PEBBLE BEACH COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Regular Meeting of June 30, 2006

MINUTES

 

CALL TO ORDER

A regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Pebble Beach Community Services District ("PBCSD") was held in the District Boardroom on June 30, 2006. Board President Gary D. Hornbuckle called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.

 

ROLL CALL

Present:      Directors Gary D. Hornbuckle, Leo M. Laska, Richard Verbanec, Gerald Verhasselt

Absent: Director Jeffrey Froke

 

Others Present

Craig Anthony, General Manager

Laura Paxton, Board Clerk, Paxton Ad Hoc

Ken Buchert, Assistant Legal Counsel

Suha Kilic, Finance Officer/Board Secretary Pro-Tem

Michael Niccum, District Engineer

Jackie Scoggin, Operations Battalion Chief, CDF

John King, Assistant Fire Chief, CDF, San Benito-Monterey Counties Unit

George Haines, Fire Chief, CDF, San Benito-Monterey Counties Unit

Dennis Carreiro, Fire Prevention Battalion Chief, CDF

Nancy McCullough, Member, DMFPO Traffic/Safety Committee   

Mark Verbonich, V.P., Community Affairs, Pebble Beach Company ("PBCo")

John Tormey, Pebble Beach resident

Al Budris, Director, DMFPO

Jack Kidder, Director, DMFPO

Spencer Thompson, Member, DMFPO Traffic/Safety Committee

Robert Kohen, Director, Carmel Area Wastewater District (“CAWD”)

Kim Caneer, Pebble Beach Resident

Ray von Dohren, General Manager, CAWD

 

APPEARANCES AND ORDER OF BUSINESS

There were no appearances or changes to the agenda.

 

 

 

 

MINUTES

MOTION 06-06-01

 

Moved by Director Verbanec, seconded by Director Laska, and unanimously carried, to approve the minutes of the regular Board meeting held May 26, 2006.

 

FINANCIAL MATTERS

Statement of Receipts and Disbursements and Budget Report

The Board received and reviewed the Statement of Receipts and Disbursements and Budget Report for May 2006. Mr. Kilic responded to questions, stating that since the revenues and expenses are reported on a cash basis, revenues that are earned, but not yet received, are not included in the report. For example, accrued interest on the treasury bills will be received upon maturity, therefore not included in the reported interest revenues.  The “other” revenues are lower than the budget because Proposition 172 public safety funds for the current fiscal year will be received as a lump sum after the end of the fiscal year.  The current year expenses and revenues are reported on accrual basis in the District’s annual financial report similar to private industry. The District’s outside auditors audit the annual report.

 

Check Register

The Board received and approved the Check Register for May 2006.

 

District Surplus Equipment

The Board reviewed the submitted list of surplus property attached to the proposed resolution. Director Hornbuckle recommended using Craig’s List, an on-line marketplace, in lieu of EBay, when attempting to dispose of the surplus property through sales to other agencies and/or the public. Finance Officer Kilic responded to a Board question stating that all property is fully depreciated and has no dollar value; the District will first notify local public agencies for negotiated sale of the items then attempt to sell remaining items at the best market price possible.

 

MOTION 06-06-02

 

Moved by Director Laska, seconded by Director Verbanec, and unanimously carried, to adopt Resolution No. 06-11 declaring certain District property surplus and authorizing its disposal.

 

FIRE PROTECTION

Fire Chief’s Monthly Report

The Board received and reviewed the monthly fire department operations report for May 2006. Battalion Chief Scoggin and Prevention Chief Carreiro stated there was no further information regarding several small wild land fires occurring along Fire Road 23 during the reporting month. The reported incidents appear to have stopped.

 

The reported incident of a Quick Response Vehicle (“QRV”) 10-minute late response was attributed to QRV relief personnel not knowing the Forest roadways. Often calls involve the QRV following the Pebble Beach fire engine to the scene; this particular late-response incident involved Carmel Hill fire department responding resulting in the QRV, housed at Pebble Beach, being unable to follow the fire engine to the scene. Chief Scoggin stated that a vacant EMT position in the QRV program would be filled July 9th and would help reduce the need for relief personnel. Chief Haines advised the Board that the District would be seeking bids imminently on a new QRV vehicle that would have a global positioning system for navigation built in. Chief Scoggin stated that the CDF dispatch global positioning system of navigation would tie in with the vendor system included in the new QRV to improve emergency response by the QRV. Director Verbanec suggested that a hand-held GPS device be kept at the Pebble Beach fire station as a backup and for use by personnel unfamiliar to the area prior to QRV response to a call to alleviate the driver attempting to both drive and navigate en route.

