MINUTES OF MEETING

SUNSHINE WATER CONTROL DISTRICT

 

            The regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the Sunshine Water Control District was held on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. at the City Commission Chambers, 9551 West Sample Road, Coral Springs, Florida. 

 

            Present and constituting a quorum were:

            Mary Macomber                                        Vice President

            Phil Sobers                                                 Secretary

 

            Also present were:

           

            Roger Moore                                             Manager

            Bruce Cranmer                                           Attorney

            Cedo DaSilva                                             Engineer

            Jean Rugg                                                   Severn Trent Services

            Cory Selchan                                              Field Superintendent

 

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS                         Roll Call

            Mr. Moore called the meeting to order and called the roll.

 

SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS                    Approval of the Minutes of May 11, 2005 Meeting

            Mr. Moore stated each Board member had received a copy of the minutes of the May 11, 2005 meeting and requested any additions, corrections or deletions.

            There being none,

 

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded by Mr. Sobers with all in favor the minutes of the May 11, 2005 meeting were approved. 

 

Announcement

            Mr. Moore stated before we get into the remainder of the meeting I want announce that your District Manager, Mr. George Keller, has decided to do some different endeavors and given his resignation.  At the next meeting Mr. Ed Goscicki, the Senior Vice President of Severn Trent, will address the Board and we will work out a consultant for you.

 

THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS                       Public Hearing to Consider the Adoption of the Budget for Fiscal Year 2006 and the Levy of Non Ad Valorem Assessments

            Mr. Moore stated at this time I would like to open the public hearing, which was advertised properly, to discuss the budget before you.  I would like to apologize because there are errors and before you is a correction of the budget.  There were some mathematical calculations in error and I would like to go through it with you.  There is a significant increase from $55 to $72.60, because there were a couple of numbers in the wrong place it is now going to go up to $83.05.  $6.36 is based on an increase in operations and the other $21.70 is what I want to talk about.  On page two of the budget you will see hurricane expense to date.  $312,622.70 is the amount we spent to clean up the hurricanes last year.  In running five districts in which we have applied for FEMA I have gotten back about 100% of the money for three of the five districts.  I have 50% back for one other district and I have zero back for Sunshine.  We have letters of denial.  We are in a catch 22 with FEMA saying they have no responsibility and it should have been claimed through NCRS, the national resources arm of the EPA, we should have applied to them immediately after the storm.  We have applied to FEMA over the last 15 years and received money from them.  We are going through the administrative appeal process now and at some point in time I may have to get the attorney’s involved.  We believe they had some mix-ups and we are going to be approved but what we are suggesting to all of the districts now is to put in some money to have a hurricane fund available for the future. 

            This increase of $83.05 includes $21.70, which is approximately $312,000 to replace it.  When we get the money back from FEMA it will go into a hurricane reserve, if we do not then it will zero out this budget.  Next year hopefully the budget will go back to $55 plus maybe $6 to $7 or if we do not get it back maybe do this one more year to put it in the reserve. 

            Ms. Macomber stated this is basically due to the shortfall. 

            Mr. Moore stated pretty much.  We used all of the reserves and theoretically, we are in the hole $185,000.

            Mr. Sobers asked it is because of this that we will have the shortfall of $291,000?

            Mr. Moore responded yes. 

            Mr. Sobers asked in prior hurricane events who have we received funds from?

            Mr. Moore responded FEMA.

            Ms. Macomber asked have all of the other districts received money from FEMA?

            Mr. Moore responded at this time the other four have received some funds from FEMA.  Some in full, CSID has received 30%, NSID, Turtle Run and Pine Tree have received pretty much 100% from FEMA.  We will keep you abreast of the situation, but there are never any guarantees. 

            Everything else is pretty much straight forward; we have a $50,000 item to continue working with the city.  We have also placed money in to continue doing cleaning on our own and I believe it is something which needs to be continued and in the best interest of the District. 

            Ms. Macomber asked what is the carry forward of $495,505, for renewal and replacement?

            Mr. Moore responded the cash you have in the back is $791,000 and for the last several years in order to replace the engines and stuff like that we have been putting away somewhere between $70,000 and $90,000 that we are not going to touch.  On an absolute emergency you can use those funds but they are to replace the engines and pumps in the next five years. 

            Mr. Sobers stated the interest income from 2005 is showing $12,500.  Do we share the interest income with anyone else?

            Mr. Moore responded no.  All of your accounts are separate. 

            Ms. Macomber stated I have no further questions. 

            Mr. Moore asked is there any comments from the public?  Hearing none, I would like a motion to close the public hearing. 

           

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded by Mr. Sobers with all in favor the public hearing was closed. 

           

            Mr. Moore stated the adoption of the budget is in the form of Resolution 2005-06.

 

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded by Mr. Sobers with all in favor Resolution 2005-06 Adopting the Final Budget for the Sunshine Water Control District for Fiscal Year 2006 was adopted.

           

            Mr. Moore stated the levy of assessments is Resolution 2005-07.

            Ms. Rugg stated the figures to be included are $83.05 per unit for a total of $1,305,843.

