Minutes of the Board of Trustees – Wednesday, March 9, 2011.

1. Roll Call:

Present:     President, Evan Long; Secretary, Belen Gomez; Larry Roberts; Bette George and Rosemary Hellwig.

Absent:     Richard Phillips, Farmersville.

Staff:         Manager, Michael Alburn.

Others:            Monique Miron and Jerry Lemus, CM Construction Services, Inc.

2. Approval of February Minutes:

It was moved by Belen Gomez, seconded by Bette George and unanimously carried that the Minutes of the February meeting be approved as mailed.

3. Approval of February Bills:

Following discussion, it was moved by Larry Roberts, seconded by Better George, and unanimously carried that the February Bills be approved as submitted.  See:  Board Order to disburse funds No. 17, Exhibit I.

4. Approval of March Payroll:

Following discussion, it was moved by Bette George, seconded by Larry Roberts, and unanimously carried that the March Payroll be approved as submitted.  See:  Board Order to disburse funds No. 18, Exhibit II.

5. Public Forum:

None.

6. Operational Report:

The Manager reported on these items of operational interest:

Dead bird testing will resume Monday, March 14^th.  At that time all zip codes will be re-opened.  The WNV and Dead Bird Hotline will continue to be manned Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm, beginning in mid-April the hotline will be open 7 days a week from 8am to 5pm.  Direct calls from the public go to the toll free number (1-877-WNV-BIRD).

The annual radio run weeks are set for the: 3/28, 6/19, and 8/22.  Peak Broadcasting: KMJ 580 AM; KSKS 93.7 FM; KMGV 97.9 FM; KWYE 101 FM; KMJ 105.9 FM.
Kings MAD is contracting with Clear Channel to deliver in Spanish; we will participate in that campaign as well.  Peak delivers to English speaking Spanish community on 97.9 FM.  Total cost for the five participating districts is $4,371 ea.

Trail maintenance has been completed in all streambeds. Maintenance with hand tools will occur throughout season.

The District’s computer network “CRASHED” the week of February 28^th.  Paul Jobe had to reboot his hard drive.  Miscellaneous electronic data will have to be input all over again (eg., Outlook Address/ Contact lists, etc.).  Nothing in the way of payroll or other “business” data was lost.    Sheri Davis’ computer was able to be scoured and is up as of March 8.  Protocols for backup are being investigated.  In addition the district is setting up a workstation to be separate from the network drive which can be used to research on the web.

Mosquito fish have started to be collected, will be an ongoing process the rest of the month. 

Nine employees will begin work in April; 3 – Weed/ Larval, 1 – Lab, 5 – House Mosquito.

Drug screen / physical and uniform sizing to begin next week.

Training is complete for all employees except for the 10 hours of DVD training we are due to receive from MVCAC.  Five hours of Category “A” (laws and regulations, pesticides, pesticide use and equipment, labels and labeling, safety and related issues) will be available near the end of the month. This will be followed by five hours of Category “C” (Invertebrates of Public Health Significance; Biology and Control) shortly thereafter.  ”Continuing Education Unit (CEU)” means a unit value assigned to educational activities approved by CDPH equal to one unit for each 50 to 60 minute segment of instruction as determined by CDPH.  Certified Technicians must obtain CEU’s during each two year cycle (ending 6/30/11) in the following increments:  CAT A – 12, CAT B (Mosquito Biology and Control) – 8, CAT C – 8, CAT D (Vertebrates of Public Health Significance Biology and Control) – 8.

Calibration and Label Training Day – during week of March 14.  The Manager asked if there was an objection to purchase box of hamburgers / buns, potato/ mac salad, beans, etc. for the crew from Smart / Final for the day, none was heard.

7. Building Project Report:

The Manager introduced Monique Miron, CM Construction Services, Project Manager and Jerry Lemus, CM Construction Services.

The project plan was resubmitted March 1st.  The City of Visalia sent the resubmittal up to Fresno for review.  Ahmand Naffa the plan check examiner will have them reviewed by March 14. 

CMCS and Hayashida have put together the bid specs, will have them in Dale Bacigalupi’s office this week for approval by the District.  Anticipate the May meeting will be when we award contract. 

8. NPDES Coalition/ SWRCB Permit:

On March 1^st the SWRCB adopted a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.  Two documents need to be completed and sent in to the SWRCB with a check for $136.  The Notice of Intent (NOI) and the Pesticide Application Plan (PAP) which tells the SWRCB how and why we make applications to waters of the U.S.  In the PAP, we will reference the Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Coalition. The District will also reference the BMP’s adopted by our Board from the CDPH Mosquito-Borne Virus Surveillance & Response Plan.  Staff is putting the information together for submission.

