HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-04-13 - Board of Directors Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF THE
YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING
April 13, 2000
The April 13, 2000, regular meeting of the Yorba Linda Water District Board of Directors was
called to order by President Michael J.. Beverage at 8:30 a.m. The meeting was held at District
Headquarters, 4622 Plumosa Drive, Yorba Linda.
Directors present at Roll Call:
President Michael J. Beverage
Vice President Paul R. Armstrong
Mark Abramowitz
Brett R. Barbre
Arthur C. Korn
Directors Absent at Roll Call:
None
Staff resent:
William J. Robertson, General Manager
Arthur Kidman, General Counsel
Lee Cory, Operation Superintendent
Raquel Lazo, Secretary to the Gen. Manager
Beverly Meza, Business Manager
Jeanne Miller, Customer Service Clerk I
Michael Payne, Assistant General Manager
Ken Vecchiarelli, Engineering Manager
Visitors Present:
Mr. Roy Stephenson, Director of Public Works, City of Yorba Linda
Mark Jacobs and Linda Chandler, Heritage Communities
Councilman John Gullixson arrived at 11:00 a.m.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Item 1. Introduction of new employee Jeanne Miller, Customer Service Clerk I. Ms. Meza.
introduced Ms. Jeanne Miller to the Board of Directors. Ms. Miller left after this item.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Item No. 2, 4 and 6 were removed from the Consent Calendar. On a motion by Director
Abramowitz, seconded by Vice President Armstrong, the Board of Directors voted 5-0 to
approve the following Consent Calendar Items:
Item 3. Authorization for directors to leave the State of California prior to the next meeting.
Item 5. Approve Progress Payment No. 3 to F. T. Ziebarth in the amount of $21,040, less 10%
retention of $2,104, for a net payment of $18,936, for construction of the Well No. 11
rehabilitation project, Job No. 9620.
Item 7. Receive and file notification of litigation settlements.
ACTION CALENDAR
Item 2. Minutes of regular meeting March 23, 2000. Discussion. On a motion by Director
Abramowitz, seconded by Vice President Armstrong, the Board of Directors voted 2-3, Directors
Barbre, Beverage and Korn voted no, to amend to the March 23, minutes to: 1) add to Item 2,
that Director Abramowitz expressed concern that the March 9, minutes misstated his concerns
over the NRDC Arsenic Report, and 2) add to Item 9.e. that Director Abramowitz expressed
concern about the District using a domain name reserved for commercial sites instead of a
government domain name. The motion failed.
On a motion by Director Barbre, seconded by Director Korn, the Board of Directors voted 4-1,
Director Abramowitz voted no, to approve the minutes of the March 23, 2000, meeting as
written.
Item 4. Approve disbursements. General Manager Robertson reported that ACWA/JPIA
changed their invoice after the Agenda was mailed so staff would like to void Check No. 30309
in the amount of $8,534.00 and add Check No. 30413 in the amount of $8,381.00. The total
disbursements are reduced to $544,301.03. In addition, Director Abramowitz questioned the
amount to Yorba Linda Mobil Service. Mr. Robertson reported the price of gasoline was at an
all time high thus the monthly cost was greater than usual. Lastly, Director Abramowitz
expressed concern that the payment to KTS Services, combined with the March 23'd payment,
avoided the purchasing policy.
On a motion by Director Barbre, seconded by Vice President Armstrong, the Board of Directors
voted 4-1, Director Abramowitz voted no, to approve disbursements in the amount of
$544,301.03.
Item 7. Approve Terms and Conditions for Water Service with Heritage Communities for Tract
No. 14528 and 15501, Job No. 0007 and 0008. Lengthy discussion concerning full utilization of
the Zone 6 reservoir storage and minimum design pressure standards. The Board requested that
staff work with the developer to address and resolve the minimum design pressure issues.
