Minutes - CAC - 2024-11-13COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE CMZENS ADVISORY CommrrrEE MEETING
NOMOER 1% 2024
CAC Members present
Cindy Brenneman, Xerxez Calilung, Rosemarie Chora, Dickie Fernandez, Dean
Fisher, Paul Lancaster, Sue Lester, Michael Tou
CAC Members absent
Jeff Arbour, Ben Glassman, Craig Holmes
Board Members present
Art Perry, Arlene Schafer, Mike Scheafer
Staff present
Scott Carroll (General Manager), Noelani Middenway (District Clerk/Public
Information Officer), Angela Colunga (Management Analyst I), Mark Esquer
(District Engineer), Marissa Pereyda (Senior Management Analyst)
Others present
Joe Jenkins, EEC Environmental
Mike Carey, CR&R
Vicki Osborn, Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)
Meeting called to order at 6:00 P.M.
A. OPENING ITEMS
Procedural: 1. Call to Order
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MINUTES OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
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Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Chair Lester called the meeting to order
at 6:00 p.m.
Procedural: 2. Roll Call
District Clerk and Public Information Officer, Noelani Middenway,
conducted roll call. She noted that CAC Members Brenneman, Calilung,
Chora, Fernandez, Fisher, Glassman, Lester, Lancaster, and Tou were
present, while CAC Members Arbour, Glassman, and Holmes were not
present.
Ms. Middenway noted that CAC Member Arbour notified the District of his
absence prior to the meeting.
Procedural: 3. Public Comments - Speakers will be limited to three minutes. The
three minutes per speaker time allotted may be extended for good cause by a
majority vote of the committee.
CAC Chair Lester opened public comments. Hearing none, she closed public
comments.
B. ITEMS
Action: 1. Approve the joint Board of Directors and Citizens Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes of July 22, 2024
Recommendation: That the Citizens Advisory Committee approve the meeting
minutes as presented.
CAC Chair Lester introduced the item.
Motion: To approve the meeting minutes as presented.
Motion by Cindy Brenneman, second by Paul Lancaster.
Final Resolution: Motion carries 8-0-0-3
Ayes: Cindy Brenneman, Xerxez Calilung, Rosemarie Chora, Dean Fisher,
Dickie Fernandez, Paul Lancaster, Sue Lester, Michael Tou
No: None
Abstain: None
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MINUTES OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
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Not Present: Jeff Arbour, Ben Glassman, Craig Holmes
There was no further discussion.
Action: 2. Public Review of Draft Multi Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
(MJHMP)
Recommendation: That the Citizens Advisory Committee provide comments on the
Draft Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP)
General Manager, Scott Carroll, introduced the item. He discussed' the
benefits of having an adopted Multi -jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
(MJHMP) and discussed the timeline of the MJHMP process. He introduced
Vicki Osborn, Director of Emergency Management for the Municipal Water
District of Orange County (MWDOC).
Ms. Osborn explained the purpose of the MJHMP and how it will help
agencies seek federal funding for pre and post hazard mitigation. She
discussed the importance of hazard mitigation and a local hazard mitigation
plan. She shared that there are 15 special districts participating in the
MJHMP. She discussed the various Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) grants for pre -disaster, flood, and hazard mitigation. She presented
the seven main goals of the MJHMP, and the types of hazards included in the
local hazard mitigation plans. She noted that the MJHMP is currently open
for public review and discussed the next steps for plan approval and
adoption.
Discussion followed regarding federal recognition of special districts.
President Scheafer recommended presenting this plan to the Special
Districts Risk Management Authority (SDRMA) for insurance.
Discussion followed regarding the challenges of diesel generators.
CAC Member Chora inquired about the plan-s goals for solid waste and
recommended including a targeted goal to address waste and debris. She
suggested discussing how this plan will affect the District's capital
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improvement projects and how the District will coordinate with the City of
Costa Mesa and other local agencies at a future CAC meeting.
CAC Vice Chair Tou inquired about hazard mitigation funding through the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California
Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES).
Ms. Osborn stated that the goal of the MJHMP is to allow agencies to apply
for hazard mitigation funding.
Mr. Carroll discussed the District's goal of acquiring permanent redundancy
at its power stations.
Discussion followed regarding backup generators.
Mr. Carroll confirmed that the MJHMP's survey is posted on the District's
website for public comment.
There was no further discussion.
Action, Receive and File: 3. Receive and File Progress Report on the Three -Cart Roll
Out Program
Recommendation: That the Citizens Advisory Committee receives and files this
report.
