CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

REGULAR MEETING

October 18, 2006

MINUTES

 

CALL TO ORDER 

 

President Campbell called to order a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa

Water District at 6:30 p.m., at 1331 Concord Avenue, Concord, the regular meeting place of the Board.

 

ROLL CALL

 

            Directors Present:                      Joseph L. Campbell, President

                                                            Elizabeth R. Anello, Vice President

                                                            Bette Boatmun

                                                            John A. Burgh

            Directors Absent:                       Karl L. Wandry

            General Manager:                       Walter J. Bishop

            Legal Counsel:                           Robert B. Maddow

            District Secretary:                      Sharon L. Burris

 

President Campbell noted that Director Wandry was absent from the meeting due to illness.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Principal Engineer Samantha Salvia led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

Mr. Bishop reported that there was a memo before the Board revising Agenda Item Nos. 3.b. and 4.b.  He also reported that Agenda Item No. 1 – Public Employee Performance Evaluation as allowed under Government Code 54957 was being moved and would become Agenda Item No. 15.b.  Agenda Item No. 15 would become Agenda Item No. 15.a.

 

CLOSED SESSION

 

1.         Public Employee Performance Evaluation as allowed under Government Code 54957; Title: General Manager.

 

RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION

 

2.         Report on Closed Session. 

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

President Campbell asked if there were any public comments.  There were no public comments.  

CONSENT

 

3.         Approve Directors’ Services/Business and Travel Expenses

      a.   Future Services - October

            b.   Expenses – September

 

4.         Approve the following minutes:

a.       September 20, 2006

b.       October 4, 2006

 

5.         Approve the warrant register dated October 19, 2006. 

 

6.         Adopt Resolution No. 06-32 honoring Phyllis Roff for her tireless advocacy for the citizens of Contra Costa County and her support for the Contra Costa Water District by educating the public on the Los Vaqueros project. 

 

7.         Authorize execution of a reimbursement agreement to assist Reclamation District No. 800 with the Lower Kellogg Creek Water Quality Project for an amount not to exceed $100,000.

 

8.                   Rejection of Bid – Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant pH Control System Project

a.       Reject all bids for the Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant pH Control System Project; and

b.       Authorize an amendment to Black & Veatch’s design services agreement, in the amount of $30,000, for a total amount not to exceed $130,200. 

 

President Campbell advised that approving the consent calendar would include approval of revised Agenda Item Nos. 3.b. and 4.b.

 

Director Boatmun indicated that she had questions concerning Agenda Item No. 8 – Rejection of Bid – Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant pH Control System Project.  She inquired about the services that Black & Veatch would be rendering and if quality was being compromised.  Mr. Bishop responded these services would not detract from the project.  They would not affect the District’s ability to meet standard and that no quality will be compromised.  He advised that by authorizing the amendment to the design services agreement for the engineering that the District would get a better result and that this would be a benefit. 

 

Vice President Anello indicated that she would like to comment on Agenda Item No. 6 – Adopt Resolution No. 06-32 honoring Phyllis Roff.  She noted that Ms. Roff was well known in Contra Costa County for her very prolific letter writing to the editor.  She was an extraordinary person who had done great things for Contra Costa County. 

 

President Campbell echoed Vice President Anello’s comments and noted that the resolution speaks for itself.  He commented that Ms. Roff was very proud that she was a “community watchdog.”  He also reported that he spoke at the Walnut Creek City Council meeting on October 17, and the first item on the City Council agenda was a resolution honoring Ms. Roff.

 

MOTION:  Boatmun/Burgh to approve the consent calendar.  The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote.   

DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION

 

9.                   Receive the status report on the Alternative Intake Project. 

 

Mr. Bishop reported that Principal Engineer Samantha Salvia would be providing a presentation to the Board concerning the status of the Alternative Intake Project.  He advised that certification of the Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Study (EIR/EIS) was pending United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) comments. 

 

Ms. Salvia’s advised that there was no action to be taken by the Board at this time.  She reported on the project background and indicated that the project was initiated in July 2004 and that significant progress had been made.  The preliminary design was complete, full design was initiated in September 2006, and the environmental review process was nearing completion. 

 

Ms. Salvia reported that the analysis to date indicated that the project meets the key objectives.  She identified the objectives as to improve delivered water quality, especially during drought periods; protect and improve health and/or aesthetic benefits to consumers; improve operation flexibility; and to protect delivered water quality during emergencies.  The project would also provide benefits to Delta fisheries.  The District would be going though both a federal and state environmental review process for the project.   The District had partnered with USBR for a joint EIR/EIS. 