The Manager attended presentations made to the Coalition by potential NPDES Permit Project Managers for the Monitoring and Reporting Program.  UC DAVIS, URS & Larry Walker were interviewed and URS was selected.  Contractual discussions are to start immediately.  URS has been working with the MVCAC for over a year in preparation for the SWRCB’s issuance of the NPDES Permit.

Several changes occurred during the 11^th hour of the Boards decision. Notable was the inclusion of larvicide data.  The Water Board will fund a study that will evaluate larvicide applications with the results to be available by Dec. ’12.  An Amendment to the Permit could follow.

The SWRCB does not have the approved Permit on its web site yet, the District is preparing the NOI and PAP docs for submission.  The SWRCB added a provision in the permit that will apply during March and April 2011.  Upon receipt of any PAP during this period, the SWRCB will issue a provisional Notice of Applicability within 3 days and the permit then will apply for up to 40 days.  The 40-day provisional NOA period will allow time for the PAP to be reviewed and considered and is intended to ensure that we are covered while that comments period and subsequent alterations to the PAP are being completed.  As soon as we file our paperwork, we will receive a provisional NOA within a few days.  We are covered when we receive it.  After the 30 day review period, we should receive a non-provisional Notice of Applicability, which will cover us for the remainder of the permit life.

In the mean time, the USEPA has asked the Sixth Circuit Court in Ohio to stay their decision until Oct. 31, 2011.  The extension request is important to allow sufficient time for EPA to engage in Endangered Species Act consultation and complete the development of an electronic database to streamline requests for coverage under the Agency's general permit. It also allows time for authorized states to finish developing their state permits and for permitting authorities to provide additional outreach to stakeholders on pesticide permit requirements.

EPA's general permit will be available to cover pesticide discharges to waters of the U.S. in MA, NH, NM, ID, OK, AK, DC, most U.S. territories and Indian country lands, and many federal facilities.  Not in California.

During the period while the court is considering the extension request, permits for pesticide applications will not be required under the Clean Water Act.  

H.R. 872 addresses the pending new regulatory requirements resulting from the case National Cotton Council of America v. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Under the court ruling, beginning April 9, pesticide users would have to obtain a duplicative permit under the Clean Water Act for the use of pesticides.  Pesticide applications are already highly regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). H.R. 872 would amend FIFRA and the Clean Water Act to clarify Congressional intent and eliminate the requirement of a new permit for the use of pesticides already registered with FIFRA. 

9. Bank Account Change:

The Manager requested the Board authorize a change of accounts for Revolving Fund, EFTPS, and Flex Benefit Accounts from B of A to Visalia Community Bank.

The B of A charges are running approx. $50/ month.  With Visalia Comm. we will be under a business free checking / service charge free accounts.  Purchase of our checks will be our only expense.

Total Benefits administers our Flex Benefit account.  They will handle check orders, signature cards, debit card transfer info.  The account was running approximately $15 / month.

Revolving fund we will pay for checks.  Cost is neutral.

EFTPS account will be a repository for the payroll tax liability.  Sheri will begin making the transfers instead of the Bank.  The cost is zero.  B of A had Sheri doing most the work and they would do the transfer then charge us approximately $33 / month.

Revolving and EFTPS will switch banks immediately.  Flex Benefit will change in July, budgeting of $5000 start up money, allowing the B of A account to receive payroll deductions in July, and Total Benefits will do their work to order checks etc., once the account is established.  In August the payroll deduction will go to Visalia Community.  By year end we will close the B of A account and deposit into Tulare County Treasury.  This will cause the start up deposit to be neutral and allow the auditor to follow.

Following discussion, it was moved by Bette George, seconded by Belen Gomez and unanimously carried to approve the changes as outlined by the Manager.

10. Rawhide:

The Rawhide cost for the Saloon, same as we have always reserved, is $15 per ticket with an ability to be exclusive in the area by purchase of a minimum of 60 tickets ($900).  We can add a food voucher to the ticketing for about the same as last year (prices not set yet) $8.75 ($525). We can also have no beer sales on the ticket to protect the family atmosphere the event is attempting to generate. If we give 10 days notice on the food voucher we can earn 10% off the food voucher price.  Reservations require a $100 deposit.  Total cost approximately $1425.  Dates: M-W, June 27-29; July 12, 20, 27; Aug 1-2, 8-9.  The Manager recommended July 12 vs San Jose Giants, as a weeknight likely to draw more people since it is against Giants a local favorite.

Following Discussion, it was moved by Bette George, seconded by Belen Gomez and unanimously carried to approve the family night out at the Rawhide.

11. Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Board Minutes approved on April 13, 2011.

______________________________________

Michael W. Alburn, Recording Secretary