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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15.a. Committee Minutes - Real Estate, Environmental & Planning-02-20-2024Item 15.a. March 7, 2024 T O: HO NO R A B L E B O A R D O F D I R E C TO R S F RO M :K AT I E YO UNG, S E C R E TA RY O F T HE D I S T R I C T S UB J E C T: F E B R UA RY 20, 2024 - R E A L E S TAT E , E NV I R O NME NTA L & P L A NNI NG C O MMI T T E E - C HA I R W E D I NG TO N A ND ME MB E R HO C K E T T Attached are minutes of the above C ommittee meeting. AT TAC HM E NT S : D escription 1. R E E P C ommittee minutes 02-20-24 March 7, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 300 of 306 Page 1 of 7 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL & PLANNING COMMITTEE M I N U T E S Tuesday, February 20, 2024 8:30 a.m. Committee: Chair Florence Wedington Member Barbara Hockett Guests: Jeff Quimby, Contra Costa Water District (left after Item 4.b.) Kristen Struve, Santa Clara Valley Water District (left after Item 4.b.) Natalie Hanson, Optony, Inc. (left after Item 3.b.) Rachel Lore, Optony, Inc. (left after Item 3.b.) Samantha Green, Santa Clara Valley Water District (left during Item 4.c.) Staff: Roger S. Bailey, General Manager Katie Young, Secretary of the District Greg Norby, Deputy General Manager – Operations Philip Leiber, Deputy General Manager – Administration (joined during Item 3.a.) Danea Gemmell, Planning and Development Services Division Manager Lori Schectel, Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Division Manager Melody LaBella, Resource Recovery Program Manager Dana Lawson, Senior Engineer (left after Item 3.a.) Jason DeGroot, Senior Engineer (left after Item 4.a.) Rita Cheng, Senior Engineer Robert Hess, Associate Engineer (left after Item 3.b.) Max David, Temporary Staff Engineer (left after Item 3.b.) Stacey Durocher, Administrative Services Assistant 1. Call Meeting to Order Chair Wedington called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. 2. Public Comments None. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: MARIAH N. LAURITZEN President MICHAEL R. MCGILL President Pro Tem BARBARA D. HOCKETT TAD J. PILECKI FLORENCE T. WEDINGTON PHONE: (925) 228-9500 FAX: (925) 372-0192 www.centralsan.org March 7, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 301 of 306 Page 2 of 7 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes February 20, 2024 Page 2 3. Items for Committee Recommendation to Board a. Review draft Position Paper to adopt Resolution No. 2024-XXX authorizing execution of Grant of Easement to Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) over Central San property located at 4451 Blum Road, Martinez (APN: 159-140-04) Ms. Lawson provided an overview of the Position Paper included in the agenda materials. The Committee had no questions. As requested by staff prior to the meeting, the next order of business to be heard was Item 4.a. COMMITTEE ACTION: Recommended Board approval. b. Review draft Position Paper to consider an amendment to the existing agreement with Optony, Inc. to raise the cost ceiling from $197,000 to $447,000 This item was heard immediately following Item 4.a. Ms. Cheng provided an overview of the Position Paper included in the agenda materials. She stated that the amendment was to provide a continuation of support services for the Fleet Electrification Strategic Plan. Chair Wedington asked staff to include a detailed cost breakdown of the services to be provided under this agreement when presented to the Board. Mr. Bailey asked staff to have District Counsel review the agreement. The Committee had no further questions. COMMITTEE ACTION: Recommended Board approval. 4. Other Agenda Items a. Receive update on the Fleet Electrification Strategic Plan This item was heard immediately following Item 3.a. Ms. Cheng provided an overview of the presentations included in the agenda materials. She stated that in order to ensure compliance with the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Regulation and the Clean Cars II Regulation, a District-wide Fleet Electrification Strategic Plan has March 7, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 302 of 306 Page 3 of 7 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes February 20, 2024 Page 3 been developed. The Plan also supports the Board’s interest in Net Zero and reduces Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions. Ms. Hanson stated that Central San is subject to the ACF Regulation and the Clean Cars II Regulation. She stated the strategy is based on a 15-year multi- phased plan including incentives, tax credits and rebates that will help offset some of the costs for electric vehicles (EV’s) and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Starting in 2024, State and Local Governments require 50 percent of new medium- or heavy-duty vehicle purchases to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV’s), and in 2027, 100 percent of new medium- or heavy-duty vehicle purchases must be ZEV’s. There are temporary exemptions for specialty vehicles that do not have a viable electric replacement option available and are subject to approval by the CARB. Member Hockett asked if the District’s Solar project will offset any of the costs. Ms. LaBella stated that credits from Pacific, Gas & Electric (PG&E) will be applied to the treatment plant’s account and three major pumping stations and may indirectly offset some of the costs. However, the solar project was sized to offset Central San’s existing power demands at the time the project’s request for proposals was issued in June 2020, so these new fleet electrification demands were not anticipated at that time. Chair Wedington asked if the total cost of ownership includes grants or any other types of funding. Ms. Lore stated that there are several incentives included for purchases of EVs. Chair Wedington asked if the $200,000 savings could be discontinued. Ms. Lore stated it is subject to change depending on the availability of incentives. Ms. Cheng added that an application has been submitted to apply for funding under PG&E’s EV Fleet Program, which would pay some of the costs for EV and infrastructure upgrade costs but a commitment to electrify a certain number of vehicles would be required. In response to Mr. Bailey’s question about the value of incentives for each vehicle category, and how long these will be in place, Ms. Lore stated that PG&E incentives are only in place for the next five years. A table