 

Nancy McCullough, Pebble Beach resident and member of the DMFPO Traffic and Safety Committee, felt that it was understood by the Board and District since the inception of the QRV program that permanent personnel would staff the QRV, and that the use of relief personnel unfamiliar with the Forest was unacceptable. Ms. McCullough also inquired regarding the four WestMed responses that had no reported response times. Chief Scoggin stated that the information due from WestMed is of a database nature and should be forthcoming to the District immediately and is unknown why the District must request response times periodically, however she did not feel that the missing information was related to late responses by WestMed since the District personnel respond concurrently with the ambulance and are aware of any late responses. Chief Scoggin answered questions from the Board.

 

John Tormey, Pebble Beach resident, as well as the Board commended District staff on an excellent Open House event. 750 people were served making the event the best attended yet. Battalion Chief Carreiro recommended scheduling next year’s District Open House in the 2006-07 Budget. The board approved targeting the third Saturday in June each year for the event, allowing for scheduling changes to accommodate PBCo’s availability. Vendors from this year’s event would be notified of next year’s tentative date through an event follow-up letter being sent out by the District soon.

 

Fire Defense Capabilities within Pescadero Canyon

The Board received and reviewed the submitted Fire Department Staff Report regarding Pescadero Canyon fire defense. Battalion Chief Carreiro stated that scheduled annual maintenance had begun Monday on Fire Road 23. Staff is continuing to research the proposed additional 3,000’ x 50’ vegetative fuel break work to “tie in” Fire Roads 20 and 23, estimated at $10,000 using Fire Crew personnel and $93,000 using private vendors. The Board discussed costs for resources available for immediate, continued project work versus a multi-year approach using resources that would consider the project as secondary with less availability on an undetermined schedule. Treatment and maintenance challenges in the steeply sloped terrain were discussed, with burning or hauling out large amounts of fuel in the canyon being 75% of the work effort. The treated area would not be intended to stop a fire, but to allow access for further treatment, maintenance, or resource deployment for firefighting purposes. Pescadero Canyon fire history shows flames to be successfully contained and battled at the ground; Huckleberry Hill remains the greatest fire threat with the new fuel load growth since the last major fire and limited access requiring flames be battled from the air. Fire department staff will submit a detailed project plan, including the identified scope, at the next Board meeting for the Board to consider policy on scope, completion timeline and acceptable relative costs. President Hornbuckle directed staff to proceed with all haste on the matter.

 

MAINTENANCE, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTION

Forest Lake Reservoir

District Engineer Niccum presented slides of Forest Lake Reservoir project including recent road paving and fence construction.  He reported that the reservoir volume fluctuates with irrigation use and was currently at 79 million gallons.  In response to Director Verhasselt’s question related to security issues, he stated that other dam facilities have installed sensors on the perimeter fencing surrounding a reservoir and the District would consider a similar system in the future if problems of trespass of people or deer arise.

 

PBCSD Capital Improvement Projects

Mr. Niccum reviewed orally his monthly status report on capital improvement projects.  In response to Director Laska’s question, he indicated the SCADA system project for the wastewater pump stations is complete and no longer included on the monthly status report.  Forest Lake Project modifications to the SCADA system are almost complete.

 

Wastewater collection, treatment and disposal system

The Board received and reviewed the District Engineer’s Report of Utilities Operations and Maintenance for 5/22/06 – 6/22/06. There were no questions from the Board.

