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COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT
MINUTES OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
MARCH 13, 2018
Members present
Arlene Schafer, Art Perry, Bob Ooten, Jim Ferryman, Mike Scheafer
Members absent
None
Staff present
Scott Carroll (General Manager), Alan Bums (District Counsel), Noelani Middenway
(District Clerk), Robin Hamers (District Engineer), Steve Hodges (Finance Manager),
Steve Cano (Wastewater Maintenance Superintendent), Ed Roberts (Code
Enforcement Officer), Nabila Guzman (Management Analyst I), Gina Terraneo
(Management Analyst II)
Others present
Pars Parikh (CR&R), Dean Ruffridge (CR&R), Joseph Jenkins (EEC Environmental),
Jim Mosher(resident)
Meeting called to order at 9:30 A.M.
A. OPENING ITEMS
Procedural: 1. Call to Order
President Scheafer called the meeting to order at 9:30 A.M.
Procedural: 2. Roll Call - (If absences occur, consider whether to deem those absences
excused based on facts presented for the absence — such determination shall be the
permission required by law.)
District Clerk, Noelani Middenway, conducted roll call and all Board Members
were present.
B. PUBLIC COMMENTS - This time has been set aside for persons in the audience to
make comments on items within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Costa Mesa
Sanitary District that are not listed on this agenda. Members of the public will have the
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MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
HELD MARCH 13, 2018
opportunity to address the Board of Directors about all other items on this agenda at the
time those items are considered. Under the provisions of the Brown Act, the Board of
Directors is prohibited from taking action on oral requests but may refer the matter to
staff or to a subsequent meeting. The Board of Directors will respond after public
comment has been received. Please state your name. Each speaker will be limited to
four(4) continuous minutes.
Procedural: 1. Public Comments
President Scheafer opened public comments. Seeing no one wishing to speak,
President Scheafer closed public comments.
C. ITEMS OF STUDY
Action: 1. Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) Self Audit
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive the PowerPoint presentation
from EEC Environmental and direct staff to return on March 22, 2018 with the SSMP for
adoption.
Management Analyst I, Nabila Guzman, noted that the Sewer System
Management Plan (SSMP) internal audit was conducted by EEC Environmental.
She introduced Joseph Jenkins to present the audit findings.
Joseph Jenkins of EEC Environmental presented the SSMP audit process and its
findings. He noted that there were no major nonconformances identified.
However, Mr. Jenkins identified 2 minor nonconformances and provided 11
recommended program enhancements. Additionally, he discussed sanitary
sewer overflow (SSO) data, preventative maintenance, and the fats oils and
grease (FOG) control program.
Secretary Schafer asked if a timeline was established for completing the
recommended program enhancements.
Mr. Jenkins replied that the minor nonconformances should be completed by July
2018.
Director Perry asked how many bypass pumps the District has.
Wastewater Maintenance Superintendent, Steve Cano, replied that the District
has 3 bypass pumps.
Discussion followed regarding the District's sewer cleaning schedule,
coordination with the City of Costa Mesa, and comparisons between the District
and larger water-wastewater organizations.
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President Scheafer opened public comments.
Jim Mosher, a resident, commented that a major contributor to the District's
SSO in Newport Beach was a lack of coordination between the District and the
City of Newport Beach. He asked if the District has taken any proactive
measures to improve communication with the City of Newport Beach.
President Scheafer closed public comments.
District Engineer, Robin Hamers, noted that the District has distributed the
appropriate contact information to the City of Newport Beach and District staff.
Discussion followed regarding improving coordination with the County of Orange
and accessing the Back Bay area.
There were no further questions or discussion and the report was received.
Action, Receive and File: 2. February 2018 Code Enforcement Officer Report
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
Code Enforcement Officer, Ed Roberts, reported that there were 9 scavenging
investigations in the month of February. He noted that most of the investigations
took place on the Westside of Costa Mesa. Mr. Roberts added that he followed
up on concerns received by members of the community in the College Park and
Northwest areas. Additionally, he noted that there were 95 notices issued for
trash carts in public view.