Mr. Carroll introduced the item and shared that CR&R has delivered over
12,000 Recycling Carts as part of the Three -Cart Rollout. He discussed
customer complaints related to cart deliveries and exchanges. He introduced
the District's CR&R representative, Mike Carey.
Mr. Carey stated that CR&R is more than halfway through with the three -cart
rollout. He discussed delivery issues with multifamily units. He explained
the three -cart rollout delivery and exchange process. He shared that
customers who were previously exempt from the Organics Recycling
Program will be receiving an Organics Cart by the end of the year.
CAC Chair Lester inquired about cart size exchanges.
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Mr. Carey confirmed that customers requesting new cart sizes will receive
their new cart in January 2025 after the three -cart rollout is completed.
Discussion followed regarding removing old carts.
CAC Chair Lester confirmed that customers can have up to two Organics
Carts.
Mr. Carey noted that additional Landfill and Recycling Carts are available at
a cost of $9 per month.
Discussion followed regarding cardboard recycling.
President Scheafer asked if CR&R has conducted any waste characterization
studies on the Recycling Carts.
Mr. Carey stated that it is too early in the program to conduct a waste
characterization study.
CAC Chair Lester thanked CR&R for their customer service.
There was no further discussion, and the report was received.
Action, Receive and File: 4. Review proposed adjustments to fixture and plan check
fees and recommend Board adoption (Strategic Goal No. 8.2.2)
Recommendation: That the Citizens Advisory Committee receives and files this
report.
Mr. Carroll stated that the District is behind schedule with this item and it
will be presented at the January CAC meeting.
There was no further discussion.
Action, Receive and File: 5. Receive and File CMSD's FOG Control Program Annual
Assessment Report
Recommendation: That the Citizens Advisory Committee receives and files CMSD's
FOG Control Program Annual Assessment Report.
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Mr. Carroll introduced Joe Jenkins of EEC Environmental.
Mr. Jenkins presented an overview of the District's fats, oils, and grease
(FOG) program activities, including how EEC prioritizes food service
establishments (FSEs) based on risk, education and outreach, inspections
and enforcement, data management, plan review and customer service
support, and FOG source characterization and reduction of enhanced
maintenance locations (EMLs). He reported that there was an increase in the
number of FSEs in the program over the past few years.
Discussion followed regarding FSEs inspection frequencies.
Mr. Jenkins described how FSEs are prioritized for inspection based on risk
criteria and presented FSE compliance rates. He shared two locations, South
Coast Plaza and Triangle Square, that are inspected frequently due to FOG -
related spills and compliance issues.
CAC Vice Chair Tou inquired about the compliance history of South Coast
Plaza and Triangle Square.
Mr. Jenkins stated that they have witnessed more consistent compliance
with those two shopping centers. He discussed how turnover in property
management can affect FOG maintenance and compliance. He explained
EMLs and how they are addressed. He shared that EEC and the District have
initiated more residential education for various areas experiencing high
FOG accumulation.
CAC Chair Lester noted that the residential FOG door hanger refers to the
two -cart system.
Mr. Carroll stated that residential cooking grease can be collected in a
compostable bag and placed in the Organics Cart. He also shared that the
District has a temporary collection site at the District Yard during the holiday
season for residential cooking grease.
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District Engineer, Mark Esquer, stated that the residential FOG door hangers
will be updated to reflect the three -cart system.
Mr. Jenkins continued his presentation and discussed key program trends
for public sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and FOG -related SSOs and
program recommendations.
There was no further discussion, and the report was received.
C. CLOSING ITEMS
Procedural: 1. Committee Member Comments
CAC Member Brenneman thanked District staff for their community
outreach, Eco Expo, and recognized the new landscaping at District
Headquarters. She also expressed recognition for staffs efforts to educate
the community on the three -cart system.
CAC Chair Lester expressed admiration for Eco Expo and its booth
demonstrations and giveaways. She inquired about the Orange Coast College
(OCC) Recycling Center.
CAC Vice Chair Tou provided an update on the OCC Recycling Center's
application with CalReycle.
Mr. Carroll stated that the District has no upcoming events. He encouraged
the CAC to help inform the public about the District's temporary FOG
collection site at the District Yard.
CAC Chair Lester thanked the CAC for their participation and wished
everyone a happy holiday.
There was no further discussion.
Procedural: 2. Board/Staff Comments
None.
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Procedural: 3. Adjournment
CAC Chair Lester adjourned the meeting at 7:19 p.m. and stated that the next
CAC meeting is scheduled for January 8, 2025.