minutes

Regular Meeting

Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority

May 11, 2005

The Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority held a regular meeting on Wednesday, May 11, 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, Pocklington, Salas and Welsh.

Directors Absent: Inzunza.

Others Present: General Manager Bostad, Operations Manager Rogers, Legal Counsel Cowett, Treasurer Avery, and Board Secretary Farpón. Staff members, Michael Garrod, Hank Gaus, George Silva, Don Thomson and Tom Woodrum; and Sal Salas, member of the public.

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

· OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT (Government Code Section (54954.3)
Mr. Sal Salas introduced himself to the Board and said he was here today to express his support to his wife as a member of this Board and to the water conservation efforts of the Authority.

· CHAIR 'S PRESENTATION
There was none.

ACTION CALENDAR ITEMS

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 ITEMS TO BE ADDED, WITHDRAWN, OR REORDERED IN THE AGENDA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

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Beauchamp made a motion, seconded by Director Salas, that the Board approve the minutes of April 27, 2005. The motion carried.

3. APPROVAL OF DEMANDS AND WARRANTS

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Alkire, that the Governing Board approve Warrants 99819 through 10055 including all voided checks. The motion carried.

4. APPROVAL OF DIRECTORS' ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

A. Council of Water Utilities, San Diego County Meeting at StoneRidge Country Club - Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 7:15 - 8:45 a.m. Directors Alkire, Beauchamp, Doud, Salas and Welsh will attend this pre-approved event. No action was required by the Governing Board.

B. Sweetwater Authority Leader Tour - Richard A. Reynolds Desalination Facility - Friday, May 20, 2005, 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Directors Alkire, Doud, Pocklington and Welsh will attend this pre-approved event. No action was required by the Governing Board.

C. Water Education Foundation - Bay Delta Tour - June 15-17, 2005. Director Welsh will attend this pre-approved event. No action was required by the Governing Board.

5. REPORT OF TREASURER - WANDA AVERY

Ms. Avery reported that interest rates are moving up a quarter point, and that is good news.

6. MANAGEMENT REPORT

A. Report of Operations Manager Rogers: Operations Manager Rogers reported that Loveland Reservoir has been spilling since April 10th. Staff estimated that it has spilled about 2,300 acre-feet, which is about 40 cubic feet per second per day; about 80 acre-feet per day; or about 26 million gallons per day.

Operations Manager Rogers said that staff had submitted a grant request to the Army Corps for a Vernal Pool Restoration Project. The Army Corps had their annual Regional Workshop in San Diego last week, and staff invited them to visit the site for the proposed project. We expected around 20 people to visit, and a total of 67 attended. Pete Famolaro, our Biologist, showed the 2.7 acres that are being cleared for vernal pools.

Director of Engineering Smyth then presented a brief report regarding the request from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to designate the Sweetwater Falls Dam as a historical site. He said that ASCE has a number of categories for historical sites besides dams, i.e., roads, bridges, etc. They have a Committee that meets twice a year, made up of about sixteen members from all over the country, to select the entry nomination submittals. Mr. Smyth distributed a copy of the booklet prepared by staff and submitted to ASCE titled "Sweetwater Dam - Entry Nomination for National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark." The Committee will meet on June 4th to review all the submittals. Mr. Smyth said that In 1996 ASCE nominated a Kentucky Dam. He also said that of the 14 dams nominated only two are older than Sweetwater Dam. The main focus of the booklet submitted to ASCE is the original construction of the dam in 1888 and its infrastructure. Mr. Smyth pointed at a page in the book showing profiles of arch dam shapes. He also noted a photo of Frank Kimball and Colonel William Dickerson. He remarked that it was fascinating to see the vision that they had with regard to the water supply.

Report of General Manager Bostad: Mr. Bostad reported on his recent trip to Washington, D.C. with staff from the City of San Diego and Consultant Rick Alexander. He distributed a letter that was sent on behalf of Mayor Murphy and Bud Pocklington to Senators Boxer, Feinstein and Hunter regarding HR 1190, the San Diego Water Storage and Efficiency Act of 2005. The letter was used to reinforce the partnership between the City of San Diego and Sweetwater Authority. The group met with staff of Susan Davis, Duke Cunningham, Darrell Issa, Diane Feinstein and Grace Napolitano. He also distributed a copy of another letter in support of this effort that was signed by all the House Representatives in the County and sent to Richard Pombo as the Chair of the House Committee on Resources. The group met with his Chief of Staff and, subsequently, Kyle Weaver indicated that they would attempt to get this on the docket to come before the committee probably towards the end of June. It was a successful effort in reinforcing the partnership between the City of San Diego and Sweetwater Authority and moving forward with getting more people to sponsor and be in favor of this effort. He noted that on the 28th the CWA Board voted to support HR 1190. He also said that Director Pocklington and he had attended an ACWA Federal Affairs Committee. Director Pocklington said that through the efforts of Harry Ehrlich, who is a member of one of ACWA's subcommittees, they were able to get ACWA to support this effort. Director Pocklington said he has talked to Wes Bannister, Chairman of the MWD Board, who said that he would support it. He hopes that this issue will be included on MWD's agenda in June.

7. DIRECTORS' COMMENTS

Director Welsh said that the ACWA conference was wonderful and the Groundwater Session was incredible. She added that 40 percent of Long Beach's water supply is from groundwater.

Director Doud said the ACWA conference was one of the best ones he has attended in many years. There was something going all the time that kept his interest.

Director Beauchamp said that he had lunch yesterday with Paul O'Neal, who had spoken at the County Water Agencies breakfast meeting in Poway several months ago. They talked about solar energy, and Director Beauchamp advised him to get in contact with General Manager Bostad and Operations Manager Rogers to talk about the ideas that may benefit Sweetwater Authority.

Director Beauchamp added that the concern he had is that his original concept of pump storage, which is what Olivenhain and Hodges are involved with, is that the water would be pumped up into the upper reservoir during a time when there is not much demand, but this is not the case anymore. If you go beyond a certain kilowatt, you hit the peak power and you pay at that higher rate. He heard on the radio about a device that you put on your air conditioning unit and they can signal to turn it off or to drop its energy use during the peak times. With Sweetwater, it is the volume used during the billing cycle.

Director Pocklington mentioned that the School Awards ceremonies for the winners of the Sweetwater Authority and South Bay Irrigation District's scholarship would be on June 9 at 6:30 p.m., at Hilltop High, and for South Bay's second winner it will be on May 22nd at Marian Catholic School. He plans to attend the Hilltop High ceremony to present the awards to Nikolas Kennedy and Kenneth Emerson. The South Bay Board will make a decision as to which director would present the award at the Marian Catholic School.

He commented that the ACWA conference was tremendous. He hopes to go back to San Jose, which is the third largest city in California, ahead of San Francisco. He thinks it has tremendous potential.

8. CLOSED SESSION

There was no need for one.

9. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business before the Board, Chair Pocklington adjourned the meeting at 6:38 p.m., to the hour of 3:30 p.m. on May 25, 2005.

W.D. Pocklington, Chair
Attest:

Marisa Farpón, Board Secretary