Tuesday, December 15, 1998

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, DECEMBER 15, 1998

The meeting was called to order by President Puddicombe at 3:00 p.m.
Those in attendance were:

Present:	Directors Abel, Campbell, Puddicombe Wilson
Absent:	None
Also Present:	C. Charles Evans, General Manager/Secretary Chip Wullbrandt, District Counsel Gary Ricks, Counsel Cathy Muneio, Secretary Steve Decker

The General Manager stated that an item had arisen subsequent to the agenda being posted. Director Campbell made a motion to approve Resolution No. 1872 to add a closed session item to the agenda. The motion was seconded by Director Wilson. The resolution passed with the following roll call vote:

A motion was made by Director Abel, seconded by Director Wilson and unanimously carried to approve the minutes of December 8, 1998.

The General Manager reported on the Water Works Operations Report for November 1998. He said that the report indicates that there was 54 acre feet of unaccounted water for the month, but that the District is looking into resolving this by meter testing.

A motion was made by Director Campbell, seconded by Director Abel and unanimously carried to approve the bills for November.

Director Wilson said he had not attended the Montecito Association meeting because of a conflict with this District’s meeting.

FOX AND ALDER CREEKS BIOLOGICAL STUDIES AND APPROVAL OF 1998-99 CHALLENGE COST SHARE AGREEMENT AND PROPOSED PROJECT OVERSIGHT BY ENTRIX

The Board discussed the proposed 1998-99 Challenge Cost Share Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. Director Abel said that she was very satisfied with the way the Forest Service and Water District had worked to put together this program. A motion was made by Director Campbell, seconded by Director Abel and carried 4-0-1, with Director Wilson abstaining, to approve: 1) the 1998-1999 Challenge Cost Share Agreement for Alder and Fox Creeks Biological Studies with the U.S. Forest Service in the amount of $13,000, and the additional biologist’s expenses of $10,300; 2) engaging Entrix, Inc. for the project oversight as outlined in the proposal, with a cost not to exceed $16,500; and 3) the appropriation of $39,800 from the District’s Capital Repair & Replacement / Operations Reserve Fund for this work.

The Engineering Manager commented to the Board on the District’s meter testing program. He reported that 1% of District meters 2 inches and smaller (45 meters) were removed and flow tested by Sensus at low, medium and high flows. They generally were shown to be accurately metering the water. He noted, however, that in the last pipeline replacement project three clamps were leaking and that there may be other leaky clamps in the District, which could be causing the District to lose water. Director Abel said that the Operations Committee had reviewed this proposal, and approved it. A motion was made by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Campbell and unanimously carried to 1) re-examine the District’s present 18 year meter change out policy to determine if a more frequent meter exchange program is warranted; 2) authorize conducting a District wide leak detection survey in the estimated amount not to exceed $20,000, to be funded from the 1998 A Bond Fund; 3) request COMB to test all Cachuma turnout production meters; and 4) authorize the purchase of a Sensus Meter Master 100 recording device and software in an amount not to exceed $5,500, to be funded from the 1998 A Bond Fund.

In December 1997, the Board indicated that it wished to elect Board officers in December 1998. President Puddicombe said it was now time to consider this action. It was also recommended that a Second Vice-President be elected in the event that the President and Vice-President are unavailable. The Board also discussed the rotating of Board officers annually. A motion was made by Director Campbell, seconded by Director Wilson and unanimously carried to elect Director Puddicombe as President for another one year term starting in December 1998. Director Abel said she supported Director Puddicombe as Board President since the General Manager had indicated he would retire in 1999, and Director Puddicombe’s experience was important in filling this position.

A motion was made by Director Abel, seconded by Director Puddicombe and unanimously carried to elect Director Campbell as Vice-President for the same one year term.

A motion was made by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Jones and unanimously carried to elect Director Abel as second Vice-President for the same one year term.

President Puddicombe declared that Board meetings, unless otherwise specified, would be tie-free meetings. He also asked that the Board members let him know whether or not they would like to maintain the current committee assignments. President Puddicombe said that he would like to remain on the CCWA Board until its next election since he is the current CCWA President, and that Director Abel may want to stay on as the CCRB representative since she is currently the President. He also said that he would like to have just one meeting per month for the months of January and February 1999 on a trial basis. He said the Board committees may need to be given more authority to act and then have the Board ratify their actions at the following Board meeting. Counsel Wullbrandt suggested the Board select a threshold dollar amount that the committees be allowed to approve. The General Manager said that a recommendation on this would be presented to the Board for its January meeting. The Board also indicated that, in the event an item needs to be acted on immediately, a special meeting could be called by the Board.

The Engineering Manager explained that the Board had previously approved $5,000 for rehabilitation of the Ennisbrook No. 3, but that an additional $10,000 was needed. He stated that this well was one of the better producing wells, but that it recently has started producing a great deal of sand. Director Abel said that the Operations Committee had reviewed this and was recommending approval of this work. A motion was made by Director Abel, seconded by Director Puddicombe and unanimously carried to approve the rehabilitation of the Ennisbrook No. 3 well at a cost of $10,000, with funds to be provided from the 1998A bonds.

The Engineering Manager reported on the fall 1998 groundwater levels. He said that 61 wells had been sampled. A few wells recorded substantial drops, but those wells may have been operating, and that there was a 2-8 foot drop throughout the groundwater basin. He said,

A motion to approve Resolution 1871 regarding the District’s annual report of its land and air space was made by Director Abel, seconded by Director Jones and carried with the following roll call vote:

A motion was made by Director Campbell, seconded by Director Puddicombe and carried 4-1, with Director Wilson opposed, to adjust the directors compensation for a cost of living increase of 3% increase. It was noted that this increase is the same as the employee cost of living increase.

CCRB TECHNICAL ISSUES AND LEGAL ISSUES AND FISH/TAC/CONSENSUS COMMITTEES MEETING OF DECEMBER 9, 1998

The Board discussed the Fish TAC/Consensus Committee meeting of December 9, 1998. Counsel Wullbrandt said that Steve Mack had reported that the final draft Fish Management Plan is due out in March. Director Campbell requested a copy of the Fish Management Plan when it is completed. President Puddicombe asked Counsel Wullbrandt to comment on the process in which the member units would take to prepare for the SWRCB 94-5 Board hearings in year 2000. Mr. Wullbrandt did so, and was complimented by the Board for his summary.

President Puddicombe said that the items discussed at the Operations Committee had previously been considered. He did ask whether the tests at the Buell Reservoir property were completed. The Engineering Manager reported that the last percolation test was done. President Puddicombe also asked the status of the Pacifica Institute possible groundwater contamination. The General Manager said that another effluent test will be done on January 11.

The Public Information Committee had not met so there was nothing new to report.

Director Campbell requested a report on the LAFCO meeting, and Director Abel asked that a report of the CCRB meeting be placed on the agenda.

The Board went into closed session at 4:50 p.m. When the Board returned to open session at 5:50 p.m., it was stated that no action had been taken.

Note: The agenda for this meeting was posted at the front counter and on the front wall at the Montecito Water District on December 11, 1998.