Home
District News
Agenda
Approved Minutes
Employment
Links
In the News
Electricity
District Services
Contact Us
Wtr Quality Coalition
Construction Projects

Manteca , California

February 26, 2008

The Board of Directors of the South San Joaquin Irrigation District met in regular adjourned session in their chambers at the hour of 9:00 a.m.

Upon roll call the following members were noted present:

DIRECTORS:            KAMPER            KUIL            SCHULZ            ROOS

            ABSENT:      HOLBROOK

Also present were Secretary/Manager Shields, District Counsel Emrick, WTP Manger Hubkey, Utility Systems Director Battles, Communications Coordinator Sayler, Engineering Department Supervisor Bologna, and District Engineer Gilton. 

President Kuil called the me eting to order and asked for public com me nt.  Mr. Arnold Rothlin, Jr. 5474 Nile Road, Manteca addressed the Board.  He said he was unhappy with the work and the workers.  He said he had a professor at UC Davis calculate the amount of dirt he feels the District owes him and that amount is 636 yards.  He said one of the District employees told him to “get the (expletive deleted) off our property.  President Kuil thanked him for his com me nts and asked if he was filing a claim?  He said “No my wife and I just want our dirt.” 

President Kuil asked the Board to consider approving the Consent Calendar items as presented.   

CONSENT CALENDAR

A.                 Approval of SSJID Warrants of $350,520.01.

B.                 Approval of SSJID Board Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2008.

C.                 Adopt Resolution No. 08-03-Q, Authorizing the disposal of property no longer necessary for District purposes. 

SOUTH SAN JOAQUIN IRRIGATION DISTRICT

RESOLUTION 08-3-Q

AUTHORIZING DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY NO

LONGER NECESSARY FOR DISTRICT PURPOSES

WHEREAS, the District may dispose of equipment it finds no longer necessary for District purposes; and

WHEREAS, the following equip me nt is in poor condition, has been replaced and is no longer adequate for District operations:

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the District finds the equipment surplus and authorizes staff to properly dispose of the equipment.

Motion by Director Schulz, seconded by Director Roos, and unanimously carried to approve the Consent Calendar items as presented. 

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 26^th day of February, 2008 by the following roll call vote:

      Ayes:                Kamper        Kuil          Schulz          Roos

      Noes:               None

      Absent: Holbrook

Consider approving Resolution 08-04-P to authorize quitclaim of ease me nts no longer necessary in connection with the City of Ripon ’s Frontage Road Project. Bologna recom me nds conditional approval based on the city signing the letter agree me nt acknowledging District’s right to access the canal and other certain improve me nts we asked for. Motion by Director Roos, seconded by Director Kamper, to adopt the Resolution subject to the City of Ripon signing the letter referred to above.  

SOUTH SAN JOAQUIN IRRIGATION DISTRICT

RESOLUTION NO. 08-04-P

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE BY QUITCLAIM

OF EASEMENT OF THE DISTRICT

WHEREAS, the SOUTH SAN JOAQUIN IRRIGATION DISTRICT, hereinafter referred to as District, is the holder of an ease me nt  for Lateral “V”-113-dd which burdens  a portion of  Sections 19 , Township 2 South, Range 8 East, Mount Diablo Base and Meridian, situated within the City of Ripon, County of San Joaquin, State of California, (Ease me nt) and

WHEREAS, the Easement specifically burdens in part a portion of a 60 foot wide strip of land shown on Map entitled “Plat of Lindblom Tract” filed in office of the Recorder of San Joaquin County on July 10, 1913 in Volume 7 of Maps and Plat at page 20 lying within portions the City’s public road right of way as shown in Book 24 page 131 and Book 23 page 102 of Parcel Maps of  San Joaquin County records and being more particularly described in Exhibit “A” of quitclaim deed to City of Ripon (Subject Property), and

WHEREAS, the easement is no longer utilized for irrigation and drainage purposes, and the pipeline formerly in the easement has been removed, and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the District that the portion of the Easement burdening the Subject Property be quitclaim deeded to the City of Ripon,  and

