minutes

Regular Meeting

Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority

March 23, 2005

The Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority held a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at the Sweetwater Authority Administrative Office, 505 Garrett Avenue, Chula Vista, California. Chair Pocklington called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL

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

Directors Absent: None.

Others Present: General Manager Bostad, Operations Manager Rogers, Legal Counsel Cowett, Treasurer Avery, and Board Secretary Farpón. Staff members Hank Gaus, Bill Olson, Jimmy Raines, George Silva, Jim Smyth, and Don Thomson.

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
Special Recognition of Sweetwater Authority employee Jimmy Raines for actions above and beyond the call of duty.

Director of Water Quality Thomson related the incident that took place on February 20th at the Sweetwater River just below the flow barrier where three girls were trapped in the river. Jimmy Raines was leaving his job site that day and noticed some girls in the rushing water at the Sweetwater River. Recognizing the danger, he activated the emergency response system. He assisted one of the girls to the shoreline and was unable to assist the other two girls. He retrieved a rope from the truck and went downstream hoping he could assist the other two girls. He was able to grab one girl as she went by and pulled her to shore. The third girl was swept out past the rock where Jimmy was. He quickly threw the rope, the girl was able to grab the last two feet of it, and he was able to pull her to the shore.

Chair Pocklington presented Jimmy Raines with a Certificate of Recognition for his actions above and beyond the call of duty. This certificate entitles him to eight hours of paid time off. Chair Pocklington said that Jimmy Raines is really a hero and the Board was very appreciative of his efforts to save the girls. Jimmy spoke briefly and said he does not consider himself a hero; he just was in the right place at the right time.

ACTION CALENDAR ITEMS

ITEMS TO BE ADDED, WITHDRAWN, OR REORDERED IN THE AGENDA

Director Pocklington made a motion, seconded by Director Alkire, that the reception for Harold Ball’s Retirement on March 31, 2005, be added to the agenda as item 8.C. The motion carried.

Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Inzunza, that the field trip to Otay Water District on March 25, 2005 be added to the agenda as item 8.D. The motion carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Beauchamp made a motion, seconded by Director Doud, that the Board approve the minutes of March 9, 2005. The motion carried.

APPROVAL OF DEMANDS AND WARRANTS

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Governing Board approve Warrants 99101 through 99299 including all voided checks. The motion carried.

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE (Meeting of March 16, 2005)

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Governing Board approve Mr. Caledonia’s request for a remote service at 997 “R” Avenue, National City, and that Mr. Caledonia be responsible for the payment of all fees for the new service. The motion carried.

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Welsh, that the Governing Board cancel the contract for replacement of six 500-gallon diesel fuel tanks, formally reject the sold bid received, and accept Alternative No. 3 to repair or replace the tanks only as needed because of normal wear. The motion carried.

FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE (Meeting of February 21, 2005)

Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Salas, that the Governing Board approve offering credit card bill payments to ratepayers by partnering with Official Payments Corporation. The motion carried. Director Salas asked that staff periodically assess this company to make sure that it continues to employ a U.S. workforce.
Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Governing Board renew the Authority’s Policy on Agriculture Use Water Rate Discounts to include the change in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California discount rate from $137 to $90 per acre-foot, and that this policy be reviewed for renewal by the Board in three years. The motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE (Meeting of March 22, 2005)

Safety slogan contest. Staff reported that the winner of the Safety slogan was “Satefy is a Team Sport, Be a Player” submitted by Jay Montijo. This was an information item and no action was required by the Governing Board

Director Welsh made a motion, seconded by Director Salas, that the Governing Board award a $1,000 scholarship to Kenneth Emerson, a Hilltop High School senior, and authorize staff to forward his application as a finalist in the CSDA competition. The motion carried.

The Committee also recommended that the South Bay Irrigation District Board of Directors award $500 scholarships to Ian King, a Marian High School senior, and to Nikolas Kennedy, a Hilltop High School senior, and that Nikolas Kennedy’s application be forwarded as a finalist in the CSDA competition. This recommendation will be presented to the South Bay Irrigation District Board at its next meeting on April 18th.

REPORT OF THE SOUTH BAY IRRIGATION DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE AND THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY

Chair Pocklington provided an extensive report on the items that will be discussed at the CWA Board of Directors’ meeting under Engineering and Operations Committee, Imported Water Committee, Legislation, Conservation and Outreach Committee, and Water Planning Committee. Some of the highlighted items included the adoption of a position of support to AB 1234 (Salinas) and opposition to SB 393 (Ortiz); a new agreement with MWD and Otay WD to replace two existing local resources program agreements for the Otay Water Reclamation and Otay Recycling Water Distribution System expansion projects; and an MOU with the City and County of San Diego to develop an integrated regional water management plan grant application for Proposition 50 funds to set up grant applications on the watershed drainage problems. He also reported that there would be a closed session on the regional seawater desalination Plant in Carlsbad; he added that this issue is moving forward and next month should be a deciding point.

