Bolinas Community Public Utility District
A Regular  Meeting  Of  The Board  Of  Directors          
             
March 23, 2005      270 Elm Road, Bolinas   

     
1.  Call to Order: 7:30pm

2.  Roll / Announcement Regarding March 3, 2005 and March 22, 2005 closed sessions (personnel matters)

Directors Amoroso, Kimball, McClellan, Siedman and Smith present

Board President Jack Siedman announced there had been closed sessions on March 3 and March 22, 2005 during which no action was taken.

3.    Manager’s Report

Board members received a draft Pipeline containing the 2004 Consumer Confidence Report. The report will be sent to all customers in the upcoming water bill mailing.

Board members received a photograph of a hazardous tree at Cedar and Poplar Roads, reported by local resident Stacey Henderson. Staff will have the hazard removed right away.

Director Kimball asked if there had been any feedback about the Notice of Disinfectant By-Product Violation mailed to customers. Staff reported there has been none known.

Director Smith asked about whether the inspection of the BCPUD building septic system had occurred. Staff reported that Marin County Environmental Health consultant, Kit Rosefield, recently tried to inspect the system. He found the soil saturated from the recent rainfall and advised the tests could not be properly performed under such conditions. He will return later in the year, when the earth is dry, to make a detailed inspection and report on the system’s condition.

Matt Lewis suggested a drainage plan for the BCPUD building could help alleviate some of the ground saturation.

Director Amoroso noted that once the Board receives Mr. Rosefield’s inspection report and recommendations, appropriate action could then be taken.
 
4.    Community Expression

Audience member Jeff Commons praised Chief Wastewater Operator Kate Curry’s recent repairs performed on a late-night major leak that occurred on Mesa Road.

5.    Volunteer Committee Reports

--Alternative Energy: nothing to report

--Beach: Magi Barror introduced Stinson Beach Village Association Bruce Wachtel who suggested that Bolinas and Stinson work together to address the unwanted behaviors taking place on both town’s beaches. Unified solutions to beach camping, sanitation problems, safety, parking and traffic regulation enforcement and other issues would be helpful for both towns since eliminating problems on one beach could inadvertently increase problems on the neighboring beach.

Mr. Barror then noted Cela O’Connor’s March 22, 2005 letter about her recent meeting with Ron Miska of the Marin County Open Space District. As a result of the meeting, her letter stated that the County of Marin is contacting the Coastal Commission to begin the process of accepting the nine Offers to Dedicate (OTD) within Bolinas’ downtown beach. Mr. Barror expressed his preference that the Beach Committee continue their work before separate actions of this type take place. Director Smith said he too wished for the Beach Committee to address issues first and that their resulting recommendations then be offered to the Board.
Director Amoroso suggested that BCPUD ask the County not to accept the offers to dedicate at this time, while the Beach Committee is still working, especially because Stinson Beach may be joining efforts to find solutions of mutual benefit. He further noted that the OTD’s do not expire until March, 2007, which allows plenty of time to work out the best solutions to protect the beach. 

Staff will write a letter to the County requesting that they not accept the OTD’s now and noting that the Beach Committee will be continuing its work and will report findings and recommendations for the BCPUD Board’s review. The Board will then work with the County as needed.

--Downtown Parking and Traffic: John Norton noted there is a general lack of law enforcement in downtown Bolinas. He noted the recent example of a good-weather weekend in town where streets were crowded with illegally parked cars to the point that Terrace Avenue and other areas of town were impassable for emergency vehicles. A letter is currently being drafted by the committee asking for consistent enforcement of all parking and traffic regulations, especially on weekends. He further noted that the committee is considering educating visitors that parking and traffic regulations will be enforced.

Director Amoroso suggested that the request to enforce traffic and parking laws in Bolinas be sent under BCPUD letterhead.

Director Smith suggested that current Bolinas parking fines be increased to more effectively deter illegal parking. He has received feedback that some people consider the price of a parking ticket, approximately $19.00, a fair price for parking illegally as if it were just a reasonable expense to use the beach.  He offered the example of Muir Beach’s $63.00 parking fine and suggested a similar fine in Bolinas would be a deterrent.

Director Amoroso noted that because of the efforts of the Bolinas Fire Protection District, fines were raised to $63.00 at the immediate entrances to the downtown beach and that raising general parking fines is part of the committee’s plan.

--Mesa Drainage: Matt Lewis noted that ground saturation is so high due to the recent rains that work has been postponed until dryer weather. He presented board members with a drawing and preliminary report for a bridge, strong enough for the weight of emergency vehicles, spanning Dogwood at Evergreen. A budget for the project is forthcoming.

--Mosquito and Vector Control Committee:  Chairperson Doctor Elizabeth Goldblatt announced that Bobbi Kimball has been appointed committee secretary. The next meeting will be held Tuesday, March 29th, 2004 at the BCPUD building. A list of requested documents and information has been sent to Jim Wanderscheid, District Manager of the Marin-Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District for the committee to review in preparation for an upcoming meeting with Mr. Wanderscheid. Dr. Goldblatt further noted that Katarina Sandozal has been elected to the Marin-Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District and that there is still one seat vacant on the District’s Board of Directors.

