CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING

Joint Meeting with the Board of Directors of Diablo Water District

September 25, 2007

MINUTES

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

President Campbell called to order an adjourned regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa Water District at 6:32 p.m., at 3760 Neroly Road, Oakley, California. 

 

President Campbell advised that he and Diablo Water District Board President Jack de Fremery would jointly facilitate the meeting.    

 

ROLL CALL

Contra Costa Water District

 

            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

 

ROLL CALL

Diablo Water District

 

            Directors Present:                      Jack de Fremery, President

                                                            Howard Hobbs, Vice President

                                                            Edward Garcia

                                                            Richard Head

                                                            Kenneth Crockett          

            General Manager:                       Mike Yeraka

            Legal Counsel:                           Jeffrey D. Polisner

 

President Campbell reported that all Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) Directors were present with the exception of Director Wandry.   Director Wandry had previously notified the Board of his absence. 

 

President de Fremery reported that all Diablo Water District (DWD) Directors were present.   

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

There were no changes to the agenda.

PUBLIC COMMENT 

 

President Campbell asked for comments from the public.  There were no public comments.

 

DISCUSSION & INFORMATION

 

1.         Status of Diablo Water District Well Utilization Project

 

DWD President de Fremery advised that Mr. Yeraka would be making a presentation on DWD’s Well Utilization Project. 

 

Using a map, Mr. Yeraka identified the Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant (WTP), the Glen Park Well, and the well supply pipeline.  He reported that current DWD water demand was 5,000 acre feet (af) per year.  During the first year of operation with the wells production was approximately 1,000 af.  He commented positively on the water quality and advised that DWD had not received any negative customer comments on the water quality or taste during the one year of well operation.  He also advised that there had been no adverse effects on the local aquifer.  Mr. Yeraka advised that the savings for the first year amounted to approximately $500,000. 

 

Mr. Yeraka identified the location of Phase 2 of the project; the proposed Stone Creek Well site.  He reported that DWD would be beginning the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process for the site.  DWD, with other agencies including CCWD, had applied for Proposition 50 grant money which would help fund Phase 2 of the project. 

 

Responding to a question from Director Boatmun concerning the aquifer length, Mr. Yeraka replied that he was uncertain.  He advised that it did reach to the Brentwood and Discovery Bay areas.  Director Boatmun asked if any other agencies were drilling wells 300 feet deep.  Mr. Yeraka responded that the City of Brentwood pumped to the same level as DWD.  Responding to a question from Director Boatmun about the City of Brentwood’s water quality, Mr. Yeraka replied that their water quality was similar to DWD’s.   

 

2.         Improvements in Diablo Water District Meter Reading Efficiency

 

President de Fremery advised that Mr. Yeraka would be making a presentation concerning the item. 

 

Mr. Yeraka gave a brief history on DWD’s meter reading and explained that the readings were originally done manually.  He reported that DWD explored alternative methods of meter reading and that the Board had authorized radio reading.  In addition, he advised that a touch read method was also used.  At the suggestion of an employee, a motor scooter was engaged to assist in the meter reading.  DWD had approximately 6,000 meters using the touch read method and approximately 4,000 meters were using the radio read method.  He gave a breakdown and indicated that approximately 155 employee hours per month were saved using the touch read method.    

 

Director Garcia asked Mr. Yeraka to update the Boards on new technology he envisioned for DWD.  Mr. Yeraka reported that new technology would be transmitters located strategically throughout the service area which could be read by office staff, no longer requiring staff in the field. 

 

Responding to a question from Director Boatmun concerning efficiency in the meter readings, Mr. Yeraka replied that the current method was more efficient than the manual reads because it eliminated the chance of human error.

 

3.         Immediate Actions for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

 

President Campbell introduced Assistant General Manager of Planning/Delta Projects Greg Gartrell and advised that he would be making a presentation.  

 

Mr. Bishop advised that the design of the Staged Conveyance Action Plan was to address immediate actions that were needed for the Delta independent of taking a position on the peripheral canal.  He reported that the actions were included in SB 1002 introduced by Senator Perata.

 

President Campbell commented that the bill was presently on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk for consideration. 

 

Dr. Gartrell reported that the Delta was in a crisis mode, and that the state did not have an emergency response plan in the event of a levee failure.  He advised that fish populations had declined and water quality was declining partially due to the increase in water demands.  He reported that Central Valley development threatened Delta water quality.  He commented on the recent shutdown of state pumps and referenced Judge Wanger’s recent court decision leading to reduced pumping for the Department of Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to protect Delta smelt. 

 

Dr. Gartrell reported that immediate actions were needed to implement critical projects that were both comprehensive and cumulative.  The proposed actions significantly improve immediate benefits for Delta smelt and other Delta fisheries, provide a more reliable water supply less vulnerable to algae, and improve critical levees to withstand significant seismic and storm events.   These investments were consistent with the long-term plan for the Delta.

