HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-07-11 - Finance-Accounting Committee Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF THE
YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT
FINANCE-ACCOUNTING COMMITTEE MEETING
July 11, 2011
A meeting of the Finance-Accounting Committee was called to order by Director Collett
at 4:00 p.m. The meeting was held at the District's Administrative Office at 1717 E
Miraloma Ave, Placentia CA 92870.
COMMITTEE STAFF
Director Ric Collett, Chair Stephen Parker, Finance Director
Director Robert R. Kiley
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
2. ACTION CALENDAR
2.1. Sewer Maintenance Charges for Locke Ranch, Multi-Family Residential
and Commercial/Industrial Accounts Transferred from the City of Yorba
Linda as of July 1, 2011 and Areas Outside of the District for Fiscal Year
2011/12
Mr. Parker presented the item that will go to the full Board for placing
sewer charges on the tax rolls. Mr. Parker explained that as a result of the
City of Yorba Linda sewer transfer, this item was more complicated than
prior years. Normally only Locke Ranch was placed on the tax rolls.
However, this year, due to the disparity in rates between the District's
Sewer Maintenance Charge and that of the City of Yorba Linda for the
Commercial/Industrial and Multi-Family Residential Accounts, those items
would be included on the tax rolls as well. Mr. Parker noted that the
resolution presented for consideration is currently being reviewed by legal
counsel.
The Committee inquired about when it was known that there was a
discrepancy in the rates of Commercial/Industrial and Multi-Family
Residential accounts transferred from the City. Mr. Parker indicated that
the City had changed the rates near the end of FY09/10, but he was not
aware of it until he received a file of the accounts from the City in April.
The Committee stated that it would have been beneficial to have been
advised of the issue earlier.
Mr. Parker also presented a handout that documented some
discrepancies that were identified through the process of preparing for the
transfer of the City of Yorba Linda sewers. These included:
• Thirty accounts were discovered where the City was unnecessarily
assessing the sewer charge on the property tax rolls, at the same
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time that those same accounts were being maintained and correctly
billed by the District.
• Seventy accounts were discovered that were being billed by the
District that were or should have been billed by the City.
• Accounts totaling 185 were discovered that the City was not
assessing a sewer charge of any kind.
• Lastly, 626 accounts were discovered that were being assessed a
single-family residence rate by the City, but they appeared to be
multi-family residences.
Mr. Parker explained that the financial liability of the District to customers
who were being incorrectly billed was not clear. However, the
understanding based on review by legal counsel was that the time limit for
reimbursement should be no more than four years. Mr. Parker presented
a breakdown of cost the District would incur should the legal liability be
determined to be four years. In addition, he presented the cost necessary
should the District refund to the customers all charges they had ever been
assessed. The two figures were less than $15,000 and less than $20,000,
respectively.
Regarding the 626 accounts, the Committee asked for the District's
definition of "multi-family residence." Mr. Parker indicated that he did not
have that information and would obtain it. The Committee indicated that
some of the residences in question might not meet the definition of a multi-
family residence. As such, the Committee asked that staff study the
definition and then make a future recommendation to the Committee as to
changing the billing rate of those accounts in question.
The Committee recommended that staff present the agenda item to the
full Board at the July 28 meeting, with changes that had been discussed
during the Committee meeting.
3. DISCUSSION ITEMS
3.1. Status Report on Committee Specific Strategic Plan Initiatives
Mr. Parker updated the Committee on the status of the various initiatives
from the strategic plan that related to the Fiscal Responsibility area. The
Committee had no questions or future tasks for staff, but the Committee
did recommend that as initiatives are completed they be moved to a
completed section, but still remain on future monthly reports.
3.2. May 2011 Budget to Actual Results
Mr. Parker presented the May 2011 Budget-to-Actual results and indicated
that most of the trends of the fiscal year continued through May. He noted
that the District expenditures were below budget by approximately
$700,000, and that he expected that figure to still be in the range of
$500,000 once the audit was completed. Mr. Parker explained some
variances of results in the supplies and services area. In addition, the
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Committee had a question on the Insurance line item that Mr. Parker
indicated he would research and get back to the Committee with the
answer. The Committee had no further questions or tasks for staff relating
to the budget-to-Actual results.
3.3. May 2011 Investment Report
Mr. Parker presented the May 2011 Investment Report and noted that the
yield for the month had decreased 5% to 0.88%. He also noted that it had
just come to his attention that the yield of the US Bank Money Market
Account in May was actually 0.12% rather than the 0.20% indicated on the
schedule. It had been 0.20% in April 2011. Mr. Parker identified that the
largest change between reserves was as a result of a reallocation of
expenses between the water and sewer funds in conjunction with closing
a GIS project. The Committee had no questions or tasks for staff
regarding the investment report.
3.4. Future Agenda Items and Staff Tasks
None.
4. ADJOURNMENT
4.1. The Committee adjourned at 5:05 p.m. The next regular meeting of the
Finance-Accounting Committee will be held on August 8, 2011 at 4:00
p.m.
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