REGULAR MEETING Minutes
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT
583 SAN YSIDRO ROAD, MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA
TUESDAY, October 18, 2005
2:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
Directors Present:
President Robert M. Edmonston
Directors Jan E. Abel, W.W. Drewry, Robert W. Puddicombe, and Larry Wilson
Directors Absent:
None
Staff Present:
Bob Roebuck, General Manager
Toni Bailey, Finance and Computer Specialist
Mark Manion, for District Counsel
Tom Mosby, Engineering Manager
Lois Werner, Recording Secretary
Guests Present
Lin Ball, The Epler Company
Sam Frye, Petan Co.
Dan Eidelson, Montecito Association
Maria Herold
Charles Arnold
David Strauss
Joe Ball
Dana Newquist, Montecito Association
Ralph Baxter
Byron Ishkanian
Guillaume Doane, Montecito Journal
Camilla Cohee, SB NewsPress
Norma Rosales, Carpinteria Valley Water District
Stephanie Glatt, La Casa de Maria
J’Amy Brown, Montecito Association
Susan Bruch
2. PUBLIC FORUM
Sam Frye addressed the Board about a problem he had brought up at an earlier meeting on the MWD financial disclosure report which had been published by CCWA. The discrepancy in water use figures has been resolved, but the dollar amount still does not agree with the figures he has. District has also not been able to discern where the published figures came from. Mr. Frye asked if it was required that the names of the ten largest customers be listed, and requested that, if it is not required, that the name of his ranch operation not be used. He asked that, if their names were being used, all customer names should be listed. “Publish all of them or publish none of them.”
Maria Herold asked the Board what the status was of the Buell Reservoir property. On being told that there was no activity on the property, she asked if the property was surplus property and up for sale. Mr. Roebuck replied that, since the earlier attempt to subdivide the property and sell a portion was not successful, the District abandoned the attempt. Ms Herold will discuss this further with staff.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
Following Board discussion, it was moved by Director Abel, seconded by Director Puddicombe, and unanimously carried to approve the consent calendar as presented.
4. Business/Financial
A. Phase I – Water REvenue Plan and Cost of Service Study
Mr. Roebuck introduced this item and answered questions from the Board. Following Board discussion, it was moved by Director Drewry, seconded by Director Wilson, and unanimously carried to receive the Phase 1 report as presented.
B. Set Date for Public Hearing on Water Rates
This item was continued from meeting of September 20, 2005. Mr. Roebuck introduced the item and answered Directors’ questions. There were members of the public present who wished to speak on this subject.
Six members of the public spoke in opposition to the proposed rate change.
It was moved by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Drewry, and unanimously carried to authorize a “Notice of Proposed Water Rate Increase” in accordance with the requirements of Proposition 218 and set a date for a public hearing on Water Rates on December 14, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. in the Montecito Union School auditorium.
It was moved by Director Drewry seconded by Director Wilson and carried by the following roll-call vote to send a notice of public hearing based on a 6% increase in monthly service charge and a change in quantity rate charges designed to realize a 5% increase in revenues from this source and implement the first year of a five-year program to move all customer class quantity charges to the average cost of water.
Directors Abel and Puddicombe proposed a substitute motion that the notice of public hearing notify District owners and residents that the Board would be considering the previous option, as well as the additional option of raising the water rate of all categories (with the exception of Commercial) by 5% and monthly service charges by 6% without implementing the first year of a five year program to move all customer class quantity charges to the average cost of water.
Following discussion, a vote was taken on the original motion by the following roll-call vote:
Ayes: Directors Drewry, Edmonston, and Wilson
Noes: Directors Abel and Puddicombe
Absent: None
5. Closed SEssion Items
A. closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1) General Manager’s Annual
Performance Evaluation and Compensation Review (Estimated time, 30 minutes)
B. Closed Session Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1) Update on Business
Manager (Estimated time, 20 minutes)
The Board adjourned to closed session on the above items at 3:25 p.m.
The Board reconvened at 3:50 p.m. President Edmonston reported that on both item 5-A and item 5-B direction was provided and instruction given to the General Manager.
Regarding item 5-B the Board directed that the General Manager should provide additional compensation of $1,000 per month for a period not to exceed twelve months to Toni Bailey for performing certain Business Manager job duties.
6. LEGAL MATTERS
A. Recent and Pending Legal Matters REview (Oral)
Mr. Wullbrandt was absent and there was no report.
7. Cachuma Matters
A. CACHUMA CONSERVATION RELEASE BOARD MEETING OF September 26, 2005
Director Abel reported on the subject meeting
B. CACHUMA OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BOARD MEETING OF September 26, 2005
Director Abel reported on the subject meeting
C. COMB/CCRB Managers & Attorneys Meeting of October 5, 2005
Mr. Roebuck reported on the subject meeting, which he and Counsel both attended.
------------------------------------ Legal Counsel Departed at this point------------------------------------
8. district Operations Report
A. Ortega Reservoir Project Status Report (Oral)
Mr. Roebuck reported on the status of the Ortega Reservoir Improvement Project. Phase I is completed, Phase II is ahead of schedule. It is anticipated that by this time next year roof construction will have begun.
B. 2005 Urban Water Management Plan Update
Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Mosby presented the proposed 2005 Update of the Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and answered Directors’ questions. Following Board discussion, it was moved by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Drewry, and unanimously carried to approve circulation of the draft 2005 UWMP update.
