MINUTES

DEPARTMENT OF WATER & POWER
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES OF A REGULAR BOARD MEETING
MARCH 27, 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 8:10 a.m., by Chairman Willey, at the DWP Board Room, 41972 Garstin Drive, Big Bear Lake, California.

FLAG SALUTE:

Board Member Miller

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:

Barbara Willey, Chairman
Susan Conley, Vice Chairman
Bill Speyers, Treasurer
Fred Miller, Board Member
Bill Giamarino, Board Member

BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED:

None

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, Board Secretary
Kelle Barrette, Sr. Billing Clerk
John Gross, Supervisor, CFS Department
Bob Colven, CSD Board Member
Rick Ollila, CSD Board Member
Mike Mayer, General Manager, CSD
Steve Schindler, General Manager, BBARWA
Paul Mitton, Channel 6
Arrissa Owen-Turner, Grizzly Newspaper
Brian Charles, Grizzly Newspaper
Two Member of the Public

ITEM NO. 2- Swear in New Board Member

Robyn Bratton, Secretary to the Board, swore in the new Board Member, Bill Giamarino.

GM Gruber introduced Mike Mayer, the CSD’s new General Manager, and also welcomed Bob Colven, Rick Ollila, and Steve Schindler.

ITEM NO. 3 - Presentation to Vice Chairman Conley

Chairman Willey presented Vice Chairman Conley with a plaque of appreciation for the time she spent as the Interim Chairman.

ITEM NO. 4 - Agenda Approval

Motion made by Vice Chairman Conley, seconded by Treasurer Speyers, and carried 5-0 to approve the Agenda as presented.

ITEM NO. 5 - Public Forum

No one from the public wished to speak.

ITEM NO. 6 - Consent Calendar

6.1 Minutes of a Regular Meeting Dated 2/27/07, Special Meeting Dated 3/2/07,       and Special Meeting Dated 3/15/07
6.2 Monthly Management Staff Reports
6.3 Construction Cost Index Adjustments for Connection Fees, Rehabilitation Fees, &       Supplemental Source of Water Fees
6.4 Authorize Bidding for Lower Moonridge Pipeline Replacement

Motion made by Board Member Miller, seconded by Vice Chairman Conley, and carried 5-0 to approve the Consent Calendar with the exception of Items 6.1, 6.2, and 6.4

ITEM NO. 7 - Items Removed from the Consent Calendar

Item No. 6.2 – Vice Chairman Conley stated that she was surprised to find out that the turf buy-back program was eliminated as stated in Jennifer McCullar’s memo to the staff. Bill La Haye responded stating this was due to a financial issue whereby fees for new connections have diminished, and after discussion with staff, decided the program would be put temporarily on hold until more funding became available. Vice Chairman Conley stated that she did not see the word “temporary.” She feels this program is very important for the long-term water conservation in our Valley.

GM Gruber stated that although this program is very important, this year’s budget is very tight and it’s unrealistic to say that meter sales will remain at 160. Revenue-wise, it is projected that sales will be around 140, and if we fund this program from other areas, something else may not get funded; however, it is understood that, upon a pending drought, this program should not be taken away.

The Board concurred that a meeting needs to be held to discuss alternative funding. Vice Chairman Conley was also concerned about the kind of message we are sending out to the public.

The Budget Committee will meet to discuss alternative funding.

Vice Chairman Conley commended staff on the DWP being one of six finalists for the Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award. Bill La Haye reviewed the events leading up to the nomination and there was general discussion between the Board and staff.

Item No. 6.4 – Vice Chairman Conley asked how the bidding process works and AGM Heule reviewed the process with the Board and staff.

Motion made by Vice Chairman Conley, seconded by Board Member Giamarino, and carried 5-0 to direct staff to solicit bids for replacement of 4,625 feet of pipeline in the lower Moonridge portion of the DWP’s service area.

Item No. 6.1

Board Member Miller stated that in the March 2, 2007 Minutes, under Item No. 4, he actually had an electronic version of the PowerPoint presentation and not a paper copy.

Motion made by Vice Chairman Conley, seconded by Treasurer Speyers, and carried 5-0 to approve the Minutes of a Regular meeting dated 2/27/07, amended Minutes of a Special meeting dated 3/2/07, and Minutes of a Special meeting dated 3/15/07.

ITEM NO. 8 – Finance/Variance Reports & Authenticate Check Registers

Motion made by Vice Chairman Conley, seconded by Board Member Miller, and carried 5-0 to authenticate the Check Registers as presented.

