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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes- September 22, 2003 - UB AZUSA CITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2003 - 6:30 P.M. The Utility Board Members of the City of Azusa met in regular session, at the above date and time in the Azusa Light and Water Department Conference Room, located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California. Chairperson Chagnon called the meeting to order. Call to Order ROLL CALL Roll Call PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: HARDISON, STANFORD, CHAGNON ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ROCHA, MADRID ALSO PRESENT: Also Present City Attorney Carvalho, City Manager Cole, Director of Utilities Hsu, Assistant City Manager Person, Deputy City Manager Gutierrez,Administrative Technician Yang,Assistant to the Director of Utilities Kalscheuer, Assistant Director of Water Operations Anderson, Assistant Director of Resource Management Tang, Senior Electric Engineer Langit,Assistant Director of Electric Division Ramirez, Customer Service Leader Tapia, Customer Service Scholes, City Clerk Mendoza. Ceremonial Ceremonial Chairperson Chagnon announced that Mayor Madrid and Mayor Pro-Tern Rocha will not be Chagnon present at the meeting as they are at the Los Angeles County Fair representing the City of Azusa Comments as today, September 22, 2003,was proclaimed "Azusa Day" at the Fair. She also announced that she will be delivering a proclamation to Larry Wetherbee honoring him for his service to the City as he was unable to attend the meeting tonight. Chairperson Chagnon presented a proclamation to Director of Utilities Hsu declaring the week of Proc Public October 5th through the 1 1`h, 2003, as Public Power Week. Power �-- Week Chairperson Chagnon presented a proclamation to Garthy Lynn Dent honoring him for his service Proc to Lynn to the Azusa Light &Was Department as a Line Mechanic. Dent Chairperson Chagnon provided a presentation on her trip, along with Cary Kalscheuer and Bob Chagnon Tang,to Solano County for the High Winds Project Dedication Ceremony on September 18, 2003. High Winds Overheads of windmills were shown along with other aspects of the High Winds Energy Center. Project Ded �- Councilmember Stanford, representative of the City on the Mosquito Vector Control Board, Stanford announced that there have been signs of the West Nile Virus in birds found in Arcadia,San Gabriel Comments and Rosemead; he advised to get rid of any standing water around properties in order not to West Nile attract mosquitoes. Virus Public Participation Pub Part None. None Chairperson Chagnon requested that item Il-B, regarding Mt. Cove Water Service be brought Item II-B forward at this time for handling. Brt fwrd Director of Utilities Hsu addressed the issue stating that he received a telephone message and Dir of Util also saw an article in Mountain Times, a local Mountain Cove Association newspaper basically Comments accusing Azusa Light and Water of unfairly taxing Mountain Cove residents. He stated that many of those residents have 2" water meters with a monthly charge of about $57.00, while other residents have 1" water meters are about $17 or $18 per month. The water rates are based on water demand and the 2" meters are for properties that have sprinkler systems. He stated that some time ago the Fire Department required all the buildings in the foothills vulnerable to fire to have a sprinkler system in residential house. He stated that in order for the Fire Department to determine exactly how much water is required to suppress a fire, they had to look at the total square footage, mainly the garage square footage. The Fire Department and the developer made the decision that the dividing line is 600 square feet; any garage over that requires a 2" water meter. He suggested that the residents talk to the developer, Mountain Cove and Michael Battalgia to identify the information first and then contact the Fire Department to see who determines the 600 feet determination. He stated that Azusa Light and Water does have meters of 11/2", which is cheaper and if they say residents can get by with this Azusa Light and Water will change the meter at no charge. He then described how rates are set for water. Several residents of the Mountain Cove community addressed the issue questioning what the cost Residents of a 2" meter is paying for and how it correlates to the water usage. Director of Utilities Hsu Mountain responded stating that part is for depreciation cost, the fixed sized is based on the demand of Cove & water for the building, and labor costs, and it was reiterated that the criteria was established by Response the Fire Department and the Developer and that everyone in the City is paying into the pool based upon the size of their meter. After additional discussion, Chairwoman Chagnon requested that a meeting be scheduled on Chagnon October 23, 2003, at the Mountain Cove with an authorized representative from the Fire Comments Department, Mr. Mike Battalgia of Mountain Cove, and Director of Utilities Joe Hsu. She also requested that staff create a list of all residents in the City with 2" meters and their billed amount. Item regarding customer billing dispute - Mr. Chris Babakitis was continued to the next Utility Babakitis Board meeting due to Mr. Babakitis' absence. Continued 09/22/03 PAGE TWO Consent Cal The CONSENT CALENDAR consisting of Items IV-A through IV-C, were approved by motion of Approved Councilmember Hardison, seconded by Chairwoman Chagnon and unanimously* carried. A. The minutes of the regular meeting of July 23, 2003, were approved as written. Min appvd B. Approval was given to advertise for bids for the repairs to Water Well No. 2. Chairperson Rpr Well 2 Chagnon indicated that the budget amount and account number should be included in reports under fiscal impact section. C. Approval was given to advertise for bids for Water Project W-186, Main Replacement in Main Replace Pasadena Avenue, Old Mill Road, Alameda Avenue, and Stein Lane. Various Sts Scheduled Items Sched Items Utilities Director Hsu addressed Council regarding the re-negotiation of the Contract Water Rate Dir of Util for Miller Brewery stating that a study was conducted by Consultants with the goal to have a new Comments rate for Miller Brewery. After the Consultant study was done, they were given a choice of a fixed Contract rate or the Golf Course rate. Discussion was held regarding the rates to be charged Miller under Water Rate their