Council Chamber  
City of Santa Rosa  
100 Santa Rosa Avenue  
Board of Public Utilities  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final  
Thursday, September 19, 2019  
1:30 PM  
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL  
Chair Galvin called the meeting of the Board of Public Utilities to  
order at approximately 1:30 p.m.  
4 -  
Present  
Chair Daniel Galvin III, Vice Chair William Arnone Jr., Board Member  
Christopher Grabill, and Board Member David Bannister  
3 -  
Absent  
Board Member Lisa Badenfort, Board Member Richard Dowd, and  
Board Member Mary Watts  
2. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY BOARD MEMBERS  
No statements of abstention were made by Board members.  
Chair Galvin announced that Vice Chair Arnone needed to leave  
early so the agenda was reordered to allow the action items to move  
in front of the staff briefings.  
3. STUDY SESSION - NONE.  
6. CONSENT ITEMS  
6.1  
RESOLUTION - WAIVER OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND SOLE  
SOURCE AWARD - SENSUS REMOTE AND STANDARD READ -  
TYPE WATER METERS, PARTS AND ANTENNAS BLANKET  
PURCHASE ORDER  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Finance and Water  
Departments that the Board, by resolution, approve waiver of  
competitive bidding and approve a sole source Blanket Purchase Order  
(BPO) for remote and standard read-type water meters, parts and  
antennas to Sensus USA Inc., Raleigh, NC, in the amount of $344,858.  
Staff Report  
Attachment 1  
Attachment 2  
Resolution  
Attachments:  
A motion was made by Vice Chair Arnone, Jr., seconded by Board Member  
Bannister to approve Item 6.1 - RESOLUTION NO. 1204 ENTITLED  
"RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES WAIVING  
COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF A BLANKET  
PURCHASE ORDER (BPO) FOR THE PURCHASE OF REMOTE AND  
STANDARD READ-TYPE WATER METERS, PARTS AND ANTENNAS". The  
motion carried by the following vote:  
4 -  
Yes:  
Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Grabill and  
Board Member Bannister  
3 -  
Absent:  
Board Member Badenfort, Board Member Dowd and Board Member  
Watts  
7. REPORT ITEMS  
7.1  
REPORT - BIOSOLIDS PROGRAM UPDATE AND PREPARATION OF  
A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS  
BACKGROUND: The Laguna Treatment Plant produces and  
beneficially reuses approximately 32,600 wet tons of Class B biosolids  
annually. Historically, the City’s biosolids program has primarily relied  
on land application and composting as the main options for biosolids  
reuse. With the high unit cost of biosolids composting and an aging  
compost facility that requires substantial near-term capital investment,  
staff would like approval to explore alternatives to biosolids composting.  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Water Department and  
the City Council/Board of Public Utilities Liaison Subcommittee that the  
Board of Public Utilities, by motion, approve issuing a Request for  
Proposals (“RFP”) for the beneficial reuse of a portion of the biosolids  
produced at the City’s Laguna Treatment Plant.  
Staff Report  
Attachments:  
Presentation (added 9/18/19)  
Presenter(s): Emma Walton, Deputy Director Engineering  
Resources.  
A motion was made by Board Member Bannister, seconded by Board  
Member Grabill to approve issuing a Request for Proposals ("RFP") for the  
beneficial reuse of a portion of the biosolids produced at the City's Laguna  
Treatment Plant. The motion carried by the following vote:  
4 -  
Yes:  
Chair Galvin III, Vice Chair Arnone Jr., Board Member Grabill and  
Board Member Bannister  
3 -  
Absent:  
Board Member Badenfort, Board Member Dowd and Board Member  
Watts  
11. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS  
Vice Chair Arnone reported on the Agriculture Ad Hoc meeting last  
week. He noted that the staff proposal was rejected and the  
Subcommittee approved an alternate proposal with a 2-1 split vote.  
Vice Chair Arnone expressed concern about revenue loss and  
added that the agricultural users had not indicated dissatisfaction  
with the staff proposed fee schedule.  
Board Member Grabill thanked staff for their remarkable work and  
taking the time to make the fee schedule better for the users.  
The Public Hearing to consider the fees had been scheduled for  
September 19 but moved to October 3 to allow for re-notification to  
the agricultural community.  
4. MINUTES APPROVAL  
4.1  
August 15, 2019 - Regular Meeting Minutes.  
August 15, 2019 - Regular Meeting Minutes (added 9/18/19)  
Attachments:  
The minutes were accepted as submitted.  
5. STAFF BRIEFINGS  
5.1  
CREEK WEEK UPDATE  
The Storm Water & Creeks section of Santa Rosa Water participates in  
the regional recognition of "Creek Week" as a way to celebrate and  
clean up our local waterways and educate the public on ways to  
prevent creek pollution. A Proclamation was approved by City Council  
on September 10, 2019, proclaiming September 21-28, 2019 as “Creek  
Week”. Staff is coordinating a local creek cleanup along Prince  
Memorial Greenway as well as an Underground Culvert Tour, a  
Roseland Creek Nature Walk, and a tour of the Laguna Treatment  
Plant. The Board may discuss this item and give direction to staff.  
Presentation (added 9/18/19)  
Attachments:  
Presenter(s): Katie Robinson, Research and Program Coordinator.  
PREPARING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUT-OFF (PSPS)  
5.2  
Santa Rosa Water, in partnership with other City Departments and  
Local Agencies, have been preparing for the eminent (PSPS) Public  
Safety Power Shut-off and the impact that a PSPS may have to our  
water distribution, sewer collection, and treatment systems. Santa Rosa  
Water staff will provide an overview of the progress made by the Water  
Department to develop additional resiliency measures to ensure we  
have adequate pressure in our water distribution system and maintain  
the ability to operate our sewer lift stations and regional treatment  
facility. Staff will also describe the outreach methods and information  
being deployed to our customers to prepare for the anticipated  
extended loss of power. The Board may discuss this item and give  
direction to staff.  
Presentation (added 9/18/19)  
Attachments:  
Presenter(s): Joe Schiavone, Deputy Director Local Operations.  
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS  
NONE.  
9. REFERRALS  
NONE.  
10. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (AND POSSIBLE BOARD DISCUSSION)  
NONE.  
12. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS  
NONE.  
13. DIRECTORS REPORTS  
Jennifer Burke, Director provided an update on the fencing and gate  
installation at the church property on Fulton Rd; announced that the  
water contamination project had been obligated for FEMA funding of  
$5.5 million and the reimbursement request would be submitted  
soon. Ms. Burke provided an update on a new communications plan  
for the proposed Renewable Sonoma project and asked the Board  
to advise Ms. Perez about upcoming meeting absences.  
14. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING  
Chair Galvin adjourned the meeting at approximately 2:40 p.m. The  
next regular scheduled meeting of the Board of Public Utilities will  
be held on October 17, 2019.  
Approved on: October 17, 2019  
_________/S/_____________  
Gina Perez, Recording Secretary