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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - November 26, 2007 -UB 1 ,,.�.._.,.. _. ., . .,, ,.._. ...,.,a._ � ., ., _ ,._.y....o....,u,a...___. _.,_-.,. • _ _._...,. .._._. __�.......,. ., .,..__�. � AZUSA ._ i1GAT R:t'ATT R CITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2007 — 6:30 P.M. The Utility Board Members of the City of Azusa met in regular session, at the above date and time, at Azusa Light and Water Conference Room, located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California. Chairman Hanks called the meeting to order. Call to Order, Mr. Bob Donnelson led in the Pledge to the Flag. Flag Salute ROLL CALL Roll Call PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS: GONZALES, CARRILO, MACIAS, HANKS, ROCHA ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE ALSO PRESENT: Also Present City Attorney Ferre, City Manager Delach, Director of Utilities Hsu, Assistant to the Utilities Director Kalscheuer,Assistant Director of Resource Management Tang,Assistant Director of Water Operations Anderson, Business Development/Public Benefits Coordinator Reid, Azusa Police Captain Streets, Library Director Tovar, Finance Controller Aguilar, City Clerk Mendoza, Deputy City Clerk Toscano. Employee Finance Controller Aguilar introduced new employee Lisa Rogers, Account Specialist II. Introductions Public Participation Pub Part Mr. Dale Kram addressed the Board Members with concerns regarding compliance with drought D. Kram Phases, stating that he has been conserving water for years and it would be difficult to reduce Comments consumption by 10-20%; he asked how the formula was created. Director of Utilities Hsu responded stating that the formula came about through the Public Utilities Dir of Util entities and that the phases and regulations are put into place in order to recognize customers Response with excessive abuses of water and for commercial customers which sometimes have exceptionally high use. Mr. Mike Lee addressed the Board Members questioning whether the process for measuring the M. Lee 10-20% reduction would be measured by water bills; asked if they would be receiving letters Comments before fines are imposed and provided tips on how to conserve water. Mr.Art Morales addressed the Board Members stating that traffic signals should be coordinated; A. Morales Slauson School basketball courts are being watered at night; and hoped for grant money for Comments ,_,people who want to replace grass with turf. Mr. Don Cook addressed the Board Members expressing concern regarding an issue he has had D. Cook since May with water/fire flow testing at 1773 San Bernardino Road; he detailed the problems he Comments has been having and asked that someone go out and open up the availability of water for fire prevention. The CONSENT CALENDAR consisting of Items B-1 through B-5, was approved by motion of Consent Cal Board Member Gonzales, seconded by Board Member Carrillo and unanimously carried with the Approved exception of item B-4, which was considered under the Special Call portion of the Agenda. 1. The Minutes of the regular meeting of October 22, 2007, were approved as written. Min Appvd 2. Approval was given for the extension of term of professional services agreement with Wren& Wren & Associates for water and electric facilities inspection services at the Rosedale Development Assoc. until June 30, 2008. Rosedale 3. Approval was given to award landscape and irrigation maintenance contract for Azusa Light& EM. Water facilities to E &L Landscape Services in amount of $2,940 per month. Landscape 4. SPECIAL CALL ITEM. Spec Call 3. Notice of Completion for BnB Engineering was accepted for Project ED2007-7, installation of NOC Under- ' underground electric substructures along Fifth Street between Roclaale and Foothill Center Ground and the City Clerk's Office was directed to execute the Notice of Completion, and have same Structures recorded in the Office of the Los Angeles County Recorder. BnB Engr. Special Call Items Spec Call Board Member Gonzales requested clarification on Change Order No. 9 regarding Project WVF- WTR Change 207; why the City is paying for the 5%markup. Mr.Ashutosh (Ashu) Shirolkar of Black and Veatch Order #9 responded stating that the contract language allows for a 5%mark up for extra work done by the Comments sub-contractor. Moved by Board Member Gonzales, seconded by Board Member Rocha and unanimously carried Change Order to approve Change Order No. 9 for the addition of$57, 261.33 and additional four calendar days #9 appvd time extension to the SSC Construction contract for the construction of Project WVF-207, Canyon Filtration Plant Membrane Treatment Upgrade and Expansion. Scheduled Items Sched Items Director of Utilities Hsu presented item regarding hiring of temporary part time employees to Dir of Util enforce water use restrictions stating that at this time there is only one Meter Reader who has Response to been performing this function. He responded to questions stating temporary employees will be Part Time used as long as the drought conditions are in effect. He also responded that the employees will Water Patrol service all areas where Azusa water is utilized. Mr. Hsu also responded stating that warning will be given first, and then a citation for second offense; they will also be given nozzles to use. 11/26/07 PAGE TWO Assistant Director of Resource Management Tang responded to question regarding emergency B. Tang numbers to report abusers stating that it is 812-5225; during business hours staff will contact a Response Water Patrol person and at off hours an answering service will contact a Water Patrol person. Moved by Board Member Rocha, seconded by Board Member Gonzales and unanimously carried Hire Water :o authorize staff to recruit and hire three part-time employees to enforce water use restrictions; Patrol --and to amend Customer Service Field Service Operations budget in amount of $47,500 to Employees compensate the new