HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-25-2026 Steering Committee MinutesOrange County Sanitation District
Minutes for the
STEERING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
5:00 PM
Headquarters - Huntington Beach
Room
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Steering Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District was
called to order by Board Chairman Ryan Gallagher on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 5:00
p.m. in the Huntington Beach Room at Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters.
ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM:
The Clerk of the Board declared a quorum present as follows:
PRESENT:Ryan Gallagher, Jon Dumitru, Pat Burns, Carlos Leon, Christine
Marick and John Withers
ABSENT:Chad Wanke
STAFF PRESENT: Rob Thompson, General Manager; Lorenzo Tyner, Assistant General
Manager; Jennifer Cabral, Director of Communications; Mike Dorman, Director of
Engineering; Laura Maravilla, Director of Human Resources; Riaz Moinuddin, Director of
Operations and Maintenance; Lan Wiborg, Director of Environmental Services; Kelly Lore,
Clerk of the Board; Mo Abiodun; Morty Caparas; Jackie Castro; Sam Choi; Raul Cuellar; Thys
DeVries; Martin Dix; Justin Fenton; David Haug; Mark Kawamoto; Tom Meregillano;
Sammady Yi; and Kevin Work were present in the Huntington Beach Room.
OTHERS PRESENT: Scott Smith, General Counsel; Shawn Cobb, Special Counsel, Allen
Matkins; and Danielle Dychter, Special Counsel, Michael Sullivan & Associates LLP,
were present in the Huntington Beach Room.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
REPORTS:
Chair Gallagher and General Manager Rob Thompson did not provide reports.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Kelly Lore
MOVED, SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO:
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STEERING COMMITTEE Minutes February 25, 2026
Approve minutes of the Regular meeting of the Steering Committee held January 28,
2026.
AYES:Ryan Gallagher, Jon Dumitru, Pat Burns, Carlos Leon and Christine
Marick
NOES:None
ABSENT:Chad Wanke and John Withers
ABSTENTIONS:None
NON-CONSENT:
None.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
None.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
CONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION
54956.9(d)(1).
The Committee convened in closed session at 5:02 p.m. Confidential minutes of the Closed
Sessions have been prepared in accordance with the above Government Code Sections and
are maintained by the Clerk of the Board in the Official Book of Confidential Minutes of Board
and Committee Closed Session meetings.
Director John Withers arrived at 5:12 p.m. during Closed Session Item No. CS-1(A).
CS-1 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL RE EXISTING LITIGATION -
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(d)(1)
2026-4778
CONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION:
Number of Cases: 2
A. Emmanuel Rios v. Orange County Sanitation District, Workers’ Compensation
Claim, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, Case No. ADJ20936106; and.
B. Michael Oberly v. Orange County Sanitation District and Does 1-25, Orange
County Superior Court Case No. 30-2025-01489491-CU-OE-CJC.
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STEERING COMMITTEE Minutes February 25, 2026
CS-2 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL RE EXISTING LITIGATION -
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(d)(1)
2026-4791
CONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION:
2:18-CV-05836-MWF(PLAx).
RECONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION.
The Committee reconvened in regular session at 5:27 p.m.
CONSIDERATION OF ACTION, IF ANY, ON MATTERS CONSIDERED IN CLOSED
SESSION:
General Counsel Scott Smith stated there was no reportable action.
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF
ANY:
None.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS INITIATED ITEMS FOR A FUTURE MEETING:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Gallagher declared the meeting adjourned at 5:28 p.m. to the next Regular Steering
Committee meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Submitted by:
__________________
Kelly A. Lore, MMC
Clerk of the Board
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