minutes

Regular Meeting

Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority

January 11, 2006

The Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority held a regular meeting on Wednesday, January 11, 2006, at the Sweetwater Authority Administrative Office, 505 Garrett Avenue, Chula Vista, California. Chair Pocklington called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

· ROLL CALL

Directors Present: Alkire, Beauchamp, Doud, Pocklington, and Welsh.

Directors Absent: Morrison and Salas.

Others Present: General Manager Bostad, Operations Manager Rogers, Legal Counsel Cowett, and Board Secretary Schoonderwoerd. Staff members Rick Alexander, Debra Farrow, Scott McClelland, Bill Olson, George Silva, Jim Smyth, and Tom Woodrum.

· PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Director Doud 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
Chair Pocklington noted that the Board received an advance e-mail notice announcing the Padre Dam Open House, which was scheduled for February 1, 2006. Due to construction problems, the event has been postponed. The Board will be notified when a new date is set.

Chair Pocklington also noted that at everyone’s place was a list with his appointments, effective January 2006, for Board representation at meetings of the following agencies in accordance with Policy 511: Bonita Business and Professional Association - Margaret Welsh, representative, and Jim Alkire, alternate; National City Chamber of Commerce - Ron Morrison, representative, and Mitch Beauchamp, alternate; Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce First Friday Breakfast - Jim Doud, representative, and Margaret Welsh, alternate; and South County Economic Development Council - Mary Salas, representative, and Mitch Beauchamp, alternate. He asked those who are representing the Board to keep abreast of what is going on in those organizations, and if there are future agendas that might be of interest to the whole Board, they can bring that before the Board for a vote. He also mentioned that the Board’s representatives could recommend speakers on water issues for presentations to these organizations in the future as an educational tool.

Director Beauchamp commented that the Board has Sweetwater Authority logo shirts that are worn to some of these activities, and he suggested a similar idea for some sort of blazer to be worn to appropriate functions. General Manager Bostad said it could be added as a future agenda item under the Communications Committee. Chair Pocklington noted that the Board may want to take into consideration that the logo shirts are not dress code for the First Friday breakfast.

ACTION CALENDAR ITEMS

1. ITEMS TO BE ADDED, WITHDRAWN, OR REORDERED IN THE AGENDA

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Alkire, that the Urban Water Institute Conference on January 29-31, 2006 be added as item 6.C. The motion carried.

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Welsh that the ABA 24th Annual Water Law Conference on February 23-24, 2006 be added as item 6.D. The motion carried.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Beauchamp made a motion, seconded by Director Doud, that the Governing Board approve the minutes of the December 19, 2005 adjourned regular meeting. The motion carried.

3. APPROVAL OF DEMANDS AND WARRANTS

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Alkire, that the Governing Board approve Warrants 103255 through 103559 including all voided checks. The motion carried.

4. OPERATIONS COMMITTEE (Meeting of January 4, 2006)

A. Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Welsh, that the Governing Board direct staff to discontinue the Authority’s participation in the Department of Environmental Health Post Meter Program and continue the Authority’s current backflow prevention program. General Manager Bostad said that appropriate rate adjustments would be brought back through the Finance and Personnel Committee based on the reevaluation of the billing charge for the Post Meter Program. The motion carried.

B. Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Alkire, that the Governing Board approve the revision of the project scope for the Loveland Reservoir Fishing Program Improvements to include a fishing pier and trail improvements, with the understanding that this revision will be discussed with Congressman Hunter’s staff for concurrence before proceeding with the actual work. The motion carried.

NOTE: Director Morrison entered the meeting at 6:10 p.m.

C. Offer to Perform Energy Usage Study from SDG&E Technical Assistance Program. This was an information item and no action was required by the Governing Board.

D. Discussion of Bonita Valley Reservoir Caulking Project. General Manager Bostad said that staff would provide photos of the project’s progress to the Board at a future meeting. This was an information item and no action was required by the Governing Board.

5. FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE (Meeting of January 6, 2006)

A. Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Doud, that the Governing Board award a contract to Berggren & Associates, 6046 Cornerstone Court West, Suite 116, San Diego, CA 92121, in the amount not-to-exceed $60,990 for the design development for the Metallic Main Replacement Program. The motion carried.

B. Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Welsh, that the Governing Board award a contract in the amount of $129,789 to Timberline Engineering, P.O. Box 20490, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87154, to proceed with the final SCADA design for the Robert A. Perdue Water Treatment Plant improvements. The motion carried.

C. Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Doud, that the Governing Board award a contract to ActivManuals, 2103 Margarita Glen, Fallbrook, CA 92088, in the amount of $21,120 for the Richard A. Reynolds Desalination Facility and National City Wells Operations and Maintenance Manual updates and approve additional funding in the amount of $1,120 from the Unallocated Reserve Fund. The motion carried.

D. Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Doud, that the Governing Board approve a salary increase of $4,089 annually for the Engineering Secretary position. The motion carried.

E. Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Doud, that the Governing Board approve the 2006 membership renewal in the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research and the payment of dues in the amount of $1,000. The motion carried.

F. Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Welsh, that the Governing Board approve the 2006 membership renewal in the American Membrane Technology Association and the payment of dues in the amount of $600. The motion carried.

G. Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Governing Board approve the 2006 membership in the South County Economic Development Council and the payment of dues in the amount of $200. The motion carried.

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

A. Council of Water Utilities, San Diego County Meeting at StoneRidge Country Club – Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 7:15 – 8:45 a.m. Directors Alkire, Beauchamp, Doud, Morrison, Pocklington and Welsh will attend this pre-approved event. No action was required by the Governing Board.

B. Western Coalition of Arid States (WESTCAS) Winter Conference – February 21-24, 2006 at Marriot Denver City, Colorado. Directors wishing to attend this pre-approved event will contact the Secretary. No action was required by the Governing Board.

C. Urban Water Institute “New Water and the Role of Power, an Urban Water Conference” – January 29-31, 2006 at the Huntington Beach Hilton in Huntington Beach, CA. Directors Beauchamp and Welsh will attend this pre-approved event. No action was required by the Governing Board.

D. ABA 24th Annual Water Law Conference – February 23-24, 2006 at the Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, CA. Directors Beauchamp and Doud will attend this event. Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Alkire, that the Governing Board approve per diem for any Directors who wish to attend this conference. The motion carried.

7. REPORTS BY DIRECTORS ON EVENTS ATTENDED

Chair Pocklington reported that he attended meetings at the Metropolitan Water District. They are looking at the selection of a new CEO and hope to have that accomplished by March. Four new directors from Los Angeles were appointed and took their seats. They have met with all of them, and he thinks they are off to a good start. Chair Pocklington said he was appointed Chairman of the Education and Outreach Committee at MWD. He is still on the Engineering and Operations Committee at CWA, but he gave up the Vice Chair position.

8. BUDGET REPORT – INTERIM DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FARROW
Report as of November 30, 2005

Ms. Farrow reminded the Board that the revenue portion of the November budget had already been presented at the December 19, 2005 meeting, and there were no changes. She noted that under Other Income, the $1.5 million in-progress payment received from Caltrans was not expected this early, and the graph will be adjusted next month to reflect these funds. Operating expenses are approximately $76,000 over budget due to water purchases and chemical costs. Overall, we are running very close to budget, with Operating Revenues at approximately $2.1 million over budget. In summary, we anticipated about 30 percent to be spent at this time, and we are actually at 26 percent spent.

9. MANAGEMENT REPORT

A. Report of Operations Manager Rogers: Operations Manager Rogers reported that we began releasing from Loveland Reservoir on January 4th. He displayed a slide show of photographs depicting the path of the release that were taken by Steve Parker, the Authority’s Reservoir Operations Specialist. One photograph showed the bunger valve releasing water at approximately 300 cubic feet per second. Some of the wells along the way were up as much as three to five feet. Mr. Rogers said the plan was to put about 12,100 acre-feet into Sweetwater Reservoir, which would take it to about 82 percent capacity and reduce Loveland to about 45 percent capacity. We now have gauges along the 17 miles to measure how long it takes water to get from point A to point B and to determine what kind of loss we have along the watershed. This will be the best data that we have ever collected on what happens when water is released during dry river conditions. General Manager Bostad said the transfer will be substantially over before the Arroyo Toad comes into the riverbed, which is around mid-February into the spring. Staff went out before the transfer to insure that there weren’t any Arroyo Toads in the riverbed. Operations Manager Rogers also said that the lake levels are measured manually every morning, and the website should be updated by 8:00 a.m. each day.

Operations Manager Rogers also reported that the Department of Health came out to do an inspection of our system, and we hope to get the final report and permit to start up Well No. 6 in a couple of months.

B. Report of General Manager Bostad: Mr. Bostad drew attention to the monthly report of activities. He also reported that the Authority received a President’s Special Recognition award from ACWA/JPIA for achieving a low ratio of paid claims for the period April 1, 2001 to March 2004. This award was accompanied by a check for $17,277.50, which is an endorsement of the work the Authority is doing and reinforcement for being with a good insurance company. Mr. Bostad also mentioned that the Authority is fast-tracking to apply for three Proposition 50 submittals to study an Otay River groundwater desalination feasibility study, a regional brine conveyance feasibility study, and a zero liquid discharge solar distillation pilot project. Sweetwater Authority is working in coordination with the City of San Diego and Otay Water District on these three projects, which will hopefully result in funding up to $500,000. More information will be shared with the Board as the process progresses.

10. DIRECTORS’ COMMENTS

Director Welsh brought in a bottle of water sold by her brother’s university. Operations Manager Rogers said that Sweetwater Authority investigated this option at one time, but discovered that private enterprises were too competitive and would drive small independents out of the market by cutting prices.

Director Doud quoted Althea Gibson: “No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you.”

Director Beauchamp commented that he is now a Notary Public and his first notarial act was a durable power of attorney for a fellow church member who was dying. He said that making a will was an important thing for everyone to do before it was too late.

Director Pocklington reminded the Board of the Largest Southern California Agricultural Water Users Tour the end of this month, and if they knew anyone else interested in attending to let him know. At this point, there are 21 people on the tour.

11. CLOSED SESSION

There was no need for one.

12. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business before the Board, Chair Pocklington adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m., to the hour of 3:30 p.m. on January 25, 2006.