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MINUTES
BROOKTRAILS TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BROOKTRAILS COMMUNITY CENTER
24850 Birch Street, Willits, CA 95490
February 22, 2005 |
The Board of Directors of Brooktrails Township Community Services District met in regular session Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in Brooktrails Community Center.
A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
B. ROLL CALL
Roll call showed the following Directors present: Ziady, Pohlson, Skezas and Orth. Director Horrick was absent on leave. Also present were General Manager Chapman and District Counsel Neary.
REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION
None.
C. ADDITIONS/ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA
Director Skezas suggested that agenda item 7 (letter to Department of Transportation) be tabled because staff had not had enough time to do a report. After brief discussion, it was agreed to place this on the next agenda.
Director Pohlson said she would like to see reports from the (() Directors, (() General Manager, and (() District Counsel under "Special Reports" on each agenda. This would enable directors on committees to report on their committee's activities. It was agreed that this proposal could be discussed at the annual Planning Meeting.
Another item was added to the agenda in the discussion of Item 3 of the Action Agenda.
D. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1. February 8, 2005 Director Ziady asked that at the bottom of page 3530, the last sentence should read ". . . the income would not be sufficient to fund even 10-year maintenance." President Orth asked that the last sentence of the first paragraph on page 3529 be changed to read: "He said he felt that the District could pre-select potential sites for cell tower installation and have an ordinance prepared and ready for future applications." He asked that on page 3530, last line of Item 5, the first clause read, President Orth directed staff to sit down with Mr. Terry. . . ." He asked that the last sentence of the second-to-last paragraph on page 3530 read, "The executive officer of MCOG suggested a look at possible avenues to accommodate, including up to a memorandum of understanding between MCOG, the County, and special districts." Director Skezas asked for a copy of that page after its correction.
Director Pohlson moved to approve the minutes as amended. Director Ziady seconded. Roll call vote was as follows:
AYES: Directors: Ziady, Pohlson, Orth
NOES: Directors: None
ABSTENTION: Directors: Skezas
ABSENT: Directors: Horrick
Referring to the first sentence of the last paragraph on page 3530, Director Skezas commented that he felt the changes that had been made to the final version of the Fire Safe Council grant application (eliminations of mentions of timber harvest and shaded fuel breaks) were major changes which should have been discussed by the Board first.
E. SPECIAL PRESENTATION
None.
F. PUBLIC HEARING
None.
G. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Bob Terry of Poppy Lane announced the BPOA St. Patrick's Dinner and the Fire Department Spaghetti Feed.
H. CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Review of Accounts Payable Report and authorization to issue checks. Director Skezas moved to authorize payment of checks. Director Pohlson seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
I. ACTION AGENDA
3. Further consideration of signing of MOU with Sonoma County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP). Roland Sanford of the Mendocino County Water Agency briefed the Board on the process followed by the County in its decision to sign on to the IRWMP, along with Humbolt and Del Norte counties. He stressed that the MOU was non-binding. He said nobody knows exactly what the final IRWMP will look like, how it will function, or whether it will benefit the county.
The Board discussed various issues, particularly water projects that would be eligible under Chapter 8 of Prop. 50 (the funding program which requires membership in an IRWMP). Mr. Sanford confirmed that water storage/capacity projects were not eligible, but stressed that some parts of a larger project might be eligible, and that watershed restoration specifically was suitable. Mr. Sanford then responded to numerous questions. He confirmed there was $500,000 in planning money to be split among the counties, and confirmed that 40% of the overall Chapter 8 money was allocated to two-thirds of the state. Director Pohlson asked Mr. Sanford if Brooktrails could rely on receiving his assistance on our behalf; Mr. Sanford said he would be happy to sponsor a project, but could not state he would pursue it in preference to other County projects.
Director Skezas said that, given the non-binding nature of the MOU, there was little risk in signing on at this point, and he moved that the District sign the MOU. There was no second. Further discussion ensued about the interests of Sonoma County versus those of the smaller participants. Mr. Sanford said that Sonoma County is keenly aware that if Mendocino County dropped out, Sonoma County would be isolated from the rest of the participants. Director Ziady asked District Counsel Neary if he could confirm the District could drop out if desired; he referred to Sec. 5.7 of the MOU as allowing this.
Mr. Sanford said his agency was acting as the planning coordinator and the deadline to get projects identified and submitted was February 28th. President Orth cited the erosion projects in the District. Mr. Sanford confirmed this could be submitted as a brief project description, simply a "place holder," and expanded upon later.
Director Ziady seconded Director Skezas's motion.
