HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-09-25 - Board of Directors Meeting MinutesPage 4130
September 25, 2001
MINUTES OF THE
YORBA LINDA WATER DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPECIAL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 25, 2001
The September 25, 2001 special meeting of the Yorba Linda Water District Board of Directors
was called to order by President Paul Armstrong at 8:30 a.m. The meeting was held at District
Headquarters, 4622 Plumosa Drive, Yorba Linda.
Directors Present at Roll Call
Paul R. Armstrong, President
Arthur C. Korn, Vice President
Mark Abramowitz
Michael J. Beverage
John W. Summerfield
Staff Present:
William J. Robertson, General Manager
Arthur G. Kidman, District General Counsel
Lee Cory, Operations Manager
Beverly Meza, Business Manager
Michael Payne, Assistant General Manager
Michael Robinson, Assistant Administrator
Ken Vecchiarelli, Engineering Manager
Amelia Cloonan, Executive Secretary
Visitors present: Brett Barbre, MWDOC Director
Janet Morningstar, Counsel
Scott Wright, Pulte Home Corporation
On a motion by President Paul Armstrong, seconded by Director Beverage, Item 9 of the Agenda
was moved to the front of the Calendar.
9. Consider letter requesting Governor Davis to veto Senate Bill 221. Brett Barbre, MWDOC
Director, urged veto of Bill 221 and requested the support of the Board of Directors.
Questions were asked, and a lengthy discussion was held regarding whether the Bill would
affect the District, whether the veto letter should be sent, and what the content of the letter
should be.
On a motion by Director Beverage, seconded by Director Summerfield, the Board of
Directors voted 4-0-1, with Director Abramowitz voting No, to authorize the President to
sign a letter, with additions chosen by the President, requesting that Governor Davis veto
Senate Bill 221.
Brett Barbre departed the meeting at 8:50 a.m.
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September 25, 2001
CONSENT CALENDAR
On a motion by Director Beverage, seconded by President Armstrong, the Board of Directors
voted 5-0 to approve the Consent Calendar, with Director Abramowitz abstaining on Item 1.
1. Approve minutes of regular meeting, September 13, 2001.
2. Authorize directors to leave the State of California prior to next meeting.
3. Approve disbursements of $407,719.94.
4. Approve purchase of vehicles in the amount of $102,193.93 from Reynolds GMC Buick in
Covina.
ACTION CALENDAR
5. Consider Pulte Home Corporation annexation process. William Robertson, General
Manager, presented the report and stated Janet Morningstar, Counsel, had assisted in
preparing documents and was present to comment and field any questions. Questions were
asked, and a discussion was held. Scott Wright, Pulte Home Corporation, spoke about the
City Council and Planning Commission process.
On a motion by Director Beverage, seconded by Director Summerfield, the Board of
Directors voted 5-0 to authorize staff to mail the notice of intent to adopt a Resolution
initiating annexation of land to affected public agencies.
Janet Morningstar, Kenneth Vecchiarelli and Scott Wright left the meeting at 9:07 a.m.
6. Consider the draft text of the 2001-2002 Annual Report. Mike Robinson, Assistant
Administrator, presented the report, which had not yet been presented in committee.
President Armstrong stated there should be some words in the report addressing the
District's security efforts. The issue of the level of importance attached to water quality
was discussed as was the distribution of the report.
On a motion by Vice President Korn, seconded by Director Beverage, the Board of
Directors voted 5-0 to approve publication of the 2001-2002 Yorba Linda Water District
Annual Report, subject to final review by the Public Information Committee.
Michael Robinson left the meeting at 9:22 a.m.
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September 25, 2001
7. Consider accepting the Financial Statements for one month ended July 31, 2001. Beverly
Meza, Business Manager, presented the report. Questions were asked, and a discussion
was held.
On a motion by Director Beverage, seconded by Vice President Korn, the Board of
Directors voted 5-0 to accept the Financial Reports for the one month ended July 31, 2001.
8. Consider a Lease Agreement with the Amateur Radio Group of Yorba Linda, Yorba Linda
RACES. Michael Payne, Assistant General Manager, presented the report. Questions were
asked, and a discussion was held. General Counsel Kidman stated the District needs to
make sure the agreement is signed by someone with whom and agreement can be enforced.
Vice President Korn asked the item be continued to the next meeting of the Board.
On a motion by Director Beverage seconded by Director Summerfield, the Board of
Directors voted 5-0 to continue this item.
GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT
10. General Manager's oral report and comments.
a) General Counsel Kidman responded to a question at a previous Board meeting
regarding qualifications for the office of director and whether a person needs to be a
rate payer as well as a resident of the district. The answer is no. As long as the director
retains a residence, that director would be permitted to be a director. A director is
required to be a voter in the district. If a director moves to a residence outside the
district, there is a special provision that states within 180 days the director must
reestablish residence in the district.
The District should have received the next to the last legislative report. Unfortunately it
comes after AB 36 passed, which requires legislative analyst to prepare a report on
whether special district water suppliers do a better job then cities or other types of
suppliers. President Armstrong asked William Robertson to provide more detail on this
item.
b) Automated Payment Signups by Customers. Beverly Meza reported that 121 people
accepted enrollment in this program through 9/24/01 in one cycle sent out. At this
point the District hopes to lower credit card payment numbers, and those who change
from credit card payment to automated payment will be tracked.
