Minutes - Board - 2024-08-13COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT
MINUTES OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
AUGUST 13, 2024
Members present
Art Perry, Bob Ooten, Brett Eckles, Mike Scheafer
Members absent
Arlene Schafer
Staff present
Scott Carroll (General Manager), Noelani Middenway (District Clerk/Public
Information Officer), Gina Terraneo (Senior Management Analyst), Kaitlin Tran
(Finance Manager), Angela Colunga (Management Analyst I), Marissa Pereyda
(Senior Management Analyst), Mark Esquer (District Engineer), Lieu Tran (Senior
Accountant), Dyana Bojarski (Administrative Services Manager)
Others present
Connie Renfro
CW
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 and Public Information Officer, Noelani Middenway, noted
that President Scheafer, Secretary Perry, Vice Secretary Ooten, and Director
Eckles were present while Vice President Schafer was not present.
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MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
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President Scheafer noted that Vice President Schafer was absent due to
illness.
B. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Procedural: 1. Public Comments
President Scheafer opened public comments. Hearing none, he closed public
comments.
C. ITEMS OF STUDY
Receive and File:1. Receive and File July 2024 Code Enforcement Officer Report
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
General Manager, Scott Carroll, stated that the District's Code Enforcement
Officer, David Griffin, was not present to give his report and that he will
share any questions from the Board with him.
There was no further discussion, and the report was received.
Action: 2. Retroactive Budget Adjustment for Fiscal Year 2023-2024
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors should approve the retroactive
budget adjustments for FY 2023-24 to transfer $240,000 from the wastewater
Personnel and $400,000 from the wastewater M&O accounts to the wastewater
Capital Outlay account to cover for the acquisition of the Combination Sewer
Cleaning Unit.
Finance Manager, Kaitlin Tran, presented report details. She discussed the
purchase of a new combination sewer cleaning truck, which was received
earlier than anticipated and must be recorded in Fiscal Year 2023-24.
Mr. Carroll confirmed that the District has paid for the truck and that it is
currently being used by the Wastewater Department.
Director Eckles discussed the projected unspent revenue in the Wastewater
Fund.
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MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
HELD AUGUST 13, 2024
Motion: To approve the retroactive budget adjustments for FY 2023-24 to
transfer $240,000 from the wastewater Personnel and $400,000 from the
wastewater Maintenance & Operations accounts to the wastewater Capital
Outlay account to cover for the acquisition of the Combination Sewer
Cleaning Unit.
Motion by Art Perry, second by Brett Eckles
Final Resolution: Motion Carries 4-0-0-1
Aye: Art Perry, Bob Ooten, Brett Eckles, Mike Scheafer
No: None
Abstain: None
Not Present: Arlene Schafer
There was no further discussion.
Discussion: 3. Request for Adjustment to the Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year
2024-2025
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors review and provide feedback on the
proposed budget adjustment for Fiscal Year 2024-25 to ensure the continuation of
services.
Ms. Tran presented report details. She discussed the need for a budget
adjustment in the current Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget.
Director Perry asked if the District is renting a place to store its excess
kitchen pails.
Mr. Carroll confirmed that the District is paying for a storage unit for its
kitchen pails. He stated that the District received a Senate Bill 1383 grant
from CalRecycle.
Discussion followed regarding the recruitment of a Wastewater
Maintenance Manager.
Ms. Tran continued presenting report details and discussed added
expenditures for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
Discussion followed regarding earthquake insurance for the District
Headquarters and Yard buildings.
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MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
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Ms. Tran continued her presentation and discussed budget transfers within
the Wastewater Fund.
Discussion followed regarding non -operating revenue and revenue from
CR&R's liquidated damages.
Ms. Tran discussed the purpose of the General Fund as an unrestricted
resource for the Solid Waste Fund and Wastewater Fund.
Director Eckles expressed concern about using reserve funds from the
General Fund to balance other funds. He requested staff to present other
options for balancing the Wastewater Fund.
Mr. Carroll noted that the General Fund can be used for unforeseen
expenses.
Director Eckles stated that it should be used for emergencies and not
budgeted items.
Vice Secretary Ooten inquired about the District's reserves policy.
Ms. Tran clarified that the District's reserves policy applies to the
Wastewater Fund. She stated that the General Fund has historically been
used to balance the Solid Waste Fund. She noted that the Board has
discretion over the use of the General Fund.
Mr. Carroll stated that the staff will present alternative options at the August
Board meeting.
There was no further discussion.
Action: 4. Consider Approving Amendments to the Alkaline Battery Recycling
Program
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors
Management Analyst I, Angela Colunga, presented the item.
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MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
HELD AUGUST 13, 2024
Discussion followed regarding program participation.
Motion: To approve the proposed amendments to the Alkaline Battery
Recycling Program and appropriate $30,000 from the Solid Waste Fund
Balance to the Alkaline Battery Recycling Program.
Motion by Art Perry, second by Bob Ooten
Final Resolution: Motion Carries 4-0-0-1
Aye: Art Perry, Bob Ooten, Brett Eckles, Mike Scheafer
No: None
Abstain: None
Not Present: Arlene Schafer
There was no further discussion.
D. CLOSING ITEMS
Procedural: 1. Oral Communications and Director Comments
Director Eckles shared that he will not be seeking reelection for his Board
position.
President Scheafer thanked Director Eckles for his service.
Vice Secretary Ooten discussed trash truck fires caused by batteries and
recommended offering battery collection pails to participants of the Alkaline
Battery Recycling Program.
President Scheafer expressed concern for another collection program and
proposed for the District to encourage the Orange Coast College (OCC)
Recycling Center to accept used batteries when they reopen.
Vice Secretary Ooten stated that the majority of trash truck fires are caused
by lithium -ion batteries.
There was no further discussion.
Procedural: 2. Adjournment
President Scheafer adjourned the meeting at 8:47 A.M.
COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
HELD AUGUST 13, 2024
A A
Art Perry
Secretary
Mi e Scheafe
President
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