MINUTES - JANUARY 21, 1997

MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
of the
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT
held at the
DISTRICT BOARD ROOM

583 SAN YSIDRO ROAD, MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA
at 3:00 p.m. on TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1997

Present:	Directors Abel, Muller, Puddicombe and Wilson
Absent:	Director Campbell
Also Present:	C. Charles Evans, General Manager/Secretary Chip Wullbrandt, District Counsel Cathy Muneio, Secretary Carolee Krieger Ted Phenix Marshall Ackerman Jerry Springer Julia Springer Alice Van de Water

Director Puddicombe made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 7, 1997 Board meeting. It was seconded by Director Abel. The motion carried unanimously.

During public forum Carolee Krieger read into the record her letter to the Board regarding Proposition 218. President Muller said that legal counsel had been consulted regarding this matter and he asked legal counsel to prepare a reply to Carolee Krieger’s letter for Board review.

Director Puddicombe moved to approve the consent agenda. It was seconded by Director Wilson. The motion unanimously carried.

The General Manager reported that diversions had begun at Fox Creek and that repairs were needed at Alder Creek before diversions could begin there.

The Board reviewed the appraisals for the Neal Well and Yaggy properties. The appraisal for the Yaggy property shows an access road easement that runs through the center of the property, but an addendum was added to the appraisal for an increase in value of $25,000 if the driveway is relocated. Director Puddicombe made a motion to accept the appraisal reports for the Neal Well and Yaggy Pressure Regulator sites, authorize Keith Anderson to appraise the Buell Reservoir site for an increased amount of $1,800, and to appropriate $1,100 from the Capital Repair and Replacement Fund for this work. Director Abel seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Director Puddicombe made a motion to approve the processing of the 65402(c) reports with the County of Santa Barbara for the Neal Well and Yaggy Pressure Regulator sites. It was seconded by Director Wilson. The motion carried unanimously.

Director Puddicombe made a motion to approve filing the Notices of Exemption for the Neal Well and Yaggy Pressure Regulator sites. The motion was seconded by Director Abel. The motion carried unanimously.

The Board reviewed the memorandum regarding the process for the sale of District surplus properties. The Board discussed changing the deadline for receiving offers for the Neal property on Santa Elena Avenue, and to hold off on receiving offers for the Yaggy property until such time that the roadway through the center of the property is resolved. President Muller asked that the District obtain an estimate on paving the road at the Yaggy site and to discuss this with the neighbors directly affected..

Counsel Wullbrandt suggested that the advertisement in the newspaper include the wording that the Board reserves the right to not accept any and all bids. Director Puddicombe made a motion to approve the schedule with offers to be received on the Neal Well property until 5 p.m. on February 17, 1997. It was seconded by Director Wilson. The motion carried unanimously. A member of the public asked whether the District had obtained any estimates on the removal of the equipment on the properties for sale and what the requirements were for accepting offers on the Santa Elena property. The General Manager said the District was negotiating the removal of the above ground facilities at Santa Elena. President Muller said that it was the policy of the Board to not accept bids below the appraised value.

Director Puddicombe made a motion to reject the offer for the purchase of an option for the Neal Well property site based on the recommendation of the Finance Committee. It was seconded by Director Wilson. The motion carried unanimously.

Director Puddicombe moved to approve the District’s contribution of $115.00 to the Water Education Foundation. It was seconded by Director Wilson. The motion carried unanimously.

Director Puddicombe made a motion to advise CCWA that the District wishes to sell its 1997 State Project entitlement in Turnback Pool A. The motion was seconded by Director Abel. The motion carried unanimously.

President Muller reported that seismic work at Cachuma was at a halt due to weather conditions. He said that COMB would be meeting with the USBR to reach agreement on repayment of strengthening of the dam.

Counsel Wullbrandt reported that the Lompoc lawsuit should be discussed during closed session.

On other fishery issues Director Abel reported that comments were given on the listing of steelhead. Nancy Crawford, a property owner along the upper Santa Ynez River, had written a letter which had provided a lot of historical information and, if any Board members were interested in reading this, Director Abel would get them a copy. There had been a meeting with Doug Wheeler, Secretary of the Resources Agency for the State of California, to discuss the cojo and steelhead listings. Director Abel also reported that the Watershed Management Plan was back and funding for this plan was in the Governor’s budget for 1997/98.

Director Abel reported on the CCRB meeting of January 15, 1997. She reported that CCRB had discussed the listing of steelhead and the Lompoc Water Quality Work Plan. This plan has been approved by everyone accept for the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District. The next step will be for the steering committee to obtain the models. CCRB will be accepting applications for a project manager for the work plan. The Board of Supervisors will consider the work plan on January 22, 1997. Staff was asked to obtain the staff report on that meeting. Director Abel also reported that Jean Baldrige has been appointed Study Manager for the fisheries studies. CCRB members had come to a consensus on the Warren Act Trust Fund and Renewal Fund and will be giving its recommendations to COMB.

President Muller reported on the Water Users conference he had attended on January 15-17.

The Finance Committee had met and was in the process of preparing notebooks for the Finance Committee and Board workshop.

Director Abel reported that the Public Information Committee had met and discussed sending out the next newsletter at the end of March so that it could include the Water Quality Report. She was asked to look at the cost of printing the report on less expensive paper. She asked if there were any suggestions from the Board on what to put in the newsletter to give her or Director Wilson a call.

President Muller reported that the Water Marketing Committee had met and discussed advertising water for sale. The committee will continue to request that Dan Masnada persist on getting a reply from DWR to our request that they give priority to purchasing members surplus entitlements when buying water to make up shortages.

There was no report on Special Districts Association or LAFCO since Director Campbell was absent.

When the Board went back into open session at 5:15 it was stated there was nothing to report.

Note: The agenda was posted at the front counter and outside front wall at the Montecito Water District on January 17, 1997.