Minutes - Board - 2023-06-13COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT
MINUTES OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
JUNE 13, 2023
Members present
Art Perry, Arlene Schafer, Bob Ooten, Brett Eckles, Mike Scheafer
Members absent
None
Staff present
Scott Carroll (General Manager), Noelani Middenway (District Clerk and Public
Information Officer), Gina Terraneo (Management Analyst II), Kaitlin Tran
(Finance Manager), Dyana Bojarski (Administrative Services Manager), Mark
Esquer (District Engineer), Marc Davis (District Treasurer), David Griffin (Code
Enforcement Officer), Tanisha Tingling (Administrative Assistant II), Alejandro
Ornelas (Facilities Maintenance Worker), Marissa Pereyda (Management Analyst
II)
Others present
Michael Tou, Citizens Advisory Committee Vice Chair
Meeting called to order at 8:00 A.M.
A. OPENING ITEMS
Procedural: 1. 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.)
President Scheafer called the meeting to order at 8:00 A.M.
District Clerk & Public Information Officer, Noelani Middenway, noted that
President Scheafer, Vice President Schafer, Secretary Perry, Vice Secretary
Ooten, and Director Eckles were present.
COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT PAGE 2
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
HELD JUNE 13, 2023
B. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Procedural: 1. Public Comments
President Scheafer opened public comments. Hearing none, he closed
public comments.
C. ITEMS OF STUDY
Discussion: 1. Introducing CMSD New Employees: Marissa Pereyda,
Management Analyst II, and Alejandro (Alex) Ornelas, Facilities
Maintenance Worker
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
General Manager, Scott Carroll, introduced Management Analyst II,
Marissa Pereyda, and shared her previous work experience.
District Engineer, Mark Esquer, introduced Facilities Maintenance Worker,
Alejandro Ornelas, and shared his previous work experience.
The Board welcomed the two new staff members.
There was no further discussion.
Action, Receive and File: 2. Receive and File April & May 2023 Code
Enforcement Officer Report
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
Code Enforcement Officer, David Griffin, presented report details. He noted
that there was an increase in scavenging activity in May 2023.
Discussion followed regarding recycling centers in Costa Mesa and
distributing "no scavenging" messaging.
Director Eckles inquired about a specific case regarding a customer with
extra trash carts.
Mr. Griffin stated that, after interacting with the customer, the customer
complied with the District's regulations regarding trash carts.
COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT PAGE 3
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
HELD JUNE 13, 2023
Vice President Schafer commented on the District's recent postcard which
addressed fighting food waste odors.
Discussion followed regarding trash cart serial numbers.
Mr. Griffin discussed trash container enforcement for May 2023.
President Scheafer shared that customers have been using their trash carts
to block parking spaces on Placentia Avenue from 19t` Street and Wilson
Street. He requested for Mr. Griffin to investigate the issue.
Mr. Griffin stated that the City of Costa Mesa prefers to have the trash carts
placed on the street rather than the curb due to Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) accessibility issues.
There was no further discussion, and the report was received.
Action, Receive and File: 3. Receive and File Legislative Report
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file the Legislative
Report.
Management Analyst II, Gina Terraneo, presented report details and
summarized key bills.
Discussion followed regarding the Little Hoover Commission.
Ms. Terraneo provided an update on Assembly Bill (AB) 1594 regarding
medium- and heavy-duty zero -emission vehicles for public agencies.
Discussion followed regarding Senate Bill 1383.
Director Eckles discussed a legislative bill regarding workers'
compensation and the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
There was no further discussion, and the report was received.
COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT PAGE 4
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
HELD JUNE 13, 2023
Action, Receive and File: 4. Discussion Regarding Pension and Other Post
Employment Benefits Assets/Liabilities
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
District Treasurer, Marc Davis, discussed pension and other post -
employment benefits (OPEB) liabilities. He noted that actual employee
liabilities depend on specific circumstances.
Discussion followed regarding the differences between pension and OPEB
actuarial assumptions.
Secretary Perry asked if the District's OPEB fund is still overfunded.
Mr. Davis stated that, as of June 30, 2022, it was overfunded. He noted that
2023 information is not available.
President Scheafer asked if the District has any employees hired before
2011.
Mr. Carroll stated that there are currently three employees who were hired
before 2011 and other retirees.
Mr. Davis stated that there are a fair amount of District retirees.
There was no further discussion, and the report was received.
Discussion, Presentation: 5. Proposed No Bidding Requirement Changes to the
District Operations Code Chapter 4.04 Purchasing
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors provide comments, and direct staff
to bring this item to the June 26, 2023 Board of Directors meeting for considering
adopting an ordinance.
District Engineer, Mark Esquer, discussed the District's no bidding
requirements and the recommended changes to the District's policy. He
reviewed the written comments submitted by District resident, Jim Mosher,
and District Counsel, Alan Burns, regarding the wording of the
recommended policy change. He proposed changing the no bidding
requirements from $5,000 to $10,000. He discussed the proposed changes to
COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT PAGE 5
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
HELD JUNE 13, 2023
the no bidding requirements in relation to buying power. He provided an
overview of the benefits of increasing the no bidding limit.
Director Eckles inquired about the number of projects that are less than
$10,000.
Mr. Esquer stated that the policy applies to all purchases. He stated that,
over the last 12 months, the District has issued 23 purchase orders for
$5,000 or less.
Director Eckles expressed his concerns regarding expensive projects that
are subdivided into lower amounts to satisfy no bidding requirements.
Mr. Esquer discussed the District's transparency efforts to avoid such
instances.
Mr. Carroll added that public works projects cannot be split to avoid
bidding requirements. He stated that specific language can be added to the
revised policy regarding this issue.
Discussion followed regarding inflation trends and the no bidding limit.
Mr. Esquer stated that sanitary districts are limited to $15,000.
Discussion followed regarding increasing the General Manager's approval
limit for public works projects to $60,000.
There was no further discussion.
D. CLOSING ITEMS
Procedural: 1. Oral Communications and Director Comments
Director Eckles thanked CR&R for providing cardboard trash cans at the
Newport -Mesa Soccer Classic.
Vice President Schafer wished all dads a Happy Father's Day.
COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT PAGE 6
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
HELD JDNE 13, 2023
Procedural: 2. Adjournment
President Scheafer adjourned the meeting at 9:09 A.M.
-k P� -Art Perrynv�
Secretary
,,-A
Mike Scheafer
President