August 16. 2010
VALLEY CENTER MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
Regular Board Meeting
Monday, August 16, 2010
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 de Sousa, District Engineer Grabbe, Director of Finance Jeffrey, Director of Operations Hoyle, Board Secretary Stetson, Manager of IT Pilve, Project Manager Williams and Meter Services Supervisor LoPresti. Spectator present was Dr. Don Brust.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
Dr. Don Brust provided articles of documents which oppose the fluoridation of water systems that have been published in medical newspapers. Mr. Brust stated that he is concerned about the health effects from fluoridation in the water system and provided the following documents:
50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation
Fluoride in Southern California Tap Water
Dr. Blaylock – Why Fluoride is Toxic
Health/Toxics: Fluoride
Fluoride Top 10 Scientific Developments of 2007
Fluoridation is a Huge Mistake, Dr. Banks
The Douglas Report
Dr. Gerald Judd – Nobel in Medicine
Dr. Brust read excerpts of the publications and requested that the Board give due consideration to the material presented. Statements from the publications which were read included, “one of the most toxic additions to municipal water supplies is fluoride”. Dr. Brust stated that fluoride had been shown to reduce cavities, but the American Dental Association has reversed that position. (Note: A review of the American Dental Association’s website has information posted that states “the ADA remains confident that community water fluoridation is a safe, effective public health measure for preventing tooth decay.”) Dr. Brust stated that prominent doctors oppose fluoridation and have cited a correlation of its use with damage to the brain, behavioral problems, link to Alzheimer’s disease, Osteosarcoma, skeletal fluorosis, dental fluorosis, and chromosome damage. Dr. Brust espoused the opinion that fluoridation of the water supply is unethical as it is a medicinal additive and consumers have not given their consent prior to this medication.
General Manager Arant clarified that the Valley Center Municipal Water District does not add fluoride to its water supply. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the District’s wholesale water supplier, adds fluoride at its Skinner Filtration Plant, which is the source of the District’s water supply. Metropolitan’s action to add fluoride to its water supply was in response to State legislation that required water suppliers to add fluoride to their water if they had 10,000 or more connections and the availability of funds to install fluoridation equipment. Funds were made available from a consortium that included the fluorine gas industry for the installation of fluoridation equipment. Compliance with this legislation was satisfied with the installation of the fluoridation equipment at Metropolitan’s Skinner Filtration Plant, which provided an economy of scale for the required fluoride additive for agencies supplied water from Metropolitan through its Skinner Plant, such as the Valley Center Municipal Water District. It was noted by staff that the District had communicated its “oppose” position of the legislation requiring fluoridation of water as noted above when the bill was introduced to the Legislature.
The position of the American Dental Association, Center for Disease Control, California Dental Association, and the California Department of Health Services on adding fluoride to the water supply will be researched and presented for the Board’s review and consideration.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Upon motion by Stone, seconded by Polito and unanimously carried, the following consent calendar items were approved:
• Minutes of the Board meeting held August 2, 2010
• Audit demand check numbers 126465 through 126591 and wire disbursements for July 2010
• Report of developer constructed facilities accepted in Fiscal Year 2009-10
• Notice of Completion filed for the West No. 1 Reservoir Repainting Exterior and Interior Project
• Resolution No. 2010-34, as revised, to amend the Fiscal Year 2010-11 Budget to transfer $77,000 to the Valley Center Road project
PRESENTATION
2. Update from Howells Government Relations Re: Federal Advocacy Services:
Jacqueline Howells of Howells Government Relations provided an update on the Federal advocacy services provided on behalf of the District, federal activity and funding opportunities. Ms. Howells stated that to meet the objective of the District establishing a presence in Washington, D.C., a comprehensive and coordinated strategy involving congressional relations, government relations and public relations at the federal, regional and local levels will be developed and executed. An effective lobbying strategy will be developed with assistance from District staff. As part of the public relations strategy, key members of Congress, committees and policy makers in Federal departments and agencies will be informed of the District’s missions and objectives.
Ms. Howells reported on the activities to meet Federal advocacy goals of the District, which are:
• Reviewed District projects and Federal issues of interest with District staff, and
• Assessed and analyzed District projects for potential Federal funding eligibility, and
• Identified the Federal programs that might match the District’s planned projects and which programs can be pursued which will then be prioritized.