part-time employees. Director of Utilities Hsu presented item increase in the Replacement Water Cost Adjustment Dir of Util Factor, detailing that the cost of purchasing water from MWD has been rising during the last RWCAF months and there is a need to increase so they won't have to use reserves. Moved by Board Member Carrillo, seconded by Board Member Macias and unanimously carried Increase in to authorize staff to increase the Replacement Water Cost Adjustment Factor by $0.0458 per RWCAF hundred cubic feet of water effective December 1, 2007, to recover the increased cost of Approved purchasing water from the Metropolitan Water District for September and October. Director of Utilities Hsu presented the Implementation of Distributed Solar Program stating that it Dir of Util is to comply with Senate Bill 1; he stated that it would result in an obligation for Azusa to provide Assist Dir $3 million in funding over 10 years for solar power installations. He responded to question posed Res Mngmt regarding renewable proposal. Assistant Director of Resource Management Tang responded to SB 1 program questions regarding the benefits of solar systems and stated that the incentive of the rebate is necessary. Moved by Board Member Rocha, seconded by Board Member Gonzales and unanimously carried Solar to adopt a program funding commitment of $300,000 per year for 10 years in compliance with Partnership SB 1 funding mandate; direct staff to prepare revisions to the existing solar partnership program Program consistent with SB 1 mandate; and direct staff to explore innovative and cost effective distributed limpow solar projects. Director of Utilities Hsu addressed item regarding New Lodi Power Project stating that the Project Dir of Util is a 255 MW combined cycle natural gas fueled generation project being developed by the New Lodi Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) at a site in the City of Lodi located about 50 miles Power Proj southeast of Sacramento. The proposed City's participation in the planning and development phase is for 7 MW of electric power or about 2.8% of the total project. He explained what the requirements of the City is and requested the City's participation and appropriation of$450,000, of that; $110,000 is for planning activities and $340,000 is for the potential purchase of Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs), depending on whether the purchase is needed. Moved by Board Member Gonzales,seconded by Board Member Macias and unanimously carried City's to approve the City's participation in Phase 2A planning and development activities of Lodi #2 participation Project; authorize the Mayor to execute planning and development agreement upon preparation In Lodi Proj of final execution copies; and authorize a budget amendment of up to $450,000 for the City's approved participation in this project. Staff Reports/Communications Staff Rpts Director of Utilities Hsu presented the Monthly Update on the Water Treatment Plant Project Monthly stating that it is 37%complete, and of the$35.9 million dollar budget, 13.5 million has been paid WTP out. He stated that he would arrange a tour of the site if Board Members wished to visit it. Update 11/26/07 PAGE THREE Director of Utilities Hsu presented an update on the Water Shortage Declaration. He talked about Dir of Util Azusa's water resources, the lack of rainfall in the Sierras, and the problems with the reduced Water water export from Delta due to endangered species of fish. He also talked about reasons for the Shortage stabilization of the aquifer due to the large Azusa customers using water from their own wells,and Declaration the County releasing water from Morris Dam, to name a few, but that the City's groundwater level Update is still about 60 feet below for this time of year. After January 1', the City will get water from the pipeline that ALP will replace on Sierra Madre, which will be done by third week of December, from the State Water Project. He noted that they would be going to Phase III of the Drought as of December 1, 2007, which was approved at an earlier meeting. Board Member Rocha reminded them that there is a need to take each water issue on a case by case basis with regard to customer over use and talked about the medians which Mr. Hsu responded that the timers will need to be adjusted and he has spoken to Director of Recreation and Family Services Jacobs about that. Lastly, it was reiterated that the number to call for service is 812-5225 and it will go to a standby person on the weekends. Photos of New Uniforms for Customer Service Staff were presented via power point presentation; New Uniform there was no discussion. Cust Svs Director of Utilities Hsu provided information regarding California Municipal Utilities Association CMUA Capitol Day stating that event will be on January 14, 2008 in Sacramento; he noted that it is open Capitol Day to Elected Officials and if they planned to attend they could let him know. Director of Utilities Hsu provided information regarding the American Public Power Association APPA Legislative Rally to be held from February 25 - 27, 2008 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Legislative Washington, D.C.; he added that if Board Members wished to attend to let him know so he could Rally make the arrangements; he talked about the benefits of attending the conferences. The Monthly Power Resources Update was presented but not discussed. Monthly Pwr Res. Update Directors Comments Dir Cmts Director of Utilities Hsu advised that the Covina Irrigating Company easement requires a Public Dir of Util Hearing that may come the second meeting of December; if any Board would like to see where Comment the easement is located or proposed to be located he would show them. Easement Covina Irrig. Moved by Board Member Gonzales, seconded by Board Member Rocha and unanimously carried Adjourn to adjourn. TIME OF ADJO RNMENT: 7:32P.M. SECRETARY NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 07-C106 11/26/07 PAGE FOUR