HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - July 28, 2014 - UBCITY OF AZUSA
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, JULY 28 2014 — 6:30 P.M.
The Utility Board/City Council of the City of Azusa met in regular session, at above date and time, in the Azusa Light and
Water (AL&W) Conference Room, located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California.
Chairman Gonzales called the meeting to order. Call to Order
Pledge to the flag was led by Ms. Juana Hernandez. Flag Salute
ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by Secretary Comejo. Roll Call
PRESENT: BOARDMEMBERS: GONZALES, CARRILLO, ALVAREZ, ROCHA
ABSENT: BOARDMEMBERS: MACIAS
' ALSO PRESENT Also Present
Elected Officials: Secretary Cornejo.
Staff Members: City Manager Makshanoff, City Attorney Ferre, Assistant City Manager/Public Works
Director Haes, Utilities Director Morrow, Police Captain Chavez, Assistant Director of Resource
Management Lehr, Assistant Director Customer Care Solutions Kalscheuer, Assistant Director of Water
Operations Anderson, Administration and Financial Services Manager Graham, Utility Program Specialist
Reid, Assistant Director Electric Operations Langit, Engineering Assistant Barbosa, Senior Administrative
Technician Cawte, Assistant/Deputy City Clerk Hernandez.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Public Part
None given
UTILITIES DIRECTOR COMMENTS Director
Morrow
Utilities Director Morrow gave an update on the recent water drought and presented the Board with the Comments
most recent announcements provided to all residents, along with samples of street signs announcing Phase on Water
III water drought 2 days a week watering, which are posted through out the city; he announced a Water Drought
Forum on October 2, 2014 that was organized by a number of water agencies in the area, announcements
will be mailed, those interested in attending may contact AL&W at 626-812-5109 to register.
I UTILITIES BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTS Board
Comments
Per Mayor's request, it was consensus of the Board to direct the City Manager to give a $100.00 donation J. Rocha
to Jacob Moreno who will be attending the National Youth Baseball Championship in New York City. Comments
CONSENT CALENDAR: Moved by Boardmember Carrillo, seconded by Boardmember Alvarez, to Consent Cal
approve Consent Calendar Items D-1 to D-8, by the following vote of the Board:
'YES: BOARDMEMBERS: CARRILLO; ALVAREZ, ROCHA, GONZALES
ABSENT: BOARDMEMBERS: MACIAS
1. The minutes of the special meetings of June 16 and July 8, 2014, and the regular meeting of June 23, Minutes
2014, were approved as written.
2. The amendment to the contract for Pre -Fab Builders, Inc. Shed Purchase, (Gladstone Yard Project Amend Contr
W-276) to add $800 dollars for the foundation design for a total contract price of $43,621, was Pre -Fab Bldrs
approved.
3. The Dominguez Construction Inc. of Irwindale, was awarded the contract for the construction of Shed Contract
Foundation and Slab (Project W-276) at the Gladstone Yard in the amount of$29,700, and the transfer Dominguez
of $8,500 from the Water Utility Fund Balance to the budget account for this project was approved. Construction
4. The Professional Services Agreement was awarded to DMJ Consulting Group to provide DMJ Consult
hydrogeologist water well sitting services for a contract price of $14,685, includes a 10% contingency. Group Contract
5. The contract was awarded to Vulcan Materials Company for the purchase of three types of rock media Vulcan
8. The contract with UtiliWorks Consulting LLC, for continued professional consulting services related UtiliWorks
to meter replacement project was approved, and the Director of Utilities was authorized to execute the Consulting
Professional Services Agreement for a not -to -exceed amount of $30,000 plus reasonable travel Meter Rep]
expenses not to exceed $2,000.
SCHEDULEDITEMS
Sched Items
Ratification of Annual Water Rights Leasing_ Transactions. Ratification of
Annual Water
Boardmember Carrillo stepped out of the room to abstain from participating and voting on the item, as he Rights Leasing
is employed by the City of Monrovia. Transactions
Assistant Director of Water Operations Anderson, presented the item stating that each year in May and
June, staffestimates the amount of water that will be needed and reserve the estimated needed water rights; C. Anderson
this year there was approximately 17,665.17 AF of excess water rights, staff leased 4,850 AF to several Comments
entities, valued at $2,937,750 or $605.72 per AF; income from the lease can be used to purchase water.
