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MINUTES
BROOKTRAILS TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BROOKTRAILS COMMUNITY CENTER
24850 Birch Street, Willits, CA 95490
July 13, 2004 |
The Board of Directors of Brooktrails Township Community Services District met in regular session on July 13, 2004 at 7:03 p.m. in Brooktrails Community Center.
A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
B. ROLL CALL
Roll call showed the following Directors present: Ziady, Horrick, Skezas, Pohlson and Orth. Also present were General Manager Chapman and District Counsel Neary.
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
The Board added one item of anticipated litigation to its closed session agenda, met with and gave directions to Counsel. There was also an item of existing litigation, Furia v. Brooktrails Township, Mendocino County Superior Court case number MCUKCVCV03-11631, which was discussed with advice from Counsel and referred to the District's insurer.
C. ADDITIONS/ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA
None.
D. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1. June 22, 2004 - Director Horrick moved to approve the minutes of June 22, 2004 and Director Skezas seconded. The motion was carried unanimously.
E. SPECIAL PRESENTATION
2. Revised Water Supply Projection by Rich Estabrook. Richard Estabrook presented a revised projection for water supply as of November 2004. He expected the District to have an estimated 87 acre feet of water as of November. This was up by approximately 50 acre feet from his May 2004 projection. He felt this new calculation was the result of using fairly conservative estimates for the creek in his previous projection, and that cooler weather had been a definite factor.
President Orth clarified that the District does not have to change the current voluntary conservation request of 10% water reduction usage, to any form of mandatory conservation practice. News journalist Claudia Reed then asked if this meant that the conservation request was working and could residents return to their regular usage habits. In an indirect answer Mr. Estabrook replied "yes," but then Director Pohlson advised that the District should still use caution because the summer heat could easily change the situation.
Mr. Estabrook then presented the details of his methodology, and advised that with the new in-stream Willits Creek gauge it will be possible to calculate the acre-foot yield for all storms as they occur. While this would presently require a more frequent monitoring by District staff, it could be also be done via a telemetric (radio) system. The presentation concluded with thanks from the General Manager Chapman and President Orth.
3. Report from Specific Plan Advisory Committee. Chair Don Dussault provided copies of his report. He read the report on the committee's activities since inception and also read the short response by the District Office to his query regarding board delegates and their votes on committees.
He raised the following specific questions:
- Should non-residents be part of the Specific Plan Committee?
- How many Directors should serve on a citizens committee?
- Should Directors serve as Chair and/or Vice Chair on a citizens committee?
- Should Directors be entitled to vote on a citizens committee?
President Orth stated that it was desirable to have a broader representation than simply resident property owners. He stated that the committees elect their own officers and the Board no longer appoints a director to chair them.
Director Pohlson said that when she took over a committee, she opened it up for the citizens to chair and that they had a voice. She further stated that while she and Director Ziady were mainly in a guideline capacity for the committees, she felt she represented the institutional memory for those committees and that they could avoid repeating things that have already been done. She further stated that having more than one Director on a committee can be a benefit.
Mr. Dussault restated his case that he felt it was a question of whether the Directors could subtly overwhelm the committee. President Orth suggested that Mr. Dussault has the authority to pull them back in such an instance.
Director Ziady stated she would have liked to have known about some of these issues before the meeting, and would have had a chance to discuss them personally. She stated she did not necessarily want to be the chair of the Recreation Committee, but that no one else wanted to do it. She further stated that as an alternate she needed to know what was going on the committee, and that she had no problem with not voting.
Mr. Dussault stated he believed the policy was one director on a committee. President Orth stated there was one assigned director and one alternate director, and that if it were not for the Brown Act there could be three directors.
Director Ziady stated that if a committee felt strongly enough that there should be only one board member on the committee, she would be satisfied just to fill in if the assigned director was ill.
Mr. Dussault stated he would be distressed if she dropped off the committee and he commended her for her positive input. He returned to the non-resident issue and stated it could become problematic.
General Manager Chapman advised Mr. Dussault that the Board of Directors represented 6,000 property owners, not just 1,500 home owners.
President Orth advised that property owners are allowed to be on any committee of the district, to vote and give input. Director Pohlson followed by stating that the Board is here to preserve and protect the rights of non-resident property owners, and they should be represented.
Director Ziady returned to the issue of zoning matters. An active discussion followed with President Orth confirming that the Specific Plan Committee would make zoning suggestions. He stated that if another committee had a zoning issue it should first be routed through the Specific Plan Committee, and then through staff, prior to coming to the Board. In turn, if the Specific Plan Committee had a recreation question, they should route it through the Recreation Committee for advisement and then through staff prior to coming before the Board.
Director Skezas brought up the issue of water tank recommendations and the Specific Plan Advisory Committee's input. It was clarified in brief discussion that, as requested by the Directors, the Specific Plan Committee did submit its recommendations to the Board, and that District Architect Axt had done the same.
F. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
G. PUBLIC COMMENTS
County Board of Supervisor Chairman Hal Wagenet, (3rd District Supervisor), appeared to present his views on SB 1648, Senator Wes Chesbro's forestry practice bill. He reviewed the forest practice recommendations of Hans Burkhardt for a 1% to 2% annual limit and made comment on the decline of the timber industry in the region and the resulting decline in yield taxes. He detailed various aspects of the proposed bill with which he disagreed, and stated he believed the second-growth stands of Jackson State Forest had acquired their original plan characteristics for which they were grown and should be harvested in preference to smaller trees. He disagreed with the institution of a citizens advisory committee with veto power over proposed timber harvest plans. He stated that the bill was going before the appropriations committee in August. After a brief discussion, President Orth stated that the Board and the community would remain divided over these issues and declined to place the question of opposing the Chesbro bill on a future agenda.
Robert Terry, treasurer of the NEST organization, commented that NEST needed more membership and support. He stated they will hold an organizational meeting on the second Monday of September and will speak at the September community forum as well. President Orth suggested that they meet concurrently with the local Fire Safe Council.
H. CONSENT CALENDAR
4. Review of Accounts Payable Report and authorization to issue checks. Director Horrick moved to approve the report and authorize issuance of checks. General Manager Chapman clarified year-end expenses pertaining to the golf course. The motion was seconded by Director Pohlson and passed unanimously.
I. ACTION AGENDA
5. Consideration of Annual Financial Statements from Solid Wastes of Willits. General Manager Chapman briefed the directors on the annual audit of the garbage franchise. He stated that revenues were up and the customer base now numbered 1,128. He stated that no complaints related to Solid Wastes had been received in the past 12 months. Gerry Ward, CEO of Solid Wastes of Willits, briefly addressed the Board. He stated the Brooktrails franchise fees are now about $20,000.00, and provided details of his company's operations and cost-cutting efforts. Director Skezas moved to accept the report. Director Horrick seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
6. Carpet/vinyl bids and rental policies for Chipp's House. General Manager Chapman briefed the Board on two basically equivalent bids which had been received for carpet and vinyl for Chipp's House. Staff had recommended that as a fair disposition, vinyl be purchased from Abbey Carpet and carpet from Howard's Carpet. He stated this would be a Recreation Department expense. Director Skezas moved to award the bids as recommended. Director Pohlson seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Then the question of a refrigerator was raised. President Orth commented that it should be the most energy-efficient possible and a basic model. A motion was made and seconded to purchase a refrigerator and the motion carried unanimously.
Director Ziady suggested a two-pet limit and a $500.00 deposit if pets were to be present. Neutering would be required. The Board gave consensus on this policy and directed staff to proceed accordingly.
7. Naming of Redwood Grove and former Summer Lake Area. The Recreation Committee recommended naming the Redwood Grove "Ohl Redwood Grove" and the former Summer Lake area "Summer Meadow Park". President Orth asked that the equivalent Native American names be determined and included in the signs. The Board consensus was that the Resolution should be amended to include the Native American name provision. Director Pohlson moved that the resolution, so amended, be adopted. Director Ziady seconded.
Roll call vote was as follows:
AYES: Directors: Ziady, Horrick, Skezas, Pohlson, Orth
NOES: Directors: None
ABSENT: Directors: None
8. Discussion of initial input for MCOG Transportation Enhancement Grant. Director Pohlson briefed the Board on the funding potentially available for Brooktrails if its recreation projects are included in the Department of Transportation grant request to MCOG.
The categories of projects were reviewed.
President Orth alerted the Board to an upcoming workshop on the grant application process. He stated that the crosswalks, pedestrian signs and bridges for the Recreation Grove should be the top priority. Directors Pohlson stated that Bob Whitney had proposed a trail to the coast and she was interested in pursuing that as a joint project. Director Ziady stated that Janice Gendreau, the Recreation Committee former chair, strongly felt that pedestrian safety issue was the first priority. President Orth suggested that the Directors view the sidewalk installed between the two schools in Redwood Valley as a low-tech, low-cost possibility that could be done in Brooktrails. President Orth suggested that General Manager Chapman and a Director attend the workshop. Director Skezas recommended that the list submitted to MCOG be kept as simple as possible. President Orth stated that the MCOG checklist ranked the 12 categories of project by priority and suggested that the Recreation Committee follow this ranking for the application.
J. ADDITIONS TO FUTURE AGENDAS
None.
K. SPECIAL REPORTS
General Manager Chapman briefed the Board as to the points contained in his memo. He commented with regard to the vehicle break-in at the water plant that when the backwash ponds are done, a better fence around that compound might be considered. He mentioned that bars might be added to the plant windows. In response to President Orth's query, Mr. Chapman stated that letters to the highest-consuming water customers were suspended after Richard Estabrook's revised projection was received.
L. PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
M. ADJOURNMENT
Director Skezas moved to adjourn and President Orth declared the meeting of July 13, 2004 closed at 9:32 p.m.
MICHAEL V. CHAPMAN
Secretary to the Board of Directors
CHARLES A. ORTH,
President
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