BIG BEAR AREA REGIONAL WASTEWATER AGENCY
 SPECIAL MEETING
August 28, 2002
At
Dept. of Water & Power
41972 Garstin Drive
Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

1. Call to Order

A special meeting of the Governing Board of the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency was held on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 4:30 p.m. at the Dept. of Water & Power, 41972 Garstin Drive, Big Bear Lake, California.

Governing Board members present: Bob Colven, Mary Cortez, Dr. Don Eads, Jeff Newsome and Bill Mellen
Governing Board members absent: None

Others present: Ken Al-Iman, Conrad & Associates; Shirley Bard, Citizen; Tom Brown, Citizen; Ron Carducci, Cal West Consultants; William Clary, Big Bear Grizzly; Kim Colven, Citizen; Steven DeBaun, Best, Best & Krieger; Tom Harder, GEOSCIENCE; Hal Hays, Hal Hays Construction; Gary Keller, Big Bear City Community Services District; Nick Kfoury, Seatra Systems; Laura Koepke, Citizen; Michael Perry, City of Big Bear Lake; Chuck Rounds, Hal Hay Contractors; Dottie Saville, DWP, City of Big Bear Lake; Gina Wagner, Citizen; Dennis Williams, GEOSCIENCE and Ron Worthington, Engineering Resources of Southern California.

Staff present: Nancy Laughlin, Finance Manager; Jerry Rang, Plant Superintendent, and Steven C. Schindler, General Manager.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Chairman Colven called the meeting to order at 4:31 p.m. with Chairman Colven leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Presentations

A. 1-Year Service Pin to Ms. Barbara Willis
Chairman Colven requested that since Ms. Willis had a previous commitment, would Mrs. Laughlin, Finance Manager, present the service pin to Ms. Willis during the next employee meeting.

6. New Business

A. Audit Financial Report

At the request of staff, Item 6, New Business was moved to the presentation portion of the agenda. Mr. Ken Al-Iman of Conrad & Associates, L.L.P. provided the Governing Board, staff and members of the public with an overview explaining the purpose of an audit and the contents of the audit report. Mr. Al-Iman commented that the agency was in a favorable financial condition for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002.

Mr. Al-Iman answered questions from the Governing Board and members of the public. He praised the work of Mrs. Laughlin, Finance Manager, on the condition of the agency financial records and the availability of those records on short notice. The Governing Board and staff provided congratulations to Mrs. Laughlin. Mrs. Laughlin thanked Mr. Al-Iman and the staff of Conrad & Associates for their ability to finalize the financial report in such a timely manner.

Upon motion by Board Member Colven, seconded by Board Member Dr. Eads, and carried, the Governing Board accepted the audit report as presented.

AYES: 5
NAYS: 0

B. Water Conservation Through Wastewater Reclamation Project Overview - Discussion and possible action

Mr. Schindler advised the Governing Board, staff and members of the public that copies of the presentation were available next to the sign in sheets. He introduced Mr. Williams of GEOSCIENCE. Mr. Williams advised those in attendance that the presentation would provide an overview of our Water Conservation through Water Reclamation Project. He provided an explanation of purpose, 40-year summary of precipitation, hydrologic sub-units within the valley, an explanation of safe yield, over pumping and methods to increase a safe yield. He also reviewed how artificial recharge works, spreading basins, potential sites, the overall study process, the time line, pilot testing and our current status.

Mr. Williams, Mr. Harder and Mr. Keller responded to Board Member Newsome's questions regarding the blending issue/procedure and the environmental issues within Van Dusen Canyon.

Mr. Williams, Mr. Worthington, staff and Dr. Eads responded to questions from Mr. Brown, Ms. Koepke, Ms. Bard and Ms. Wagner regarding pharmaceuticals, Tentatively Identified Compounds, costs and other issues of public and environmental health.

Staff responded to Ms. Koepke's question about previous disposal methods used within the valley. Mr. Perry urged the Governing Board to continue with the study for the benefit of the water purveyors and the valley.

Upon motion by Board Member Cortez, seconded by Board Member Dr. Eads, and carried, the Governing Board directed staff to continue with the study to include pilot testing.

AYES: 5
NAYS: 0

4. New Business

Chairman Colven read the contents of the Consent Calendar and inquired as to the desire of any Board Member wishing to remove any item. Board Member Cortez informed the Governing Board and staff that she would be abstaining from item 4.B, due to her absence from that meeting. Upon motion by Board Member Dr. Eads, seconded by Board Member Bill Mellen, and carried, the Governing Board approved the consent calendar as presented.

A. Approval of the Agenda
B. Minutes of the Special Meeting of August 13, 2002 - Approved
C. Monthly Summary of Operations Report - Informational
D. Monthly Cash Disbursements for July 2002 - Informational
E. Investment Report and Sewer Connection Reports for July 2002 - Informational
F. Governing Board Member Reimbursement - Approved
G. Resolution of the Governing Board of the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency Amending the Appendix of the Conflict of Interest Code Pursuant to the Political Reform Act of 1974 - Adopted
H. Resolution of the Governing Board of the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency Amending and Adopting Local Guidelines for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act - Adopted
I. Agreement of Sale for Abandoned Southwest Gas Pipeline - Approved

AYES: 4
NAYS: 0
ABSTAINED: 1

5. Old Business - None

A. Emergency Storage Pond Bid Authorization
Mr. Schindler reminded the Governing Board that staff had requested this item being held until the August 28, 2002 meeting due to the need for additional information. He advised the Governing Board that we still needed to move forward with the project, but we need to deal with the change in groundwater at the site. Mr. DeBaun advised the Governing Board that any motion to proceed should include "contingent upon staff negotiating an acceptable change order with the recommended contractor."

Upon motion by Board Member Dr. Eads, seconded by Board Member Colven, and carried, the Governing Board directed staff to negotiate a change order for dewatering the project site and bring the matter back to the Governing Board as soon as possible.

AYES: 5
NAYS: 0

7. Items Removed from Consent Calendar - None

8. Information/Committee Reports - None

9. Manager's Report

Mr. Schindler provided the Governing Board with an oral report of his activities since the last meeting.

10. Public Forum Response

Ms. Koepke advised the Governing Board that she was concerned that the Real Estate community was not informed and that using reclaimed water will drive property sales down. Ms. Bard advised the Governing Board that she was uncomfortable with this group studying the financial aspects of the project and urged them to look at it as if it is their money.

11. Public Forum -

The Public Forum portion of the meeting is an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the Governing Board on matters within the jurisdiction of this Agency. Ordinance No. 57 limits individual public testimony to three minutes or less. The cumulative time that any individual may provide public testimony during a meeting is 15 minutes and the public testimony shall be limited to thirty minutes for all speakers. Whenever a group of persons wishes to address the Board on the same item, the Chairman or the Board by majority vote may request a spokesperson be chosen for the group or limit the number of such person addressing the Board. Since discussion of an item, not on the posted agenda is not allowed, these concerns will be addressed in a future meeting as soon as practicable under "Public Forum Response."

12. Items for Future Agendas - None

13. Closed Session - None

14. Adjournment

With no further business to come before the Governing Board, Chairman Colven adjourned the meeting at 5:49 p.m.

____________________________________
Dr. Don Eads, Secretary of the Governing Board
of the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency

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