SLVWD Board Meeting Summary
October 17, 2024
Mark Dolson
Highlights:
5-Mile Pipeline Environmental Review Contract
Long Service Line Agreement for APN-087-054-01
Interim General Manager Contract
Next Board meeting will be at 6:30 PM on November 7, 2024
Preliminaries
President Hill was absent. Vice President Smolley ran the meeting.
Vice President Smolley said there was nothing to report from the just-concluded Closed Session.
There were no changes to the agenda and no public comments.
Unfinished Business
None.
New Business
5-Mile Pipeline Environmental Review Contract
Environmental Planner Chris Klier introduced this agenda item. The first phase of the 5-Mile Pipeline replacement will be removal of hazardous trees along the bench. These hazardous trees pose a danger to both crews working on the Pipeline replacement and the integrity of the Pipeline once reconstructed. In August 2024, the District completed an extensive tree survey and inventory. Approximately 750 trees were identified as hazardous and requiring removal.
The District is pursuing a contract with the California Conservation Corps (CCC) to complete the hazardous tree removal. The CCC has grant funding to provide a crew for the hazardous tree work, which would provide an estimated $390,000 of labor to the District. The grant-funded crew is booked on a first-come first-serve basis, so moving forward quickly with environmental review will allow the District to get the crew scheduled. Following hazardous tree removal, the project will consist of Pipeline bench clearing/repair and Pipeline reconstruction. The District plans to pursue an additional contract with the CCC to perform these activities.
Prior to moving ahead with any Pipeline replacement activities, including hazardous tree removal, the District must complete multiple environmental review and permitting processes. First, the project must meet the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Next, the District must meet FEMA Environmental Historic Preservation (EHP) standards to be eligible for a 90% reimbursement of project costs from FEMA. The District qualifies for reimbursement eligibility because the Pipeline was destroyed in the CZU Fire, a FEMA-declared emergency.
On August 27, 2024, the District released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a qualified consultant to conduct biological and cultural studies and prepare environmental documentation for the project. The consultant will have the following goals:
1) Determine CEQA permitting pathway.
2) Prepare CEQA and FEMA documents and permitting.
3) Coordinate and consult with the appropriate regulatory agencies.
The District received seven proposals from the qualified consultants listed below. Proposal budgets are reported without Initial Study-Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS-MND) costs, as most proposals budgeted this as an optional task. Those with IS-MND baked it into their budget are indicated with a *.
• Aspen Environmental Group - $253,000*
• Denise Duffy & Associates - $98,000
• Harris & Associates - $90,000
• LSA Associates - $114,000
• Panorama Environmental - $110,000
• Soar Environmental Consulting - $390,000
• Surf to Snow Environmental Resource Management - $267,000*
Harris & Associates, Inc. received the highest proposal score due to their thorough understanding of the scope of services, efficiency of budget and schedule, and experience with similar projects.
Director Largay commented that Harris is very professional, and he was comfortable with this choice. Director Layng asked why the below-ground option was still being considered. Chris explained that this was a misunderstanding: the pipeline will be above-ground, but displaced soil might possibly be piled on top of it. Director Fultz reminded everyone that the Board has only decided to replace the Peavine Pipeline above-ground. The 5-Mile Pipeline plan remains open. Chris responded that removal of hazardous trees was an essential first step in either scenario. Director Fultz also asked whether an IS-MND would be needed. Chris said probably not, but possibly so.
Director Fultz asked whether FEMA has agreed to 90% for this project. Christ said it was from the same emergency as the Peavine Pipeline, but he wasn’t sure if the District had initiated the process with FEMA. In response to a further question from Director Fultz, he said the plan was to cut the trees and leave them there (i.e., “lop and scatter”).
Vice President Smolley had some additional minor comments. He said the responses made him think the RFP was well-enough written that most firms understood what the District was seeking. He appreciated that the District was able to get seven responses.
There were two public comments. Nicole Launder Berridge of Bracken Brae said FEMA had agreed to cover 90% of CZU Fire damage. Karen Brown of Boulder Creek had a lengthy comment about the District irresponsibly paying multiple times for the same work, but this was based on a total lack of understanding on her part.
Vice President Smolley moved to approve the agreement with Harris & Associates to conduct the 5-Mile Pipeline Replacement Environmental Review for an amount not to exceed $89,831 and authorize the Engineering Manager to execute the agreement. Director Layng seconded.
The motion passed 4-0.
Director Largay urged Staff to move quickly based on his own prior experience with hazardous tree removal – over time, additional trees can become hazardous.
