Bolinas Community Public Utility District
A Regular Meeting Of
The Board Of Directors
July 25, 2012 270 Elm Road, Bolinas
MINUTES
1. Call to Order.
7:42 p.m.
2. Roll.
Directors Amoroso, Bender, Kimball, Siedman and Smith
present; director Siedman presiding.
3. Manager’s Report.
The Manager was not present due to
an emergency; the Board therefore deferred the Manager’s Report.
4. Community Expression.
Director Siedman noted that no members of the public
were present and asked if any of the Board members had any community expression
items. Director Smith noted that the Board books include an e-mail
from Cela O’Connor requesting a record of any contacts the BCPUD had with
the contractor or the County of Marin regarding the Terrace Avenue slide
repair project and asked what that was about. Director Siedman said
that staff should contact Cela to ask for clarification as to what she is
asking for as the request seems overbroad; there was no objection from the
Board.
5. Hunt Coastal Permit (CP 12-11) and Design Review (DR
12-74), APN# 188-170-53, 280 Mesa Road, Bolinas.
Director Smith commented that although this property is outside the district,
the Board included it on the agenda in the event any member of the public
wished to comment. Director Siedman said there were no written comments
submitted and no one is present to address the Board on this agenda item.
The Board concurred that the district has no comment on this permit application.
6. Request for Financial Relief from Quarterly Metered
Water Delivery Bill pursuant to BCPUD Resolution 553 - 510 Evergreen Road
(P. Brook).
Director Siedman stated that the Board has received a letter from Pegan Brooke
at 510 Evergreen Road explaining she had a blind leak under her patio and
submitting evidence that it was repaired immediately after it was discovered.
Director Smith noted that in such cases, the Board has forgiven the entire
amount attributable to the leak as determined by the three-year average water
use during the same quarter in prior years.
B. Kimball/K. Bender all in favor
to reduce the amount of the bill by the amount attributable
to the leak, as determined by the prior three years historical average water
use during the same billing quarter.
Director Smith observed that it required a tremendous
amount of time and money for this customer to locate the leak due to its
location; he said that the district has leak detection equipment that may
be of use in such circumstances and he suggested that, for an appropriate
fee to cover district costs, that the district offer staff and equipment
to help locate blind leaks. He said such a policy could save customers
money and save the district lost water as a result of quicker repairs.
After some discussion, the Board concurred that assuming staff has no objection,
this service should be publicized to local plumbers.
7. Request for Financial Relief from Quarterly Metered
Water Delivery Bill pursuant to BCPUD Resolution 553 – 80 Terrace Avenue
(N. Franklin).
Director Siedman stated that this customer was granted financial relief at
the same property, which is vacant, earlier in the year and discussion ensued
as to whether customers are limited in the number of requests for relief
that may be submitted in a single year. The Board reviewed Resolution
553 and concluded there is no such limitation. Director Smith noted
that this water loss also was due to a blind leak and that the customer called
an outside leak detection company to come find it as there was no obvious
source of the leak. He therefore moved that the Board forgive the entire
amount attributable to the leak, as it did in with the prior request.
D. Smith/V. Amoroso all in favor
to reduce the amount of the bill by the amount attributable to the leak,
as determined by the prior three years historical average water use during
the same billing quarter.
Director Smith noted this isn’t the first leak at a vacant
property and suggested the district include a notice to customers for those
property owners whose homes are vacant or minimally used to ask the district
to shut off their meters when no one is at the house. The Board concurred
and director Smith agreed to follow-up with staff.
8. Response to Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report:
Pre-Schoolers Learn to Share – Can Local Government?
Director Siedman introduced the agenda item and director Smith noted that
staff has prepared a written response to the grand jury report that he thinks
is appropriate under the circumstances; namely, due to the district’s geographical
isolation, it is very difficult to share resources with other districts.
To the extent it is possible, the district already does so and the staff
response details those efforts.
D. Smith/B. Kimball all in favor
to approve the BCPUD response to the Marin County Civil Grand Jury Report:
Pre-Schoolers Learn to Share – Can Local Government?
9. 2012 Local Agency Biennial Notice – Conflict of Interest
Code.
