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, November 20, 2018.  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

Jerry Haight                            Board Member

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

Brad Reese                              Board Member

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS ABSENT:

STAFF PRESENT:

Jerry Vilander                         General Manager

Vittorio Roggero                     Business Manager

Laura Heflin                            Administrative Assistant

Jeremy Jungreis                       Legal Counsel

Joel Kuperberg                        Legal Counsel

GUESTS PRESENT:

Zejhaan Younus                      Curt Pringle & Associates

PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

SEATING OF NEW AND RE-ELECTED DIRECTORS

Attorney Kuperberg administered the Oath of Office to President Frank Bryant.  The Board of Directors and staff congratulated Director Bryant on his re-election.

PROCLAMATION AND AWARD HONORING JOEL D. KUPERBERG

President Bryant presented Attorney Kuperberg with a proclamation from the District honoring him for his over 30 years of dedicated service.  Additionally, Attorney Kuperberg was presented with an award.  Attorney Kuperberg thanked the Board of Directors and remarked that it had been an honor to work with the District and that he would miss the camaraderie and service provided.  It was then moved (Director Pharris), seconded (Director Mills), and carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, Mills, and Haight voting yes to approve the proclamation.

BOARD MINUTES

Consideration of Serrano Water District Board Meeting minutes of October 16, 2018.  Director Mills moved that the minutes of the October 16, 2018 meeting be approved as submitted, Director Pharris seconded the motion, and the motion was carried with Directors Bryant, Mills, Haight, and Pharris voting yes.  Director Haight

enquired as to whether Ware Disposal had been placed on the contracts page of the website and about placing the agenda on the homepage.  Staff replied that both items have been uploaded to the District’s website.

Consideration of Serrano Water District Board Meeting minutes of November 14, 2018.  Director Mills moved that the minutes of the October 16, 2018 meeting be approved as submitted, Director Pharris seconded the motion, and the motion was carried with Directors Bryant, Mills, Haight, and Pharris voting yes.  Director Haight remarked that Santa Margarita Water District has detailed information relating to the pending storage agreement with Irvine Ranch Water District on their website and asked about when discussions originally commenced with Serrano Water District regarding the same.

GENERAL MANAGER REPORT

General Manager Vilander summarized the status of Board Committee and management matters as agendized for the month of October.  Various operational items were discussed.  The District will be closed for both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve this year.  General Manager Vilander reported that Irvine Lake’s liquor license with ABC had been renewed.  Director Haight suggested that staff contact the County to determine if it would be possible to place the license in a “hiatus” status pending future use.  Staff will follow up on this item and report back.  Director Mills reported that he appreciated the LAFCO report that was included from Curt Pringle & Associates.  Director Haight remarked that staff should have a discussion with TAB answering service due to the fact that a prior employee had tried to reach the District after hours and the phone continued to ring without being picked up.  General Manager Vilander stated that he will follow up on this item.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Business Manager Roggero presented the financials for the month of October.  It was moved (Director Mills), seconded (Director Haight), and carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, Haight, and Mills voting yes to approve the disbursements in the amount of $456,743.28.  Following discussion, it was determined that actual and budgeted numbers would be included going forward and estimated figures would be eliminated.  Draft financials in this new format will be presented to the Finance Committee prior to the next Board meeting for approval.  Director Haight stated that it appeared as though a large amount of gas is being purchased.

Director Reese joined the meeting at 9:40 a.m.

WATER REPORT

Following presentation by General Manager Vilander, the water report was received and filed.  The meter replacement program was discussed at length, and it was agreed that General Manager Vilander will report back to the Board with a proposal to replace meters.

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence was reviewed as agendized.  Director Mills enquired about the ISDOC process for the Secretary vacancy.

DIRECTORS COMMENTS AND REPORTS

Director Haight asked if the District has responded to correspondence recently received from the Grand Jury.  Attorney Kuperberg outlined the normal process for response.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

None.

The following item was moved out of sequence due to Director Reese’s arrival after the meeting had started.

SEATING OF NEW AND RE-ELECTED DIRECTORS

Attorney Kuperberg administered the Oath of Office to Director Brad Reese.  The Board of Directors and staff congratulated Director Reese on his re-election.

The following agenda item was moved out of sequence.

REPORT BY PERSONNEL COMMITTEE FOR ANNUAL SALARY REVIEWS

Following discussion led by General Manager Vilander, it was moved (Director Mills), seconded (Director Reese), and carried with Director Pharris, Bryant, Mills voting yes and Director Reese and Haight voting no to authorize the General Manager to issue up to a 5% merit increase and a 4.1% cost of living increase, when deemed appropriate to staff as well as authorization to place the Systems Operator I personnel within the appropriate range at his discretion on a one-time basis. 

GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

TITLE:  GENERAL MANAGER

General Manager Vilander received his performance evaluation. 

The following agenda item was then continued.

REPORT BY PERSONNEL COMMITTEE FOR ANNUAL SALARY REVIEWS

This agenda item discussion was resumed and the Board voted to provide General Manager Vilander with a 4.1% cost of living increase and a 5% merit increase with Directors Reese, Bryant, Haight, Pharris, and Mills voting yes.

STETSON ENGINEERING SUPPORT FOR EMERGENCY STORAGE PILOT PROGRAM

Following discussion led by General Manager Vilander, it was moved (Director Bryant), seconded (Director     Mills), and unanimously carried with Director Reese, Bryant, Haight, Pharris and Mills voting yes to authorize the General Manager to issue a P.O. in an amount not to exceed $50,000.

It was announced that closed session was not necessary as there was not a need for discussion.

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

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was formally adjourned at 11:25 a.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 @ 8:30 a.m. at the District office.

Laura Heflin, Administrative Assistant