 

Dr. Gartrell identified the three critical immediate actions and noted that funding was currently available.  The first action was emergency preparedness for levee failure, where funding was available from State Propositions 84 and 1E in the amount of $200 million.  The second action was to improve habitat conditions for endangered species and drinking water quality, including Franks Tract.  He identified the source of $30 million funding for this action as Proposition 84. The third action was fish protection screens at export facilities to reduce water supply vulnerability.  The funding sources included state Proposition 84 for $60 million and State Proposition 13 for $53 million. 

 

Dr. Gartrell advised that these actions would be measurable to ensure that CCWD was obtaining the desired results.  He reported that stockpiling of materials at critical locations would limit salinity intrusion.  Modifying the channels near Franks Tract would reduce the amount of salt going into Old River and into CCWD’s intakes.  He also reported that fewer fish would be lost to predation in the Delta and to south Delta pumps.  Adding new fish screens for South Delta export facilities would prevent the fish from entering the area.  Levee improvements included improving the levees in the western and central Delta.

 

Dr. Gartrell reviewed the Alternative Intake Project (AIP).  He identified the project benefits as improving CCWD water quality and water quality during emergencies, improving operational flexibility, protection of public health, providing net benefits to Delta fisheries, and reducing construction time for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion project. 

 

Addressing the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project, Dr. Gartrell reported that the project would improve emergency water supply, drought supply, and drinking water quality for CCWD and other Bay Area water agencies.  The reservoir would help CCWD continue cost containment and rate control.  He indicated the Environmental Impact Study/Environmental Impact Report would be available in 2008.  He reported the project would cost approximately $600 million and had a strong benefit/cost ratio.  The project met critical needs, protected the Delta environment, CCWD’s water quality, and Bay Area water supply and feasibility. 

 

Mr. Bishop noted that Mr. Gartrell was an advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger’s Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force. 

 

President Campbell commented that the Board had been discussing the immediate actions for several months.  He advised that Mr. Bishop had presented the plan to many agencies in the southern portion of the state. 

 

President Campbell asked if any of the Board members had questions of the presenter.  There were no questions.  He asked if there were any public comments.  There were no public comments. 

 

4.         Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant Complex Update

 

President Campbell turned the item over to Mr. Bishop.

 

Mr. Bishop advised that the Director of Construction Pete Schoemann would be giving an update on the Brentwood Water Treatment Plant. 

 

Mr. Schoemann reported that the District had been working on a number of critical projects.  Using a map, he identified the location of the recently completed sedimentation basin project, the filter media and solids lagoon projects, and a new pump station for the City of Brentwood.  He reported that two projects were currently under construction: the Brentwood Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Project and the pH Control System Project. 

 

The focus of the presentation was on the Brentwood WTP.  Mr. Schoemann reported that CCWD would own, operate, and maintain the WTP.  The construction costs for the project were approximately $41 million.  The WTP was scheduled to be online during the summer of 2008 and approximately 90 percent of the structural work was completed. 

 

Mr. Schoemann reported that the next critical phase of the project would be installing the equipment to make it a functional WTP.  He noted that dry weather conditions during the year had made it possible for the contractor to quickly mobilize the site.  Using an aerial overview of the construction site, Mr. Schoemann identified the project progress beginning in November 2006 through June 2007.  He advised that work was currently being done to tie the WTP into the Contra Costa Canal. 

 

Mr. Bishop advised that the timing for the tie-in was desirable due to high chlorides at Rock Slough, which meant that water was being drawn down from the Los Vaqueros Reservoir.   

 

President Campbell explained that each of the CCWD Directors serve on various Board committees.  He advised that he and Director Boatmun serve on the Operations and Engineering Committee, and as members of that committee, they had recently toured the WTP.  He commented positively on the efficiency and cleanliness of the site. 

 

President Campbell asked if there were any questions of the presenter. There were no questions.  He asked if there were any public comments.  There were no public comments.

 

DIRECTOR COMMENTS

 

Vice President Anello commented positively on the presentations. 

 

Director Burgh commented positively on the meeting and noted that this was a classic example of agencies working together. 

 

Director Boatmun also commented positively on the meeting.  She commented that an East County Water Management Association meeting date should be set where she and Director Head could discuss areas of concern to both agencies.    She commented positively on the landscaping at the site. 

 

Director Hobbs commented that both Boards had worked together for many years to complete projects like Randall-Bold and Los Vaqueros.  He appreciated working together and being able to provide input.   

 

Director Garcia commented on the progress and accomplishments that had been made during the last several years.

 

Director Crockett commented positively on the presentations and accomplishments from both agencies.  He also noted that he appreciated Dr. Gartrell’s presentation. 

 

Director Head commented that he was very impressed with the DWD’s Wells Project and that they had not had an increase in water rates.

 

President de Fremery commented that he was looking forward to working together in the future.

 

President Campbell did not have any comments.   

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

At 7:27 p.m., President Campbell adjourned the meeting to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Contra Costa Water District Board of Directors scheduled for October 3, 2007 at 6:30 p.m., at 1331 Concord Avenue, Concord.

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                Joseph L. Campbell, President

 

ATTEST:

                                               

Sharon L. Burris

District Secretary