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Home My WebLink About08-27-2003 Steering Committee MinutesDRAFT MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING VVednesday,August27,2003 A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, August 27, 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 Brady, Chairman, FAHR Committee Jim Silva, County Supervisor Directors Absent: Brian Donahue, Chairman, PDC Committee Norm Eckenrode, Past Board Chair (2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PROTEM No appointment was necessary. (3) PUBLIC COMMENTS OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel Don Hughes Sonja Wassgren Jennifer Cabral Ryal Wheeler Randy Fuhrman Gerhard Van Dries STAFF PRESENT: Blake Anderson, General Manager Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services Gary Streed , Director of Finance/Treasurer Carol Beekman , Communications Services Manager Jim Herberg, Engineering Manager Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary FIL ED IN TH E OFF ICE OF THE SE CRETARY OR ANGE r~"'~''~'"T'" SA Nr r ~T I()N DISTRICT SEP 2 4 2003 El V __ i <~ Randy Fuhrman spoke on Agenda Item 8.A. and asked that the directors recommend the deferred payment plan for a 1 0-year period. He also stated that there were no studies or presentations made to the Board on the septic tank problem. (4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the July 23, 2003 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted. Chair McC racken abstained. (5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 2 August 27, 2003 A. Legislative Advocacy Update Chair McCracken reported on activities of the Legislative Advocacy Ad Hoc Committee. Four issues are being discussed: federal funding support for secondary treatment; ACA 1 0, Proposition 53; AB 1427 -Biosolids; and AB 496- Santa Ana River Conservancy. B. Approval and compensation for Directors' meeting attendance Chair McCracken stated that Ordinance No. OCSD-14, which establishes Board of Directors compensation, is silent on several issues that need to be clarified. She provided the members with a memo outlining the issues. She suggested forming an ad hoc committee to review the ordinance and discuss the issues and return to the Steering Committee with suggestions and recommendations. Directors Steve Anderson and Brian Brady volunteered to serve on this Ad Hoc Committee. C. The next Steering Committee meeting will begin at 4 p.m. to allow adequate time to discuss in Closed Session the general manager's performance and consider compensation. (6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER General Manager Blake Anderson reported on changes to the low-flow toilet water conservation program. This item is on tonight's Board agenda for consideration. Jim Herberg described the program and why participation by the District is important. The proposed changes do not require any increase in authorized total contribution for the 5-year program. The program has reduced our flows by an estimated 4.7 mgd so far. The program runs out in June of next year. Staff will re-evaluate it at that time and return to the Steering Committee with a recommendation. (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL General Counsel Tom Woodruff reported that the District has received from the contractor's insurance company most of the money we spent on the lawsuit filed by property owners over damages sustained during the construction of the below-grade pump station in Newport Beach. He also reported that the bill exempting public agencies from paying fees imposed by other public agencies has been reworked and should be out of committee this week. There should be no impact on the District as we already collect these fees. In response to an inquiry from Director Ferryman, the problem with the homeowners encroaching on the District's easement along the 405 freeway in Costa Mesa was discussed. Mr. Woodruff stated that all of the title reports have been received and a full report will be made to the Steering Committee next month. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 August 27, 2003 (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-C) A. Consider recommending a loan policy for properties within the District that abandon septic tanks and connect to sanitary sewers. The general manager reported that this item has been before the Steering Committee on several occasions. A request for a waiver of Capital Facilities Capacity Charges (CFCC) from the City of Brea was made in 1999. Because of the fair-share policy established by the Board, this is not recommended; however, a deferred payment for the CFCC's due could be used, together with placing a lien on properties that abandon septic systems and connect to the sewer. The payment plan would include a low-interest rate and would be due and payable in ten years or upon property transfer, whichever is sooner. If, at the end of the ten-year period, the property had not been transferred, the lien could either be extended or a payment demand could be made. Dr. Robert Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services, stated that there are studies that show a connection between septic system failures and groundwater contamination. Moved, seconded and duly carried: Recommend that the FAHR Committee consider a loan policy for properties within the District that abandon septic tanks and connect to sanitary sewers and make recommendations to the Board. B. The Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the Board's working committees in September were reviewed. C. The agenda items scheduled to be presented to the Board at tonight's meeting were reviewed. A discussion on the proposed location for the Ellis Avenue Pump Station followed. Staff will provide Director Silva with all the information that has been provided to the homeowners and received from other sources. It is anticipated that many of the people who attended Monday's scoping meeting will also attend the Board meeting. Chair McCracken said that she will limit public comments to 30 minutes because this item is not on the agenda. (9) OTHER BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY There were none. (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 August 27, 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, September 24, 2003 at 4 p.m. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, 2003 at 7 p.m. (13) CLOSED SESSION The Committee convened at 6:16p.m. in Closed Session to discuss agenda item 13.A.1 re potential litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b), and consideration of the General Manager's Annual Performance Evaluation and Compensation pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6. 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. Submitted by: Tappan ring Committee Secretary G:\wp.dta\agenda\Steering Committee\03\AUG\082703 SC Minutes. doc