MINUTES

DEPARTMENT OF WATER & POWER
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES OF A REGULAR BOARD MEETING
JANUARY 23, 2007

A Regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Water & Power, City of Big Bear Lake, was called to order at 8 a.m., by Interim Chairman Conley, at the DWP Board Room, 41972 Garstin Drive, Big Bear Lake, California.

FLAG SALUTE:

Interim Chairman Susan Conley

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:

Susan Conley, Interim Chairman
Barbara Willey, Treasurer
Bill Speyers, Board Member

BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED:

Fred Miller, Board Member
One Vacant Seat

OTHERS PRESENT:

Jerome D. Gruber, General Manager
Scott Heule, Assistant General Manager
Diane Muir, Administrative Manager
Bill La Haye, Administrative Principal Analyst
Jennifer McCullar, Water Conservation Specialist
Steve Wilson, Water Superintendent
Robyn Bratton, Secretary to the Board
Darrell Mulvihill, City Council Member
Rick Ollila, CSD Board Member
Dawn Neuenschwander, Mountain Pioneer Mutual Wtr. Co.
Arrissia Owen Turner, Big Bear Grizzly
Danielle Seckler, Bear Valley News
Three members of the Public

ITEM NO. 2- AGENDA APPROVAL

Motion made by Board Member Speyers, seconded by Treasurer Willey, and carried 3-0 to approve the Agenda.

Regarding the “City Reports” Agenda Item, Interim Chairman Conley spoke to Mayor Jahn, who said that there is no Council Member assigned to report to the DWP and, therefore, it would be appropriate for any Council Members that wish to address the Board, to do so in the Public Forum segment of the meeting.

Motion made by Board Member Speyers, seconded by Treasurer Willey, and carried 3-0 to approve the Agenda, and from this Board meeting forward, the “City Reports” item will be eliminated from the Agenda.

ITEM NO. 3 - PUBLIC FORUM

Council Member Mulvihill announced that at the January 27 Council meeting, Council Member Harris and Herrick were elected to the BBARWA Board.

ITEM NO. 4 - Elect Board Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Treasurer

Interim Chairman Conley requested, and the Board concurred, that this item should be tabled until February’s meeting as Board Member Miller was absent, and a new member may be seated by then.

ITEM NO. 5 - Consent Calendar

5.1 Minutes of a Special Meeting Dated 12/19/07 & Special Meeting Dated       1/17/07
5.2 Monthly Management Staff Reports
5.3 Authorize Moonridge Pipeline Replacement Engineering Design
5.4 Budget Adjustments
5.5 FY 2006/07 Mid-year Budget Review
5.6 Goals & Objectives – 2006 Year-end Summary
5.7 Mountain Pioneer Mutual Water Company Agreement to Comply w/Terms &       Conditions for the Water & Waste System Grant Agreement & Authorizing       Execution of Equal Opportunity Agreement & Assurance Agreement Resolution No.       DWP 2007-01

Motion made by Treasurer Willey, seconded by Board Member Willey, and carried 3-0 to approve the Consent Calendar with the exception of Items 5.2 & 5.3.

ITEM NO. 6 - Items Removed from the Consent Calendar

Item #5.2 – Board Member Speyers asked, regarding Lakeplant Well #2, if the new water pipeline could be placed into the old well casing. AGM Heule stated this is not possible because the casing is in such poor condition.

Treasurer Willey stated she was disappointed that the interconnect, at the Division facility, has been put on hold by the CSD. AGM Heule stated he had a conversation with Mike Mayer, Interim General Manager, at the CSD. Mr. Mayer stated that upon reevaluation, management decided to proceed with a new pipeline project that will deliver water from their new Well #8 to their Fluoride blending facility. This would give them an additional 200+ acre-feet of water annually. The CSD is also analyzing their water needs for the future, and are awaiting proposals for a new Water Master Plan.

Item #5.3 – Board Member Speyers asked if the DWP replaces the water line from our meter to the customer’s house. AGM stated that the DWP only replaces it from the water main to the meter.

Interim Chairman Conley stated that she had talked with Board Member Miller, by telephone, and his comments were that he felt ALDA’s costs seemed a bit high. GM Gruber stated that ALDA has a proven record and that staff concurred ALDA’s costs are reasonable.

Motion made by Board Member Speyers, seconded by Treasurer Willey, and carried 3-0 to direct staff to authorize ALDA to perform the scope of work in their proposal dated January 16, 2007, at a cost not to exceed $84,887 without prior DWP approval.

ITEM NO. 7 – Budget Schedule for FY 2007/08

Administrative Manager Muir reviewed the budget adjustments with the Board and there was general discussion.

ITEM NO. 8 – Finance/Variance Reports (for November & December) and Authenticate Check Registers

Motion made by Treasurer Willey, seconded by Board Member Speyers, and carried 3-0 to authenticate the Check Registers as presented.

ITEM NO. 9 – General Manager’s Report

GM Gruber reported that he, Treasurer Willey, and Council Member Herrick are going to Washington, D.C. to attend an ACWA Convention. They will also meet with David Kennett, our lobbyist from The Ferguson Group. Mr. Kennett has scheduled time to meet with Congressman Lewis, and representatives from Senators Feinstein and Boxer’s office. The DWP is still working on securing federal funding for some major DWP projects.

ITEM NO. 10 – General Manager’s Presentation of His Goals & Objectives for 2007

GM Gruber reviewed his Goals & Objectives for 2007 and there was general discussion between the Board and staff. Interim Chairman Conley asked GM Gruber to make his Goals & Objectives more measurable, and requested that he add ‘continuing education regarding human resources management’ to his Goals & Objectives.

Interim Chairman Conley adjourned the meeting for a break at 8:48 a.m.

Interim Chairman Conley reconvened the meeting at 9:05 a.m.

ITEM NO. 11 – Presentation by Bill La Haye of “Building a Water Efficient Community” (which was also presented at the California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC)

Bill La Haye gave a presentation on Building a Water Efficient Community and there was general discussion between the Board and staff.

ITEM NO. 12 – Board Member Reports

Treasurer Willey reported that the Financial Plan & Rate Study Ad Hoc Committee met again.

Interim Chairman Conley asked that the Board Members review all the committees, make comments, and return to GM Gruber.

ITEM NO. 13 – Future Agenda Items

The Future Agenda Items were reviewed and there was general discussion between the Board and staff.

Interim Chairman Conley adjourned the meeting for a break at 9:25 a.m.

Interim Chairman Conley reconvened the meeting at 9:31 a.m

ITEM NO. 14 - CLOSED SESSION

(1)	CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
	Pursuant to Section 54956.8 of Government Code
	Property: APN #304-126-04
	Agency Negotiators: Jerome D. Gruber and Scott Heule, Department of      Water & Power, and Jeff Ballinger, from the DWP Attorney’s Office
	Negotiating Parties: Joan D. West, Successor Trustee of the Dorothy      Allen Porter Living Trust and Mike Giebelhouse
	Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
(2)	CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
	Pursuant to Section 54956.9(a) of Government Code
	Superior Court – Big Bear District Case No. BBCHS 000986

Into Closed Session at 9:31 a.m.

ITEM NO. 15 - Open Session

Into Open Session at 10:25 a.m. – No reportable action was taken.

ITEM NO. 16 - Adjourn

No further action came before the Board. Interim Chairman Conley adjourned the meeting at 10:25 a.m.

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Robyn Bratton, Secretary to the Board

Approved at meeting dated: February 27, 2007

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