Extension sought for interim finance director ? The Benicia Herald

? Bill Zenoni was brought in to replace Rob Sousa

By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter

If Bill Zenoni is to continue as Benicia?s interim finance director, the City Council will need to obtain an extension from the California Public Employees? Retirement System as well as amend his services agreement, Administrative Services Director Anne Cardwell said.

In a Feb. 14 report to City Manager Brad Kilger, Cardwell wrote that when Zenoni was hired as finance director after the retirement last fall of Rob Sousa, he was retired and receiving CalPERS benefits.

That state agency lets retired members work temporarily for a CalPERS-covered employer for a limited time, so long as it does not exceed 960 hours, she wrote. But if the employment continues, the worker must be reinstated into the retirement system.

Zenoni is projected to reach that limit March 2.

?CalPERS regulations also allow for an extension of the 960-hour limit by adoption of a resolution requesting an extension,? Cardwell wrote.

Benicia is seeking a permanent successor for Sousa, she wrote, but she advised that person isn?t expected to be hired before Zenoni?s 960 hours are reached.

She is recommending that the City Council approve a resolution at its Tuesday meeting authorizing the CalPERS request and amending Zenoni?s contract to extend his employ until Sept. 30.

In other matters on that meeting?s agenda, the Council will consider accepting the work done at the James Lemos dive pool, through which old plaster was removed and replaced, the pool entry?s lighting improved and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance measures were taken.

Mike Dotson, director of Parks and Community Services, is recommending approval of the jobs, which cost $113,553.

Originally, the project was expected to cost $100,000, but after bids were received more funds were needed to complete the work, Dotson wrote. At its Dec. 6 meeting, the Council approved the transfer of $13,553 from one facility maintenance account to another to underwrite the project.

However, the job was completed at $105,051, despite having to spend an additional $1,800 on ADA-required handrails, Dotson wrote. The balance of $8,502 will be returned to its original account, which usually is used for park and playground improvements.

The project, awarded to Burkett?s Pool Plastering, was finished last month.

The Council also will be asked to make minor modifications to the table of local limits for pollutants found in pretreated wastewater discharge, a table found in the city?s pretreatment program.

Those modifications are required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Charlie Knox, director of Public Works and Community Development, wrote in a Feb. 3 report.

?The local limits table governs nonresidential discharges to the wastewater treatment plant,? he wrote.

To obtain a national Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for its wastewater treatment plant, Benicia is required by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Water Act to have a pretreatment process, Knox wrote.

Its pretreatment program regulates the wastewater discharge from businesses so that city plants and their staff, members of the public and the environment can be protected from potentially toxic pollutants, particularly manufacturing byproducts, Knox wrote.

The pretreatment local limits list refers to certain pollutants and the maximum concentration they can be if the discharge is admitted into the city?s wastewater system, he wrote.

The Regional Water Quality Control Board requires Benicia to set technically based limits for those pollutants, and businesses and industries connected to the city?s wastewater system must adhere to those limits, Knox wrote.

Benicia established limits in 1990, and a recent look indicated no changes were needed in the concentration levels. However, footnotes were added to define how limits are calculated and analyzed, Knox explained. ?There were no changes made to the numerical limits themselves.?

Knox also will ask the Council to accept the Lake Herman Waterline Cathodic Protection project, which provides corrosion protection to three buried pipelines between the city?s water treatment plant, Lake Herman and Valero Benicia Refinery.

The project was budgeted at $120,901 and was accomplished for $119,378.05, Knox wrote Feb. 3. The money came from the Water Major Capital Projects Fund and the Water Capital Connection Projects Fund. Knox is recommending approval.

The Council also will be asked to replace a vehicle that has been assigned to one of the city?s K-9 officers.

Benicia police Chief Andrew Bidou said a Ford Utility Police Interceptor can be purchased from Downtown Ford Sales, through the Contra Costa County vehicle contract awarded to that company, for up to $31,365.47 using remaining California Supplemental Law Enforcement Service Fund money. That money must be used only for front-line police services.

The Interceptor would replace a 2006 Crown Victoria that has been driven more than 100,000 miles and needs more expensive repairs at accelerating intervals, Bidou wrote in a Jan. 19 report.

The Council also will consider on second reading amending its ordinance regulating Council meetings. The change would establish a 6 p.m. start for regular but closed session meetings and add the fourth Tuesday of the month as a regular meeting date. The starting time of regular meetings, 7 p.m., would not be changed by the amendment.

The Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in closed session to discuss a real estate matter. The regular meeting will start at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers of City Hall, 250 East L St.

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