Board of Public Utilities Meeting
Regular MeetingTulare, CA · May 20, 2021
Minutes
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ACTION MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONERS
CITY OF TULARE
May 20, 2021
A regular meeting of the Board of Public Utilities of the City of Tulare was held on
Thursday, May 20, 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, Howard
Stroman
STAFF PRESENT: Rob Hunt, Megan Dodd, Trisha Whitfield, Darlene Thompson, Jim
Funk, Nick Bartsch, Eric Furtado, Tim Doyle, Andrew Bettencourt,
John Machado, 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
Vice President Fonseca led the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation was given by Board
Member Soto.
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 Sozinho, seconded by Vice President Fonseca, 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 May 6, 2021 regular meeting.
(2) Accept the monthly investments report for April 2021.
(3) Receive the Public Works performance reports for April 2021. Board Member
Griesbach pulled this item for clarification. Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield
responded thereto stating she will follow-up on the question regarding nitrogen. Vice
President Fonseca posed additional questions which were responded to by Ms.
Whitfield and Finance Director Darlene Thompson. It was moved by Board Member
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Griesbach, seconded by President Stroman, and unanimously carried to receive the
Public Works performance reports for April 2021.
(4) Receive the quarterly Potable Water Pumping and Metered Delivery Report.
(5) Accept the Financial Status Report. President Stroman pulled this item for
clarification. Finance Director Darlene Thompson provided a response thereto.
Additional questions posed by the Board were responded to by Ms. Thompson. It
was moved by President Stroman, seconded by Board Member Sozinho, and
unanimously carried to accept the Financial Status Report.
(6) Accept as complete the contract with Valley Pump & Dairy Systems, Inc. of
Tulare, CA for work on Project No. WT0052 (Water Well Abandonments);
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.
(7) Accept the Public Works Project Dashboard for May 2021.
VI. GENERAL BUSINESS
(1) Award and authorize the City Manager to sign a contract with Unified Field
Services Corporation of Bakersfield, CA in an amount not to exceed
$462,708.00 for “Project WW0050 – Rehabilitation of Domestic Digester No. 1
and No. 2”, and authorize the City Manager or designee to approve contract
change orders in an amount not to exceed 10% of the awarded amount
($46,270.80). 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
and Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield. Following discussion, it was moved by
Board Member Soto, seconded by Board Member Griesbach, and unanimously
carried to approve the item as presented.
(2) Approve Contract Change Order No. 1 with Unified Field Services Corporation
for $84,500.00 for “Project WW0050 - Rehabilitation of Domestic Digester No. 1
and No. 2” and approve the revised project budget. 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 and Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield.
Following discussion, it was moved by Board Member Griesbach, seconded by Vice
President Fonseca, and unanimously carried to approve the item as presented.
VII. ITEMS OF INTEREST
Items of interest were discussed amongst the Board and staff.
Public Works Director introduced the new Wastewater Plant Manager, John Machado, who
expressed his gratitude to be a part of the team.
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VIII. ADJOURNMENT OF REGULAR MEETING
President Stroman adjourned the regular meeting at 4:54 p.m.
President of the Board of Public Utilities
Commissioners of the City of Tulare
ATTEST:
Secretary of the Board of
Public Utilities Commissioners
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Agenda
AGENDA
City of Tulare
Board of Public Utilities Commission
Thursday, May 20, 2021
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 May 6, 2021 regular meeting.
(2) Accept the monthly investments report for April 2021.
(3) Receive the Public Works performance reports for April 2021.
(4) Receive the quarterly Potable Water Pumping and Metered Delivery Report.
(5) Accept the Financial Status Report.
(6) Accept as complete the contract with Valley Pump & Dairy Systems, Inc. of
Tulare, CA for work on Project No. WT0052 (Water Well Abandonments);
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.
(7) Accept the Public Works Project Dashboard for May 2021.
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Board of Public Utilities Agenda May 20, 2021
VI. 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 sign a contract with Unified Field
Services Corporation of Bakersfield, CA in an amount not to exceed $462,708.00
for “Project WW0050 – Rehabilitation of Domestic Digester No. 1 and No. 2”, and
authorize the City Manager or designee to approve contract change orders in an
amount not to exceed 10% of the awarded amount ($46,270.80).
(2) Approve Contract Change Order No. 1 with Unified Field Services Corporation
for $84,500.00 for “Project WW0050 - Rehabilitation of Domestic Digester No. 1
and No. 2” and approve the revised project budget.
VII. ITEMS OF INTEREST (may include City Council, Planning Commission, Mid-Kaweah GSA updates)
– GC 54954.2(3)
VIII. 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.]
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