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Home My WebLink About05-15-2025 Minutesrs t 1950 'mil SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Joel Henderson, Director BOARD MEMBERS Kelly Sheehan, Director Nick Haven, Vice President Shane Romsos, President Nick Exline, Director Paul Hughes, General Monaqer Andrea Salazar, Chief Financial Officer REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT May 15, 2025 MINUTES The South Tahoe Public Utility District Board of Directors met in a regular session, 2:00 p.m., at the District Office, located at 1275 Meadow Crest Drive, South Lake Tahoe, California. ROLL CALL: Board of Directors: Directors Haven, Henderson, Sheehan, Exline Remote Participation: President Romsos Staff: Paul Hughes, Ryan Jones, Andrea Salazar, Shannon Chandler, Shelly Thomsen, Mark Seelos, Laura Hendrickson, Chris Stanley, Megan Colvey, Donielle Morse, Ryan Lee, Sara Nelson, Kyle Ostberg, Chris Skelly Guests: Scott Loberg, Roxanne Bruce PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None 3. CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA OR CONSENT CALENDAR Item 6f - Bijou 1 Waterline Replacement Project was pulled from the Agenda. 4. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR: Moved Sheehan/Second Exline/Henderson Yes/Haven Yes/Romsos Yes/Sheehan Yes/ Exline Yes to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. a. 2025 GARDNER MOUNTAIN TANKS RECOATING PROJECT - AAMP COATING INSPECTIONS (Taylor Jaime, Staff Engineer) 1) Approved the proposed Scope of Work from Construction Materials Engineers, Inc. to provide specialty AMPP-certified Coating inspection services for the 2025 Gardner Mountain Tanks Recoating Project and warranty inspection of previously coated water storage tanks Flagpole 2 and Iroquois 2; and 2) Authorized the General Manager to execute Task Order No. 25 in the amount of $61,705. REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDA - May 15, 2025 PAGE - 2 b. STANDARDIZATION OF ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTATION (Mark Seelos, Water Resources Manager and Jared Aschenbach, Electrical and Instrumentation Supervisor) 1) Designated Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories as the District's sole brand for power quality meters; 2) Designated Keller Pressure as the Dist(ct's sole brand for submersible level transmitters used in water supply wells; and 3) Designated the Watlow F4T as the District's sole brand and model of process controller used for pressure control in water supply wells. c. RECEIVE AND FILE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS (Greg Dupree, Accounting Manager) Received and filed Payment of Claims in the amount of $1,715,561.35. d. REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: Mav 1.2025 (Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/Clerk of the Board) Approved May 1, 2025, Minutes 5. CONSENT ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION/ACTION: None 6. ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION a. Fiscal Year 2025/26 Water and Sewer Service Charge Rates (Andrea Salazar, Chief Financial Officer) - Andrea Salazar presented the proposed water and sewer rate increases explaining that the District's complex water, wastewater and recycled water systems require ongoing maintenance and improvements and current ongoing revenue streams are not adequate to pay for necessary system upgrades. The effects of inflation are felt in all areas of the District's operations, including significant increases to electricity and insurance costs. The District is committed to keeping costs as low as possible through grants, low -interest loans and has the lowest water and sewer rates in the Tahoe region. The District also offers financial assistance programs to its low- income customers. Ryan Lee provided customer feedback and described various outreach efforts to inform the community of the increases. Board discussion ensued with each Director relaying their positions and thoughts on the increases. Public comment was received from two members of the community who oppose the increases and expressed concern for delays in addressing the aging infrastructure; affordability for local citizens; alternative funding opportunities not utilized; and the frequency of rate increases. Additional discussion among the Board ensued. Paul Hughes, commented that a Capital Improvement Plan and budget was passed last year with a 5-year rate schedule illustrating 9.5% increases per year. The Board commented that investing in the system now, knowing that costs will continue to rise in the future, is a wise investment and efficient use of funds. The District is constantly trying to find alternative ways to fund its programs and the uncertainty of Federal funding is being taken into