CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

REGULAR MEETING

November 7, 2007

 

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

                                                            John A. Burgh

                                                            Bette Boatmun

                                                            Karl L. Wandry

            General Manager:                       Walter J. Bishop

            Legal Counsel:                           Robert B. Maddow

            District Secretary:                      Sharon L. Burris

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Director of Planning Jerry Brown led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

Mr. Bishop advised that there were no changes to the agenda. 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

President Campbell recognized Bird Morningstar, a Concord resident, in the audience and invited him to the podium to speak.  Mr. Morningstar referenced a book titled, Water, which addressed water shortages and conservation.  He advised that the book was written over 40 years ago by the California State Department of Education. 

 

Mr. Morningstar emphasized the importance of water conservation and commended the District for building Los Vaqueros Reservoir.  He was also very complimentary of the District’s Water Education Program.

 

Vice President Anello, Director Burgh, President Campbell and Director Wandry thanked Mr. Morningstar for his presentation and comments.

CONSENT

 

1.         Approve Directors’ Services/Business and Travel Expenses

            a.   Future Services – November

      b.   Expenses – September/October

      c.   Compensation – October

 

2.         Approve the following minutes:

            a.   September 25, 2007

            b.   October 3, 2007

 

3.         Approve the warrant register dated November 8, 2007.

 

4.         Award of Contract – Canal Check and Pumping Plant Structural Rehabilitation

            a.   Reject the bid from Pleasanton Engineering Contractors for the Canal Check and Pumping Plant Structural Rehabilitation Project due to non-responsiveness; and

            b.   Authorize execution of a contract with Valentine Corporation for the construction of the Canal Check and Pumping Plant Structural Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $379,369, with a 15% change order authority of $56,905, for a total amount not to exceed $436,274.

 

Director Boatmun commented on Item No. 1.c. – Compensation – October.  She advised that she was requesting compensation for an East Bay Regional Communications Systems (EBRCS) Joint Powers Authority (JPA) meeting held in Pleasanton on October 24.  The meeting was scheduled after the October Board calendar was adopted. 

 

Discussion took place on the reason for the meeting and the relevance of Director Boatmun’s attendance since the District was not participating in the EBRCS.  Director Boatmun advised that her attendance at the meeting was requested due to her position as Chair of the Contra Costa Chapter Special Districts Association. 

 

Mr. Maddow advised that the Board had a procedure under which this type of reimbursement could be considered.  He suggested that Director Boatmun’s request be considered through the applicable procedure for Board consideration at the Board meeting on November 14.

 

Director Boatmun indicated that she had a packet of information concerning the ERRCS JPA available, and if Boardmembers would like a copy to contact the District Secretary. 

 

President Campbell asked if there was any further discussion on the consent calendar.  There was none. 

 

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

ACTION

 

5.         Agreement with Western Area Power Administration for Design, Construction, and Interconnection of Power Supply Facilities

            a.   Authorize an increase of $570,000 to the FY08 Delta Projects professional services budget; and

            b.   Authorize execution of agreements for design, construction and transmission interconnection for power for the Alternative Intake Project with Western Area Power Administration for a total amount not to exceed $2,900,000.

 

Mr. Bishop reported that the item was placed on the action calendar due to the amount of the contract.  Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) was responsible for transmission of Bureau of Reclamation project power to the District.  The District had entered into an agreement with WAPA for preliminary planning and confirmed that WAPA had capacity to transmit power to the Alternative Intake Project (AIP).   He advised that the agreement was on a cost reimbursement basis and any remaining funds would be returned to the District, upon project completion.  The design of the WAPA facilities was accelerated from FY09 to FY08 and a budget adjustment was needed.  The project was in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the rate model. 

 

President Campbell asked if there were any public comments.  There were none. 

 

MOTION:  Boatmun/Wandry to a) authorize an increase of $570,000 to the FY08 Delta Projects professional services budget; and b) authorize execution of agreements for design, construction and transmission interconnection for power for the Alternative Intake Project with Western Area Power Administration for a total amount not to exceed $2,900,000.  The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote. 

 

 

6.         Board Authorization for Increased Participation in State-Wide California Special District Association Activities

            a.   Determine if the Board wishes to actively participate in California Special Districts Association functions and committees; and

            b.   If approved, authorize a budget transfer of $2,000 from the FY08 General Manager’s Operating Contingency budget to the FY08 Board of Directors’ Department Travel budget.

 

Mr. Bishop reported that two Boardmembers had attended the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) Annual Conference.  Funds to cover the expenses for the conference were charged to the Board’s travel budget.  He advised that Boardmember attendance at CSDA Conferences should be included in future budget projections.  He also advised that Boardmembers had expressed a desire to actively participate on CSDA committees.  Based on the Board’s approval, this action would allow Boardmembers active participation in CSDA activities and increase the FY08 budget to fund these expenses.    

 

President Campbell asked if there were any public comments.  There were none. 

MOTION:  Wandry/Anello to a) approve active Board participation in California Special Districts Association functions and committees; and b) authorize a budget transfer of $2,000 from the FY08 General Manager’s Operating Contingency budget to the FY08 Board of Directors’ Department Travel budget.

 

 

REPORTS FOR DISCUSSION

 

7.         Schedule Future Meeting Dates and Times

 

There were no future meeting dates and times to schedule. 

 

REPORTS

 

8.         General Manager

 

Mr. Bishop updated the Board on the progress of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill.  He advised that he would be in Washington, D.C. November 15-16 and would be briefing Bureau of Reclamation Commission Bob Johnson on the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project.    

 

9.         Legal Counsel

 

Mr. Maddow reported on a case discussed in closed session concerning O’Brien Homes and a Facility Reserve Charge issue.  He reported that staff had reached a settlement within the parameters authorized by the Board

 

10.        Board Members

 

Vice President Anello did not have a report.

 

Director Wandry did not have a report.

 

Director Burgh reported that he attended the WateReuse Association Chapter meeting on October 30 in San Francisco.  The meeting focused on the positive effect of partnerships among agencies.   He also referenced an article on CALFED from Secretary Mike Chrisman in the Sacramento Bee. 

 

Director Boatmun commented briefly on the water shortage in the Atlanta, Georgia area. 

 

President Campbell reported positively on a lunch meeting he attended on October 18 with Diablo Water District Board President Jack de Fremery.  He also commented on a letter he received from the National Publishing Institute announcing that the District had received the 12^th Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award.  He advised that the District had won the award the past four consecutive years.    

CLOSED SESSION

 

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

 

At 6:55 p.m., President Campbell announced that the Board would move into closed session.  There was one matter before the Board concerning a public employee performance evaluation and there would not be any additional attendees. 

 

RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION

 

12.        Report on closed session.

 

At 7:27 p.m., President Campbell reconvened the meeting and announced that the Board did not take any action on the matter before it. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

At 7:28 p.m., President Campbell adjourned the meeting to the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors scheduled for November 14, 2007 commencing at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                Joseph L. Campbell, President

ATTEST:

 

                                               

Sharon L. Burris

District Secretary