Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.a.2) General Manager Written Announcements?00. z9 Board Meeting of March 19, 2015 Written Announcements: PROJECT UPDATE a) Public Bidding for Concord Landscape Project, Phase 2 (Recycled Water Customer Connections), District Proiect 7299A The initial phase of the Concord Landscape Project installed over two miles of recycled water distribution mains in the Diamond and Meridian Park Boulevard area of Concord. Recycled water laterals were stubbed onto the properties and meter boxes were installed at future potential recycled water customer sites in the project area. The second phase of the Concord Landscape Project will connect 10 new recycled water customers in the project area that do not require upgraded backflow prevention on their fire service lines. The work under this second phase project will include installing recycled water meters in the existing meter boxes and physically connecting customer irrigation systems to our meter to provide recycled water. New customers to be connected include: several City of Concord street medians, DMV, California Teachers Association, Seafood City, Hyundai and Future Ford dealerships, Security Owners Corporation and Bellecci & Associates. Staff is currently planning to advertise the project on March 26 and April 1, 2015. The construction cost is currently estimated at $77,000. OUT -OF -STATE CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE b) Melody LaBella Invited to NACWA as a Wastewater Representative at Flushable Wipes Product Stewardship Initiative in Washington, DC — March 26, 2015 Melody LaBella, Provisional Associate Engineer in Recycled Water and Pollution Prevention, has been invited by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) to be one of their wastewater representatives at the first meeting of the Flushable Wipes Product Stewardship Initiative in Washington, DC on March 26, 2015. The purpose of the meeting is to come to agreement with the wipes industry on how to modify their products, product labeling and outreach to resolve the wastewater conveyance and treatment issues caused by their products. In addition to representatives from the local wastewater agency, Water Environment Federation's President and NACWA's Director of Regulatory Affairs will also be attending this meeting with representatives of the wipes industry, including the Association of the Non -Woven Fabrics Industry (INDA) President, Sustainability Officers and company Written Announcements March 19, 2015 Page 2 of 2 Presidents. Melody is attending this meeting in her newly- appointed role as NACWA's Emerging Contaminants Workgroup Co- Chair. NACWA will pay for some of Melody's travel expenses, including her flight. While this unforeseen opportunity was not budgeted, adequate funding is available in the Environmental Services Division training budget to cover the District's share ($950) of the expenses for this trip. LABOR RELATIONS c) Labor Management Committees to be Formed for Each Bargaining Unit During the March 9, 2015 Administration Committee meeting, staff provided information to the Committee Members regarding the development and implementation of Labor Management Committees (LMCs) at the District. The purpose of the LMCs is to develop and foster cooperative labor /management relationships between District management and represented employees. The only formal means of communication between labor and management is the contractual grievance procedure and contract negotiations, which often times can be adversarial in nature. The LMCs provide a vehicle for areas of concern to be discussed and possibly resolved to the mutual agreement of both parties. The LMCs, through regular and formal meetings, can provide each party a clearer understanding of the motivation and intent of the other which can lead to increased trust and insight. Although this forum is to resolve issues in a non - adversarial manner, it does not replace the formal grievance process or bargaining. Staff is meeting with the bargaining units beginning this month to discuss the purpose and scope of the LMCs and once both parties come to a mutual agreement on the conditions governing the LMCs, the District will implement these committees going forward.