ITEM NO. 9 – Radio Reads Presentation

Administrative Manager Muir reviewed the Radio Read Program and its history with the Board and staff. Kelle Barrette, Sr. Billing Clerk and John Gross, Customer Field Service Supervisor, gave a presentation on how the radio read program technology has given the DWP the capability to check on possible leaks, obtain check reads for escrow closings, improve safety issues by eliminating meter reads on the highway, and eliminate hard-to-read meters that are located in rear easements. The Board was very happy with the results the DWP is having with the new radio read program and thought the presentation was well done and very informative.

Vice Chairman Conley commented that she would like to see more staff presentations on how certain operations are performed in each department.

ITEM NO. 10 – Conduct Public Hearing to Adopt Resolution No. DWP 2007-05      Regarding Administrative Fees and Charges

Chairman Willey opened the public hearing at 9:15 a.m. No one from the public wished to speak. Chairman Willey closed the public hearing at 9:15 a.m.

Motion made by Board Member Miller, seconded by Vice Chairman Conley, and carried 5-0 to Adopt Resolution No. DWP 2007-05 Regarding Administrative Fees and Changes Rescinding a Portion of Ordinance No. 2002-321 and a Portion of Ordinance No. 2004-340, and the Adoption of Increased Capital Facilities/Connection Fee Charges, Meter Service Installation Fees, and Other Fees Related to Water Service.

ITEM NO. 11 – General Manager’s Report

GM Gruber reviewed his report with the Board and there was general discussion between the Board and staff.

ITEM NO. 12 – Assistant General Manager’s Report

AGM Heule reviewed his report with the Board and there was general discussion between the Board and staff.

Chairman Willey adjourned the meeting for a break at 9:35 a.m.

Chairman Willey reconvened the meeting at 9:47 a.m.

ITEM NO. 13 – Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP)

AGM Heule discussed IRWMP with the Board and staff and stressed how important it is for Big Bear to be involved in this process. The general Board consensus was to bring this issue back to the next Board meeting for possible action.

ITEM NO. 14 – Consider Possible Change to Leak Adjustment Practices

Administrative Manager Muir reviewed the leak adjustment practices with the Board and staff and there was general discussion. The Board agreed to change the existing practice of adjusting leaks to the lowest tier and instead adjust to the actual cost of production at the rate of $2.84/ccf. The DWP has never had an official “policy” on leak adjustments and would like to bring a policy to the Board at the April meeting. Vice Chairman Conley commented that she would like to address the leak adjustments again sometime in the future to consider eliminating this practice.

ITEM NO. 15 – Resolution No. DWP 2007-06 Adopting Emergency Response      Network of the Inland Empire (ERNIE)

AGM Heule reviewed ERNIE with the Board and staff and there was general discussion.

Motion made by Board Member Miller, seconded by Board Member Giamarino, and carried 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. DWP 2007-06 Adopting the Emergency Response Network of the Inland Empire (ERNIE).

 

ITEM NO. 16 – Board Member Reports

Board Member Miller stated he would like to meet with staff to discuss Board Member business cards to make some possible changes.

Vice Chairman Conley welcomed Board Member Giamarino to the Board and thanked the Board for her plaque. She stated she enjoyed her time as Interim Chairman and found it to be very challenging.

ITEM NO. 17 – Agenda Items (April)

a. 2007/08 Standby Fees
b. Review 2nd Draft of FY 2007/08 Budget
c. TRT Report
d. Retrofit on Change of Service Resolution
e. Leak Adjustment Policy
f. Authorize Bidding for Lakeplant Well #2 Replacement
g. Resolution for IRWMP

There was general discussion between the Board and staff regarding April’s Agenda items.

Chairman Willey adjourned the meeting for a break at 10:47 a.m.

Chairman Willey reconvened the meeting at 11:07 a.m.

ITEM NO. 18 - 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 REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
	Pursuant to Section 54956.8 of Government Code
	Agency Negotiators: Jerome D. Gruber, General Manager, Department of      Water & Power
	Negotiating Parties: Mike Mayer, General Manager, Big Bear City CSD
	Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
(3)	CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
	Pursuant to Section 54956.9(a) of Government Code
	Superior Court – Big Bear District Case No. BBCHS 000986

ITEM NO. 19 - Open Session

Into open session at 11:53 – No reportable action taken.

ITEM NO. 20 - Adjourn

No further action came before the Board. Chairman Willey adjourned the meeting at 11:53 a.m.

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Robyn Bratton, Secretary to the Board

Approved at meeting dated: 4/24/07

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