Wallace Stahle of Rose Terrace commented that Sec. 5.8 of the MOU required dedication of staff time and financial resources by participants for the overall IRWMP. Further discussion ensued about the contribution of money under the program. Mr. Sanford stated this was unknown at this time. The question was asked and Roll-call vote was as follows:
AYES: Directors: Ziady, Pohlson, Skezas, Orth
NOES: Directors: None
ABSENT: Directors: Horrick
President Orth asked District Counsel if the Board could direct staff to have a preliminary project description ready in three days. District Counsel said it would need to be added to the agenda. Director Pohlson moved to add the item; Directors Skezas and Ziady simultaneously seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Added agenda item:
Direction to Staff To Prepare Preliminary Ch. 50 IRWMP Project Proposal. President Orth referred to the primary CFIP recommendation of doing erosion control in the greenbelt. Wallace Stahle commented that he recalled that that report included many recommendations and suggestions, the first one being to fix roads. He said he had been told the plan would not be put immediately into action, and cautioned not to turn the CFIP recommendations over for action and open the door to road-building. Discussion followed about which project and area to choose. General Manager Chapman suggested the new 160-acre watershed parcel over the 800-acre area of greenbelt. President Orth asked for a motion to direct staff to prepare a proposal for use in both areas. Director Skezas so moved; Director Pohlson seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
A break was taken at 8:15 p.m.
4. Consideration of draft Ordinance 128 amending Ordinances 127 and 76 (private water tanks). General Manager Chapman reviewed the Board's request at the February 8 meeting to return an adoptable draft of the ordinance to this meeting. The purpose of the new ordinance was to exclude Spring Creek and Sylvandale from certain of the restrictions on private water tanks. Discussion ensued about the distinction between potable and non-potable water sources and which could be used to fill tanks.
Director Skezas moved to introduce draft Ordinance 128 and schedule a public hearing for March 8, 2005. Director Ziady seconded.
Further discussion about fill sources resulted in direction to change "rainwater" in the first sentence of Sec. 2-802 to "non-potable" water. Roll-call vote was as follows:
AYES: Directors: Ziady, Pohlson, Skezas, Orth
NOES: Directors: None
ABSENT: Directors: Horrick
5. Consideration of materials holding yard. General Manager Chapman reviewed the need for such a holding facility and the factors involved in its selection and construction. He said the water leak program's acceleration this summer will produce increased dirt spoils and that construction should begin early enough to make this available this dry season. Ruth Goodfield had prepared recommendations after visiting the site and had directed that archeological and botanical studies be done; District Architect Axt also had made recommendations. Three hundred feet of access road would have to be graveled, and the north end of Rockefeller Trail slightly re-routed.
District Counsel Neary pointed out that mitigations would be settled on during the CEQA process. He said that a motion should not include authorizing the concept and location yet. Director Skezas moved to authorize the General Manager to commission the studies, hire contractors to design the project, and move forward with CEQA and permitting requirements. Director Ziady seconded and said she was impressed with the report and the idea. Discussion followed about recycling the dirt; Director Skezas asked to be informed how many cubic yards the compound would hold. The motion carried unanimously.
6. Consideration of a resolution updating travel allowance policy. Director Pohlson left the table, as she had a conflict (spouse employed with District). General Manager Chapman reviewed the disparity between the reimbursement rates allowed by the District for travel meals and lodging and current costs. Director Skezas moved to approve the resolution; Director Ziady seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
J. ADDITIONS TO FUTURE AGENDAS
Director Ziady referred to the development plan for the Ohl Grove. She reminded the Board that it had reviewed the plan and sent it back to committee to recommend an alternative pool site, which was now done, and now the plan needed to return for approval.
Director Pohlson requested discussion of a potential letter to the Department of Transportation.
K. SPECIAL REPORTS
General Manager Chapman reviewed his report, focusing on the test results from SHN soil boring test (Lake Emily). He said the results showed the soil lacking cohesiveness and was unsuitable for use at the toe of the reservoir. He said several contractors were expressing some interest in the Clearwell/Backwash Ponds project. He further discussed with an audience member the success to date of the District's campaign against infiltration into its sewer lines.
L. PUBLIC COMMENTS
John Lemmer of Poppy Drive took the podium and asked if decisions had made regarding NEST's request for District sponsorship of the group. General Manager Chapman referred to a meeting he had had with Mr. Lemmer and Bob Terry and said he felt another meeting was needed, and that the workman's compensation insurance matter had been sent to District Counsel to review. He stated he believed the District's insurance would cover any District volunteers. President Orth summarized the matter as being in process.
M. ADJOURNMENT
Director Skezas moved to adjourn and President Orth declared the meeting of February 22, 2005 closed at 8:47 p.m.
CHARLES A. ORTH
President Orth
MICHAEL V. CHAPMAN
Secretary to the Board of Directors |
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