Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District Board of Trustees Meeting held February 5, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. @ 931 Mitch Drive, Gardnerville, Nevada
Pledge of Allegiance:
Trustees Present: John Sheridan, Bob McDowell, Dave James, Leann Teter and Brad Newlon
Also, Present: Greg Reed, Dawn Hinds, Mike Rowe, Michael Bennett and the public
Public Comment: Jim McKalip resident of 720 Lassen Way, mentioned that the County Commissioners will be discussing Rancho Sierra tomorrow and asked that those present please attend and make public comment.
Agenda Approval:
Bob McDowell motioned to approve the agenda. Leann Teter seconded the motion
All ayes. Motion passed.
Public Comment: none
Old Business: None
New Business:
I For Possible Action: Review and approve general counsel’s Summary of Tortious Claims for
- Board discussion followed by public comment. Possible Board Action to review and
approve general counsel’s Summary of Tortious Claims for 2019. Action Item.
Mike Rowe explained, for the first time in a long time that GRGID has had two open claims against the District. The report indicates no claims were paid and there are two open or unpaid claims for property damage. This document is a public record and open to anyone who wants to look at it.
Public Comment: none
Brad Newlon motioned to accept District Counsel’s Summary of Tortious Claims
for 2019 and make it part of the District’s records. John Sheridan seconded the
Motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
II For Possible Action: Board discussion regarding approval of the Chapel Crest Development
on Topaz Lane. Board discussion followed by public comment. Possible action to approve
the Chapel Crest Development on Topaz Lane in accordance with the Policies and Procedures
Manual for development amended to the date of the application for approval as per the
authority found in Douglas County Ordinances 147 and 161.
William Nichols managing member of Chapel Crest LLC., explained that originally the church approached them for development because the church had no plans for expansion and the property could be better used for a housing development. The plan in the beginning was for 8 1/3 acre lots similar to the surrounding homes. The County has since made a change to the Codes for the Cul-de-sac and therefore Chapel Crest made adjustments to their plans and there are now 7 lots and the direction of the cul-de-sac was revised. The Church will be hooking up to District water and sewer service and will abandon their well and septic tank. The project is estimated to be completed by the end of the summer.
John Sheridan motioned to approve the Chapel Crest Development on Topaz Lane in accordance with the Policies and Procedures Manual for development amended to the date of application for approval as per authority found in Douglas County Ordinances 147 and 161. Bob McDowell seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
Public Comment: none
VI For Possible Action: Board discussion regarding updating the District’s Policies and Procedures
Manual by adding a financial section regarding the creation of a Committed Fund to assist in
accounting for the Special Assessment. Board discussion followed by public comment. Possible
action to approve adding a financial section to the District’s Policies and Procedures Manual
regarding the creation of a Committed Fund to assist in accounting for the Special Assessment.
Greg reviewed the draft Special Assessment Committed Fund which would receive revenues for projects to be approved by the Board. The Board can decide where the interest goes. However the auditors stated it would be cleaner to keep the interest within that designated fund that has its own bank account. Dave James suggested that policy specify the interest is to stay in the Special Assessment Committed Fund and that the motion be amended to note the change.
Public Comment: none
Bob McDowell motioned to approve the proposed changes as amended to the District’s Policies and Procedures Manual regarding Special Assessment accounting. John Sheridan seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
VII For Possible Action: Board discussion and possible action to update the Trustees’ Bylaws by
changing the wording regarding meetings. Board discussion followed by public comment.
possible Board Action to authorize the District Manager to update the Trustees’ Bylaws by
changing the wording regarding meetings.
This change to the manual will allow the board flexibility to have meetings when they desire to instead of a specific day and time.
Public Comment: none
John Sheridan motioned to authorize the District Manager to update the Trustees’
Bylaws by changing the wording regarding meetings. Leann Teter seconded the
motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
III For Possible Action: Board discussion regarding the 2020 /2021 annual budget. Board
Discussion followed by public comment. Possible Board action to approve proposed budget.
