MINUTES

DEPARTMENT OF WATER & POWER
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES FOR A REGULAR BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 28, 2004

A meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Department of Water & Power, City of Big Bear Lake, was called to order at 8:05 a.m., by Chairman Herrick, at the DWP Board Room, 41972 Garstin Drive, Big Bear Lake, California.

FLAG SALUTE: Led by Vice Chairman Etter

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:

Rick Herrick, Chairman
Eddie Etter, Vice Chairman
Susan Conley, Treasurer
Bill Speyers, Board Member
Barbara Willey, Board Member

BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED: None

OTHERS PRESENT:

Jerome D. Gruber, General Manager
Scott Heule, Assistant General Manager
Diane Muir, Office Manager
Steve Wilson, Water Superintendent
Darrell Mulvihill, Mayor ProTem
Neal Hertzman, City Council Member
Ken Dally, City Council Member
Marge McDonald, CSD Board Director
Rick Ollila, CSD Board Director
Liz Stevens, Big Bear News
Danielle Seckler, Bear Valley News
11 Members of the Public

ITEM NO. 2 - PUBLIC FORUM

Chairman Herrick opened up the meeting to public forum.

Joe Bradley, Chemistry Teacher at Big Bear High School, spoke to the Board against the proposed cloud seeding program. Mr. Bradley requested additional time to explain his environmental and ethical concerns regarding the proposed program. Attendees Gina Weiss, Sue Cuticle, and Carol Treadway offered to give their speaking time to Mr. Bradley in order to give Mr. Bradley additional time to speak to the Board regarding this subject. Mr. Bradley had concerns regarding the environmental impact of silver iodide on aquatic life in the lake and surrounding areas, and that the MWD's environmental writer omitted information that he felt was critical regarding the hazards of using silver iodide.

Rick Babin requested that the Board reconsider the current policy for collecting meter fees. He would like to pay for his meter as soon as his building permit becomes available, even if he needs to be on a waiting list. (Currently the DWP will allow contractors to purchase a meter up to three months in advance of the meter installation date. If all of the allotted meters are purchased within this three-month window, the remaining customers are placed on a waiting list on a first come basis. The Building and Safety Department will not issue a building permit until the meter is purchased). Chairman Herrick instructed staff to submit recommendations to the Board next month.

ITEM NO. 3 - CONSENT CALENDAR

Motion made by Treasurer Conley, seconded by Board Member Willey, and carried 5-0 to remove Items No. 3.1 and 3.6 from the Consent Calendar.

Motion made by Treasurer Conley, seconded by Board Member Willey, and carried 5-0 to approve the Consent Calendar.

ITEM NO. 4 - ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR

3.1.Minutes for August 24, 2004: Board Member Willey stated she would like to see more explanation on the minutes. Chairman Herrick stated he would like to review the minutes before receiving his agenda packet. Several items of the minutes were amended and the changes will be presented at the October Board Meeting for approval.

3.6.Proposal for Water Conservation Strategic Outreach Plan: Treasurer Conley requested more information on TRG & Associates marketing plan. General Manager Gruber explained the marketing plan in more detail. He thought that the DWP did a good job this year, and would like TRG & Associates to address the higher users beginning next spring. Treasurer Conley is happy with the marketing results this year, and would like to see a more in-depth proposal by TRG & Associates.

Chairman Herrick would also like the proposal to be more specific and suggested the proposal go to committee for review. It was decided the proposal should go to the Landscape and Conservation Committee, which will be meeting on October 13, 2004, with a recommendation to the Board at the October Board Meeting.

ITEM NO. 5 - PROPOSED WATER DEMAND OFFSET PLAN - 2ND DRAFT

General Manager Gruber gave an introduction to the proposed offset plan. Assistant General Manager Heule discussed the draft in more detail. Assistant General Manager Heule stated that the developer of a new subdivision would offset 1 EDU per lot and any remaining EDUs would be charged to the builder when the lot is developed. He also stated that staff would include procedures on how to manage the plan once the draft is completed. Staff requested direction from the Board as to whether or not to apply the offset program to all new connections or to new lots (subdivisions) only.

Chairman Herrick was concerned that the program would not be a true offset program if it were not applied to all new connections. He stated that those accounts paying a standby charge could possibly be charged less. Treasurer Conley stated that she thought the offset program was for all projects over the allotted 160 connections.

Chairman Herrick wanted to verify that all staff time would be covered with the offset fee, which Assistant General Manager Heule assured everyone that the intent was to have no additional cost to existing customers.

Vice Chairman Etter had some concerns regarding charging everyone the offset fee. He thought the offset program was for new developments only. If the offset program includes all new construction then Vice Chairman Etter felt the connection limit should be eliminated. He also wanted to know how we would find the houses to retrofit.

General Manager Gruber stated that once the offset program was implemented, staff would start a retrofit database. He also stated he didn't support an immediate lift in the connection limits until staff could determine the effectiveness of the program.

Treasurer Conley requested that staff answer these questions, and she would also like to see more procedures with the next draft. Board Member Speyers reminded everyone that there is also a political impact regarding limited growth and the need to educate the public on the offset program.

Chairman Herrick asked each Board Member if they would like to see the program implemented to all new connections or just new subdivisions:

Vice Chairman Etter stated that a true offset program should lift any connection limits, and he would like to review both suggestions but would support applying to all new connections.

Treasurer Conley stated that it is essential to prevent a moratorium by setting limitations, and that she is not ready to support the offset plan yet. She felt that the offset program should only be for those connections over the 160-connection limitation and for new subdivisions only.

Chairman Herrick supported the offset program being applied to all new connections.

Board Member Willey was in favor of the offset program being applied to all new connections, and she also wanted to continue the connection limitation. She would like the offset program to be implemented for at least a year before looking at lifting any connection limits.

Board Member Speyers had a question regarding the current fee of $1,000 that was added to the connection fee. He wanted to know if this fee would offset one home. Chairman Herrick stated that this fee was for future water source of supply only. Board Member Speyers then stated he would support the offset program being applied to all new connections.

Chairman Herrick called for a short break at 9:25 a.m. Chairman Herrick called the meeting back in session at 9:40 a.m.

ITEM NO. 6 - DRAFT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE

General Manager Gruber reviewed and discussed with the Board the first draft of the General Landscape Ordinance. He then turned the discussion over to the Landscape Committee Chairperson Conley. Chairperson Conley stated that the committee made every effort to be specific and would welcome any suggestions from the Board.

There was general discussion regarding the amount of turf allowed. Chairman Herrick stated that he thought the committee would recommend stricter actions by eliminating all new turf and only allowing drip irrigation. Board Member Speyers stated that 200-400 square feet of turf would be adequate but would support 500 square feet. Board Member Willey stated she agreed a small amount of turf should be available for children to play, and she would support 500 square feet. Chairman Herrick said he would support 500 square feet only if the ordinance mandated new underground technology for watering turf. (Staff was directed to do further research regarding this technology). Vice Chairman Etter stated 500 square feet was reasonable and could support up to 1,000 square feet. He also stated that the Board must be able to maintain some balance for the public.

CSD Board Member McDonald reminded the Board that the Fire Safe Council recommends having a lawn near the house to help prevent the spread of fire. Assistant General Manager Heule supports leaving the 1,000 square feet of turf to allow an area for children to play, and General Manager Gruber stated he would support 500 square feet, but he was concerned about the watering efficiency of any turf area.

After additional general discussion, Chairman Conley stated she would bring back a 2nd Draft to the October Board Meeting with the goal of submitting a final draft to the November Board Meeting. After the final draft is approved, the Ordinance will then need to go before the City Council for approval.

ITEM NO. 7 - WATER MASTER PLAN SCOPING AND SCHEDULE

Assistant General Manager Heule gave a brief overview of the scope of work prepared by CDM for the Water Master Plan. Chairman Herrick verified that the plan would be updated periodically and would not be set aside and never used. Per Assistant General Manager Heule, the plan will be fairly detailed for the first five years and include the best guess strategy through 20 years. He also stated that the last Water Master Plan was completed in 1997 and is still in constant use today. A formal scope and cost proposal from CDM will be presented at the October Board Meeting for possible Board approval.

ITEM NO. 8 - TELEPHONE/DISPATCH CLERK UPGRADE

Office Manager Muir requested that the Board approve an upgrade in the seasonal position for the Telephone/Dispatch Clerk.

Motion made by Treasurer Conley, seconded by Board Member Speyers, and carried 5-0 to upgrade the Telephone/Dispatch Clerk to a full-time position.

ITEM NO. 9 - CITY REPORTS

City Council Member Hertzmann reported that Joe Bradley gave a similar report on cloud seeding to City Council and that he intends to do some additional investigation. Treasurer Conley agreed that there was more information to check, and she will be speaking to Sheila Hamilton at MWD. Chairman Herrick agreed that all the Board Members need to educate themselves and get back to MWD General Manager Hamilton with any suggestions or concerns.

City Council Member Hertzmann stated that the City Council Members also discussed the proposed pool, fire safety, the PAC marquee, and the Big Box issue (size limitation on businesses).

ITEM NO. 10 - BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

There were no Board Member reports.

Chairman Herrick called a 15-minute recess at 11:10 a.m. Chairman Herrick called the closed session meeting to order at 11:22 a.m.

ITEM NO. 11 - CLOSED SESSION

CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR Pursuant to Section 54956.9

(a) Property: APN #304-126-04 (Geibelhouse)

No reportable action taken.

(b) Property: APN #306-086-18 (39121 Robin Rd.-Loftis)

No reportable action taken.

ITEM NO. 12 - ADJOURN

There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairman Herrick adjourned the meeting at 11:46 a.m.

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Diane Muir
Office Manager
Acting Secretary to the Board

Approved at meeting dated:

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