Board Meeting - 1/10/2017
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, January 10, 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
Richard A. Freschi Vice President
Jerry Haight Board Member
C.L. “Larry” Pharris, Jr. Board Member
Greg Mills Board Member
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS ABSENT:
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
Brad Reese Villa Park Resident
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
President Bryant distributed committee assignments for 2017 and requested input from the other members of the Board. The committee assignments were approved via consensus.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Council Woman Fascenelli remarked that she had noticed that the cable box outside had been replaced and thanked the Board of Directors. The search is currently underway for a new City Manager for the City of Villa Park. The interim sewer inspection report has been received. Brad Reese remarked that he had driven by Santiago Reservoir and had noticed that the water levels were rising.
BOARD MINUTES
Consideration of Serrano Water District Board Meeting minutes of December 9, 2016. Director Haight moved that the minutes of the December 9, 2016 meeting be approved as amended, Director Freschi seconded the motion, and the motion was unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Haight, Freschi, Mills 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 December. General Manager Vilander remarked that all electrical panels have been installed at the Smith Reservoir. President Bryant remarked that General Manager Vilander and his crew did a good job of managing the project. Time was spent last month pulling the docks at Irvine Lake and disposing of them. The Wright case has been settled and the District has received the renewed District Transparency Certificate of Excellence from CSDA. General Manager Vilander will talk to Irvine Ranch Water District about obtaining a replacement truck for the Dam Keeper.
Director Haight asked that the ethics certificates be placed on the webpage and Director Mills remarked that he will obtain his ethics training certificate also. Director Haight enquired about the status of the new position, and General Manager Vilander responded that this should be on the webpage by early next week as a flyer was in the process of being developed. Director Haight stated that East Orange County Water District has rules and regulations posted on their webpage regarding customer versus District responsibility and thought that Serrano Water District should develop something similar and place on the website. Director Haight also mentioned California Alternative Rates for Water (CARW) a financial relief program for low income residents and the Military Family Relief. Director Haight mentioned the possibility of lowering water rates or issuing rebates. Discussion ensued and the issue for funds needed for the Dam retrofit project was raised. Attorney Kuperberg remarked that financial rebates are not an option for rate payers as this is considered a gift of public funds and may raise issues under proposition 218. Director Haight mentioned that East Orange County Water District is in the process of raising their water rates substantially over the next couple of years. Director Haight enquired if it was legally necessary to post contracts with vendors, etc. on the website. Attorney Kuperberg responded that it was not legally required. Director Haight enquired about the status of a current newsletter and General Manager Vilander responded that one would be developed to include an introduction of new Board Member Mills. Director Haight asked Ann to update the reserve sheet on the webpage.
Director Haight asked Ann to develop a spreadsheet listing active employees and directors who are eligible for retirement medical and retired employees and directors who are currently receiving retirement medical. Director Haight would like this information prior to the next Board meeting. This information will also be included at the next Board meeting.
STATUS OF DROUGHT RESPONSE AND WATER SUPPLY
General Manager Vilander reported that December was approximately 35% reduced in consumption compared to 2013. The State is reexamining how they are going to handle the whole drought process.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Following presentation of the financial report by Ann Michel, Director of Finance and Administration, it was moved (Director Mills), seconded (Director Haight), and unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, Freschi, Mills and Haight voting yes to approve the disbursements in the amount of $850,897.12. Director Pharris enquired about scheduled maintenance of District equipment and vehicles and General Manager Vilander responded that maintenance is being monitored. Director Freschi asked about the MWDOC outreach program to schools and asked for the necessity of this program to be reviewed as soon as possible as 80% of Villa Park students are Orange residents. Details will be gathered regarding how much this program is costing and how the District may retract its participation. MWDOC will also be asked to provide a brief presentation.
Director Haight remarked that he thought that the water purchase reserve account should be $1.8M per a previous resolution that was passed and asked that this information be reviewed and a meeting set with the Finance Committee to review the same and to report back to the Board of Directors.
Director Haight also requested that an item be placed on the agenda next month to include a discussion of a potential reserve account being established for the dam tower retrofit.
The asset sale recap for Irvine Lake was distributed and Director Haight asked where the funds for the shower station were.
WATER REPORT
Ann Michel, Director of Finance and Administration, presented the water report. It was moved (Director Haight), seconded (Director Mills), and unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, Freschi, Mills and Haight voting yes to receive and file the water report. President Bryant asked that specific data be researched and brought back to the next Board meeting. This information will be retrieved from the sanitary survey.
SWRCB PROPOSED BENEFICIAL USES OF IRVINE LAKE & MERCURY OBJECTIVES
Following discussion led by General Manager Vilander, it was determined through Board consensus, that General Manager Vilander will work with Attorney Kuperberg and his staff to get technically and legally up to speed on the issues. Draft comments will be developed to present to the Board at the next meeting. Director Haight asked General Manager Vilander to check with Calaveras Trout Farm to determine if there have been findings.
CORRESPONDENCE
Correspondence was reviewed as agendized.
DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND REPORTS
President Bryant apologized for his bogus email invitation that his computer automatically sent out. Additionally, at the Elected Officials Forum meeting attended last week, the District was asked to sign a resolution supporting the California Water Fix and Eco Restore. Director Mills stated that they also asked staff to reach out to the various cities.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT
None.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was formally adjourned at 10:22 a.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 @ 8:30 a.m. at the District office.
Laura Heflin, Administrative Assistant