CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

REGULAR MEETING

December 17, 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

                                                            Karl L. Wandry, Vice President

                                                            Elizabeth R. Anello

                                                            Bette Boatmun

                                                            John Burgh

            General Manager:                       Walter J. Bishop

            Legal Counsel:                           Robert B. Maddow

            District Secretary:                      Sharon L. Burris

 

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Director of Construction Dan Owre led the pledge of allegiance.

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

President Campbell recognized Concord resident Bird Morningstar in the audience and invited him to the podium.

 

Mr. Morningstar reported that he was conducting an independent survey of 50 clients living in another water agency’s service area.  The clients had volunteered to use his watering schedule for the entire year to try and reduce the amount of water used.  Data reflecting the amount of water usage was currently being accumulated.  He explained the formula used by the other agency to calculate water usage and the penalty for those customers exceeding their allocated amounts.   He commented that he hoped the District would take a different approach if a drought program was put in place for its customers. 

 

Mr. Morningstar commented on the low levels of water in the reservoirs and the pumps being turned off in the Delta.  He also commented that it was the responsibility of the public to make the effort to conserve water and that it could be done through proper water management. 

 

President Campbell thanked Mr. Morningstar for his comments and advised that the District was aware of the drought policy of the other agency.  He also commented that there was a high probability that the District would be considering a drought program.     

 

President Campbell and the Board thanked Mr. Morningstar.   

 

CONSENT

 

1.         Approve Directors’ Services/Business and Travel Expenses

            a.   Expenses – December

 

2.         Approve the minutes of November 19, 2008. 

 

3.         Approve the warrant register dated December 18, 2008.

 

4.         Adopt Resolution No. 08-41 authorizing execution of Amendment No. 3 to the Cooperative Agreement with Contra Costa County for the relocation of Vasco Road for the Los Vaqueros Project.

 

5.                   Adopt Resolution No. 08-42 authorizing acceptance of title to 57 Paso Nogal Court Pleasant Hill, California.

 

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

           

REPORTS FOR DISCUSSION

 

6.         Committee Report(s)

            a.   Retirement Plan Committee Post-Meeting Report (12/5/08)

 

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

 

7.         Schedule Future Meeting Dates and Times

 

Mr. Bishop reminded the Board that the Employee Holiday Luncheon would be held on December 18, at Concord Centre. 

 

President Campbell reported that he would be meeting with various elected officials throughout the area concerning matters related to the “Peripheral Canal” panel discussion on December 3, at the Association of California Water Agencies Conference (ACWA) held December 2-5 in Long Beach.  He advised that one of the officials he would be meeting with would be Contra Costa County Supervisor Mary Piepho. 

 

REPORTS

 

8.                   General Manager

 

Mr. Bishop reported he would be meeting with U. S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Don Glaser on January 8.  He also reported that the Los Vaqueros biological opinion had been released.  He advised that Director of Public Affairs Patty Friesen had announced her retirement effective December 31 and commented that she would be missed.    

 

9.         Legal Counsel

 

Mr. Maddow reported that the Supreme Court had denied the petition for review in the Alejandro v. CCWD case.  He then wished the Board and staff a happy holiday season.  He also wished Ms. Friesen well.     

 

10.               Board Members

 

Vice President Wandry wished everyone a happy holiday season.

 

Director Burgh wished everyone happy holidays.  He reminded the Board and staff that he would not be attending the Employee Holiday Luncheon on December 18 due to being out of town.  

 

Director Boatmun reported that she would be attending the ACWA Legislative Conference February 24-26 in Washington, DC.  She also wished everyone happy holidays.

 

Director Anello did not have a report.

 

President Campbell expressed best wishes to everyone for the holiday season.  

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

At 6:52 p.m., President Campbell adjourned the meeting to the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors scheduled for January 7, 2009 commencing at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                Joseph L. Campbell, President

 

ATTEST:

 

                                               

Sharon L. Burris

District Secretary