Board of Public Utilities Meeting

Page 2991 ACTION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS CITY OF TULARE August 18, 2016 A regular meeting of the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners, City of Tulare, was held on Thursday, August 18, 2016, at 3:00 p.m., in the Tulare Public Library & Council Chambers. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Lee Brehm, Philip Smith, Edward Henry, Dick Johnson STAFF PRESENT: Paul Melikian, Joe Carlini, Michael Miller, Darlene Thompson, Trisha Whitfield, Rob Hunt, Steve Bonville, Nick Bartsch, Benjamin Siegel, Josh Rogers, Tim Doyle, Frank Rodriquez, Bruno Huerta, Shonna Oneal I. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION: President Brehm called the regular session to order at 3:00 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: President Brehm led the Pledge of Allegiance. III. CITIZEN’S REQUEST OR COMMENTS: This is the time for citizens to comment on items within the jurisdiction of the Board. The Board cannot legally discuss or take official action on citizen comments that are introduced tonight. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes, with a maximum time of 10 minutes per item, unless otherwise extended by the Board. There were no citizen comments presented. IV. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION(S): President Brehm adjourned to closed session at 3:01 p.m. for items as noted by Deputy City Manager Paul Melikian. a) 54956.8 Conference with Real Property Negotiators Property: Location on Waste Water Treatment Plant Property Under negotiation: Terms and conditions of potential lease for operation of energy producing facility. Agency Negotiator: Paul Melikian, Martin Koczanowicz, Joe Carlini, Steve Bonville Negotiating party: Fuel Cell Energy  Page 2992 V. RECONVENE CLOSED SESSION: President Brehm reconvened from Closed Session at 3:36 p.m. VI. CLOSED SESSION REPORT (if any): President Brehm advised that there were no reportable actions. VII. COMMUNICATIONS: There were no items for this section on the agenda. VIII. ELECTION AND REORGANIZATION OF OFFICERS (PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT) FOR THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES: Following discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to defer this item until December 2016 pending the outcome of the election race and a full Board being seated. IX. CONSENT CALENDAR: It was moved by Vice President Smith, seconded by Board Member Henry and unanimously carried that the items on the consent calendar be approved as presented with the exception of item 4, 5, and 6. (1) Approve minutes of the July 21, 2016 regular/special meeting(s). (2) Accept June Investment Report. (3) Accept Financial Status Report. (4) Accept Public Works Comparator Tool update reflecting projected versus actual data. Board Member Henry pulled this item for clarification on the water pressure numbers reflected on the report. Public Works Director Joe Carlini and Water and Wastewater Collections Utility Manager Tim Doyle explained the drop in pressure was related to a power outage. (5) Accept Public Works work performance reports for July 2016. Board Member Henry pulled this item for clarification regarding the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) numbers reflected on the dashboard. Public Works Director Joe Carlini explained the TOC number is not a requirement for the State and that it is included on the dashboard for the Board’s information. (6) Accept Water System Development Program update. Board Member Johnson pulled this item for clarification on the Water System Development Program. Field Services Manager Trisha Whitfield provided a response thereto. Board Member Henry inquired about the status of the grant being submitted to the State and Ms.  Page 2993 Whitfield advised the grant application will be submitted by the end of the next week. Following a brief discussion, it was moved by Board Member Henry, seconded by Board Member Johnson and unanimously carried to approve Consent items 4, 5, and 6 as presented. X. GENERAL BUSINESS: (1) Review the findings of a water system analysis of Phase 1 of the proposed Willow Glen subdivision located at the northeast corner of Cartmill Avenue and De La Vina Street, and consider a request by the Developer, Willow Glen Partners, to allow 62 new connections to the City water system, or alternatively provide staff with direction regarding a development agreement proposal to allow the Developer to construct water supply capacity improvements to serve the project. City Engineer Michael Miller advised the Board that this item was pulled at the request of the Developer and will be returned to the Board at a later date. (2) Consider award of a contract to Carollo Engineers of Fresno, CA in the amount of $499,027.00 for water storage tank design and construction support services and authorize the City Manager to approve contract change orders in an amount not to exceed 10% ($49,902.70) of the contract award amount. Field Services Manager Trisha Whitfield provided a report for the Board’s review and consideration. The Board raised questions and staff provided responses thereto. Board Member Johnson expressed concern with change orders. Deputy City Manager Paul Melikian assured the Board that change orders will be carefully reviewed and the Board will be updated should change orders occur during the project. Following discussion, it was moved by Vice President Smith, seconded by Board Member Henry and carried 3 to 1 (Board Member Johnson voting no) to approve the item as presented. (3) Provide staff with direction regarding calculation of front foot and lateral fees collected at time of connection to City sewer. City Engineer Michael Miller provided a report for the Board’s review and consideration. The Board raised questions and staff provided responses thereto. Following discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to instruct staff to cap the amount of interest charged at time of connection to City Sewer to no more than 50% of the actual connection fee. Frank Daniels addressed the Board at the beginning of General Business regarding this item and his concern regarding the amount of interest being charged on his sewer connection fee. The Board requested staff work with Mr. Daniels to help resolve the issue presented. (4) Review and adopt the Ten Year Energy Plan. Chris Ott of Hydros Agritech provided a PowerPoint slide presentation highlighting the features of the Ten Year  Page 2994 Energy Plan. Following discussion, it was moved by President Brehm, seconded by Vice President Smith and unanimously carried to adopt the Ten Year Energy Plan as presented. This item was advanced to General Business 2 to accommodate the consultant’s schedule. (5) Receive update on Biomethane project negotiations, provide direction on expanding negotiations with Fuel Cell Energy, and/or authorize staff to begin negotiations with the third proposer selected from the Request for Proposals bids for the utilization of Bio Gas. Deputy City Manager Paul Melikian provided a report for the Board’s review and consideration. Public Works Director Joe Carlini provided additional information regarding this item. The Board raised questions and staff provided responses thereto. Kent Hawkins addressed the Board on behalf of Colony Energy regarding the status of their project. Following discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to move forward with negotiations with the third proposer on the Request for Proposals of bids for the utilization of Bio Gas. (6) Safety & Regulatory Compliance Program Update by Bruno Huerta, Safety & Regulatory Compliance Analyst. [Verbal presentation no written material.] Safety and Regulatory Compliance Analyst, Bruno Huerta provided a PowerPoint slide presentation highlighting the Safety and Regulatory Compliance Program. XI. ITEMS OF BOARD INTERESTS: Items of Board interest were discussed among the Board and staff. Deputy City Clerk/Budgets Coordinator Shonna Oneal advised the Board of a current vacancy on the TID Joint Operations Committee. Following a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the Board that Vice President Smith will fill the seat. XII. ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING: President Brehm adjourned the regular meeting at 4:52 p.m. __________________________________ President of the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners of the City of Tulare ATTEST: __________________________ Secretary of the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners