HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-27-2026 Steering Committee MinutesOrange County Sanitation District
Minutes for the
STEERING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 27, 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, May 27, 2026 at 5:00
p.m. in the 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, Chad Wanke and John Withers
ABSENT:None
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; Wally Ritchie, Director of Finance; Lan Wiborg, Director of
Environmental Services; Kelly Lore, Clerk of the Board; Mo Abiodun; Daisy Covarrubias; Don
Cutler; Thys DeVries; Martin Dix; Justin Fenton; John Frattali; Dave Haug; Rob Michaels;
Tania Moore; Becky Polcyn; Aldwin Ramirez; Thomas Vu; Kevin Work; and Ruth Zintzun
were present in the Huntington Beach Room. Jacob Dalgoff was present virtually.
OTHERS PRESENT: Scott Smith, General Counsel; and Phil Lem, Special Counsel, Payne
& Fears were present in the Huntington Beach Room.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
REPORTS:
Chair Gallagher and General Manager Rob Thompson did not provide reports.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
1.APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2026-4696
Originator: Kelly Lore
MOVED, SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO:
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STEERING COMMITTEE Minutes May 27, 2026
Approve minutes of the Regular meeting of the Steering Committee held April 22,
2026.
AYES:Ryan Gallagher, Jon Dumitru, Pat Burns, Carlos Leon, Christine
Marick, Chad Wanke and John Withers
NOES:None
ABSENT:None
ABSTENTIONS:None
2.2026-2029 CONTRIBUTION TO THE CENTER FOR DEMOGRAPHIC
RESEARCH
2026-4835
Originator: Mike Dorman
Approve and authorize the General Manager to execute a three-year Memorandum of
Understanding with California State University Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation
for the continued operation of the Center for Demographic Research for the period of
July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, for a total amount not to exceed $243,236.
AYES:Ryan Gallagher, Jon Dumitru, Pat Burns, Carlos Leon, Christine
Marick, Chad Wanke and John Withers
NOES:None
ABSENT:None
ABSTENTIONS:None
NON-CONSENT:
3.PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF THE TERRITORY OF THE FORMER
LOS ALISOS WATER DISTRICT
2026-4896
Originator: Mike Dorman
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STEERING COMMITTEE Minutes May 27, 2026
A. Authorize staff to take all steps necessary to work with Irvine Ranch Water
District and the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission to bring to
effect the annexation of the area serviced by the Los Alisos Water Recycling
Plant to Orane County Sanitation District;
B. Authorize the General Manager to execute associated Annexation documents in
a form approved by General Counsel; and
C. Adopt Resolution No. OC SAN 26-XX, entitled: “A Resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Orange County Sanitation District authorizing initiation of
proceedings and requesting the Orange County Local Agency Formation
Commission to undertake proceedings for the Annexation to the Orange County
Sanitation District, of territory in the Irvine Ranch Water District”.
AYES:Ryan Gallagher, Jon Dumitru, Pat Burns, Carlos Leon, Christine
Marick, Chad Wanke and John Withers
NOES:None
ABSENT:None
ABSTENTIONS:None
4.SUPERCRITICAL WATER OXIDATION DEMONSTRATION AT PLANT
NO. 1, PROJECT NO. RE21-01
2026-4942
Originator: Rob Thompson
Authorize the General Manager to modify the Professional Services Agreement to
374Water Systems, Inc. for the Supercritical Water Oxidation Demonstration at Plant
No. 1, Project No. RE21-01, to reduce the acceptance capacity of the Nix6 system to
3.25 tons per day from 6 tons per day, while 374Water Systems, Inc. continues to
make process improvements toward achieving the goal of 6 tons per day.
AYES:Ryan Gallagher, Jon Dumitru, Pat Burns, Carlos Leon, Christine
Marick, Chad Wanke and John Withers
NOES:None
ABSENT:None
ABSTENTIONS:None
5.GENERAL MANAGER’S FY 2026-2027 PROPOSED WORK PLAN 2026-4867
Originator: Rob Thompson
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STEERING COMMITTEE Minutes May 27, 2026
2026-2027 Proposed Work Plan.
MOVED, SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO:
Receive and file the General Manager’s FY2026-2027 Proposed Work Plan.
AYES:Ryan Gallagher, Jon Dumitru, Pat Burns, Carlos Leon, Christine
Marick, Chad Wanke and John Withers
NOES:None
ABSENT:None
ABSTENTIONS:None
INFORMATION ITEMS:
None.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
CONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS
54956.9(D)(2) & 54956.9(D)(1).
CS-1 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL RE ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION - GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(D)(2)
2026-4905
CONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION:
Number of Potential Cases: 1
Significant exposure to litigation.
CS-2 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL RE EXISTING LITIGATION -
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(D)(1)
2026-4910
CONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION:
Number of Cases: 1
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 May 27, 2026
RECONVENED IN REGULAR SESSION.
The Committee reconvened in regular session at 5:47 p.m.
CONSIDERATION OF ACTION, IF ANY, ON MATTERS CONSIDERED IN CLOSED
SESSION:
General Counsel Scott Smith did not provide a report.
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 5:48 p.m. to the next Regular Steering
Committee meeting to be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Submitted by:
__________________
Kelly A. Lore, MMC
Clerk of the Board
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