10 - Review of Dist Eng Alternative Dist Eng Procedures
ITEM NO. 10
Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Memorandum
To:
Board of Directors
From:
Scott Carroll, General Manager
Date:
December 19, 2013
Subject: Review of District Engineer/Alternate District Engineer Procedures
Summary
On June 19, 2013, the Board of Directors approved implementing new procedures
between the District Engineer and Alternate District Engineer to help prevent conflict of
interest from arising when Rob Hamers is the private civil engineer of record for
proposed development that may occur within CMSD service area. Rob Hamers also
serves as the District Engineer.
The Board directed the General Manager to report back in six months, and then
annually thereafter regarding the status of the procedures and to recommend any
changes to said procedures if deemed necessary by the General Manager. This report
Staff Recommendation
That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
Analysis
The District is now using a template declaration that notifies District officials and the
Alternate District Engineer, Bruce Mattern, when Rob Hamers is retained by a private
client to perform civil engineering work for proposed development within CMSD service
area. Mr. Hamers completes the template declaration and submits to the general
manager where the general manager then forwards the template to Mr. Mattern.
The template notifies District officials that a conflict of interest arises if Rob Hamers
were to simultaneously serve as the private civil engineer and district engineer for a
development project that may occur within CMSD service area. Therefore, to prevent
a conflict of interest, plans where Mr. Hamers is the engineer of record must be
reviewed and approved by Mr. Mattern in the capacity of Alternate District Engineer.
Mr. Mattern is required to make comments and changes to the plans and return said
plans to Mr. Hamers where he will then incorporate the changes and return the revised
plans to Mr. Mattern. When the plans are in compliance to District standards, Mr.
Protecting our community's health and the environment by providi
www.cmsdca.gov
Board of Directors
December 19, 2013
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Mattern will sign as the Alternative District Engineer and then return said plans to
District HQ. The original plans stay at HQ and copies are forwarded to Mr. Hamers.
Since the new procedures began, a total of twelve template declarations have been
completed and submitted by Mr. Hamers. The declarations are for the following
properties where Mr. Hamers is the civil engineer of record.
1. 2519 ½ - 2525 Santa Ana Avenue, Costa Mesa
2. 2160 Pacific Avenue, Costa Mesa
st
3. 208 21 Street, Costa Mesa
4. 2258-2260 Orange Avenue, Costa Mesa
5. 1992 Anaheim Avenue, Costa Mesa
6. 1817 Viola Place, Costa Mesa
7. 1259 Victoria Street, Costa Mesa
8. 1523 Orange Avenue, Costa Mesa
9. 2157 Tustin Avenue, Costa Mesa
10. 2590 Orange Avenue, Costa Mesa
11. 2160-2172 Myran Drive, Costa Mesa
12. Tiller Avenue, City of Orange RSI Construction, Inc. is the developer for this
project in Orange where Mr. Hamers is the private civil engineer of record. RSI
also has projects within CMSD service area, so to avoid conflict of interest, Mr.
Hamers will not review plans from RSI for projects within CMSD.
The new procedures are working well and no changes are being recommended
Strategic Plan Element & Goal
This item complies with the objective and strategy of Strategic Element 5.0,
Administrative Management, which states the following:
5.0 Administrative Management
Objective:
To create, maintain and implement policies and procedures to ensure
sound management of the District.
Strategy:
We will conduct periodic reviews, refine and implement policies and
procedures, and assure the General Manager has the direction and tools necessary for
successful District operations.
Legal Review
Not applicable
Environmental Review
The determination of who is signing plans for the District is an administrative function
and is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et. seq.). Section 15300.4 of CEQA
allows an a
Board of Directors
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administrative
Continuing
Financial Review
Bruce Mattern, Alternate District Engineer, is on contract with the District. His hourly
rate $133.00 per hour
Public Notice Process
Copies of this report are on file and will be included with the entire agenda packet for
the December 19, 2013 Board of Directors regular meeting at District Headquarters
Alternative Actions
1. Direct staff to report back with more information