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Home My WebLink About03-27-2002 Steering Committee MinutesDRAFT MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITIEE MEETING Wednesday, March 27, 2002 A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was /held on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 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 Shirley McCracken, Vice Chair Pat McGuigan , Chairman , OMTS Committee Steve Anderson, PDC Committee Brian Brady, Chairman, FAHR Comm ittee Directors Absent: Jim Silva, County Supervisor (2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PRO TEM No appointment was necessary. (3) PUBLIC COMMENTS OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas Nixon, Counsel Ryal Wheeler Jan Vandersloot Doug Korthof Randy Fuhrman Larry Porter STAFF PRESENT: Blake Anderson, General Manager Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services David Ludwin , Director of Engineering Bob Ooten, Director of Operations and Maintenance Lisa Murphy, Communications Manager Wendy Sevenandt, Project Manager Mark Esquer, O&M Engineering Manager Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary FILED IN THE OFFICE Of THE SECRETA RY ORANGE CO IItrr:y ~!iNITATI D N DIST rl iCT Jan Vandersloot and Doug Korthof expressed opposition to the District's EPA-issued ocean discharge permit that meets the requirements of Section 301 (h) of the Clean Water Act. Randy Fuhrman commended the Board for considering disinfection and requested that when the interim disinfection facilities are replaced with permanent facilities, ultraviolet treatment be considered rather than putting additional chemicals into the water. (4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the February 27, 2002 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted. · Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 2 March 27, 2002 (5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Committee Chair Eckenrode reported that there are still a couple of openings for the CASA conference in May. (~ REPORTOFTHEGENERALMANAGER A. Communications Plan-One Year Later No discussion because this was covered at the three operating committee meetings this month. B. Status of Disinfection and Microfiltration Studies This item is also scheduled for discussion and consideration at tonight's Board meeting. Bob Ooten, Director of Operations and Maintenance, reported that selection of a consultant for long-term disinfection studies and facilities will also be considered. He brought a small microfiltration unit to the meeting and explained how it worked. Treatment removal rates were presented for primary, secondary and microfiltration processes. Microfiltration provides the greatest removal rates. The District has completed three research projects on this process, and at the next OMTS Committee meeting the members will be asked to hold a future meeting at Plant 2 for a site visit to the microfiltration and other research sites. Mark Esquer reviewed the presentation he would be making at the Board meeting on Ocean Outfall Bacteria Reduction Efforts underway in support of the recommendation to designate the use of bleach with sodium bisulfite (dechlorination as a mitigation measure) as the Preferred Alternative and to continue to fast track the project. The goals are to maintain continued compliance with Assembly Bill 411 (Recreational Bathing Water Standards) at the outfall to eliminate any possibility that release of treated wastewater is adversely affecting the surfzone. He discussed the short- (interim period) and long-term (3-5 years plus) schedules. He discussed the short- term activities and consultant activities and resources, as well as the required level of environmental review. To meet the schedule it will be necessary to pre-purchase some equipment and issue sole-source conracts. Staff is recommending that a CEQA-based Mitigated Negative Declaration be prepared and presented to the Board in June for adoption. C. Update on Sewer Service and Connection Agreement for El Morro School David Ludwin reported that the two-party agreement between IRWD and the District will be considered at tonight's Board meeting. IRWD will act as the local sewering agency and collect fees on our behalf. D. AB 1892 (Harman) OCSD Urban Runoff and AB 1969 (Maddox) amending Water Code) General Manager Anderson provided an update on AB 1892 that would change the District's charter. It passed through the Local Government Committee on an 11-0 · Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 March 27 , 2002 vote. This would allow participation in the urban runoff program and give us the authority to raise user fees to cover the expenses. Other funding alternatives are also available and will be considered by the Ad Hoc Committee when it next meets. AB 1969 is being amended by the author. AB 1969 would change the process and requirements of the Ocean Plan, the Cologne-Porter Act and the federal Clean Water Act, and essentially hijack the responsibility for oversight of the Sanitation District's decision-making responsibilities away from the Board of Directors and to the state. Mr. Anderson stated that if the bill passes then it would be essentially a state- mandated effort and state funding will be requested for $400 million. This is an important governance question that should concern everyone. (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL Counsel Tom Nixon reported that there was a need to add an item of anticipated litigation to the closed session agenda. This need was identified only this morning, subsequent to the posting of the agenda and there is a need to take immediate action on the matter. It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved adding the item to the closed session agenda based on the information provided. (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A -D) A. Proposed Calendar for consideration of Level of Treatment and Permit Application Decision General Manager Anderson reported that the decision process has five major components: 1) technical information and alternatives; 2) financial issues, which will be addressed by prepared two budgets; 3) ocean monitoring work ; 4) regulatory climate; and 5) public input. It is anticipated that at the June Board meeting all of the information could be forwarded to the Board to make the decision on level of treatment and begin the public input process. B. MOVED, SECONDED AND DULY CARRIED TO: Authorize the General Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the agreement with US Bureau of Reclamation for the Southern California Water Recycling Projects Initiative providing for an additional two years in the amount of $38,182 Wendy Sevenandt, Project Manager, explained this regional project that was evaluating what can be done with recycling projects. Additional work has been identified and additional funding is required. Because the additional costs are within the General Manager's delegation of authority, this item does not need Board approval. C. The Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the Board's working committees in April were reviewed. D. The agenda items scheduled to be presented to the Board at tonight's meeting (March 27, 2002) were reviewed. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 4 March 27, 2002 (9) OTHER BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY Larry Porter requested that staff prepare a diagram of the proposed bleach process at Plant 2, showing how and where the flow will be dosed. Director Pat McGuigan complimented Bob Ghirelli on his appearance on KOCE. (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 April 24, 2002 at 5 p.m. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for April24, 2002 at 7 p.m. (13) CLOSED SESSION The Committee convened at 6:17 p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Section 54956.9, to discuss one item of existing litigation and to discuss the anticipated litigation item added to the closed session agenda. Minutes of the Closed Session are on file with the Board Secretary. Confidential Minutes of the Closed Session held by the Steering Committee have been prepared in accordance with 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 the recommended actions will be publicly reported at the time the approved actions become final re Agenda Item 13(a)(1 ). No action was taken re Agenda Item 13(a)(2). At 6:45p.m., the Committee reconvened in regular session. (14) ADJOURNMENT The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 6:47 p.m. Submitted by: Tappan ring Committee Secretary G:\wp.dta\agenda\Steering Committee\02\Mar\032702 Draft SC Minutes. doc