VANDENBERG VILLAGE CO~ TY SERVICES DIS1RICT

Transcription

1 VANDENBERG VILLAGE CO~ TY SERVICES DIS1RICT 3757 Constellation Road Vandenberg Village Lompoc, CA Telephone: (805) Fax: (805) "Pride in Community Service" org MINUTES Regular Meeting August 1, CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Brooks who led the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. ROLL CALL: Directors Blair, Brooks, Bumpass, and Wyckoff were present. Director Fox arrived at 7:05 p.m. OTHERS PRESENT Joe Barget, General Manager; Cynthia Allen, Administrative Services (AS) Manager; and Mike Garner, Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Manager; and approximately 24 members of the public. 3. ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS TO AGENDA There were no additions or deletions to the agenda. 4. PUBLIC FORUM President Brooks invited public comments and there were none. 5. OPERATIONS REPORT O&M Manager Garner reported the District pumped 88.6 million gallons of water for the months of June and July with an average daily demand of 1.5 million gallons a day. This was 9 percent less than last year. Vandenberg Village received no rain in June and July, total rainfall for the calendar year remains at inches. Well levels (below ground surface) for July were ', 3A-141 ', and '. The groundwater levels are staying steady.

2 Page 2 Seventeen gate valves with dresser couplings have been ordered to replace 40- to 50-year-old valves. The contract for installation will go out to bid at the end of August. Field crew will be replacing 28 aging hydrants with new wet-barrel hydrants over the next year. A contract was signed with Smith & Loveless to manufacture a replacement equipment package for Lift Station 1 for $77,000. Phoenix Engineering is designing the new pad, electrical panel, and wet well for the station. Fisher Pump & Well Service will pull Well 1 B for 5-year routine maintenance on August 3. The column pipe, shaft and bowls will be inspected and replaced if needed for $40,0000. The 1 DO-horsepower motor will be sent to Perry's Electric Motors & Controls to check bearings and windings, and refurbish the motor if necessary. A California Conservation Corps crew cleared brush and trimmed trees to re-open the road from Lift Station 1 to Site 2. RL Johnson Construction graded the road and field crew added asphalt chippings. The field crew replaced four angle-stop shut off valves and three 1-inch service lines. There were no sewer system overflows in June or July. To conclude his report, O&M Manager Garner recognized a dedicated employee, Patty LeCavalier for 14 years of service with the District. 6. ADMINISTRATION REPORT _ AS Manager Allen said permits for the new administrative office were received in June and the request for bids has been issued to remodel the office. Staff is looking at a summer 2018 move-in date. 7. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Minutes from the Regular Meeting on June 6, 2017 B. Minutes of the Special Meeting on June 21, 2017 C. Treasurer Report 1) Disbursements through July 31, 2017

3 Minutes - August 1, 2017 Page 3 2) Schedule of Investments 3) Approval of Monthly Financials General Manager Barget reported the District issued a check for $85,249 to pay off the remainder.of its $2.2 million share of the city of Lompoc's 2007 Revenue Bonds. These 30-year bonds were used to fund a portion of the Lompoc Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (LRWRP) Upgrade Project and the District paid off its share of this debt 20 years early. Motion by Director Blair, seconded by Director Wyckoff to accept the consent calendar as presented. Ayes: Noes: Abstain: Absent: Directors Blair, Brooks, Bumpass, Fox and Wyckoff 8. ACTION ITEM A. Lompoc Regional Wastewater Reclamation Plant (LRWRP) Upgrade Charge [Public Hearing] President Brooks opened the public hearing at 7: 15 p.m. and invited comments. Donald Smith of 3938-A Mesa Circle Drive: If the LRWRP charge is moved from the monthly bill to the tax bill, will this change the workload at the District or the county? General Manager Barget said the county would not be affected and the only impact at the District could be a slight increase in work once a year to gather information and report to the county. Ed Phenicie of 4169 Vanguard: When will the LRWRP Upgrade Charge be paid off? General Manager Barget said AS Manager Allen said billing information has to be submitted to the county every year, so when the charge is paid off the District will no longer submit any information.

