Board of Public Utilities Meeting

3154 ACTION MINUTES OF BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS CITY OF TULARE October 18, 2018 A regular meeting of the Board of Public Utilities, City of Tulare was held on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. in the Tulare Public Library & Council Chambers, 491 North “M” Street. BPU PRESENT: Jim Pennington, Howard Stroman, Thomas Griesbach, Chris Soria, Vicki Gilson Arrived at 4:05 p.m. STAFF PRESENT: Willard Epps, Jaskaran Gill, Michael Miller Left at 5:45 p.m., Darlene Thompson, Trisha Whitfield, Nick Bartsch, Tim Doyle, Frank Rodriguez, Jim Funk, Ken Wales, Steve Bonville, Melissa Hermann I. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR MEETING President Pennington called the regular meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION Board Member Soria led the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation was given by Vice President Stroman. III. CITIZEN COMMENTS President Pennington requested those who wish to speak on matters not on the agenda within the jurisdiction of the Board, or to address or request a matter be pulled from the Consent Calendar to do so at this time. He further stated comments related to General Business matters would be heard at the time that matter is addressed on the agenda. There were no citizen comments. IV. COMMUNICATIONS There were no items for this section. V. CONSENT CALENDAR It was moved by President Pennington, seconded by Board Member Gilson and carried 5 to 0 that the items on the Consent Calendar be approved as presented with the exception of item(s) 4, 8, 9, and 10.  3155 (1) Approve minutes of September 20, 2018 regular and/or special meeting(s). (2) Receive, review, and file the Monthly Investment Report for September 2018. (3) Accept the Financial Status Report. (4) Receive the Water System Development Program update. President Pennington pulled this item for clarification. Project Manager Jim Funk provided a response thereto. Following discussion, it was moved by President Pennington, seconded by Board Member Griesbach and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented. (5) Accept as complete the contract with TTS Construction Corporation of Lodi, CA for work on Project WT0027 - Well No. 45 Equipping Project; and authorize the City Engineer to sign the Notice of Completion, and direct the City Clerk to file the Notice of Completion with the Tulare County Recorder’s Office. (6) Award the purchase of 2,650 automated refuse cans to Cascade Cart Solutions using Sourcewell (NJPA) Contract No. 04121-CEI in the amount of $150,959.42 which includes tax and shipping. (7) Receive the quarterly Potable Water Pumping and Metered Delivery Report. (8) Accept the Public Works Monthly Water System Report. President Pennington pulled this item for clarification regarding the cumulative number provided on the chart. Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield provided a response thereto. With no further discussion, it was moved by President Pennington, seconded by Vice President Stroman and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented. (9) Receive the Public Works performance reports for September 2018. Board Member Griesbach pulled this item for clarification. Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield provided a response thereto. Without further discussion, it was moved by Board Member Griesbach, seconded by Board Member Soria and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented. (10) Receive the Fuel Cell Performance report for August 2018. Board Member Griesbach pulled this item to inquire about the status of the project. Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield provided a response thereto.  3156 Following discussion, it was moved by President Pennington, seconded by Vice President Stroman and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented. VI. GENERAL BUSINESS (1) Adopt Resolution 18-10 confirming the City Council’s approval of a twenty- five year lease agreement with 1875 West St Solar, LLC, referred to as Borrego Solar Systems of San Diego, California, for property on the wastewater treatment plant to build and maintain the previously approved solar facility expansion project. Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield provided a report for the Board’s review and consideration. Following discussion, it was moved by President Pennington, seconded by Board Member Gilson and unanimously carried to adopt Resolution 18-10. (2) Reconsider and authorize the Board President to execute a Grant of Easement to Southern California Gas Company for easements (as proposed by the Southern California Gas Company) to install a gas pipeline on City owned property located on the Wastewater Treatment Plant property for the biogas fuel cell. Assistant City Attorney Jaskaran Gill provided a report for the Board’s review and consideration. Vice President Stroman expressed his concern regarding liability if adverse conditions arise and the lack of verbiage included in the Grant of Easement. Following a lengthy discussion, it was moved by President Pennington, seconded by Board Member Griesbach and carried 4 to 1 (Board Member Soria voted no) to authorize the Board President to execute a Grant of Easement to Southern California Gas Company for easements to install a gas pipeline on City owned property located on the Wastewater Treatment Plant for the biogas fuel cell. (3) Receive an update and discuss the TCP Project. Charles Ritchie, citizen of Tulare, addressed the Board regarding concerns with the TCP treatment project. The Board and Staff had a lengthy discussion on this item. It was the consensus of the Board to agendize an item for a January 2019 meeting to discuss Phase 2 of the TCP Project. It was moved by Board Member Griesbach, seconded by Board Member Gilson and carried 4 to 0 (Board Member Soria absent during vote) to accept the item as presented. (4) Receive an update and discuss the water meter reading issues in September. Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield provided a report for the Board’s review and consideration. Dr. Edward Henry, citizen of Tulare, addressed the Board  3157 regarding his concerns. Dr. Henry advised of an error in the staff report stating the error occurred in the September utility bill, not the October utility bill. Staff addressed Dr. Henry’s concerns. It was the consensus of the Board to direct Staff to take into consideration the information Dr. Henry provided and bring something back to the Board at a future meeting. It was moved by Board Member Griesbach, seconded by Vice President Stroman and unanimously carried to accept the item as presented. VII. ITEMS OF BOARD INTEREST Items of Board interest were discussed amongst the Board and staff. VIII. ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING President Pennington adjourned the regular meeting at 6:24 p.m. __________________________________ President of the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners of the City of Tulare ATTEST: __________________________ Secretary of the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners