HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-20-2000 Steering Committee MinutesDRAFT
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MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING -' 11
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Wednesday, December 20, 2000 . : ~ j::.,
A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was
held on Wednesday, December 20, 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
Directors Absent:
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
Peer Swan
STAFF PRESENT:
Blake Anderson, General Manager
Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services
Greg Mathews, Assistant to the General
Manager
Gary Streed, Director of Finance
Lisa Lawson, Communications Manager
Jim Herberg, Engineering Supervisor
Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary
There were no comments by any member of the public.
(4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the November 15, 2000 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted.
(5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Committee Chair Norm Eckenrode announced that CASA's mid-year conference will be held in Palm
Springs January 18-20, 2001. He also mentioned that the go/no-go decision on the GWRS Project
has been delayed until March to provide stakeholders with sufficient time to review and comment on
the financial report. The report had been expected to be finalized in early November but is now
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page 2
December 20, 2000
expected to be released in January. Additional discussion follows under the General Manager's
Report. The appointment of a chairman for the FAHR Committee will be made before the next
meeting. There will be a workshop for new directors on Saturday, January 13, from 8 to 11:30 a .m.
All seated directors will also be invited to attend.
(6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER
A. Next Step re SARI Relocation Project.
General Manager Blake Anderson reported that staff will continue to work with
SAWPA's staff, general manager and Board to urge them to finance their fair share of
the SARI Line relocation project and to look for outside funding grants. Blake will be
meeting with the SAWPA Board at a workshop on January 9 to answer questions and
make our case. Staff continues to move forward with all permitting and engineering
efforts that will lead to a fall 2001 construction start date, unless other events or the
direction of the Board changes.
B. GWRS-Financial Picture.
An announcement was made today by MWD that they would not be providing
replenishment water to the Water District in January and maybe into February.
Blake Anderson and Gary Streed presented an overview of the possible financial
impacts on user rates on both the Sanitation District and the Orange County Water
District with and without the GWRS project. The numbers presented were draft only,
provided as late as yesterday to the Water District and Sanitation District staff by
PRAG. The report is being finalized and should be available by the end of January.
Director Swan asked for a copy of the initial draft report and was told by the Water
District that it was not being distributed. A copy of the final report will be provided to
him.
C. Additional Discussion on the Five-year Staffing Plan .
Feedback was requested on the presentations made to the committees. The Steering
Committee's early opinion is that it appears that the projected increases are justifiable,
though there were some directors who commented that the numbers appeared high.
Staff will present the final plan to the directors in February at the committee and Board
meetings.
D. Update on Huntington Beach Issues.
Blake Anderson and Bob Ghirelli provided an update on Huntington Beach issues.
Director Green and several city staff members attended a meeting with District staff on
Tuesday. One of the issues discussed was the infrastructure problems in the city and
the recent articles in the newspapers. The city, county, Sanitation District, UC Irvine
and a large number of others will design a research and response plan for the
summer of 2001. Staff's policy of directing questions pertaining to the District to the
most knowledgeable person on specific issues will continue. Questions on other
agencies or entities will be directed to the agency/entity being questioned.
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page 3
December 20, 2000
Bob Ghirelli discussed the November test results on the outfall plume. Additional
water samples will be taken in January. The results will help with the major study that
is planned for next spring. That study will include sediment samples and hourly shore-
line samples for a 24-hour period. A preliminary cost estimate on the worst-case
scenario (disinfect the effluent to achieve beach standards) was presented by Jim
Herberg. Four alternatives to reduce pathogens were identified.
(7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL
General Counsel Tom Woodruff reported that the Montrose consent decree has been lodged and it
will be heard by the court mid-February. Most of the District's share was paid through insurance
coverage.
(8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Item A)
A. Biosolids: Is the Future Class B or Class A, Exceptional Quality and Composted?
Staff reported on the increased pressures by the Central Valley farmers to eliminate
the use of Class B biosolids. Staff also reported that Class A composted biosolids
may be required in the future and they are putting together a game plan on how to
accomplish this change, including cost estimates. The Kings County Board of
Supervisors has apparently reversed itself and is prepared to enact an ordinance in
January that will ban Class B biosolids in two years.
(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 January 24, 2000 at 5 p.m.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for January 24, 2000 at 7 p.m.
... ' . -
Minutes of the Steering Committee
Page 4
December 20, 2000
(13) CLOSED SESSION
There was no closed session.
(14) ADJOURNMENT
The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m .
Submitted)~
J an appan
te ing Committee Secretary
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