WHEREAS, the District’s Board of Directors finds as follows:

1.          The pipeline has been satisfactorily abandoned in place or removed within the Subject Properties ease me nt, and

2.                  The District's interest in the Subject Properties proposed to be quitclaim deeded is no longer necessary for District purposes, and

3.                  The properties to be quitclaim deeded is exempt surplus land within the meaning of Government Code 54221 (e) (2), and,

4.                  The proposed disposition of the District’s Easement in the Subject Property is categorically exempt under California Environmental Quality Act as Class 12 Project pursuant to 14 CA Adm. Code of Regulations 15112 since the surplus government property does not have significant value for wildlife habitat or other environmental purposes and the property is of such size and shape that it is incapable of independent development or use.     

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED  that the Board of Directors of the South San Joaquin Irrigation District hereby authorize the President and Secretary to, execute on behalf of the District a quitclaim deed to the City of Ripon disposing of the District’s Easement interest in the Subject Property.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 26^th day of February 2008 by the following roll call vote:

      Ayes:                Kamper            Kuil            Schulz           Roos

      Noes:               None

      Absent: Holbrook

Consider approving purchase of furniture for the front office/finance depart me nt remodeling project.  Robin Giuntoli , Finance Supervisor told the Board the furniture is necessary as a result of the addition to the office.  She said the contractor, Brayton Construction, recom me nded using Warden’s Office Furniture and since we have used them in the past we went to them and they submitted a proposal of $43,150.  This item was budgeted at $50,000.   Giuntoli recom me nded approval to order the furniture from Warden’s at the price listed.   Motion by Director Roos, seconded by Director Schulz, and unanimously carried to approve the purchase from Warden’s at a price not to exceed $43,150.

Discussion and possible action concerning water service to Ripon schools.  Bologna said he has talked to Ripon Christian School and they are in favor of taking irrigation water from us.  Dale said he spoke to the Superintendent of Ripon School District, and he is also interested.  Bologna said he would like to see an ad-hoc committee appointed to work with the schools and the City of Ripon .  Dale appointed Director Kamper and himself to the ad hoc committee with Director Roos as alternate.  No action was taken. 

Consider approving the cancellation of Service Abandonment #1294, Lillian Keyes, Living Trust, APN 257-210-05.   Bologna said he would like to look at this pipe and make sure we can deliver water through it.  Motion by Director Kamper, seconded by Director Roos, and unanimously carried, to authorize staff to investigate the ability of the pipeline in question, and if staff feels it is okay to use the pipeline, to execute the agreement. 

Discussion relative to setting a date for the start of the 2008 water season.  Shields said we recommended using March 10 or March 17.  After discussion it was the consensus of the Board to set the tentative date for starting irrigation at March 17^th.  However, based on weather, to move the date back or forward depending on the weather, subject to approval of the Ag Committee, Directors Kamper and Schulz.   No action was taken. 

President Kuil asked Water Treatment Plant Manager Hubkey to give his report.  

Hubkey reported the following:

Log booms stayed in position after the last storm.  However all lights have quit working.  However, we are confident we can fix the problem easily.

Robert Strmiska, laborer has resigned.  His last day will be March 1^st. 

The DHS did its inspection last week.  There were no concerns brought up.

We have spent, since January 1, 2008, over 905 hours repairing fibers.

Rains have impacted the drying process of sludge beds.  If it doesn’t warm up soon we may have to hire a contractor to help dry the sludge me chanically.

Before the irrigation season begins WTP staff will need to flush the pipeline in the reservoir out from the upper intake. 

Once the reservoir reaches the level we need to take out of the upper intake, we will do so. 

DHS submitted an alert to all treatment plants that use sodium hypochlorite that storage tanks that sit in the sun see significant degradation of the product and by products are being formed that impact the effectiveness of the product. 

