ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Goleta Water District COMMITTEE DIRECTORS Bill Rosen, Chair Lauren Hanson Alternate: Bert Bertrando MEETING AGENDA Wednesday, August 29, :00 AM GOLETA WATER DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS BOARD HEARING ROOM 4699 Hollister Ave, Goleta CA Persons may address the Committee on any matter listed on the agenda by completing and delivering to the Board Secretary a speaker slip before the item is considered. Matters not listed on the agenda may be addressed during the public comment period at the conclusion of the administrative agenda. Further information on agenda items can be obtained from the Board Secretary at the District Headquarters. PAGE 1

2 Board Meeting Procedures The Administration Committee is an advisory body for the Goleta Water District. Persons are encouraged to attend and testify before the Committee on any matter appearing on the agenda. Correspondence to the Committee regarding items appearing on the agenda should be directed to the Secretary of the Board, 4699 Hollister Ave., Goleta, CA For information regarding the meetings of the Committee including specific meeting times contact the Assistant Secretary of the Board at (805) The schedule of the Committee and meeting are available on the Internet at Late Distribution Any disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and distributed by the Secretary of the Board to all or a majority of the members of the Committee less than 72 hours prior to that meeting are available for inspection in the Assistant Secretary of the Board s office, 4699 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA. Disability Access The Board of Directors Hearing Room is located at 4699 Hollister Ave, Goleta and is wheelchair accessible. Accessible public parking is available in front of the building. Should special assistance be required to participate in this meeting, please contact the Assistant Secretary to the Board at (805) Translation Services Upon request, the Board of Directors will make a reasonable effort to provide translation services. Please contact the Assistant Secretary to the Board at (805) Closed Session The Committee may conduct a Closed Session on particular agendas as necessary. Closed Sessions are not open to the public. Matters discussed during Closed Session include existing and pending litigation, personnel matters and real property negotiations. Actions taken by the Committee during Closed Session will be announced during open session (Gov. Code Sections (a)&(b), Ralph M. Brown Act). PAGE 2

3 10:00 AM Convene to Regular Session Public Comment Period The public comment period is reserved for comment on the matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Committee. Each person may address the Committee at the discretion of the Chair. Departmental Agenda 1) DIRECTOR COMPENSATION OFFICE OF THE GENERAL MANAGER Receive a report on Director compensation and the legal requirements of making changes to current levels and provide direction to staff as appropriate. (EST. TIME: 20 MIN.) 2) DIRECTOR CORRESPONDENCE: CODE CLARIFICATIONS, TEMPLATE AND NAME-TAGS OFFICE OF THE GENERAL MANAGER Consider revisions to Goleta Water District Code Section (Outgoing correspondence; Use of District logo) and related templates and name-tags and provide direction to staff as appropriate. (EST. TIME: 15 MIN.) 3) UNITED STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION TITLE TRANSFER STATUS UPDATE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL MANAGER Receive a report on activities regarding title transfer of United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) assets, and provide direction to staff as appropriate. (EST. TIME: 15 MIN.) 4) INVESTMENT REPORT JULY 31, 2012 ADMINISTRATION Receive and file the investment report through July 31, 2012 and provide direction to staff as appropriate, including forwarding to the Board of Directors for receipt and filing. (EST. TIME: 5 MIN.) Adjourn to September 26, 2012 GOLETA WATER DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS BOARD HEARING ROOM 4699 Hollister Ave, Goleta CA PAGE 3

4 GOLETA WATER DISTRICT REGULAR ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 29, :03 a.m. Convened to regular session Present: President Rosen, Chair; Director Hanson Others Present: John McInnes, General Manager; Dave Matson, Assistant General Manager; Matt Anderson, Administration Manager/CFO; Tom Bunosky, Operations Manager; Tom Evans, Civil Engineer; Chris Rich, Water Supply & Conservation Manager; Fran Farina, General Counsel; Beth Horn, Assistant Board Secretary Members of the Public: none Public Comment: There was no public comment. Departmental Agenda: 1. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION: The Committee received a report from Mr. McInnes and Mr. Matson regarding history of the Goleta Water District s Board member compensation and legal requirements for making changes to current levels of compensation. The Committee discussed the issue of raising Board member s compensation as it has remained static since April 2001 at $150 per meeting. Chair Rosen indicated this item should be referred to the Board for consideration on the basis that there has been no increase in director compensation for more than ten (10) years; that the Board has exercised its power in a manner favorable to the District and its customers and that Board members have earned an increase in compensation. In addition if the Board acts now, the increase would be effective after the new term begins. Director Hanson was not in favor of considering the issue at this time. After further discussion, the Committee directed the General Manager to conduct an analysis which includes a comparison of District Board members compensation with members of other agencies, and to continue this item at the next Committee meeting. 2. DIRECTOR CORRESPONDENCE: CODE CLARIFICATIONS, TEMPLATE AND NAME-TAGS: President Rosen mentioned at his request, the subject of making revisions to Goleta Water District Code Section regarding outgoing correspondence, use of the District logo, related templates, and name-tags is on the agenda. Currently, Code A reads: Outgoing correspondence on official business shall be prepared on templates approved by the board of directors that include the district logo and contain the author s signature appearing over the title of board president or board vice president in lieu of the president, or designated representative to other agencies as appropriate. President Rosen explained that a few weeks ago, ACWA (Association of California Water Agencies) (an organization which works for California water agencies and monitors the State Legislature for bills that are harmful to the interests of water agencies) urged that letters of opposition from water agencies be written to California State Senators and Assembly Members regarding AB685 pending in the State Legislature. The legislation could be interpreted as preventing the collection of past due water bills or affecting the ability of water agencies to turn off water to customers who have failed to pay their bill on time. The communications from ACWA urging a letter be sent were urgent in that State Senate Committee action was imminent. Rosen said he issued a letter on his personal stationery in opposition of AB685. President Rosen pointed out current Goleta Water District Code Section is unclear, unworkable and no templates were approved for as provided in the Code. Rosen sought a further clarification of the form Directors may use to communicate when representing the District and Board of Directors. The Committee discussed: the fact that the Board has not approved a template and directed the topic be forwarded to the Board of Directors for consideration without a recommendation at the September 11 th Board meeting. Director Hanson requested a copy of President Rosen s opposition letter be included in the packet for the Board s review. PAGE 4

