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Home My WebLink About01-26-2000 Steering Committee MinutesIN FILED THE OFFICE OF THE SEC • • ,..,. ' ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION ~~~~~icr Revised FEB 2 3 2000 MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE M~~_TI~~--·~;( . .. .. -- Wednesday, January 26, 2000 A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, January 26, 2000 at 5 p.m., in the District's Administrative Office. (1) The roll was called and a quorum declared present, as follows: STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Directors Present: Jan Debay, Chair of the Board Peer Swan, Vice Chair Pat McGuigan, Chairman, OMTS Committee Norm Eckenrode, Chairman, PDC Committee Directors Absent: Tom Saltarelli, Chairman, FAHR Committee Jim Silva, County Supervisor (2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PRO TEM No appointment was necessary. (3) PUBLIC COMMENTS OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel Ryal Wheeler Director Shawn Boyd STAFF PRESENT: Don Mcintyre, General Manager Blake Anderson, Asst. General Manager Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary Michelle Tuchman, Director of Communications Gary Streed, Director of Finance Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services Mike Moore, ECM Manager There were no comments by any member of the public. (4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the December 15, 1999 and January 12, 2000 Steering Committee meetings were approved as drafted. (5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR The Committee Chair welcomed Director Shawn Boyd. She will be inviting one Board member a month to the Steering Committee meeting to acquaint the Board members with the activities of the Steering Committee. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 2 January 26, 2000 (6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER General Manager Don Mcintyre asked Bob Ghirelli to report on several items. A. Biosolids Sampling Request. The EPA and NRC are conducting a national survey to determine the level of radioactivity in biosolids and whether a regulatory fix is required. The radioactivity results from medical research, and also occurs naturally in soil. The District is one of 300 facilities that has been asked to submit samples. A guidance manual report will be made public in about a year. B. Status of Kern County Real Estate Transactions. The contract has been signed with Tule Ranch and Yakima. The Kings County property is in escrow. The Yakima project is moving forward. The CUP will be presented to the Board of Supervisors in May or June. The design of the project has moved from windrow to static pile to help control odors. Dialogue continues with the neighbors. LACSD is a partner in the project. C. Report on Huntington Beach City Council Study Session. Director Swan reported on the meeting. The City Council members preferred a question and answer session rather than the planned presentation. The two issues that were raised were 1) the time frame for less than 50/50 treatment and 2) urban runoff. Mr. Mcintyre indicated that the Regional Board is reviewing the development plans for two projects in the service area. At this time they are considering disapproving the projects because the District has not agreed to a long-term solution to discussion of dry weather urban runoff. At this time only one- year permits are allowed. Staff needs more information on impacts to treatment process (quality and quantity of the flow) before a decision can be made on accepting dry weather urban runoff on a permit basis. Several suggestions were made regarding placing conditions on future permits, including permits for developments in ecologically sensitive areas only, disallowing street parking, and monitoring runoff. A panel of experts is convening at the end of February and this could be a separate discussion item. It was agreed that the approval of a resolution supporting Proposition 13, the Water Bond, would be presented to the Directors for additional to the Board meeting agenda. (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL General Counsel did not make a report. (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-C) A. Legislative Issues. 1. Existing legislation (AB 709). The impact of the bill on the District and other non- point sources for NPDES permit penalties was discussed. The bill provides for a mandatory $3000 fine per occurrence. General Counsel Tom Woodruff indicated that the bill needs some technical corrections, but at this time litigation is not planned. The Regional and State Water Boards will be required to report Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 January 26, 2000 on these spills, which could result in third-party lawsuits. Mr. Ghirelli indicated that only agencies that have permits with numerical limits would be required to pay the penalties. 2. Proposed legislation (Polanco Bill reState Control over Biosolids). There is concern that this proposed legislation would be viewed as taking away county or home rule over land-use decisions. This bill still does not have a sponsor, though Polanco is considering it, and if one isn't identified by February 25 the bill is dead. Mike Moore reported that staff is working with Kings County supervisors on a biosolids ordinance sponsored by the Ag Board. At this time it looks like approval will be granted in March or April. B. Consolidation of Revenue Areas Recommend adoption of a financial plan to consolidate bookkeeping and rate-setting practices for the District as follows: 1. Combine the assets and liabilities for the separate Revenue Area Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, and 13 into on consolidated Revenue Area; 2. Adopt one financial plan for the consolidated Revenue Areas; 3. Adopt one user fee rate for the consolidated Revenue Area Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11 and 13; 4. Continue to fund Revenue Area 7 through adopted sewer service user fees; 5. Continue to fund Revenue Area 14 by contract with the Irvine Ranch Water District. Director of Finance Gary Streed provided a brief history and discussed the reasons for pulling out Areas 7 and 14 from the consolidated financial plan at this time. Staff was seeking direction from the Committee in order to being the budget process for this program. It was moved, seconded and approved to begin the Committee approval process prior to submitting to the Board. C. The February Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the Board's working committees were reviewed .. Because of a lack of OMTS action items, Director Pat McGuigan, OMTS Committee Chair, cancelled the February 2 meeting (9) OTHER BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY OMTS Chair McGuigan asked that Jim Ferryman be invited to the February Steering Committee meeting; and PDC Chair Norm Eckenrode asked that Brian Donahue attend the March Steering Committee meeting. Chair Debay will extend the invitations at the Board meeting . (10) MATTERS WHICH A DIRECTOR WOULD LIKE STAFF TO REPORT ON AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING There were none. . . . .. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page4 January 26, 2000 (11) MATTERS WHICH A DIRECTOR MAY WISH TO PLACE ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR ACTION AND/OR STAFF REPORT There were none. (12) CONSIDERATION OF UPCOMING MEETINGS The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for February 23, 2000 at 5 p.m. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for February 23, 2000 at 7 p.m. (13) CLOSED SESSION The Committee convened at 6:32 p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Section 54956.8, to confer with General Counsel re BRE/South Coast LCC and McCarthy Cook & Co. -South Coast LLC's offer to sell, purchase price and terms of payment for easement. Minutes of the Closed Session are on file with the Board Secretary. The minutes of the Board Meeting will report on the actions when they are approved. At 6:58p.m., the Committee reconvened in regular session. (14) ADJOURNMENT The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m. H:\wp.dla\agenda\STEERING COMM/TTEE\OOVAN00\012600 SC Minutes. doc