Mendocino County Grand Jury • 2006-2007

Down the Drain a Report on the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District May 24, 2007

Published: May 24, 2007 7 pages
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Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F8, F12

Findings and Recommendations 15 findings

F2
The UVSD Board of Directors (BOD) is appointed annually by the presiding officers of the Board of Supervisors (BOS) and the Ukiah City Council (UCC). It consists of two members of the BOS and a UCC member who are appointed annually. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The UVSD is represented in legal affairs by the City of Ukiah Attorney and County Counsel. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District disagrees with this Finding. The County Counsel represents the UVSD in legal affairs.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Operation and management of all UVSD assets and operations are performed by the City of Ukiah, including the new Project. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
There have been no UVSD external audits conducted. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding. It is true that external audits have not been routinely conducted on an annual basis. The last complete financial audit of the UVSD was done for the year fiscal years 1997 and 1998. The UVSD is presently in the process of a finance audit for the five-year period ending June 30, 2005. Said audit report was completion on August 15, 2007, and presented to the UVSD Board of Directors on August 23, 2007.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The UVSD has no independent staff. City employees provide all staffing functions for the UVSD. DOWN THE DRAIN A Report on the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District May 24, 2007 Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District disagrees with this Finding. The Clerk of the Board has traditionally provided agenda, minute and records management services to the UVSD. As stated under Finding No. 3, the County Counsel provides representation in legal affairs. Since September 2006, a Deputy County Executive Officer has been assigned to serve in the role as an interim Executive Officer to the UVSD. In addition, a staff service agreement has been developed and approved for the reimbursement of County departments providing staff services to the UVSD.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
The Grand Jury heard testimony from several sources that city staff has not presented vital information in a timely manner to the UVSD. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District neither agrees nor disagrees with this Finding as the District has no direct knowledge of the testimony. Regardless, the Board shares a concern with the Grand Jury regarding timeliness of information presentation by the City of Ukiah. The UVSD Waste Water Treatment Plant is faced with the necessity to process 21 million gallons of wastewater in the winter months as compared to 3 million gallons in the summer. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
The 2005 Project includes $33 million for the upgrade (Upgrade Project), $24 million for new construction (Capacity Project), and $12 million for financing costs for a projected total cost of $69 million. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Sewer use is measured in ESSUs. These are based on the average discharge of a single-family residence. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
The Upgrading Project costs are shared between the City and UVSD on the basis of the relative ESSUs. The contractor is paid on the basis of the percentage of completion of the upgrading work. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding. DOWN THE DRAIN A Report on the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District May 24, 2007 12. The costs for the Capacity Project are shared on the basis of a 65% UVSD/35% City ratio as established in the Project Agreement. The costs are paid out on the basis of percent completion. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The 2005 contract for a new Waste Water Treatment Plant was planned to increase capacity by 2400 ESSUs, and to accommodate winter rainwater flow. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Funds for construction come from two sources: sewer fees and new connections. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
The contract provides for mutual UVSD and City financial obligation for the next 30 years. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
The cost of the Project is financed by the City of Ukiah, which will be repaid by the City and UVSD ratepayers, and new connections; sewer rates are planned to continue to increase. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
The City Public Utilities Director supervises wastewater sewer operations. The City Public Works Director supervises streets, roads and is responsible for the storm runoff system. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
There is a Waste Water Treatment Plant on the old Masonite property. Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Ukiah Valley Sanitation District agrees with this Finding. DOWN THE DRAIN A Report on the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District May 24, 2007 Recommendations The Grand Jury recommends that: 1. the UVSD be reorganized to include elected board members. Terms of office should be staggered. (Findings 2, 4, 6, 7) Response (Ukiah Valley Sanitation District): The Recommendation requires further analysis. The District agrees that there should be a formal governance discussion by the UVSD by January 1, 2008.
No recommendations for this finding

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