07/28/2014 PAGE TWO
for the DeskinsTM Sludge Dewatering Retrofit Project W-281 at the Hsu -Canyon Water Treatment
Materials
Plant in an amount of $152,851.88.
Contract
6. The following Resolution UB -8-14 was adopted and entitled:
Reso UB -8-14
Accepting an
'
A RESOLUTION OF, THE UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA
ACCEPTING A CERTAIN GRANT OF PERMANENT EASEMENT AND DIRECTING THE
Easement
RECORDING THEREOF (404 E. Foothill Blvd., owned by Carriage Funeral Services of California
Inc.)
7. It was found that VCI Construction, Inc. of Upland, CA completed Project LD2013-10, for the
NOC VCI
Furnishing and Installation Underground Electric Substructures on Foothill Blvd. and Dalton Ave.; the
Constr,
Notice of Completion was approved and the Mayor was authorized execute the same; the City Clerk
Underground
was authorized to file said Notice of Completion with the Office of the County Recorder of Los
Electric
Angeles County for recording.
Substructures
8. The contract with UtiliWorks Consulting LLC, for continued professional consulting services related UtiliWorks
to meter replacement project was approved, and the Director of Utilities was authorized to execute the Consulting
Professional Services Agreement for a not -to -exceed amount of $30,000 plus reasonable travel Meter Rep]
expenses not to exceed $2,000.
SCHEDULEDITEMS
Sched Items
Ratification of Annual Water Rights Leasing_ Transactions. Ratification of
Annual Water
Boardmember Carrillo stepped out of the room to abstain from participating and voting on the item, as he Rights Leasing
is employed by the City of Monrovia. Transactions
Assistant Director of Water Operations Anderson, presented the item stating that each year in May and
June, staffestimates the amount of water that will be needed and reserve the estimated needed water rights; C. Anderson
this year there was approximately 17,665.17 AF of excess water rights, staff leased 4,850 AF to several Comments
entities, valued at $2,937,750 or $605.72 per AF; income from the lease can be used to purchase water.
07/28/2014 PAGE TWO
Moved by Boardmember Alvarez, seconded by Boardmember Rocha, to ratify the execution of water rights
lease agreements with Valley County Water District, City of Industry Waterworks, City of South Pasadena,
City of Monrovia, Canyon Water Company, and MillerCoors as per Utility Board Resolution 09-C69, by
' the following vote of the Board:
YES: BOARDMEMBERS: ALVAREZ, ROCHA, GONZALES
ABSTAIN: BOARDMEMBERS: CARRILLO
ABSENT: BOARDMEMBERS: MACIAS
Boardmember Carrillo rejoined the meeting.
Supplemental/Emergency Water Purchase.
Utilities Director Morrow presented the item stating that the Canyon Basin is dramatically receding and is
at approximately 100 ft below the overflow; Azusa, Cal -American and Glendora also pump water from the
Canyon Basin, and some of those wells have declined in performance and efficiency; there are a number of
possible actions to address the Basin: do nothing and wait for rain, but no guarantee on amount or timing
of rain; wait for possible Watermaster to pour water into the river and divert some of it to Azusa, it is
typically replenished in October, but it may not be available until later; rely on the emergency connections
with Glendora and Valley County, but both entities have their own water issues; activate the south
connection; in addition, water from the Colorado River cannot be used due to the quagga mussels.
The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) agreed to provide 5,000 AF of water, and on July 21, 2014, the
water started to be delivered to the basin through the four cities pipeline, which is an efficient way to bring
water to Azusa; however they imposed a capacity charge, which is problematic but acquiring water is
critical; the charge was imposed for the use of their system, which seems to be a misapplication because
' this is taw water instead of treated water, and typically those charges are for the treated water systems, and
the MWD pipes were not used, there was no need to build extra capacity; the value is $11,100/cfs based on
flow right, Azusa's portion to pay for 3,000AF and its share is $2,019,000 plus $499,500 for the capacity
charge, the price will be offset by the lease of water rights at a net cost of $202,000 plus capacity charge.
