Board of Public Utilities Meeting
Regular MeetingTulare, CA · February 20, 2020
Minutes
3250
ACTION MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS
CITY OF TULARE
February 20, 2020
A regular meeting of the Board of Public Utilities of the City of Tulare was held on
Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. in the Tulare Public Library & Council
Chamber, 491 North “M” Street.
BPU PRESENT: Chris Harrell, Howard Stroman, Thomas Griesbach, Ray Fonseca,
Renee Soto
STUDENTS ABSENT: Gregory Garcia, Abigail Lopez-Gonzalez
STAFF PRESENT: Rob Hunt, Megan Dodd, Darlene Thompson, Trisha Whitfield, Nick
Bartsch, Jim Funk, Andrew Bettencourt, Mario Orosco, Melissa
Hermann
I. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR MEETING
President Harrell called the regular meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION
Vice President Stroman led the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation was given by
President Harrell.
III. CITIZEN COMMENTS
President Harrell 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 of the agenda.
V. CONSENT CALENDAR
It was moved by Board Member Soto, seconded by Vice President Stroman, and
unanimously carried to approve items on the Consent Calendar as presented with
the exception of items 2 and 5.
3251
(1) Approve minutes of the February 6, 2020 regular meeting.
(2) Receive the Public Works performance reports for January 2020. Board
Member Griesbach pulled this item for clarification purposes in regard to sewer
collection activity. Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield provided a response
thereto. It was moved by Board Member Griesbach, seconded by Board Member
Fonseca, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
(3) Receive the quarterly Potable Water Pumping and Metered Delivery Report.
(4) Accept the Financial Status report.
(5) Accept Public Works Project Dashboard for February 2020. Vice President
Stroman pulled this item for a verbal update on a TCP mitigation project status.
Project Manager Jim Funk provided a response thereto. Additional questions in
regard to State compliance were responded to by Public Works Director Trisha
Whitfield. It was moved by Vice President Stroman, seconded by Board Member
Griesbach, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
(6) Receive the City’s annual audited financial statements/Comprehension Annual
Financial Report (CAFR) for 2018-2019 fiscal year.
VI. STUDENT REPORTS
There were no students present to provide a report.
VII. GENERAL BUSINESS
(1) Award and authorize the City Manager to approve a contract with Airgas
Specialty Products, Inc. of Lawrenceville, Georgia in the amount of $750.00 per
contained ton Freight On Board (F.O.B.) Tulare for the purchase of Aqua
Ammonia for the City of Tulare Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Assistant
Public Works Director Mario Orosco provided a report for the Board’s review and
consideration. Questions posed by the Board were responded to by Mr. Orosco. It
was moved by Board Member Fonseca, seconded by Board Member Soto, and
unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
(2) Authorize the City Manager to complete and execute the documents necessary
to declare as public right-of-way a portion of the “J” Street at Cartmill Avenue
well site – Well 4-5: Project WT0038 – North “J” Street Well Project, subject
only to minor conforming and clarifying changes acceptable to the City
Attorney and City Manager. Project Manager Jim Funk provided a report for the
Board’s review and consideration. Questions posed by the Board were responded
to by Mr. Funk. It was moved by President Harrell, seconded by Vice President
Stroman, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
(3) Accept as complete the contract with Strategic Mechanical, Inc. of Fresno, CA
for work on the Well #17 Electrical System Upgrade Project (Project WT0034).
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
3252
Office. Project Manager Jim Funk provided a report for the Board’s review and
consideration. Questions posed by the Board were responded to by Mr. Funk. It
was moved by Board Member Griesbach, seconded by Board Member Soto, and
unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
(4) Adopt the Residential Utility Billing Policy. Finance Director Darlene Thompson
and Management Analyst Andrew Bettencourt provided a report for the Board’s
review and completion. Following discussion, it was moved by Board Member Soto,
seconded by Vice President Stroman, and unanimously carried to adopt the
Residential Utility Billing Policy.
VIII. ITEMS OF INTEREST
Items of interest were discussed amongst the Board and staff.