Long Service Line Agreement for APN-087-054-01
District Engineer Garrett Roffe introduced this agenda item. He explained that this agreement was for a new meter set for a customer on the north end of the District. There is no water main in front of the property. The customer will have to get an easement from their neighbor.
There was very little further discussion. Vice President Smolley asked if the District could verify that the customer was complying with specific requirements, and Garrett said it could.
There was one public comment. Bruce Holloway of Boulder Creek asked if this property was located outside the District, and Garrett clarified that it was within the District.
Vice President Smolley moved to adopt the resolution to approve the agreement and authorize the engineering manager to proceed. Director Fultz seconded.
The motion passed 4-0.
Interim General Manager Contract
Legal Counsel Barbara Brenner introduced this agenda item. She said the Board had interviewed a few different candidates to fill the Interim General Manager position that has been vacant since July. The Board selected John Kunkel. Due to his retirement status, John is restricted to 960 hours of service. The agreement will commence October 28th, and it can be extended beyond the end of the Fiscal Year upon Board approval. John will be paid at an hourly rate of $96.15 and will receive $3000 per month for housing. He has the right to terminate the agreement with 30 days’ notice.
John Kunkel briefly introduced himself via Zoom due to a prior out-of-state commitment. He said he served 19 years as chief of police for the city of Exeter in California and later became its City Manager. He went on to become city manager for the cities of Kerman and Buellton and interim city manager for the cities of Manzanita, Oregon and, most recently Huron in Fresno County. He said he looked forward to working with the Board and Staff. He also said he wanted everyone to know that he had an open-door policy that applies to board members, Staff, and citizens. John said his wife and he had found a residence near the District office, and they were planning to move in next week. Lastly, John encouraged anyone to drop in and see him anytime that he was in the office.
The Board members welcomed John to the District. Vice President Smolley said the Board was not looking at John as a candidate for the permanent General Manager position. Rather, they were seeking his help in finding a permanent General Manager. He said the District already has Staff that is very competent for operating a water system, and John’s contribution will come from his management experience.
There was one public comment. Bruce Holloway of Boulder Creek asked whether it would be feasible to develop consolidation agreements with Bracken Brae and Forest Springs during the next six months. Vice President Smolley said he didn’t know.
Vice President Smolley moved to appoint John Kunkel as Interim General Manager and approve the employment agreement. Director Layng seconded.
The motion passed 4-0.
Consent Agenda
There were five items on the Consent Agenda:
a. Fall Creek Fish Ladder Change Order
b. Finance Disbursement List
c. Quarterly Reports
d. Board Minutes from 9.19.24
e. Board Minutes from 10.03.24
Director Fultz pulled item (c) in order to ask some clarifying questions. He also noted that Quarterly Reports are typically not included in the Consent Agenda.
With regard to the Peavine Pipeline, Director Fultz asked about the details of a table, and Chris explained that the figures included the time required both for rebuilding the trail and for building the pipeline.
Director Fultz asked if the Felton Heights tank was good to go. Garrett said it was, but the District needed to decide whether to buy the property or get an easement. There was a meeting with the landowner and a neighborhood representative this spring. The owner had some concerns that were referred for legal review. The District is currently awaiting a site plan which will determine the required size.
With regard to the Sandhills Habitat Conservation Plan, Director Fultz sought an updated status. Chris said the consultants had finished reviewing the first two chapters and were drafting the third. He said progress has been slow due to numerous interruptions and also due to the need to consult with relevant agencies. Director Fultz noted that the recent agreement with Robson Homes increases the time-criticality.
Director Fultz also expressed concern about the slow progress on FEMA reimbursements. Vice President Smolley asked Staff to come back to the Board with an update.
Director Fultz wondered why there hadn’t been much 2024 activity on grants. Chris said the District was limited by Staff capacity and was focused on utilizing the funds it already has. The District is continuing to work with its grant-writing consultant, but she bills only for time and materials.
There was one public comment. Bruce Holloway of Boulder Creek asked about a specific payment in the most recent list of paid bills, and Chris explained that this was for a fish count.
Nicole Launder Berridge of Bracken Brae asked Chris if the District was pursuing block grant matching for FEMA (with an upcoming deadline of October 31st). Chris said he couldn’t comment, and Nicole said she would send some relevant information that might enable the District to recover the remaining 10% of costs.
The Board voted unanimously first to accept items (a), (b), (d), and (e) and then to adopt a resolution in support of item (c).
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 PM.