August 21, 2002

7:30 p.m.

 

          The Board of Directors of the San Benito County Water District convened in Special Session.  Directors Ken Perry, John Tobias, Douglas Keck and James DeLaCruz were present together with District Manager/Engineer John S. Gregg, District Counsel David Pipal and Administrative Services Officer Janet L. Miller.

 

a.       Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

          President Keck called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

1.       Proof of Publication submitted on Notice of Public Hearing

 

          Administrative Services Officer Torres reported Resolution No. 2002-11, a Resolution of Intention to Create a Zone of Benefit and to Undertake a Project was published in the FreeLance on July 31, August 7 and August 14, 2002.

 

2.       Public Hearing/Meeting Regarding the Establishment of Zone of Benefit and the Undertaking of Project – Harmony Hills Water System serving Harmony Hills

 

          a.       Presentation of the Preliminary Engineer’s Report

          District Manager/Engineer Gregg gave a brief report on the Preliminary Engineering Report.  He described the existing conditions, the proposed improvements and the proposed monthly costs. 

 

b.       Review Implementation Issues

          District Manager/Engineer Gregg reported that April, 2003 was the next window to apply for the low interest loan offered by the government through the Safe Drinking Water Act. 

 

c.       Open Public Hearing

          Scott Greth stated the homeowners have been meeting for several months and they would like to form a Committee to work with the District on up grading the water system.

 

          Ollie Boyce stated she can’t afford the cost of a new system.  She stated she felt the owners of the mutual water system should have kept it up.

 

          Phil Pearce stated he owns half of the corporation that owns the water system.  He stated Canyon View Oaks owns the water system which is a Harmony Hills Community Water System.  He stated the fees homeowners pay now are used for maintenance of the system and the corporation could not afford to up grade it with the water rates.

 

d.       Acceptance of Letter of Protest

 

          Two letters were received and entered as letters of protest.  One was from Ollie Boyce and one was from William Tiffany, attorney at law on behalf of Louis Rayas and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hague.

 

          Colleen Gibson wanted to know what the water rate would be between now and when the loan is secured.  She asked what the limit would be for usage.

 

          District Manager/Engineer Gregg stated that would be determined and discussed through the landowners committee and a water service agreement.

          Betsy Litsie, Department of Health Services stated there is a ‘boil order’ in place and any improvements made to the system before April, 2003 would not be reimbursable through the low interest loan.

 

          Director Tobias stated to streamline communication, one representative from the homeowners committee would be chosen for a contact person.

 

          Louis Rayas asked what the process was for exclusion of the zone of benefit.

 

          District Counsel Pipal stated the zone of benefit needs to be created and then the homeowners could petition to be excluded.

 

e.       Close Public Hearing or continue to a later date

 

          President Keck continued this public hearing to September 18, 2002.

 

The vote of the Board was as follows, unless otherwise stated:

 

AYES: DIRECTORS:      Perry, Tobias, DeLaCruz, Keck

NOES:          DIRECTORS:          None

ABSENT:      DIRECTORS:          Swanson

 

          The Board adjourned to a Regular Meeting to be held on August 28, 2002 at 7:30 p.m., 30 Mansfield Road, Hollister, California.

 

 

Minutes were approved at the August 28, 2002 Regular Board Meeting by the presiding Board Member:

 

 

____/s/Douglas Keck_______________

Douglas Keck

President of the Board

ATTEST:       ___/s/Janet L. Miller_____________

                   Janet L. Miller

                                  Administrative Services Officer