minutes

Regular Meeting

Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority

November 23, 2005

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

Directors Absent: None.

Others Present: General Manager Bostad, Operations Manager Rogers, Legal Counsel Cowett, and Board Secretary Farpón. Staff members: Jack Adam, Rick Alexander, Debra Farrow, Leslie Filippi, Hank Gaus, Sue King, Scott McClelland, Bill Olson, Rita Schoonderwoerd, George Silva, Jim Smyth, Don Thomson, and Tom Woodrum. Also present was Mr. Richard Chmielewski, P.E., member of the public.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Director Alkire 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
There was none.

ACTION CALENDAR ITEMS

ITEMS TO BE ADDED, WITHDRAWN, OR REORDERED IN THE AGENDA

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Welsh, that the Southern California Agriculture Water Users Tour be added as Item 10. B. and the Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment Plant Groundbreaking as Item 10. C. The motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING (Government Code Section 54954.3)

Chair Pocklington stated that the Governing Board of Sweetwater Authority was holding a public hearing to give the opportunity for members of the public to address the Board concerning the proposed 2005 Urban Water Management Plan required by the State of California every five years. Chair Pocklington opened the public hearing at 3:33 p.m. to receive comments from the public. There were no members of the public in attendance to provide comments. Chair Pocklington closed the public hearing at 3:33 p.m.

Director Welsh stated that she had not had a chance to read this but if the Operations Committee was comfortable with the way it is stated and the goals are set forth, she would accept that. General Manager Bostad asked Director of Engineering Smyth to give a summary of the Plan. Mr. Smyth said that this is a requirement every 5 years and that the Plan must be submitted by December 31, 2005. This is the fifth report that we have prepared since 1985. He said we are addressing a supply issue, not distribution, the size of water mains, or pressure. For a 20-year planning horizon, the report addresses scenarios for a normal year, and single dry and multiple dry year periods. Staff prepared the draft document, attended workshops with CWA and MWD, and coordinated with the Department of Water Resources, the oversight. The draft document was submitted for comments to the Cities of National City and Chula Vista, the County of San Diego and the CWA, and none were received. Future planning for urbanization and higher densities by the Cities of National City and Chula Vista was incorporated into the report, and this represents a higher water demand than originally projected. This Plan is similar in nature to the Chula Vista Bayfront Water Supply Assessment adopted by the Board at its last meeting.

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Governing Board adopt the 2005 Urban Water Management Plan in accordance with Water Code Sections 10610 through 10656 of the Urban Water Management Planning Act.

ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 05-18 ADOPTING SWEETWATER AUTHORITY’S URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN

Upon a motion made by Director Doud, seconded by Director Beauchamp, the following resolution:

RESOLUTION 05-18

RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF SWEETWATER AUTHORITY
ADOPTING THE 2005 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH WATER CODE SECTIONS 10610 THROUGH 10656 OF THE URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING ACT

was passed and adopted by the following vote to wit:

Ayes: Directors Alkire, Beauchamp, Doud, Morrison, Pocklington, Salas, and Welsh
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 05-19 RECOGNIZING MARISA FARPÓN FOR HER SERVICE AS BOARD SECRETARY

Director Pocklington stated that it was a sad day when you see one of the members of our family leave after 16 years, but we know that Ms. Farpon has a future yet, and that whatever she decides to do, she would do it extremely well. He read the resolution to the Board.

Upon a motion made by Director Pocklington, seconded by Director Doud, the following resolution:

RESOLUTION 05-19

RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF SWEETWATER AUTHORITY
RECOGNIZING MARISA FARPÓN FOR HER SERVICE AS BOARD SECRETARY

was passed and adopted by the following vote to wit:

Ayes: Directors Alkire, Beauchamp, Doud, Morrison, Pocklington, Salas, and Welsh
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None

The Board presented the resolution to the Board Secretary. General Manager Bostad wished her well in her retirement. Ms. Farpón was presented with a framed photograph of Loveland Dam overflowing and a $100 gift card to recognize her for her many years of service. He also presented her with a lifetime fishing card and suggested that she may want to bring her grandson.

Director Alkire said that he has received the best of help guiding him anytime it looked like he may stumble and do something wrong. Ms. Farpón was always there to counsel him and keep him going straight. He appreciated that.

