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, August 8, 2017.  The meeting was held at the District Office located at 18021 Lincoln Street, Villa Park, California.

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

ROLL CALL:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS PRESENT:

Frank Bryant                           President

Greg Mills                               Vice President

C.L. “Larry” Pharris, Jr.           Board Member

Brad Reese                              Board Member

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS ABSENT:

Jerry Haight                            Board Member

STAFF PRESENT:

Jerry Vilander                         General Manager

Ann Michel                             Director, Finance & Administration

Laura Heflin                            Administrative Assistant

Joel Kuperberg                         Legal Counsel

GUESTS PRESENT:

Katie Pringle                           Curt Pringle & Associates

Diana Fascenelli                      Villa Park Council Woman

John Nielsen                            NP-Consultants

PUBLIC COMMENT

John Nielsen of NP-Consultants presented a very brief overview of what NP Consultants could offer to the District in terms of ratepayer engagement.  Items covered included current issues and threats to small water districts as well as engagement with the ratepayer.  Mr. Nielsen was thanked for his informative presentation.

Councilwoman Fascenelli reported that the trees along Taft Avenue are being saved due to the work being done manually.  Four homes are currently being built in Villa Park, and the homeowners have been spoken to about the time frames to complete.  Complaints have been received about drought tolerant gardens in the City and the plants that are now looking unsightly due to overgrowth.  Larry Dick of MWDOC has been invited to attend a community forum to discuss where water comes from.

BOARD MINUTES

Consideration of Serrano Water District Board Meeting minutes of July 18, 2017.  Director Pharris moved that the minutes of the July 18, 2017 meeting be approved as submitted, Director Mills seconded the motion, and the motion was carried with Directors Bryant, Mills, Reese and Pharris voting yes.

GENERAL MANAGER REPORT

General Manager Vilander summarized the status of Board Committee and management matters as agendized for the month of July. Highlighted items included an update on the steel building to house the backhoe, correspondence from the Division of Safety of Dams regarding an Emergency Action Plan that is required, and Well #5.  The new auditing firm is onsite and will most likely have recommendations for the future.  The Security Committee has met and advised that the contract with Patrol One be cancelled at the initially agreed upon three-month mark as it has been deemed unnecessary.   Following discussion, it was suggested by Directors Mills and Pharris that the contract run through after Labor Day (another two weeks approximately) with other Board members in agreeance.  General Manager Vilander will contact Patrol One to advise of the same.  Director Mills requested that both average plant and Wanda Street connection flow be reported in both MGD and GPM going forward on future reports.  Director Mills also asked that the Lake level when full be included alongside the actual Lake level.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Following presentation of the financial report by Ann Michel, Director of Finance and Administration, it was moved (Director Pharris), seconded (Director Mills), and carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, Mills, and Reese voting yes to approve the disbursements in the amount of $258,515.58.  Ann informed the Board of Directors that the Finance Committee has approved the transfer of $150,000 into the Local Agency Investment Fund and $150,000 into the County of Orange.  Director Reese and Mills expressed concern regarding the payment for Dave Noyes’s consultancy services. 

WATER REPORT

Ann Michel, Director of Finance and Administration, presented the water report.  It was moved (Director Mills),  seconded (Director Reese), and carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, Mills, and Reese voting yes to receive and file the water report.  

PROPOSED TOWN HALL MEETING

Discussion revolved around potential communication efforts to ratepayers with regard to upcoming capital projects and the permanent reduction in revenue to the District.  It was determined that General Manager Vilander will request to be placed on the Villa Park City Council agenda in the next couple of months to present an informational item regarding the District’s current and upcoming capital projects.

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence was reviewed as agendized.  Mr. Mahler has requested additional communication from the District. 

DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND REPORTS

None.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

None.

It was announced at 9:40 a.m. that the Board would be entering into closed session.

RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION

Conference with real property negotiators (Government Code Section 54956.8)

Property: Santiago Reservoir (Irvine Lake), adjacent to 4621 Santiago Canyon Road, Silverado Canyon, CA  92676.

Agency Negotiator:  Jerry Vilander

Negotiating Parties:  County of Orange

Under Negotiation:  Price and terms

The meeting was reconvened into open session at 10:05 a.m. and it was announced that there was no reportable action.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was formally adjourned at 10:06 a.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 @ 8:30 a.m. at the District office.  
Laura Heflin, Administrative Assistant