--Resource Recovery: Directors received copies of the project’s February, 2005 financial report.

--West Nile Task Force:  April 25th to May 1st is Mosquito Awareness Week

6. Request for Expanded Water Use Permit Variance: Crane   185 Kale
 
Board members received a copy of David Crane’s request for a variance increasing the water allocation at 185 Kale Road from 800 cubic feet per quarter to 3500 cubic feet per quarter. Mr. Crane demolished the existing structures at 185 Kale Road to make way for the new project. The water usage has been abnormally low because the property has been largely uninhabited for the past few years while planning and construction occurred. Mr. Crane’s letter noted that water usage of 3500 cubic feet per quarter would more properly cover water needs now that the property will be occupied  frequently.

McClellan/Amoroso    all in favor   to approve a variance to increase the maximum quarterly allowance to 2500 cubic feet per quarter, with a finding that strict application of Resolution 173, section 6 would be unfair in this instance because the base usage was atypical of the average usage for a single family dwelling. 

7.  Use Permit Application  (UP 05-28): Hart. 14 Terrace

Dean and Kathleen Hart are requesting a Use Permit to demolish a 245 square foot existing detached garage and replace it with a 336 square foot detached garage in the same location.

The Board had no further comment.

8. Community Wireless Networking Proposal
   
    Tom Willard presented a detailed report about Internet access in Bolinas. With only a few exceptions, Bolinas residents are limited to using regular phone lines to communicate on the Internet. The rates of data transfer using regular phone lines is slow enough to render most Internet activities, besides the transferring of small email files, nearly impossible. The lack of broadband here is interfering with the operations of many Bolinas home-based businesses, merchants, telecommuters, and limiting some of the communication needs of local utility, safety and fire operations. Mr. Willard noted several different viable options for bringing broadband to Bolinas along with associated very reasonable and competitive costs. For example, Horizon Cable, which currently serves, Point Reyes and Stinson Beach would be willing to serve Bolinas customers if the town could deliver a minimum of 200 accounts.

    Joel Braverman noted that the various broadband access methods under consideration emit far less radiation than the common cell phone.

    Several directors noted considerable feedback from Bolinas residents wanting broadband Internet access. Tom Willard, along with other community members, will continue exploring options and informing the Board. Mr. Willard will conduct a poll to determine approximately how many customers would sign up for Internet access, should it become available.

   9.    Proposal to Request Addition of All BCPUD Property to Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District’s “No Spray” List. 

    Director Kimball suggested this matter be continued until the BCPUD’s Mosquito Committee has had time to do its work.

10.    Mesa Park: Resolution 515, Approving Application for State Grant Funds

Siedman/Smith   all in favor   to approve

11.    Update from San Pancho, Mexico (sister city)


Director Kimball noted that during her recent visit to San Pancho, she met with local environmentalists who are working to protect their local lagoon. They are also working with federal agencies to improve sewage disposal and treatment. Additionally, they are working on a community land grants for indigenous peoples. They have adopted the Jaguar as the conservation initiative’s mascot.

12.    Pine Gulch Creek Property: Considerations of Extension of Time for National Park Service to Purchase, Marin County Counsel Determination re: Access.

Board members received a response letter from David L. Zaltsman, Deputy County Counsel, County Counsel of Marin County, regarding BCPUD’s request for determination on the easement access to the Pine Gulch Creek property. The letter states no opinion will be issued on the matter because an opinion could be used by one side or the other in pursuing development of real property in this unincorporated area.

Director McClellan suggested that the protections for the creek be a contingency of sale and that the property be sold to the highest bidder, whether it be the National Park Service or Mr. Moritz.

Director Smith noted that aside from his interest in selling the property at fair market value, his concern is the creek’s protection. He further noted that he there may be enforcement problems should the property be sold to Mr. Moritz.

Staff will prepare a letter to be mailed to the Marin County Community Development agency seeking a written opinion on the legal sufficiency of the access easement.

13.    BCPUD Mobile/Base Radio Upgrade Proposal

Continued to next meeting

14.    Other Business

a.  Board Committee Reports

--Finance Committee: The finance committee will meet 10am April 12, 2005
--Legal: Director Siedman noted that attorney Hadden Roth recommended against    attempting to recover attorney’s fees in the case of       Martinelli vs. BCPUD
--Mesa: nothing to report
--Operations: nothing to report
--Mesa Park:  Director Siedman reported that the park recently received a grant to
                       help with the cost of storing equipment
--Personnel: A closed session will be held April 6th, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
--Sewer Report: Nothing to report

b.  Minutes of February 23, 2005 Meeting

--  Smith/Kimball    all in favor       to approve

c.  Warrants

-- Amoroso/Smith   all in favor     to approve

d.   Scheduling of Next Meeting: 

April 20, 2005, 8pm

15. Adjournment: 

10:45 pm