Minutes - Board - 2026-01-131
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COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDY SESSION
January 13, 2026
Members present:
Michael Scheafer, President
Robert Ooten, Vice President
Arth u r Perry, Secretary
Nicole Wiltshire, Director
Shayanne Wright, Director
Staff present:
Scott Carroll, General Manager
Noelan i Middenway, District Clerk/PIO
Gina Terraneo, Senior Management Analyst
Marissa Pereyda, Solid Waste Manager
David Griffin, Code Enforcement Officer
Mark Esquer, District Engineer
Others present:
Mike Balliet, City Green Consulting
Mike Carey, CR&R
Erik Roberts, Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) applicant and District customer
Sue Lester, CAC Chair and District customer
Craig Preston, CAC Applicant and District customer
Cindy Brenneman, CAC Member and District customer
A. OPENING ITEMS
1. Call to Order
President Scheafer called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
2. Roll Call
District Clerk and Public Information Officer, Noelani Middenway, conducted roll call
and noted that all Board Members were present.
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B. PUBLIC COMMENTS
President Scheafer opened public comments.
CAC Chair and District customer, Sue Lester, suggested that the Board re -open their prior
discussion about considering Board Member term limits.
General Manager, Scott Carroll, noted that implementing Board term limits must be
initiated by the public through a signature collection process.
Seeing no one else wishing to speak, President Scheafer closed public comments.
C. ITEMS OF STUDY
1. Receive and File FY 2025-26 Waste Composition Studies and 2025 Summary
The Board of Directors received and filed the FY 2025-26 Waste Composition Studies
and 2025 Summary.
Solid Waste Manager, Marissa Pereyda, described the waste characterization study
process and introduced consultant, Mike Balliet with City Green Consulting, to provide
report details.
Mr. Balliet shared the results from 4 waste characterization studies conducted in
September and October of 2025. He commented that there was a slight improvement
upon studies conducted earlier in 2025, however, it is farfrom the level of recycling
thatthe District achieved priorto the rollout of the 3-Cart System.
President Scheafer asked if there is a particular recyclable material that is frequently
found in landfill carts.
Mr. Balliet noted that paper and cardboard are often placed in the landfill cart.
Discussion followed regarding customers defaulting to placing all or most of their waste
in the Landfill Cart.
Mr. Balliet cited an industry average of 22% recycling contamination.
Director Wright inquired about Mr. Balliet's recommendations, including the expansion
of cart tagging to identify and educate about contamination. She commented that she
is considering various incentivization strategies for customers. She recommended
collaborating with staff regarding notating the types of outreach being done at any
given time and aligning that information with waste characterization data. Lastly, she
commented that the cost of these studies is reasonable.
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Vice President Ooten inquired about the City of Costa Mesa's focus with respect to
education and outreach.
Discussion followed regarding a trash truck driver's ability to spot contamination,
analyzing the study's results by demographic, and obtaining information about the
effectiveness of fines from the City of Brea.
CRC Member and District customer, Cindy Brenneman, entered the meeting at 9:25
a.m.
Mr. Balliet commented that refusal of pickup can more effectively impact behavior
than fines.
Director Wright shared demographic information aboutthe highest performing area
and suggested incorporating the City's demographic data into the analysis of these
studies.
Mr. Balliet suggested focusing outreach on the worst performing area over a period of
ti me to see if it creates beh avioral ch an ge.
2. Receive and File the Code Enforcement Officer Report for December 2025
The Board of Directors received and filed the Code Enforcement Officer's Report for
December 2025 as presented.
Code Enforcement Officer, David Griffin, presented the December 2025 report. He
noted that he addressed 3 instances of scavenging and issued 122 notices of trash
carts in public view.
Discussion followed regarding expanding Mr. Griffin's duties to include lid flipping and
identifying cart contamination.
3. Consider Appointing One (1) Citizens Advisory Committee Member to Fill
2026-2027 Vacancy
The Board of Directors considered appointing one (1) applicant to serve the
remainder of the vacant Citizens Advisory Committee term ending March 2027.
Ms. Middenway provided an overview of the report. She noted that this item was
presented to the Board at the December Board Meeting and invited the Board to
review, discuss, and make an appointment.
President Scheafer welcomed public comments from applicants.
CAC Applicant, Craig Preston, introduced himself, noted that he was present at the
December Board Meeting, and shared that he read the CAC Handbook.
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CAC Applicant, Erik Roberts, introduced himself, discussed his service on the City's
Steering Committee, and shared some ideas for improving the waste collection
system.
Ms. Lester recommended appointing one of the applicants present at this meeting and
suggested reminding all of the applicants to re-applyforthe upcoming term vacancies
in March. Additionally, she pointed out that all voting divisions have 2 representatives
on the CAC except for Division 2 and she noted that Mr. Roberts lives in Division 2.
Lastly, she noted that Mr. Preston attended the December Board Meeting previously.
Vice President Ooten nominated Erik Roberts for appointment to the CAC in order to
increase representation from voting Division 2.
Moved By Vice President Robert Ooten
Seconded By Secretary Arth u r Perry
Motion: To appoint Erik Roberts to serve the remainder of the vacant Citizens Advisory
Committee term ending March 2027.
For (5): President Michael Scheafer, Vice President Robert Ooten, Secretary
Arthur Perry, Director Nicole Wiltshire, and Director Shayan ne Wright
Carried (5 to 0)
President Scheafer requested that staff invite all applicants to re -apply for the
upcoming CAC term.
4. Receive and File Update on Discovery Cube School Education Program
The Board of Directors received and filed an update on Discovery Cube School
Education Program as presented.
Ms. Pereyda noted that State grant funding was set aside for in -school recycling
education and the District contracted with Discovery Cube to carry out this service
through school assemblies. She noted that Discovery Cube has conducted 4
educational assemblies to date and has 6 upcoming assemblies scheduled at various
local elementary schools.
Director Wright inquired about feedback from schools who do not participate.
Ms. Pereyda noted that scheduling conflicts are often the reason that schools elect not
to participate.
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President Scheafer asked if Discovery Cube would allow the newer Board Members to
attend a future assembly.
Ms. Lester commented thatthe Discovery Cube previously provided a tour of their
facilities to the Board and CAC, and asked if that would be possible to do again.
5. Consider Amending the Director Compensation Provisions of CMSD's Operations
Code
The Board of Directors Consider Amending the Director Compensation Provisions of
CMSD's Operations Code.
District Counsel, Alan Burns, experienced technical difficulties when attempting to
present his report remotely.
President Scheafer requested that the item be continued to the Board Meeting on
Jan uary 26, 2026.
D. CLOSING ITEMS
1. Oral Communications and Director Comments
Director Wright confirmed the location of the upcoming City/Districts Liaison
Committee Meeting.
President Scheafer confirmed the upcoming meetings between Board Members and
the General Manager.
Vice President Ooten inquired about when the Board will discuss the General
Manager's goals and compensation.
President Scheafer noted that the goal development is in progress.
2. Adjournment
President Scheafer adjourned the meeting at 10:08 a.m.
Arth u r Perry, Secretary
Michael Scheafer, Pr ident