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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-18-2002 Steering Committee MinutesDRAFT MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, December 18, 2002 A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, December 18, 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 Jim Ferryman, Chairman , OMTS Committee Brian Donahue, Chairman , PDC Committee Norm Eckenrode, Past Board Chair Directors Absent: Jim Silva, County Supervisor Brian Brady, Cha i rman, FAHR Committee (2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PROTEM No appointment was necessary. (3) PUBLIC COMMENTS OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel Don Hughes Scott Baugh Randy Fuhrman Jan Vandersloot Paul Mosley Jennifer Cabral STAFF PRESENT: Blake Anderson, General Manager Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services David Ludwin, Director of Engineering Greg Mathews, Assistant to the General Manager Gary Streed, Director of Finance Lisa Tomko, Director of Human Resources Sonja Wassgren, Communications Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary FILED IN THE OFF ICE OF THE SECRETARY ORANGE en • '~'w C! • ~II TtiTfON DIST RIC1 Jan Vandersloot offered holiday greetings to the Steering Committee members. Randy Fuhrman asked that the directors continue to think about procuring funding through increased fees at a higher level than actually required to reduce interest payments and future borrowing. Paul Mosley, representing Joan Irvine Smith, thanked the Board for submitting the secondary treatment standards permit application and offered her help as needed. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 2 December 18, 2002 (4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the November 20, 2002 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted. (5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Committee Chair Shirley McCracken reported on the CASA and Orange County Leadership Symposium events scheduled for January. (6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER General Manager Blake Anderson reported on: A. Achieving 30/30 Secondary Treatment Standards Mr. Anderson reported that we are close to reaching optimum numbers with the optimizing of existing secondary facilities. B. Biosolids Mr. Anderson reported that staff continues to use three alternatives for biosolids disposal. The ban on Class B biosolids takes effect in Kern County in January and in Kings County in February. It is our intent to keep all options available as long and as economically as possible. C. Disinfection Operational objectives are being met and we are getting extraordinary results, well under the AB 411 standards at the outfall, which means we are also achieving the standards at the state's 3-mile limit and with certainty in the surf at Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. However, Station 9N, near the AES Power Plant, is still experiencing elevated bacterial counts. Shore and offshore studies continue. There will be a special discussion on this issue at the February 19 Special Board Workshop. (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL The SAWPA update will be discussed in Closed Session because of information received from the Regional Board . General Counsel Tom Woodruff reported that his firm is one of six being considered for providing legal services to the Orange County Water District. The directors discussed the potential for a conflict of interest. Chair McCracken indicated that there did not seem to be a conflict, and should one occur, it would be handled appropriately at that time. (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-E) A. Low Interest Loans for Converting Residences from Septic Tanks to Sewer Connections This item is on the agenda at the request of Director Steve Anderson as a result of the septic tank retirement program in La Habra. He asked about providing loans to assist with sewer connections. Gary Streed reported on the program that had been offered in the pa$t and stated that Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 December 18, 2002 there was very little interest. The details of the proposed program were discussed. Because there is no conclusive information on how many residences are still on septic tanks, it is difficult to determine how extensive to make the program. Director Anderson suggested that the policy be considered as part of the urban runoff initiative as septic systems could very well be a major contributor to urban runoff. Staff was directed to continue work on this issue and a search will be undertaken for a model that might meet our needs. B. Directors Handbook Greg Mathews reviewed the draft handbook and asked the committee members to e- mail suggested questions for the Frequently Asked Questions section. C. Sacramento Outreach Efforts during 2003 Blake Anderson introduced Scott Baugh, who reported on our successes during the 2002 legislative session and the impacts of the budget deficit on the year ahead. He spoke to the two initiatives that were successfully put forward on behalf of the District and issues that are anticipated for 2003 and beyond. He expects that much time will be required protecting our revenues through defensive maneuvering. Bob Ghirelli provided a draft staff report on the history of legislative advocacy at OCSD and the issues staff will be working on with our state and federal representatives. The final strategy plan will be returned to the committee in January with more details. The directors were asked to review the report to ensure the strategies staff is undertaking are appropriate and no changes were recommended. Mr. Anderson asked the directors for any specific comments and for direction on the initiatives and the approach staff is taking to pursue them. None were provided. D. The Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the FAHR Committee in January were reviewed. The other working committees will be dark. E. The agenda items scheduled to be presented to the Board at tonight's meeting were reviewed. There were no questions posed to staff. (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 4 December 18, 2002 (12) CONSIDERATION OF UPCOMING MEETINGS The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 5 p.m. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at 7 p.m. (13) CLOSED SESSION The Committee convened at 6:09 p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Sections 54956.9, to discuss potential litigation involving the District and Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority; Section 54956.9 re pending matter of litigation, Orange County Sanitation District, et al. v. County of Kern, et al; Section 54957.6 re salaries, benefits, terms and conditions of employment for At-Will Contracts with Executive Management Team; and Section 54957.6 re General Manager's annual performance evaluation and compensation. 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 6:55 p.m . H:\wp.dta\agenda\STEERING COMMITTEE\SC Minutes Form.doc