HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-28-2004 Steering Committee MinutesDRAFT
MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was
held on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 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:
Steve Anderson, Vice Chair
Jim Ferryman, Chairman, OMTS Committee
Brian Donahue, Chairman, PDC Committee
Brian Brady, Chairman, FAHR Committee
Jim Silva, County Supervisor
Directors Absent:
Norm Eckenrode, Past Board Chair
Shirley McCracken, Chair
(2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PRO TEM
OTHERS PRESENT:
Thomas Nixon, Counsel
Don Hughes
Sonja Wassgren
Ana Burkhart
Gerhardt Van Drie
STAFF PRESENT:
Blake Anderson, General Manager
Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services
Bob Ooten, Director of Operations and
Maintenance
Carol Beekman, Communications Services
Manager
Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary
Layne Baroldi, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs
Liaison
Simon Watson, Maintenance Manager
Vice Chair Steve Anderson chaired the meeting in Chair Shirley McCracken's absence.
(3) PUBLIC COMMENTS
Gerhardt Van Drie said that he was interested in bidding on work for the District but needed
additional information. He asked for an answer on whether the District is interested in his proposal.
Blake Anderson said that any information he would like that is included in our written documents
would be provided.
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(4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the December 17, 2003 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted.
(5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Committee Vice Chair Steve Anderson reported that Chair McCracken has had a bit of a relapse and
she has been advised to curtail her activities.
Vice Chair Anderson, Directors Ferryman and Silva attended last week's CASA conference and
made reports.
Chair McCracken has asked that the city council members, city managers and legislators be invited
to attend out special workshops for new directors (February 18), the CIP update (March 31) and the
GWRS update (April 21 ). Staff will be sending out invitations accordingly.
(6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER
A. In-County Biosolids Alternative
General Manager Blake Anderson provided information on the in -county biosolids option
identified in the long-term biosolids management plan. Two locations have been identified;
Prima Deshecha in south Orange County and The Great Park in Irvine. City of Irvine staff has
asked that our directors be advised of the discussions with the City and the Great Park
Corporation Board on the proposed joint composting facility. The directors agreed with the
concept and asked the staff to continue discussions . The OMTS committee was assigned
oversight responsibility.
B. Miscellaneous Committee Housekeeping Issues
• The date for the July 2004 board meeting may have to be moved because of a
potential conflict with a League of Cities conference. The date will be determined.
• The PDC Committee meeting in April will be held on Thursday, April B.
• Guests at working committee meetings will be provided meals.
• The time for the working committee meetings will be discussed with the members of
the committees at their next meeting. Options are breakfast, lunch, earlier in the
afternoon or remain at 5 p.m.
• Travel reimbursement and meeting authorization for directors was discussed. Staff is
in the process of reviewing the information provided by Directors Anderson and Brady.
This was discussed at several sessions at the last CASA conference. Other agencies
and associations are reviewing these policies and the Finance staff, with input from
Human Resources and General Counsel, will draft policies and procedures for further
review by the Steering Committee.
C. Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration Plans
The celebrations begin at tonight's Board meeting with the unveiling of the past chairs of the
Board of Directors. At the June Board meeting there will be a formal event celebrating
"Proudly Protecting the Environment for 50 Years." The employees will celebrate with a
beach party on the afternoon of June 10. This will be co-sponsored with the Employees
Activity Committee.
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D. Federal Funds Earmarked for OCSD
Mr. Anderson announced that $1 million has been earmarked for the Sanitation District in this
year's federal appropriations budget. This will be used to help defray secondary treatment
costs. He also outlined the strategy to receive another $10 million next year and a total of $50
million over the next ten years . Mr. Anderson thanked Directors McCracken, Silva, Ferryman
and Ridgeway for their efforts in seeking support for this funding in Washington, DC. Director
Silva complimented Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services, for his efforts and
assistance. Staff will consider a comprehensive authorization bill for Orange County
agencies; however, it is anticipated that appropriations would be separate.
E. SAWPA Agreement
Mr. Anderson reported that there are still some details that need to be negotiated and the two
agencies have agreed to use the mediation services of Gary Hunt to try to reach an
agreement.
F. NPDES Permit Update
Mr. Anderson reported that staff and General Counsel will be meeting with EPA and the
Regional Board on February 24 to work out the details of the permit. Things are on track to
meet the December 2012 deadline for reaching secondary treatment standards.
(7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL
Assistant General Counsel Tom Nixon provided an update on the Crow Winthrop case. Crow
Winthrop has filed a petition for discretionary review of the case with the Superior Court of California.
A decision on whether the Supreme Court will accept the case for review should be made within 90
days. He also reported that the City of Placentia has been dismissed from the Woodside case.
(8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-E)
A. NWRI Asset Management Blue Ribbon Panel Report
Mr. Anderson reported that this report is the outcome of the mid-2003 direction by the Board
to staff to get a third party opinion of the program and to return to the Board. Doug Stewart
provided the background information and discussed the report on the Asset Management
Strategic Plan document. Mr. Stewart reviewed the findings and recommendations. He said
that with the Steering Committee's approval, he would like to ask several of the panel
members to make a presentation at the February Board meeting and then seek approval from
the Board to move forward with the staff-driven implementation plan.
The Steering Committee approved the staff recommendation to present at the February 25
Board meeting.
B. Regional Water Quality Control Board Order re Urban Runoff
Bob Ghirelli discussed the impacts of a Notice of Violation the Regional Board filed against
the Cities of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana and Fountain Valley
as well as the County of Orange regarding discharges into the Santa Ana River. This will
begin an investigation to identify the sources of bacteria that are found on the beaches. The
cities and County have been meeting and have asked the Regional Board to pull back the
Notice to allow them to try to fix the problem first. The Corps of Engineers will be performing
a study of the Santa Ana River re source control in conjunction with the Sanitation District and
the cities and County would like to piggy back on this effort. This may result in more requests
for diversions.
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C. Biosolids Advisory Committee
Mr. Ghirelli reported that the Long-Range Biosolids Management Plan was received and filed
at the December Board meeting and staff is now moving forward to implement the various
elements of the plan consistent with the Districts Biosolids Environmental Management
System. One element is a commitment to public outreach and education and staff will be
asking for help from a public Biosolids Advisory Committee to review and make
recommendations on the selection of future biosolids management options. Staff will be
soliciting interested stakeholders and select members of the public to serve on the Biosolids
Advisory Committee.
The Steering Committee agreed with the staff's course of action.
D. The Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the Board 's working committees in February
were reviewed.
E. The agenda items scheduled to be presented to the Board at tonight's meeting were
reviewed. Mr. Anderson reported that because of some questions on Item 9.(c), staff has
asked that the item be pulled from the agenda. No Board action will be required.
(9) OTHER BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY
Blake Anderson announced a meeting of the Orange County Forum. The topic is an extension of
some of the issues discussed at the recent Orange County Leadership Symposium and suggested
that those directors that attended consider attending this function.
(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.
(12) CONSIDERATION OF UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25, 2004 at 5 p.m .
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25, 2004 at 7 p.m.
(13) CLOSED SESSION
The Committee convened at 6:15p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Government Code
Sections 54956 .9(b) and 54957.6, to discuss an item of potential litigation and to consider
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
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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
H:\dept\agenda\Steering Committee\04\Jan\012804 draft SC Minutes.doc
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