Bolinas Community Public Utility District
A Regular Meeting Of The Board Of Directors
July 20, 2005 270 Elm Road, Bolinas
1. Call to Order:
8:00 p.m.
2. Roll:
Directors Amoroso, Kimball, McClellan, Siedman, Smith
present
Director Siedman presiding
3. Manager’s Report:
Chief Operator Kate Currey is seeking bids for repair or replacement of
the pumps at the sewage lift station. Item continued to the August
meeting.
Moritz Arboricultural has completed tree hazard assessments
for several large eucalyptus trees growing within the right of way on Fern
and Evergreen, as well as a single Monterey Pine near 274 Ocean Parkway.
Moritz has recommended stabilization of the large eucalyptus trees through
crown and branch reduction. Staff will seek multiple bids for
the work based on the consultant’s assessment.
Staff will submit a Public Records Act request
to the California Coastal Commission, seeking
to inspect all those records, including photographs, correspondence, reports,
memoranda, notes, minutes and transcriptions, containing information generated
during the period 1987 through 2005 in connection with the Seadrift revetment
that the California Coastal Commission used to arrive at its conclusions concerning
compliance with Coastal Permit A-1-MAR-87-235.
4. Community Expression
The Board received a copy of a fund raising letter from Tomales Bay Association
President Ken Fox. The letter describes in some detail the group’s efforts
to seek greater enforcement of environmental regulations in connection with
the 11 acre parcel adjacent to Bolinas Lagoon owned by Warren Weber.
The Board received correspondence from Marin County Open Space District
regarding the availability of its Policy Review Initiative Final Report,
and an announcement concerning an August 2 meeting regarding the Evolution
of Bolinas Lagoon.
Director Amoroso indicated he plans to attend the presentation and expressed
a desire to see the Philip Williams report before the presentation.
5. Volunteer Committee Reports
-- Alternative Energy:
Staff will follow up on the hiring of a consultant to analyze the wind data
collected over the past two years at Woodrat 2. Director Siedman
suggested proposing to committee member Tom Williard that he assume the committee
chair. Director Smith gave a brief update on the Coastal Health Alliance
solar initiative.
-- Beach:
Committee member David Kimball suggested the interim report be submitted
to
Marin County Counsel because it may provide useful information for answering
the committee’s questions. He also suggested the report be given
to the Hearsay News and Point Reyes Light.
With respect to the issue of fires on the beach, Director Smith said that
BFPD Fire Chief Anita Tyrrell-Brown is reluctant to issue permits for fires
on public property. Smith urged the committee to develop criteria for
safe fires for enforcement use by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.
Kimball indicated he would add that to the committee task list .
-- Community Paths Group: 7/14/05 meeting report; grant status
Director Smith stated it is likely the committee will
receive a grant to build the path. Smith noted that the committee has
completed the CEQA process, filing a categorical exemption with the Marin
County Clerk. There will be a public meeting prior to starting construction,
but there will be no advisory measure on the ballot unless the grant application
is denied and the committee decides to seek funding from the community.
-- Downtown Parking and Traffic: review of proposed parking plan
Director Amoroso summarized the plan, noting that Marin
County Counsel liked the draft report prepared by committee member Jennifer
Blackman. Amoroso emphasized that all timed and reserved spaces
are in the commercial area, not the beach area. The plan creates or
legalizes 32 new on-street parking spaces; the plan also designates 23
Bolinas resident permit parking spaces and 21 time-restricted parking spaces.
Amoroso said the fine has been increased from $21 to $63 for certain spaces
near the beach, and Marin County authorities are favorably disposed towards
increasing the fine for all spaces.
-- Mesa Drainage:
The committee has not met since the last Board of Directors
meeting and committee chair Matt Lewis said there was nothing new to report.
-- Mosquito and Vector Control Committee:
a. Proposal to change committee name
to West Marin Mosquito Control Committee
Inverness Public Utility District, Point Reyes National Seashore, Inverness
Park Association and other entities are interested in participating in the
work of the committee. Director Kimball, volunteering to write
the letter, suggested BCPUD formally invite these and other agencies to appoint
delegates to the committee.
