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Home My WebLink About02-25-2004 Steering Committee MinutesI' DRAFT MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, February 25, 2004 A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, February 25, 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: 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 John Collins, Guest Roy Moore , Guest Directors Absent: None (2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PROTEM No appointment was necessary. (3) PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel Don Hughes Ana Burkhart Doug Stack John Hogan STAFF PRESENT: Blake Anderson, General Manager Bob Ghirelli, Director of Technical Services David Ludwin, Director of Engineering Gary Streed, Director of Finance!Treasurer Lisa Tomko, Director of Human Resources Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary FIL ED IN THE OFF ICE OF THE SE CRETARY C1" ORANGE ('I"' I .... -" .......... T\~T if"'N DI STAl MAR 2 4 200 4 BY _ __.f!1::_--- (4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the January 28 , 2003 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page2 February 25, 2004 (5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Committee Chair Shirley McCracken reported that she was happy to be back and thanked Steve Anderson for acting as Chair protem in her absence. Chair McCracken reported that the Legislative Affairs Committee continues to meet. She announced that Director Tod Ridgeway was in Washington, DC, where he attended the Orange County water community's annual luncheon with our representatives and their staff members today representing the Sanitation District. This is an opportunity for Orange County water agencies to talk about the broad water quality and water supply issues that are important to us. The Steering Committee is evaluating our existing policies regarding Directors' business expense reimbursement, travel reimbursement and meeting compensation. Directors Anderson and Brian Brady are operating as a sub-committee of the Steering Committee. The Committee took a preliminary look at the new draft policy and agreed to put consideration on hold awaiting the outcome of the Ortiz bill in Sacramento. (6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER General Manager Blake Anderson reported that a complaint has been filed against our biosolids operation in Nevada. Staff is meeting with Senator Reid's office on this issue. He also provided an update on in-county biosolids alternatives and the ocean discharge permit process. Bob Ghirelli, David Ludwin, Bob Ooten, General Counsel and several other staff members met with EPA and the Regional Board in San Francisco Tuesday, February 24. They reported that things went well and that we expect terms and conditions that will meet our needs. A draft permit is expected in March. Mr. Anderson also reported on the on-going negotiations with SAWPA. While there has been some forward progress, there are still disagreements about how much capacity SAWPA currently owns in our outfall and four other issues. It appears that the Legislative Analysts Office in Sacramento is recommending that a portion of special district property tax revenues be transferred to each of the County Board of Supervisors for discretionary distribution. Gary Streed, Director of Finance, reported that debt service is pledged against revenue and may be protected. The Steering Committee directed staff to wait and see what develops after the election, review our options and report back to the Committee. (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL General Counsel Tom Woodruff reported that theCA Supreme Court denied Crow-Winthrop's petition and the case is closed. .... Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 February 25, 2004 (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-D) A. Revisions to Delegation of Authority Resolution Gary Streed reviewed the proposed changes and said that these would be taken to the OMTS and PDC Committees as information items. The FAHR Committee and Board will be asked to approve them in March. B. Carbon Canyon Trunk Sewer and Pump Station Abandonment Jim Herberg provided a report on the proposed development north of Brea in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties and outlined the alternatives for sewering them. Staff brought this issue to the attention of the Steering Committee because of the controversial nature of the project related to the development in the Brea and La Habra Hills. Directors Roy Moore and John Collins were asked to attend the meeting because the project has expanded service area implications that are important to their cities. City of Brea representatives Doug Stack and John Hogan provided background information. The Rowland Water District would be the local sewering agency. The main issue is whether to include in the EIR the alternative to size the new Carbon Canyon Trunk Sewer larger than needed to serve the entire area. Staff was given information direction to move the EIR forward, including an evaluation of pipe sizing that will and will not accommodate future development. Chair McCracken assigned Roy Moore, Brian Donahue and Steve Anderson to an ad hoc committee to advise staff on the overall issues and to provide input to the Steering Committee. C. The Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the Board's working committees in March were reviewed. D. The agenda items scheduled to be presented to the Board at tonight's meeting were reviewed. Additional information was provided on Agenda Item 13.(1), a non-consent PDC Committee item regarding the PSA with Black and Veatch and the procedures for issuing task orders. (9) OTHER BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY Chair McCracken announced that a supplemental agenda item has been added to tonight's agenda. This is the report from the NWRI Blue Ribbon Panel on their findings on the asset management strategic plan, which the Steering Committee considered at it's January meeting. (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 February 25, 2004 (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, March 24, 2004 at 5 p.m. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 7 p.m. There will also be a special Directors Workshop on the CIP on March 31 at 5 p.m. (13) CLOSED SESSION The Committee convened at 6:38 p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Sections 54956.9 and 54957.6, to discuss two issues. 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. s~0~ Je n appan St nng Committee Secretary H:\dept\agenda\Steering Committee\04\Feb\022504 SC Minutes. doc