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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReal Estate, Environmental & Planning MINUTES 08-23-23Page 2 of 7 110ENTRAL SAN REGULAR MEETING OF THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL & PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES Wednesday, August 23, 2023 9:00 a.m. Committee: Chair Tad Pilecki Member Florence Wedington Guests: Mona Gupta, AgLantis/CoCo Sustainable Farm (left after Item 3.d.) Lilia Corona, Mt View Sanitary District (left after Item 3.e.) Stacey Ambrose, Mt. View Sanitary District (left after Item 3.e.) Denise Gray, Mt. View Sanitary District (left after Item 3.e.) Scott Biocic, Mt. View Sanitary District Stephanie Seregin, Mt. View Sanitary District (left during Item 3.a.) BOARD OF DIRECTORS: BARBARA D.HOCKETT President MARIAHN LAURITZEN President Pro Tem MICHAEL R. MCGILL TAD J PILECKI FLORENCE T WEDINGTON PHONE: (925) 228-9500 FAX.• (925) 372-0192 www.centralsan.org Staff. Roger S. Bailey, General Manager Katie Young, CMC Secretary of the District Greg Norby, Deputy General Manager — Operations Philip Leiber, Deputy General Manager — Administration Danea Gemmell, Planning and Development Services Division Manager Lori Schectel, Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Division Manager Mary Lou Esparza, Laboratory Program Administrator Colleen Henry, Environmental Compliance Program Administrator Dana Lawson, Senior Engineer (left after Item 4.b.) Stacey Durocher, Administrative Services Assistant Call Meetina to Order Chair Pilecki called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Chair Pilecki advised that Items 3.d. and 3.e. would be heard first. September 7, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 155 of 160 Page 3 of 7 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes August 23, 2023 Page 2 2. Public Comments None. 3. Items for Committee Recommendation to Board a. Review draft Position Paper to adopt Resolution No. 2023- authorizing 1) execution of quitclaim deed for existing easements to the Benjamin Family Trust, or the current property owners at the time of recording for 331 Laurel Drive, Danville (APN: 216-042-002) and 2) for staff to record documents with the Contra Costa County Clerk -Recorder's Office This item was heard immediately following Item 3e and continued with the remaining items on the agenda. Ms. Lawson provided an overview of the materials included in the agenda packet. The Committee had no questions. COMMITTEE ACTION: Recommended Board approval. b. Review draft Position Paper to adopt Resolution No. 2023- authorizing execution and recording of a Quitclaim Deed to Rescore WCMCD, LLC as related to Job 6694 in Walnut Creek Ms. Lawson provided an overview of the materials included in the agenda packet. The Committee had no questions. COMMITTEE ACTION: Recommended Board approval. C. Review draft Position Paper to adopt Resolution No. 2023- authorizing execution and recording of a Quitclaim Deed to Toll West Coast, LLC as related to Job 6711 in San Ramon (APN 208-880-023) Ms. Lawson provided an overview of the materials included in the agenda packet. The Committee had no questions. COMMITTEE ACTION: Recommended Board approval. September 7, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 156 of 160 Page 4 of 7 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes August 23, 2023 Page 3 d. Receive AgLantis/CoCo San Sustainable Farm 2022 Annual Report This item was heard as the first order of business. Ms. Gemmell provided an overview of the presentation included in the agenda materials. Ms. Gemmell updated the Committee on AgLantis 2022 accomplishments which included the expansion of crops to three acres, farming a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs which were then donated to local food banks and a school nutrition program. She also mentioned the farm has donated approximately 40, 000 lbs. of food last year and has over 1, 000 volunteers, half being community youths who are taught sustainable farming practices. Member Wedington asked what the dollar value would be for the food that was donated. Ms. Gupta stated that a quarter pound of vegetables is considered a full serving or a meal and equates to 160, 000 meals at $1-2 dollars per meal. Ms. Gupta was excited to discuss a new educational program called Teen Acres. She stated that this program will occupy an acre of land on the east side of the farm where teenagers can have their own space to learn how to plant, maintain, water and harvest crops. The goal is to specifically recruit in underserved communities, but the program is open to anyone who wants to come. Ms. Gemmell stated AgLantis did receive a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help place inground greenhouses, allowing for planting and harvesting throughout the winter months equating to approximately 5,000 more pounds of food. Chair Pilecki inquired about Central San's role in the Carbon Farming Plan. Ms. Gupta explained that the CoCo Sustainable Farm has been collaborating with the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District on a project called the Carbon Farming Plan. This plan looks at the management techniques being used on the land that will help draw carbon back down into the land. Central San is also trying to achieve NetZero Carbon and because there is a regenerative farm on Central San's land, it makes sense to align these goals possibly resulting in carbon credits for Central San. Chair Pilecki asked for clarification regarding the four -inch water hookup from Central San and if there was already a location determined for this. Ms. Gemmell stated a request was received from the AgLantis Executive Director and staff is evaluating the options but has not committed one way or the other. COMMITTEE ACTION: Recommended Board receipt. September 7, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 157 of 160 Page 5 of 7 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes August 23, 2023 Page 4 e. Review draft Position Paper to adopt Resolution No 2023- and Guiding Principles Agreement for development of a study related to the investigation