VALLEY CENTER MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
Regular Board Meeting
Tuesday, September 2, 2003
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, District Engineer Jewell, Director of Operations Dacus, Director of Finance Jeffrey, Human Resources Assistant Frantz, and Board Secretary Stetson. Spectator present was Mr. Molitor of Piro Engineering.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Upon motion by Polito, seconded by Stone and unanimously carried, the following consent calendar items were approved:
• Minutes of the Board meeting held August 4, 2003
• Concept approval of the Finlayson water main extension project consisting of approximately 1,145 feet of 8-inch water main, two 6-inch fire hydrants, five 1-inch water services and other required appurtenances
• Concept approval of the Deer Park Monastery water line extension project consisting of approximately 3,415 feet of 10-inch water main, six 6-inch fire hydrants, one 1½” water service, one 6-inch fire detector check valve assembly and other required appurtenances
• Quitclaim of easement to Jesse W. and Loretta M. Hutchings pursuant to the McNally/Oak Glen Road water main replacement project (portion of the easement document recorded October 18, 1956 in Book 6341, Pages 246 and 257)
• Audit demand check numbers 95117 through 95495
• Treasurer’s Report for the period ended July 31, 2003
• Board of Director’s request for reimbursement of expenses and per diem compensation
• Annual report of Professional and Consulting Agreements/Contracts for Fiscal Year 2002-2003
ACTION AGENDA
2. Adoption of an Amendment to the Administrative Code and Budget to Provide for an Additional Inspector for the Engineering Department:
Board approval of an additional full-time construction inspector position for the Engineering Department was requested. District Engineer Jewell explained that construction management and inspection requirements have expanded due to the number and increasing complexity of private and District-funded capital projects. Inspection requirements will increase substantially with the capital projects under construction, line extensions and projects that are being graded and ready for onsite facilities in a few months, as well as anticipated District capital projects. In light of the construction projects underway and those anticipated in the future, an additional Inspector position is needed to maintain quality control on new infrastructure.
A program was utilized, MS Project Software, to analysis resource scheduling and staff time. Results of the program were that there is an over-allocation of both construction management and inspection resources. As such, the Engineering Technician III position approved in the 2003-2004 budget will be assigned full-time to project management and administration duties rather than split between construction management and field inspection. Approval of a new position, Construction Inspector, would relieve the severe over-allocation of inspection resources (based on two full-time inspectors), and provide the level of inspection needed to maintain a high standard of quality control. District Engineer Jewell reported that in the interim period prior to filling the Inspector position, if approved by the Board, John Martineau of the District’s Construction & Maintenance Department will be assigned to assist with the construction inspection workload.
Costs for the additional Inspector position will be funded largely from capital project costs and reimbursements from developers’ projects. An appropriation of an additional $35,000 in the FY 2003-04 budget was requested for the acquisition of a new vehicle, support equipment and salary.
Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Polito and unanimously carried, the following ordinance, entitled:
ORDINANCE NO. 2003-13
ORDINANCE OF THE
VALLEY
CENTER
MUNICIPAL
WATER DISTRICT AMENDING THE ADMINISTRATIVE
CODE TO PROVIDE FOR CHANGES IN PROVISIONS OF
DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATIN PLAN,
SECTION 40.9, ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
was adopted by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Directors Broomell, Polito, Aleshire, Stone and Haskell
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Polito and unanimously carried, the following resolution, entitled:
RESOLUTION NO. 2003-31
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF
VALLEY
CENTER
MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT AMENDING THE 2003-04 BUDGET
BY APPROPRIATING AN ADDITIONAL $35,000
TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT BUDGET
(ACCOUNT NO. 01-5321.01)
was adopted by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Directors Broomell, Polito, Aleshire, Stone and Haskell
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
3. “Acting” Appointments in the Field Department:
General Manager Arant reported that Gaby Olson, Administrative Assistant III, has been appointed an Acting Vulnerability Assessment/Emergency Response Plan Update Coordinator with a 10% salary increase effective September 2, 2003, as she will be working out of her classification while overseeing and writing the District’s Vulnerability Assessment and Emergency Response Plan Updates. Per Federal law, the District’s Vulnerability Assessment is due by June 30, 2004. Yvette Serrato will be performing Mrs. Olsons’ duties during the aforementioned project and has been appointed Acting Administrative Assistant III with a 10% salary increase.
