Minutes of February 25, 2008
Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the business office at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Present were Directors Kraynek, Ball, Dill, Schwartz, and O’Brien. Also present were Superintendent Mike Kelley and Secretary Jodi Mitchell.
1. Minutes of January 28, 2008
Correction: Page 1, Section 4(a), last Paragraph:
Any increase in the equipment replacement fund would require introduction
and adoption or of an Ordinance to increase the current monthly fees.
Correction: Page 4, January Monthly Report, Paragraph 4,
Line 3: Titan was also building vice a vise and spare tire mounting
brackets……..
MOTION Schwartz/Kraynek: To approve the minutes of January 28,
2008, as corrected.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Directors Kraynek, Ball, Dill, Schwartz
and O’Brien
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
2. Communications
3. Public Comment
4. New Business
5. Water Management
a. Hydrological Study Approval Extension
1. Thomas Thomson, 45081 Cahto Street, APN 119-160-15
An application for a Groundwater Extraction Permit Application
Approval Extension was reviewed for Thomas Thomson, 45081 Cahto Street.
The GWEP application approval would automatically expire on March 25, 2008,
if the conditions of the approval were not met.
A sewer lateral connection fee was paid and the sewer lateral had been
installed. The application approval had been extended every two years
since 2002. Director Kraynek inquired and staff responded that there
was no limit to the number of groundwater extraction permit or hydrological
study permit extensions. Superintendent Kelley explained that there
was a cumulative effect clause in the Groundwater Extraction Permit Ordinance
that would require any new development to determine the cumulative effects
on the aquifer and any effect on hydrologically contiguous wells.
Bud Kamb, representing Mr. Thomson, stated that he was out of
the Country. Mr. Kamb suggested that the District should give an
explanation to the property owner why the 2-year extension was required.
He noted that applicants risk the possibility of their permit expiring
when they have already made substantial financial investments for their
project.
MOTION Schwartz/Kraynek: To approve the Groundwater Extraction
Permit Application Approval Extension
for Thomas Thomson for APN 119-160-15,
for a period of two years.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Directors Kraynek, Ball, Dill, Schwartz
and O’Brien
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
2. Beacon Property Associates, 45066 Ukiah Street, APN 119-233-08
Allan Cone, Beacon Property Associates submitted an application
for a Hydrological Study Approval Extension. The Hydrological Study
was approved on March 29, 2006, and has had one two-year extension.
The approval would expire on March 29, 2008. Three parcels share
a common water system, and an aquifer test and hydrological study proved
adequate water for the existing development and proposed development for
all three parcels.
MOTION Schwartz/Dill: To accept the Hydrological Study Approval
Extension for Beacon Property Associates
for APN 119-233-08 for a period of
two-years.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Directors Kraynek, Ball, Dill, Schwartz
and O’Brien
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
b. Resolution No. 205 – A Resolution of the Mendocino City Community
Services District to Declare the End of a Stage 1 Water
Shortage
Superintendent Kelley provided a Memorandum dated February 19,
2008, regarding the Resolution to declare the end of a Stage 1 Water Shortage.
On September 24, 2007, the MCCSD Board of Directors declared a Stage 1
Water Shortage due to 25% below normal rainfall in Mendocino. Property
owners were asked to voluntarily reduce their water use by 10%. The
Water Shortage was re-evaluated on December 31, 2007, and the Contingency
Plan recommended continuation of the Stage 1 Water Shortage based on depth-to-water
measurements taken in 5 key drought monitoring wells. Based on the
rainfall record collected on January 31, 2008, the drought plan indicated
there was sufficient rainfall to end the current Stage 1 Water Shortage.
At the end of January 2008, MCCSD measured 24.76 inches of precipitation.
Director Schwartz suggested that the Water Companies, such as
the Hills Ranch Mutual Water Company, should be notified of the District’s
water shortages, so they could send a notice to the property owners with
their water bill. Staff noted that the notice of the water shortage
was mailed to all property owners within the District, including Hills
Ranch Mutual Water Company. Director Schwartz thought the notice
would have been more noticeable if it had been received with the water
bill, instead of the sewer bill.
Resolution No. 205 was presented, A Resolution of the Mendocino
City Community Services District to Declare the End of a Stage 1 Water
Shortage.