 

Ms. Salvia noted that the draft EIR/EIS was submitted in May 2006 and public hearings were held in June 2006 in Antioch, Concord and Sacramento.  No comments were received at the public hearings.  The District had received 16 comment letters; many of the letters were from state agencies acknowledging that they had received the document and reminding the District that certain permits were needed. 

 

President Campbell asked if the meetings were advertised.  Ms. Salvia replied yes, they were advertised in the newspapers and on the District website. 

 

Ms. Salvia advised that no comments were received from customers or environmental groups.  Some comments were received from other water agencies in the Delta and most of the comments were related to the water resources section of the document.  The final report addressing all comments received would be available pending USBR comments. 

 

A review of the schedule included Board consideration of the EIR Certification in November 2006 and USBR completion of the Record of Decision on the EIS in January/February of 2007.  It was anticipated that the project would go to bid in the fall of 2007, and construction of the project would start in the spring of 2008. 

 

President Campbell commented that he appreciated the update, which was one of a series of updates that the Board had received.  He advised that he had checked to see that the agenda was posted in all of the regular posting places and that it been posted.  He was satisfied and confident that the District had taken steps to keep the public informed about the project.    

 

President Campbell asked if anyone in the public who would like to comment on the item.  There were no comments.

 

President Campbell asked if the Board was satisfied that they had received the report.  It was the consensus of the Board that they had received the report. 

REPORTS FOR DISCUSSION

 

10.        Committee Report(s)

a.   Association of California Water Agencies Communications Committee Post-Meeting Report (10/4/06)                

b.   Board of Supervisors’ Water, Transportation and Infrastructure Post-Meeting Report (10/9/06)

 

President Campbell asked if there were any comments on the committee reports.  There were no comments. 

           

11.               Schedule Future Meeting Dates and Times

 

Mr. Bishop reported that the next Board Study Session would take place in January and that staff was in the process of establishing a date with the District’s federal lobbyist.  He advised that the Board would be informed of possible dates.   

 

REPORTS

 

12.        General Manager

 

Mr. Bishop reported briefly on a tour given to Dutch engineers at the request of Representative Richard Pombo’s staff on October 17.  The tour included the levee system that supports the Old River intake and the Los Vaqueros Reservoir.  

 

13.        Legal Counsel

 

Mr. Maddow did not have a report. 

 

14.               Board Members

 

Director Burgh reported that he attended the Walnut Creek City Council meeting on October 17 where President Campbell made a presentation.  He also commented that he was impressed with the recent article in the Contra Costa Times concerning the District’s involvement with the pipeline repair at the Clayton Pumpkin Farm. 

 

Director Boatmun did not have a report.

 

Vice President Anello reported that she had presented at the Pacheco Municipal Advisory Council on October 11, and commented positively on Public Information Specialist Marianne Hook and her assistance at the meeting.  She attended the Contra Costa Special Districts Association meeting on October 16 in Pleasant Hill, where Contra Costa County Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier was the guest speaker.  She also reported that she was scheduled to speak at the Martinez Lions Club on October 17 but that the speaking engagement was being rescheduled.    

 

President Campbell reported that he presented to the Walnut Creek City Council on October 17.  The presentation was the same one he gave to the Clayton City Council on October 3.  He reported that District staff was getting the job done and referenced how the District’s water service had not failed during the summer heat wave.  He noted that one of the Councilmembers praised the District for reliable service and commented that it was taken for granted. 

 

CLOSED SESSION

 

15.a.     Conference with Real Property Negotiator as allowed under Government Code Section 54956.8; Property:  Victoria Island Farms - APN 129-190-030; Negotiating Party:  Victoria Island Farms; District Negotiator:  Walter J. Bishop; Issue:  Instruction to negotiator on price and terms.

 

15.b.     Public Employee Performance Evaluation as allowed under Government Code 54957; Title: General Manager.

 

At 6:55 p.m., President Campbell announced that Board would move into closed session.  He reported that there were two items before the Board.  One of the items concerned a real estate matter and the additional attendees would be Principal Engineer Samantha Salvia and Assistant General Manager of Planning/Delta Projects Greg Gartrell.  The other item concerned a public employee evaluation and Director of Operations and Maintenance Michael Holley would be in attendance. 

 

RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION

 

16.        Report on Closed Session. 

 

At 7:34 p.m., President Campbell reconvened the meeting and announced that the Board took no action on the matters before it. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

At 7:35 p.m., President Campbell adjourned the meeting to the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors scheduled for November 1, 2006, commencing at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                Joseph L. Campbell, President

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

                                               

Sharon L. Burris

District Secretary