REGULAR MEETING Minutes

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT

583 SAN YSIDRO ROAD, MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA

TUESDAY, February 21, 2006

2:00 P.M.

1.  CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, DETERMINATION OF QUORUM       

President Edmonston called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.

Directors Present:

President Robert M. Edmonston

Directors Jan E. Abel, Robert W. Puddicombe, and Larry Wilson

Directors Absent:

Director W.W. Drewry

Staff Present:

Bob Roebuck, General Manager

Toni Bailey, Finance and Computer Specialist

Tom Mosby, Engineering Manager

Chip Wullbrandt, District Counsel

Lois Werner, Recording Secretary

Guests Present

Maria Herold

2.  PUBLIC FORUM           

Mrs. Herold asked what the District’s plans are for the house at the Buell Reservoir property.  Neighbors near the house are concerned that the house will become a problem, since it is not occupied.  They ask that the house be put to good use.  The Board asked that the neighbors concerned appear before the Board with their request.

3.  CONSENT CALENDAR

Following Board discussion, it was moved by Director Abel, seconded by Director Wilson, and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.

4.  Cachuma Matters

A.                 CACHUMA CONSERVATION RELEASE BOARD MEETING OF January 23, 2006

1.                  State Water Resources Control Board Hearing Technical Issues Update

2.                  Pending Cachuma Member Unit Legal Issues

Director Abel reported on the subject meeting and called the Directors’ attention to the materials presented in their agenda packets.  The new City representative to COMB and CCRB is Councilman Das Williams.  CCRB/COMB are once again sending Director Abel and Counsel Wullbrandt to Washington DC to pursue funding for central coast water concerns.  A new color brochure/handout has been developed for public outreach on activities to implement the Lower Santa Ynez River Fish Management Plan.

B.                 CACHUMA OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BOARD MEETING OF January 23, 2006

Director Abel reported on the subject meeting.  COMB General Manager Bob Wignot’s retirement is final on February 27.  Kate Rees has been hired as interim General Manager by a vote of four to one.  Santa Ynez ID #1 has requested that the issue of interim management be revisited.

C.                COMB/CCRB Managers & Attorneys Meeting of February 1, 2006

Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Wullbrandt reported on the subject meeting.

5. LEGAL MATTERS                                                                                                                     

A.                 Recent and Pending Legal Matters REview – Oral Report

Mr. Wullbrandt had nothing further to report on his recent activities and legal matters of interest to the Board.

B.                 District Late Charge

Mr. Roebuck introduced this item and answered questions from the Board.  Following Board discussion, staff was directed to return to the Board in March with a resolution setting the late charge based on the recommendations in the agenda packet. Additional information was requested on forgiveness of the late charge.

C.                Resolution No. 2010 — District Holidays

Mr. Roebuck introduced this item.  Following discussion, it was moved by Director Abel, seconded by Director Wilson, and carried by the following roll-call vote to approve Resolution No. 2010 as presented:

Ayes:  Directors Abel, Edmonston, Puddicombe, and Wilson

Noes:  None

Absent:  Director Drewry

------------------------------------- Legal Counsel departed at this point-------------------------------------

6.  district Operations Report

A.                 Ortega Reservoir Project Status Report

Mr. Roebuck presented the progress report on the Ortega Reservoir Improvement Project and answered Directors’ questions.  The Board indicated that they would like to view the progress on the reservoir prior to the next Board meeting in March.

B.                 Professional Services by Dr. Steven Bachman

Mr. Roebuck presented this item and answered Directors’ questions.  Following Board discussion, it was moved by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Puddicombe, and unanimously carried to authorize the General Manager to prepare a purchase order in the amount of $30,000 for Dr. Steven Bachman to provide professional services, and that the District fund this work from the Operational Reserve.

C.                Oriole Road and Virginia road water main REPLACEMENTS

Mr. Mosby presented this item.  It was moved by Director Abel, seconded by Director Puddicombe, and unanimously carried to approve the final payment to Tierra Contracting for the Oriole Road and Virginia Road project in the amount of $266,508.50; authorize the recording of the Notice of Completion for this project; accept  and authorize the recording of the homeowner easements granted to MWD for the new Oriole Road water main; and approve the final payment to Challenge Asphalt in the amount of $10,896 for the District’s 50% share of the Oriole Road asphalt overlay.