APPROVAL OF DIRECTORS’ ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Urban Water Institute – 4th Annual Water Act Conference “Making Water Quality Regulations Work” April 7 and 8, 2005 – Sutton Place Hotel, Newport Beach. None of the directors will attend this pre-approved event. No action was required by the Governing Board.

Water Agencies Association of San Diego County – Quarterly Meeting – Thursday, April 21, 2005 at the Four Points Sheraton San Diego. All the directors will attend this pre-approved event. No action was required by the Governing Board.

Retirement Reception for Helix Water District Director Harold W. Ball – March 31, 2005 – Nat L. Eggert Operations Center – El Cajon. Director Pocklington made a motion, seconded by Director Doud, that the Governing Board approve per diem for directors who wish to attend this event. The motion carried.

Otay Water District Field Trip – March 25, 2005. Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Alkire, that the Governing Board approve per diem for directors attending this event. The motion carried.

REPORT OF TREASURER – WANDA AVERY

Ms. Avery was not present at the meeting.

BUDGET REPORT – DIRECTOR OF FINANCE GAUS
Report as of February 28, 2005

Director of Finance Gaus reported that Water Sales are $1,063,556 below budget, but he added that we would see some savings as a result of using our local water instead of purchasing from the CWA. Other Income is also under budget by $167,464, and the Interest Income is $148,327 over budget. The Operating Expenses are $698,456 under budget. Overall, we anticipated spending 56 percent on capital projects at this time and we have only spent 34 percent.

MANAGEMENT REPORT

Report of Operations Manager Rogers: Operations Manager Rogers reported that Loveland Reservoir is at 95 percent of its capacity and Sweetwater Reservoir is at 83 percent. He said that the National City wells and the desalination plant are currently turned off, and a 100 percent of the water going to our customers is from Sweetwater Reservoir. If we have another storm and get about three-quarters of an inch of runoff, Loveland Reservoir will more than likely spill over the top.

Mr. Rogers added that shutting down the desalination plant and the National City Wells would provide staff an opportunity to check some operational questions, such as the static level of both. Since 1999 the desalination plant has been producing water and, at that time, we had to go down 100 feet to get water. Staff wants to check the static level to see if we have had a drawdown. The last time the static level of the National City Wells was measured was six or seven years ago. Shutting them off will afford us an opportunity to allow them to lie fallow for about a month and see if the level stays where it was six years ago.

Report of General Manager Bostad: Mr. Bostad said some of the preliminary information from the analysis of the wells indicates that the water quality is better than expected and the production may not be as low as initially evaluated. He added that staff is not ready yet to provide a full report.

DIRECTORS’ COMMENTS

Director Doud said he received his annual report for 2004 from the Toxin Informer -Environmental Health Coalition. It is reported that the South Bay Power Plant received an updated water discharge permit setting a timeline for eliminating toxic discharges into South Bay. Duke energy has appealed the permit seeking to continue to pollute San Diego Bay but the EHC will fight against it. He also said that Home Depot has $100 vouchers for water efficient cloth washers, but they do not have rebates for the toilets.

Director Beauchamp said, in relation to Loveland runoff, that he went to see one of his projects in Alpine with the intention to cross the river, but it was roaring. He had never seen anything like it. He added that he was on the Colorado River a week ago and saw the Morales dam. This dam diverts the water, as it leaves California/Arizona and goes to the Mexico/Arizona boundary, into the canals in the Mexicali region. It just had a little trickle of water.

He referred to a newsletter from the Owens Lake. He said that Los Angeles Water and Power was hit badly by the Mono Lake Committee when they were draining that valley – Mulholland’s big plan, and they are now going back and rewetting some of those areas. He was in the area one day before this started and there was a huge dust storm. This portends what is going to happen in the Salton Sea. There are a lot of parallels although Owens is a much higher, colder region and plant materials are different. Director Beauchamp then commented on a transnational basin bill that involves an area in Nogales and El Paso. There is a water acquifer that crosses the border. He thinks that CWA should look at that bill and watch this issue carefully because the relining of the All American Canal is going to dry up the farmers. He thinks that these issues are much bigger in Imperial Valley than the little basins by Nogales.

Director Pocklington said that he would not be able to attend the next Board meeting on April 13, 2005. The CWA received a written notification from the American Society of Civil Engineers that the Olivenhain Dam has been selected as one of the five finalists in the 2005 Outstanding Civil Engineer Achievement competition held worldwide. The award ceremony will take place on the 13th in Tyson’s Corner Hotel in Vienna, Virginia, and he will be attending that event.

CLOSED SESSION

There was no need for one.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business before the Board, Chair Pocklington adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m., to the hour of 6:00 p.m. on April 13, 2005.