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STPD COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
November 10, 2025
Members present:
Michael Scheafer, President
Robert Ooten, Vice President
Arthur Perry, Secretary
Nicole Wiltshire, Director
Shayanne Wright, Director
Staff present:
Scott Carroll, General Manager
Gina Terraneo, Senior Management Analyst
Marissa Pereyda, Solid Waste Manager
David Griffin, Code Enforcement Officer
Dyana Wick, Administrative Services Manager
Others present:
Julie Barreda, CR&R
A. OPENING ITEMS
1. Call to Order
President Scheafer called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
2. Roll Call
Senior Management Analyst, Gina Terraneo, conducted roll call and noted that all
Board Members were present, except for Director Wright.
B. PUBLIC COMMENTS
President Scheafer opened public comments. Seeing none, he closed public comments.
C. ITEMS OF STUDY
1. Receive and File Code Enforcement Officer Report - September and
October 2025
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
Code Enforcement Officer, David Griffin, presented report details.
Discussion followed regarding scavengers going through the blue Recycling Carts.
Director Wright entered the meeting at 9:04 a.m.
Discussion followed regarding local buy back centers, including the Orange Coast College
Recycling Center.
Officer Griffin presented instances of code violations for trash carts in public view. The
Board discussed the illegality of scavenging.
Director Wright inquired about the process for addressing trash carts in public view.
Director Wiltshire requested that Officer Griffin patrol a multi-family complex in her
District for trash carts in public view.
Discussion followed regarding joint efforts with City of Costa Mesa Code Enforcement.
2. Receive Three-Cart Tonnage and Diversion Update
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive and file this report.
Solid Waste Manager, Marissa Pereyda, provided report details.
Julie Barreda of CR&R provided an oral report regarding the District's tonnage and
diversion. She commented that CR&R expects to see behavior change approximately
two years after rollout of the three-cart system, and that constant outreach and
education is needed. She suggested focusing outreach on items that are less commonly
recycled, such as paper, cardboard, and plastic food containers. Ms.
Barreda offered to send out a quarterly postcard about proper waste sorting to District
customers and incorporate information found during waste audits.
Discussion followed regarding local buy back centers and how their tonnage is
reported.
The Board inquired if Ms. Barreda can obtain the Orange Coast College Recycling
Center's tonnage data, so that it can be incorporated into the District's diversion data.
Ms. Barreda noted that cities no longer track diversion as a percentage because the
state requires a "pounds per person per day" metric instead. She suggested offering to
co-advertise with the Recycling Center to incentivize sharing information.
General Manager, Scott Carroll, commented that Costa Mesa is well below the state's
target metric.
Vice President Ooten confirmed that the District is still conducting waste
characterization studies and requested an update at a future meeting.
Discussion followed regarding waste characterization studies and reported
contamination.
Director Wright requested formatting changes to the charts, including adding
information about when District outreach campaigns occur so that the Board can
gauge its impact. She inquired about how the District plans to increase its diversion
and what information might assist the Board when discussing punitive measures.
Ms. Barreda suggested that CR&R can report how many contamination tags they
distribute to customers.
Discussion followed regarding how commercial landscaping is recycled.
Director Wright confirmed that she would like to receive data about CR&R's contamination
tagging and communications efforts to add context to the reports.
3. Receive Orange County Waste & Recycling (OCWR) Waste Disposal
Agreement (WDA) Negotiations Update
Recommendation: That the Board of Directors receive an update on the Waste
Disposal Agreement (WDA) negotiations with Orange County Waste & Recycling
(OCWR).
Ms. Pereyda provided report details. She described the Orange County Waste
Disposal Agreement and the subsequent Waste Infrastructure System Enhancement
agreement. She outlined the two options provided by the County, and explained that
the District will be conducting a Solid Waste Rate Study.
President Scheafer inquired about which option the other jurisdictions prefer and the
rationale behind the increase.
Mr. Carroll commented that the jurisdictions do not like either option, but they do not have
any leverage. He added that if an option is not selected, the County will make the choice.
He commented that the increase could be due to a number of things, including increases
in operational costs and expenses related to lawsuits.
Vice President Ooten asked if the District will have enough time to conduct a rate study
before the increases are implemented.
Mr. Carroll confirmed that staff is working to complete the study in time.
Discussion followed regarding the process mandated by Proposition 218 and the
estimated increase to current rates.
Mr. Carroll noted that the District will also be conducting a wastewater rate study next year.
Secretary Perry commented that he would support Option 1 over Option 2. President
Scheafer indicated agreement.
D. CLOSING ITEMS
1. Oral Communications and Director Comments
President Scheafer inquired about how customers can dispose of sharps.
Ms. Pereyda noted that customers can utilize the Household Hazardous Waste
collection program, visit any of the County's disposal sites, or use mail-in options.
Director Wright shared that the City is accepting feedback on the draft Fairview Park
Master Plan.
2. Adjournment
President Scheafer adjourned the meeting at 10:05 a.m.
Arthur Perry, Secretary
A Ar
Michael Scheafer, P esident