D.                Ashley Road Water Main Flow Restriction

Mr. Mosby introduced this item.  Following Board discussion, it was moved by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Wilson, and unanimously carried to approve the letter sent to the Montecito Fire Protection District by the General Manager on this matter, and make the replacement of 3,300 feet of this main a priority, with preparations to be made now and project completion in the next fiscal year.

E.                 Metron Meter Replacement Program

Mr. Roebuck introduced this item and answered Directors’ questions.  Following discussion, the Board concurred with the staff decision to adopt Sensus meters as the standard for all District meters less than three inches in size.

7.  Business / Financial

A.                 2005/06 Midyear investment Report

Ms. Bailey presented this item and answered Directors’ questions.

B.                 2005/06 MIdyear Financial statements & Budget Report

Ms. Bailey presented this item and answered Directors’ questions.

C.                2004/05 Continuing disclosure for 1996 CCWA Bonds

Mr. Roebuck and Ms. Bailey presented this item and answered Directors’ questions.  Following discussion it was moved by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Wilson, and unanimously carried to approve the submission of the 1996 CCWA bonds disclosure update for FY 2004/05 as presented.

D.                Review of CONTINUING Disclosure Requirement for COMB 2004 Bonds

Mr. Roebuck and Ms. Bailey presented this item and answered Directors’ questions.  Following discussion it was moved by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Abel, and unanimously carried to approve the submission of the COMB 2004 bonds disclosure update for FY 2004/05 as presented.

E.                 Review of Continuing Disclosure Requirement for 1998A Bonds

Mr. Roebuck and Ms. Bailey presented this item and answered Directors’ questions.  Following discussion it was moved by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Puddicombe, and unanimously carried to approve the submission of the 1998A bonds disclosure update for FY 2004/05 as presented.

F.                 Compensation Study and salary Adjustments

Mr. Roebuck presented this item.  Following Board discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to approve the recommended revised pay scale for the 2006/07 fiscal year budget, as presented in their agenda packets, and accept a resolution to that effect at a future meeting of the Board.

8.  GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT                                                                                       

A.                 Ongoing Projects Update

Mr. Roebuck presented his ongoing projects update.

B.                 Business Manager Position

Mr. Roebuck presented this item and received input from the Board.

(Director Puddicombe departed at this point.)

C.                Juncal Dam Update

Mr. Roebuck presented this item and answered Directors’ questions.

D.                Nominate Member to local Agency Formation Commission

Mr. Roebuck introduced this item and answered Directors’ questions.  Following discussion, it was moved by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Edmonston, and unanimously carried to nominate Larry Wilson to fill an upcoming vacancy on the LAFCO Board and to appoint Larry Wilson or Rick Drewry to represent the Montecito Water District on the LAFCO Independent Special District Selection Committee if Director Edmonston is unable to participate on the Committee.

9.  DIRECTOR AND STAFF MEETING REPORTS

A.                 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION MEETING OF January 23, 2006

Director Wilson reported on the subject meeting.

B.                 CCWA Board Meeting of January 26, 2006

Director Puddicombe had already left the meeting and will report next month on the subject meeting.

C.                Association of Water Agencies of Santa Barbara County Meeting of January 27, 2006

Director Wilson reported on the final meeting of the AWA of SB Co, which has now been officially dissolved.

10.  COMMITTEE REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS                                                            

A.                 OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

The Operations Committee reported that their activities had been covered already in the meeting.

B.                 FINANCE COMMITTEE

Director Wilson reported that the activities of the Finance Committee had been covered elsewhere in the meeting.

C.                PUBLIC INFORMATION COMMITTEE

Director Abel reported that the Public Information Committee has not met since the last Board of Directors’ meeting.

11.  Board information Items

 

No action was taken on these informational items presented to the Board.

12.  AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS                                                                                                

Director Wilson requested a report on the 1998A Bond Fund projects, and President Edmonston requested a report on the WAC projects at the next regular Board meeting scheduled for March 21, 2006.

13.  ADJOURNMENT

                                                                                             Approved:

                                                                                            ____________________________            

                                                                                             Robert M. Edmonston, President

Attest:

__________________________________

Robert L. Roebuck, Secretary