CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

REGULAR MEETING

November 5, 2008

 

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

 

Public Information Specialist Jim Freschi led the pledge of allegiance.

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

Mr. Bishop advised that there was a minor change to Agenda Item No. 2.a. – Future Services – November. 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

President Campbell invited Doug Anderson, a District employee and President of International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees (IFPTE), Local 21 to the podium.  Mr. Anderson addressed the Board and thanked the individuals involved in recent contract negotiations with the bargaining unit.  He reported that the agreement was fair and equitable for the members of the bargaining unit and the District. 

 

President Campbell thanked Mr. Anderson for the positive comments.  He also acknowledged IFPTE Executive Vice President Diane Tompkins in the audience.

 

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

 

 

 

STAFF RECOGNITION

 

1.         Acknowledgement of staff responsible for receiving the Association of Metropolitan Water    Agencies (AMWA) 2008 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence.

 

President Campbell reported that areas taken into consideration to receive the award included financial viability, customer service, product quality, operational efficiency, a future water supply study, a capital improvement program and key performance measures.  He acknowledged District staff responsible for their participation in receiving the award and identified them as Senior Public Information Specialist Jennifer Allen, Director of Finance Brice Bledsoe, Executive Management Analyst Desiree Castello, Water Operations Manager Dave Huey, Senior Engineer Joe Piro, Principal Engineer Jeff Quimby, and Project Controls Manager Lars Sandberg.  Assistant General Manager of Engineering/Construction Steve Welch had received the award on the District’s behalf while attending AMWA’s 2008 annual meeting in New Orleans. 

 

President Campbell also acknowledged Diablo Valley College (DVC) students in the audience and welcomed them to the meeting. 

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

2.         Approve Directors’ Services/Business and Travel Expenses

            a.   Future Services – November

            b.   Expenses – September/October

            c.   Compensation – October

 

3.         Approve the following minutes:

            a.   October 1, 2008

            b.   October 15, 2008 

                 

4.         Approve the warrant register dated November 6, 2008.

 

5.         Adopt Resolution No. 08-32 authorizing a 25-year License to Tabernacle Christian School and Tabernacle Baptist Church for bridge and treated water line crossings of the Clayton Canal near Milepost 3.65.

 

6.         Authorize execution of a technical services agreement with Controlled Environmental Services for the installation of vapor recovery systems at District fueling stations for a total amount not to exceed $103,235.

 

7.         Authorize purchase of sulfuric acid from Sierra Chemical for the period beginning November 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 at the unit prices indicated on the listing of Vendor Bids for Sulfuric Acid. 

 

8.         Award of Contract – Multi-Purpose Pipeline/Bay Point Interconnection Project

            a.   Authorize a $346,800 budget increase to the FY09 Expansion of Services Program       funded by Golden State Water Company;

            b.   Authorize execution of a contract with McGuire and Hester, for the construction of the   Multi-Purpose Pipeline/Bay Point Interconnection Project in the amount of $238,000,   with a 10% change order authority of $23,800, for a total amount not to exceed     $261,800; and

            c.   Authorize an amendment to Telvent USA, Inc.’s, District SCADA and Distributed          Control System Modification Project Agreement in the amount of $10,000, for a            revised total amount not to exceed $135,000.

 

9.         Authorize a District voucher program to provide rebates of $175 for the High-efficiency Toilet Voucher Program including agreements with qualified plumbing supply retailers for a total amount not to exceed $354,025 in FY09 and $383,600 in FY10. 

 

10.        Authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Professional/ Supervisory Representation Unit (IFPTE Local 21) for a five-year term ending on November 10, 2013. 

 

Director Boatmun removed Agenda Item No. 3.a. – Minutes – October 1, 2008. 

 

President Campbell reminded the Board that approval of the consent calendar would include approval of revised Agenda Item No. 2.a. – Future Services – November. 

 

MOTION:  Boatmun/Wandry to approve the consent calendar with the exception of Agenda Item No. 3.a. – Minutes – October 1, 2008.  The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote. 

 

Director Boatmun referenced Agenda Item No. 3.a. – Minutes – October 1, 2008, page 3.  She advised that the minutes did not fully include her comments about Golden State Water Company.  She advised that her protest vote should include her comment that GSWC had never done anything for the public supply system unless the Public Utilities Commission mandated it.  She also stated that GSWC was driven strictly by profit and she would like to have those things included in the minutes.  Another comment she wanted included was that she did mention that this was no reflection on the long-time or even short-term employees. 

 

Mr. Bishop recommended that the minutes be pulled and brought back to the next meeting.  He suggested that the District Secretary listen to the tape and make sure the minutes were accurate.   

 

President Campbell asked if the Board was in agreement.  The Board concurred.  President Campbell stated that the Board would defer on approving the minutes from that meeting, and that the consent calendar at this point was approved. 

 

ACTION

 

11.        Authorize execution of a technical services agreement with Telvent USA, Inc. for the SCADA and Los Vaqueros Dam Acquisition System Replacement Project for a total amount not to exceed $1,023,000.

 

Mr. Bishop reported that the item was placed on the action calendar due to the amount of the contract.  The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system was placed in service in 2000 and was used to control and monitor the District’s untreated and treated water supply, conveyance, storage and distribution facilities. 

 

The Los Vaqueros Automated Dam Acquisition System (LV ADAS) was placed in service in 1996 and was used to monitor the dam and reservoir conditions.  Replacement parts for these systems were becoming difficult to find and some of the critical components were no longer available. 

 

The project was included in the 2009-2018 Capital Improvement Program.  The District’s procurement procedures had been followed and three firms had submitted proposals.  Telvent was selected based on qualifications, an understanding of the project’s technical issues, and an efficient approach to system development.  He reviewed the schedule and advised that design completion would take place in February 2009 and final completion in February 2010.  