           

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded by Mr. Sobers with all in favor Resolution 2005-07 Levying Assessments within the Sunshine Water Control District for Payment of Maintenance Assessment for the Period October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006 was adopted.

 

 

FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                    Consideration of Permit Requests

A.                 Taravella High school, for Irrigation Pump R/W Permit

            Ms. Macomber asked is this for the cooling tower or the irrigation pump?

            Mr. DaSilva responded for the irrigation pump. 

            Ms. Macomber stated it says irrigation pump house on the east side of the campus but it the documentation it says A/C cooling tower.

            Mr. DaSilva stated they may have submitted both but it has nothing to do with the A/C cooling tower. 

            Mr. Moore stated maybe they combined the permits.  On the sketch, which is the site, it has a 30 gallon pump, 50 gallons per minute, 6” suction line in the canal.

            Mr. DaSilva stated what we are permitting is the line in the right-of-way.

            Mr. Moore stated the permit says site size 31 acres, irrigated area 5 acres. 

            Ms. Macomber stated it tells me we do not have the right permit from the SFWMD. 

            Mr. DaSilva stated all we are permitting is the line itself.  We do not permit the irrigation pump or anything. 

            Ms. Macomber stated the purpose of the application they have filed is not for irrigation or landscape irrigation it is for industrial A/C cooling towers.  

            Mr. DaSilva stated the well is for the A/C cooling but the pump is for the irrigation. 

            Mr. Moore stated if you look at our permit under item six it says they are applying for an irrigation pump house.  One would believe that will be for irrigation purposes only.  It is apples and oranges. 

            Ms. Macomber stated I am not comfortable approving this.

            Mr. Moore asked do you want to defer it until the next meet when we have a clarification?

            Ms. Macomber responded yes. 

Mr. Moore asked can we approve this subject to clarification it is for irrigation only?

Mr. DaSilva responded I can get a clarification letter. 

Mr. Moore stated it will save more time for the next meeting.  We need clarification that this is for irrigation only.  If it is determined to be a withdrawal for an air conditioning cooling tower then they need to come back before the Board for discussion.

Ms. Macomber stated I do not have a problem approving the right application. 

Mr. Moore stated there is a lot more hoops to go through if your using a cooling tower out of surface water.  They usually have a well out.  I am actually surprised because normally what they would do is have a well for the cooling tower go through the cooling tower and discharge into the canal so it will be a discharge line not a suction line.  A suction line of six inches is pretty good size.  If they are only irrigating five acres, most irrigation lines are only three to five inches.  Anything larger than a four-inch suction line or over 400 gallons a day out of a canal or a well requires a SFWMD permit.  They probably have mixed the two permits and it is confusing us a little bit. 

Mr. DaSilva stated he is letting us know he has applied to SFWMD for the well.

Mr. Moore stated sometimes two wells.  You can get it permitted for industrial use on one well to take out and one well to put back in, because you are normally increasing the temperature of the water by 20 to 30 degrees when you go through the cooling tower and is why it is an industrial permit. 

 

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded by Mr. Sobers with all in favor the Taravella High School Irrigation Pump R/W Permit subject to a letter of clarification concerning irrigation or cooling tower was approved. 

 

 

B.                 Seventh Day Adventist Church, for the Installation and Construction of a Surface Water management System Ultimately Discharging into Canal AA

Ms. Macomber stated where it goes to the criteria at the bottom of the letter it says the minimum road crown elevation will sit no lower than the 10-year flood stage.  It says it is not provided and the road crown is below the District’s 10-year flood stage, which means there could be flooding.  Why are we approving it?

Mr. DaSilva responded there were a couple of letters back and forth and this is a revised letter from the March 17, 2005. 

Ms. Macomber stated it appears when you look at some of the other information that shows the elevations it still shows like it is below.

Mr. DaSilva stated I probably need to get clarification for myself. 

Mr. Moore asked are you going to require them to bring the road up to the 10-year flood.

Mr. DaSilva responded no, because by city code they can build the road six inches below the crown. 

Mr. Moore stated the crown still needs to be the outside edge.

Mr. DaSilva stated the City of Coral Springs allows six inches below for parking.

Mr. Moore stated not the main road.  You are talking about the main road being below the 10-year.

Mr. DaSilva stated they are not required to build by the 10-year elevation.  What we always do and the District has always said parking lots are not required to be protected for ten years it is only five years. 

Mr. Moore asked we are talking about the parking or the main road?

Mr. DaSiva responded this is the parking lot. 

Mr. Sobers asked what about the French drains?

Mr. DaSilva responded he has drainage and storage on an outfall.  He still needs to get a SFWMD permit.  We are basically the secondary permit. 

 

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded by Mr. Sobers with all in favor Seventh Day Adventist Church, for the Installation and Construction of a Surface Water management System Ultimately Discharging into Canal AA was approved subject to a note included on the permit specifically noting the District is approving the permit with the understanding that the parking lot is below the 10-year flood stage and that the owner could experience flooding, the owner needs to provide the District with a SFWMD permit and subject to the conditions outlined in the CH2M HILL letter dated March 16, 2005.