C. 2005/06 MFPD/MWD Fire Hydrant Replacement Program – Award of Bid
Mr. Roebuck presented this item and answered Directors’ questions. It was moved by Director Abel, seconded by Director Puddicombe, and unanimously carried to approve the bid from Tierra Contracting as the lowest responsible bid in the amount of $95,300 for performance of the MFPD/MWD FY 2005/06 joint Fire Hydrant Upgrade and Replacement Program and authorize staff to prepare the notice of award of contract and notice to proceed for this work subject to MFPD’s formal acceptance of the bid and approval of MWD’s contractor; and satisfactory completion and execution of all MWD contractual and insurance obligations and requirements by Tierra Contracting.
D. Sage Consultants GIS Phase 5 Scope of Work Proposal – Award of Contract
Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Mosby presented this item and answered Directors’ questions. Following discussion it was moved by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Abel, and unanimously carried to approve the Sage Consultants proposal dated September 16, 2005 and the detailed scope of work associated with Phase five of the distribution system digital model and data base inventory and asset management system.
E. San Ysidro Reservoir – Proposed Replacement of REservoir Bypass Line from Highline to Reservoir Outlet Pipeline
Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Mosby introduced this item. Following discussion, it was moved by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Puddicombe, and unanimously carried to approve the project as described in the staff memo on this item and appropriate funding in the estimated amount of $140,000 from the 1998A Bond funds.
F. Amapola Well – Proposed MSD Sanitary Sewer SERVICE Connection
It was moved by Director Drewry, seconded by Director Puddicombe, and unanimously carried to approve the construction of a new sanitary sewer connection to the District’s Amapola Well for well flushing purposes and appropriate funding in the estimated amount of $21,600 from the 1998A Bond funds for this project.
G. 3077 Hidden Valley Lane – Grant of New MWD Pipeline Easement and QUitclaim of Existing MWD Pipeline Easement
Mr. Mosby introduced this item. It was moved by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Drewry, and unanimously carried to accept for recording the new 12-foot wide pipeline easement over APN 155-090-42 from Mr. Kent Wilson and approve and accept for recording the quitclaim of an existing MWD pipeline easement over APN 155-090-42 that is no longer needed by MWD for the operation and maintenance of an abandoned MWD pipeline.
H. Oriole Road and Virginia Road Water Main Replacements – Award Contract
Mr. Mosby introduced this item and answered Directors’ questions. It was moved by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Wilson, and unanimously carried to approve the bid from Tierra Contracting as the lowest responsible bid ; award contract for the project to Tierra Contracting; and fund the project from the $750,000 of 1998A Bond funds appropriated in the 2005/06 budget for water main replacement projects.
9. Time Certain — 4:00 p.m.
A. Employee Compensation Study
Mr. Roebuck presented this item and introduced Ms Lin Ball, Vice President of The Epler Company. Mr. Roebuck and Ms Ball answered Directors’ questions about the proposed Employee Compensation Study.
Following Board discussion, it was moved by Director Drewry, seconded by Director Abel, and carried by a vote of four to one to approve the District’s Compensation Philosophy and Compensation Objectives as presented, approve the List of Organizations which will be surveyed in the Compensation Study as revised, and authorize the Epler Company to conduct a 2006 Compensation Study at a cost not to exceed $20,000.
10. GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT
A. Ongoing Projects Update
Mr. Roebuck reported on ongoing District projects.
11. DIRECTOR AND STAFF MEETING REPORTS
A. Central Coast Water Authority Meeting of September 22, 2005
Director Puddicombe reported on the subject meeting which was a tour of Polonio Pass.
B. SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION MEETING OF September 26, 2005
Director Wilson reported on the subject meeting.
C. Central Coast Water AUTHORITY Operating Committee Meeting of October 13, 2005
Mr. Roebuck reported on the subject meeting where a guest speaker was the Deputy Public Works Director with SLO County. CCWA is working to increase supply reliability of State Water.
D. ACWA Board Meeting of September 29 & 30, Sacramento
Director Abel reported on the subject meeting and called the Directors’ attention to the material supplied in their agenda packets.
E. ACWA REgion 5 Membership Meeting of September 19, Santa Barbara
Director Abel reported on the subject meeting.
12. COMMITTEE REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS
A. OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Directors Edmonston and Puddicombe reported that Operations Committee activities had been covered elsewhere in the meeting.
B. FINANCE COMMITTEE
Directors Drewry and Wilson reported that Finance Committee activities had been covered elsewhere in the meeting.
C. PUBLIC INFORMATION COMMITTEE
1. Montecito Beautification Day
Director Abel reported that the Public Information Committee will meet on October 19, 2005 to work on the Proposition 218 notice for the upcoming Public Hearing and on the next Newsletter.
Director Abel requested that Directors sign up to staff the MWD table for Montecito Beautification Day, November 5, 2005. Each Director who is able should sign up for a one hour shift, or, if they prefer, a half-hour shift. A signup sheet was passed around for the Directors to sign.
13. Board information Items
No action was taken on these informational items presented to the Board.
14. AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS
There were no requests from Directors for items other than regular agenda items for the next regular Board meeting scheduled for November 15, 2005.
15. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the MWD Board of Directors, the meeting was adjourned at 5:25 pm.
Approved:
____________________________
Robert M. Edmonston, President
Attest:
__________________________________
Robert L. Roebuck, Secretary