 

Director Burgh commented on the advancing technology for SCADA systems and that the system was an essential tool to produce needed results.  He supported staff’s recommendation. 

 

President Campbell explained how the SCADA system operates to the members of the audience.     

 

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

 

MOTION:  Boatmun/Anello to authorize execution of a technical services agreement with Telvent USA, Inc. for the SCADA and Los Vaqueros Dam Acquisition System Replacement Project for a total amount not to exceed $1,023,000.  The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote. 

 

12.        Authorize execution of a contract amendment with URS for Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project dam engineering services, for an amount not to exceed $750,000, for a new total contract amount not to exceed $1,350,000. 

 

Mr. Bishop reported that this project was being phased as funds were received from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation).  In August 2008, the Board approved an increase to the ongoing contract with Reclamation to include the scope for completing the dam engineering tasks in support of the feasibility studies required by Reclamation and DWR.  The amendment to this contract with URS would include this scope of work and funding.  

 

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

 

MOTION:  Boatmun/Burgh to authorize execution of a contract amendment with URS for Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project dam engineering services, for an amount not to exceed $750,000, for a new total contract amount not to exceed $1,350,000.  The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote. 

 

DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION

 

13.        Comment on the schedule for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report. 

 

Mr. Bishop reported that Special Projects Manager Marguerite Naillon would be making a presentation. 

 

Ms. Naillon reported on the background of the project since the Memorandum of Understanding with local, state and federal agencies was signed in 2001.  The project had received a 62% ballot measure approval to continue the studies in 2004.  The Draft Environmental Impact Study/ Environment Impact Report (EIS/EIR) was in the final stages of completion.  This project was the first of the CALFED projects to produce an EIS/EIR.   

 

Ms. Naillon reviewed the principles adopted by the Board and advised that staff had worked to meet these principles and serve the needs of the environment and other local, state and federal agencies.

 

Ms. Naillon reported that the EIS/EIR was a joint document.  The District was lead agency for the state and the preparation of the EIR.  Reclamation was the lead federal agency for the preparation of the EIS.  The document would include the purpose and need, background, detailed project description, and results of the environmental impact analysis.  She also advised that a new item included analyzing climate change. 

 

Mr. Bishop commented briefly on Judge Oliver Wanger’s decision regarding pumping operations and how it had impacted the schedule for release of the document. 

 

Ms. Naillon reviewed the project schedule.  The Draft EIS/EIR was scheduled for public release on December 5.   Public meetings for comments on the document were scheduled for mid-January to be held in the following five locations:  Concord, Dublin, Livermore, Oakley and Sacramento.  The formal comment period would close in February 2009 and approval of the Final EIS/EIR would be brought to the Board for consideration in May 2009.

 

President Campbell noted that the purpose of this item was to review the schedule and asked if there were any public comments.  There were none. 

REPORTS FOR DISCUSSION

 

14.        Committee Report(s)

            a.   Board of Supervisors’ – Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Post-Meeting Report (10/20/08)

            b.   Board of Supervisors’ – Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Post-Meeting Report (10/29/08)

 

President Campbell asked if there were any comments on the committee reports.

 

Director Boatmun commented on a revised agenda of the Board of Supervisors’ – Transportation, Water and Infrastructure special meeting on October 29. 

 

15.        Schedule Future Meeting Dates and Times

 

Mr. Bishop reminded the Board of the Study Session scheduled for November 20, in the Delta Conference Room of the District’s Administration Building.    

 

REPORTS

 

16.        General Manager

 

Mr. Bishop reported that a situation had arisen that would require the Board to take action on an item prior to it being presented to the Operations and Engineering (O&E) Committee.  The ozone generators at Bollman Water Treatment Plant needed to be replaced and it was necessary to move forward with a sole source procurement.  President Campbell and Director Boatmun, who serve on the O&E Committee, were aware of the situation and that a presentation would not be made to the committee before the item goes to the full Board for consideration. 

 

President Campbell advised that Assistant General Manager of Engineering/Construction Steve Welch had contacted him and Director Boatmun, and made them aware of the District’s situation.   

 

Mr. Bishop referenced the Delta Vision Strategic Plan report and noted that the near-term actions included the District’s Emergency Actions.  He acknowledged Assistant General Manager – Water Resources Greg Gartrell for his efforts in getting the District’s interests included in the report. 

 

17.        Legal Counsel

 

Mr. Maddow reported briefly on a case being reviewed by the State Supreme Court involving Alejandro vs. Contra Costa Water District.  He advised that he would keep the Board informed. 

 

18.        Board Members

 

Vice President Anello did not have a report.

 

Director Wandry acknowledged the students in the audience and commented that he had graduated from DVC.  He commented that the education he received there was very beneficial for furthering his education and career.  He also advised that he would not be present at the Board meeting on November 19 or the Board Study Session on November 20 due to a conflict in his schedule. 

 

Director Burgh welcomed the DVC students to the meeting and encouraged them to attend future meetings.  He also commented that the college was included in the portion of the service area which he represents on the Board. 

 

Director Boatmun reported that she attended the Contra Costa Council’s Business Sustainability Conference on October 24.  She advised that the focus of the conference was “Getting it Right, Getting it Green.” 

 

President Campbell reported that he had received a certified letter from the City of Hercules referencing a redevelopment project.  He provided the letter to Mr. Bishop.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

At 7:10 p.m., President Campbell adjourned the meeting to the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors scheduled for November 19, 2008 commencing at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                Joseph L. Campbell, President

 

ATTEST:

 

                                               

Sharon L. Burris

District Secretary