 

Fourth Priority Fire Protection Pipeline Replacement Project

Mr. Niccum reviewed orally the District Engineer’s Report and presented to the Board slides of the scope of work for the proposed Fourth Priority Pipeline Replacement Project. Mr. Niccum stated that recently completed fire hydrant testing has indicated some project changes would provide the most fire protection benefits.  These changes to the project will not affect the engineering scope and the overall length of pipeline construction would be approximately the same. In response to Director Verhasselt question of whether the District requests proposals for this type of service, Mr. Niccum indicated that E2 consulting engineers remains cost competitive and the District benefits from its familiarity with the Pebble Beach water system and models.  General Manager Anthony suggested that it might be prudent for the District to continue to use E2 for this proposed project and then, considering the upcoming retirement of E2’s senior engineer, plan to seek requests for proposals for engineering services in the future. District Legal Counsel informed the Board that the selection of an engineering firm could not be based on price alone; laws prohibit going to bid for engineering services.  Competitive bidding is the process required for project construction work.

 

Director Laska inquired whether to consider extending project pipelines through the Pescadero Canyon area to locate a fire hydrant along some of the rugged terrain.  District Engineer Niccum replied the feasibility of the suggested concept will be reviewed. 

 

General Manger Anthony responded to questions regarding the extent of project completion, stating that although only 7 to 10 miles of the approximately 50 miles of water supply lines throughout the District have been replaced, hydrant flow is the determining factor of the extent of replacement needed for appreciable benefit. He stated that Board administration through time has been remarkable in maintaining and upgrading the water supply system in the District.  District staff will present at completion a report of the status of all of the hydrants and water supply lines to the Board to determine what, if any, further steps are to be taken.

 

MOTION 06-06-03

 

Moved by Director Verhasselt, seconded by Director Laska, and carried, to adopt Resolution 06-12 approving Project Assignment Number 12 to the Master Agreement with E2 Consulting Engineers to provide engineering services required for the Fire Protection Water System Improvements – Fourth Priority Pipeline Replacement Project. The total estimated engineering cost is $250,000.

 

CAWD Board Meeting

Director Laska attended the Carmel Area Wastewater District Board meeting held June 15, 2006 and reviewed orally the highlights of the meeting. An increase in sewer connection and sewer service fees was approved.  Consideration was given to the design/build phase of the current Wastewater Reclamation Project to be undertaken at more of a conventional than fast-track timeline. Mr. Anthony stated his perception of the District’s role in the upcoming phase of the Wastewater Reclamation Project would be to operate the Forest Lake Reservoir at maximum efficiency by training staff to be exceptionally responsible, and to continually forecast the level of the reservoir 90 days out on a scheduled basis in order to notify users and stakeholders to modify usage for maximum system output and efficiency. 

 

CAWD Meeting Assignment

Director Froke was assigned to attend the CAWD regular Board meeting on Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. in the CAWD Boardroom at 3945 Rio Road, Carmel.

 

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Director Laska reviewed orally the submitted report of the meeting of the Monterey Regional Waste Management District (“MRWMD”) held on June 19, 2006. Director Laska had nothing to add to the submitted report. Mr. Kilic responded to Director Laska’s inquiry regarding “universal waste,” stating that he had spoken with the General Manager of Waste Management, Inc. who informed him that separate collection would be necessary for each type of special waste (E-waste such as computers and monitors, bulky items such as appliances, and U-waste such as batteries and florescent light bulbs) and that Waste Management could accommodate collection of these wastes. Methods could be: 1) collection at individual households two times per year, 2) collection from a designated site within the Forest where residents deliver waste, and 3) an on-call basis whereby residents would be given tickets to use two times per year for residential pickup of these special wastes. Another method may be to promote consumers taking the expended item back to the store where purchased for disposal. Mr. Kilic will continue discussions with Waste Management to bring more information, such as costs and legal requirements, to the Board. He advised the Board that a one-day household hazardous waste event held at one location for collection of special wastes may cost $40,000 to $50,000.

 

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

District Police and Security Services Authority

Mr. Anthony reported orally that the Local Agency Formation Commission (“LAFCO”) unanimously approved the activation of full latent powers to provide police and security services within PBCSD. The Board considered the submitted ordinance to implement certain elements of its newly authorized powers to provide law enforcement and security services. He advised that the Monterey County Sheriff (“MCSO”) has expressed its willingness and ability to provide a full range of additional services to the District at a cost effective rate. The draft contract between the District and MCSO is 95% complete. Staff will provide a report and recommendations at the next Board meeting. Mr. Anthony requested the Board give direction to staff on this matter.