of a potential merger between Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San) and Mt. View Sanitary District (MVSD) This item was heard out of order following Item 3.d. Mr. Leiber gave an overview of the Position Paper included in the agenda packet. Mr. Leiber informed the Committee that Legal Counsel has reviewed the Guiding Principles and has recommended that this be adopted by the Board and become an official document. Mr. Leiber stated that a draft of the Municipal Services Report (MSR) has been received recently by Mt. View Sanitary District, however Central San has not received a copy yet. Ms. Gemmell confirmed this after speaking with LAFCO and was told the report is forthcoming. Mr. Leiber said that the report does recommend that a study be done, but also noted that the required due date of the study (2027) was later than might be anticipated. Member Wedington asked how much a merger study would cost. Mr. Leiber stated that staff has not reached out to consultants yet, so information on cost is premature at this time. Mr. Bailey said a study like this generally would have two phases with a recommendation and a second phase to be the consolidation. Mr. Bailey stated he has no position on whether the two agencies should merge or not and the Board position is that staff will work collaboratively with Mt View Sanitary District, following the Guiding Principles Agreement, and bring a recommendation to the Board at a future date. Chair Pilecki mentioned residents were concerned about the MSR at the LAFCO meetings, and strongly encouraged staff to pursue Phase 1 on a reasonable timeline and expressed concern about public outlash if we don't. Mr. Bailey stated that the District will proceed as quickly as Mt. View Sanitary would like to proceed and recommended that staff not wait as well. Chair Pilecki asked if the Board will have the opportunity to review the detailed scope that goes to the Consultants. Mr. Bailey said staff will develop the scope and bring it back to the Committee. Chair Pilecki would like to see it before it's finalized. Ms. Corona thanked the Committee and confirmed Mt. View Sanitary agrees that this should be pursued diligently and responsibly. COMMITTEE ACTION: Recommended Board approval. September 7, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 158 of 160 Page 6 of 7 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes August 23, 2023 Page 5 4. Other Aaenda Items a. Receive update on the 2023 Pollution Prevention (P2) Awards, including P2 Award Winners, Recycled Water Champions, Water Quality Community Partners, and P2 Partner Ms. Henry updated the Committee on the P2 awards for 2023 included in the agenda materials. Ms. Henry stated that each year Central San participates in National Pollution Prevention Week honoring local businesses and residents in their efforts to minimize water pollution and protect the environment. Central San presents awards in the categories of pollution prevention, recycled water, water quality community partner, and quality pollution prevention partners. These awards will be presented at Sustainable Contra Costa's Annual Leadership in Sustainability Awards celebration on September 19, 2023. Member Wedington recognized the efforts of our customers and partners in minimizing water pollution and protecting the environment and applauded staff for showing Central San's appreciation to them for that commitment. COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update. b. Receive annual Right -of -Way report Ms. Lawson provided an overview of the report included in the agenda materials. After a brief discussion, the Committee had no questions. COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the report. C. Receive verbal update on the most recent meeting of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA) Ms. Esparza provided a verbal overview of the last BACWA meeting. She stated the dominant topic was Nutrients and the small algae bloom that occurred in several locations throughout the Bay. The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) responded with sampling in Alameda and Berkeley confirming it was Heterosigma akashiwo which is the same organism that caused the bloom last year. Ms. Esparza also stated that the nutrient strategy team is continuing to refine the plan for the third watershed permit. The Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) is planning to base future limits on the reasonable potential to exceed a narrative water quality objective and they will September 7, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 159 of 160 Page 7 of 7 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes August 23, 2023 Page 6 be pursuing both individual and baywide interim, and final limits in the third watershed permit. Chair Pilecki asked if the Regional Water Board becomes insistent on imposing limits for each agency and if Central San will be able to meet the limits. Ms. Schectel responded that with respect to the interim limits, compliance would be based on the baywide limit being exceeded. and it is unlikely that the baywide interim limit, would be exceeded. However, final limits may be more difficult for everyone. A discussion ensued. Ms. Schectel explained things are changing in real time and there should be a better understanding by the end of the year. Mr. Norby asked if there was a sense of what was driving the uncertainty. Ms. Schectel said there is no clear answer yet as to whether certain reductions will lead to less or no algal blooms. Ms. Schectel said that it is not believed that the loads caused the bloom last summer, but they did allow the bloom to grow. Publicly owned treatment works (POTW's) make up two-thirds of the nutrient load in the Bay and are point sources, so it is easier to regulate. 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, September 20, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. 8. Adjournment Chair Pilecki adjourned the meeting at 10:14 a.m. in honor of Ms. Esparza who will be retiring in September after 33 years at the District. September 7, 2023 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 160 of 160