contract. Moved by Councilmember Stanford, seconded by Hardison and unanimously* Miller carried to approve the Contract Water Rate for Miller Brewery to continue applying the same rate Brewery as was applied to the Golf Course prior to the last water rate adjustment. Assistant Director of Resource Management Tang addressed item regarding the San Juan Unit#3 Energy Exchange Letter Agreement detailing the need to firm up the San Juan power by providing Energy the unit contingent power to a third party in exchange the counter party provides firm power back Exchange to the City of which the benefits are simplified scheduling purposes, and by having firm power Letter Agmt they can optimize around it. He stated that the firming arrangement with the third party will begin Public Service May 1, 2004; further RFP process was held with detailed guidelines. He recommended approval Company for the Public Service Company of Colorado. Moved by Councilmember Stanford, seconded by Chairwoman Chagnon and unanimously carried to approve Letter Agreement for Energy Exchange of San Juan unit#3 power between City and Public Service Company of Colorado and the Mayor was authorized to execute the same. Utilities Director Hsu addressed item regarding the request by San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District for the City's support of a jurisdictional boundary reconciliation, stating that when SGVMWD Mountain Cove was established it straddled on two water districts and there is a difference in tax Jurisdiction rates. He advised that there is an opportunity to reconcile the boundaries of the two jurisdictions. Boundary Moved by Councilmember Stanford, seconded by Councilmember Hardison and unanimously* Reconciliation carried to authorize staff to prepare a letter to express the decision by Azusa Utility Board to San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District expressing their hope to reconcile the boundaries of the two jurisdictions. Moved by Councilmember Hardison, seconded by Councilmember Stanford and unanimously* Repair Well carried to declare an emergency and approve the repair to Well No. 1 by General Pump Company No. 1 in the amount of $64,500. The following resolution was adopted and entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA WAIVING FORMAL SEALED Res. 03-C76 BIDDING PROCEDURES AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A PURCHASE ORDER FOR AN P.O. for AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $64,500.00 FOR EMERGENCY WATER WELL REPAIR. Emergency Repair Water 09/22/03 PAGE THREE Well Moved by Councilmember Hardison, seconded by Councilmember Stanford to waive further reading and adopt. Resolution passed and adopted by the following vote of the Council: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: HARDISON, STANFORD, CHAGNON NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ROCHA, MADRID Deputy City Manager Gutierrez presented the Fiscal Year 2004-2008 Capital Improvement Dep City Mgr Program Budget for Electric and Water Projects detailing the new format which included sections Presentation noting description,justification,scheduling, relationship to General Plan,special consideration and CIP operating budget impact. Moved by Councilmember Hardison, seconded by Councilmember Stanford and unanimously* CIP approved — carried to adopt the electric and water projects for the fiscal year 2004-2008 Capital Electric & Improvement Program (CIP) Budget. This will increase appropriations for projects in the Electric Water Dept Division by $850,000 and in the Water Division by $4,275,000 as identified in Attachment A. Staff Reports/Communications Staff Rpts Assistant City Manager Person presented an update on the San Gabriel River Projects which Update consisted of the Azusa Canyon River Park, Bike Trail, Forest Station Interpretive Center and the SGR Prjts Spreading Basins. He then answered questions posed by Councilmembers. Chairwoman Chagnon suggested that staff contact Supervisor Molina's Office regarding the under Chagnon grounding pipeline issue with Cal-American Water Company. Comments Tour of San Juan Power Plant - Assistant Director of Resource Management Tang submitted an Tour of Overview of the Tour in which Staff participated in a two-day tour sponsored by the Public Service San Juan Company of New Mexico (PNM) and SCPPA. Other Visitors included City of Banning, Imperial Power Plant Irrigation District and SCPPA Staff. There was a tour of San Juan#3 Operations and the adjacent underground coal mine operations and there was an in-depth meeting with plan senior management. The Monthly Power Resources Update and the Kirkwall Substation Project Monthly Update were Updates noted, but, no questions or discussion was held. Pwr Res & Kirkwall Director of Utilities Hsu submitted a detailed FY 2002-03 4th Quarter Work Plan Update; there FY 02-03 were no questions and no discussion was held. Work Plan Director of Utilities Hsu addressed the Substation Landscape and Front Wall Rendering stating Substation that there have been a few changes; they have gone from stucco walls and a trellis to block walls Landscape and mesh. He presented an engineer's rendering detailing its contents and answering questions Discussion posed by Councilmembers. Director's Comments Dir Corn Item regarding "an Interview with Larry Anderson, Director, Utah Division of Water Resources," Item con't Government West,July/August 2003, was continued to the next Utility Board Meeting due to the Re: Larry absence of Mayo Madrid. Anderson 09/22/03 PAGE FOUR It was consensus of Councilmembers to recess to Closed Session to discuss the following: Closed Sess Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation Conference Government Code Section 54956.9(a) W/Legal Res-Care, Inc., v. City of Azusa Counsel Case No.: Los Angeles Superior Court No. KC040062 Res-Care Conference with Legal Counsel- Existing Litigation Conference Government Code Section 54956.9(a) W/Legal City of Azusa v. Simich Counsel Case No.: Los Angeles Superior Court No. KC041085 Conference With Legal Counsel-Anticipated Litigation Anticipated Government Code Section 54956.9(b) Litigation Significant Exposure to Litigation- 1 Case One Case The City Council recessed to Closed Session at 8:30 p.m. and reconvened at 9:12 p.m. There No Rpts was no reportable action taken in Closed Session. It was consensus of Councilmembers to adjourn. Adjourn TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:13 P.M. 1-7/7 ECRETARY NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 03-C77.