|
|
|
 MINUTES
OF A SPECIAL MEETING 583 SAN YSIDRO ROAD, MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL SECTION 1 The meeting was called to order by President Puddicombe at 2:00 p.m.
|
PUBLIC FORUM SECTION 2 There were no comments from the public during the public forum.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS SECTION 4
A. CONSIDERATION OF MWD COMMITTEE AND REGIONAL BOARD ASSIGNMENTS President Puddicombe asked if the Board had comments on the proposed Committee assignments. He said he made two changes from the last meeting to the Committee assignments regarding the Public Information Committee and the Santa Barbara Water Purveyors Agency. There were no other comments from Directors.
ENGINEERING/DISTRIBUTION/TREATMENT SECTION 5 A. RATIFICATION OF RADON CORRESPONDENCE TO STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND U.S. EPA A motion was made by Director Abel, seconded by Director Jones and unanimously carried to ratify the letter to Mr. Dave Spath at the Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / CONSERVATION SECTION 6 A. UPDATE ON ACWA PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAM REGARDING Manager Adjarian reported that this item was reviewed by the Operations Committee. Director Abel requested that she receive a copy of the press release sent to the Santa Barbara News Press and suggested that one be sent to the Montecito Journal. Director Abel asked that any editorials that had appeared in the newspapers be sent to ACWA and the Committee for Yes on Prop. 13. Director Abel said that CCRB would have Proposition 13 on its next agenda. It was agreed that President Puddicombe and Manager Adjarian would coordinate the preparation of an Op Ed piece. Counsel Wullbrandt suggested a thank you letter be written to the Independent for their editorial in support of Proposition 13. Director Wilson asked if the District was meeting its legal responsibilities in having a balance between the pros and cons of Proposition 13. Staff was asked to contact ACWA to see if they could provide opposing arguments on Prop. 13. B. REPORT ON Y2K – DISTRICT FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS. President Puddicombe reported that there were no problems associated with Y2K on New Years Eve even though the District was totally prepared. Manager Adjarian said that he was at the District to receive customer calls on New Years Eve and only received one. Other staff were available and on call at District facilities. Director Wilson asked what was the total cost for preparing for Y2K. The Business Manager said the total cost to the District was $28,000, which was used to upgrade the District’s computer equipment. C. REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FROM CUWCC A motion was made by Director Abel, seconded by Director Wilson and unanimously carried to approve a contribution of $200 to the California Urban Water Conservation Council for the calendar year 2000. It was noted that this is part of the District’s Memorandum of Understanding with DWR for implementing water conservation BMP’s.
BUSINESS AND FINANCE SECTION 8 A. CLAIM OF MR. NORMAN GIMBEL FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE Manager Adjarian explained that this was a situation in which a tree had wrapped its roots around the District’s water line. Mr. Gimbel claimed that because of the District’s work in repairing the line, the tree roots were ruptured and that damage was done to another tree. He said that at the January 18, 2000 Board meeting Mr. Gimbel spoke with Engineering Manager Mosby. Mr. Gimbel agreed to drop the claim. He requested that District staff straighten his fence and assist with the physical replacement of his damaged irrigation system. The Business Manager said that from the standpoint of JPIA it was necessary for the Board to officially take action to reject the claim so that the claim was removed from the books. By doing so, the District would not acknowledge any responsibility. Staff was directed to write a letter to Mr. Gimbel stating that the District would fix his damaged fence and irrigation system and have him sign off at the completion of this work. It was noted that whoever planted the tree had planted it in the District’s right-of-way. A motion was made by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Abel and unanimously carried to reject the claim.
Manager Adjarian explained that he had looked at several different types of vehicles and that the SUV types of vehicles met his needs for accomplishing more tasks under a variety of conditions. He stated that the Ford Taurus that the previous General Manager had used would be used as a pool vehicle. A motion was made by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Abel and unanimously carried to: 1) approve an increase in the 1999/00 budget for the General Manager’s vehicle from $16,500 to $25,000; and 2) appropriate $8,500 from the District’s Capital Repair and Replacement/Operations Reserve Fund.
DIRECTOR AND STAFF MEETING REPORTS SECTION 9 A. ACTIVITIES OF MONTECITO ASSOCIATION Director Wilson reported that three new directors had been appointed. He pointed out that the Montecito Association had term limits (2 four year terms). Director Wilson pointed out that the Architectural Review Board had reviewed 480 permits in the past three years and that he would keep the Board updated on the Toro Canyon Plan. B. CACHUMA CONSERVATION RELEASE BOARD MEETING OF 12/20/99. Director Abel said that the big issue discussed was the Pacific Coastal Salmonid Initiative. The federal government had budgeted $9 million for this fiscal year. She stated that a coalition letter was being sent to the California Resources Agency to make sure funds were made available locally. Director Wilson requested a copy of the entire matrix. It was noted that each County is limited in its request of $750,000. ACWA is planning a trip to Washington DC at the end of February to seek funding for next year. In several weeks, Counsel Wullbrandt will be going to Washington to do the same. CCRB Board member Rusty Fairly volunteered to go with Counsel Wullbrandt to Washington since the City has a budget; he intends to make sure that the City lobbyist is working on this issue. Counsel Wullbrandt stated that Director Abel had worked very hard to make this an issue. Director Abel said that Councilmember Langer had retired and that Rusty Fairly had replaced her. She said that there will be another meeting of the "Lompoc Talks" on February17. She said that there would be a special meeting on February 9th at the Montecito Water District. She said that the Biological Opinion was not yet available but that there would be a meeting with NMFS on February 11, 2000 to discuss the status of the BO. Director Abel said that the Biodiversity Work Group had met on December 3, 1999 to discuss more consistent ways to fund activities.