MOTION Schwartz/Kraynek: To waive the reading of Resolution No.
205.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Directors Kraynek, Ball, Dill, Schwartz
and O’Brien
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION: Schwartz/Ball: To adopt Resolution No. 205, A Resolution of the Mendocino City Community Services District to Declare the End of a Stage 1 Water Shortage.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Directors Kraynek, Ball, Dill, Schwartz
and O’Brien
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
6. Old Business
7. Attorney’s Report
Attorney Jackson provided information regarding the legal requirements
for District purchases. The bidding requirements for a Community
Services District were $25,000.00. Based on the $25,000 threshold,
the installation of the proposed generator would require formal bidding
procedures. It was noted that the District was not at that point
yet, and was working on obtaining specifications and information regarding
the District needs.
The Board discussed the proposed new generator cost issues, the
Heeser Drive road access to the lift station, a new building, and whether
any modifications would be needed to the old generator, which was planned
for re-location to the lift station. Any modification to the Heeser
Drive lift station would require a survey and drawings for road access,
building plans, and installation of a propane tank. These actions
would require the approval of several agencies, including State Parks,
Coastal Commission, Mendocino Historical Review Board, and the Planning
& Building Department.
Superintendent Kelley commented that San Luis Obispo was recently
fined $40,000 for a 20,000 gallon sewage spill, and noted that the Heeser
Drive lift station was particularly vulnerable for spills.
8. District Superintendent’s Report
a. Monthly Superintendent’s Report
During the month of February, the treatment plant operated normally.
Plant personnel performed routine plant maintenance and equipment repair.
Staff was installing a chemical feeder system to treat the plant
effluent. A solution of calcium thiosulfate would be injected into
the flow equalization pond to remove the chlorine residual prior to discharge
to the outfall. It is believed that past chronic toxicity test results
may have been impacted by the residual chlorine in the effluent.
Plant personnel have completed an audit of the treatment plant’s
electrical load, which was needed to determine the size of the proposed
replacement generator. Jones Electric had submitted the data to General
Corp., so they could provide a recommendation on the size unit needed to
operate the plant.
Skip Jones ordered a new governor for the old generator, which
should improve its performance. When the unit is replaced in the
future, the old generator would be used to operate the Heeser Drive lift
station.
Aerator #1 and #2 had been rebuilt and would be reinstalled during
March 2008.
No recycled water was transferred to the High School during the
month of February.
Staff took their regular monthly safety meeting online.
The Safety Officer also conducted the monthly safety inspection of the
plant.
b. Public Notice of Available it MCCD Annual Reports – 2007
Notice was given that MCCSD’s Annual Reports for 2007 were available
for public review:
1) Regional Water Quality Control Board Annual Self-Monitoring
Report, 2) MCCSD Collection System Report, and 3) MCCSD Source Control
Report.
9. Committee Updates
The Plant Operations Committee met and reviewed two elements
of the Sanitary Sewer Management Plan, which would be on next month’s agenda
for review and action; 1)Goals and 2) Organization.
Director Ball offered to assist District staff with modification to the District’s website, so the agenda, minutes, and other information could be provided to the public.
10. District Secretary’s Report
Cash Disbursements
MOTION Schwartz/Dill: To approve total disbursements in the amount
of $66,418.54, noting checks
#8110 - #8113 and #8138
were void.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Directors Kraynek, Ball, Dill, Schwartz
and O’Brien
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
While discussing fuel dryer costs, check #8152, and the biosolids hauling, Superintendent Kelley noted that the Contra Costa Landfill had closed. Biosolids were now hauled even a greater distance, and in some instances, out of the State. The District’s biosolids were currently transported to the Redwood Landfill. The Board was frustrated that the District had gone to a great expense to install expensive equipment in a new building to create a Class A quality biosolids. The Board was dismayed that raw septage, chicken poop and horse manure could be applied to the ground, with no problem, but Class A treated biosolids have to be taken out of the County and or State. Consensus of the Board was for Staff to follow up with California Association of Sanitation Agencies, and communications with the State.
11. Matters from Board Members
Director Dill noted that he contacted the Mendocino County Planning
and Building Department regarding the residence located at 11250 Lansing
Street, and they indicated the residence was utilizing the existing leach
lines.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jodi Mitchell
District Secretary