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