Director Abel said that there was a written report included in the Board packet.
Director Abel said there was nothing new to report regarding this item. Director Abel said that the Bureau of Reclamation is required to report on the progress to the SWRCB. C. HILTON CREEK RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY OF 12/16/99. Director Abel reported on the ribbon cutting ceremony. She said that CCRB had received terrific press coverage and that the ACWA News had done an excellent layout. A video of the news coverage of this event was shown to the Board. D. CACHUMA OPERATION AND MAINTENACE BOARD MEETING OF 12/29/99.
COMMITTEE REPORTS / RECOMMENDATIONS SECTION 10
The Engineering Manager reported on several main breaks that had occurred in December on San Ysidro Road and said that this area of pipe was scheduled for replacement in the 1999/00 fiscal year.
FINANCE COMMITTEE Director Wilson said that the Finance Committee had not yet met.
PUBLIC INFORMATION COMMITTEE Director Abel said that there was a Public Information Committee meeting scheduled for February 22 at 12:30 p.m. and requested that Directors get in touch with her if they had any suggestions for the next newsletter. Director Abel also provided Directors with several news articles.
GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT SECTION 11 A. PRESENTATION OF PRELIMINARY DRAFT MWD BOARD OF
DIRECTORS Mr. Adjarian said that the Board had previously requested that he prepare goals and objectives for the District when he was hired. He thanked management staff for helping him complete the draft and said that they had provided a lot of good suggestions. The goals and objectives divided into four different sections: background factors, organization values, summary of the District’s situation, and where the District is currently at on these major issues. The next step involved articulating concise goals along with specific objectives that reflect the most criticial issues facing the District. This will lead to a strategic plan consisting of a Capital Improvement Plan, Finance Plan, Intergovernmental Relations Plan and a Communications Plan. Mr. Adjarian said that the District will need to also revisit the Thirty Year Strategic Plan as part of this process. B. UPDATE ON DRAFT ACTION PLAN PER 12/20/99 BOARD OF DIRECTORS WORKSHOP Mr. Adjarian reported on the Draft Action Plan from the December 20, 1999 Board workshop relative to the issues of covering of Ortega Reservoir and South Coast Conduit. Mr. Adjarian said that another workshop would be needed to focus on the institutional history of Santa Barbara water in order to give the Board a basis from which to move forward with other future action items relative to Ortega Reservoir. It was the consensus of the Board that a workshop be scheduled to discuss these items. Director Jones left at 12:20 p.m. Mr. Adjarian said that he would get back with the Board on some possible future dates for a workshop. C. DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEETING FORMAT OPTIONS The Board discussed several options for completing Board meetings. One suggestion was that if a meeting was not completed it could be continued as long as it occured within five days and would not need a new agenda. It was suggested that if meetings were changed to the second Thursday then that meeting could be continued the third Tuesday of the month. It was the consensus of the Board to implement this change effective with the April 2000 Board meeting once a new Director was selected.
LEGAL MATTERS SECTION 12 A. DISTRICT COUNSEL REPORT Counsel Wullbrandt reported that the County is working to develop a less regulatory process to go through. He said that recently the County had insisted that agencies go through a more rigorous effort. He said that the Attornies and Managers had been trying to get the County to realize they do not have any permit authority. A meeting is scheduled for the next Monday with all Attornies and Managers to discuss the next steps to be taken by the agencies in dealing with the County. He said that the County is requiring a "will serve" letter before a subdivision map can be filed. Counsel Wullbrandt said the concern was about the issue that required a water district to have water available for projects. B. STATUS REPORT ON DIRECTOR VACANCY Counsel Wullbrandt reported that since the resignation date for Director Campbell was January 18, 2000, the District must appoint a new Director by March 17, 2000. The District must provide public notice in 3 or more conspicuous places, and hold a Special Board Meeting no later than March 17, 2000 to appoint a new Director. He said that there are no other legal requirements except that a new Director must be picked by a majority of the Board. The new Director must also be registered to vote by the date he/she is appointed. Counsel Wullbrandt was asked to provide the Board with a list of questions to ask prospective candidates. C. DIRECTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE Director Wilson suggested that Directors Abel and Puddicombe serve on this committee. Director Abel said that there would be a meeting soon to layout plans. Mr. Adjarian would attend this meeting to serve as a technical resource. A motion was made by Director Wilson, seconded by Director Jones and unanimously carried to approve Directors Abel and Puddicombe to serve on the Ad Hoc Search Committee.
ADJOURNMENT The Board meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Approved:
_____________________________ Robert W. Puddicombe, President Attest:
_____________________________ Fred. J. Adjarian, Secretary
|
©1998 Montecito Water District
Web design by Infospec.net