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September 25, 2001
c) Risk Management activities status report. William Robertson stated this item is about
security measures put in last week. Michael Payne commented these measures were
taken because of concerns brought up by staff. On a suggestion made by Rick
Walkemeyer, the District removed maps of its facilities from the website. Key
management staff remained in the area over the weekend, and Leon de los Reyes was
asked to stay in town. Patrols at reservoir facilities were increased. Any intrusions
were to be reported to the Brea Police Department immediately. The measures were
implemented on Thursday. Late Friday afternoon the District received notice from
ACWA regarding security measures. No notice was received from the FBI.
The District tour was cancelled. William Robertson reported the District is considering
what to do about the tours. Michael Payne will talk to the people at MET security
about what they are doing with their tours. President Armstrong believed the current
situation should not alter the District's process, and Vice President Korn agreed.
There was further discussion about the tours, rescheduling, and altered venue.
Michael Payne reported staff would meet with the police and fire departments to find
out what type of credentials they would need in case of an emergency.
d) District activities. No reports were presented.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
11. Executive-Administration Committee (Armstrong/Kom)
12. Finance-Accounting Committee (Kom/Beverage)
A meeting was scheduled for October 3, 2001, 9:00 a.m. Audit review, water rates,
developer fees, customer service fees, other fees.
13. Personnel-Risk Management Committee (Abramowitz/Armstrong)
14. Planning Engineering-Operations Committee (Beverage/Summerfield)
Report of meeting held September 19, 2001, 4:00 p.m. FFDCA's with Shell/Toll, FFDCA
Pulte, GIS status report, hydrant J&J Lane, other. Director Beverage commented on Item 7
of the Agenda report regarding overrange and underrange penalties at the golf course. He
stated that the one of the videotapes mentioned in item 6 of the PEO Committee meeting
report ranged over the period August 2000 to August 2001 and showed the reservoir and
development going up while the golf course was under construction.
15. Public Information Committee (Abramowitz/Summerfield)
A meeting was scheduled for October 4, 4:00 p.m. Annual Report, District survey, Fiesta
Days, Heritage Days.
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September 25, 2001
16. Orange County Water District Ad Hoc Committee (Korn/Beverage)
Report of meeting held September 17, 2001, 4:00 p.m. Vice President Korn was unable to
attend. Director Beverage reported the discussion included: Huntington Beach litigation,
Basin cleaning operations, a print out of a presentation on ground water management
update strategies.
17. MWDOC Ad Hoc Committee (Abramowitz/Kom)
INTERGOVERNMENTAL MEETINGS
18. Yorba Linda City Council, September 18, 6:30 p.m. (Korn)
Vice President Korn did not attend due to illness.
19. MWDOC, September 19, 9:00 a.m. (Abramowitz)
Director Abramowitz did not attend due to illness.
20. OCWD, September 19,6:00 p.m. (Korn)
Vice President Korn did not attend due to illness.
21. Yorba Linda Planning Commission, September 26,7:30 p.m. (Armstrong)
This meeting did not take place during the reporting period for this Agenda.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACTIVITY CALENDAR
President Armstrong asked about the dates for the Colorado River Water Users Association
(CRWUA) conference. These dates are December 12, 13 and 14. Director Abramowitz
questioned the usefulness of attending this conference and asked that the Board meeting remain
scheduled for the 13th of December.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS/ITEMS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION
President Armstrong reported that during the last Commission meeting the members discussed
work being performed on the SARI line. All the manhole covers are being raised above the
flood level. The line is not being moved or enlarged.
Director Abramowitz could not attend the last board meeting due to illness. He was going to
share a proposal presented for MWD water rates. The alternate proposal seems to have some
very good elements. It illustrates ways for agencies to cut costs and encourages conservation.
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September 25, 2001
Director Abramowitz was approached by Kenneth Witt, so he could report to the Board. Mr.
Witt expressed his extreme upset and disappointment at being requested to apply for an open
Water Board seat and receiving support from the General Manager and Director Beverage only
to realize when interviewing that it was clear he was not under serious consideration. He felt it
was a waste of his time and the Board's time. Director Beverage responded that when Mr. Witt
applied he stated he only wanted the appointment for two years, and this was unacceptable.
Director Abramowitz commented on the draft of a staff report regarding water rate proposals.
He would like to see some additional options for the Board to look at including options where
the Board does not raise the rates as well as options to have a rate structure that IRWD has done.
CLOSED SESSION
26. Discussion of pending litigation to which the District is a party, (Subsection (a) of
Section 54956.9), County of Orange, Central Justice Center, Case No. 815921
Huntington Beach vs. OCWD, and Case No. 818852 Fountain Valley vs. OCWD, before
the Superior Court of the State of California.
No closed session was held.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Director Beverage, seconded by Vice President Korn, the Board of Directors
voted 5-0 to adjourn at 10:47 a.m.
A regular meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled for October 11, 2001, at 8:30 a.m. at
the District Headquarters.
Secretary/General Manager
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