HomeMy WebLinkAboutReal Estate, Environmental & Planning MINUTES 07-19-23Page 2 of 5
110ENTRAL SAN
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BARBARA D. HOCKETT
President
CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA MARIAHN. LAURITZEN
SANITARY DISTRICT President Pro Tent
REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL MICHAELR.MCGILL
TAD J PILECKI
& PLANNING COMMITTEE FLORENCET WEDINGTON
M I N U T E S PHONE: (925) 228-9500
FAX.- (925) 372-0192
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 www.centralsan.org
9:00 a.m.
Committee:
Chair Tad Pilecki
Member Florence Wedington
Gl1P_sts-
Kim Domptail, GHD Consulting
Gregory Carli, GHD Consulting
Ben Gerber, GHD Consulting
Jay Surti, GHD Consulting
Staff.
Roger S. Bailey, General Manager
Katie Young, Secretary of the District
Greg Norby, Deputy General Manager — Operations
Philip Leiber, Deputy General Manager — Administration
Danea Gemmell, Planning and Development Services Division Manage
Edgar Lopez, Capital Projects Division Manager
Melody LaBella, Resource Recovery Program Manager
Nitin Goel, Operations Optimization Division Manager
Rita Cheng, Senior Engineer
Michael Cunningham, Associate Engineer
Robert Hess, Associate Engineer (left during Item 3.b.)
Khang Nguyen, Assistant Engineer (left after Item 3.a.)
Henry Nguy, Temporary Staff Engineer (left during Item 3.b)
Stacey Durocher, Administrative Services Assistant
Call Meetina to Order
Chair Pilecki called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
August 3, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 59 of 64
Page 3 of 5
Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes
July 19, 2023
Page 2
2. Public Comments
None.
3. Agenda Items
a. Receive update on Net Zero Evaluation
Ms. LaBella reviewed the presentation from the presentation to the full Board
on April 21, 2022 included in the agenda materials.
In response to Chair Pilecki's question regarding how recycled water fits into
Net Zero, Ms. LaBella stated recycled water production and distribution is all
powered from the treatment plant so when the energy consumption at the
treatment plant is evaluated it mostly encompasses recycled water.
In regard to Slide #7 included in the agenda materials, Chair Pilecki inquired
about reaching Net Zero by 2050 and whether it includes scope 1, or scope 2
or scopes 1, 2 and 3. Ms. LaBella replied that it is up to the District to decide.
Member Wedington asked for a summary regarding the Envision program. Ms.
LaBella explained that the Envision program is similar to the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, an infrastructure decision
making program for buildings, allowing for scorable points in different
categories, including green house gas (GHG) emissions.
Ms. Domptail and other members of the team from GHD Consulting provided a
detailed overview of the presentation included in the agenda materials.
Chair Pilecki asked if the emissions from combustion include both natural gas
and landfill gas or just natural gas. Ms. Domptail stated that the CO2, CH4 and
N2O omissions are from the natural gas combustion and the CH4 and N2O
emissions which are minimal are only from the combustion of landfill gas and
sludge.
Ms. Domptail discussed the statewide policies supporting the 2045 carbon
neutrality goal and local agencies that have developed or revised their own
Climate Action Plans (CAPs) to reduce emissions by 15%.
Chair Pilecki expressed confusion with the climate goals and terminology used
with respect to other agency benchmarking and what those mean for Central
San in terms of setting a goal. Ms. LaBella stated these are all versions of
GHG reduction targets for each agency shown and they are all different, as
there is not one uniform definition at this time.
August 3, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 60 of 64
Page 4 of 5
Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes
July 19, 2023
Page 3
Chair Pilecki stated that for the Board to develop a policy, the Board needs to
learn and understand what those terms mean.
Further discussion ensued on this topic.
Chair Pilecki asked if there were any legal requirements for Central San to
comply with this. Ms. LaBella said there are currently no requirements for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the only mandatory piece is Central
San's requirement to report anthropogenic (fossil fuel -based) emissions to the
California Air Resources Board (CARB), which drives the District's
management of natural gas usage to stay below the limit of 25,000 metric tons
Of CO2 to avoid cap and trade participation. Anything beyond that is up to
Central San.
Member Wedington asked if there has been any indication of mandatory
reductions in GHG in the future. Ms. Cheng stated she was not anticipating
any mandatory reductions at this time however, CARB has been implementing
mandatory actions to reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector via
their Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which will require Central San to
electrify its fleet. Ms. LaBella also commented that it is an important trend to
watch since the State has already set a target for Net Zero.
Both Member Wedington and Chair Pilecki thanked staff for their work and
requested more information to form an educated base for making future
decisions on this subject.
Member Wedington also suggested that staff integrate GHG reductions on any
project that Central San does going forward if not already doing so.
Mr. Norby commended staff for their work on a complex topic and addressed
the comments and recommendations made by the Committee.
COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update and provided input to staff.
b. Receive update on the Membrane Aeration Biofilm Reactor (MABFR) Process
Intensification Testing
Mr. Goel provided an overview of the presentation included in the agenda
materials.
Chair Pilecki asked how long MABR technology has been around. Mr. Goel
stated this technology has been around for several years and in 2017 the
Yorkville -Bristol Sanitary District in Illinois was fully functional, with other
operational facilities across the world. Additionally, it is being installed to
intensify existing treatment processes in the Palo Alto Regional Water Quality
Control Plant (RWQCP) facility upgrade project.
August 3, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 61 of 64
Page 5 of 5
Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes
July 19, 2023
Page 4
Mr. Goel stated the pilot will cost approximately $300, 000 and is expected to
run from September 2023 to March 2024.
Member Wedington asked what the cost difference would be between the
Modified Ludzack Ettinger (MLE) and MABR processes if they were
implemented on a full scale. Mr. Goel stated that the initial evaluations show
the cost to be significantly lower for the MABR process, since the construction
of new concrete aeration tanks and clarifiers are avoided or delayed in an area
that currently has contaminated soil. However, once the pilot is finished, staff
will have a better idea of the cost.
Further discussion ensued regarding an estimated timeline.
Mr. Bailey asked if staff will be working with a consultant. Mr. Goel stated that
staff will be working with a consultant to assist with the pilot.
COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update.
5. Announcements
None.
6. Suggestions for future agenda items
a. Receive list of upcoming agenda items and provide suggestions for any other
future agenda items
COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the list and provided input to staff.
7. Future scheduled meeti
Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.
8. Adjournment — at 10:55 a.m.
August 3, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 62 of 64