Greg reviewed some items of consideration with the Board on his budget proposal. The District is considering adding a rubber mulch at the park playground instead of bark. Bark is lighter and blows away in the wind and it absorbs water and can get moldy. Other items include the street maintenance project, recoating of the water tank, the long valley booster generator and a new utility billing and financial software system.
Public Comment: none
Bob McDowell motioned to approve the proposed budget considerations as amended for the 2020/2021 annual budget. Leann Teter seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
IV For Possible Action: Board discussion regarding authorizing Trustee John Sheridan to
attend the Congressional Conference in Washington, DC in conjunction with his
appointment to the Federal Advocacy committee of the National League of Cities on behalf
of GRGID. Board discussion followed by public comment. Possible action to authorize
Trustee John Sheridan to attend the Congressional Conference in Washington DC in
conjunction with his appointment to the Federal Advocacy Committee of the National League
of Cities on behalf of GRGID.
Greg stated he feels this is a great idea and a benefit to the District that John attend the Congressional conference in Washington, DC.
Public Comment: none
Brad Newlon motioned to authorize Trustee John Sheridan to attend the Congressional Conference in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with his appointment to the Federal Advocacy Committee of the National League of Cities on behalf of GRGID at a cost not to exceed $3,300.00. Bob McDowell seconded the motion. All Ayes. Motion passed
V For Possible Action: Board Discussion regarding the creation of a Minimum Financial Reserves
Policy to be included in the Policies and Procedures Manual. Board discussion followed by public comment. Possible Board Action to approve the creation of a Minimum Financial Reserves Policy to be included in the Policies and Procedures Manual.
Greg reviewed the Minimum Reserve Policy he created to be included in the Policies and Procedures Manual. Dave James suggested to include in the policy that the initial reserve amount be visited annually concurrent with budget.
Public Comment: Jim McKalip thinks a reserve policy is the right thing to do and a good idea.
John Sheridan motioned to authorize the District Manager to create a Minimum
Financial Reserves Policy to be included in the Policies and Procedures Manual and reviewed annually with the budget. Bob McDowell seconded the motion. All ayes.
Motion passed.
VIII For Possible Action: Board discussion followed by public comment. Possible Board Action to approve the updated Community Plan Goals, Policies and Actions.
John Sheridan drafted additions to the current Ranchos Community Plan. Because the rest of the Board did not have sufficient time to review the document the Board decided to postpone the item until a later meeting. Leann Teter suggested a workshop for the Ranchos residents.
Leann motioned to table item #8 until a workshop can be scheduled to discuss options with the public. Brad Newlon seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
Public comment:
Ron Bush, 646 Joette Drive, said he would love to attend a workshop.
Susan Stonestreet, 759 Raab, would like to see a workshop.
Consent Calendar: For Possible Action
Minutes:
Brad Newlon motioned to approve the January 15, 2020 Board meeting minutes.
Leann Teter seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
Public Comment: none
Check Summary:
Leann Teter motioned to approve the check summary for December 2019. Bob McDowell seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
Staff Reports:
District Engineer Michael Bennett reviewed his project tracking schedule for February 2020.
District Counsel Mike Rowe made his comments in Item 1 of the meeting.
District Manager Greg reviewed his Manager’s Repost with the Board. He also informed the Board that the PFAS chemical analysis tests came back negative in the District’s water system. PFAS are chemicals used in products like Teflon and Scotch guard and in firefighting foam.
Trustee Reports:
John Sheridan gave an update on the legislature and thanked the Board for approving the conference in Washington, DC.
Bob McDowell reminded all that March is the time to file for anyone considering running for the Board. Bob has been debating whether he will run again.
Brad complimented Dave James on his first time at chairman.
Dave James feels very strongly about an interconnect between the Ranchos, Minden and Gardnerville for emergency reasons.
Public Comment: none
Adjournment:
John Sheridan motioned to adjourn the meeting. Bob McDowell seconded the
Motion. All ayes. Motion passed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
By
_________________________________________
Dawn Hinds
Acting Secretary