IX. ADJOURNMENT OF REGULAR MEETING
President Harrell adjourned the regular meeting at 4:58 p.m.
President of the Board of Public Utilities
Commissioners of the City of Tulare
ATTEST:
Secretary of the Board of
Public Utilities Commissioners
Agenda
AGENDA
City of Tulare
Board of Public Utilities Commission
Thursday, February 20, 2020
4:00 p.m.
Tulare Public Library & Council Chambers
491 North “M” Street, Tulare, California, 93274
MISSION STATEMENT
To promote a quality of life making Tulare the most desirable community in which
to live, learn, play, work, worship and prosper.
Meeting audio will be uploaded to the City’s website www.tulare.ca.gov no later than the Tuesday
following the meeting, barring any technical difficulties, accessible by selecting the appropriate meeting
date on the City Meeting Calendar page.
I. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR MEETING
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION
III. CITIZEN COMMENTS - This is the time for citizens to comment on items on the
Consent Calendar or within the jurisdiction of the Board. Comments related to
General Business items will be heard at the time the item is discussed. The Board
cannot legally discuss or take official action on citizen request items 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.
IV. COMMUNICATIONS - No action will be taken on matters listed under
Communications; however, the Board may direct staff to schedule issues raised
during Communications for a future agenda.
V. CONSENT CALENDAR - All Consent Calendar items are considered routine and will
be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these matters
unless a request is made, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent
Calendar to be discussed and voted upon by a separate motion.
(1) Approve minutes of the February 6, 2020 regular meeting.
(2) Receive the Public Works performance reports for January 2020.
(3) Receive the quarterly Potable Water Pumping and Metered Delivery Report.
(4) Accept the Financial Status report.
(5) Accept Public Works Project Dashboard for February 2020.
(6) Receive the City’s annual audited financial statements/Comprehension Annual
Financial Report (CAFR) for 2018-2019 fiscal year.
Page 1
Board of Public Utilities Agenda February 20, 2020
VI. STUDENT REPORTS
VII. GENERAL BUSINESS - Comments related to General Business Items are limited to
three minutes per speaker for a maximum of 30 minutes per item unless otherwise
extended by the Board.
(1) Award and authorize the City Manager to approve a contract with Airgas
Specialty Products, Inc. of Lawrenceville, Georgia in the amount of $750.00 per
contained ton Freight On Board (F.O.B.) Tulare for the purchase of Aqua
Ammonia for the City of Tulare Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).
(2) Authorize the City Manager to complete and execute the documents necessary
to declare as public right-of-way a portion of the “J” Street at Cartmill Avenue well
site – Well 4-5: Project WT0038 – North “J” Street Well Project, subject only to
minor conforming and clarifying changes acceptable to the City Attorney and City
Manager.
(3) Accept as complete the contract with Strategic Mechanical, Inc. of Fresno, CA for
work on the Well #17 Electrical System Upgrade Project (Project WT0034).
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.
(4) Adopt the Residential Utility Billing Policy.
VIII. ITEMS OF INTEREST (may include City Council, Planning Commission, Mid-Kaweah GSA updates)
– GC 54954.2(3)
IX. ADJOURNMENT OF REGULAR MEETING
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Brown Act, if you need special assistance to
participate in this meeting, including the receipt of the agenda and documents in the agenda package in an
alternate format, please contact the City Manager’s Office at (559) 684-4200. Notification of 48 hours prior
to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting
(28 CFR 35.102-35, 104 ADA Title I), and allow for the preparation of documents in the appropriate alternate
format.
[Note: Pursuant to Government Code 54957.5 - Effective 7/1/08 Documents produced and distributed less
than 72 hours prior to or during an open session of a regular meeting to a majority of the legislative body
regarding any item on the agenda will be made available for public inspection at the meeting and at the City
Clerk’s Office at City Hall located at 411 East Kern Avenue during normal business hours.]
Page 2
Get email alerts for Tulare
A daily email when new agendas and minutes are posted.