HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.3) General Manager AnnouncementsBoard Meeting of June 5, 2014 Written Announcements: STAFF UPDATES a) Registration Differential for Assistant Engineer Mike Zubrzycki The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Management Support/Confidential Group (MS /CG) and the District provides that a one -step salary increase shall be given to any full -time, regular employee who achieves registration as a Professional Engineer while employed by the District in a position where such registration is not required. The Assistant Engineer position does not require registration as a Professional Engineer. Assistant Engineer Mike Zubrzycki has successfully passed the examinations for licensing as a Professional Engineer in Civil Engineering. He has demonstrated the ability to assist in the accomplishment of the Seismic Improvements Project and is consistently involved in design and construction projects which require the professional level of judgment expected of a Professional Engineer. The MOU states, "Such merit increase shall be subject to the employee's demonstration of ability to assist in the accomplishment of District activities requiring a level of skills and importance normally expected from a person with such certification." The District's capital improvements program includes several complex projects in the treatment plant and collection system that need to be designed and constructed in the near future. These projects require extensive knowledge in the area of Civil Engineering; it is beneficial to the District for Mr. Zubrzycki to be a licensed Professional Engineer. In accordance with the terms of the MOU, Mr. Zubrzycki will receive a one -step salary increase effective May 23, 2014. PROJECT UPDATE b) Public Bidding for Treatment Plant Equipment Replacement Proiect (3W High Pressure Pump), District Project 7265 The District uses three high pressure pumps to supply process wastewater for several applications throughout the plant. Two of the pumps are in fair condition and require maintenance and one requires extensive maintenance and is experiencing vibrational problems. The average age of these pumps are 33 years. Staff has concluded that a spare or replacement pump should be purchased since the existing pumps are reaching the end of their useful life. Written Announcements June 5, 2014 Page 2 of 3 District staff has prepared a Request for Bid to purchase the replacement pump and will be advertised June 25 and 30, 2014. The bids will be opened this July. The cost of the purchase is currently estimated at $75,000 and will be paid for by the Treatment Plant Equipment Replacement Program in the Fiscal Year 2013 -14 Capital Improvement Budget. This project has adequate funding for this purchase. RECYCLED WATER c) 2014 Annual Recycled Water Rate Increase In accordance with the District's Recycled Water Ordinance (Title 6), the District's recycled water rates will increase 3% on July 1, 2014. This is an automatic annual increase that was built into the District's 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 will mail out letters to the District's recycled water customers in June announcing the increase and providing the new rates. CONTRA COSTA LAFCO d) LAFCO Municipal Service Review of District The Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission ( LAFCO) has completed its five - year Municipal Service Review (MSR) of the District's operations and Sphere of Influence (SOI). The SOI is an area defined by LAFCO as the probable physical boundaries and service area of a local government agency. The MSR's only recommendation regarding the District was for the District's SOI to be expanded to include County Sanitation District No. 6 (SD -6). SD -6 only serves the 20+ year old, 47 -lot Stonehurst residential development in Alhambra Valley. The District's SOI currently extends up to, but does not include, SD -6, and the District's nearest public main sewer is about 2,200 feet from the Stonehurst entrance. This SOI change will be considered by LAFCO at its June 11, 2014 meeting. Independently, SD -6 has hired an engineering firm to investigate how District Potable Water Customers Canal (Raw) Water Customers Existing Recycled $3.18 per 1,000 gallons $1.51 per 1,000 gallons Water Rates ($1,037 per acre -foot) ($494 per acre -foot) Existing $4.41 per 1,000 gallons $1.87 per 1,000 gallons CCWD Rates ($1,438 per acre -foot ) ($611 per acre -foot) New Recycled $3.28 per 1,000 gallons $1.56 per 1,000 gallons Water Rates ($1,067 per acre -foot) ($507 per acre -foot) Staff will mail out letters to the District's recycled water customers in June announcing the increase and providing the new rates. CONTRA COSTA LAFCO d) LAFCO Municipal Service Review of District The Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission ( LAFCO) has completed its five - year Municipal Service Review (MSR) of the District's operations and Sphere of Influence (SOI). The SOI is an area defined by LAFCO as the probable physical boundaries and service area of a local government agency. The MSR's only recommendation regarding the District was for the District's SOI to be expanded to include County Sanitation District No. 6 (SD -6). SD -6 only serves the 20+ year old, 47 -lot Stonehurst residential development in Alhambra Valley. The District's SOI currently extends up to, but does not include, SD -6, and the District's nearest public main sewer is about 2,200 feet from the Stonehurst entrance. This SOI change will be considered by LAFCO at its June 11, 2014 meeting. Independently, SD -6 has hired an engineering firm to investigate how District Written Announcements June 5, 2014 Page 3 of 3 sanitary service could be provided to Stonehurst. District staff is cooperating with this investigation and will report the findings and alternatives to the Board at a future date. COMPUTER VIRUS e) Update on Computer Virus Affecting District At the May 1, 2014 Board meeting, it was announced that in late April the District had experienced the infiltration of computer malware known as Cryptol-ocker, which encrypted several data files on the District's file server rendering them unreadable. The District currently uses McAfee Virus Protection which was unable to detect and block the malware. The perpetrator offered to provide the key to recovering the data files for a ransom of seven bitcoins, or the equivalent of approximately $3,200. In discussions with the District's General Manger and District Counsel, it was decided that the District was unwilling to pay the ransom requested and would instead pursue recreating the data files internally. Staff is working with Nexlevel Information Technology Inc., the consultant currently working with staff on the Information Technology Master Plan, on contracting with a firm that specializes in testing security weaknesses and data backup and recovery processes to evaluate vulnerabilities and recommend solutions. The current estimate of this engagement is $10,000, which will be funded out of the Information Technology capital budget, the current balance of which is approximately $250,000.