06-22-15 Meeting Minutes

BUTTERFIELD-RIVIERA EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

DATE: June 22, 2010
PLACE:  Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, California
MEETING TYPE:  BRECA Steering Committee Meeting

STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT

Lori Christensen
Kelly Cohen
Stan Mofjeld
Jim Morgan
Rick Sloan
Mary Ann Winters

1. Welcome from Acting Chair Kelly Cohen
2. Guest Speaker Joyce Steingass (Division of Ratepayer Advocates, California Public Utilities Commission)
   Guest speaker Joyce Steingass, with the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), gave a presentation on the CPUC review and approval process for water rate increases requested by California American Water Co. (Cal Am).  She stated that the CPUC can only approve rates that are “justifiable and reasonable.”  The DRA will review the Cal Am rate increase request.  Cal Am is required to notify customers of rate increase requests.  The CPUC accepts letters from the public, and community groups can “intervene” in the case.  Ms. Steingass left handouts with information on the last rate increase and the upcoming rate increase request.  The upcoming rate increase requests are 16.9% the first year, 6% the second year, and 6% the third year.There was considerable discussion of the rate increase request.  The request is statewide, but the requests are different for each area.  The “Sacramento area” is actually about 10 distinct areas.  At the direction of the CPUC, a “conservation” rate design has been incorporated into the billing structure.  Under this design, about 70% of the billing is volumetric (i.e. based on the amount of water used), even though the “fixed” cost is the usually the majority of total cost.  For the last rate increase request, the CPUC disallowed several improvement projects.  It is possible to convert to a public utility, but it takes a lot of work.
3.  Guest Speaker Dave Emmons (Cordova Recreation and Park District)
   Dave Emmons, with the Cordova Recreation and Park District (CRPD), gave a presentation on current status of the CRPD.  The major problem CRPD has been dealing with for the last few years is reduced income.  CRPD receives 0.027% of general property taxes, or about $84 for a $300,000 house.  CRPD also has benefit assessment districts.  Money from these districts must be spent in the area from which it was received.  In the BRECA area, the benefit assessment is $21.80 per parcel.  There is supposed to be an Oversight Committee for the BRECA and Rosemont areas.  CRPD is looking for an applicant for the Larchmont-Riviera East (i.e. BRECA) area for the Oversight Committee.CRPD positioned itself for the economic downturn by not filling several vacant positions.  However, after basic maintenance and operations, very little money is left for improvements.  The older children’s playground equipment was recently removed from Riviera East Park due to safety, compliance, and insurance concerns.  At this point in time, funds to replace the equipment are not available, but CRPD staff is looking for funding.
4. Minutes for May 2010
   Mary Ann Winters made a motion to accept the draft minutes.  Lori Christensen seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously.
5. Reports
   1. Treasurer’s Report
      Kelly Cohen (treasurer) reported a balance of $5,488.01 in the BRECA bank account.
6. Old Business
   1. Report on Park District Meeting re: playground equipment
      See item 1a above.
   2. Parkway Workshop, Coalition and Budget
      Jim Morgan gave a brief update on the County Regional Parks budget.  The County Executive recommendation is an increase from the preliminary recommendation, but overall still less than this fiscal year.  It will result in reductions in Parks staff.  Jim Morgan and Joe O’Connor spoke at the Board of Supervisors budget hearing regarding Regional Parks.  They advocated additional funding for Parks.  The Board of Supervisors will adopt a budget in the near future.Jim Morgan reported on the recent meeting of the Lower American River Task Force.  It was stated by Corps of Engineers and Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency staff that they are not going to remove the pad of dirt covering the Kansas Access staging area, as requested by BRECA representatives.  It was also stated that they will not construct the four (4) feet crown width berm that had been proposed to tie the east end of the levee to high ground.  They do not have any alternative plans.

      Jim Morgan introduced a draft motion directing the Chair and Secretary, in consultation with other members, to send letters concerning problems with the Mayhew Levee project.  Stan Mofjeld seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously.  The motion is attached.

      Jim Morgan made another motion that Kelly Cohen bring a video of dust from trucks on top of the levee, and draft a letter on that concern.  Mary Ann Winters seconded the motion.  The motion was approved unanimously.

   3. Steering Committee Elections
      Joe O’Connor reported that all Steering Committee candidates had been elected.
   4. Traffic Management Ballots
      There was no report on Traffic Management ballots.
   5. Gristmill Habitat Restoration Update
      There was no update on Gristmill Habitat Restoration.  See motion adopted from item 4b.
7. New Business
   1. Assessment Oversight Committee for the Cordova Recreation and Park District
      See item 1c above.
   2. Issues from the Floor
      There were no issues from the floor.
8. Meeting adjourned.

The next Steering Committee meeting will be held on July 27, 2010 at the Rancho Cordova Library.

Butterfield-Riviera East Community Association
Motion Concerning Problems with the Mayhew Levee Project

June 22, 2010

The Butterfield-Riviera East Community Association Steering Committee authorizes the Chair and Secretary, in consultation with other members, to draft and send letters concerning problems with the Mayhew-Gristmill levee situation to the Corps of Engineers, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, and others as appropriate.  The problems include restoration of the Gristmill area parking lot, restoration of the Kansas Access staging area, and completion of the upstream end of the levee.