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Home My WebLink About04-24-2002 Steering Committee MinutesFILED IN THE OFFICE Of THE SECRETARY DRAFT ORANGE COUMTv ~t1~HTATION DISTRICT MAY 22 200 2 MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE :EETING P< Wednesday, Apnl 24, 2002 ·--~-~---~-~"-~~--~~~~·--~--""" A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, April24, 2002 at 5 p.m., in the District's Administrative Office. (1) The roll was called and a quorum declared present, as follows: STEERING COMMITIEE MEMBERS: Directors Present: Norm Eckenrode, Chair Shirley McCracken, Vice Chair Pat McGuigan, Chairman, OMTS Committee Steve Anderson, PDC Committee Brian Brady, Chairman, FAHR Committee Jim Silva, County Supervisor Directors Absent: None (2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PROTEM No appointment was necessary. (3) PUBLIC COMMENTS OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel Don Hughes Randy Fuhrman Doug Korthof Don Bassett, Montgomery Watson Harza 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 Murphy, Communications Manager Jennifer Cabral, Public Information Specialist Andrei loan, Project Manager Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary Mr. Doug Korthof spoke on the efforts to defeat the 301 (h) waiver and the need for secondary treatment followed by tertiary treatment. Mr. Randy Fuhrman discussed his proposal for increasing user fees at a faster rate to reduce the amount of future debt financing . He suggested that the Steering Committee consider planning for known and anticipated initiatives in the future now. He also asked that consideration be given to beneficial reuse of all the water as well as biosolids. General Manager Blake Anderson responded that staff will evaluate Mr. Fuhrman's proposal to ramp up user fees and a report will be presented to the FAHR Committee at a future meeting . (4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the March 27, 2002 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 2 April 24, 2002 (5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Committee Chair Eckenrode reported on the Environment Safety and Toxics Materials Committee's AB 1969 hearing he and Blake attended in Sacramento on Tuesday, April 23. He was disappointed in the proceedings, specifically in the amount of time allowed for the opponents to speak. It appears that the bill will be an unfunded mandate at the cost of about $400,000,000. Blake also reported on his testimony and the testimony of others on behalf of the District. The bill must go to the full Assembly and then to the Senate through one or two committees. Chair Eckenrode announced that there is a tour of the water district and a briefing on GWRS on Friday and he will be attending along with Lynn Daucher and Ken Maddox. (6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER General Manager Blake Anderson and staff reported on several issues, as follows. A. Grand Jury Report on 20 Meter Study Mr. Anderson explained that the 20 Meter Study was conducted in 1996 to determine whether the plume field from the outfall was impacting surface waters from the beach to the three-mile limit. The results were never released, though they were reported to the Regional Water Quality Control Board, EPA and others at a meeting held on September 3, 1997 .. The Grand Jury investigation of this incident resulted in a report on their findings and included seven recommendations, all dealing with the issue of open communication and reporting. Blake indicated that several of the recommendations had already been done and that the others would be implemented to provide transparency. Lisa Murphy, communications manager, reported that the District sent out a press release and several newspapers have indicated they will be reporting on the issue. B. Maddox Bill (AB1969) This was discussed earlier in the meeting. C. Onshore Investigation Report Bob Ghirelli, director of technical services, reported that the directors have a copy of the executive summary of this report in their Board meeting folders. This report, prepared by OCSD staff, details the results of a survey of all-known possible onshore contamination sources in the Huntington Beach area. Recommendations are outlined in the report. Several of these are in the jurisdiction of the county, cities of Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, as well as State Parks, the Regional Board and the OC Health Care Agency. This report has been released to the press and will be one of the discussion items at the Special May 15 Board meeting. D. Telephone Survey Results Lisa Murphy provided an update to the committee on the information that will be presented at the Board Meeting by our consultant. E. SARI Relocation Project Status/Expert Panel Report Blake Anderson provided the background on the project. A panel of five experts met and reviewed the project and evaluated the expanded alternatives study. Andrei loan, project manager, reported on the panel's findings. The Joint Management Committee received a presentation on these results. OCSD and SAWPA are trying to schedule a meeting with the OC flood control district and the Corps of Engineers on the options. Before any work can begin on any of the additional alternatives, the proposed projects Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 April 24, 2002 will have to go through the CEQA process, which could add two years to the project and cost an additional $1 million. If the original Alternative Dis chosen, construction can begin as soon as all issues are resolved. Implementing Alternative D would eliminate the need to upgrade the existing pipeline located within SA VI Ranch, resulting in lower overall costs. Mr. Anderson reported that SAWPA has indicated an interest in purchasing the line upstream of SA VI Ranch and its Board has directed staff to negotiate an agreement. SAWPA will be creating a list of deal points for consideration by both boards. F. GWRS Progress Report There has been considerable discussion at the Joint Coordinating Committee meetings on the direction of this project. There is a need to to make sure all the major elements are understood and reach a consensus between the two boards. The agreement has not been finalized. Chair Eckenrode discussed the reasons that the project should go forward. (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL General Counsel Tom Woodruff did not make a report. (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-E) A. MWD Grant to OCWD re Barrier Wells and Relationship to GWRS This item was moved to a future meeting. B. Determine 'Dark' month for Standing Committees The members recommended that the Standing Committees will not meeting in July. This will be discussed with the Board at tonight's meeting. C. Consider additional Special Board Meetings on May 15 and June 19, 2002 In order for the directors to understand the results of the beach studies and the completion of the Strategic Plan, staff is recommending that two special meetings be held prior to the level of treatment decision scheduled for the June 26, 2002 meeting. Special briefings could be held if the directors who can not make the meeting request them. It was approved to recommend that the Board consider these additional meetings. D. Review Agenda Items scheduled to be presented to the Standing Committees in May. There was no discussion. E. Review and consideration of Agenda Items for Board of Directors Meeting of April 24, 2002 There was no discussion. (9) OTHER BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS. IF ANY Staff was asked to consider a response to Congresswoman Sanchez's letter on 'Buy American.' (10) MATTERS WHICH A DIRECTOR WOULD LIKE STAFF TO REPORT ON AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING There were none. . Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 4 April 24, 2002 (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, May 22, 2002 at 5 p.m. There will be a Special Board Meeting on Wednesday, May 15, beginning at 6 p.m. The next Regular Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 7 p.m. (13) CLOSED SESSION The Committee convened at 6:37 p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Section 54956.9, to discuss two potential cases of litigation. 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. At 6:55 p.m., the Committee reconvened in regular session . (14) ADJOURNMENT The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 6:55p.m. Submitted by: ' appan ring Committee Secretary G:\wp.dta\agenda\Steering Committee\021Apl1042402 SC Minutes.doc