4. Strategic Plan Specific Goals and Budget Objectives for Fiscal Year 2003-04:
Strategic Plan Specific Goals and the Budget Objectives for FY 2003-04 were presented for review and approval. With a change of the Corporate Facility Evaluation Specific Goal to an “A” classification (expected to be completed in the current fiscal year), there are 62 projects or tasks designated with an anticipated completion in FY 2003-04. In addition, 5 projects listed are controlled by an outside agency or entity with 8 being multi-year or long-term projects. A mid-fiscal year status report on the projects and programs will be provided by staff.
General Manager Arant reported that a process service analysis will be undertaken in which each department will evaluate 2 tasks for a determination of procedural efficiency.
Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Stone and unanimously carried, the Fiscal Year 2003-04 Strategic Plan Specific Goals and Budget Objectives were approved.
5. ACWA Region 10 Elections:
Election of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Region 10 officers and board members for 2004 and 2005 is being conducted. The Region 10 Chair and Vice Chair serve on ACWA’s Board of Directors for the two year term and will make the Region 10 committee appointment recommendations to the ACWA President. The board members elected will represent and communicate the issues, concerns and needs of the ACWA members in Region 10. The Nominating Committee recommendations were Margaret Ferguson for Chair, Trudy Ohlig-Hall for Vice Chair and the following Board Representatives: Merle Aleshire, Jan Debay, Susan Hinman, Saundra Jacobs and Jo MacKenzie. Staff noted a well-qualified candidate for Region 10 Vice Chair, Mary Eileen Matheis, was nominated.
Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Polito and unanimously carried, Director Stone was appointed the District’s Authorized Voting Delegate to complete the ballot for the ACWA Region 10 election for the 2004-2005 term.
6. ACWA Committee Appointments for the 2004 and 2005 Term:
Election of a new Chair and Vice Chair for the Association of California Water Agencies will take place during ACWA’s upcoming Fall Conference. The new officers’ terms will be for 2004 and 2005 at which time there are appointments of new committee chairs and committee and subcommittee memberships for the two-year term. ACWA has requested that its member agencies submit nominees for committee appointment by October 1st. An outline of the purposes and responsibilities of the ACWA committees was provided.
Currently, General Manager Arant serves on the Joint Local Government/Communications and Local Government Committees serving as its Chair, and, if the Board approves, will not be requesting reappointment to the Local Government Committee. Staff requested to be advised of the Board’s desire for nomination to an ACWA Committee for the 2004 and 2005 term.
A nomination for Director Aleshire’s appointment to the Insurance and Personnel Committee will be processed.
7.
Lake
Turner
Beneficial Use Report:
A report of the Lake Turner Recreational Use Ad Hoc Subcommittee members (Directors Aleshire and Stone) on the beneficial community use of Lake Turner was reviewed. Director Aleshire noted that after several years of evaluation and pursuit of different alternatives for a beneficial use of Lake Turner, the conclusion is that there are two primary community beneficial use options. They are: community recreation or sale of the property for private use and/or development. The Ad Hoc Subcommittee recommended that the best beneficial use of Lake Turner for the Valley Center community is to retain the Lake Turner property for open space and recreational use. A conceptual proposal for the development of Lake Turner for recreational purposes with the Valley Center Parks and Recreation District was prepared, which was approved by the Valley Center Parks and Recreation District Board of Directors at their August 28th meeting.
Ratification by the District’s Board of the proposal (Exhibit “A” attached) with the Valley Center Parks and Recreation District (VCP&RD) for development of recreational activities at Lake Turner was requested. Provisions of the proposal include the stipulation that the District will retain the responsibility for the lake, dam and related facilities and the right to utilize the lake as a public water supply facility. The District will oversee the facility master planning, development and operation of the lake and provide up to $20,000 in facilities and/or in-kind services to facilitate the efforts toward implementing recreational activities. VCP&RD will complete the conceptual phase of master planning for the development of recreational uses at Lake Turner (by June 30, 2005), and complete a detailed facility master plan, environmental review and certification process and pursue a major use permit and secure all required environmental approvals and regulatory and land-use permits. Upon receiving all necessary permits and approvals, recreational uses at Lake Turner shall be initiated. A formal agreement will be drafted by the District and submitted to the Valley Center Parks & Recreation District for approval at their October 23rd Board meeting.
