Bolinas Community Public Utility District
A Regular Meeting Of
The Board Of Directors
September 19, 2012 270 Elm Road, Bolinas
MINUTES
1. Call to Order.
7:32 p.m.
2. Roll.
Directors Amoroso, Kimball, Siedman and Smith present;
director Bender attending by telephone. Director Siedman presiding.
3. Manager’s Report.
-- Update on the Terrace Avenue Bluff Stabilization Project
Staff reported that a contract has been executed with Sanders & Associates
Geotechnical Engineers (“SAGE”) for Phase 2 of the bluff stabilization geotechnical
evaluation. The work tentatively was scheduled for September 24-25,
but due to sand loss and unfavorable tides the district and SAGE decided
to postpone the work until next Spring. Unfortunately, the tidetables
indicate that there will not be any favorable day-time tides until April
2013 and optimal conditions are required to accomplish the 2 beach-level
borings. In the meantime, staff is applying for the necessary permits
and the County’s Director of Public Works, Bob Beaumont, is assisting the
district with permit fee waivers.
-- Update on Terrace Avenue Water Main Relocation Project
This project went back out to bid on August 24th, a mandatory pre-bid
meeting was held on September 12th and bids are due September 16th.
The following changes have been made to the project for the re-bid process:
(1) the micro-surfacing task has been eliminated as the County agreed to
incorporate this into their paving next year in exchange for a payment of
$8,000 by the district; (2) the district has an additional year of time to
complete the project until December 31, 2012, (3) the contractor will have
40 “working days” to complete the work, so that rain days will not count
as work days given how late in the season the project is starting, and (4)
the order of work has been revised to start with the Park Avenue water line
replacement. Staff noted that Mesa Park Board graciously has agreed
to allow the use of its parking lot for the parking of contractor equipment
and the temporary storage of spoils.
Staff said that a special Board meeting will be needed during the week of
October 1st to review and consider the bids submitted for the project.
-- Update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Pump Station and Electrical Upgrade
Project
Staff has contacted a second engineering firm, West Yost, about providing
the specifications needed for the overflow piping details to complete the
project drawings and staff is hopeful that a comprehensive response will
be submitted soon.
On the water side of operations, water consumption in the district is up
again slightly and the flows in the Arroyo Hondo dropped recently, so staff
is running the water treatment plant with one of the filters on reservoir
water. Staff noted that preliminary weather forecasts for a minor El
Nino weather pattern this year.
Staff reported that shift operator Scotty Hanks is doing an excellent job
of repainting the water treatment plant, saving the district thousands of
dollars it otherwise would have to pay an outside professional painting firm.
Scotty also is re-painting all of the trim on the main office building, including
the windows recently replaced in the Bolinas Childrens’ Center, which were
infested with termites.
The district’s insurer, ACWA/Joint Powers Insurance Authority, will be sending
its representative John Haaf out to the district tomorrow for his annual
inspection of district facilities.
On the wastewater side of operations, Ponds 2 and 3 are virtually empty and
the disposal fields are in great shape with no standing water. Staff
commended Chief Operator Bill Pierce for his excellent management of the
wastewater treatment plant, which has resulted in greatly improved operations.
Staff noted that some tree work needed on the district’s sewer pond property;
specifically, the following trees should be removed -- the four cypress “sticks”
that remain after the hazardous branches were removed last year, a
dead pine tree at the top of the steep paved hill, and a leaning eucalyptus
in the area nearby where a similar leaning eucalyptus fell and knocked out
power to the Mesa for eleven hours two years ago. Staff stated that
there are sufficient funds in the district’s hazardous tree account to pay
the estimated $3,000 for the work; there was no objection from the
Board to using the funds for this purpose.
-- Drainage Project Manager’s Report.
The Board received a written report from Drainage Project Manager Lewie Likover.
4. Community Expression.
None.
5. Transfer of Sewer Service Connection. (L. Ferlinghetti)
Lorenzo Ferlinghetti and Ed Pohlman were present to request that the Board
formally approve the transfer of a sewer service connection from 32 Wharf
Road to APN # 193-102-17, located at the intersection of Park and Brighton
Avenues. Ed Pohlman acquired the sewer connection for 32 Wharf Road
when he purchased the water service connection for this property from Mesa
Park several years ago, but he transferred the water service connection to
a parcel outside the sewer district, so he intends to sell the sewer service
connection to Lorenzo (who owns APN # 193-102-17), subject to the Board’s
approval of the transfer request. In response to questions from the
Board, Lorenzo acknowledged his understanding that he must have an approved
water source at this parcel in order to physically connect to the sewer system.
