MID Board Report Archive

MID Board Meeting of Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006
Contact: MID Public Affairs Department, Maree Hawkins, 209 526-7390
The next MID Board meetings are scheduled for Feb. 14 & 28, Mar. 14 & 28

Water report

Assistant General Manager Walter Ward, Water Operations, reported that snow levels in the central Sierra, which includes the Tuolumne River watershed, are at 131 percent of year-to-date average, while the snow pack in the north is 113 percent and 152 percent in the southern Sierra.

Memorandum of Understanding between MID and Stanislaus County

Staff conducted a workshop on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MID and Stanislaus County. The MOU relates to the evaluation of the drinking water supply needs of the inhabitants of the unincorporated area of Stanislaus County lying within MID’s water service boundaries. No vote on the MOU has been scheduled.

Assistant General Manager Ward noted that the MOU does:

• Agree to begin exploring the need and feasibility of providing domestic water.
• Take the first step in a long process of exploration and sharing of ideas.
• Start with determining the demand for water.
• Apply only to the unincorporated parts of the county inside MID’s irrigation boundary.

He said that the MOU does not:

• Provide any water.
• Build facilities or choose a treatment technology.
• Commit to funding capital improvements.
• Guarantee any particular outcome.

Ward added that MID looks to develop partnerships, work cooperatively across institutional boundaries, and share information, expertise and resources with other public agencies.

MID is also committed to meeting all of its current obligations for agricultural customers, urban customers (City of Modesto) and environmental purposes. The goal, he said, is to protect MID’s water rights for all reasonable and beneficial uses in the local community, whether they are agricultural, urban or environmental. He added that the MOU is entirely consistent with that objective.

General Manager Allen Short noted that MID doesn't make decisions on growth. Instead, that decision begins with the agricultural customers and continues as a function of cities and counties. He added that MID would provide the county with information if asked.

2006 Investment Policy Guidelines

The Board approved the 2006 Investment Policy Guidelines. The California Government Code requires that the District Treasurer submit a statement of investment policy to the Board each year. In an earlier action the Board approved the appointment of Don Dermond as MID’s Interim Treasurer/Assessor/Collector.

Transmission & Distribution Division

The Board unanimously approved an agreement between MID and Turlock Irrigation District to upgrade the Westley Switchyard. The switchyard needs upgrades since both agencies are in new control areas.

The Board unanimously approved an agreement with the Western Area Power Administration (Western) to connect a second Westley Tracy Line at Western’s Tracy Substation. This is a requirement of MID joining the Sacramento Municipal Utility District/Western control area. All costs for the second line will be shared equally between MID and TID.

By a majority vote, the Board approved an amendment to Agreement for Owner's Engineer and construction Management Services for the 230 Kilovolt Line Construction Project, allowing an increase in funds. Several events have necessitated a revision in the contract limit, including: preparation of an environmental Impact Report (EIR) that evaluated 40 miles of line route as opposed to the proposed assumption of 17 miles; EIR litigation, preparation of permits; mitigation monitoring during construction, land appraisals, right-of-way acquisition costs, and increased costs for upgrades at Rosemore and Westley substations.