Board Meeting - 7/14/2015

 

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SERRANO WATER DISTRICT

 

The Board of Directors of the Serrano Water District met in a regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2015.  The meeting was held at the District Office located at 18021 Lincoln Street, Villa Park, California.

 

CALL TO ORDER:  President Pharris called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.

 

ROLL CALL:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS PRESENT:

C.L. “Larry” Pharris, Jr.            President

Frank Bryant                            Vice President

Robert F. (Woody) Rickerl       Board Member

Jerry Haight                              Board Member

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS ABSENT:

Richard A. Freschi                    Board Member

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Jerry Vilander                           General Manager

Ann Michel                               Director, Finance & Administration

Joel Kuperberg                         General Counsel, Rutan & Tucker

Laura Heflin                              Administrative Assistant

 

GUESTS PRESENT:

Adam Wood                            Curt Pringle & Associates

Dave Noyes                             Contract CEO, Irvine Lake

Diana Fascenelli                        Mayor, City of Villa Park

Brad Reese                              Resident, City of Villa Park

Larry Dick                                Municipal Water District of Orange County

Bill Nelson                                Councilman, City of Villa Park

Bill Collacott                             Councilman, City of Villa park

 

 

PROPOSED WATER RATE INCREASE

Attorney Kuperberg addressed the audience with regard to the protest process in regard to Proposition 218 and explained the public hearing process.  General Manager Vilander presented a staff report on the premise behind the justification for the proposed water rate increase. 

 

President Pharris opened the public hearing.  Comments were received from the audience.  Larry Dick reported on the environmental challenges that the Metropolitan Water District  is facing and the $300 million in the turf rebate fund that has already been exhausted.  A lengthy question and answer session followed with various comments including the request that five units of water still be included in the water meter charge, that rates be reviewed in one year, leniency for penalties, consistent billing periods, extension for the protest period, and the recommendation of the formation of a Citizen Advisory Committee.  President Pharris then closed the public hearing.   

 

Following Board discussion, it was then moved (Director Bryant), seconded (Director Haight), and unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Haight, and Pharris voting yes to adopt Resolution No. 2015-07-01 Modifying the Readiness to Serve Charge and Increasing the Volumetric Rate for the Delivery of Water Service with the removal of the proposed pass throughs of Municipal Water District of Orange County’s rates, fees and charges, replenishment assessments and other charges, assessments and fees and proposed annual inflationary adjustment to the new RTS charge and new water rate. 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mayor Fascenelli that an M80 had exploded recently in a trash can and that Dunkin Donuts may take over the Union 76 property.

 

BOARD MINUTES

Consideration of Serrano Water District Board Meeting minutes of June 9, 2015.   Director Haight moved that the minutes of the June 9, 2015 meeting be approved as submitted, Director Bryant seconded the motion, and the motion was unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Haight, Pharris and Rickerl voting yes.   

  

GENERAL MANAGER REPORT

General Manager Vilander summarized the status of Board Committee and management matters as agendized for the month of June.  Highlighted items included an update on the phase two Smith Reservoir study.

 

STATUS OF DROUGHT RESPONSE AND WATER SUPPLY

General Manager Vilander reported that there was 65 conservation visits for the month of June, 17 run off complaints and 34 turf applications.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Following presentation of the financial report by Ann Michel, Director of Finance and Administration, it was moved (Director Haight), seconded (Director Bryant), and unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Rickerl, Pharris, and Haight voting yes to approve the disbursements in the amount of $653,053.53. 

 

WATER REPORT

Ann Michel, Director of Finance and Administration, presented the water report.  The water report was received and filed.  It was then moved (Director Haight), seconded (Director Bryant) and unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Rickerl, Pharris, and Haight voting yes to receive and file the water report.  It was agreed that the consumption/production water report will also include the percentage changed between 2013 and 2015.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

None.

 

DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND REPORTS

None.

 

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

None.

 

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was formally adjourned at 11:40 a.m.  The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 @ 8:30 a.m. at the District office.                                                      

                                                                                               

                                   

                                                                                                            Laura Heflin, Administrative Assistant