The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About07.a.2 General Manager Written AnnouncementsBoard Meeting of June 6, 2013 • a Written Announcements: Environmental Services a) 2013 Annual Recycled Water Rate Increase In accordance with the District's Recycled Water Ordinance (Title 6), Central San's recycled water rates will increase 3% on July 1, 2013. This is an automatic annual increase that was built into the ordinance, so no Board action is needed to implement the rate increase. A comparison of new and existing recycled water rates with Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) water rates is shown below: Staff mailed letters to the District's recycled water customers during the month of May announcing the increase and providing the new rates. Other Matters b) Proposed Donation of Credit to Water and Wastewater Leadership Center The Water and Wastewater Leadership Center, an organization affiliated with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and other similar industry groups, recently notified the District that a $1,000 credit remained on its books stemming from former General Manager Jim Kelly's attendance at its leadership program in 2009. The Center's curriculum is designed for current and up- and - coming municipal and wastewater utility leaders and focuses on leadership issues to help today's water and wastewater utilities to thrive. The District was given the choice to apply the credit to a future student's participation in the 2014 Water and Wastewater Leadership Center, request a refund, or donate the funds to the Center. The two -week program will take place March 9 to 21, 2014. Tuition will be approximately $13,000. There are currently no plans to send anyone from the District to the 2014 program. With Board concurrence, the funds will be donated to the leadership program for use in furtherance of its mission. Potable Water Customers Canal (Raw) Water Customers Existing Recycled $3.09 per 1,000 gallons $1.47 per 1,000 gallons Water Rates $1,007 per acre -foot $480 per acre -foot Existing CCWD $4.22 per 1,000 gallons $1.82 per 1,000 gallons Rates $1,375 per acre -foot $593 per acre -foot New Recycled $3.18 per 1,000 gallons $1.51 per 1,000 gallons Water Rates $1,037 per acre -foot $494 per acre -foot Staff mailed letters to the District's recycled water customers during the month of May announcing the increase and providing the new rates. Other Matters b) Proposed Donation of Credit to Water and Wastewater Leadership Center The Water and Wastewater Leadership Center, an organization affiliated with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and other similar industry groups, recently notified the District that a $1,000 credit remained on its books stemming from former General Manager Jim Kelly's attendance at its leadership program in 2009. The Center's curriculum is designed for current and up- and - coming municipal and wastewater utility leaders and focuses on leadership issues to help today's water and wastewater utilities to thrive. The District was given the choice to apply the credit to a future student's participation in the 2014 Water and Wastewater Leadership Center, request a refund, or donate the funds to the Center. The two -week program will take place March 9 to 21, 2014. Tuition will be approximately $13,000. There are currently no plans to send anyone from the District to the 2014 program. With Board concurrence, the funds will be donated to the leadership program for use in furtherance of its mission. Written Announcements June 6, 2013 Page 2 of 4 Project Updates c) Public Bidding for Diablo Sewer Renovations, Phase 2, District Project 5976 Diablo Sewer Renovations, Phase 2, is part of the ongoing Collection System Renovation Program. The project will install approximately 9,350 linear feet of 6 -,8 -, 10 -, and 12 -inch sewer lines within public right -of -way and easements by using horizontal directional drilling, pipe- bursting and open -cut methods. This project will be advertised on June 11, 2013 and June 17, 2013. Bids will be opened on June 27, 2013. The construction cost is currently estimated at $1,800,000. More information will be presented when the Board is asked to approve the construction contract on July 11, 2013. Information Technology Matters d) District to Upgrade to Microsoft Office 2010 Software Employees were recently informed that the District will be upgrading from Microsoft Office 2003 software to the 2010 version starting in mid June. This includes Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint programs. Various training methods will be offered to employees during the transition, including hands -on training with an instructor and a self - paced, interactive online course. Outside firms and businesses running versions of Office 2003 or older may need to install a free compatibility pack from Microsoft in order to open Office 2010 documents. Financial Matters e) Selection of Independent External Audit Firm The District has contracted with Cropper Accountancy Corporation since Fiscal Year 2006 -07 to perform examination of the District's financial statements. While it is District practice to rotate auditors every four or five years, Cropper was retained for a sixth year to maintain continuity during a period of staff transition at the District. In keeping with District practice, staff recently contacted five audit firms requesting an RFQ. Two proposals were reviewed by staff, and representatives of both firms gave brief presentations to the Budget and Finance Committee on May 14, 2013. The presentations focused on the following: (1) audit approach, (2) method of working with staff, and (3) method of reporting to the Board. Attached is a comparison chart of the two proposals. Written Announcements June 6, 2013 Page 3 of 4 Following the presentations, the Committee recommended that Maze & Associates be selected to perform District financial audits commencing with Fiscal Year 2012 -13. As the contract amount is within staff authority, a four -year contract (with an option for a one - year extension) will be executed. Written Announcements June 6, 2013 Page 4 of 4 EXTERNAL AUDITOR RESPONSE I RANKING I 1 1 2 1 COST 2012 -2013 $29,583 2012 -2013 $45,800 2013 -2014 $29,583 2013 -2014 $45,800 2014 -2015 $29,583 2014 -2015 $45,800 2015 -2016 $29,583 2015 -2016 $45,800 I HOURS 1 274.50 1 428.00 1 EXPERIENCE CONCENTRATION AGENCIES AUDIT APPROACH CCCSD HISTORY FIRM STAFF & HOURS PER RFQ FIRM STAFF LOCATION Major Local Special District Experience Municipal auditing East Bay Municipal Utility District Dublin San Ramon Services District Delta Diablo Sanitation District Contra Costa Water District Fairfield Suisun Sewer District Novato Sanitary District West Bay Sanitary District West Valley Sanitation District Specialized to municipalities FY 1991 -92 thru 1994 -95 (4 years) Partners 17.5 hrs @ $295 hr Director 3.0 hrs @ $150 hr Supervisor 85.0 hrs @ $115 hr Associates 173.0 hrs @ $ 85 hr Administration 1.0 hr @$ 65 hr 50 employees Pleasant Hill Special District Experience Governmental auditing & consulting Union Sanitary District Cupertino Sanitary District Delta Diablo Sanitation District Oro Loma Sanitary District Fairfield Suisun Sanitary District Central Marin Sanitation Agency West Bay Sanitary District West Valley Sanitation District Traditional approach FY 2002 -03 thru 2005 -06 (4 years) Partners 22 hrs @ $220hr Manager 40 hrs @ $160hr Supervisor 104 hrs @ $120hr Sr. Accountant 120 hrs @ $ 90hr Staff Accountant 138 hrs @ $ 80hr Administration 4 hrs @ $ 60hr 235 employees Pleasanton