consideration. The Board does not take this decision lightly. Moved Sheehan/Second Exline/Henderson No/Haven Yes/Romsos Yes/Sheehan Yes/ Exline Yes to approve Resolution No. 3308-25 confirming the water and sewer service charge rate increases of 9.5% and 9.5% for Fiscal Year 2025/26. b. Fiscal Year 2025/26 Water Enterprise Fund Budget (Andrea Salazar, Chief Financial Officer) Andrea Salazar reported regarding the Water Enterprise Fund Budget. There were no questions from the Board. REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDA - May 15, 2025 PAGE - 3 Moved Sheehan/Second Exline/Henderson No/Haven Yes/Rornsos Yes/Sheehan Yes/Exline Yes to adopt Resolution 3309-25 for the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Water Enterprise Fund Budget and authorize staff to incorporate any adjustments or changes necessary as a result of Board action. C. Fiscal Year 2025/26 Sewer Enterprise Fund Budget (Andrea Salazar, Chief Financial Officer) Andrea Salazar reported regarding the Water Enterprise Fund Budget. There were no questions from the Board. Moved Exline/Second Sheehan/Henderson No/Haven YeslRomsos Yes/Sheehan YeslExline Yes to adopt Resolution 3310-25 for the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Sewer Enterprise Fund Budget and authorize staff to incorporate any adjustments or changes necessary as a result of Board action. d. 2025 Test Well Project (Mark Seelos, Water Resources Manager) Mark Seelos provided details regarding the Test Well Project stating that the acquisition of the Cattlemans property allowed for the possibility of testing at a second site. Public comment was received from Scott loberq, asking why the well at the "California Hotel" could not be used as a test site. Moved Sheehan/Second Exline/Henderson Yes/Haven Yes/Romsos Yes/Sheehan Yes/Exline Yes to reauthorize staff to advertise for construction bids for the test well drilling and installation component of the 2025 Test Well Project. e. AI Tahoe/Bayview Well Backup Power (Mark Seelos, Water Resources Manager) - Mark Seelos provided details regarding the purchase of a generator for the Al Tahoe Bayview Well Backup Power project. Moved Romsos/Second Haven/Henderson Yes/Raven Yes/Romsos Yes/Sheehan YeslExline Yes to 1) Approve exemption from formal competitive solicitation based on the District's Purchasing Policy exemption when using competitively awarded cooperative agreements that leverage the State's buying power; and 2) Authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase order with Empire Cat under Sourcewell Contract Number 092222-CAT in the amount of $379,344 for the purchase of a Cat XQ570 Mobile Generator Set to be provided for the Al Tahoe/Bayview Well Backup Power Project. g. City of South Lake Tahoe Reimbursement Agreement (Chris Stanley, Manager of Field operations) Chris Stanley, provided an overview of the Reimbursement Agreement with the City. Scott Lobera commented that the City does not use the Reimbursement funds to repair the streets. Moved Sheehan/Second Exline/Henderson Yes/Haven Yes/Romsos Yes/Sheehan Yes/Exline Yes to approve Reimbursement Agreement with the City of South Lake Tahoe for work performed on District facilities related to the City's 2025 Road Rehabilitation Project in an amount not to exceed $137,250. 7. STANDING AND AD -HOC COMMITTEES AND LIAISON REPORTS Joel Henderson provided details regarding the Operations Committee meeting held on May 6, 2025. REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDA -May 15, 2025 PAGE - 4 Shane Romsos added details regarding the aeration blower system project presentation and reported that there is a Fire Department training on June 9 and 10 and Board Members are invited. Nick Haven met last week with El Dorado Water Agency to finalize a 5-year strategic plan; Tahoe is getting a lot more acknowledgement due to our advocating for Lake Tahoe. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Nick Exline provided details regarding participating in the Finance Committee spring budgetary discussions. Shane Romsos was the sole District representative at Association of California Water Agencies spring conference where topics included fire preparedness; post -fire planning; water delivery systems; networking and Region 3 membership. 9. STAFF/ATTORNEY REPORTS: None 10, GENERAL MANAGER REPORT: None 11. NOTICE OF PAST AND FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS, 12. BREAK AND ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION: 3:04 p.m. No action was taken. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION: 3:22 p.m. No reportable Board Action. ADJOURNMENT: 3:23 p.m. Shannon Chandler, Administrative Analyst/ Assistant Clerk of the Board South Tahoe Public Utility District L -_ /&'�' Shane Romsos, Board President South Tahoe Public Utility District