President Kuil thanked Hubkey and asked for an update of the Solar Project relative to construction and financing.   Battles said we hired Glenn Reddick to inspect the work done.  Mr. Reddick came up with a “punch list” and the contractor is working and should be completed by the end of this week.  Additionally, Reddick hired a Certified Solar Inspector to certify that it is ready.  The inspector should be done next week. 

Battles me t with Candice Briskey, from PG&E.  She is working closely with us and I am looking for positive feedback from her.   PG&E could do their inspection as early as next week subject to availability.

Ms. Briskey also told Battles that when PG&E did the hookup for the plant because we were eventually going to use MID as the power provider they went under Rule 13, temporary service, and charged us $113,000.  We are now under rule 15 and 16, and we should get a refund.  

Emrick said relative to financing we are no longer recom me nding outside financing by MS Greenrock.  Instead we are recom me nding using cash or issuing debt.  It was the consensus of the Board to either use cash or issue debt.  No action was taken. 

General Manager’s report:

Shields reported:

Relocation of electric meters at the Woodward tower, which gives PG&E easier access, is complete.

The new gate in front is finished, however we are waiting on the phone company to install a line.   Should be done by the end of the week. 

Thanked Troylene Sayler for the job she did organizing the Almond Blossom Booth.  He also thanked Director Kuil for supplying a canopy and Director Holbrook for supplying a trailer.  He also thanked the following employees for working the booth over the three day weekend:   Cheryl Burke, Luz Juarez , Matt Gonzales, Rich Hartman, Robert Geer Jr., Joe Lourenco, Jeanne Seeley, Dawn Driesen, Sam Bologna , Joe Catanzarite, Matt Macedo, Lee Rice, Frank Avila , and John Stein .  The Directors also thanked the above employees for making it a successful weekend. 

Should have an irrigation newsletter out by March 6^th or 7^th.

Legislative Analyst proposal was to take 50% of the Property Tax from the Special Districts and give to the police and fire departments, and the following year let the Counties take the other half.

Have landowners who want to rent our pumps before we start irrigation, wants to know if this is okay.  Consensus was yes.

Met with Leon Compton City Manager Ripon, Mayor Pernice, Council Member Winn, and several others and talked about Solar for residents.

Reported that Mike Gilton, District Engineer had resigned to take the General Manager position with the Salida Waste Water Authority.  His last day will be February 29, 2008. 

Director’s reports:

Director Roos said he attended the Mayors Breakfast in Ripon and talked to several council me mbers.  He also talked to Leon Compton and Chuck Winn and felt it was a very productive me eting. 

Director Kamper said Dr. Burt of Cal Poly met with several staff and basically said he is too busy to help us at this time.  Kamper feels we should talk to Fresno State about helping us improve our system.

The County Water Advisory Commission has gone ballistic over the Peripheral Canal .  He said he had worked with Emrick to prepare a response supporting the canal at his request.  He wants to know the other directors positions.  Emrick suggested he sign the letter as an individual director, not on behalf of the entire District. 

Director Kuil said a special thanks to Troylene Sayler for her work on the Almond Blossom Festival and thanked the employees who worked our booth. 

Have a trailer in place along Highway 99 and will have a plaque on it within two weeks. 

President Kuil called for closed session.  District Counsel Emrick said we will discuss the following:

Conference with legal counsel, existing litigation, Gov Code S. 54956.  SSJID vs. LAFCo, Superior Court, San Joaquin County , Case No. CV 0302559.

Conference with real property negotiator:  Negotiating Parties:  District and City of Ripon .

Upon returning from closed session Emrick reported there was no reportable action taken in closed session. 

There being no further business to come before the Board it was moved by Director Kamper, seconded by Director Schulz, and unanimously carried, to adjourn to March 11, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.

 ATTEST:            John Stein , Assistant Secretary                                                                                                                    

South San Joaquin Irrigation District, 11011 E. Highway 120, Manteca, CA, 95336. ~ Tel: 209.249.4600 ~ Fax: 209.249.4640

Copyright 2005, South San Joaquin Irrigation District.  All rights reserved.