2025_07_08_study_sessionTuesday, July 8, 2025
Board of Directors Study Session
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Costa Mesa Sanitary District - 290 Paularino Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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The livestream of the meeting can be viewed by clicking the "Video" icon on this page (which will be
made available at the start of the meeting) or by visiting www.youtube.com/CostaMesaSanitary.
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Public Comments: Members of the public can submit any comments in real time during the meeting or
prior to the meeting in writing for the Board of Directors' consideration by sending them to the District
Clerk at publiccomment@cmsdca.gov. Those comments will be made part of the official public record of
the meeting.
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Obtaining Agenda Materials: The public is entitled to copies of all documents that are made part of the
agenda packet. If any document or other writing pertaining to an agenda item is distributed to all or a
majority of the Board after the packet is prepared, a copy of that writing may be obtained from the District
Clerk's Office.
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In Compliance with ADA: Contact District Clerk, Noelani Middenway, at (949) 645-8400, 48 hours prior to
meeting if assistance is needed (28 CFR 35.102.35.104 ADA Title II).
A. OPENING ITEMS
Subject :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.)
Meeting :Jul 8, 2025 - Board of Directors Study Session
Access :Public
Type :Procedural
Public Content
Michael Scheafer, President
Robert Ooten, Vice President
Arthur Perry, Secretary
Arlene Schafer, Vice Secretary
Nicole Wiltshire, Director
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 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.
Subject :1. Public Comments
Meeting :Jul 8, 2025 - Board of Directors Study
Session
Access :Public
Type :Procedural
C. ITEMS OF STUDY
Subject :1. Receive and File Code Enforcement Officer Report
- June 2025
Meeting :Jul 8, 2025 - Board of Directors Study Session
Access :Public
Type :Receive and File
Public Content
To: Board of Directors
Via: Scott Carroll, General Manager
From: David Griffin, Code Enforcement Officer
Date: July 8, 2025
Subject: Receive and File June 2025Code Enforcement Officer Report
Summary
This report summarizes major points for three ordinance enforcement topics covering scavenging, graffiti on trash carts, and
trash container enforcement. For the month of June 2025, the CMSD Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) focused his efforts on
patrols in various parts of the community. The goal is to identify and deter instances of scavenging and residential trash carts left
within the public view.
Recommendation
That the Board of Directors receives and files this report.
Analysis
In the month of June, Officer Griffin observed threeindividuals searching in trash carts onMaple Avenue and Whittier Avenue. All
individuals were advised of the district's scavenging law and given verbal warnings before they went on their way.
In the month of June, Officer Griffin issued 158first warnings notices (yellow tag) to residential properties for having their trash
carts in public view.
Officer Griffin did not observe graffiti on trash carts in the months of June.
To address resident concerns, Officer Griffin is patrolling streets by 6:30 a.m.
Legal Review
Not applicable.
Environmental Review
Code enforcement activities and reporting are not a disturbance of the environment similar to grading or construction and do not
constitute a project under CEQA or the Districts CEQA Guidelines.
Financial Review
Officer Griffins' activities are funded in the adopted budget.
Public Notice Process
Copies of this report are on file and will be included with the complete agenda packet for the July 8, 2025 Board of Directors
Study Session meeting at District Headquarters and posted on the Districts website.
Alternative Actions
1. Direct staff to report back with more information.
File Attachments
CEO Report June 2025.doc (1,217 KB)
C. ITEMS OF STUDY
Subject :2. Review of CMSD's Emergency
Preparedness
Meeting :Jul 8, 2025 - Board of Directors Study
Session
Access :Public
Type :Discussion
Goals :3.0 Emergency Preparedness
Public Content
To: Board of Directors
From: Scott Carroll, General Manager
Date: July 8, 2025
Subject:Review of CMSD's Emergency Preparedness
Summary
For organizations like the Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD), preparedness ensures critical services like wastewater
collection and trash disposal continue operating during emergencies, preventing environmental hazards and public health risks.
Having clear emergency plans, communication systems, and trained personnel in place allows for faster, more organized
responses that reduce confusion and improve coordination among agencies and the public. The following is a summary of how
CMSD is being prepared for emergencies.
Recommendation
That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
Analysis
Communications
CMSDs Emergency Operations Center (EOC), located at District Headquarters, serves as the central hub for coordinating
resources, information, and decision-making during emergencies. The EOC is equipped with landline telephones, enabling staff
to communicate directly with other local and regional EOCs, including those of the City of Costa Mesa, City of Newport Beach,
Mesa Water District, and the Water/Wastewater Emergency Response Organization of Orange County (WEROC), among
others. Additionally, CMSD utilizes the Countys 800 MHz radio system, which facilitates direct agency-to-agency communication.