Director Beauchamp said his thoughts were the same, and he thanked her for the support she has given him and helping him through some of these administrative processes. More so, he appreciated the common language, Spanish, because she is from Spain, and Castillian is kind of the reference in Spanish. Speaking to Marisa puts him back into touch with how Spanish is supposed to be spoken. It has been a pleasure, and he has had a lot of fun playing with the Spanish language back and forth.

Director Pocklington said the resolution mentioned her support for some of the other agencies. When we become Presidents or Chairmen of these other organizations in San Diego County, we need to have a lot of administrative support, and she has done a tremendous job.

Director Salas said that, in her short time here, which is almost one year, time has really gone by quickly. She felt immediately a great deal of kindred with her, and she thinks they have a lot in common. It is her hope that she will see a lot of Marisa in the future and, now that she is no longer an employee of Sweetwater Authority, she is a great friend.

Director Doud commented that he said it in private before the meeting started, but obviously he appreciates what she has done.

Director Morrison said she always answered the questions he had.

Counsel Cowett said the Secretary always makes these meetings smooth and enables the Board to make policy decisions without having to stumble through the processes and procedures, and it is all done behind the scenes. She is the reason that it has always gone smoothly.

Chair Pocklington called a 10-minute break.

The meeting resumed at 3:59 p.m. with all Directors in attendance.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Alkire, that the Governing Board approve the minutes of November 9, 2005. The motion carried.

APPROVAL OF DEMANDS AND WARRANTS

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Morrison, that the Governing Board approve Warrants 102783 through 102948 including all voided checks. The motion carried.

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE (Meeting of November 16, 2005)

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Welsh, that the Governing Board award a sole-source contract in the amount of $113,729 to Pacific Titan, 11671 Sterling Avenue, Suite H, Riverside, CA 92503, for the Bonita Valley Reservoir caulking repairs, and that $15,729 be made available from the Repair and Replacement Reserve Fund to cover the projected deficit. The motion carried.

Adoption of 2005 Urban Water Management Plan. This item was covered during the public hearing earlier in this Board meeting.

Update of cellular company contracts. This was an information item, and no action was required by the Governing Board.

Director of Engineering Smyth gave a brief report on the background and history of this item. Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Governing Board approve funding from the Repair and Replacement Reserve Fund in the amount of $98,000 to perform the necessary work due to the 8th Street main leak in National City, using the Authority’s time and materials contractors. The motion carried.

General Manager Bostad reported that this item is addressed on the Finance Committee report as well, and it addresses one of Sweetwater’s most important improvements over the next few years, both for the membranes and for the design of the Perdue Treatment Plant improvements. Director of Engineering Smyth provided background for the project and explained the need to allow for expansion from a 30 mgd production to a 42 mgd system in the future. As mentioned in the Urban Water Management Plan, future development in the Cities of National City and Chula Vista will take demands greater than what was originally projected. Hopefully, the EIR for this project will be completed by August 2006. MWH Americas, Inc. will have the design phase in progress, but the membrane filtration system is a necessary component. Hopefully, construction will begin in late summer 2007 and take approximately a year and a half to complete. Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Governing Board approve the final negotiated contract for the membrane filtration system purchase for the Perdue Treatment Plant improvements in the amount of $5,162,768 with Zenon Environmental Services, Inc., 3239 Dundas Street West, Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6M482, including acceptance of all terms relating to liquidated damages and liability as provided by Zenon. The motion carried.

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

Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Doud, that the Governing Board discontinue participation in the Partnership for Safe Water. The motion carried.

Director Alkire made a motion, seconded by Director Doud, that the Governing Board award a contract in the amount of $1,529,475 to MWH Americas, Inc., 9444 Farnham Street, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92123, to proceed with the final design for the Robert A. Perdue Water Treatment Plant improvements. The motion carried.

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

Chair Pocklington reported that all 14 items before the Board were unanimously approved. He highlighted the following: an increase in the annexation fees for new land that comes into the CWA from $2,581 per acre to $2,929 per acre; the selection of two financial advisor groups to provide services over a five-year period at a total cost of $916,000; professional services contract awards for acoustic monitoring and as-needed corrosion engineering for the Aqueduct Protection Program, and inspection and monitoring of construction projects; and adoption of CWA’s 2005 Urban Water Management Plan. He reported on several issues at MWD, including that water sales are running $125 million in the plus, the desal issues at the Colorado River Board, and Pete Silva’s new position and the possibility of him coming to speak to the Sweetwater Authority and CWA Boards.

The Board then viewed an eight-minute video presentation outreach from CWA.

