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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - April 22, 2013 - UB j',..27e--7- 2-il AUS A I IGNT & 'RATER CITY OF AZUSA MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL MONDAY,APRIL 22,2013—6:30 P.M. The Utility Board/City Council of the City of Azusa met in regular session, at the above date and time, at the Azusa Light & Water(AL&W) Conference Room, located at 729 N. Azusa Avenue, Azusa, California. Chairman Macias called the meeting to order. Call to Order Pledge to the flag was led by Mr. Art Morales. Flag Salute ROLL CALL Roll Call PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS: GONZALES, CARRILLO,MACIAS, ALVAREZ, ROCHA ABSENT: BOARD MEMBERS: NONE LALSO PRESENT Also Present City Attorney Martinez,City Manager Makshanoff,Director of Public Works/Assistant City Manager Hoes, Utilities Director Morrow, Police Lieutenant Chavez, Assistant Director of Electric Operations Langit, Assistant Director of Water Operations Anderson, Assistant Director Customer Care & Solutions Kalscheuer,Assistant Director of Resource Management Lehr,Accounting Executive Analyst Reid,City Clerk Cornejo, Assistant City Clerk Hernandez. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Pub Part Mr. Art Morales addressed the meeting regarding skate board and bicycle riding on the sidewalk of the A. Morales downtown area, posing danger to pedestrians; requested free swim for children Monday through Friday; spoke about Vulcan recovering mining and the trash recovery facility;suggested that the monument it front of City Hall be moved to the corner of Azusa and Foothill by CVS Pharmacy; and graffiti on Azusa Ave. UTILITIES DIRECTOR COMMENTS Director's Comments Utilities Director Morrow addressed the meeting announcing free compost and mulch for resident on Saturday May 11, 9-12 p.m.,at Memorial Park;and informed that residents continue to report scam calls regarding utility bills. UTILITIES BOARD COMMENTS Brdmbrs Comments Vice Chairman Gonzales addressed the meeting inquiring on a possible voluntary round up program on the utility bills and excess be donated to non-profit organizations; Utilities Director Morrow responded that R. Gonzales staff has been researching on this issued; he gave information on the low income assistance programs Voluntary Util funded by water customers and the public benefits program;a report will be presented at the next meeting. Bill Roundup Boardmember Rocha addressed the meeting stating that due to the closure of Azusa Avenue for the J. Rocha Goldline construction, 7 military banners had to be removed; they will be placed temporarily on San Military Gabriel Avenue, and will be re-hanged on Azusa Avenue once construction is finished. Banners Chairman Macias requested an update for the next meeting on the rebate program. U. Macias Comments The CONSENT CALENDAR consisting of Items D-1 through D-8, was approved by motion of Board Consent Member Carrillo,seconded by Board Member Rocha,and unanimously carried,with the exception of Item Calendar D-4 D-4 which was handled under the Special Call Portion of the agenda. Spec Call 1. The minutes of the regular meeting of March 25, 2013, were approved as written. Min appvd 2. Completion of Water Main Replacement Project W-265 was accepted, the notice of completion NOC Water approving the project was approved, and the City Clerk's Office was directed to execute the Notice of Main Proj Completion and record and file it at the Office of the Los Angeles County Recorder. W-265 3. The following two resolution Numbers 13-C25 and 13-C26,respectively, were approved and entitled: Resos Easements A RESOLUTION OF THE UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA William Lion ACCEPTING A CERTAIN GRANT OF PERMANENT EASEMENT AND DIRECTING THE Homes & Shea RECORDING THEREOF. (William Lyon Homes Inc, Lots 13, 14, 15 Tract 66141 Gardenia). Homes A RESOLUTION OF THE UTILITY BOARD/CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AZUSA ACCEPTING A CERTAIN GRANT OF PERMANENT EASEMENT AND DIRECTING THE RECORDING THEREOF. (Shea Homes,Lot 1 through 6 Tract 66141 Parsons Place). i.. 4. SPECIAL CALL ITEM. Spec Call 5.The Professional Services Agreement (PSA) to perform a Hydroelectric Project Interconnection SCAIC Feasibility Study was awarded to SAIC in an amount not-to-exceed$12,100;and the Director of Utilities Agreement was authorized to sign the PSA subject to review and approval by legal counsel. 6.A letter of support for AB 1257 (Bocanegra) titled "Natural Gas Policy Act" was approved, and the Support Letter Mayor was authorized to sign the letter. AB1257 7.An amendment in the amount of$15,000 to be added to the blanket purchase order issued to SC Fuels for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, was approved. Amend Blkt PO SC Fuels 8.An amendment in the amount of$19,229 to be added to the blanket purchase order issued to San Gabriel River Water Committee for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, was approved. Amend Blkt PO SGV River SPECIAL CALL ITEMS Water Spec Call Utilities Director Morrow addressed the item stating that the budget allocated for the project was below the level of the bids;the type of wall that was proposed required additional work,is a heavier wall that needs a Reject Bids larger foundation,additional drainage,and work needs to be done around the current drainage;the current