CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

REGULAR MEETING

June 17, 2009

 

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

                                                            Bette Boatmun

                                                            John A. Burgh

            Directors Absent:                       Karl L. Wandry, Vice President

            General Manager:                       Walter J. Bishop

            Legal Counsel:                           Robert B. Maddow

            District Secretary:                      Sharon L. Burris

 

President Campbell noted that Vice President Wandry was absent and that he had previously notified the Board. 

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Executive Management Analyst Desiree Castello led the pledge of allegiance.

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

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

 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

1.         Approve Directors’ Services/Business and Travel Expenses

            a.   Expenses – May

 

2.         Approve the warrant register dated June 18, 2009.

 

3.                   Adopt Resolution No. 09-10 certifying the revenue required to be provided by taxes on land within the District during fiscal year 2009-2010.

 

4.         Adopt Resolution No. 09-11 approving an Amendment to the Agreement between the Contra Costa Water District and the City of Brentwood. 

 

5.         Agreement with Richard Denton for technical support services on Delta and statewide planning projects

            a.   Determine that it is in the best interest of the District to engage a former employee, Dr. Richard A. Denton, to provide technical support services on Delta and statewide planning projects; and

            b.   Authorize execution of an agreement in conformance with District Regulations Chapter 3.05 with Dr. Richard A. Denton for consulting services in an amount not to exceed $30,000.

 

6.         Authorize execution of a one-year agreement with Buck Consultants for actuarial services, in an amount not to exceed $80,000 for FY10.

 

7.         Authorize execution of a consulting agreement with Public Policy Advocates for government relations services for FY10 in an amount not to exceed $104,000. 

 

8.                   Authorize individual contracts for routine goods and services for the amounts indicated on the lists of selected vendors, with individual orders specified at indicated amounts, with an aggregate cost for FY10 of $11,342,900.

 

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

 

ACTION

 

9.                   Authorize execution of an agreement with Bold, Polisner, Maddow, Nelson & Judson for FY10 general and project-related legal services not to exceed $1,135,000. 

 

Mr. Bishop reported that this item was placed on the action calendar due to the dollar amount of the agreement.  The FY10 amended budget for general legal services reflected a 21% overall decrease compared to FY09.  The terms and conditions of the contract were consistent with previous contracts executed for these services. 

 

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

 

MOTION:  Boatmun/Anello to authorize execution of an agreement with Bold, Polisner, Maddow, Nelson & Judson for FY10 general and project-related legal services not to exceed $1,135,000.  The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote. 

 

REPORTS FOR DISCUSSION

 

10.        Committee Report(s)

            a.  Operations and Engineering Committee Post-Meeting Report (6/4/09)

 

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 reminded the Board that a Board Study Session would take place on June 19 at 8:30 a.m. in the Delta Conference Room.  Federal Lobbyist Marcus Faust and State Lobbyist Julee Malinowski-Ball would be present to update the Board. 

 

Mr. Bishop also reported that members of the Contra Costa Grand Jury would be touring some of the District facilities including Old River, Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Randall-Bold Water Treatment Plant on June 24.  He advised that the tour was routine. 

 

Director Boatmun requested a list of Grand Jury members.  Mr. Bishop responded that the list would be provided. 

 

REPORTS

 

12.        General Manager

 

Mr. Bishop announced that Customer Services Supervisor John August had retired from the District on June 12.  He commended Mr. August for his many years of dedicated service to the District.  He also announced that Administrative Analyst Dominic DeBellis had been promoted as the new Customer Services Supervisor. 

 

Mr. Bishop reported that the Board’s annual Washington, D.C. legislative visits would take place in July.  The two Boardmembers attending this year would be President Campbell and Director Burgh.   

 

13.        Legal Counsel

 

Mr. Maddow thanked the Board for the action taken to renew his law firm’s agreement on Agenda Item No. 9.  He also reminded the Board that he would not be attending the Study Session on June 19.  Doug Coty, from his firm, would be attending in his absence.   He also commented very favorably regarding Mr. August, calling him a “consummate professional.”  He wished him luck and noted that he would be missed.   

 

14.        Board Members

 

Director Burgh advised that he would be out of the area immediately following the Board Study Session on June 19 and would return on June 26.  He would be unable to attend the Bay Area Water Forum meeting on June 22.  He also reported that he attended the Pleasant Hill City Council meeting on June 15, where the Council and speakers applauded Water Conservation Supervisor Chris Dundon for his efforts in helping the Diablo Vista Water Association meet their irrigation targets. 

 

Director Burgh, holding the Edward J. Cleary Award, advised that Mr. Bishop had recently received this award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.   This award is given to an individual who is an outstanding performer in the management of environmental protection enterprises.  He wanted to ensure that his colleagues recognized the significance of the honor.  He commented that receiving this award was a tribute to Mr. Bishop and his leadership in the profession.

 

Director Boatmun did not have a report.

 

Director Anello did not have a report.

 

President Campbell also commended Mr. August and his career with the District.  He also reported that he had received a call from Supervisor Susan Bonilla’s office while he was on vacation to arrange a meeting.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss landscaping for a high visibility building in her district.  He advised that since there is a process in place for this type of request, he had declined the meeting.    

 

He also reported that the District’s Finance Department had received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.  The certificate was the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.  A plaque was being sent to the Director of Finance Brice Bledsoe.

 

CLOSED SESSION

 

15.        Real Property Transaction as allowed under Government Code Section 54956.8; Property: Laurel Road, Oakley; Negotiating Parties: APN 053-071-037; APN 053-071-038; APN 053-071-036 and APN 053-071-035; District Negotiator: Walter J. Bishop, General Manager; Issue: Instruct Negotiator on Price and Terms.

 

16.        Real Public Employee Performance Evaluation as allowed under Government Code 54957;

            Title: General Manager

 

17.                 Conference with Labor Negotiator as allowed under Government Code 54957.6; Agency Negotiator:  Board President; Employee:  General Manager 

 

At 6:47 p.m., President Campbell announced that the Board would move into closed session.   There were three matters before the Board.  The first item concerned real property and the additional attendees for this item included Assistant General Manager of Administration Kurt Ladensack and Watershed and Lands Manager Peter Colby.  The second matter concerned an employee evaluation.  The third item concerned a labor negotiation matter.  There were no additional attendees for these two items. 

RECONVENE FROM CLOSED SESSION

 

18.               Report on closed session.

 

At 7:42 p.m., President Campbell reconvened the meeting and announced that the Board did not take any action on the matters before it.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

At 7:43 p.m., President Campbell adjourned the meeting to an adjourned regular meeting (Board Study Session) on June 19, 2009, at 8:30 a.m., in the Delta Conference Room, 2411 Bisso Lane, Concord.  The next regular meeting of the Board of Directors was scheduled for July 1, 2009, commencing at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                Joseph L. Campbell, President

ATTEST:

 

 

                                               

Sharon L. Burris

District Secretary