Staff Reports - East Bay Municipal Utility District

EAST BAY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT
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DATE: January 17, 2013
MEMO TO:
Board of Directors
THROUGH: Alexander R. Coate, General Manager K ^
FROM:
Lynelle M. Lewis, Secretary of the District-^^^^2—
SUBJECT: Legislative/Human Resources Committee Minutes - January 8,2013
Chair Lesa R. Mclntosh called to order the Legislative/Human Resources Committee at 10:15 a.m.
in the Training Resource Center. Director Frank Mellon was present at roll call and Director Andy
Katz arrived at 10:17 a.m.. Staff present included: General Manager Alexander R. Coate, General
Counsel Jylana Collins, Director of Engineering and Construction Xavier J. Mas, Special Assistants
to the General Manager Marlaigne K. Dumaine and Cheryl A. Farr, and Secretary of the District
Lynelle M. Lewis.
Public Comment None.
Policy on Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). Director of Engineering and Construction Xavier J.
Idas reported that staff had developed final draft language for the new PLAs policy, incorporating
clarifications that staff will make a recommendation to the Board after determining whether analysis
should be performed for a PLA and including language regarding quality assurance, coordinating with
master labor agreements, and endeavoring to consider the benefits of local hiring. There was
discussion about the contract value threshold and the Committee recommended that staff clarify the
$25 million threshold to say, "including labor and materials" and then have the PLA policy draft
review completed per standard process (departmental and union review followed by
Finance/Administration Committee review prior to consideration by the full Board). The Committee
concurred with the policy language as presented with the one recommended noted modification.
Legislative Report. Special Assistant to the General Manager Marlaigne K. Dumaine reported that the
113 Congress convenes this month and that there will be great focus on the budget and debt ceiling.
She said that in addition to the fiscal issues, congress' domestic policy agenda is likely to be
comprised of issues of interest to EBMUD including infrastructure and the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta. Next, Ms. Dumaine highlighted EBMUD's 2013 federal legislative initiatives which include:
1) Seek federal funding opportunities for infrastructure projects via any new federal programs which
may be developed and any existing programs; 2) Continue to seek federal funding for EBMUD's three
WRDA authorized projects - the San Ramon Valley Recycled Water Project, the Integrated Regional
Recycled Water Program, and the Bay Area Regional Desalination Project; 3) Continue to pursue new
WRDA funding authorizations for EBMUD's seismic program and the San Ramon Valley Recycled
Water Project; and 4) Advance EBMUD's Bay Delta needs with its federal delegation. Ms. Dumaine
said that staff will work with EBMUD's delegation to provide input on the Draft Environmental
Impact Report for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). It was moved, seconded and
unanimously carried to forward the recommended 2013 federal initiatives to the full Board.
Adjournment. Director Mclntosh adjourned the meeting at 10:40 a.m.
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