Block Wall fence is a see through chain link that has been cut several times to gain access to the yard;staff will research Electric Yard for alternatives for a more economical fence that is not see through to prevent vandalism, as trucks and 1020 W. 10th supplies are stored at this facility. Street City Attorney Martinez addressed the item stating that if current bids are accepted,staff will need to search for additional funding to cover for the cost of the submitted bids. M. Martinez Comments 04/22/2013 PAGE TWO Moved by Boardmember Carrillo,seconded by Boardmember Alvereaz and unanimously carried to reject Appv all bids for constructing the conventional concrete block wall at the south perimeter of the Electric Yard Rejection of Building-1020 W. 10th Street;and to authorize staff to rebid the project at a later date,subject to finding a Bids less costly alternate method of constructing a facility barrier or wall at the Electric Yard. SCHEDULED ITEMS Declaration of Phase II Water Shortage Restrictions Effective June 1, 2013. Sched Items Utilities Director Morrow addressed the item stating that the current water shortage is due to one of the Declaration of worse rainfall seasons on record, in fact the 4th worse year since 1877; he explained other factors such as Phase II Water the three water reservoirs above Azusa being at minimal level, only 35% of allocation will be received Shortage from the State Water Projects (SWP), the hydroelectric conduit from the San Gabriel River to be out of Restrictions service this summer due to Pasadena making seismic repairs, the main basin water levels are steadily dropping, low water in the Canyon Basin aquifer and expected to drop further; he explained the different level phases and stated that the recommendation is also to prepare for next year by minimizing current year aquiver depletion. Discussion was held regarding notification to residents,enforcement of policy restrictions,the watering of Discussion the medians on San Gabriel, the excessive use of water by apartment residents on San Gabriel Ave., the length of time on the restrictions, a policy to educate residents to utilize this resource better instead of a punitive policy, and to request the San Gabriel Water District to provide educational tools for residents. Moved by Boardmember Rocha, seconded by Boardmember Carrillo and carried,that pursuant to Azusa Approve Phase Municipal Code Section 78-505,and Rule No.21 of Azusa Light&Water Rules&Regulations,ratify the II Water Director of Utilities' declaration that a Phase II Water Shortage exists which means that conservation Restrictions measures are to be followed by customers in Azusa Light&Water's water service territory beginning on June 1, 2013; *Chairman Macias was absent from the discussion and action of this item. Authorization to Schedule and Notify Property Owners of Public Hearing for Refuse Rate Adjustment on Notice of June 17, 2013. Public Hearing on June 17 for Assistant Director Customer Care & Solutions Kalscheuer addressed the item stating that the exclusive Refuse Rate contract with Athens requires each year that rates be adjusted; a public hearing with a 45 day advance Adjustments notice is required for these rate changes;rates are adjusted based on the consumer price index(CPI),and the disposal charges at Puente Hills Landfill;he gave percentages of the increase and a comparison detailed history dating back to 2007. It was consensus of Council to add wording to the notice that "the Puente Hills Landfill will close in Amend Notice October 2013,and there is a strong possibility that it will have additional rate impact,"and to also include this information in the newsletter. Moved by Boardmember Carrillo, seconded by Boardmember Gonzales and unanimously carried to Approve authorize staff to print and mail a 45-day advanced notice of public hearing to be held June 17, 2013,to Notice Rate consider the annual refuse rate adjustment; and to include the added wording. Adjustments STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS Staff Rpts Morgan Meguire LLC Monthly Legislative Update. Utilities Director Morrow presented the Board updated information of the Legislative Update. Morgan Meguire LLC 04/22/2013 PAGE THREE The Board recessed at 7:31 p.m., reconvened at 7:41 p.m., and recessed to Closed Session to discuss the Recess following item: CLOSED SESSION Closed Sess CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Pursuant to California Anticipated Government Code Section 54956.9(c). Litigation v. One Potential Case: Successor Agency/City of Azusa/Azusa Utility v. State of California Department of State of Calif Finance, et. al. Present at Closed Session were: Boardmembers Macias, Gonzales, Rocha, Alvarez and Carrillo; City Manager Makshanoff,Public Works Director/Assistant City Manager Haes,Utilities Director Morrow and Attorney's from Burke Williams and Sorensen Law Firm Ms. J. Leah Castella and Mr.Ruben Dura,who are representing Azusa Light& Water. The Board reconvened at 8:25 p.m. Attorneys Castella and Dura, announced that there was no reportable action taken in closed session. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 8:25 P.M. Adjourn 4 Ir. NEXT RESOLUTION NO. 13-C27. *Chairman Macias stepped out of the meeting during the discussion and action of item relating to Phase II Water Restrictions,to attend a personal emergency. 04/22/2013 PAGE FOUR