Board of Public Utilities Meeting

3310 ACTION MINUTES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS CITY OF TULARE March 18, 2021 A regular meeting of the Board of Public Utilities of the City of Tulare was held on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. in the Tulare Public Library & Council Chamber, 491 North “M” Street. BPU PRESENT: Thomas Griesbach, Tony Sozinho, Renee Soto, Ray Fonseca (4:04 p.m.), Howard Stroman STAFF PRESENT: Rob Hunt, Megan Dodd, Trisha Whitfield, Darlene Thompson, Michael Miller, Jim Funk, Nick Bartsch, Andrew Bettencourt, Melissa Hermann I. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR MEETING President Stroman called the regular meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION President Stroman led the Pledge of Allegiance and gave an invocation. III. CITIZEN COMMENTS 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 Board Member Griesbach, and unanimously carried to approve the items on the Consent Calendar as presented with the exception of items 3 and 5. (1) Approve minutes of the February 18, 2021 regular meeting. (2) Accept the monthly investments report for January 2021. (3) Receive the Public Works performance reports for February 2021. President Stroman pulled this item for clarification. Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield provided a response thereto. It was moved by President Stroman, seconded by Board Member Sozinho, and unanimously carried to receive the Public Works performance report for February 2021.  3311 (4) Accept the Financial Status Report. President Stroman pulled this item for clarification. Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield provided a response thereto. It was moved by President Stroman, seconded by Board Member Griesbach, and unanimously carried to accept the Financial Status Report. (5) Accept as complete the contract with GSE Construction Company Inc. of Livermore, CA for work on the Sanitary Sewer Lift Station Rehabilitation – Mt View Street and Academy Avenue (Project SW0008); 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. VI. GENERAL BUSINESS (1) Award and authorize the City Manager to sign contracts related to City Project EN0090 – Sequoia-Spruce Tracts Improvements, a street and utility improvement project on Spruce St., Sierra Ave., Sequoia Ave., Dayton St., and Kern Ave.; Authorize the City Manager or designee to approve contract change orders in an amount not to exceed 10% of each contract amount; and approve the revised project scope and budget. (a) Contractor: 99 Pipeline, Inc. of Porterville, CA: $6,045,366.78 (b) Construction Surveying: Lane Engineers of Tulare, CA: $109,400.00 (c) Materials Testing: NV5 of Bakersfield, CA: $102,479.00 (d) Construction Inspection: NV5 of Visalia, CA: $402,600.00 Board Member Griesbach recused himself due to a familial conflict of interest and exited the Chamber during discussion and voting of item. Senior Project Manager Nick Bartsch provided a report for the Board’s review and consideration. Questions posed by the Board were responded to by Mr. Bartsch. It was moved by Board Member Sozinho, seconded by Vice President Fonseca, and carried 4 to 0 (Board Member Griesbach recused) to approve the item as presented. (2) Adopt Amendment 1 to the City of Tulare Residential Utility Billing Policy that establishes a policy for extra Solid Waste services to residential customers. Management Analyst Andrew Bettencourt provided a report for the Board’s review and consideration. Questions posed by the Board were responded to by Mr. Bettencourt. Following discussion, it was moved by Vice President Fonseca, seconded by Board Member Sozinho, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented. VII. ITEMS OF INTEREST Items of interest were discussed amongst the Board and staff. Vice President Fonseca commented on the roll-off bins and possibly utilizing reflectors on the bins to avoid them being struck by vehicles.  3312 IX. ADJOURNMENT OF REGULAR MEETING President Stroman adjourned the regular meeting at 4:45 p.m. President of the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners of the City of Tulare ATTEST: Secretary of the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners 3313 This page intentionally left blank.