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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - October 27, 2014 - UBCITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, OCTOBER, 27 2014 — 6:30 P.M. The Utility Board/City Council of the City of Azusa met in regular session, at the above date and time, in the Azusa Light & Water (AL&W) Conference Room, located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California. Chairman Gonzales called the meeting to order. Pledge to the flag was led by Mr. Jorge V. Rosales. ROLL CALL: Roll call was taken by Secretary Cornejo. PRESENT: BOARDMEMBERS: MACIAS, ALVAREZ, GONZALES ABSENT: BOARDMEMBERS: CARRILLO, ROCHA ' ALSO PRESENT Elected Officials: Secretary Comejo. Staff Members: Interim City Manager Penman, City Attorney Ferre, Utilities Director Morrow, Police Officer Hunt, Assistant Director of Resource Management Lehr, Assistant Director of Customer Service Kalscheuer, Assistant Director of Water Operations Anderson, Administration and Financial Services Manager Johnson, Utility Program Specialist Reid, Assistant Director Electric Operations Langit, Senior Management Analyst Yang, Senior Administrative Technician Cawte, Assistant/Deputy City Clerk Hernandez. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Call to Order Flag Salute Roll Call Also Present Public Part Mr. Jorge V. Rosales addressed Scheduled Item C-1 regarding the renovation of the property located on the J. Rosales 600 Block North of San Gabriel Ave., expressing his opposition stating that at the present time it is not Comments financially feasible to undergo such project. UTILITIES DIRECTOR COMMENTS Util Dir Comments Utilities Director Morrow gave the following information: the new ratings received from Moody's regarding the water system, sent to the Board for their information; the Shred-a-Thon was held on October 25, 2014, a total of 294 boxes were collected totaling 11,750 lbs. of paper was shredded; he attended a meeting, with the California Independent System Operator (CallSO) who operate most of the electric grid in California, and the topics discussed were how the peak electricity usage has significantly shifted to late evening as opposed to mid day, the quantity of variable resources and reliability impacts, and Utility Companies having to figure out other alternatives to meet higher renewable energy requirements by 2020. UTILITIES BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTS Util Brd Comments Chairman Gonzales thanked staff for their work on the recent Shred-a-Thon, which was a great success. CONSENT CALENDAR: Moved by Boardmember Macias, seconded by Boardmember Alvarez, to Consent Cal approve Consent Calendar Items D-1 to D-4, by the following vote of the Board: YES: BOARDMEMBERS: MACIAS, ALVAREZ, GONZALES ABSENT: BOARDMEMBERS: CARRILLO, ROCHA 1. The minutes of the regular meeting of September 22, 2014, were approved as written. Minutes 2. The agreement to join the statewide emergency response and mutual aid group, California Membership Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (CALWARN), was approved, and the Mayor was CALWARN authorized to execute the same. 3. The agreement to join the local emergency response and mutual aid group, Water Emergency Membership Response of Los Angeles County (WERLAC), was approved, and the Mayor and the Director of WERLAC Utilities were authorized to execute the same. 4. The formal bidding procedures due to a sole source were waived, and the purchase of Terex PT70 Retrofit Proj Compact Track Loader was awarded to RGW Equipment for the DeskinsTM Sludge Dewatering Hsu Treatment Retrofit Project W-281 at the Hsu -Canyon Water Treatment Plant in the amount of $78,469.99. Plant SCHEDULEDITEMS Sched Items Review Results of Preliminary Renovation Feasibility Study for the Vacant San Gabriel Avenue Property Review Results and Approve Delay of Further Work Pending Clarification of Property Status. of Preliminary Utilities Director Morrow presented the item by stating that the blighted building located on the 600 Block North of San Gabriel is owned by AL&W/City and has been vacant for some time due in part to the dissolution of the City's Redevelopment Agency (RDA); at a previous meeting, the Board approved Martinez Architects to conduct a renovation feasibility study, and he introduced the architects who presented the results of the study. Messers Tony Morera and Julio Haas from Martinez Architects, gave a presentation on the renovation feasibility study, stating that the main goals were to minimize added cost and to make the best use of the building; the preliminary design was made by keeping existing sites, enhancing the building to integrate with its current surroundings, and adding services to give back to the community, keeping in mind both the budget and the goals of the AL&W; the renovation would consist of minimal demolition to the interior of the building due to the possibility of the building going back to a retail use as previously occupied; the current most expensive structures such as utilities, restrooms and plumbing, would be reused/kept; 3 main entrance options were presented: (I ) main entrance through the back, (2) two main entrances, front access on San Gabriel Ave., and back access through the alley, (3) one main entrance on San Gabriel Ave.; they suggested Option 2 as it meets the requirements of the Azusa Municipal Code; the inside layout would have an area for supervision and customer service, it would be the center area that would control the major points and the entire space; there would be an area to provided services by the AL&W such as a kiosk for payments and information, elements on water, electricity and recycling, an area for alternative energy programs, a kids area to interact and play, and a main conference room that could be divided into 3 small meeting rooms as needed; the exterior would be a design that would relate to the community; the existing wall that divides the site from adjacent businesses, could be demolished in order to connect the section from San Gabriel Blvd. to Azusa Ave., and to make the building part of the Historic Heritage Court; 10/27/2014 PAGE TWO Renovation Feasibility Study, Property 600 Block, N. San Gabriel Martinez Architects Presentation exterior areas could be used for