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

Director Pocklington made a motion, seconded by Director Doud, that the Governing Board approve per diem for any Director who wishes to attend the CLE International – Endangered Species Act & Habitat Conservation Planning – December 12-13, 2005 – Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco. The motion carried with Director Salas opposing.

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Beauchamp, that the Governing Board approve per diem for Directors Beauchamp, Doud, Salas, and Welsh to attend the Largest Southern California Agricultural Water Users Tour offered by the San Diego County Water Authority on January 20-22, 2006. The motion carried.

Director Doud made a motion, seconded by Director Welsh, that the Governing Board approve per diem for any Director who wishes to attend the Groundbreaking of the Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday, December 6, 2005. The motion carried.

REPORTS BY DIRECTORS ON EVENTS ATTENDED

Director Welsh reported on the California Water Policy Conference in Los Angeles. Bob Yamada from the CWA spoke on desalination, and it was troublesome that his presentation was somewhat negatively received in terms of where we want to go, especially by a group called Environmental Justice. Director Welsh said she attended a session on “Calfed: Reports of its Death are Greatly Exaggerated.” It was an interesting session with a more positive reaction to the possibility that this will have some worth in solving these water problems. She said it was interesting that this conference in Los Angeles had a more diverse group of participants than at ACWA.

BUDGET REPORT – DIRECTOR OF FINANCE GAUS
Report as October 31, 2005

Mr. Gaus reported that four months into the year, Water Sales were right on schedule and slightly ahead of projection by $218,000. Other Income is over budget by $22,000. Interest Income is running slightly ahead by $185,000, and that is always a good sign. Operating Expenses are under budget by $23,000. Overall, our cash flow is about $400,000 over what was anticipated at this time. In summary, we thought we would spend about 22 percent so far, and we spent 19 percent.

MANAGEMENT REPORT

Report of Operations Manager Rogers: Mr. Rogers said that a recent article in the San Diego Union Tribune listed a number of impaired waterways in San Diego County, and Loveland and Sweetwater Reservoirs were both mentioned. It was discovered that the Regional Water Quality Control Board got ahead of itself and announced this as if it were a final deal, and it was not accurate. These were “potentially” impaired waterways, and in January there will be public meetings at which we will get input to state our case as to why they should not be impaired.

He then introduced Director of Water Quality Thomson to talk about something very special and heartfelt that our employees did. Mr. Thompson showed a photo of Benny WynDham, one of our treatment plant operators, his wife, and their son, Corporal Jerry WynDham. Several staff members at Water Quality had sent a care package to Corporal WynDham while he was deployed in Iraq. He was very appreciative, and in his response he mentioned that there were several Marines stationed there who did not have anyone to send them care packages. This same group of employees got together and sent emails and care packages to these Marines that included, among other things, sports equipment, gloves, etc. In appreciation, the Marines wanted to give Sweetwater Authority a flag that had flown in Iraq. Mr. Bostad said that the photo shows that Corporal WynDham’s parents are prideful, and even though Corporal WynDham was not able to be here to present the flag to the Board, he was able come in to the office with his parents to present the flag to the Chair while he was home on leave. The flag will be displayed in a case at the Perdue Treatment Plant.

Report of General Manager Bostad: Mr. Bostad wished Marisa well and good luck, as did Operations Manager Rogers.

DIRECTORS’ COMMENTS

Director Doud had a public notice from the Unified Port District. They have grants for fish restocking initiatives. An application for this program will be available November 21st and must be completed by January 9th. He passed the notice over to staff.

Director Beauchamp had a question on the Finance and Personnel Committee item on the final design of the Perdue Treatment Plant improvements. He asked if we were going to do an EIR or a mitigated negative declaration. Director of Environmental and Governmental Services Alexander, responded that an EIR was required and explained the reasons for that. Director Beauchamp spoke on the issue of private water companies divesting themselves. He wanted to make sure that staff is watching what is going on with RWE.

Director Salas said she hopes everyone has a great Thanksgiving, and that we all have a lot to be thankful for.

Chair Pocklington said that this is a week of Thanksgiving and family gathering. To close, he asked the Board to stand and take a minute of silence and pray in one’s own thoughts and ways for those who are serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

CLOSED SESSION

There was no need for one.

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business before the Board, Chair Pocklington adjourned the meeting at 4:57 p.m., to the hour of 3:30 p.m., on December 19, 2005.