HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-27-2000 Steering Committee MinutesI , ,
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MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING OC T 2 5 2000
Wednesday, September 27, 20QO IW ·~--__ ~.( _
A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was
held on Wednesday, September 27 , 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
Steve Anderson, PDC Committee
Tom Saltarelli, Chairman, FAHR Committee
Jim Silva, County Supervisor
Jan Debay, Past Chair of the Board
Directors Absent:
(2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PRO TEM
No appointment was necessary.
(3) PUBLIC COMMENTS
OTHERS PRESENT:
Tom Nixon, Counsel
Don Hughes
Brian Walter, Cassidy & Assoc .
Mark Reed
Jim Colston
Bill Lloyd
Ryal Wheeler
Chuck Lee
Jon Thomsic
STAFF PRESENT:
Blake Anderson, General Manager
Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services
David Ludwin, Director of Engineering
Greg Mathews, Assistant to the General
Manager
Lisa Lawson, Communications Manager
Lisa Tomko, Director of Human Resources
Layne Baroldi, Senior Regulatory Specialist
Jim Herberg, GWRS Project Manager
Jeff Reed, Human Resources Senior Analyst
Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary
General Manager Blake Anderson recognized Jim Colston and Jon Thomsic, members of the SPMT
Group, who addressed the Committee regarding their group's concerns with additional delays
approving the tentative agreement reached with the District's negotiators in July. They asked that the
members consider sending the tentative agreement to the full Board at tonight's meeting rather than
going back to the FAHR Committee for further discussion .
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page 2
September 27, 2000
(4) RECEIVE. FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the August 23, 2000 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted.
(5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Committee Chair Eckenrode reported on his trip to Wash ington, DC for the signing ceremony for a
memorandum of understanding regarding participation in the Santa Ana River Watershed Group
efforts to secure matching federal funding for infrastructure needs in the watershed. Chair
Eckenrode thought that the program was well-received by the legislators in attendance .
(6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER
A. General Manager Blake Anderson reported on two workshops that the District
sponsored.
Capacity Maintenance, Operation and Management (CMOM) of City-owned Local
Sewers.
This all-day workshop was held in Garden Grove on September 20. Over 100 people
attended. There appears to be very little local agency understanding of what the
regulations will mean to the cities in Orange County and staff. OCSD, with assistance
from state and EPA representatives , attempted to clarify some of the issues.
Director McGuigan reported that she attended this workshop and it was an eye-
opener. The fines tied to sewer spills could be overwhelming for cities with aging
systems. She complimented Nick Arhontes for his presentation on what the cities will
have to do in order to comply with the regulations as they are now drafted. She
recommended that a presentation on this subject be made to all Board members
because the impacts could be staggering and cities should begin this planning effort
now and work cooperatively with all agencies involved.
Mr. Anderson reported that staff is preparing a white paper that will be presented to all
the working committees and will serve as the basis for our outreach program with city
managers. He stated that it is unclear when the draft regulations will appear in the
Federal Register. CASA and AMSA will be closely monitoring this with us.
Spill Response Seminar.
On September 26, 225 people attended this workshop, which was held in Fountain
Valley. The objective was to educate local agency representatives on how to prevent
and respond to spills.
Mr. Anderson reported that the Grand Jury will be making a report on what should be
done to improve the environment and this subject will be included. The Grand Jury
will be meeting with staff on follow-up issues , as well as returning to the District for a
plant tour
B. GWRS-related Issues:
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page 3
September 27, 2000
1.
2.
3.
Lisa Lawson reported that the GWRS Joint Coordinating Committee formed a
Public Information Subcommittee, to focus on outreach for the project before
the January go/no go votes by the board. Two workshops for Directors to
provide progress updates. The next workshop is scheduled on Saturday,
October 7, the focus will be on wrapping up the technical issues. The second
workshop is scheduled for Saturday, December 2, where there will be a
general overview for newly-appointed representatives and an updated project
cost estimate will be discussed.
Four public workshops (three evening and one during the day) are being
scheduled in November. Director Green suggested that one workshop be held
in Huntington Beach. Monthly updates, similar to those given to the PDC
Committee, will be provided to the Board beginning in October. Letters will be
sent to the mayors of all cities asking that changes in representation on the
District Board of Directors be made early enough so that a newly-appointed
member has time to learn about the project before the project "go-no go"
decision at the January 24, 2001 Board meeting.
I
Jim Herberg reported on the steps remaining before making the final decision
in January. The focus is finalizing the research and technology reports,
developing a final cost estimate, defining governance and financing issues.