 

C.                 History & Heraldry, for an Irrigation Permit

            Mr. Moore stated this is a basic permit for a line going across our right-of-way for irrigation.  Is there anything outstanding?

            Ms. Rugg stated they need a permit from us for the building at 4001 NW 24th Avenue.

            Mr. DaSilva responded anything irrigation needs to be right-of-way permitted and I do not see our application. 

 

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded by Mr. Sobers with all in favor History & Heraldry, for an Irrigation Permit was approved subject to the completion of a right-of-way application being completed and with the conditions outlined in the CH2M HILL letter. 

 

 

D.                Broward County School Board, for Surface Water Management Permit for Additional Classroom Buildings for Coral Glades High School

            Mr. Moore stated on Coral Glades High School we just received a letter recommending approval.  This is standard drainage into an existing outfall.  Anything outstanding?

            Mr. DaSilva responded they are modules that are elevated which do not take the ground storage up. 

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded by Mr. Sobers with all in favor Broward County School Board, for Surface Water Management Permit for Additional Classroom Buildings for Coral Glades High School was approved subject to the conditions outlined in the CH2M HILL letter dated July 13, 2005. 

 

 

E.                 Broward County School Board, for Surface Water Management Permit for Additional Classrooms at Coral Springs High School

            Mr. Moore stated item E is the same for Coral Springs High School. 

            Mr. DaSilva stated no issues. 

            Mr. Moore stated they have our permit and they have to go for a SFWMD permit. 

 

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded by Mr. Sobers with all in favor Broward County School Board, for Surface Water Management Permit for Additional Classrooms at Coral Springs High School was approved subject to the conditions outlined in the CH2M HILL letter July 8, 2005. 

 

 

FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                               Staff Reports

A.                 Attorney

Mr. Cranmer stated I have a letter from the US Department of Commerce.  It is a letter they send us every year and it is late because they did not have my forwarding address.  It is a census type of format. 

Mr. Moore stated we will open it and take the necessary actions to fill it out.  Can we get his address corrected as our agent? 

 

B.                 Engineer

Mr. Selchan stated our tree removal program is moving along well.  With the weather we had and the lack of residents willing to participate in allowing him access he was still able to expedite the tree removal in a very professional manner.  He has done a very good job and should be done with the exception of some clean up work within the next couple of weeks. 

Ms. Macomber asked did he get much flack from the residents?

Mr. Selchan responded I have not received one phone call.  The city has received a few but most of the issues were easily resolved. 

 

C.                 Superintendent

Mr. Moore stated I would like to give you a couple of updates.  Number 1 is I have fortunately or unfortunately accepted a job out of the area and I will be leaving also.  It has been a pleasure to serve this Board more or less behind the scenes and we hopefully have gotten a few things accomplished for you and hope the good work continues going forward to clean up your areas.

I urge you in the next three months or so we do have some telemetry projects working on your pump stations in the preliminary stages and I was hoping to have them totally finished before I left.  It is in the experimental stage and being debugged right now.  I invite you to come to the Districts offices in the next couple of meetings and let Mr. Selchan show you the technology and how we can monitor your stations.

I am pleased to announce your stations are all running and working very well.  We had one problem with a controller on one of the units and the manufacturer is going to totally replace them all. 

One of my pet projects was to give you a map of the District.  It is aerial on one side and the city map on the other.  

You mentioned at the last meeting and I brought tonight a booklet for the shirts with the logo on them.  I do not know if you want to wait for Mr. Parks to return.

Ms. Macomber stated we will wait for Mr. Parks. 

Mr. Parks is not here and I know I speak for Mr. Sobers and myself when I say thank you so much for all your services over these years.  Since my tenure, you have been a wonderful help to us.  Although I hate to see you go I wish you the very best on behalf of all of us.

Mr. Moore stated thank you very much.  You can always give me a call and I will give you a forwarding address when I get one. 

Mr. Sobers stated it is certainly our loss and their positive gain. 

 

 

SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                              Supervisor’s Request and Audience Comments

            There not being any, the next item followed. 

 

SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                        Approval of Warrants 8693-8715

            There being no questions or comments,

 

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded by Mr. Sobers with all in favor Warrants 8693-8715 were approved. 

 

            Mr. Moore stated Mr. Sobers has informed us he may have a residence change outside of the District.  The attorney has been instructed to look into the legalities of whether or not he can stay on the Board and perform his duties until his term expires.  Can you report back to Ms. Rugg or me before the next meeting since he might not be eligible?

            Mr. Cranmer responded I suspect he will be able to continue since he was eligible at the inception of the term.  The question is does he wish to?

            Mr. Sobers responded if that is the issue I would certainly like to be able to serve out my term.  I just wanted to raise the flag to the committee so this way I am not in anyway not in full disclosure. 

 

EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS                           Adjournment

            There being no further business,

 

On MOTION by Ms. Macomber seconded my Mr. Sobers with all in favor the meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                

Phillip Sobers                                                         Mary Macomber

Secretary                                                                Vice President