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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-25-2009 Steering Committee MinutesMINUTES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Orange County Sanitation District Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was held on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at 5:30 p.m., in the District's Administrative Office. A quorum was declared present, as follows: STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS: DIRECTORS PRESENT: Doug Davert, Chair Larry Crandall, Vice Chair Bill Dalton, Operations Committee Chair Mark Waldman, Administration Committee Chair Jim Ferryman Phil Luebben David Shawver DIRECTORS ABSENT: N/A OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hogin, General Counsel Drew Kolosky, Liberty Compost 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 Ryal Wheeler Juanita Skillman PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR Doug Davert, Board Chair, reported that he would be traveling to Washington, DC, to accept awards for the Groundwater Replenishment System from the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Council of Engineering Companies. It was also announced that another Groundwater Replenishment System award will be presented mid-July by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He reminded the Directors that the Steve Anderson Lift Station Dedication would take place on April 17, 2009. REPORT OF GENERAL MANAGER Jim Ruth, General Manager, provided a brief recap of his monthly written report. Minutes of the Steering Committee March 25, 2009 Page 2 REPORT OF GENERAL COUNSEL There was no report. ACTION ITEMS (1-2) 1. MOVED, SECONDED AND DULY CARRIED: Approve minutes of the February 25, 2009 Steering Committee meeting. 2. a) MOVED, SECONDED AND DULY CARRIED: Direct staff to initiate discussions with the City of Newport Beach to transfer the Balboa Trunk Sewer System to the City; and, b) Direct staff to continue to explore new opportunities to transfer additional local sewer assets to the City of Newport Beach. INFORMATION ITEMS (3) 3. Legislative Affairs Report – Government Affairs Manager, Michael Gold, informed the Steering Committee about OCSD’s support for AB 1100 by Assembly Member Mike Duvall. This bill would allow the bottling of recycled water, such as GWR water, for educational and demonstration purposes only. Gold also discussed the status of the economic stimulus funds for wastewater infrastructure. He stated that the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a resolution specifying that 65% of the $280 million would be made available as grants to disadvantaged communities and projects that were supposed to receive bond funding but were frozen due to lack of bond sales. The remaining 35% of the funds would be distributed as loans to agencies through the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program. Under these guidelines, OCSD would not be eligible to receive any grant funds. Gold also reported that a coalition or urban wastewater agencies, including San Francisco, Los Angeles City and County, Oakland and Orange County, have been working to change the criteria so that all economic stimulus funds would be distributed as grants and our efforts focused on a bill moving quickly through the legislature. He said the bill would be taken up on March 26. . Minutes of the Steering Committee March 25, 2009 Page 3 CLOSED SESSION There was no closed session. ADJOURNMENT The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22 , 2009 , at 5:30p.m . The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 6:17p.m . Submitted by : Clerk of the Board