HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-19-2000 Steering Committee Minutes\'
DRAFT
MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, July 19, 2000
>..A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was
held on Wednesday, July 19, 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:
Norm Eckenrode, Chair
Peter Green, Vice Chair
Pat McGuigan, Chairman , OMTS Committee
Tom Saltarelli, Chairman, FAHR Committee
Jim Silva, County Supervisor
Jan Debay, Past Chair of the Board
Directors Absent:
Steve Anderson, PDC Committee
(2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PROTEM
No appointment was necessary.
(3) PUBLIC COMMENTS
OTHERS PRESENT:
Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel
Anna Piercy, Director
Don Hughes
STAFF PRESENT:
Blake Anderson, General Manager
Greg Mathews, Assistant to the General
Manager
Gary Streed, Director of Finance
Lisa Tomko, Director of Human Resources
Layne Baroldi, Environmental Specialist
Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary
FIL ED
IN THE OFF iCE OF THE SECRETARY
ORANGE COUNTY SA NITATIO N DISTRIC T
AUG 2 3 2000
BY _f!J;;:_ ___ ._.
There were no comments by any member of the public.
(4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the June 28, 2000 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted.
(5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Committee Chair Eckenrode did not make a report.
(6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER
General Manager Blake Anderson reported that SAWPA had faxed a letter to the District requesting
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page2
July 19, 2000
a 30-day delay before certifying the EIR/EIS on the Santa Ana River Interceptor improvements. This
will be provided to the Directors at the regular Board meeting prior to considering the EIR/EIS agenda
item.
A. A Look Ahead: Our Collective Vision.
Blake Anderson provided the members with the activities of the past six months and
outlined those that are scheduled for the next six months. The members suggested
revisions to the Vision and Mission Statements. The EMT will discuss them at its next
meeting. An Operating Philosophy has been developed, which emphasizes
accountability, balance and communication. Mr. Anderson announced that Lisa Lawson
has accepted the position of Communications Manager. Her start date is July 31.
The Guiding Principles were briefly discussed. These were developed by staff to form
the framework of our organization and reinforce a professional code of ethics.
Each department has developed its own vision statement.
B. Update on the Five-year Staffing and Businss Plan.
Greg Mathews reported that the Five-year Staffing and Business Plan will be presented
to the Board in January. It will outline where we are headed and the resources
necessary to reach those goals.
A list of opportunities for improvement was compiled from comments received in
surveys taken last December and January. Mr. Mathews described the activities of the
Organizational Opportunities Committee that addressed the results of the surveys and it
appears that the major issue is blurred lines of responsibilities. A responsibility conflict
resolution model has been developed to help resolve some of the identified problem
areas. Once issues are resolved, there could be an impact on staffing levels.
Mr. Mathews presented a schedule that outlined the steps necessary for completing the
five-year staffing plan by January 2000. Business units are being defined, which are the
lowest foundational or core unit, in an attempt to identify commonality or areas of similar
responsibility that could provide higher efficiencies.
C. Update on Kern County and Kings County Biosolids Activities.
Layne Baroldi reported that the CEQA hearing on the Kern County biosolids ordinance
has been changed to August 30 in Visalia, California. A response brief is being
prepared. At this time, about one-half of our biosolids are being applied in Kern County.
Regulators are keeping a close watch on these activities.
The Kings County biosolids ordinance is being drafted and staff has reviewed and
commented. Most of the concerns expressed were addressed in the revision. Adoption
is scheduled within 90 days, after the state-wide general order is adopted. The State
Water Resources Control Board issued a programmatic EIR that allows for continuation
of Class B land application. A workshop is scheduled for August 3 on the General
Order EIR.
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page 3
July 19, 2000
Due diligence is underway on the McCarthy Farms property and facilities.
(7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL
General Counsel Tom Woodruff reported that there was no progress on the Crow Winthrop issue.
(8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-D)
A. Increasing Awards within IDEA Program
Greg Mathews provided the members with the results of the IDEA Committee's findings
on other award programs and the recommendation.
Motion: It was moved, seconded and duly carried to recommend to the Board that the
award amount for approved IDEA submittals be increased from 10% of the cost savings
with a cap at $3,000 to 10% of the first year's cost savings with a cap of $10,000.
B. At-will Employment Contracts for Executive Management Team
Blake Anderson reported that five of the nine Executive Management Team members
currently have At-will Employment Contracts that were negotiated with the General
Manager. The resolution granting the General Manager authority to negotiate these
contracts provides the flexibility to form a cohesive team but does not address several
important issues, including severance and work benefits. It is recommended that the
General Manager be allowed to offer severance packages to EMT members for up to
six months and to offer flexible benefits up to 30%, the current amount for regular
employees. All benefits and salary will be within the existing ranges and the contracts
are to be voluntary. A report will be made to the FAHR Committee when these contracts
are finalized.
I
Motion: It was moved, seconded and duly carried to recommend to the Board that the
General Manager be authorized to include severance packages and benefits flexibility
within existing guidelines.
C. The Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the PDC Committee at its August
meeting were reviewed. The OMTS and FAHR Committees do not meet in August.
D. FY 2000-01 Management Salary Increases
Blake Anderson and Lisa Tomko reported on the results of the most recent salary
survey and presented the proposed increases for the management team. Several
positions will receive base-building increases to bring them to mid-range. Because no
range changes are anticipated, the increases are not subject to Board approval. Mr.
Anderson also reported that Michelle Tuchman, who left at the end of May, would be
getting a pro-rated {11/12) adjustment as a result of her efforts over the past eleven
months, as these increases are for the past year.
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page4
July 19, 2000
Mrs. Tomko reported on ongoing negotiations with the 501 and SPMT units.
(9) OTHER BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY
There was no other business discussed.
(10) MATTERS WHICH A DIRECTOR WOULD LIKE STAFF TO REPORT ON AT A
SUBSEQUENT MEETING
There were none.
(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 Wednesday, August 23, 2000 at 5 p.m.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 23, 2000 at 7 p.m.
(13) CLOSED SESSION
There was no closed session.
(14) ADJOURNMENT
The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
n Tappan
ering Committee Secretary
H:\wp.dta \agenda \STEERING COMMITTEE1 00V u/00\0719 00 S C Minutes. do c