On a motion by Director Barbre, seconded by Vice President Armstrong, the Board of Directors
voted 3-2, Director Abramowitz and President Beverage voted no, to approve Terms and
Conditions for Water Service with Heritage Communities for Tract No. 14528 and 15501, Job
No. 0007 and 0008.
Mark Jacobs and Linda Chandler departed at this point in the meeting.
Item 8. Consider new class of service and water rate. President Beverage and Director Korn
declared a conflict of interest and departed the room. Mr. Robertson reviewed the staff
recommendation to adopt a Resolution adding new class of service and a rate for that class of
service. Lengthy discussion about services provided by the District, costs, service during a
drought, beneficial uses of water and serving a golf course, differential rates for large water
users, public perception and information, Met and MWDOC pricing structures, Best
Management Practices, discounted rate versus a surcharge and a fees versus rates. Mr.
Stephenson said he concurred with the staff's recommendation.
On a motion by Director Barbre, seconded by Vice President Armstrong, the Board of Directors
voted 2-1-2 on a roll call vote, Director Abramowitz voted no, and Directors Beverage and Korn
were absent, to approve Resolution 00-04, Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Yorba
Linda Water District Amending Resolution 95-15 and 99-13 to add a New Class of Service and
Water Rate. The motion failed.
Vice President Armstrong declared a recess beginning at 9:40 a.m. The meeting reconvened at
9:54 a.m. with all Directors present. Mr. Stephenson departed at this point in the meeting.
President Beverage noted that General Counsel Kidman needed to leave for another meeting, so
the Closed Session items were taken out of order. On a motion by Director Abramowitz,
seconded by Director Korn, the Board of Directors voted 5-0 to go into Closed Session. General
Manager Robertson and Assistant General Manager Mike Payne joined the Closed Session.
CLOSED SESSION:
Item 26. Discussion of litigation to which the District is a party, Section 54956.9 (a), Orange
County Central Justice Center, Case No. 815921 and 818852, Huntington Beach and Fountain
Valley vs. OCWD respectively.
Item 27. Discussion of litigation to which the District is a party, Section 54956.9 (a), Orange
County Superior Court, Case No. OOCC00768, City of Yorba Linda vs. Yorba Linda Water
District.
The Board came out of Closed Session at 10:28 a.m.
GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT
Item 12. General Managers report.
a. General Counsel's report. Mr. Kidman reported that Director Abramowitz had a question
about a conflict of interest because he owns stock in Nextel which is also a vendor to the
District. Mr. Kidman prepared a memo that Director Abramowitz did not have a conflict of
interest because he owned less than $10,000 in stock, in a firm that was traded on NASDAQ
and the District's annual business was not a significant part to the firm's overall business.
President Beverage declared a recess beginning at 10:36 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:40
a.m. with all Board members present. Mr. Kidman departed during the recess.
Item 9. Consider Investment Portfolio for February 2000. Ms. Meza had nothing further to add
to the staff report.
On a motion by Vice President Armstrong, seconded by Director Barbre, the Board of Directors
voted 5-0 to receive and file the Investment Portfolio Report for February 2000.
Item 10. Consider Financial Statements for seven months ended January 31, 2000. Ms. Meza
reported positive earnings for the period ending January 31, 2000. Ms. Meza went on to report it
was normal for the District's finances to turn positive around this time of year and distributed a
chart for the Board to review.
On a motion by Director Korn, seconded by Director Barbre, the Board of Directors voted 5-0 to
receive and file the Financial Statements for seven months ended January 31, 2000.
Item 11. Consider letter supporting the Ground Water Replenishment System. Mr. Robertson
reported he may have misunderstood the Board's direction on this matter and the letter should be
addressed to the City Council and President of the Chamber of Commerce requesting they
consider supporting the GWRS program. The Board concurred that City's and Chamber's are
urged to endorse the project.
On a motion by Director Abramowitz, seconded by Director Barbre, the Board of Directors
voted 5-0 to-send a letter to the Mayor and President of the Chamber of Commerce requesting
they endorse the GWRS project.
GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT - Continued
Item 12. General Managers report.
b. Report on sewer service to Club House. Ken Vecchiarelli reported on sewer problems to the
City's proposed golf course club house.
Councilman Gullixson arrived during discussion of this item and President Beverage asked if he
had a comments. Councilman Gullixson reported the judge denied the Imperial Highway
environmental litigation and that the Sanitation District has a grant program for sewer related
projects. He urged the District staff to look into the San. District program and will urge the City
staff to look into them as well. The Board thanked Councilman Gullixson for this action leading
to San. District rebates to homeowners incorrectly charged San. District fees. Councilman
Gullixson thanked the Board and staff for their assistance.
GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT - Continued
c. Health and Safety Fair, Yorba Linda Community Center, April 9. Mr. Robertson thanked
Dave Barmer, John DeCriscio, Pati Medina, Mike Robinson and Director Abramowitz for
their effort at the Health Fair.
d. District's Open House. Mr. Robertson reported on the May 6, open house.
e. District Activities. Stacy Bavol reviewed the new water bill layout and colors. Lengthy
discussion. The consensus was to choose the Reflex Blue color and there were other
comments on the new bill format that staff will look into.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Item 13. The Executive Committee met on April 5, and discussed the Secretary to the General
Manager position, status report on JUSA meeting and General Manager's review process.
The Committee scheduled a meeting for April 19, at 4:00 p.m. The preliminary agenda is the
General Manager's evaluation process and minimum pressure policy.
Item 14. The Finance Committee met on March 29, to discuss the bankruptcy accounting and a
status report on finding a new bank.
Item 15. The Personnel-Risk Management Committee met on March 30, to discuss
Compensation and Reclassification issues and a status report on Risk Management activities.
The Committee scheduled a meeting for April 20, at 9:00 a.m. to discuss the salary survey,
personnel positions and status of workers compensation proposals.
Item 16. The Planning-Engineering-Operations Committee met on March 28 and April 13, to
discuss the golf course water rate, Casino Ridge development, Placentia sewer maintenance,
reimbursement for transmission facilities in the western service area, Pulte development, Board
tour of facilities and facility finance design and construction agreements for the Shell
development.
The Committee scheduled a meeting for April 20, at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the Placentia sewer
proposal, Richfield Plant renovation and sewer service to the club house.
Item 17. The Public Information Committee met on April 11, to discuss the District video, web
site, zip code articles and new water bill layout.
The April 25, Committee meeting was canceled.
Item 18. Orange County Water District Ad Hoc Committee met on April 3, to discuss the
Huntington Beach case.
INTERGOVERMENTAL MEETINGS
Item 19. Joint OCWD/OCSD meeting, March 25. Director Barbre attended and reported the
main focus was the GWRS project.
Item 20. Yorba Linda Planning Commission, March 29. Vice President Armstrong attended and
passed the information to Ken Vecchiarelli.
Item 21. Yorba Linda City Council, April 4. Directors Korn attended. The meeting adjourned
to April 13.
Item 22. Joint MWDOC/CMWD meeting, April 5. Director Abramowitz did not attend.
Item 23. OCWD meeting, April 5. Director Barbre attended.
Item 24. WACO meeting, April 7. Director Abramowitz did not attend.
Item 25. Yorba Linda Planning Commission, April 12. President Beverage did not attend.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS/ITEMS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION
Director Barbre requested that staff agendize consideration of membership in NESARC for the
first Board meeting in May. Director Abramowitz expressed concern over the request.
Discussion about adding items to a future Agenda. Directors Barbre, Armstrong and Beverage
nodded their consensus to put this item on a future Agenda.
President Beverage referred discussion of a policy on pressure minimums to the Executive
Committee for further study.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Director Abramowitz, seconded by Director Barbre, the Board of Directors
voted 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 11:45 a.m. The next Regular meeting is scheduled for
Thursdayt A-~, 2000, at 8:30 a.m. in the District Boardroom. _prH
Secretary/General Manager