Discussion followed regarding scavenging activity on Peppertree Lane and
pending alley construction projects.
Secretary Schafer commented that she has received positive feedback regarding
the District's code enforcement presence. She asked that the District add a
feature in a future newsletter about District code enforcement.
There were no further questions or discussion and the report was received.
Action: 3. Organics Tonnage Report
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
General Manager, Scott Carroll, presented the report and invited questions from
the Board of Directors.
There were no questions or comments and the report was received.
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Action: 4. Solid Waste Diversion Report
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
General Manager, Scott Carroll, presented the report and invited questions from
the Board of Directors.
There were no questions or comments and the report was received.
Action: 5. CR&R Contract Negotiations - Update
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
Management Analyst I, Nabila Guzman, provided an update regarding the
District's contract negotiations with CR&R. She noted that there are several deal
points that have been agreed upon by both parties, including a fixed term limit of
ten years with two five year extension options, District-wide household hazardous
waste collection, a free mulch giveaway event, annual reimbursements for public
education and various programs, an outreach program to help the District reach
its 75% diversion goal, free roll-out assistance to seniors and disabled residents,
the availability of valet service for a $35 fee, and CPI increases that are
contingent upon approval by the Board of Directors. However, Ms. Guzman
noted that CR&R has not agreed to allow the District to utilize its GPS system for
customer service purposes. She added that CR&R initially offered to provide
video recordings of specific pickups upon request, but later failed to provide the
videos due to their large file size.
Director Perry commented that he would like to see the contract signed. He
noted that discussions regarding the GPS services can continue and be added to
the contract as an addendum at a later date.
General Manager, Scott Carroll, commented that CR&R has concerns with the
propriety and liabilities associated with releasing GPS information. He noted that
the District offered to procure its own GPS system for CR&R's trucks.
Additionally, he shared that he conferred with other general managers regarding
the use of GPS and noted that they have not experienced records retention
issues. Mr. Carroll commented that he believes that making GPS information
available to the public would enhance the District's efficiency and customer
service.
President Scheafer requested that District Counsel, Alan Burns, provide
clarification regarding records retention concerns.
District Counsel, Alan Burns, noted that there is a disagreement about whether or
not the GPS information would be considered public record. He added that an
argument has been made by CR&R about the liabilities associated with sharing
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GPS information; however, Mr. Burns commented that he does not see validity in
this argument.
Mr. Carroll requested direction from the Board of Directors regarding pursuing
shared GPS information. He commented that District staff will face difficulty
negotiating for shared GPS information if the Board of Directors approves the
contract without its inclusion.
Dean Ruffridge of CR&R did not wish to comment on the correspondence
between the District and CR&R; however, he commented that CR&R is
committed to responding to District requests for GPS information within 2 hours
of the request.
Director Perry made a motion to include a 2 hour response time in the terms of
the CR&R contract and to place the contract on an agenda for formal approval at
a later date without the inclusion of a GPS sharing requirement.
Secretary Schafer seconded the motion.
Discussion followed regarding whether customers should call CR&R or the
District to address solid waste issues.
The Board of Directors unanimously directed staff to include a 2 hour response
rate in the terms for the CR&R contract and to place the contract on an agenda
for formal approval at a later date without the inclusion of a GPS sharing
requirement.
President Scheafer shared that he attended a Southern California Waste
Management Forum and learned about potential solutions to cleaning organics
recycling carts.
Mr. Ruffridge noted that CR&R is in the process of rolling out a program to
provide trash cart cleaning for a fee. He added that there are other companies
that also provide this service.
Additionally, President Scheafer shared that he learned about solid waste bills
AB 2779, AB 2115, and AB 901. He requested that District staff research these
bills and include them on the upcoming Quarterly Legislative Report.
There were no further questions or discussion.
Action, Receive and File: 6. Consider Applicants for the Citizens Advisory
Committee
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors considers applicants for the Citizens
Advisory Committee.
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Management Analyst II, Gina Terraneo, presented report details. She noted that
the District has received 4 applications for the Citizens Advisory Committee
(CAC) and that the District needs 6 approved applicants to establish a quorum.
President Scheafer commented that the applicants seem qualified and inquired
about the deadline for applications.
Ms. Terraneo noted that the District is accepting applications on a continual basis
until all CAC positions are filled.
President Scheafer and Director Perry requested that the District receive 6
applications before bringing the item to the Board of Directors for approval.
Director Perry requested that District staff provide him with printed CAC
applications for distribution.
There were no further questions or comments and the report was received.
Action, Receive and File: 7. Acceptance of the Orange County Regional Recycling
&Waste Reduction Grant in the Amount of$30,000
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file the report.
Management Analyst II, Gina Terraneo, presented report details. She noted that
the District was awarded the Orange County Regional Recycling and Waste
Reduction Grant in the amount of $30,000 for the purposes of implementing the
Citizens Environmental Protection Academy and enhancing bilingual public
outreach for the Organics Recycling program.
Discussion followed regarding the logistics of the Citizens Environmental
Protection Academy.
There were no further questions or comments and the report was received.
Action: 8. Contractor Violating District Operations Code §6.09.040 unlawful to
dump unauthorized materials into the District's sewage system
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors:
1. Request Orange County District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas, to commence and
prosecute an appropriate action against Luna & Sons Concrete, Inc. for violating District
Operations Code §6.09.040 unlawful to dump unauthorized materials into the District's
sewage system; and
2. Direct District Counsel to submit the District's investigative report to the District
Attorney.
General Manager, Scott Carroll, presented report details. He noted that District
staff is seeking direction regarding an incident on February 27, 2018 when a
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contractor was observed dumping unauthorized materials in the District's
wastewater system.
Motion: To request Orange County District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas, to
commence and prosecute an appropriate action against Luna & Sons Concrete,
Inc. for violating District Operations Code §6.09.040 unlawful to dump
unauthorized materials into the District's sewage system and direct District
Counsel to submit the District's investigative report to the District Attorney.
Motion by Arlene Schafer, second by Bob Ooten.
President Scheafer asked if District staff contacted the resident that hired the
violating contractor.
Wastewater Maintenance Superintendent, Steve Cano, provided details
regarding the incident and the District's response efforts.
President Scheafer opened public comments.
Jim Mosher, a resident, commented that the report states that the contractor
violated penal code in addition to violating the District's code. He suggested that
the Board of Directors include this violation in the request to District Attorney
Rackauckas.
President Scheafer closed public comments.
District Counsel, Alan Burns, responded that it is the District's duty to report
violations of the District's Operations Code and that District Attorney Rackauckas
will make his own determination as to whether the contractor will be charged for
the penal code violation.
Motion Carries 5-0
Aye: Arlene Schafer, Art Perry, Bob Ooten, Jim Ferryman, Mike Scheafer
There were no further questions or discussion.
D. CLOSING ITEMS
Procedural: 1. Oral Communications and Director Comments
None at this time.
Procedural: 2. Adjournment
President Scheafer adjourned the meeting to closed session at 10:43 A.M. to
confer with Legal Counsel in regards to the following existing litigation:
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Government Code §54956.9(d)(1) -- 1. The Costa Mesa Sanitary District v. Mesa
Water District; OCSC No. 30-2017-00923819-CU-PT-CJCi. The Costa Mesa
Sanitary District v. Mesa Water District; OCSC No. 30-2017-00923819-CU-PT-
CJC.
Assistant Secretary Ooten exited the meeting at 10:52 A.M.
President Scheafer reconvened the meeting to open session at 10:58 A.M. and
reported that the Board of Directors provided direction for District Counsel, Alan
Burns, regarding a settlement conference for the matter before a judge.
President Scheafer adjourned the meeting at 10:59 A.M.
11
Arlene Schafer Mip/ael Sch-'a r
Secretary President