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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-28-2002 Steering Committee Minutes( DRAFT MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING VVednesday,August28,2002 A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, August 28, 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: Shirley McCracken, Chair Steve Anderson, Vice Chair Pat McGuigan, Chairman, OMTS Committee Russell Patterson, Chairman, PDC Committee Brian Brady, Chairman, FAHR Committee Jim Silva, County Supervisor Directors Absent: Norm Eckenrode , Past Board Chair FI LED IN TH E OFFIC E OF TH E SE CR ETARY OR AN GE CO IIN T" c:~~II T AT l O N DI STRICT SEP 2 5 2002 IV J.~f__:_.-~----~-~ (2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PRO TEM No appointment was necessary. (3) PUBLIC COMMENTS OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel Don Hughes Ryal Wheeler Scott Baugh Jan Vandersloot Joey Racano Larry Porter Randy Fuhrman STAFF PRESENT: Gary Streed, Acting General Manager and Director of Finance Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services David Ludwin, Director of Engineering Bob Ooten, Director of Operations and Maintenance Lisa Murphy, Communications Manager Jim Colston, Sr. Regulatory Specialist Sonja Wassgren, Public Information Specialist Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary Dr. Jan Vandersloot thanked the Steering Committee and the Board for their July 17 decision. He asked that the public be kept apprised of the 30:30 Committee actions and that they be allowed to be involved. Larry Porter asked that the Steering Committee direct staff and the general manager to notify The Register that the problem is not just bacteria. Randy Fuhrman suggested that the mission statement be revised to include increasing wastewater reclamation. Joey Racano said that the District should not be doing its own studies because of the perception of impropriety. He also said that we should be working on eliminating endocrine disrupters. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 2 August28, 2002 (4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the June 26, 2002 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted. (5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Committee Chair Shirley McCracken reported that Steve Anderson, Brian Brady, Norm Eckenrode and Jim Silva attended the CASA conference in Monterey. They commented that the meetings were very informative. Chair McCracken reported that the GWRS JPA with the Orange County Water District appears to be moving forward and that agreement in principle has been reached. The schedule is to release the draft agreement on September 12 and the JCC will review it at its September 16 meeting. This Steering Committee will review it on September 25 and the District's standing committees and the Board will consider it at their October meetings. OCWD will also move it through their approval process at the same time. Chair McCracken recognized the contributions of former Chairs Jan Debay and Norm Eckenrode. Chair McCracken reported that Gary Streed is acting General Manager while Blake Anderson is on vacation. Mr. Anderson will return September 16. (6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER A. Update on FOG Management Issues Bob Ghirelli reported that the County FOG (Fats, Oils, Grease) ordinance is being developed to deal with grease from restaurants. This ordinance is the result of an Orange County Grand Jury investigation. At this time the ordinance is only applicable to restaurants in the unincorporated area of Orange County. It will require that new restaurants have grease interrupters installed and that the inspectors from the Health Care Agency review the paperwork to ensure proper recordkeeping is being done. The ordinance will not have much of an impact on the Sanitation District, but we are funding in part a study that will result in a list of best management practices and best applied technology available. We have offered to field test some of the recommended equipment. The Committee members questioned Supervisor Silva about the possibility of contracting with the County Health Care Agency to have them perform the same type of oversight for the cities, as each city will be required to have a FOG management plan as well. Supervisor Silva indicated that the County should be the lead agency and would require a revenue stream to support the program. The role of the Sanitation District has yet to be determined. B. Grantsmanship: A DC Initiative Mr. Ghirelli also provided a briefing on the proposed plan to secure federal funding for secondary treatment facilities. In the past, there have been federal construction grants and special legislation to assist with the funding. However, in order to take advantage of these programs, we need to mount a concerted effort in Washington, working through our representative, ENS. A proposal has been received from ENS for short-term services to generate support with the legislators and their staff members, as well as support from the various associations. Questions and discussion followed by the directors, mostly expressing concern about the viability of undertaking these Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 August28,2002 efforts at this time of the year when Congress is pretty much in recess and the legislators are not in Washington. After discussion, Chair McCracken asked that staff share the directors concerns with the general manager and bring the issue back to the committee with more detailed information on what services will be provided for long- term efforts. At that time the Committee will decide whether to proceed with a second phase. C. Update on Ocean Permit Issues This discussion was moved to Closed Session. Gary Streed reported that the FAHR Committee meeting had been changed to September 18 to avoid any conflict with September 11 memorial events. The Employees Activity Committee, on behalf of the employees and at their own expense, will install a large flag pole and plaque at the front entrance at Plant 1 and a similar plaque will be installed near the flag pole at Plant 2. A short dedication ceremony will be held on September 11 . (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL General Counsel Woodruff announced a need for a closed session, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b)(1 ), has arisen since the publishing of the Agenda. The item was agendized for open session. The closed session is necessary and will discuss possible litigation in view of the District being advised earlier this date of a petition for adjudicatory hearing being filed by legal counsel for the Natural Resources Defense Fund, with the State of California, Water Resources Control Board. It was moved, seconded and approved to move Item 8.B. to closed session. Mr. Woodruff also described several changes that are being considered to Resolution No. OCSD 01-23, Establishing Rules of Procedure for the Conduct of Business of the District. These are minor clean-up items providing more definition on committee assignments, time limits for speaking, and conference and meeting attendance. After discussion, it was agreed that the only change was related to Director's assignments to the OMTS Committee. The revised resolution will be submitted to the Steering Committee and the Board in December. The Chair ordered that the closed session be taken out of order at this time. (13) CLOSED SESSION The Committee convened at 5:46p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956 .9(b)(1 ), to discuss possible litigation. At 6:16 p.m ., the Committee reconvened in Regular Session. General Counsel advised that the Natural Resources Defense Council filed a Petition with the State Water Resources Control Board to review the decision and Order of the Regional Water Quality Control Board-Santa Ana Region, amending the District's NPDES Permit re disinfection and declorination. The Committee directed General Counsel and staff to monitor the Petition proceedings at the SWRCB, and to represent and defend the District's interests. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 4 August28,2002 (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-D) A. Consider need for Ad Hoc Committee re Urban Runoff meeting in September Bob Ghirelli updated the committee on some of the activities that have taken place since the last meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee in February. The Committee thought that it was time for another meeting on September 26. Director Don Bankhead has been appointed chair of that committee. B. Update on 30:30 Action Plan (NPDES Permit Renewal) Bob Ghirelli and Jim Colston provided an update on staff activities since July 17 and described the permit renewal options that will be discussed with EPA and the Regional Water Quality Control Board in San Francisco tomorrow, August 29. The draft mission statement was reviewed and the Committee asked that a statement on water reclamation be included. Mr. Colston provided additional information on actions taken by the California Senate's Environmental Quality Committee on AB 1969. This bill was designed to grant an exemption to the District for mandatory minimum penalties during the transition period to secondary treatment. Monthly progress updates will be provided to the Steering Committee and the Board concerning the permit renewal. Bob Ooten reported on the results of disinfection and the increase in secondary treatment that has been brought on line. A monthly update report will be provided to the Steering Committee and the Board on these items. C. The Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the Board's working committees in September were reviewed. D. The agenda items scheduled to be presented to the Board at tonight's meeting were reviewed. (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. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 5 August28,2002 (12) CONSIDERATION OF UPCOMING MEETINGS The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25, 2002 at 5 p.m. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25, 2002 at 7 p.m. (14) ADJOURNMENT The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. e Tappan t ering Committee Secretary G:\wp.dta\agenda\Steering Committee\02\Aug\082802 Draft SC Minutes. doc