7:00 Closed Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
8:00 p.m.
2. ROLL / ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING CLOSED SESSION
Directors Amoroso, Bertsch, Kayfetz, McClellan, Siedman present. Director Amoroso presiding.
Director Amoroso announced that a closed session had taken place before the regular meeting to discuss personnel and legal issues.
-- Kayfetz/McClellan unanimous to enter into a contract with Wallace Doolittle to represent the District in pursuing a refund from Shoreline Disposal, with the agreement that Doolittle receive payment only if the suit is successful.
3. MANAGER’S REPORT
Upon intervention by a local resident it was found that some trees along Mesa Road that were scheduled for removal by Davey Tree were on BCPUD land, not County right-of-way. Consequently, Davey Tree trimmed the hazardous trees rather than removing them.
The Board received copies of a letter from Cela O’Connor to the Marin County Community Development Agency commenting on the impropriety of spending public monies on improvements to Seadrift Lagoon as part of Bolinas Lagoon restoration plans. In addition, a copy of a letter from the Army Corps of Engineers to Marin County Open Space District, detailing a status update for plans for the restoration of Bolinas Lagoon was received, via a private citizen. It was noted that BCPUD has made repeated requests to Open Space for ongoing updates but has received only some.
-- McClellan/Siedman unanimous to send a letter to Open Space, in support of Cela O’Connor’s position regarding expenditure of public money for private benefit and reiterating earlier requests for inclusion on the mailing list for all documents, reports, etc.
Directors received materials pertaining to an upcoming workshop on integrating the principles of sustainability in each community.
The response from Bay Terminal Radar Approach Control to a letter from the District regarding complaints about air traffic noise did not suggest that any changes would be made. There were no objections to staff sending a copy of an article from the National Park Service to the Federal Aviation Authority that appeared in the Point Reyes Light a week previously and requesting a detailed reconciliation of discrepancies between observations and reports.
A leaking section of service line on Hawthorne between Alder and Larch has been successfully replaced.
The 2000 Consumer Confidence Report, formerly the Annual Water Quality Report, is being revised and will be mailed to all customers, including those who received the first version.
District’s Internet Service Provider has changed. The Web address is
now BCPUD.org and email can be sent to BCPUD@linex.com.
4. COMMUNITY EXPRESSION
None
5. FORMATION OF DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMITTEE
Director Siedman proposed soliciting interested and qualified volunteers to form a committee to work with County officials to address downtown parking issues. Director Amoroso queried whether community concerns about vacation rentals and overlarge housing should be addressed by the same committee but since they appeared to be separate issues the idea was dropped. Director Kayfetz indicated an interest in serving on the committee, should more qualified members of the Board not wish to do so. He stated that he thought it would be inappropriate for downtown business people who were selling their businesses to serve.
Discussion moved to complaints about use of the beach by people with vehicles entering through the gate at the end of Brighton Avenue. Director Amoroso stated that he favored locking the gate when problems are reported, as now, but keeping it unlocked once problems abated, in case there was a need for emergency access.
-- Kayfetz/Bertsch 4 ayes, Amoroso opposed to keep the gate locked
The sorry condition of the paintwork on the gate was noted.
6. ORDINANCE 30 (ESTABLISHES RULES GOVERNING UNPAVED ROADSON MESA): PROPOSED AMENDMENT CREATING LIABILITY FOR ATTORNEY’S FEESAND COSTS WHERE NECESSARY TO ENFORCE ORDINANCE
Upon review District counsel Hadden Roth proposed some changes in the language of the ordinance. Director McClellan will incorporate Roth’s proposals.
Continued.
7. SOLID WASTE: IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR BCPUD PROVISION OFSERVICES EFFECTIVE 2002
Solid waste consultant Paul Rottenberg reported that he had heard from two parties interested in contracting to collect garbage in Bolinas. However, if BCPUD contracted with either of them it is conceivable that Waste Management might buy them at some point in the future, putting the District back in its present position.
A letter from Brian Crawford at the Community Development Agency indicated
that a Use Permit and a Coastal Permit would be required, and possibly
a noise assessment, for a transfer facility on BCPUD property. Discussion
ensued of the relative merits of an in-house transfer station versus a
large truck that would just haul the waste to a dump elsewhere. A larger
truck would necessitate a Class B license and air brake certification and
probably an out-of-town employee, adding travel time to costs. Rottenberg
suggested off-duty firefighters could be a good employee source.
Director Amoroso expressed concern about the shallowness of an organization
that required only one employee for two or three days a week, thus having
no backup provision. Director Kayfetz expressed optimism that he might
be able to expedite the permitting process.
-- Kayfetz/McClellan to go forward
The motion needing further clarification it was amended to request Rottenberg to furnish the Board with a schedule of estimated costs and a timeline leading to startup of operations, including previously omitted costs for a pump, drain and fencing at the proposed transfer station.
The motion was amended again to 1) proceed with the cost schedule and timeline, 2) Rottenberg to research possible obstacles in the regulatory process, with Director Kayfetz’ help.
4 ayes, Bertsch opposed
Putting an advisory poll on the November ballot was discussed. The poll will present the cost of setting up an in-house garbage pickup service, which would then be sustained by customer fees.
-- Kayfetz/Bertsch unanimous
to authorize the consultant to proceed with development of a detailed timeline
with estimated expenditures for development of a transfer facility and
acquisition of equipment related to the schedule. This motion to overrule
previous motion.