Amoroso/Siedman all in favor
to change the name to West Marin Mosquito Control Committee.
b. Report on the meeting with the Mosquito
& Vector Control District on July 13, 2005
Chair Elizabeth Goldblatt reported on the meeting in which the Marin Sonoma
Mosquito and Vector Control District (M&VCD) Board took a straw vote on
the committee’s suggestion that M&VCD approve a 1 year trial of the committee’s
recommended protocol.
The result of the straw vote was confusing to many in attendance at the
meeting. M&VCD Manager Jim Wanderscheid suggested that the moratorium
was over.
Amoroso/Smith all in favor
to write to the M&VCD Board asking for the proposal of a 1 year trial
period be placed on the agenda of the M&VCD’s August 10 meeting, and to
write a second letter to Manager Wanderscheid, pointing out the confusion
surrounding the M&VCD Board’s action, or lack thereof, and indicating
that BCPUD wants official notification, with 45 days advance notice, if the
moratorium is to be terminated.
-- West Nile Virus Task Force: reassessment of BCPUD representation
This item was moved up on the agenda because Stacey Henderson said she felt
ill and needed to go home. Henderson reported the latest counts of animal
cases in California, and asserted that September and October are likely to
be bad months for West Nile Virus in Bolinas.
Henderson reported that other agencies are suspicious of the West Marin
Mosquito Control Committee and believe that BCPUD could be endangering its
neighbors if it prohibits the use of pesticides, although, in response from
questioning from Director Amoroso, she did not report any specific information.
Henderson reported that Bolinas is second only to Santa Rosa in the number
of calls asking for help or complaining about mosquito problems, and she indicated
that M&VCD Manager Jim Wanderscheid has talked about abatement in connection
with BCPUD property. Following a statement that she felt like the BCPUD
Board had betrayed her, she left the meeting.
Amoroso/Smith 4 ayes, McClellan opposed
to remove Henderson and appoint Director Kimball as BCPUD’s official representative
to the West Nile Virus Task Force. Amoroso asked that a letter
be prepared thanking Henderson for her efforts and inviting her to continue
to share her opinions with board.
i. Stacey Henderson's letter
requested by Board 6/15/05
No letter has been received to date. Matt Lewis indicated that Henderson
will not write it. Lewis said she would cite her first amendment rights, if
pressed to write the letter.
Matt Lewis spoke in defense of Henderson and objected to her removal from
the task force. Lewis then departed abruptly from the meeting, indicating
on his way out that he was resigning both from the drainage committee and
the utility district.
Director Smith reminded those present of Henderson’s testimony when the
Board was considering support of the annexation measure, i.e., that being
in the Mosquito and Vector Control District would not increase the use of
pesticides in Bolinas. Smith also cited Henderson’s undermining
of the Board’s and Committee’s position on the pesticides issue and stated
that she does not represent the majority view of the community.
Stating his belief that both sides in the debate are too doctrinaire, Director
McClellan lamented the loss of Henderson’s and Lewis’s divergent points of
view.
Local tradesman Brendan Higgs has volunteered to help homeowners with the
screening of roof vents. Director Kimball and local resident Burr Heneman
volunteered to help coordinate the effort.
Director Smith suggested BCPUD purchase screening materials and provide
them to Higgs.
Amoroso/Smith all in favor
to allocate $500 to purchase materials. Staff emphasized the need
to seal septic tanks as well.
c. Report on meetings with other
agencies/organizations
Committee Chair Elizabeth Goldblatt reported on recent meetings with officials
from Inverness Public Utility District, the Inverness Park Association and
Point Reyes National Seashore. All three entities approved the committee’s
recommended protocol. Committee members Kimball and Hellberg also met
with the Tomales Bay Watershed Council, which will conduct an email poll of
its membership. Stinson Beach County Water District has agreed to a
workshop during which the committee can present its work in detail.