Moved by Boardmember Carrillo, seconded by Boardmember Alvarez to ratify the purchase of up to 3,000
Acre -Feet of supplemental water from Upper San Gabriel Municipal Water District through the Main San
Gabriel Basin Watermaster, as negotiated by the Director of Utilities in accordance with Azusa Municipal
Code Section 2-296, by the following vote of the Board:
YES: BOARDMEMBERS: CARRILLO, ALVAREZ, ROCHA, GONZALES
ABSENT: BOARDMEMBERS: MACIAS
Discussion regarding cancellation of August 25, 2014, Utility Board Meeting.
It was consensus of the Board to cancel the August 25, 2014, Utility Board Meeting.
STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS
Phase III Drought Update.
Utilities Director Morrow gave information on the State's efforts to have the public conserve water;
' AL&W implemented Phase III water conservation, on May 1, 2014 with the goal to reduce consumption
by 20%; since 2011 AL&W customers have reduced usage by 26%, usage went up 8.6% since 2011,
Southern California is up 8% this year; AL&W customers have made great efforts to conserve, if the 2011
figures can be reached, it would help the situation; all water agencies are required to report to the State on
how each is conserving.
07/28/2014 PAGE THREE
Supplemental
Emergency
Water Purchase
Staff Rprts
Phase III
Drought
Update
State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Adopts Emergency Drought Regulations. SWRCB
Drought
Utilities Director Morrow stated that on July 15, 2014, the SWRCB adopted the Emergency Water Regulations
' Conservation Regulations, as the 20% voluntary conservation requested by the Governor was not working;
the SWRCB mandatory restrictions are similar to AL&W restrictions, and they are asking all agencies to
adopt regulations, AL&W has already adopted them; there have been difficulties in enforcing compliance
on watering outdoors 2 days a week in Azusa, as some cities are still at 3 days a week; once all agencies
adopt restrictions, the message will be more consistent in all the communities; the Metropolitan Water
District (MWD) has water stored, but it may not last that long, therefore, everyone needs to have
restrictions in place; Azusa has issued approximately 1500 warnings, and 100 citations, staff continues to
find innovative ways to communicate with the public.
Moved by Boardmember Carrillo, seconded by Boardmember Rocha, and *unanimously carried to adjourn
the meeting.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 7:15 P.M.
?/7F,,i/FAA-, rwat4--�0-1
NEXT RESOLUTION NO. UB -9-14.
Next Meeting: September 22, 2014, 6:30 P.M.
*Indicates Boardmember Macias was absent.
07/28/2014 PAGE FOUR
Discussion was held regarding the pre -201 1 drought vs the current drought, which the current drought is
adding to what customers have been conserving since 2011; the seriousness of the problem, should the
drought get worse, rationing may be considered, which allows households to use only a percentage (such as
50%) of water from the actual usage of a selected year before the drought, in addition any usage over the
target percentage allowed pays high prices.
Procurement of
Procurement of Energy for Summer 2015 to Replace a Terminating Contract.
Energy for
Summer
Utilities Director Morrow stated that he previously notified the Board of the need to do a Summer 2015
energy purchase to help stabilize prices during the peak periods, which can be an expensive period; staff
searched for the purchase of energy through competitive solicitation; a 15 M WH purchase was made for
$49.55/MWH, previous price being $72/MWH under the currently expiring 5 year contract with Shell
Energy; this reflects a savings of $414,876 to customers for next year, averaging about $30.00 per
household.
Electronic
'
Electronic Waste and Foam Recycling Event Update,
Waste in Foam
Recycling
Event
Utilities Director Morrow announced that a bill insert will be mailed to all AL&W customers announcing
the Free E -Waste & Foam Recycling event, on Saturday, September 20, 2014, 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at
the Azusa Light & Water Parking Lot; he responded to a question posed by Boardmember Alvarez by
stating that the City gets a minimal compensation for the recycling, approximately .10 cents per pound,
which helps offset the administrative expenses.
Adjourn
Moved by Boardmember Carrillo, seconded by Boardmember Rocha, and *unanimously carried to adjourn
the meeting.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 7:15 P.M.
?/7F,,i/FAA-, rwat4--�0-1
NEXT RESOLUTION NO. UB -9-14.
Next Meeting: September 22, 2014, 6:30 P.M.
*Indicates Boardmember Macias was absent.
07/28/2014 PAGE FOUR