VALLEY CENTER MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
Regular Board Meeting
Monday, December 5, 2005
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Place: Board Room
29300 Valley Center Road
Valley Center, CA 92082
The Valley Center Municipal Water District Board of Directors’ meeting was called to order by President Broomell at 2:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Board members present were: Directors Broomell, Polito, Aleshire, Stone and Haskell. Staff members present were: General Manager Arant, General Counsel Cowett, Director of Finance Jeffrey, District Engineer Grabbe, Director of Operations Hoyle, Board Secretary Stetson, IT Specialist Rivard, Manager of Accounting Pugh and Project Manager Williams. Spectator present was Mr. Larry Glavinic, Valley Center Planning Group member.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
1. Upon motion by Polito, seconded by Haskell and unanimously carried, the agenda was amended to add under Closed Session a discussion of an employee’s discipline per Government Code §54957(b)(1).
AUDIENCE COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
2. Mr. Larry Glavinic, Member of the Valley Center Planning Group, addressed the Board concerning the District’s proposed provisions for wastewater service which had been presented to the Valley Center Planning Group for comments as well as the County Department of Planning and Land Use (DPLU). Mr. Glavinic stated that members of the local planning group met with representatives of the DPLU regarding the DPLU’s comments on the draft provisions. There was concern expressed pertaining to language that was included as well as defining the boundary for sewer service and definition of conservation subdivision. From this meeting a revised letter of comment from the DPLU is expected. Mr. Glavinic expressed his hope that a policy for wastewater service is developed that works for the Valley Center Planning Group, the County Department of Planning and Land Use and the water District.
General Manager Arant added that the Valley Center Planning Group’s comments included that sewer service be provided the village areas and relegated to the village
boundary areas. The DPLU’s perspective is to provide sewer to the village areas but to allow for sewer service outside of the village area. One exception to allow sewer service outside of the village area is for developments containing conservation principles such as those with clustering with designated open space. Input from the DPLU on wet weather storage ponds is expected along with amendments to their comments. A revised proposal for the District’s provision of wastewater service along with comments received will be presented to the Board for consideration of adoption at a future Board meeting.
CONSENT CALENDAR
3. Upon motion by Stone, seconded by Polito and unanimously carried, the following consent calendar items were approved:
• Minutes of the Board meeting held November 21, 2005
• Audit demand check numbers 106555 through 106732
• Treasurer’s Report and Financial Statements for the period ended October 31, 2005.
• Board of Director’s request for per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses.
PUBLIC HEARING
4. Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Increased Water Rates and Fees:
An overview of the proposed water rate changes had been provided at the November 7th meeting and reviewed in detail at the November 21st meeting. A Notice of Public Hearing had been published in the Valley Roadrunner Newspaper on November 23rd and 30th regarding the consideration of adoption of proposed increases in the water rates and fees at today’s meeting, and no comments were received. The Board unanimously approved a waiver of a presentation by staff noting that the proposed increased rates and fees have not been revised since previously reviewed.
The public hearing on the proposed increases in the water rates and fees was opened at 2:13 p.m.
No comments were received and there had been no written communication. The public hearing was closed at 2:14 p.m.
Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Haskell and unanimously carried, the following ordinance, entitled:
ORDINANCE NO. 2005-14
ORDINANCE OF THE
VALLEY
CENTER
MUNICIPAL
WATER DISTRICT ADOPTING WATER RATES
BY AMENDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
was adopted by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Directors Broomell, Polito, Aleshire, Stone and Haskell
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ACTION AGENDA
5. Discussion of the Proposed 2006 Bond Measure, “Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection, Parks Bond:
General Manager Arant reported that Joe Caves, the author of Proposition 50, has submitted a bond proposal for the 2006 general election. The proposed initiative is for $5.388 billion of which the majority, or just under $3 billion, would go to various environmental issues. There are $2.39 billion in funds appropriated for water supply related efforts such as regional water supply planning, delta water quality and levy improvements. However, only $65 million is set aside for statewide planning efforts related to surface storage, climate change impacts and flood protection which might result in increased yields or supply reliability. ACWA was consulted and adjustments were included in the proposed initiative to provide minor appropriation increases for regional and statewide water planning efforts.
