Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority

MINUTES MONTEREY PENINSULA REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY Monday, April 23, 2012 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority was held in the City Council Chambers at Monterey City Hall on the above stated date at the stated hour of 6:00 p.m. President Della Sala called the meeting to order. 2. ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS Present: Directors Bachofner; Burnett; Della Sala; Edelen; and Pendergrass. Pacific Grove Vice Mayor Bill Kampe served as alternate in place of Director Garcia. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Director Pendergrass led the Authority and public in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. REPORT FROM AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF There were no reports from either the Authority Board or staff. President Della Sala welcomed newly elected Mayor Jason Burnett, who will represent the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea on the Authority. 5. RECEIVE REPORT FROM THE TECHNICALADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PROVIDE DIRECTION, AS NEEDED Roger Dolan, acting as spokesman for the Technical Advisory Committee (T AC), presented the report. He said that the TAC has held two meeting at Seaside City Hall since the April 12 Water JPA meeting, one meeting on April 16 and a continued meeting on April 23. He reported that the group had received presentations from People's DesaI and Deepwater DesaI and that Cal-Am Water will make a presentation at its next meeting on May 7. The TAC is in the process of formulating a series of questions that will form the basis for deliberating on the merits of each project. President Della Sala opened the meeting to public comment on the Technical Advisory Committee at 6: 15 p.m. Bill Hood made a brief comment. Public comment was closed at 6: 17 p.m. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA President Della Sala opened the meeting to public comment at 6:18 p.m. Noni McVey, Monterey County Association of Realtors, addressed the user fees proposed by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. Skip Lloyd explained what MPWMD proposes is a fee, not a tax, and urged support for it. Nelson Vega said it should not matter which project receives funding, what is needed is a portfolio for ratepayers. Kevin Stone, speaking as a resident (not with MCAR) said the MPWMD should allow voters to approve any increase. Ron Weitzman said he supports MCAR and the other groups opposing the Water District fee increase. President Della Sala closed the meeting to public comment at 6:30 p.m. 7. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Director Pendergrass moved to approve the Minutes of April 12, 2012, seconded by Director Bachofner, and approved 4-0, with Director Burnett abstaining (as he was not a member of the Authority at that meeting) and Alternate Director Kampe also abstaining. 8. RECEIVE REPORT FROM CAL-AM WATER PRESIDENT ROBERT MAC LEAN AND PROVIDE DIRECTION, AS NEEDED Cal-Am President Robert MacLean gave a public presentation outlining the water project proposal his company had presented to the California Public Utilities Commission only a few hours earlier that day. In essence, the proposal calls for a smaller desalination component than had been contemplated in the previous proposal 5,500 AF/year or 9,000 AF/year, depending on the success of the groundwater replenishment component of the Monterey Peninsula Water Pollution Control Agency. The proposed desal facility would be located north of marina and would use slant wells. MacLean also outlined a proposed financing plan and delineated how the fees of ratepayers would rise over time to help pay for the project. He encouraged the public to review the details of the Cal-Am proposal on the Web at www.watersupplyproject.org. President Della Sala opened the meeting to public comment and questions at 7:45 p.m. Speaking to the issue and raising questions were: Monterey Council Member Libby Downey; Bill Hood; Pacific Grove Council Member Rudy Fischer; Monterey Council Member Judy Lehman; Ron Weitzman; George Riley; Harvey Billig; Richard Stillwell; Nelson Vega; and George Brehmer. President Della Sala closed the meeting to public comment and questions at 8:05 p.m. and the Authority took a short break, reconvening at 8: 18 p.m. Robert MacLean, accompanied by Rich Svindland, Cal-Am Water's Director of Engineering, clarified some comments and answered questions posed by the public and Authority members. 9. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS Among the items expressed for future agendas were: review of the adequacy of the resources available to the Technical Advisory Committee; evaluation of the privately owned groundwater replenishment projects; continued follow up on becoming a party to Cal-Am's amended application; consideration of finding financial and engineering experts to assist the Authority; consideration of possible subcommittees within the TAC; consideration of how Proposition 218 can fit in with project financing; and follow-up to taking a position on the Cal-Am project. President Della Sala said these and any other proposed agenda items will be reviewed with Vice President Bachofner and placed on future agendas. Carmel City Administrator Stilwell advised the Authority that staff is still working on refinement of the Authority website and obtaining insurance for the Authority members. 10. DISCUSSION OF FUTURE MEETINGS President Della Sala said that Mayor Bachofner advised him that the City of Seaside welcomes assuming staffing responsibilities for the Authority for the next quarter (May-July). President Della Sala announced that the next two meetings will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 10 and Thursday, May 24, at locations to be determined. 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:14 p.m. _____/s/________________ Carmelita Garcia, Secretary