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Home My WebLink About05-23-2001 Steering Committee MinutesDRAFT MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, May 23, 2001 A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, May 23, 2001 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 Shirley McCracken, Chairman, FAHR Committee Jim Silva, County Supervisor Directors Absent: None (2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PRO TEM No appointment was necessary. (3) PUBLIC COMMENTS OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel Don Hughes Director Beth Krom, Guest Director Tony Kawashima, Guest Ryal Wheeler STAFF PRESENT: Gary Streed, Director of Finance Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services Bob Ooten, Director of Operations and Maintenance David A. Ludwin, Director of Engineering Lisa Tomko, Director of Human Resources Lisa Lawson, Communications Manager Penny Kyle, Acting Committee Secretary FI L ED IN THE OFFIC E OF THE SE CRETA RY OR ANGE COU NTY ~fd\I !TATION DISTRI CT JUN 2 7 2001 1:1\f ;!!/ J ~·~~-~--6.--------·---~---- There were no comments by any member of the public. (4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the April 25, 2001 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 2 May 23,2001 (5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Committee Chair Norm Eckenrode reported the first round of ocean discharge testing began earlier in the week. He also reported he attended a Watershed Management Workshop with the Santa River Watershed Group. One of the major issues discussed was the transition of the Chino dairy area after the dairies are gone and how to develop the land around the dairies that stay. (6) REPORT OF GENERAL MANAGER Gary Streed, Director of Finance , reported that General Manager Blake Anderson was in Washington, DC, attending an AMSA conference. It was announced that the District was one of the recipients of the AMSA Gold Award , which is given to those agencies that meet all discharge requirements for the year. Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services, reported on the first series of ocean discharge testing held earlier in the week. He reported the testing went very well, and approximately 2500 samples were collected during a 24-hour period, which is approximately equal to one half of the samples the microbiology lab does in one year. Approximately 200 staff members have been trained for the testing series to be conducted throughout the summer. The overall budget cost for this project will be in excess of $5 million. One of the major factors not originally included in the previous budget requests was staff time and labor overhead cost. Staff members expressed concern that AES does not want to contribute any monies toward this testing as previously reported. Mr. Ghirelli briefly discussed ocean discharge issues and reiterated the major issue facing the Board of Directors would be determining what level of treatment the ocean discharge water receive, should the current studies determine that the District's discharge is contributing bacteria to the beach. Bob Ooten, Director of Operations & Maintenance, reported on an accelerated research schedule for microfiltration treatment technology for ocean discharge. If the level or type of treatment needs to be changed, microfiltration might prove to be a good alternative to full secondary treatment at a lower cost. The research project was slated for the next fiscal year but staff felt it was in the District's best interest to move this project for approval by the Board at the June Board meeting. Gary Streed reviewed the possible impact of user rates if the District must change the current level of treatment to full secondary treatment. An update was then given to the Directors on staff's response to the Orange County Grand Jury's report on restaurant grease management. The County of Orange is taking the lead to develop a response to the Grand Jury and a meeting with the affected cities/agencies has been scheduled. Response to the report will be due by July 251h. Lisa Lawson, Communications Manager, reported the public opinion survey questions were being finalized. She also reported that the SARI Line Relocation public participation was going well. A meeting had been held with the citizen's advisory group, which was successful in reducing the group's anger and mistrust of the District. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 May 23,2001 (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel, reported a need to add three items to the Closed Session, needing immediate attention which arose subsequent to the posting of the Agenda. General Counsel stated that these items could be added pursuant to California Government Code Section 54954.2(b )(2) upon a two-thirds vote of the Committee. It was moved , seconded and duly carried to: (1) Find that the matters arose subsequent to the posting of the Agenda, pursuant to authority of California Government Code Section 54954.2(b )(2); and (2) Add three closed session items, as Item Nos. 13(a)(3), 13(a)(4 ), and 13(a)(5), to the Agenda, to wit: Tran , et al. v . Orange County Sanitation District, et al., Orange County Superior Court Case No. OOCC05306 (Government Code Section 54956.9); City of Los Alamitos v. Orange County Sanitation District, et al., Orange County Superior Court Case No. 01 CC02192 (Government Code Section 54956.9); and Confer with District's Labor Negotiating Team (Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel and Lisa Tomko, Director of Human Resources) re IUOE Local501 (Government Code Section 54957 .6). (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS Committee meetings format was discussed, and discussion centered on streamlining the meetings and information presented to the Directors in a more efficient manner. It was determined committee meetings should be limited to a maximum of two hours; presentations should be limited to the times listed on the agenda; and Directors should contact staff prior to the meeting for answers to specific questions. It was also suggested that additional workshops be held for newer Directors. (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 June 27, 2001 at 5 p.m. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page4 May 23, 2001 (13) CLOSED SESSION The Steering Committee convened at 6:48 p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Government Code Sections 54957.6 and 54956.9, to discuss Agenda Item Nos. 13(a)(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5). 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. No reportable actions were taken re Agenda Item Nos. 13(a)(1 ), (2), (3) and (5). The Committee did not consider Agenda Item No. 13(a)(4 ), and no report was given. At 7:00p .m., the Committee reconvened in regular session . (14) ADJOURNMENT The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. \Veacfldata1\wp.dta\agenda\Steering Commitlee\01\May\052301 SC Minutes. doc