MINUTES - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 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 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1997

Present:	Directors Muller, Puddicombe and Wilson
Absent:	Directors Abel (Due to Jury Duty) and Campbell
Also Present:	C. Charles Evans, General Manager/Secretary Chip Wullbrandt, District Counsel Tom Mosby, Engineering Manager Cathy Muneio, Secretary

A motion was made by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Wilson and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of October 21, 1997.

The Board reviewed the October water production report which showed production of 595 a/f of water.

A motion was made by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Puddicombe and unanimously carried to ratify the October 23, 1997 transfer of $350,000 from the District’s Montecito Bank & Trust operational account to the District’s LAIF/General Capital Repair & Replacement/Operations fund account.

The report on the distribution system and fire flow upgrade program was reviewed by the Board. The General Manager said that $112,000 was drawn from the Santa Barbara Bank & Trust loan to date to fund these projects. The District will receive this year’s water availability charge funds by the December 1997 and April 1998 tax rolls. The Engineering Manager gave a status report on the Pimiento Lane and Humphrey Road pipeline replacement projects. There was also a discussion on the low water pressure the District experienced in the Toro Canyon/Hidden Valley Lane area. The District had provided shower facilities at the YMCA and bottled water to customers without water.

Director Wilson had nothing to report regarding the Montecito Association. President Muller asked that the signs at the Montecito Union school be discussed at the next Montecito Association meeting because the signs are very large and Montecito has a sign ordinance which establishes the type of approved signs.

A motion was made by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Puddicombe and unanimously carried to appropriate funds from the Capital Repair and Replacement fund in the amount of $10,000 for modifications to the Alder Creek diversion structure.

The Engineering Manager explained the preparations that the District has been undertaking to prepare for a possibly harsh winter. This work has been done in the general Montecito area and at Jameson Lake/Juncal Dam.

The Board reviewed the letter that COMB had sent to Roger Patterson at the Mid Pacific Regional Office USBR. This letter requested that the language which has been in the Cachuma Project contract for over 40 years (and which is acceptable for the Tehama-Colusa Project) remain in the contract with the USBR retaining express responsibility for its own actions. The new language insisted upon by the Washington USBR office holds only the Member Units responsible for the liability of operating and maintaining the Project, and establishing that the Member Units hold the United States harmless. This letter requests that the USBR make available a representative who has the authority to negotiate the liability issue.

President Muller said that the City of Santa Barbara had requested that COMB change its litigator in the Lompoc II lawsuit appeal. COMB Counsel Tom Anderle has been asked to make a recommendation.

The General Manager reported that the Vegetative Monitoring Report is due out any day and that it will be available at the December 3, 1997 CCRB meeting. He reported that Jon Bredehoeft, hydrologist doing the Water Quality Study, has begun this work and is very knowledgeable. The General Manager explained that the Fish Management Plan is being completed on by Chuck Hansen, a biologist working for CCRB/ID No. 1. Regarding the protest of Lompoc regarding the change in place of use petition to the State Water Resources Control Board, District Counsel reported that Kate Rees is preparing a report stating that there is no impact so there is no basis for their protest. The protest is expected to be withdrawn if it can be shown that there is no impact.

Director Puddicombe reported that Bob Lindberg had retired from CCWA and that he was now the senior member of CCWA. He said there had been a discussion on CCWA contingency funds being used to cover the Carpinteria and Ortega Reservoirs. Montgomery Watson will perform a study at a cost of approximately $5,000 after a feasibility analysis is completed. Director Puddicombe said that he and Director Wilson had toured the Polonio Pass Treatment Plant.

Director Puddicombe reported on the CCWA meeting of October 23rd. He said that a survey of water rates of the various water districts had been completed in draft form. He also reported that a nominating committee for the Santa Barbara Water Purveyors Agency Board had been selected.

President Muller said that there was nothing new to report since the Operations Committee had not yet met.

The General Manager said that the Public Information committee would be meeting the following day, and that the winter District newsletter would be out the first week of December.

President Muller said that there was nothing new regarding the Water Marketing Committee.

Director Puddicombe said that the Ad Hoc Committee had met on November 3, and additional information that was requested will be prepared by Smith Barney. This information will then go to the Finance Committee and come to the full Board at its Special Meeting on November 25th. After discussion it was the consensus of the Board to combine the Finance Board workshop on Nov. 25th at 10:00 a.m. and Special Board meeting at 3:00 on November 25th, and to change the time for the one meeting to begin at 9:00 a.m. (This was later changed to begin at 3:00 p.m.)

Respectfully submitted,
___________________________
C. Charles Evans, Secretary
Approved:

Note: The agenda for this meeting was posted at the front counter and outside front wall at the Montecito Water District on October 3, 1997.