B. Kimball/D. Smith all in favor
to transfer the sewer service connection from 32 Wharf to APN #193-102-17
, subject to all applicable requirements for an approved water source
at the property.
6. Third-party Inspections of Homeowner Solar System Installations
in Bolinas. (J. Pfeiffer).
Jennie Pfeiffer advised the Board that she has received confirmation from
Liza Crosse, aide to Supervisor Kinsey, that homeowners may have third party
inspections of their solar arrays conducted as an alternative to a County
inspection. To do so, a homeowner must complete a specific form at
the same time he or she takes out a permit to install the solar arrays and
then separately pay the third party inspector. Jennie noted that the
Bolinas Fire Protection District also inspects solar arrays on private homes
and there is no third party alternative for that inspection. There
is an “express” permit process at the County on Wednesdays when homeowners
can get same-day permits. Jennie said she will submit an article explaining
all of this to the Hearsay so that Bolinas residents are aware of these options.
7. BCPUD Letter to Board of Supervisors Regarding the Bolinas
Lagoon Advisory Council.
Staff presented a draft letter to the Board of Supervisors regarding the
Bolinas Lagoon Advisory Council, which urges the Board to select Bolinas
and Stinson Beach residents to fulfill the local seats on the Advisory Council,
notwithstanding language in the County announcement about the Council which
suggests that non-local residents may be selected for these positions.
Director Smith suggested that the word “suspect” in the final paragraph of
the letter be changed to “believe.”
B. Kimball/V. Amoroso four in favor,
Bender abstains to approve the letter to the Board of Supervisors,
as amended.
8. Amendment to BCPUD Resolution 247 - Water Service Termination
Procedures.
Director Smith reminded the Board that there is an old
resolution pertaining to the termination of water service (247) and a new
resolution (609) pertaining to the suspension of water meters; the
new resolution has provisions for the conditions of reinstatement of water
service that he believes should be added to Resolution 247. Specifically,
he said that the Board should amend Resolution 247 to include a fee for the
reinstatement of water service that reflects the district’s actual cost of
a hearing and staff time to reinstate the water service. After
a brief discussion, staff was directed to draft specific language for the
Board’s consideration at the October regular meeting.
9. Proposed Revisions to the BCPUD’s Health Insurance
Coverage for District Employees; Amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding
between the BCPUD Board of Directors and Employees.
Director Kimball said that over the last several years,
the district’s medical premiums for employee health insurance have increased
significantly. As a member of the Board’s Finance Committee, she and
director Siedman, a member of the Board’s Personnel Committee, conducted
a study of other West Marin entities and their health care coverage to explore
the options that might be available to reduce the district’s health care
costs. They interviewed two other water districts (Stinson Beach and
the Inverness Public Utility District), the Bolinas-Stinson Union School
District, the Bolinas Fire Protection District, Commonweal and the
Coastal Health Alliance. They also evaluated the option of purchasing
the district’s health care from CalPERs or from a newly formed entity: the
ACWA-JPIA/Health Benefits Authority. The district’s current premiums
on its Kaiser small business plan are based on age; however, the directors’
analysis confirmed that if the district joins the ACWA-JPIA/Health Benefits
Authority, it will be part of a larger pool with standardized rates that
are not based on age and allow access to Medicare-Advantage plans for
Medicare–eligible employees and dependents, which could save the district
as much as $30,000 per year. In addition, directors Kimball and Siedman
researched flexible spending plans and concluded the district also should
establish one for employees to contribute pre-tax earnings for qualified
expenses. Directors Kimball and Siedman then met with the district employees
to discuss all of the potential changes, including additional changes that
can be made for the district’s Medicare-eligible employees (and their dependents).
The district’s staff was then presented with proposed revisions to the Memorandum
of Understanding to reflect the proposed changes and the staff is in agreement
with all of the changes. Two days ago, the district was formally accepted
by ACWA-JPIA/Health Benefits Authority effective January 1, 2013, subject
to the completion of all required documentation.