The Board reviewed the district’s current conflict of interest code, which
was amended in 2008 to comply with existing law and any amendments to it.
Director Amoroso noted that staff reviewed the code and recommended
that no revisions are necessary. Director Kimball therefore moved that
the district submit the notice indicating no amendments are necessary.
B. Kimball/K. Bender all in favor
to submit the 2012 Local Agency Biennial Notice indicating that no amendment
of the district’s conflict of interest code is required.
Neshama Franklin joined the meeting at that point and
the Board explained the action taken during item 7. Ms. Franklin thanked
the Board profusely and left the meeting.
10. Update on Water Supply Augmentation Project.
Director Smith directed the Board’s attention to a report in the binders
submitted by the district’s consulting hydro-geologist, Rob Gailey, concerning
the irrigation well at the Resource Recovery Center property.
He noted that data has been downloaded from the pressure transducer
that was installed in the irrigation well and there are some interesting
preliminary results. First, the available data shows a clear correlation
between the tides and the level of water in the well. Director Smith
explained that this means tidal water is moving through soil to influence
the entire aquifer and the water levels in the well show this perfectly.
In response to questions, director Smith says this does not mean that salt
water is intruding into the well water (chemical tests would be needed to
determine that); rather, the tide is exerting pressure to influence the water
level. Director Smith further noted that the preliminary data also
indicates a relationship between the well water level and pumping events;
he reviewed the results in some detail for the Board and then said that a
long-term goal of this data gathering and analysis will be to calculate the
holding capacity per cubic foot of the aquifer. Director Smith said
he is very encouraged at this point that the district will be able to obtain
the data it needs over the long-term to analyze the viability and capacity
of the well without having to install numerous nearby monitoring wells.
After a brief discussion, the Board agreed to keep this item as a regular
item on the agenda so that progress reports can be given as additional information
is obtained from the pressure transducer.
11. Discuss Amendment of BCPUD Resolution 247 (Water Service
Termination Procedures).
Director Smith reminded the Board that it has cleaned up the abandoned and
suspended water meter situations and adopted Resolution 609 last spring which
also restated the conditions for getting a water meter out of suspension.
The district also has Resolution 247, which applies to the termination of
water service, but it does not clearly state the conditions for reinstating
a terminated water service. For the sake of completeness and clarity,
director Smith feels the Board should amend Resolution 247 to clearly state
those conditions, most specifically to include a fee that reflects the district’s
costs of reinstating a terminated service, which will be much less than reinstating
a suspended water service as it does not involve placement of the annual
service fee on the County tax bill. Discussion ensued about different
approaches for establishing a fee; director Kimball noted that the
County has different fees for procedures depending on whether public hearings
are involved, or not. Eventually the Board decided to defer further
discussion of the agenda item pending staff input on the establishment of
a fee to cover the district’s costs. Director Smith said he will not
be present at the August Board meeting. Staff was directed to include
copies of Resolution 609 in the Board binders for the September meeting.
Director Kimball noted that there are a number of foreclosed homes in town
and the district should be sure to follow-up on payment (and responsibility
therefore) of the quarterly metered water rates as well as the annual service
charge for those properties.
12. Resolution 613: Approving the 2012-13 District
Budget.
V. Amoroso/B. Kimball all in favor
to approve Resolution 613.
13. Resolution 614: Replaces Resolution No. 602,
Stating the Current Rates and Charges for District Services and Authorizing
Placement of Charges on the Marin County Property Tax Bill Where Appropriate.
K. Bender/D. Smith all in favor
to approve Resolution 614.
14. Resolution 615: Accepting Completion of the Wharf
Road Service Saddle Replacement Project.
K. Bender/B. Kimball all in favor
to approve Resolution 615, subject to the general manager’s discretion to
modify terms as appropriate.
15. Volunteer Committee Reports
-- Alternative Energy: Nothing to report.
-- Bolinas Lagoon Technical Advisory Committee: Director Amoroso
noted that there is a letter in the Board binders from the Bolinas Rod &
Board Club to Supervisor Kinsey expressing concern about a reduction in the
number of meetings per year of the BaLTAC, which is now going to be named
the Bolinas Lagoon Advisor Council, and the proposed imposition of term limits
on Council members. Director Siedman suggested that the Board
write a letter of support to Supervisor Kinsey for the Rod & Boat Club’s
concerns; discussion ensued, with the other Board members readily expressing
support for such a letter.
