HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.d.4) Proposed Resolution to naming Laboratory Building for Dr. Mario M. Menesini�.dy)
RESOLUTION NO. 2015-05(v
A RESOLUTION OF THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT
NAMING THE ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY BUILDING
FOR DR. MARIO M. MENESINI
WHEREAS, Dr. Mario M. Menesini served on the Board of Directors of the Central
Contra Costa Sanitary District for a total of 20 years, including four times as President
of the Board, providing guidance and leadership to the District; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Menesini also served on the Board Outreach, Personnel, Household
Hazardous Waste, Ad Hoc Collection System Operations and Real Estate Committees,
helping the District to successfully meet the challenges presented by population growth,
rising costs, and increasing environmental demands in a cost - effective and
environmentally sensitive manner, while providing guidance and review of the District's
outreach and public relations, hiring practices, removal of household hazardous waste
from the environment, development of preliminary plans for the new Collection System
Operations facility and oversight of District properties; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Menesini served as the District representative at meetings of the
California Special Districts Association Contra Costa Chapter, and at Friends of San
Francisco Estuary, as well as acting as District liaison with the Cities of Martinez and
Pleasant Hill and Contra Costa County; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure, the Environmental Laboratory, the Household
Hazardous Waste Collection Facility and the Collection System Operations
headquarters were built, projects which he and others championed through many years
of planning, permitting, design and construction; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Menesini's service to the District was marked by significant
achievements and innovative projects, including replacement of chlorine by ultraviolet
disinfection; transition of solid waste franchising responsibility from the District to the
Cities and County; completion of the Dougherty Tunnel and San Ramon Pumping
Station projects; the landmark decision to sewer the Alhambra Valley, improving the
Alhambra Creek watershed for future generations; the increase of the rated capacity of
the District treatment plant from 45 MGD to 53.8 MGD; a mandatory amalgam
separator program for all dentists in the service area, significantly reducing the
discharge of mercury to our plant by dental offices; and the Pharmaceutical Disposal
Program that met with overwhelming public support, resulting in the expansion of the
initial pilot program from three drop -off sites to 11 locations for the safe disposal of
medications by the public; and
WHEREAS, the District's sewer system overflows were reduced to record low numbers
due to his and the Board's support of increased inspections, cleaning, repair and
rehabilitation of the collection system; and
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Resolution No. 2015-0,;(o
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, during his tenure, the District received the U. S. EPA National First Place
Award for Outstanding Pretreatment Program, U. S. EPA National First Place Award for
Operations and Maintenance Excellence, the California Water Environment Association
(CWEA) Treatment Plant and Collection System of the Year Awards, 11 consecutive
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Awards from the
Government Finance Officers Association for the District's Comprehensive Annual
Financial Report, four National Purchasing Institute Achievement of Excellence in
Procurement Awards, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies Platinum
Awards for 100% compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
permit requirements for 14 consecutive years; and
WHEREAS, always a proponent of public education, Dr. Menesini aided in developing
the District's award - winning Sewer Science High School Wastewater Laboratory
Program; and foreseeing the need for greater public outreach, created and chaired
the first Board Outreach Committee which has dealt with such issues as community
outreach, the Dental Mercury Source Reduction Program, the Water Wizards third
and elementary school education program, the importance of overflow protection
devices and numerous informative publications; and
WHEREAS, in 2007, Dr. Menesini was awarded the Local Public Service Award of the
National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) in recognition of his long-
standing commitment and support of innovative clean water programs and projects, and
demonstration of a continuing awareness of the challenges faced by municipal
wastewater treatment agencies; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Menesini earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from St. Mary's
College, a Master's Degree in Marine Biology from University of the Pacific and a
Doctorate in Education from UC Berkeley; and
WHEREAS, during his career, he served in the Navy at a laboratory at Pearl Harbor
working in tropical medicine, later helping develop medical laboratories, taught math
and science at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, developed curricula for other
local school districts, lectured on Molecular Biology at UC Berkeley and wrote science
text books; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Menesini established the Environmental Alliance with William Penn
Mott that sponsored years of environmental lectures at the John Muir National Park and
worked tirelessly for the alumni associations of St. Mary's College and UC Berkeley and
developed a national program that linked educational curricula with environmental and
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Resolution No. 2015 -03
Page 3 of 3
cultural realities that were adopted by both the National Park Service and the Bureau of
Indian Affairs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that in honor of his significant legacy of
environmental quality, education and scientific inquiry for the District, the community
and generations of minds, young and old, the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Environmental Laboratory at 5019 Imhoff Place, Martinez is to be known henceforth as
the Dr. Mario M. Menesini Environmental Laboratory Building.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 15th day of October, 2015, by the Board of Directors of
the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, by the following vote:
AYES:
Members:
NOES:
Members:
ABSENT:
Members:
Michael R. McGill, P.E.
President of the Board of Directors
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
County of Contra Costa, State of California
CQ11 NTERSIGNED:
Elaine R. Boehme, CMC
Secretary of the District
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
County of Contra Costa, State of California
Approved as to form:
Kenton L. Alm, Esq.
Counsel for the District