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Home My WebLink About03-26-2003 Steering Committee Minutes.. DRAFT MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, March 26, 2003 A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, March 26, 2003 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 Brian Brady, Chairman, FAHR Committee Jim Silva, County Supervisor Norm Eckenrode, Past Board Chair Directors Absent: None (2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PRO TEM No appointment was necessary. (3) PUBLIC COMMENTS OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas Nixon, Counsel F'I LED Don Hughes IN THE OFF ICE OF THE SECRETARY R I Wh I ORANGE 'Y"l !1>.•~v .:< • ~HT ATION DISTR ICT ya ee er . v• .. Jennifer Cabral APR 2 3 2003 ~;~~~~E~i:;. •Jv ~~-JJ~-~-- STAFF PRESENT: Blake Anderson, General Manager Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services David Ludwin, Director of Engineering Gary Streed, Director of Finance/Treasurer Carol Beekman, Communications Services Manager Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary Randy Fuhrman questioned some of the statements made in the report on the septic system abandonment policy. He mentioned that he accompanied the biosolids audit team during its audit this past week and said that the auditors were impressed with the District's operations. He also asked about a public letter writing campaign in an effort to seek federal funds for the District's planned secondary treatment facilities. (4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the February 26, 2003 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 2 March 26, 2003 (5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Committee Chair Shirley McCracken reported on the progress of the Legislative Advocacy Ad Hoc Committee that is meeting weekly. The committee is working with staff and consultants on the biosolids bill (AB 1427), ACA 10 (Harman), as well as trying to secure federal funding. Chair McCracken also reported that she extended her stay in Washington, DC to meet with our consultants and the members and staff of the Orange County delegation to seek support for our program. Chair McCracken reported that there the Ad Hoc Committee re Urban Runoff will meet on Wednesday, May 7 at 3 p.m. (6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER General Manager Blake Anderson reported on the following issues: A. Progress towards Achieving 30/30 Secondary Treatment Standards Our ocean discharge effluent quality continues to be in the mid-30s ppm for suspended solids and the mid-50s ppm for biochemical oxygen demand. B. Disinfection Update Disinfection is continuing and we are achieving state AB411 standards at the end of the outfall. While our numbers are low, there are still elevated readings at the beach, particularly during high tide events when the storm channels are flushed out. C. State Budget Crisis There is nothing new to report. Special Districts are not being discussed as part of the solution to the state budget crisis. Staff will continue to monitor this. D. Proposed Special Board Meeting on April 16, 2003 to discuss the Capital Improvement Program and the schedule for Achieving Secondary Treatment Standards David Ludwin reported that the CIP review has been completed. It is estimated that secondary treatment facilities will be completed by November 2012. The peer review panel will be preparing an independent report on our schedule, which will be given to the Board. A special focus meeting on the CIP schedule is scheduled for April 16 to give the Directors an understanding of how the schedule was developed and what it will mean to the District. The Committee determined that the April 16 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Mr. Anderson stated that when the language of the bills has been finalized, public support will be sought. E. Orange County Business Council Dinner April 17 Mr. Anderson said that as members of the OCBC there is a table available for this event. The Steering Committee and key staff will be invited to get better acquainted with the business community and seek support for our legislative initiatives. F. Ocean Environment Issues at the April 23 Board Meeting Mr. Anderson announced that there will be a lengthy presentation at the April 23 Board meeting on three issues related to the ocean environment, including a report on the 2001 Huntington Beach Studies, our recent video taping of the ecosystem at the end of the outfall and an overview of the results of last year's ocean monitoring program. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 March 26, 2003 G. New Feature at Board Meetings In an effort to help the Board become more familiar with some of the things that staff is involved with, there will be a series of presentations at the Board meetings on 'interesting things that are happening at the District.' These will be presented from time to time. (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL Counsel Tom Nixon did not make a report. (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-D) A. Status of NPDES Permit Renewal and Negotiation Process Dr. Robert Ghirelli updated the Steering Committee on staff activities now that the CIP validation report has been completed and what can be expected in the next few months. When the schedule is approved by the Directors in April, staff will begin negotiations with the regulators on the compliance agreement along with General Counsel as lead. There will be multiple opportunities for public input during the review process. Dr. Ghirelli announced that on April 14 staff members from the Washington delegation will be at the District for a tour and a briefing on our program. Chair McCracken asked when Phase 2 of GWRS would begin and the potential for impacting our program to reach secondary treatment standards. Mr. Ludwin stated that the earliest we could provide water for Phase 2 would be in 2012. And if GWRS Phase 3 was constructed, it would require that water would have to be brought up from Plant 2. It was stated that there is no commitment to Phase 2 or 3 at this time . B. Consider recommending a policy for properties that abandon septic tanks and connect to sanitary sewers within the District that offsets the Capital Facilities Capacity Charge against the environmental and social benefits to the service area Gary Streed reported on the proposed policy and sought direction from the Committee on whether to move forward with the program . The Committee decided to table the issue because of the many policy and financial issues that need to be more thoroughly evaluated. 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 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. ,. . ' .. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 4 March 26, 2003 (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, April23, 2003 at 5 p.m. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April23, 2003 at 7 p.m. (13) CLOSED SESSION The Committee convened at 6:10 p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(c), to discuss one case of anticipated litigation and Section 54957.6 to discuss the General Manager's performance evaluation. 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. J n appan e ing Committee Secretary G:\wp.dta\agenda\Steering Committee\03\MAR\032603 Draft SC Minutes.doc