REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT

583 San Ysidro Road, Montecito, CAlifornia

TUESDAY, August 15, 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, Business Manager

Tom Mosby, Engineering Manager (briefly)

Mark Manion, for District Counsel

Lois Werner, Recording Secretary

Guests Present

Sam Frye, Petan Co.

2.  PUBLIC FORUM           

There were no members of the public present who wished to speak on any matters not on the agenda.

3.  CONSENT CALENDAR

Following Board discussion, it was moved by Director Abel, seconded by Director Puddicombe, and unanimously carried to approve the consent calendar as corrected. 

4. Cachuma MATTERS

A.                 CACHUMA CONSERVATION RELEASE BOARD MEETING OF July 24, 2006

 

Director Abel reported on the subject meeting, which was the annual reorganization meeting, and called the Directors’ attention to the materials provided in their agenda packets. Director Abel has been reelected as president of CCRB.

B.                 CACHUMA OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BOARD MEETING OF July 24, 2006

 

Director Abel reported on the subject meeting, the annual reorganization meeting, where Chuck Evans was elected president.

C.                Special COMB/CCRB Meeting OF August 2, 2006

 

Director Abel reported on the subject meeting, which concerned the reorganization of COMB/CCRB. The group is considering two options on reorganization. At the meeting, COMB Counsel pointed out that the Bureau of Reclamation must approve any change in the JPA formation agreements. The JPA formation agreements require approval by all member units for any reorganization.

5. LEGAL MATTERS                                                                                                                     

A.                 Recent and Pending Legal Matters REview (Oral)

Mr. Manion had no legal matters to discuss with the Board.

B.                 Price, Postel & Parma Representation of La Cumbre Mutual Water Company

There was no discussion on this informational item. There is no recognized potential for conflict of interest in Price, Postel & Parma’s representation of La Cumbre Mutual Water Company.

C.                Supreme Court Ruling on Proposition 218

The Board discussed with legal counsel the ramifications to the District of the recent State Supreme Court opinion on the application of Article XIII D section 6 of the California Constitution to public water agencies. President Edmonston noted that a special meeting would be required to deal with the issue of water rates. Following further discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to set a special meeting as soon as possible to discuss the implications of the court ruling to District rates.

6. Business

A.                 Outsourcing of Water Bill Printing Process

Ms Bailey presented this item. It was moved by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Wilson, and unanimously carried to authorize the General Manager to execute a contract with DataProse to print and mail the District’s monthly water bills.

B.                 Grand Jury Report on Water and Cemetery Districts

Mr. Roebuck presented this item and answered Directors’ questions. Following discussion, it was moved by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Abel, and carried by a vote of three to one, that President Edmonston be authorized to sign the proposed letter, as amended, in response to the Grand Jury Report.

C.                Independent Special districts Compliance Report

There was no discussion on this informational item.

Legal Counsel departed at this point.

7.  district Operations Report

A.                 Ortega Reservoir Project Status Report (Oral)

Mr. Roebuck updated the Board on the status of the Ortega Reservoir Improvement Project.

B.                 Annexation Request – APN 013-010-003 – 188 West Mountain Drive

Mr. Roebuck presented this item and answered Directors’ questions. Following discussion, it was moved by Director Abel, seconded by Director Puddicombe, and unanimously carried, to authorize the General Manager to send a letter stating that the District will not support any annexations into its service area at this time for the reasons listed in the staff report on this item.

C.                MWD Distribution System Water Quality Model – Status Report

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

D.                Department of Safety of Dams Semi-Annual Juncal Dam Inspection Report

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

8.  GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT                                                                                       

A.                 Ongoing Projects Update

Mr. Roebuck presented a report on ongoing projects not covered elsewhere in the agenda.

9.  DIRECTOR AND STAFF MEETING REPORTS

A.                 Central Coast Water Agency Meeting of July 27, 2006

Director Puddicombe reported that CCWA did not meet in July.

B.                 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION MEETING OF July 24, 2006

Director Wilson reported on the subject meeting where the speaker discussed the new Lompoc hospital.

C.                LAFCO meeting of August 3, 2006

Director Wilson reported on the subject meeting.

10.  COMMITTEE REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS                                                            

A.                 OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

Directors Edmonston and Puddicombe reported that the Operations Committee is still exploring sources of supplemental water.

B.                 FINANCE COMMITTEE

Director Wilson reported that the activities of the Finance Committee were covered elsewhere in the agenda.

C.                PUBLIC INFORMATION COMMITTEE

Director Abel reported that the Public Information Committee met to go over the draft of the newsletter to be mailed in early September. A second newsletter is planned for October to include a Proposition 218 notice for public hearing on rate revision. She noted that she has a DVD of one episode of Huell Howser’s “California Water” television series. President Edmonston suggested that a future issue of the newsletter deal with the stringent training and certification requirements for District operators.

11.  Board information Items

 

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

12.  AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS                                                                                                

There were no requests from Directors for items other than regular agenda items for the next regular Board meeting scheduled for September 19, 2006.

13.  ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the MWD Board of Directors, the meeting was adjourned at 4:28 pm.

                                                                                                Approved:

                                                                                                __________________________

                                                                                                Larry Wilson, Vice-President

Attest:

__________________________________

Robert L. Roebuck, Secretary