The proposition may be included on the ballot through action by the State Legislature or through the signature gathering process to qualify for the general election ballot in November 2006. If the bond proposal is approved for the ballot by the Legislature, there may be an opportunity to revise it prior to it being placed on the ballot.
A position of oppose was expressed by the Board members for the proposed initiative due to it largely being an environmental bill with too little appropriated for the water community in which the funds are designated for continued planning efforts and not for a specific project such as additional surface storage. The consensus of many at the recent ACWA Conference is that it is time for an initiative for the appropriation of funds to design and build water facility improvements that will enhance the reliability of statewide water supplies. Director Aleshire stated that opposition from ACWA Regions 8, 9 and 10 may defeat the ballot measure. Other water bond measures may be proposed which the water community could support. A position by the Board on the proposed bond measure will be considered at a subsequent Board meeting.
GENERAL MANAGER’S AGENDA
6. Review of Miscellaneous Informational Items:
● Valley Center Road Pipeline Relocation Project Award of Bid – Project Manager Williams reported that agreements have been executed with the County of San Diego for the joint funding Utility Agreement for the relocation and reconstruction of the water system as part of the improvement project for Valley Center Road. The low bid from Archer Western Contractors for the road improvement project had included a water pipeline replacement component of $4,843,957. The District has negotiated with the County to fund that portion of the pipeline improvement component that is in excess of $4.2 million (engineer’s estimate of $4 million plus a $200,000 contingency). Therefore, the County will be responsible for $643,957 of the pipeline relocation component of the Valley Center Road Improvement Project.
In addition, the County has committed to the payment of $170,185 to reimburse the District for the cost of redesign of the pipeline improvements and for work impacting the District’s water lines located outside of the County’s right-of-way.
● ACWA/JPIA Supervisor Certification Program – Eric Rivard, Information Technology Specialist, was commended for completing the ACWA/JPIA Supervisor Certification Program.
GENERAL COUNSEL’S AGENDA
7. Notification Compliance:
General Counsel Cowett explained that Proposition 218 adopted by the voters stipulates notification requirements (mailed notices), public hearing proceedings and protest vote (50%) process that are applicable when local agencies establish or change fees assessed for a development project or for a public improvement. The Court of Appeals had ruled subsequent to the passage of Proposition 218 that water and sewer fees are not subject to the requirements of Proposition 218. This matter, however, is now before the California Supreme Court and a decision is expected at any time. General Counsel Cowett stated that in the event the court’s ruling is that Proposition 218 is applicable to water and sewer rates, notification processes are being evaluated.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ AGENDA
8. ACWA/JPIA:
Director Aleshire presented charts of ACWA/JPIA’s investment portfolio, liability insurance and property insurance programs. In response to the question if the District should be investing in shorter term investments, Director of Finance Jeffrey replied that approximately 18 months ago it was felt that rates would be stagnate or decline and some 2-year investments were secured. At this time, when investments mature, they are reinvested for shorter terms such as a 10 day investment with Federal Home Loan Bank (3.85%), and a 1 week treasury as well as zero coupon bonds with maturity the day after each Federal Reserve Bank meeting. A review of ACWA/JPIA’s insurance programs indicates that trends are favorable concerning losses and claims. Their training program is considered a great asset and it was noted that the District is an active participant in this program which is reflected in our low ratio of workers’ compensation claims. Director Aleshire noted that by January 2006 supervisory employees of agencies with 50 or more employees must complete 2 hours of training on sexual harassment. Director Aleshire stated that agencies’ Board of Directors should complete the training on sexual harassment along with supervisory employees.
CLOSED SESSION
9. A Closed Session was called by President Broomell at 3:07 p.m. pursuant to:
Government Code §54957(b)(1) – Discussion of employee’s discipline
The Regular Board meeting was reconvened at 3:22 p.m. No action was reported.
ADJOURNMENT
10. Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Polito and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at
3:23 p.m.
ATTEST: ATTEST:
____________________________ _______________________________
President Secretary