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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-23-2005 Steering Committee Minutesl I MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, March 23, 2005 A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, March 23 , 2005 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, Chair Jim Ferryman, Vice Chair Carolyn Cavecche, Chair, OMTS Committee Roy Moore, Chairman , FAHR Committee Tad Ridgeway, Chairman, PDC Committee Jim Silva, County Supervisor Directors Absent: (2) APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR PROTEM No appointment was necessary. (3) PUBLIC COMMENTS OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hagin, Counsel Don Hughes Randy Fuhrman STAFF PRESENT: Blake Anderson, General Manager Carol Beekman, Director of Communications and Administrative Services Gail Garrett, Committee Secretary FI LED IN THE OFF ICE OF THE SECRETARY ORANGE COUNTY ~flfl..I!TH!nN DISTRICT APR 2 7 2005 BY _.fi-.I.L::;:;·~...._. -- Randy Fuhrman addressed the Steering Committee and requested Directors increase user fees by 100% this year and 50 % next year, which would enable the D istrict to decrease their borrowing for capital improvement projects. General Manager Blake Anderson explained that in 2003 the Board approved raising fees by 15% each year. An increase for fiscal year 2005-06 will be considered in April. He said there are three options: (1) proceed to approve a 15% user fee raise, (2) raise fees by 20%, or (3) follow the original Proposition 218 Notification which was mailed to the public in Spring 2003 , which would bring user fees up by 31%. All three options will be provided to the FAHR Committee for discussion. (4) RECEIVE, FILE AND APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the February 23, 2005 Steering Committee meeting were approved as drafted. ·Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 2 March 23, 2005 (5) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Chair Steve Anderson and Vice Chair Jim Ferryman will be attending the April 4-6 CASA conference in Washington DC. They will meet with congressional representatives to emphasize the Sanitation District's interest in a $30 million WRDA authorization for secondary treatment and EPA funding earmarked for secondary treatment. Chair Anderson, General Manager Anderson and Director Tod Ridgeway reported on their meeting with Congressman Dana Rohrbacher last week. Vice Chair Jim Ferryman and committee members complimented staff and shared their comments on the biosolids workshop on March 16. Additional comments are reported under the General Manager's report. Chair Anderson announced that Director of Engineering David Ludwin and his staff are in Oakland today mediating the Bushard issues. Chair Anderson reported that he has received a verbal commitment from SAWPA to withdraw its lawsuit. We are awaiting formal action by SAWPA to do so. (6) REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER General Manager Blake Anderson updated the committee on his meeting with Directors Kang and Miller regarding their concerns pertaining to composting facilities in Orange County. He emphasized the Great Park Committee will be focusing for the next couple of years on governance, broad planning issues, public infrastructure and sustainability. District staff will defer any additional action on this in-county alternative but will continue staff-to-staff meetings. Chair Anderson requested the formation of an ad hoc committee to examine biosolids prospects throughout the county. Director Cavecche agreed to chair it. Chair Anderson also appointed Directors Suhkee Kang and Daryl Miller to the committee. General Manager reported on four bills currently under consideration in Sacramento dealing with biosolids, special district governance, and improving the balance of property taxes between counties. A handout entitled the "General Attributes of a Good Funding Source" was distributed, using criteria provided by the Orange County Taxpayers Association, Orange County Business Council and Monarch 's School Bond. Mr. Anderson recommended that Sanitation and Water District staff conduct a GWRS workshop in late Spring 2006 at which time additional information will be available. He will email the GWRS newsletter to all Directors. Mr. Anderson provided an update on the county's progress on a coordinated approach to managing urban runoff. Supervisor Silva announced the Board of Supervisors will be addressing urban runoff issues as well as revenues at an April 19 meeting . Both he and Director Ridgeway emphasized the importance of educating elementary school children and incorporating environmental issues into the State of California education code. ·Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 3 March 23, 2005 Mr. Anderson announced he will meet tomorrow with Vicki Wilson, Tom Mauk and Tim Casey, Laguna Niguel City Manager, to discuss urban runoff issues. (7) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL General Counsel did not make a report. (8) DISCUSSION ITEMS (Items A-C) A. Approval by the Board for the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee to advise the Steering Committee re General Counsel Legal Services was reviewed. B . The Agenda Items scheduled to be reviewed by the Board's working committees in April were reviewed . C. 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, April 27, 2005 at 5 p.m. The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at 7 p.m. (13) CLOSED SESSION There was no closed session. ' Minutes of the Steering Committee Page 4 March 23 , 2005 (14) ADJOURNMENT The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 6 :10 p.m. Submitted by: c~c;~ Gail Garrett Steering Committee Secretary H :\dept\agenda\Steering Committee\04\SC Minutes Form.5.doc