is included in the Fleet Electrification Strategic Plan that shows a vehicle-by-vehicle breakdown. In response to Mr. Norby’s questions about possible partnering opportunities with other public agencies and the public-facing aspect of this plan, Mr. Bailey concurred and expressed interest in considering the potential for public use, as well as the idea of collaborating with other public agencies to use the chargers. Further discussion ensued on this topic. March 7, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 303 of 306 Page 4 of 7 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes February 20, 2024 Page 4 Mr. Leiber stated that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will provide 30 percent in subsidies to municipal entities like Central San for energy projects including charging stations and vehicles. In response to Chair Wedington’s question regarding the ability to track charging station usage, Ms. Hanson stated that there is software available to track use. Ms. Lore reviewed the preliminary design for placing various levels of chargers at the Collection Systems Operations office and the Martinez Treatment Plant as well as supplemental charging options at four major pumping stations. She noted that applications for Moraga and San Ramon have already been submitted to PG&E to apply for a dedicated EV service line and incentives. All questions posed by the Committee were answered by staff and representatives from Optony, Inc. Following this item, the agenda resumed the original order with Item 3.b. COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update. b. Receive update on the Refinery Recycled Water Exchange Project and the joint meeting with the United States Bureau of Reclamation Ms. LaBella provided an overview of the joint meeting with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) work plan. Mr. Quimby provided an overview of the presentation provided in the agenda materials. He stated that the Refinery Recycled Water Exchange Project (Project) has several potential benefits such as enhancing Contra Costa Water District’s (CCWD) reliability, drought resilience and supply and would help to address Central San’s future nutrient issues. The purpose of the meeting with the Bureau was to discuss key issues that would affect the Project’s yield. He stated that the Bureau was receptive to further review of policies and future discussion on these issues. In response to Ms. LaBella’s question regarding future conversations with the Bureau and the timeline, Mr. Quimby stated that the next step is to complete their Future Water Supply Study to evaluate all water supply options in collaboration with Central San and Santa Clara Valley Water District to fully understand the implications of recycled water, then have those discussions with the Bureau. Chair Wedington asked about the schedule for the study. Mr. Quimby replied that this will take place over the next 18 months. March 7, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 304 of 306 Page 5 of 7 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes February 20, 2024 Page 5 Mr. Bailey requested Mr. Quimby to present this update to the full Board. COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update. c. Receive update on the most recent meeting of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA) Ms. Schectel provided an overview of the memorandum included in the agenda materials. Communications: Staff is currently working on outreach to non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and community-based organizations to help develop a better understanding of Nutrients in the San Francisco Bay. Press tours are being planned at various facilities prior to the release of the third Nutrient Watershed Permit tentative order. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA Region 9 will develop an annual priority list of projects and studies and the additional appropriations are in the form of grants funded through Congress. All BACWA agencies are eligible to apply for grants that will address the EPA’s priorities on the list including Nutrients. Mr. Norby said this is a notable opportunity for outside funding and staff has done some early outreach on this. He said there are at least three significant Central San related initiatives, studies or Capital Projects that may benefit from these grants. Mr. Bailey expressed concern about spending the public’s money on nutrient reduction without any assurance that it will achieve a positive outcome. Nutrients: The nutrient strategy team met on January 19, 2024 to consider various approaches to the third Nutrient Watershed Permit negotiations. An administrative draft of the permit has been received. Ms. Schectel stated that there will be final bay-wide limits and individual limits that would need to be met by the end of a 10-year compliance schedule. The interim load limits have been determined, and Central San will not have a problem meeting those limits. The bay-wide reduction equates to approximately 40 percent in reductions. March 7, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 305 of 306 Page 6 of 7 Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes February 20, 2024 Page 6 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): BACWA has prepared a fact sheet summarizing the findings of their Regional Phase II PFAS study. Staff will present these findings at a future Real Estate, Environmental and Planning Committee in the coming months. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD): The collaborative quarterly meeting with BACWA and the BAAQMD will take place on February 28, 2024. COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update. 5. Announcements Mr. Bailey announced the conference for the Washington D.C. Forum held by the California Association of Sanitation Agencies is next week and he along with staff and some Board Members will be in attendance. 6. Suggestions for future agenda items a. Receive list of upcoming agenda items and provide suggestions for any other future agenda items Member Hockett requested an update on the research being done by East Bay Municipal Utility District on recycled water. Mr. Bailey stated that the update will be heard by Board. COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the list. 7. Future scheduled meetings Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. 8. Adjournment – at 10:45 a.m. March 7, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 306 of 306 Page 7 of 7