minutes

Regular Meeting

Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority

January 8, 2003

The Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority held a regular meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2003, at the Sweetwater Authority Administrative Office, 505 Garrett Avenue, Chula Vista, California. Chair Doud called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

· ROLL CALL

Directors Present: Beauchamp, Doud, Pocklington, Welsh, Wolniewicz and Wright.

Directors Absent: None.

Others Present: General Manager Bostad, Operations Manager Rogers, Legal Counsel Cowett, Treasurer Avery, and Board Secretary Farpón-Friedman. Staff members, Hank Gaus, Mary Ann Mann, Bill Olson, Paula Roberts, George Silva, Jim Smyth, and Tom Woodrum. Also present was Mayor Inzunza of National City.

· PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Director Beauchamp conducted the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

· OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT (Government Code Section (54954.3)
There were no members of the public present for comment.

· CHAIR ’S PRESENTATION

A. Chair Doud introduced Mayor Inzunza as the new director appointed by the City of National City and asked Board Secretary Marisa Farpón-Friedman to administer the Oath of Affirmation to Director Inzunza. Director Inzunza thanked the Board saying it was an honor to be on the Board and he believes that he can be a tremendous asset. He looks forward to learning from all the Directors. He thanked everyone for welcoming him.

B. Chair Doud also introduced the new Management Team; Dennis Bostad, new General Manager, and new Operations Manager Mark Rogers.

· ITEMS TO BE ADDED, WITHDRAWN, OR REORDERED IN THE AGENDA
There were none.

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Wright made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Board approve the minutes of December 23, 2002. The motion carried.

2. APPROVAL OF DEMANDS AND WARRANTS

Director Wright made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Board approve Warrants 86406 through 86572 including all voided checks. The motion carried.

CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS

3. FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE (Meeting of December 31, 2002)

CONSENT ITEMS

Director Wolniewicz made a motion, seconded by Director Wright that the Governing Board approve consent Items A through F. The motion carried.

A. Approve the 2003 membership renewal in the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research in the amount of $1,000.

B. Approve the 2003 membership renewal in the Chula Vista Downtown Business Association in the amount of $100.

C. Approve the 2003 membership renewal in the National Water Resources Association Municipal Caucus in the amount of $350, and appoint Director Wright as the Delegate and General Manager Bostad as the Alternate.

D. Approve the appointments of Director Wolniewicz as ACWA/JPIA Delegate and General Manager Bostad as Alternate.

E. Award a sole-source contract to McGuire Environmental Consultants, Inc., in the amount of $75,000 for the completion of the Water Resources Master Plan, and authorize additional funding of $26,400 from the Unallocated Reserve Fund to complete the project.

F. Award a sole-source contract to Nolte Associates in the amount of $18,400 to finalize the design report and prepare construction drawings for the sewer system upgrades at the Robert A. Perdue Water Treatment Plant. Funds are included in the approved Budget Project 02-05E.

ACTION CALENDAR ITEMS

4. OPERATIONS COMMITTEE (Meeting of January 3, 2003)

ACTION ITEM

A. Director Beauchamp made a motion, seconded by Director Wright, that the Governing Board reject the low bid for the 2002-2003 seismic retrofit and tank coating repairs project and award the contract to the second low bidder, Speiss Construction, in the amount of $117,000. The motion carried.

B. Director Pocklington talked briefly about the tour provided to the Governing Board of the National City Well No. 4 site. He commended staff for the way in which they have handled this operation with the School District.

5. NEW BUSINESS

ACWA Joint Powers Insurance Authority – 2003 Executive Committee Election.

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Wright, that the Governing Board nominate Director Wolniewicz as a candidate for the ACWA Joint Powers Insurance Authority 2003 Executive Committee. The motion carried.

6. APPROVAL OF DIRECTORS’ ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

A. Water Agencies Association of San Diego County – Quarterly Dinner Meeting – Thursday, January 16, 2003 at Olympic Resort Hotel in Carlsbad: All Directors will attend this pre-approved event. No action was required by the Governing Board.

B. Water Education Foundation’s 20th Annual Executive Briefing, March 12-13, Radisson Hotel, Sacramento: Directors Welsh and Wright will attend this meeting provided the Regular Board Meeting of March 12 is rescheduled. No action was required by the Governing Board.

