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
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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
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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 .
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