SPAWN, the Salmon Protection Network, is also interested in being involved.
d. Request for BCPUD Board to
approve recommended protocol and report
Amoroso/Kimball all in favor
to accept the report, as amended to delete the recommendations on the use
of mosquito fish and bats. The protocol was approved by the Board of
Directors at the June 15 meeting.
e. Proposal to investigate procedures to
de-annex from Marin/Sonoma Mosquito &
Vector Control
District (M&VCD)
f. Proposal to file Public Records Act request
concerning M&VCD annexation election
g. BCPUD legal options re M&VCD’s
termination of moratorium on use of pesticides
Regarding items e., f., and g., Director Siedman recommended waiting until
the committee broadens its membership base to consider these issues but Director
Amoroso argued there is not enough time.
Goldblatt requested BCPUD file a Public Records Act request for all information
related to the November, 2004 election in west Marin and to the CEQA process,
including all communications from other agencies and from any consultants
who may have been involved. The committee chair noted that there are
problems with the process. The ballot said only “environmentally safe”
measures would be employed, and that statement cannot be made if pesticides
are to be used.
The committee will investigate legal options.
Amoroso/Smith all in favor
to file a public records act request.
h. Proposal to include all BCPUD property on the M&VCD no-spray
list, including the
BCPUD-owned roads on the Mesa.
Amoroso/Kimball
all in favor to make such request.
-- Resource Recovery: June financial report
The Board received the report.
-- Mesa Drainage, redux:
At this point, the Board returned to consideration of Mesa Drainage
Director Amoroso recommended dissolution of the volunteer committee but
no action was taken. Director Kimball restated the request to have
staff review the project plan submitted to the Board by the Drainage Committee
and make recommendations on how to proceed.
6. 2005-06 Budget Adoption: Resolution No. 520, approving
budget; Resolution No. 521, stating current rates and charges and authorizing
placement of charges on Marin County property tax bill
McClellan/Amoroso all in
favor to approve Resolution
No. 520.
Amoroso/McClellan
all in favor to approve Resolution No. 521.
7. 2005-06 District / Employees Memorandum of Understanding
Amoroso/Kimball all in
favor to approve the 2005-05 Memorandum of Understanding.
8. Expanded Water Use Permit Application: Russell – 60 Terrace
McClellan/Smith all
in favor to approve conditional permit.
9. November 8, 2005 Election: approval of wording for possible
ballot measures: Downtown Parking Plan, Sewer Property Bicycle and Pedestrian
Path, other
Smith/McClellan all in favor
to approve the Downtown Parking Plan advisory measure wording.
Kimball/Smith all in favor
to approve the wording for a measure seeking the community’s advice on whether
BCPUD should continue its efforts to control the use of pesticides in Bolinas
and its environs.
The Marin County Elections Department will be requested
to make all registered voters within the boundaries of the Bolinas Fire Protection
District eligible to vote on both measures.
10. Bolinas Community Land Trust: request to park flea market
bus on BCPUD property
Amoroso/Smith
all in favor to permit the Bolinas
Community Land Trust to park its bus on BCPUD property until the Bolinas Garage
project is completed, and then to re-evaluate the arrangement.
11. Eucalyptus Containment Project: authorization to remove
4 trees at sewerage treatment facility
Continued.
12. BCPUD's Pine Gulch Creek Property: access easement -
next steps
continued.
13. Resolution No. 522, authorizing Board President Jack Siedman
to certify PERS and ICMA retirement applications for employee Phil Buchanan
McClellan/Kimball all in
favor to approve Resolution
No. 522.
14. Other Business
a. Board Committee Reports
-- Finance: 4th Quarter Financial Report
The Board received the report.
-- Legal: no report.
-- Mesa Septic, Flood Control and Roads: no report.
-- Operations: no report.
-- Park and Recreation:
Director Siedman reported that the project manager from the State Parks
Department is coming for a site visit next week.
-- Personnel:
Director Kimball acknowledged the excellent work done by employee Seth Kline.
-- Sewer: no report.
b. Minutes of June 15, 2005 Meeting
Smith/Kimball
all in favor to approve the
June 15, 2005 minutes.
c. Warrants
Kimball/Smith
all in favor to approve the warrant list.
d. Scheduling of Next Meeting(s)
August 17, 2005
15. Adjournment
11 p.m.