CMSD also participates in the Countys WebEOC program, a web-based emergency information management system used to
share real-time information and coordinate response and recovery efforts. Finally, CMSD participates in the federal Government
Emergency Telecommunications Services (GETS) and Wireless Priority Services (WPS), which are priority telecommunications
programs designed to ensure essential personnel can communicate during emergencies. GETS and WPS provide priority
access for landline and cellular calls.
Training Personnel
CMSD staff are trained to follow Californias Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the federal National
Incident Management System (NIMS), both of which are designed to effectively manage emergencies involving multiple
jurisdictions and agencies. Training is conducted both internally and externally in coordination with partner agencies, as outlined
below:
Internal Training
Conducted regularly in the EOC, these discussion-based simulations present real-world emergency Tabletop Exercises:
scenarios to evaluate the effectiveness of the Districts Emergency Operations Plan and SEMS protocols.
An annual statewide earthquake preparedness drill in which employees practice the The Great California ShakeOut:
"Drop, Cover, and Hold On" technique during a simulated earthquake event.
Staff simulate pump station outages and practice setting up bypass systems to ensure Pump Station Bypass Training:
continuous wastewater flow without service disruptions.
External Training
Held at one of the Districts pump station wet Confined Space Entry Training with the Costa Mesa Fire Department:
wells, this hands-on training allows personnel from both agencies to refine their skills and learn best practices for safely
entering and working in confined spaces.
CSTI offers emergency management training, including EOC section-California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI):
specific instruction delivered by CSTI instructors at the County of Orange EOC in Silverado.
Conducted monthly by the Orange County Sheriffs Department, these radio checks ensure 800 MHz Radio Checks:
communication system functionality and also serve as training for staff on proper radio operation.
Training opportunities are offered by federal and state organizations, including CalOES, the State and Federal Training:
Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA).
Gathering of 36 member agencies to exchange information, coordinate efforts and align WEROC Coordination Meeting:
strategies to ensure effective emergency response and recovery during large scale disasters. Typically, the coordination
meetings occur monthly.
Hazard Mitigation Strategies
Hazard mitigation strategies are proactive measures designed to reduce the long-term risk and impact of disasters on people,
property, and critical infrastructure. The following strategies have been implemented or are currently underway:
Reliable backup power is essential for wastewater pump stations during power Backup Power at Pump Stations:
outages. Eight of the Districts twenty pump stations are equipped with either a dedicated generator or bypass pump
installed on-site. The remaining twelve stations are supported by dedicated portable generators stored at the Rob
Hamers Yard. Staff have completed fuel consumption calculations to determine refueling intervals for both generators
and bypass pumps.
To prevent tipping during seismic events, all twenty pump station electrical enclosures Secured Electrical Enclosures:
have been bolted securely to their foundations.
CMSD has acquired three specialized trailers equipped with motorized reels for Portable Layflat Hose System:
deploying and retrieving nearly 8,000 feet of 12-inch layflat hose. This system is designated for emergency bypass
operations at the Elden Pump Station. Additionally, eleven camlock fittings and elbows have been procured to support
the setup.
CMSD is planning to install redundant forcemain pipelines at all pump stations. These Redundant Forcemain Pipelines:
secondary pipelines provide an alternative wastewater conveyance route in the event of a failure or disaster affecting the
primary forcemain, ensuring service continuity and maintaining operational capacity. Currently, the Iowa and 19th Street
Pump Stations have redundancy pipeline. A redundant forcemain for the Mendoza Pump Station will be completed by the
end of summer 2025 and designs for the Elden Pump Station Redundancy Project will be completed soon.
Legal Review
Not applicable
Environmental Review
Reviewing emergency preparedness protocols and procedures is an administrative matter 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 agency while establishing its own procedures "to list those specific activities which fall within each of the exempt
classes," and the District has adopted "CEQA Guidelines and Implementing Procedures" that state on page 6 "Projects" does not
include... C. Continuing administrative or maintenance activities.
Financial Review
CMSD budgets $11,000 annually for emergency preparedness related expenses including radio operating fee, equipment and
supplies. Cost for external training from state and federal organizations are funded by the Urban Area Security Initiative (USASI),
which is a federally funded program under the Homeland Security Grant Program managed by FEMA.
Public Notice Process
Copies of this report are on file and will be included in the complete agenda packet for the July 8, 2025, Board of Directors study
session meeting at District Headquarters and posted on the District's website at www.cmsdca.gov
Alternative Actions
1. Direct staff to report back with more information.
D. CLOSING ITEMS
Subject :1. Oral Communications and Director
Comments
Meeting :Jul 8, 2025 - Board of Directors Study
Session
Access :Public
Type :
D. CLOSING ITEMS
Subject :2. Adjournment
Meeting :Jul 8, 2025 - Board of Directors Study
Session
Access :Public
Type :Procedural
Public Content
The next Study Session of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District Board of Directors will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12,
2025 in the District's Boardroom, located at 290 Paularino Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.