HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-25-2008 Steering Committee MinutesJ'
MINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
Orange County Sanitation District
Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at 5:30 p.m.
A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on
Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at 5:30p.m ., in the District's Administrative Office.
(1) A quorum was declared present, as follows:
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
DIRECTORS PRESENT:
Jim Ferryman, Chair
Doug Davert, Vice Chair
Mark Waldman, Administration Committee
Chair
Larry Crandall, Operations Committee Chair
Don Bankhead
Phil Luebben
DIRECTORS ABSENT
Ken Parker
OTHERS PRESENT:
Bradley R. Hogin, General Counsel
Juanita Skillman
Ryal Wheeler
(2) PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
(3) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR
STAFF PRESENT:
Jim Ruth, General Manager
Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager
Nick Arhontes, Director of Operations and
Maintenance
Jim Herberg, Director of Engineering
Ed Torres, Director of Technical Services
Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance and
Administrative Services
Michael Gold, Legislative Affairs Liaison
Penny Kyle, Clerk of the Board
FILED IN THE ~F~Yfo2~o oRl~~E ~'aD~~ ~~~TION DISTRICT
JUL 23 2008
'!< 8~:--~~--~~-------
Chair Ferryman reported on the outcome of the meetings held with the Orange County
legislative delegation earlier that month. Directors Davert and Crandall, as well as Bob Ghirelli
and Michael Gold attended the meetings. As a result, a letter has been prepared for Directors'
signatures to be mailed the following day to Sacramento requesting the State leave the District's
property taxes alone during budget deliberations.
Minutes of the Steering Committee
June 25, 2008
Page 2
(4) REPORT OF GENERAL MANAGER
Jim Ruth , General Manager, reported that staff was continuing to evaluate and establish the
criteria to defer connection fees for large building developments as requested by the Builders
Industry Association at the May 281h meeting , and the recommendation should be ready for
approval at the July meeting .
It was also reported that the meeting with Orange County Water District and the County of
Orange to collaborate strategies to protect local revenues was rescheduled to July 2"d .
(5) REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL
There was no report .
(6) ACTION ITEMS
A. MOVED, SECONDED AND DULY CARRIED : Approve minutes of the May 28,
2008 Steering Committee meeting .
B . MOVED , SECONDED AND DULY CARRIED: Recommend to the Board of
Directors to approve out-of-country travel for a maximum of two Directors to
accept the Stockholm Industry Water Award in Stockholm, Sweden, in
connection with the Groundwater Replenishment System project, and
authorize travel, lodging and per diem costs to be paid by the Sanitation
District.
(7) INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
A. Legislative Affairs Report: Michael Gold provided an update on State and Federal
priorities . In Sacramento, he reported that there continues to be a stalemate
over the State Budget and now the Governor is holding hostage funds from
previous bonds (including Proposition 84) until a new surface water storage bond
is placed on the November 2008 ballot. It is likely that the State budget
stalemate will continue through the summer.
In Washington , D .C ., Gold reported that Congressman Ken Calvert released the
list of projects he is requesting to be funded in FY09 and his list includes two of
OCSD's priority projects : SARI relocation and secondary treatment upgrades.
This is significant because Mr. Calvert is a member of the House Appropriations
Committee . However, because some in Congress are working to increase oil
drilling off coastal waters and tying these proposals to funding bills, it is unlikely
anything will move through Congress before the election .
Minutes of the Steering Committee
June 25, 2008
Page 3
(8) CLOSED SESSION
The Steering Committee convened at 6:10p.m. in Closed Session, pursuant to Government
Code Section 54957(b)(1) to discuss one matter. 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 Clerk of the Board in the Official Book of
Confidential Minutes of Board and Committee Closed Meetings.
At 6:20p.m., the Steering Committee reconvened in regular session.
(9) OTHER BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS. IF ANY
There were none.
(10) ADJOURNMENT
The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, 2008. The Chair
declared the meeting adjourned at 6 :20 p.m.
Submitted by:
Penny M.?.lkyle ;J (
Clerk of the Board
H:\dept\agenda\Steering Committee\2008\0708\ltem 04 .062508 SteeringMinutes.docx