the slides. Ms. Poiani has apprised Mr. Kidson of Mr. Mickelson’s visit
and instructed him to commence immediate erosion control measures.
Following discussion of the report, the Board directed staff to request copies
of all correspondence sent by the County to Mr. Kidson in connection with
Ms. Poiani’s enforcement activities and to thank Ms. Poiani for the determination
that a coastal permit was required for the path construction.
10. Other Business
a. Board Committee Reports
-- Finance: Quarterly Financial Report. The Board received
the quarterly financial report. Staff reported that a draft 2006-2007
budget and schedule will be distributed at the February meeting. Director
Kimball requested and received Board approval to be reimbursed the $250 registration
fee she incurred for the upcoming national West Nile Virus conference.
-- Legal: Nothing to report.
-- Mesa Septic, Flood Control and Roads: Noting to report.
-- Operations: Nothing to report.
-- Park and Recreation: Director Siedman reported that the Mesa Park
Board is working with wastewater specialist Bonnie Jones to amend the RWQCB
permit to reduce anticipated operating expenses of the wastewater reclamation
project.
-- Personnel: Staff reported the resignation of Administrative Assistant
Julie Beach effective January 10, 2006. The Board referred the new
hire process to the Personnel Committee
-- Sewer: Director Smith reported that he and Andy Blake
recently traveled to the East Bay to observe an alternative (pilot) water
reclamation project that is potentially much less expensive than the project
currently planned for the Mesa Park site. Bonnie Jones is analyzing
the system and developing a recommendation for the Mesa Park Board.
b. Minutes of December 21, 2005 Regular Meeting.
Director Kimball offered minor corrections to the December minutes.
D. Smith/J. McClellan all in favor to
approve the December 21, 2005, as amended per Director Kimball’s suggestions.
c. Warrants
B. Kimball / V. Amoroso all in favor to approve
the warrant list.
d. Scheduling of Next Meeting(s)
Potential Special Meeting on February 1, 2006 to consider revised Whitehead
building plans. Next Regular Meeting will be February 15, 2006.
Adjournment
11:07 p.m.