 

District Counsel stated the District could proceed without acknowledging submitted correspondence from MCSO claiming law enforcement authority in the Forest and pursue the most cost effective implementation of the services be it MCSO, California Highway Patrol, private security services, or some combination thereof. Nancy McCullough stated her concern with MCSO service, citing the Sheriff’s statement to the audience at a DMFPO semiannual meeting that deputies sometimes get lost when patrolling the Forest. She was also concerned that the MCSO would not provide to the District the highest availability of an officer to learn the area compared to other potential service vendors.

 

In response to Mr. John Tormey, District Counsel stated that notwithstanding the District’s authority now to implement a full police force, the public is not foreclosed from this option, as any action in this regard would be subject to the power of referendum that could put the matter to vote. Mr. Anthony pointed out that the Board’s intent has been to implement these powers on a limited basis in line with the requests of the residents. If the community requested increased services, the Board would proceed incrementally with services being limited by the program’s funding to be established in the District Budget.

 

President Hornbuckle stated that counsel and staff had prepared the submitted draft ordinance that is all inclusive of sections that previously were attachments to the ordinance. He requested that the third sub-paragraph in Section 2 regarding estimated costs of services be stricken with the understanding that sub-paragraph two in Section 2 limits the funding. Counsel advised that program funding would be subject to annual budget appropriation once the District and service provider(s) formed a contract. President Hornbuckle further requested the specifics as to service providers be eliminated from the next paragraph. Mr. Anthony supported President Hornbuckle’s request to not specify funding limits; staff would like to consider other proactive traffic control options beyond contracting for patrol service and present cost scenarios to the Board for consideration.

 

MOTION 06-06-04

 

Moved by Director Verhasselt and seconded by Director Verbanec to adopt first reading of Pebble Beach Community Services District Ordinance Number 24 implementing certain elements of its newly authorized powers to provide law enforcement and security services.

 

The Motion passed 3 to 1 on the following vote:

 

AYES:             Directors:         Hornbuckle, Verhasselt, Verbanec

NOES:            Director:  Laska

ABSENT:        Director:  Froke

 

 

District Counsel advised the Board that there is no legal requirement for public notice and hearing for this type of ordinance. This action serves as the first reading of the Ordinance; the second reading is to be scheduled after 5 days. The Board concurred to schedule the second reading at the next regular Board meeting. The District will publish the proposed ordinance in the Carmel Pine Cone and on the District web site. Changes can be made at the second reading; the process would start over with that reading being considered the first reading again. The ordinance becomes law 30 days after the second reading. The process does not require returning to LAFCO for incremental changes in service type or level. The District will be receiving the equivalent of recorded documents from LAFCO that make its approval official.

 

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

Oral reports from General Manager

There were no oral reports from the General Manager.

 

Questions from Directors or staff seeking clarification of matters within the purview of the District

District Counsel clarified that the District ordinance pertaining to the requirement of a fireworks permit applies to special events held; fireworks are prohibited in the District otherwise and signs posted at the gates state this.

 

Al Budris, DMFPO Director, asked why the District provides basic solid waste collection service, while residents are billed for additional services by the contracted collection company, Waste Management, Inc. Nancy McCullough, Pebble Beach resident and past District director, stated that this arrangement was chosen so that non-resident owners would be required to pay for at least basic collection services. Per District Counsel, the fact that Forest residences are primarily single-family dwellings lends itself to this arrangement also; duplex and apartment service within other communities are at a much different collection service rate than house service.

 

Oral reports or announcements from Board President, directors or staff

Director Verhasselt will be attending the first of four director indoctrination courses organized by California Special District Association on July 21, 2006.

 

Directors Hornbuckle and Laska will attend the CAWD/PBCSD Wastewater Reclamation Project Management Committee meeting on July 14, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. in the PBCSD Boardroom.

 

CLOSED SESSION

It was determined that no closed session was in order.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business at 11:48 a.m. a motion was made to adjourn. 

 

MOTION 06-06-05

 

M/S/C (unanimous) to adjourn to the next regular Board meeting to be held on Friday, July 28, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. in the District Boardroom at Forest Lake and Lopez Roads.