-- Community Path Update: Director Kimball reported that
PG&E came to town in June and weed-whacked around two of its poles adjacent
to the Olema-Bolinas Road bike path, thereby removing numerous plants from
the planted median strip. PG&E claims such action is necessary
for public (fire) safety, but after some discussion, has agreed that if the
BCPUD will trim the plants in the median strip near the power poles twice
a year, it would be willing to enter into a vegetation management plan agreement
with the district and forego the weed-whacking. Director Kimball requested
the Board’s support for entering into such an agreement. Director Kimball
also said that many local plant experts are advising her to irrigate the
damaged area, especially because it has been such a dry spring and summer,
and the extent of the flat portion of the planted median (the plants on the
hill up to the intersection with Mesa Road are doing fine). Director
Kimball estimates the irrigation hosing can be purchased for approximately
$400 and installed with volunteer labor. The water will be sourced
from the nearby hydrants, except for the section near the Peace Barn, which
will be sourced from the Buell property with appropriate credits to their
water bill. She asked for the Board’s support for irrigating the planted
median, as well. After a brief discussion, the Board expressed its
support for both issues and complimented director Kimball for her dedication
and perseverance.
-- Downtown Parking & Traffic Committee: Nothing to report.
-- Resource Recovery: Nothing to report.
-- West Marin Mosquito Control Coordinating Council: Nothing to report.
16. Other Business
a. Board Committee Reports
-- Finance: Nothing to report.
-- Legal: Nothing to report.
-- Mesa Septic, Flood Control and Roads: Director Smith reported that
per the Board-approved pilot project, he surveyed the Mesa for potholes deep
enough to constitute an obstruction under Ordinance 30 (meaning 4-inches
or deeper) and the staff filled the potholes with road base. Somewhat
to his surprise, there were only 13 qualifying potholes on the Mesa, which
he said illustrates just how deep 4 inches is, as there are a lot of remaining
potholes on the Mesa Roads. On a related note, director Smith said
it was unlikely that the district will receive any more ground asphalt to
potentially apply to its dirt roads as revised state procedures now allow
contractors to reuse ground-asphalt in new paving jobs, thereby eliminating
the economic incentive for contractors to try and dispose of such spoils
in nearby communities.
-- Operations: Nothing to report.
-- Park and Recreation: Director Amoroso reported that he missed the
most recent Mesa Park Board meeting, but is aware that Mesa Park will be
including a item on the November ballot for the election of its directors,
as well as a measure to renew the parcel tax that funds its activities, at
a rate of $49/year (a $4 increase over the current $45 annual parcel tax).
Director Siedman reported that the July 4th celebration downtown went well
and people love the new park; there will be a grand opening on Labor
Day. The park also soon will be named and the bathrooms will be open
all day. Director Siedman met with County representatives recently
at the park to discuss a proposal to cost-share the maintenance of the bathroom;
the concept is that a local person will be hired to maintain both public
restrooms in town (the new park bathrooms and the County bathrooms near the
tennis courts). In the meantime, Roger Peacock is still the project
manager for the downtown park and he is overseeing maintenance of the bathrooms.
-- Personnel: Director Siedman reported that he and director Kimball
(whom he thanked for doing the majority of the work) have evaluated the district’s
employee health care plan and are discussing possible changes with the staff.
The changes will require revisions to the Memorandum of Understanding between
the Board and staff, so directors Siedman and Kimball plan to make a specific
proposal for the Board’s consideration after discussions with the staff are
complete.
-- Sewer: Nothing to report.
b. Minutes of the June 20, 2012 Regular Meeting.
Directors Amoroso and Smith offered revisions to
correct typographical errors in the minutes.
D. Smith/K. Bender four in favor, director
Kimball abstaining to approve the minutes of the June 20,
2012 regular meeting, as revised.
c. Warrants
B. Kimball/K. Bender all in favor to
approve the warrant list.
d. Scheduling of Next Meeting(s)
August 15, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
17. Adjournment.
8:57 p.m.