Approval of a benefit assessment to provide additional funding for the Valley Center Parks & Recreation District’s programs will be before the voters in 2004. These funds could assist in development of the proposed recreational uses at Lake Turner.
Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Stone with Director Polito abstaining, the Board ratified the proposal with the Valley Center Parks & Recreation District for development of Lake Turner for recreational uses and directed General Counsel to prepare a formal agreement.
GENERAL MANAGER’S AGENDA
8. Review of Miscellaneous Informational Items:
• Power Outage in the Paradise Mtn. Area – General Manager Arant commended the employees who worked during the evening on August 27th when the power was interrupted in the Paradise Mountain area. The outage occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. at a time when prime time electrical pumping was ending and water in the reservoirs serving the Paradise Mountain area was low. Staff worked to install portable generators at the Skyline Ranch Wastewater Treatment Facility, customers were called to provide assistance through water conservation measures to help preserve the water in storage and water flows were reduced on several large agricultural water meters. The concerted effort of the staff personnel working on this emergency project demonstrated a strong level of dedication and commitment to the District’s customer service goals.
• Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update Study – A report of the findings of the North County Inland Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update Study conducted by the Local Agency Formation Commission was offered for the Board’s review. State law requires the preparation and regular update of service reviews and spheres of influence for all local agencies. Service reviews assist LAFCO, affected agencies and the public in coordinating the efficient provision of public services and the Spheres of Influence studies provide guidance for LAFCO in the establishment of physical boundaries and service areas of cities and special districts.
A determination of the Municipal Service Review in the North County Inland study area was that services are being provided efficiently. It was recommended that the Sphere of Influence for the District be updated. Territories recommended for inclusion in the District’s sphere include the San Pasqual Indian Reservation lands and Paradise Mountain properties. Inclusion in the District’s sphere would identify those properties, if developed in the future, to be provided service by the District. It was recommended that a special study area be designated along the I-15 and Old 395 Highway corridor to facilitate an evaluation of the jurisdictional boundaries in this area between the District, Vallecitos W.D. and Rainbow M.W.D. Recommendations contained in the North County Inland Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Update Study will be considered by the LAFCO Commission at their next meeting.
GENERAL COUNSEL’S AGENDA
9.
Cougar
Pass
Coalition v.
John
Braman, et al. Litigation:
General Counsel Cowett reported that the plaintiff in the Cougar Pass Coalition v. John Braman, et al. litigation, of which the District was named as a party, dismissed the complaint.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ AGENDA
10. Report of
Sa
n Diego
County Water Authority’s Board of Directors’ Meeting:
President Broomell reported on the following action at the August 28th San Diego County Water Authority Board meeting:
• The tolling agreement was approved for the Water Rate Study litigation.
• Realignment of Pipelines 3 and 4 was approved in the Rancho Penasquitos area between Black Mountain and the Miramar Hills vents.
• An expenditure of $360,000 was approved for environmental support services for the proposed Twin Oaks Valley Diversion Structure Water Treatment Plant. A quorum of the Board had been present at the Committee meeting on this matter, and the meeting was noticed as a Board Meeting. The Board voted to defer approval of this requested expenditure at the noticed committee meeting as construction of the water treatment plant has not been formally approved. However, the matter was placed on the regular Board meeting agenda and the expenditure was then approved. The need for the San Diego County Water Authority to construct its own treatment plant with a completion date of 2008 has been questioned as Metropolitan’s expansion of its Skinner Treatment Plant will be completed by 2006 providing sufficient treatment capacity for the region.
• Several issues remain to be resolved to proceed forward toward construction of the desalination plant in Carlsbad. Poseidon Resources is reluctant to release its technical information which the Water Authority is requesting for preparation of the project’s Environmental Impact Report. President Broomell suggested that the Authority accept the previously agreed upon price for water from the desal. plant and allow Poseidon and the City of Carlsbad to proceed with construction of the facilities, however, no support from other Board members was received.
ADJOURNMENT
11. Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Polito and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at
3:48 p.m.
ATTEST: ATTEST:
____________________________ ___________________________
President Secretary