demonstrations, car charging areas, etc., the existing black asphalt surface would be removed and replaced with environmentally friendly materials as per the new State California Environmental Quality Act requirements of the Renewable Energy Code; greenery can be added to the outside area, a lighted tower that could be seen from across the area, and light weight materials that are cost effective could be used on the main fagade. They responded to a question posed by Boardmember Alvarez stating that the original idea for the conference room was for 50+ people; however, due to certain space/code/parking limitations, 50 people is the maximum capacity allowed. Chairman Gonzales and Boardmember Macias expressed their support for the project. Utilities Director Morrow further stated that it was originally believed that the building was AL&W G. Morrow property; however, it is former RDA property; it was believed that AL&W could use the building as long as Comments it was for public benefit use, but the State recently informed AL&W that the propertyshould be sold, along with other properties that were purchased for Redevelopment purposes and the proceeds distributed accordingly among other agencies including Azusa; the City is awaiting further guidance by the State and a decision is expected soon, in the mean time, staff considers it prudent to put this project on hold until the State has announced a decision. Moved by Boardmember Macias, seconded by Boardmember Alvarez, to accept the preliminary design Accept Design work by Martinez Architects on the renovation feasibility study for the vacant building located at 624, 626, and Put Project 628 North San Gabriel Avenue, and approve placing the project on hold pending clarification of the status on Hold of the properties involved, by the following vote of the Board: YES: BOARDMEMBERS: MACIAS, ALVAREZ, GONZALES ABSENT: BOARDMEMBERS: CARRILLO, ROCHA STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS Utility Payment Options. Assistant Director of Customer Service Kalscheuer gave a report on the various payment methods used by utility customers: 36% mail to lockbox service provider, 22% to walk-in (Drive -up window), 19% to mail - in payments, 8% eCheck to electronic payments, 7% to Bank to eBox, 3% Credit Card payments, 2% to after hours dropbox, and 3% to other payments, such as low income assistance programs, and offsite payments; with the existing system, staff can update the payment information provided by the contractors, Infosend internet and Paymentus, but the contractor's systems are not directly integrated in the City's system, so there is no real time of account payment status; the contracts will expire in 2015, and staff will search for a system that can be integrated with the City's and get instantaneous update. Discussion was held on the $2.00 fee charge line for the one-time online payments, staff will be discussing waiving the fee, and it will be presented to the Board at a future meeting for consideration; there is no current demographic study of the people that walk in to make payments, but it appears that they are mostly residential of moderate or low income, some of them are required to pay cash due to past history of bounced checks. Drought and Water Supply Strategic Options Update. Assistant Director of Water Operations Anderson gave a report on enhancements of water service and strategic options: supplemental water was purchased, which helped get through the summer; a connection was reestablished with the City of Glendora with a remote reading meter, and arrangements are being made to pump water back to Azusa; a connection was reestablished with Valley County Water District at the Vincent Ave. location, which will allow water to be pumped to Azusa; the water connection on Badillo was retired long ago due to its low usage and high cost to maintain, but since water has become more valuable, it may be worth making that expense and reestablish connection; Well No. 10 at the Gladstone Distribution 10/27/2014 PAGE THREE Staff Rprts Utility Payment Options Drought & Water Supply Strategic Options Update 7 Yard has been in operation for over 15 years, and it is currently at its maximum of output to maintain the allowed nitrate levels in the water; Aspen Well located East of the CEMEX pit is a good well for production that puts out a considerable amount of water, it hadn't been tested for the past 10+ years, and constituents that were above the maximum contaminant level were found, water has flowed from the well down to the treatment plant in the Baldwin Park area, and it is possible that it took away those contaminants, it will be retested again; the San Gabriel Municipal Water District has a pipeline that pours water directly into the grounds, staff has not been able to get that water into the City's treatment plant, a pipeline connection is being installed that will take the City's water to the treatment plant, most of that pipe line was built together with the plant and approximately 90% was completed, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District indicated they might provide a good deal of funding for the connection. Staff is working on the City's Water Master Plan Update, which will include a longer term capital improvement plan, and the projects will be ranked in order of importance. Utilities Director Morrow stated that the City water supply condition has stabilized, Azusa customers are responding well by conserving and the percentage conservation increasing each of the past 3 months ofthis fiscal year; an updated report on conservation will be sent to the State Water Resources Control Board; if there is no rain or ice pack this season, the State could implement water allocations in the future. The CMUA Legislative Update was provided to the Board for their information. The Morgan Meguire Federal Legislative Update was provided to the Board for their information. SMUA and Morgan Meguire Federal Legislative Updates Moved by Boardmember Macias, seconded by Chairman Gonzales, and *unanimously carried, to adjourn Adjourn the Meeting. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 7:39 P.M. NEXT RESOLUTION NO. UB -13-14. Next Meeting: November 24, 2014, 6:30 P.M. 'Indicates Boardmembers Rocha and Carrillo were absent. 10/27/2014 PAGE FOUR