4 Page 4 Mark Schoning of 4020 Altair Place: Other parts of the WCSD bill could be collected on the tax bill. Why is the LRWRP the only charge being considered? General Manager Barget said this is similar to a bond charge and the property tax bill is an appropriate place to collect bond charges. Moving other fixed charges to the tax bill could be looked at in the future. David Ybarra of 3825 Saturn Avenue: Would like to see all his utilities on the property tax bill to take advantage of write-offs. Terry Forester of 100 Inverness Avenue: Mr. Forester said utilities can only be a tax benefit if paid by the property owner. The LRWRP Charge should be paid by the person(s) living in the house, not put on the tax bill. Todd Larson of 531 Carina Drive: Would like the tax benefit by moving the LRWRP Charge to the tax bill. Mark Schoning of 4020 Altair Place: Homeowners will only benefit if taxes are itemized, and concerned that property owners who don't itemize might not have the ability to pay a large amount two times a year. Cherre Morgan of 3897 Jupiter Avenue: Mrs. Morgan does not want the LRWRP Charge added to their tax bill. Board Secretary Garner reported 11 letters and s were received: 9 against and 2 in favor of moving the LRWRP Charge to the tax bill. President Brooks closed the public hearing at 7:31 p.m. Director Fox said constituents he's talked to were spilt 50/50 on the issue. Directors Blair and Wyckoff are in favor of the change. Director Bumpass spoke to residents and said there are equal views for and against, but he leans in favor of the change. President Brooks said there would only be a small tax benefit. Pat Fresh of 3938-A Mesa Circle: Does staff know how much revenue has been lost from vacant properties and how much money would come from the county? General Manager Barget did not have a dollar amount but there are typically vacant homes at any

5 Page 5 time, for as much as six months of the year. Ms. Fresh said there are approximately six empty units within the three Home Owners Association's where she lives. Cindy Eisen of 4415 Falcon Drive: Would like to pay only taxes on the "tax bill" and pay utilities separately. President Brooks said the tax benefit isn't significant enough to make the change and leans toward keeping the charge on the WCSD bill. Motion by Director Blair, seconded by Director Wyckoff to adopt Resolution electing to have Lompoc Regional Wastewater Reclamation Plant Upgrade Charge collected on the tax roll for fiscal year ; and to approve the Contract for Collection of Special Taxes, Assessments, and Other Charges with Santa Barbara County and authorize the General Manager to sign it. Roll call vote: Ayes: Noes: Abstain: Absent: Directors Wyckoff, Blair, Bumpass and Fox Director Brooks Resolution is adopted 9. REPORTS A. Committees Finance/Budget Committee met and discussed changing the water rate structure from four tiers to one or two. There is another meeting scheduled on August 25 at 3:00 p. m. to continue the discussion. Ad Hoc Committee for the new administrative building met to discuss design plans. Directors Brooks and Wyckoff are looking forward to the renovation of the building.

6 Minutes - August 1, 2017 Page 6 B. District Representatives to External Agencies Director Blair attended Santa Barbara County Chapter of the California Special Districts Association meeting at the Isla Vista Park and Recreation Office on July 24. C. President President Brooks said he and Kristina McManigal, Water Conservation Coordinator, met with Principal Wagonseller at Cabrillo High School on June 2. Students completed a water conservation project which was funded by the District's conservation funds. He also recognized O&M Manager Garner for the excellent video he shot with his drone showing the test well project at the old County Fire Station 51. O&M Manager Garner said the purpose of drilling the test well is to check the quantity and quality of water for a new well site. To conclude his report, President Brooks said the District hosted a special meeting on June 21, inviting Kathy Tiegs, President of the Association of California Water Agencies, and other community members. D. General Manager Report General Manager Barget said the County Board of Supervisors approved the County Flood Control's Annual Routine Maintenance Plan for FY at their July 11 meeting. The 2,000-foot portion of Davis Creek adjacent to the District's paved access road to Well Site 1 was included in this year's plan. The General Manager has requested permission from State Lands Commission (SLC), the landowner, to do the work. Althouse and Meade completed a protocol level survey for the California Red-legged Frog (CRLF) in 2016 which found no frogs. Althouse and Meade's CRLF survey report and detailed information on Davis Creek vegetation have been furnished to SLC. Althouse and Meade is close to finalizing their biological assessment on the large portion of the Burton Mesa Ecological

7 Page 7 Reserve which includes Davis Creek, the back road to Well Site 1, waterline easements, and future well site alternatives. General Manager Barget met with Christopher Townsend and Chelsea Vongehr, of Townsend Public Affairs, on July 6. Townsend is a lobbying firm that may be able to assist the District in securing leases from the SLC for the back road and future well site. To conclude his report, he said Moss, Levy & Hartzheim will conduct the annual audit August INFORMATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE Invitation for Bid, Remodel Office Building 11. DIRECTORS' FORUM Director Fox said he will be having a heart operation in the future and has appreciated everyone's support. Director Bumpass appreciated seeing so many members of the public at tonight's meeting. Director Blair thanked all the staff for their efforts and said Kathy Tiegs appreciated and enjoyed the hospitality she received at the special meeting in June. President Brooks' closing comment was that even though Directors may have different views, they are all there to serve the community. 12. ADJOURN President Brooks declared the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Attest: Signed: Directors Christ her C. Brooks President, Board of Directors