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, April 11, 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

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

Jeremy Jungreis                       Legal Counsel

GUESTS PRESENT:

Katie Pringle                           Curt Pringle & Associates

Brad Reese                              Villa Park Resident

Diana Fascenelli                      Villa Park Council Woman

Chris Palmer                           C.S.D.A.

Fred Alexander                       Villa Park Resident

PUBLIC COMMENT

Council Woman Fascenelli reported that the City Council will be hosting a meeting this evening regarding sober living homes within the city.  There is a lot of construction currently within Villa Park.

DISTRICT TRANSPARENCY CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE PRESENTATION BY CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION (CSDA)

Chris Palmer of CSDA presented the District with the Transparency Certificate of Excellence recognizing the District’s outstanding efforts on behalf of transparency.  The Board of Directors thanked Chris.

BOARD MINUTES

Consideration of Serrano Water District Board Meeting minutes of March 14, 2017.  Director Pharris moved that the minutes of the March 14, 2017 meeting be approved as submitted, Director Mills seconded the motion, and the motion was carried with Directors Bryant, Haight, Mills and Pharris voting yes. 

Consideration of Serrano Water District Board Meeting minutes of April 4, 2017.  Director Pharris moved that the minutes of the April 4, 2017 meeting be approved as submitted, Director Mills seconded the motion, and the motion was carried with Directors Bryant, Haight, 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 March.  General Manager Vilander reported that he had met with several patrol companies for Irvine Lake.  Additionally, he stated that he has met with Risk Management staff from Irvine Ranch Water District as well as the Orange County Sheriff.  Irvine Ranch Water District’s position is that they want to increase signage only.  Per Attorney Kuperberg, the current financial obligation split would be 75% Irvine Ranch Water District and 25% Serrano Water District.  Director Haight suggested that a patrol company be retained for a couple of months to assess the situation and report back with actual numbers.  Liability issues were reviewed with Attorney Jungreis.  Following discussion, it was determined that General Manager Vilander will investigate a two-month arrangement with a local security firm for patrol services costing approximately $25 per hour for the period of June 15^th through August 15^th, with the situation being further assessed by the Board of Directors at its conclusion of term.  Hours of patrol were also discussed and agreed upon.  General Manager Vilander will schedule a Security Committee meeting in conjunction with the patrol company to give the patrol officer and/or company a tour of the actual facility.  Also, General Manager Vilander will explore the purchase of night vision goggles.

Director Haight remarked that he felt that the newsletter and Rules and Regulations documents should have been reviewed by the Transparency Committee.

General Manager Vilander mentioned the possibility of using a mobile car wash service for District vehicles at approximately $25 per truck.  Following discussion, it was agreed upon that General Manager Vilander will move forward with this suggestion on a bi-weekly basis given the cost savings based upon hourly rate of staff during the time spent at the car wash.  Arrangements will be made for the District vehicles to be washed starting prior to the business day.

General Manager Vilander reported that the oldest backhoe has received an estimate in the approximate amount of $10,000 preliminarily for the replacement of the entire brake system.  Many of the parts are obsolete.  General Manager Vilander will secure a more in-depth estimate for all repairs needed to the backhoe.  Additionally, the cost for the purchase of a new backhoe will be explored.  The need for a “carport” type coverage for the equipment was discussed to prevent further deterioration.  These items will be discussed at the Construction Committee meeting and recommendations will be brought back to the Board of Directors for their approval.

STATUS OF DROUGHT RESPONSE AND WATER SUPPLY

General Manager Vilander reported that the State lifted the drought emergency for the area on April 7, 2017.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Following presentation of the financial report by Ann Michel, Director of Finance and Administration, it was moved (Director Haight), seconded (Director Mills), and unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, Mills and Haight voting yes to approve the disbursements in the amount of $299,534.66.  Director Haight requested that the verbiage “as required by the Division of Safety of Dams,” be added to the asterisked item for the construction reserve account on the cash report.  Additionally, it was determined that the Finance Committee will meet to establish a reserve goal for the account and a subsequent determination of when to pay down on the loan.  The Committee’s recommendations will be brought back to the May meeting for Board approval.  General Manager Vilander asked Katie Pringle to look into Proposition 1 funds that may be available.

WATER REPORT

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

DISTRICT RULES AND REGULATIONS

Following presentation of District Rules and Regulations led by General Manager Vilander and comments by Director Haight, it was determined that the item would be tabled until the May Board meeting pending review by the Transparency Committee.

CORRESPONDENCE

None.

DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND REPORTS

None.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

None.

It was announced at 9:55 a.m. that the Board would recess 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 back into open session at 10:25 a.m., and it was announced that there was no reportable action.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was formally adjourned at 10:27 a.m. to the Special Board meeting to be held on April 27, 2017.  The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 @ 8:30 a.m. at the District office.