Mr. Anderson reported on a staff report presented to a committee of the IRWD
Board that recommends a different approach than currently being considered.
Staff will be meeting with IRWD to discuss the concerns about risk expressed
in that report.
C. Kern County Update.
Blake Anderson reported that he will be attending a workshop tomorrow in
Sacramento with dairy, agricultural, urban regulatory and environmental interests
discussing problems with organic wastes disposal state-wide. Biosolids, manure,
agricultural waste and urban green waste will be discussed. This is the beginning of a
dialogue between the various groups.
Layne Baroldi reported that on August 23, 2000, the Notice of Determination was filed
on the state's General Order EIR regarding land application of biosolids and the 30-
day challenge period started. Staff is not aware of any challenges filed to date, though
indications are that Kern County and the Central Delta Water Agency may file.
Counsel Tom Nixon reported that a day-long court hearing was held August 30 on the
Kern County Biosolids Ordinance CEQA process. The judge indicated that a tentative
decision would favor Kern County. However, after hearing our arguments, the judge
indicated that he would take the matter under submission. To date, the court has not
made a final decision. The court is customarily required to render a decision within
120 days of a hearing .
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page4
September 27, 2000
Mr. Baroldi indicated that Kings County is also considering a new biosolids ordinance
and outlined the draft terms that are favorable to the continued use of Class B
biosolids. The Kings County Farm Bureau has asked staff to make a presentation on
land application of biosolids. An internal memorandum of support for applying
biosolids to land was written by one of the major farmers in Kings County. Upon
questioning, staff indicated that moving from Class B to Class A biosolids for land
applications would cost about $1 Olton or more, depending on the technology utilized,
for an additional cost of at least $2.5 million per year.
The Kings County draft ordinance is considering three different boundaries for
restricting the application of biosolids. The District's parcel and parcels owned by
other biosolids users are not excluded by any of the three boundary lines.
The appraiser has submitted an estimate of $40,000 for the McCarthy Farms compost
facility. Staff will be seeking additional proposals for the appraisal.
D. SARI Line Relocation Update.
Mr. Anderson reported that a professional services agreement has been awarded and
several coordination teams are working on it. Twenty-two permits have been
identified for the project. SAWPA continues to raise issues regarding cost of the
project and we will be open to considering their suggestions. The target completion is
2003. State subvention funds are being considered, which could provide up to 70%
state and federal funding.
(7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL
Counsel Tom Nixon indicated a need to add one item to the closed session that needed immediate
attention, which arose subsequent to the posting of the agenda, to wit: a settlement offer for a
worker's compensation claim filed by District employee Larry McLemore. Mr. Nixon reported that an
additional item could be added pursuant to Government Code Section 54954 .2(b) upon a two-thirds
vote of the Committee. No other item could be discussed or acted upon.
A motion was made, seconded and duly carried to add Agenda Item No. 13(b ), pursuant to authority
of Government Code Section 54954.2 to authorize discussion and consideration of the following item
which arose subsequent to the posting of the agenda and which requires action at this time, to wit:
Larry McLemore v. Orange County Sanitation District, WCAB Nos. LAO 763673; 675 (Government
Code Section 54956.9).
Mr. Nixon also reported that the Montrose trial is scheduled to begin October 3, 2000.
(8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-B)
A. The Committee agreed with staff's recommendation that working committees would not
meet in January 2001. This will allow staff a break in the agenda process.
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page 5
September 27, 2000
B. The Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the Board's working committees in
October were reviewed. Because many of the listed OMTS Committee items were
moved, OMTS Committee Chair recommended canceling the October 4 meeting and
that the start time for the November 1 OMTS Committee meeting be changed to 4 p.m.
This will allow time for a tour before the meeting.
(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
Director Green asked that staff provide an update on the experts report on the problems at
Huntington Beach. Staff will make presentations at all of the committees in October or November.
(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 October 25, 2000 at 5 p.m.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for October 25, 2000 at 7 p.m.
(13) CLOSED SESSION
The Committee convened in closed session at 6:25 p.m ., pursuant to Government Code
Sections 54957.6 and 54956.9. Confidential minutes of the closed session held by the Steering
Committee have been prepared in accordance with California Government Code Section
54957.2 and are maintained by the Board Secretary in the Official Book of Confidential Minutes
of Board and Committee Closed Meetings. A report of actions taken will be publicly reported at
the time the approved action becomes final re agenda items Nos. 13(a) and 13(b ).
At 7:04p.m., the Committee reconvened in regular session.
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page 6
September 27, 2000
(14) ADJOURNMENT
The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m .
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