Discussion ensued about the potential changes, including
specific cost reimbursements, requirements for employee coverage and dependent
coverage, and so forth. Director Kimball pointed out that on a going
forward basis, the district will not pay 100% of dependent health care cost,
as it does for current employees – for all employees hired after July 1,
2012, the district will pay 50% of dependent health care costs. Director
Kimball then went over all of the proposed amendments to the language of
the MOU for the Board’s edification. The directors thanked directors
Kimball and Siedman for their excellent work on this project.
K. Bender/V. Amoroso all in favor
to approve the amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding between the
BCPUD Board of Directors and employees.
10. Update on Water Supply Augmentation Project.
Director Smith referred the Board to data in the Board binders from the previous
month concerning the irrigation well at the Resource Recovery Center and
said that at this point, there will be no new information to analyze until
the winter rains begin. Director Amoroso noted that the impact of the
use of this water to irrigate the Mesa Park ballfields also will need to
be evaluated once that project is installed. Director Smith agreed,
and said it likely will be many years before the district fully understands
the dynamics of the aquifer that serves this well.
11. Volunteer Committee Reports
-- Alternative Energy: Nothing to report.
-- Bolinas Lagoon Technical Advisory Committee: Cela O’Connor
requested that the Board include an item on the October meeting agenda to
approve a letter objecting to the dissolution of the former Bolinas Lagoon
Technical Advisory Committee. Director Siedman reminded Cela that when
members of the public request letters from the BCPUD, they must provide a
draft letter for the Board’s consideration; Cela said she will do so.
Director Siedman directed staff to include an item on the October regular
meeting agenda for the Board to consider such a letter.
-- Community Path Update: Director Kimball reported that the new irrigation
system was used in August and September to deep-water the plants in the median
next to the bike path. Additional watering is planned for early October.
Unfortunately, many plants were damaged due to vehicle traffic in the area
during a large birthday celebration; director Kimball is hopeful those plants
will rejuvenate. In the late fall, wildflower seeds will be seeded
in the median strip, as well.
-- Downtown Parking & Traffic Committee: Director Siedman reported
that he was invited to attend a meeting on behalf of the Wharf Road residents
who live on between Smileys and the beach; these residents would like
the County to install speed humps on this section of Wharf Road when it paves
the road next summer.
-- Resource Recovery: Nothing to report.
-- West Marin Mosquito Control Coordinating Council: Director Kimball
reported that there has been no West Nile Virus activity in Marin at all
and no human cases in Sonoma County.
12. Other Business
a. Board Committee Reports
-- Finance: Staff reported that the district’s annual field audit is
scheduled for October 4, 2012.
-- Legal: Nothing to report.
-- Mesa Septic, Flood Control and Roads: Nothing to report.
-- Operations: Nothing to report.
-- Park and Recreation: Staff presented the Board with a draft Project
Status Report form to submit to the California Department of Parks and Recreation
for the Mesa Park Ballfield Irrigation and Public Restroom Project.
Staff also reported on the status of the efforts to locate documentation
regarding the financial costs of installing the sewer lift station that will
be used by these restrooms.
-- Personnel: Nothing to report.
-- Sewer: Nothing to report.
b. Minutes of the November 8, 2011 Special Meeting; Minutes of the August
7, 2012 Special Meeting; Minutes of the August 15, 2012 Regular Meeting.
B. Kimball/V. Amoroso three in
favor, directors Amoroso and Bender abstaining
to approve the minutes of the November 8, 2011 special meeting.
B. Kimball/V. Amoroso four in favor,
director Bender abstaining to approve
the minutes of the August 7, 2012 special meeting.
K. Bender/B. Kimball four in favor,
director Smith abstaining to approve
the minutes of the August 16, 2012 regular meeting.
c. Warrants
D. Smith/B. Kimball all in favor
to approve the warrant list.
d. Scheduling of Next Meeting(s)
October 24, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Director Kimball noted that the November regular meeting ordinarily would
fall on November 21, 2012, which is the night before Thanksgiving.
She inquired whether the Board would be willing to meet the following Wednesday,
November 28, 2012, instead. There was no objection.
13. Adjournment.
9:35 p.m.