5 3. UNITED STATES BUREAU OF RECLATION TITLE TRANSFER STATUS UPDATE: The Committee received a report from Mr. Matson and Mr. Rich regarding activities for the title transfer of United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) assets: The original 1948 Federal authorization of the Cachuma Project included a separate repayment contract between USBR and the District solely for the Distribution System. In 2002, the District completed payments to the USBR and in 2004, the District entered into title transfer discussions with the Federal Government. Research of Congressional records indicates the Federal Government has been actively seeking to transfer USBR facilities across the Western United States. Doing so relieves the Federal Government of a burden of inspecting facilities on a regular basis, and provides clear control of water distribution systems to local agencies. Between 2004 and 2009, the District fulfilled preliminary requirements necessary to initiate the Federal legislative process, including holding public meetings and completing an Environmental Assessment in coordination with the USBR. On March 30 th, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 that included Section 9203 Goleta Water District Water Distribution System authorizing the transfer of title for certain federally owned distribution system facilities to Goleta Water District. Legislation specified that Agreement 07-LC (the Agreement) shall be entered between the United Stated and the District to effectuate the title transfer. Until the District formally completes the transfer of these assets, USBR remains the owner. Since 2009, the District has continued to work with USBR to identify, catalog, and reconcile the body of documentation needed to complete the transfer. USBR has, in turn, continued to perform their responsible tasks to facilitate the transfer such as compilation of title documentation, easement records, and a hazardous materials inspection and declaration. The distribution system referred to in USBR plans and maps includes vital portions of the Districts asset base: miles of pipeline, laterals, end drains, pressure relief valves, air vacuum valves, pressure regulators, division gates, line valves, fire hydrants, the San Antonio Booster Pump Station, the Glen Annie Pump Station, as well as 1,200-1,300 easements associated with these facilities. Now, as a final action USBR wishes to transfer title to these assets and associated easements to the District. In preparing for the final step in the transfer, which is signing of the Agreement, a multi-departmental team of District staff was assembled to review the project record, identify key remaining issues, develop tasks to resolve these issues, and make recommendations as how best to proceed. The remaining tasks have been organized by categories: Operational, Financial, Regulatory/Legal, and Policy. Staff is currently actively reviewing each deed deemed to be transferred, and subsequently mapping those assets to reconcile with USBR record maps and pipeline segments described in the District s Geographical Information System (GIS). Preliminary research indicates many easements associated with the transfer were acquired via condemnation proceedings without final documentation being recorded at the local Recorder s office, and the information is likely to be contained in court records at the Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles. Also, staff is in the process of determining long-term costs of the operation, maintenance, and replacement of those transferred facilities that are considered to be the backbone of the District s system. Initial costs associated with preliminary analysis of the USBR Title Transfer project are included in the FY Budget. Depending on the outcome of initial research and analysis, development of a transfer instrument will be necessary and will include financial analysis as well as legal analysis to ensure the District s interests are protected. Staff will provide the Committee updates as necessary regarding results of further research efforts on the title transfer of USBR s assets. PAGE 5

6 4. INVESTMENT REPORT JULY 31, 2012: The Committee received a report from Mr. Anderson regarding the Investment Report dated July 31 st, The Committee directed the report be forwarded to the Board of Directors for receipt and filing at the September 11 th Board meeting. 11:20 a.m..meeting adjourned. Prepared by Beth Horn, Assistant Board Secretary, and reviewed by President Rosen, Chair. PAGE 6