President Abel requested that the Minutes of the November 20, 2001 Board meeting be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion and revision. Director Puddicombe requested that item 3-F, Payment of Bills, be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion and revision. Director Bachman requested that item 3-C, Water Sales Reports, be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion. A motion was made by Director Bachman seconded by Director Wilson, and unanimously carried to approve the November 20, 2001 Minutes as amended and the Consent Calendar as presented.

After discussion, a motion was made by Director Puddicombe, seconded by Director Bachman and unanimously carried that the Directors receive a 3.5% cost of living increase in compensation effective January 1, 2002.

President Abel announced that an election would be held for President and Vice-President. President Abel then turned over the meeting to Board Secretary Fred Adjarian. Secretary Adjarian opened the nominations for President. Director Puddicombe nominated Jan Abel as president of the board; Director Drewry seconded the motion. There being no other nominations, nominations were declared closed by Secretary Adjarian. Jan Abel was elected President of the Board of Directors with one abstention.

Secretary Adjarian then announced that the nominations were open for Vice-President of the Board. Director Puddicombe moved that Director Drewry be nominated as Vice-President. Director Wilson seconded the motion. There being no other nominations, the nominations were declared closed by Secretary Adjarian. W.W. Drewry was elected Vice-President of the Board of Directors with one abstention.

3. request for input in regard to various board appointments for 2002

President Abel requested Board input on various Board appointments for 2002. Appointments will be made at the January meeting of the Board.

Manager Adjarian reviewed for the Board the status of staff efforts to resolve an unauthorized meter sharing arrangement on East Mountain Drive. Mr. Adjarian reviewed a letter which had recently been sent to property owners affected by the arrangement and answered questions from the Board.

1. reclassification of water treatment technician POSITION / resolution no. 1927, employee classification and salary range schedule

Following discussion, a motion was made by Director Bachman, seconded by Director Puddicombe and unanimously passed to establish a new employee classification and salary range schedule effective January 1, 2002. A motion was made by Director Bachman and seconded by Director Puddicombe to approve Resolution No. 1927 rescinding Resolution No. 1921 and reclassifying the Water Treatment Technician position.

A role call vote was taken:

Ayes: Directors Abel, Bachman, Drewry, Puddicombe & Wilson
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstaining: None


2. resolution no. 1928, adoption of deferred compensation plan amendment

Following discussion, a motion was made by Director Drewry and seconded by Director Bachman to adopt Resolution No. 1928 amending the District’s deferred compensation plan.

A role call vote was taken:

Ayes: Directors Abel, Bachman, Drewry, Puddicombe & Wilson
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstaining: None


3. RESOLUTION NO. 1929, ANNUAL INVENTORY OF DISTRICT LANDS AND AIR SPACE

Following discussion Resolution No. 1929 was amended to read that the District has no lands or air space in excess of its foreseeable needs. A motion was made by Director Wilson and seconded by Director Drewry to approve Resolution No. 1929, the Annual Inventory of District Lands and Air Space.

A role call vote was taken:

Ayes: Directors Abel, Bachman, Drewry, Puddicombe & Wilson
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstaining: None

President Abel called the Board’s attention to the following items from the subject meeting:

1. State Water Regional Control Board Technical Issues Update
2. Member Unit Legal Issues Update
3. Fish Management Plan Biological Opinion EIS/EIR open informational meeting held in Solvang on November 19, 2001.

1. cachuma operation and maintenance board meeting of November 19, 2001

President Abel reported to the Board on the subject meeting and briefly reviewed discussions at the December 17, 2001 COMB meeting regarding Crawford Hall. It was decided by the COMB Board not to appeal the Crawford Hall decision.

2. central coast water authority board meeting of november 15, 2001

Director Puddicombe reported to the Board that the CCWA Board did not meet in November.

3. SANTA BARBARA CHAPTER/CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION MEETING OF november 2001

Director Wilson reported to the Board on the subject meeting. The guest speaker was Santa Barbara County Public Works Superintendent Phil Demery, who spoke on trash and recycling.

1. OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

Director Puddicombe reported to the Board on the activities of the Operations Committee.

Director Bachman updated the Board on the status of MWD discussions on groundwater conjunctive use projects with Goleta Water District and Carpinteria Valley Water District.

2. finance Committee

Director Wilson noted that the Finance Committee did not meet during the month of December.

2. PUBLIC INFORMATION COMMITTEE

President Abel reported to the Board that the Public Information Committee developed the rate sheet sent out to MWD customers showing the new rates and fees for 2002.

President Abel called the Board’s attention to a letter to Catherine Lee, Executive Director of the Montecito Association addressing the need for signage for main replacement work being done around the District service area.

Mr. Adjarian and District Counsel Wullbrandt updated the Board on the status of negotiations with USBR on a repayment contract for the Bradbury Dam seismic retrofit costs. The project is "substantially complete." MWD will likely need to begin making payments in October 2002. Annual Member Unit repayment costs will probably be approximately $200,000/yr, with MWD’s obligation approximately $20,000/yr. The total will increase by approximately $100,000/yr in 2016; MWD’s obligation will increase by approximately $10,000/yr.

Mr. Adjarian briefly updated the Board on the following District projects:

• Ortega Reservoir Cover/Phase 1 Design
• Upper Toro Canyon Road Main Replacement
• Sycamore Canyon Road Main Replacement
• Office Pump Station Upgrade
  

President Abel requested that a closed session be scheduled for the January Board meeting for the General Manager’s annual performance review.

Director Wilson requested clarification on the figures cited in the Department of Health Services letter of December 4, 2001 referring to MWD’s total water storage.

Director Bachman has been re-appointed Chair of the ACWA Groundwater Committee. Mr. Wullbrandt has been re-appointed to the ACWA Legislative and Federal Affairs Committees. Director Puddicombe inquired on the status of the staff report on the Metron Meters.

There being no further business to come before the MWD Board of Directors, the meeting was adjourned at 4:07 p.m.