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Home My WebLink About05-26-2004 Steering Committee Minutes,, DRAFT MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, May 26, 2004 A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, 26, 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 Brady, Chairman, FAHR Committee Jim Silva, County Supervisor Norm Eckenrode, Past Board Chair Directors Absent: Brian Donahue, Chairman, PDC Committee {2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PRO TEM No appointment was necessary. {3) PUBLIC COMMENTS OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas L. Woodruff, General Counsel Don Hughes STAFF PRESENT: Blake Anderson, General Manager Carol Beekman, Communications Services Manager Jean Tappan, Committee Secretary Layne Baroldi, Legal & Regulatory Affairs Liaison Richard 'Mac' Mclaughlin, Principal Public Information Specialist FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY ORANGE rn• ... ~,, ". ~IITATI"N DISTRICT There were no comments by any member of the public. JUN 2 3 2004 BYP ·--=- {4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the April 28, 2004 Steering Committee meeting were approved as revised. {5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Committee Chair Shirley McCracken reported on a scheduled GWRS video shoot with Huell Howser. Mr. Howser will be interviewing staff members, board members and community representatives about the value of GWRS to them. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 2 May 26, 2004 Chair McCracken also announced that the Steering Committee will be meeting in closed session on the general manager's performance. She reported that she met with the general manager and signed off on his salary increase in accordance with the Steering Committee's determination a few months ago. (6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER General Manager Blake Anderson provided updates on several issues, as follows: • Update on SB 1272 (Ortiz): This bill was defeated by the Senate Appropriations Committee, even though Senator Ortiz had amended the bill, limiting it to only enterprise special districts, eliminating the Controller's audit, deleting most of the whistle blowing elements, setting per diem limits at $150 per meeting with a CPI/COLA adjustment provision, and limiting meetings for large agencies at 10 per month. • Update on In-County Biosolids Options: Layne Baroldi reported that the SOCW A/OCSD In- County Biosolids facility proposal is now under consideration by County staff, and working cooperatively with us. SOCWA is the lead agency on this effort. If this proposal is accepted, OCSD would send two truckloads per day of biosolids to the facility. Mr. Baroldi expressed his appreciation for the intervention by Director Silva to move this project along. An alternate site is under consideration. There was also a meeting last week with the Great Park Committee. It recommended the formation of a subcommittee of the Finance Committee to evaluate our proposal. • Tax Shift from Enterprise Special Districts: Mr. Anderson reported on the Governor's Local Government Proposal, which is estimated at $1.3 billion from all local government agencies. Our share will be about $17 million for each of the next two years. The Governor promises that this is a one-time shift. Assemblyman Todd Spitzer has asked the District and the cities to place the support of this tax shift on the Board/Council agendas. Mr. Anderson will ask the Board if it wants to take any action. This proposed tax shift still is not a 'done deal.~ •. NPDES Permit Negotiations: Negotiations for the permit and consent decree are nearly complete and it's been a very cooperative process. EPA and the Regional Board recognized the reasons why we asked for specific things and agreed with our requests. In August a hearing will be held by the Regional Board and EPA. The consent decree will go out for public review via the Federal Register. A signed permit should be received in late 2004 or early 2005. Mr. Anderson recognized Tom Woodruff, Bob Ghirelli, Jim Colston and other staff members who have worked on this major effort over the past three years. • SAWPA: Mr. Anderson reported that there appears to be nothing more that can be done to resolve the problems, other than litigation. • There will be no committee meetings in August unless something unforeseen arises. • Coordination of Urban Runoff and Funding via a Proposition 218 Election: Mr. Anderson met with representatives from the County, IRWD and SOCWA last week to determine which agency(ies) should attempt the Proposition 218 direct mail ballot. The Board of Supervisors wants to hold a special invitation workshop at our offices in August to discuss the institutional, financial, technical matters implied by the County's regional strategic plan. Mr. Anderson also reported that the Orange County Business Council and CA State Fullerton will be conducting a public policy poll that will include a number of questions that will test the public's interest and support for the urban runoff program. • Findings of the Grand Jury Report on OC Bisolids: The Grand Jury completed its report and the District agrees with their findings without exception. The District is either doing or plans to do all of the things they recommended. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 May26, 2004 • New Communications Division Employee: Carol Beekman introduced Richard 'Mac' Mclaughlin as the new principal public information specialist. (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL General Counsel Tom Woodruff reported that escrow for the property for the relocation of the Rocky Point Pump Station has needed to be extended because of some geotechnical problems that have surfaced and may need further study. The seller of the property has agreed to the extension in exchange for a price increase of $6500 per month. Said sum is within the Board's approved maximum purchase price. All problems should be corrected or mitigated within the next 90 days. The EIR on the project is scheduled to be released for public comment next week. (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-B) A. The Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the Board's working committees in June were reviewed. B. 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. (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, June 23, 2004 at 4 p.m. There will be a special 501h Anniversary Reception on Wednesday, June 23, 2004 beginning at 6 p.m. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23, 2004 at 7 p.m. Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 4 May 26,2004 (13) CLOSED SESSION The Committee convened at 5:30 p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Sections 54956.9(b )(1 ), 54956.9{c) and 54957.6, to discuss three items. Closed Session Agenda Item A.4. was not discussed. 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 6:05p.m., the Committee reconvened in regular session. (14) ADJOURNMENT The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m. appan ring Committee Secretary H:\dept\agenda\Steering Committee\04\May\052604 SC Minutes.5.doc