C. Western Coalition of Arid States (WESTCAS) – Winter Legislative Forum – March 12-14, Radisson Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona: Directors Doud and Wolniewicz will attend this pre-authorized event. No action was required by the Governing Board.

D. CLE Water Law Institute – Law of the Rio Grande – January 23-24, 2003 – Albuquerque, New Mexico: Director Welsh made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Governing Board approve per diem for Director Wright to attend this conference. The motion carried.

E. National City Chamber of Commerce Membership Breakfast – January 15, 2003 – National City Martin Luther King Jr., Community Building, 140 East 12th Street, National City. Director Welsh made a motion, seconded by Director Wright, that the Governing Board approve per diem for Directors who wish to attend this event. The motion carried.

F. Port of San Diego Notice of Public Meeting for the Chula Vista Bay front Master Plan Study – Thursday, January 16, 2003 at Bob’s on the Bay, Sunset Room, 570 Marina Parkway, Chula Vista – 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Director Welsh made a motion, seconded by Director Wright, that the Governing Board approve per diem for Directors who wish to attend this meeting. The motion carried.

7. REPORT OF TREASURER – WANDA AVERY

Ms. Avery reported that the interest rate at the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) is 2.23 percent.

8. MANAGEMENT REPORT

A. Report of Rainfall and Reservoir Levels – Operations Manager Rogers: Operations Manager Rogers pointed at the slide on the screen showing one of our Customer Accounts Representatives servicing a customer and noted that between 10 and 15 percent of our customers come in to pay the bills. He believes this is a reflection of the positive perception that customers have regarding Sweetwater Authority. He then proceeded with the water resources update. For the first time, he said, evaporation and runoff are almost even, with runoff at 1,191 acre-feet and evaporation at 1,330. The rainfall in Sweetwater Reservoir to date is 5.23 inches and the 100 year-average is 4.29 inches. At Loveland Reservoir, the rainfall to date is 6.21 inches, also higher than the 55-year average of 5.53 inches. The total storage in both Sweetwater and Loveland reservoirs has increased. The percentage of storage now is 23 percent at Sweetwater Reservoir and 28 percent at Loveland Reservoir.

B. Report of General Manager Bostad: General Manager Bostad discussed recent contacts by the press who made direct inquiries of Board members regarding status and impacts of the Imperial Irrigation District water transfer and the Colorado River Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA). He noted that staff is a resource for these types of inquiries and is available to provide technical support. As an example, Communications Director Roberts researched the issues on the QSA from a regional level and reviewed with Management to coordinate a response to the press and keep the Directors informed.

9. REPORT OF WATER AUTHORITY RECLAMATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE - DIRECTOR WOLNIEWICZ

Director Wolniewicz said there was no meeting and he has not heard anything further on whether they are going to disband the committee or not.

10. REPORT OF CALFED/BAY-DELTA OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE - DIRECTOR WRIGHT

Director Wright had nothing new to report.

11. DIRECTORS’ COMMENTS

Director Welsh said that she believes in fresh starts and new years and she appreciates Director Inzunza’s attitude and willingness to be a part of a great board.

Director Pocklington said he thinks Director Inzunza will find the water business is very challenging and interesting but sometimes very discouraging, but that is the challenge. He welcomed Director Inzunza and said he looked forward to working with him.

Director Beauchamp said that it was good to have a complete, fully functional Board.

Director Wolniewicz welcomed Director Inzunza aboard. He noted he had been searching the Internet for updates on IID and MWD, and it is amazing how often they have updates. He added that IID lay out exactly what they think and where they are headed. He said that at one of the meetings he attended 2 ½ years ago, they said that in a few years we would not recognize water rights the way they are today.

Director Wright said he wanted to take note of the article that was in the paper today regarding General Manager Sorensen. He said that he took part in 22 of those 25 years with him. He hopes the record would show that they worked together and that he was a great Manager and the whole Board made their contribution to make that record. He hopes the new Mayor of National City enjoys his time in water as much as the rest of the Board and perhaps he will become a water buffalo like the rest of them.

Director Inzunza thanked the Board and said it feels good to know that there are people looking out for our water and for the interests of our community as a whole.

Director Doud welcomed Director Inzunza and said it will be nice working with him.

12. CLOSED SESSION

There was no need for one.

13. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business before the Board, Chair Doud adjourned the meeting at 7:06 p.m., to the hour of 3:30 p.m. on January 22, 2003.