The advocacy services will correlate with the District’s master plan goals. Documents of the District’s projects planned and slated for the future are being developed with staff.
Meetings on behalf of the District have been held with Federal departments, agencies and Congress Members; including, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Congress members along with House and Senate Committee staff and Counsel.
Ms. Howells explained that potential federal funding sources have been discussed with District staff at recent meetings. The Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI Reclamation Projects funding require congressional appropriations. The Bureau of Reclamation also has Water Smart funding which is appropriated and secured through a competitive process. Projects funded through Water Smart Funding include conservation, water and energy management improvement projects, and water recycling. The goal of the Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation is to increase the available water supply to agriculture, municipal, industrial and environmental uses. For Fiscal Year 2010-11, the Bureau’s funding requested for Water Smart programs is $27 million. State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) will be pursued through the District’s legislative members.
Discussion ensued regarding the Clean Water Act Reauthorization or “America’s Commitment to Clean Water Act of 2010” (ACCWA) which was introduced by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Oberstar. This bill, if it were to become law, would have far reaching impacts upon land use decisions requiring review by federal agencies as federal jurisdiction would include every body of water in the United States rather than the term “navigable waters”. The National Water Resources Association and Association of California Water Agencies have taken positions of “oppose” of this proposed bill (ACCWA), and are working on documents to express and convey the concerns of water districts nation-wide regarding this legislation as introduced. Should this bill proceed, a Federal Alert will be issued by ACWA which would be an appropriate time for the District to communicate its concerns to its Representatives.
Upon development of the federal advocacy lobbying documents for the District, the District’s Congressional Members, Darrell Issa and Brian Bilbray, will be contacted to communicate the District’s efforts to secure Federal funding opportunities.
CLOSED SESSION
3. A Closed Session was called by President Broomell at 2:50 p.m. pursuant to:
● Government Code §54956.9(c), Conference with Legal Counsel, Anticipated
Litigation
Number of potential cases: 1
● Government Code §54956.9(a), Conference with Legal Counsel, Existing
Litigation
Name of case: Valley Center Municipal Water District V. Sensus Metering
Systems, North America, Inc.
San Diego County Superior Court
Case No. 37-2010-00051403-CU-BC-NC
RECONVENE
4. The Regular Board meeting was reconvened at 3:30 p.m. There was no reportable action.
GENERAL MANAGER’S AGENDA
5. Review of Miscellaneous Informational Items:
General Manager Arant provided an update on miscellaneous projects/programs, as follows:
• General Manager Arant presented documents for the Board’s perusal which were: The California Water Plan, Pacific Institute’s analysis of the 2010 Water Bond, U.C. Berkeley’s paper on the proposed public goods charge on water (fund conservation programs), Metropolitan’s Laguna declaration (declaration that it was Metropolitan’s mission to provide all of the water needed in Southern California), and Metropolitan Water District’s Draft Integrated Resources Plan.
• The San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors at the July Board meeting approved the term sheet for the potential Water Purchase Agreement with Poseidon Resources for desalinated seawater from the Carlsbad Desalination Project. The Board directed staff to prepare a draft water purchase agreement based on the key terms and conditions contained in the term sheet. Mr. MacLaggan of Poseidon Resources has expressed confidence that an agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority for the delivery of desalinated water from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant will be successfully executed.
• Due to reduced water demands within the District’s service area and the District’s extensive water system, ten reservoirs have been temporarily taken out of service to avert water quality problems. District operators are adding chlorine to the water in storage to maintain water quality levels.
DISTRICT GENERAL COUNSEL’S AGENDA
6. Updates:
General Counsel de Sousa provided an update on the status of General Counsel Cowett reporting that tests of his tumors are very positive as some have shrunk while others have remained unchanged. Mr. Cowett was released from the hospital and is in a long-term acute care hospital receiving physical therapy treatments to regain strength while awaiting a bone marrow transplant. General Counsel de Sousa was asked to extend to Mr. Cowett the Board of Directors’ and staff’s best wishes for his continued recovery.
ADJOURNMENT
7. Upon motion by Aleshire, seconded by Stone and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 4:03 p.m.
ATTEST: ATTEST:
____________________________ _______________________________
President Secretary