8. COASTAL
PERMIT
/ USE
PERMIT
APPLICATIONS:
BOLINASFIRE
PROTECTION
DISTRICT
PROJECT LOCATION: 100
MESA
ROAD
(60 FT TOWER / 160 FT² EQUIPMENT BUILDING)
The proposed tower and building are for the new countywide emergency radio system. Coincidentally, Sprint is planning an antenna at the same site, utilizing the existing tower put up by Cellular One.
Director Kayfetz voiced concern about the effects of such technology on young people using the ball fields and playground, and possibly sick people if the Bolinas Family Practice moves to the same location. He felt that a Radio Frequency Field Study should be conducted, paying particular attention to the cumulative effect of multiple antennas, especially on the young or infirm. He also queried why a project such as this was exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.
-- Kayfetz/McClellan unanimous to send a comment letter expressing concern about the cumulative effects of radio and cellular technology on the young and sick and objecting to the accumulation of aesthetically displeasing structures on an otherwise open vista.
9. DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC WORKS
REQUEST
FOR COMMENT: PARKINGIN
TURNOUTS ON STATE
ROUTE
1, STINSON BEACH
TO MARSHALL
The Department of Public Works has requested comment on whether to erect “No Parking” signs at turnouts along Highway 1. Public outcry caused Caltrans to remove the signs in 1994 but recent complaints that the turnouts could not be used because vehicles were parked in them has brought the issue up again. Resident Bruce Bowser noted that the pavement could be painted rather than putting up additional poles with signs.
-- Kayfetz/Siedman unanimous to send a strongly worded letter of support for reinstating signs, installing them on the poles of the existing “Turnout” signs and adding an additional paragraph about the problem of overnight camping alongside the lagoon.
10. MESA
SEPTIC:
STATUS REPORT ON
DISTRICT/COUNTY/REGIONINITIATIVE;
PRELIMINARY
PROJECT PRIORITY LIST – SMALL
COMMUNITYGRANT PROGRAM
Director McClellan reported that his communications with Phil Smith of Marin County Environmental Health Services had been positive so far. He will be communicating with Smith on Friday, once Smith has familiarized himself with the Questa Plan.
11. OTHER BUSINESS
a. Committee Reports
-- Finance: draft 2000-01 district budget;
Manager Buchanan outlined two alternatives for the 2000-01 budget; the first to eliminate the legal fee from the property taxes and use $165,000 from reserves to pay for pressing projects in the coming year, and the second to remove the legal fee but to add $30 to the water rate which would use $18,000 less from reserves and give a total property tax bill reduction of $210 rather than $240.
Director Amoroso added that the Vegetation Management Committee proposals
to date might also require budgeting $10,000 over two years, although no
final decision has yet been reached. Bruce Bowser said that Marin Releaf
can provide funds for replanting when exotics are removed.
Buchanan mentioned large expenditures on the horizon for sludge removal and pipeline replacement as well as vegetation management, noting a proposal from Dr. Bailey Green for relocating the sewer pond inlet pipes and constructing digester pits at each pond will cost an estimated $200,000.
There were no objections to mailing the second draft budget alternative to customers.
3rd quarter financial report
Directors received the 3rd quarter financial report.
-- Legal: Martinelli v. Johnson, et. al update
Directors received copies of the agreement to mediate. District counsel, Hadden Roth will attend the mediation on May 19. The deadline for filing an amended complaint is October 26. Roth is appealing the JPIA decision to deny coverage.
-- Sewer:
ponds 1a/1b sludge disposal;
Discussed during budget review.
Continued.
engineering proposal and cost estimate for influent piping alterations;
Discussed during budget review.
Continued.
vegetation management plan committee report
Director Amoroso reported that the views of the two subcommittees of the VMP were converging somewhat despite some contradictions in the proposals recently published in the Hearsay News by members of Subcommittee B. Ann Young objected that no proposals have yet been approved by the two groups. Amoroso stated that one Subcommittee B proposal had, in effect, been approved. Riviere asked for an advisory poll on the November ballot, which he felt would demonstrate overwhelming support for removal of the trees. Amoroso noted that a plan had to be in place before conducting a poll. He also reported that the opinion of Gene Kojan, a soils engineer brought by committee member Kent Julin to evaluate the land, was that every tree removed of more than 12 inches diameter should be replaced by two to three deep-rooted plants. The work should be carried out in small areas over a long period of time. Director Kayfetz suggested asking the committees to prepare reports to meet the timeline for putting an advisory poll on the ballot. Director Bertsch opposed the idea of a poll, stating that the Vegetation Management Committee was appointed in an advisory capacity to give the Board direction as stewards of the land and that the Board should make the decisions.
-- Park and Recreation:
title 22 water reclamation project update;
Director Siedman reported that until State regulations were received no action could be taken to seek grant funding.
irrigation well status
Since a filter system would cost $6,800 and the playing season was almost at an end after a comfortably wet winter and spring the Mesa Park Board had decided against purchasing a filter at present.
-- Solid Waste:
Resource Recovery Project:
April financial report;
The Board received the April financial report, and an interim May report reflecting the purchase of a chipper, without comment.
request for exemption from Vegetation Management Plan;
Continued.
committee report;
The project is looking for another site attendant as Amy Lewis has resigned.
request to change composition of committee
The Board will consider appointing additional members to the committee upon receipt of a written request.
Director Amoroso asked that a status report from Resource Recovery be an agenda item at the next meeting. He would also like to see the committee develop a more independent status as originally envisioned.
b. Minutes of April 19, 2000 Meeting
-- Kayfetz/McClellan unan to approve the April 19, 2000 minutes
c. Warrants
-- Bertsch/McClellan unan to approve the warrants
d. Scheduling of Next Meeting(s)
June 21, 2000
11:10 p.m.