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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-17-2026 Minutes1950`j^/ SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT Joel Henderson, Director Nick Haven, Vice President BOARD MEMBERS Kelly Sheehan, Director Shane Romsos, President Nick Exline, Director Ryan Lee, Acting General Manager Andrea Salazar, Chief Financial Officer REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SOUTH TAHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT September 17, 2026 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: President Romsos, Directors Haven, Sheehan, Henderson and Exline Staff: Ryan Lee, Andrea Salazar, Ryan Jones, Melonie Guttry, Shannon Chandler, Megan Colvey, Shelly Thomsen, Chris Stanley, Chris Skelly, Kilty Devine, Cliff Bartlett, Vincent Stagnaro, Liz Kauffman, Ross Cole, Mark Seelos, Jim Kelly, Anthony Gregorich Guests: David Peterson 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: 2. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: None 3. CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA OR CONSENT CALENDAR: None 4. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR: Moved Sheehan/Second Romsos/Haven Yes/Romsos Yes/Henderson Yes/Sheehan Yes/Exline Yes to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. a. CIVICSPARK PROGRAM CONTRACT (Jim Kelly, Asset Management Program Analyst II and Lauren Benefield, Water Conservation Specialist) (1) Approved 1-year Fellowship Contract with Public Health Institute (CivicSpark); and (2) Authorized Acting General Manager to execute Contract. b. INSOURCE SOLUTIONS CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR AVEVA FLEX LICENSES MAINTENANCE, AND SUPPORT (Chris Skelly, Information Technology Manager) Authorized the Acting General Manager to execute the quoted three-year Contract with InSource Solutions for Operational Technology Licensing, Maintenance, and Support in the total Contract amount not to exceed $175,550. REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: September 17, 2026 PAGE - 2 c. ACTING GENERAL MANAGER SALARY (Liz Kauffman, Human Resources Director) Approved compensation for Ryan Lee while serving as Acting General Manager at Step A of the General Manager salary schedule, $126.47 per hour, effective September 2, 2026, and continuing until an Interim General Manager is appointed. d. CALPERS REQUIRED PAY LISTING BY POSITION (Greg Dupree, Accounting Manager) Adopted Resolution No. 3345-26 which incorporates the Pay Listing by Position for the pay listing effective July 30, 2026. e. RECEIVE AND FILE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS (Greg Dupree, Accounting Manager) Received and filed Payment of Claims in the amount of $2,631,145.89. REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: August 26, 2026 (Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/Clerk of the Board) Approved August 26, 2026 Minutes. 5. CONSENT ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION/ACTION: None 6. ITEMS FOR BOARD ACTION: a. Vac -Con Vacuum Excavator Truck Purchase - (cliff Bartlett, Fleet/Equipment Supervisor) — Cliff Bartlett provided details regarding the Vac -Con vacuum excavator truck and addressed questions from the Board. The current truck will be set aside and rebuilt so that it can be a reliable backup. Moved Sheehan/Second Exline/Haven Yes/Romsos Yes/Henderson Yes/Sheehan Yes/Exline Yes to (1) Authorize the purchase of one (1) new Vac -Con vacuum excavator truck from Municipal Maintenance Equipment through the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Contract No. 101221-VAC, in an amount not to exceed $762,927, including applicable taxes, registration, upfit and delivery; and (2) Authorize the Acting General Manager to execute documents necessary to complete the purchase. b. Water Rights Application (Megan Colvey, Director of Engineering and Mark Seelos, Water Resources Manager) — Megan Colvey provided details regarding the water rights application, and she and Mark Seelos addressed questions from the Board. David Peterson commented that staff have done a great job with the staff report and he fully supports the recommendation to withdraw this application. He's been involved in two surface water applications in his career; one due to contamination and the other because it was an opportunity. The process is very expensive and at the end you are required to build something, which the District is not prepared to do. The District can reapply later if a need is determined. Moved Exline/Second Romsos/Haven Yes/Romsos Yes/Henderson Yes/Sheehan Yes/Exline Yes to authorize the Acting General Manager to withdraw Water Rights Application A023393 with the State Water Resources Control Board. REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: September 17, 2026 PAGE - 3 7. STANDING AND AD -HOC COMMITTEES AND LIAISON REPORTS: Director Exline reported that he represented the Board at the Employee Communication Committee on Wednesday, September 16, and he was happy to have the opportunity to speak with staff. Director Sheehan reported that she and Director Henderson attended the Operations Committee meeting on September 9, 2026. A reorganization of the Operations Department is scheduled down the road which will include the entire Board's input, and the committee discussed a fleet electrification program which will be coming to the Board in the future. President Romsos reported he attended the Employee Communication Committee, and it was well attended. He provided an update regarding the recruitment process for the Interim General Manager as well as the permanent General Manager Recruitment. Director Haven provided an update regarding the El Dorado Water Agency meeting held at the District on September 9, 2026, and appreciates staff's participation. The Tahoe Blueprint meeting was held on September 15, 2026. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS: None 9. STAFF/ATTORNEY REPORTS: None 10. ACTING GENERAL MANAGER REPORT: Ryan Lee reported on several items: • This week the Wastewater Treatment Plant is doing great, and back to full capacity. The District is returning the 12 to 14 million gallons that were diverted to the Emergency Retention Basin's (ERB) at 1 million gallons per day, and the ERB is almost empty. It is being cleaned as it is emptied and should be completely cleaned by September 20. He thanked staff for their efforts in the Operations Department, and the Board acknowledged the teamwork. • The District has submitted the Treatment Plant solar project for a Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Best in Basin award and the District was notified this week that it is one of the finalists. TRPA received an incredible number of applications this year and the District's has risen to the top. 11. NOTICE OF PAST AND FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS 12. BREAK AND ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION: 2:25 p.m. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION: 3:06 p.m. a. Pursuant to Section 54956.9(d) (1) of the California Government code, Closed Session may be held for conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation: Yolo County Superior Court Case CV 2021-1686, Alpine County vs. South Tahoe Public Utility District; et al. No reportable Board Action. b. Pursuant to Section 54956.9(d) (2) of the California Government code, Closed Session may be held for conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation. No reportable Board Action. c. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b) (1) consider the appointment of a public employee (Interim General Manager). Provide staff with recruitment direction. REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES: September 17, 2026 PAGE - 4 No reportable Board Action. d. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b) (1) consider the appointment of a public employee (General Manager). Provide staff with recruitment direction. No reportable Board Action. ADJOURNMENT: 3:07 P.M. Melonie Guttry, Executive Services Manager/ Board 0erk South Tahoe Public Utility District O Shane Romsos, Board President South Tahoe Public Utility District