HomeMy WebLinkAbout14.a. Committee Minutes-Real Estate, Environment and Planning 03-19-2024Item 14.a.
A pril 4, 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: MA R C H 19, 2024 - R E E P 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 03-19-24
April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 85 of 97
Page 1 of 8
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA
SANITARY DISTRICT
REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL
& PLANNING COMMITTEE
M I N U T E S
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
8:30 a.m.
Committee:
Chair Florence Wedington
Member Barbara Hockett
Staff:
Roger S. Bailey, General Manager (arrived during Item 3.a.)
Katie Young, Secretary of the District
Greg Norby, Deputy General Manager – Operations (arrived during Item 3.a.)
Philip Leiber, Deputy General Manager – Administration (arrived during Item 3.a.)
Danea Gemmell, Planning and Development Services Division Manager
Edgar Lopez, Capital Projects Division Manager (arrived during Item 3.a.)
Melody LaBella, Resource Recovery Program Manager (arrived during Item 3.a.)
Lori Schectel, Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Division Manager
Rita Cheng, Senior Engineer
Blake Brown, Laboratory Program Administrator
Colleen Henry, Environmental Compliance Program Administrator
Robert Hess, Associate Engineer
Karen DeLong, Administrative Services Assistant
1. Call Meeting to Order
Chair Wedington called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
2. Public Comments
None.
Member Wedington announced that Item 3.c. would be heard immediately following
Item 3.a.
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
April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 86 of 97
Page 2 of 8
Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes
March 19, 2024
Page 2
3. Agenda Items
a. Update on the Regional Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Phase II
Study
Ms. Brown reviewed the presentation included in the agenda materials. It was
noted that during Phase I, a key data gap was no analysis of Total Oxidizable
Precursors (TOP) in the effluent and this was investigated further in Phase II.
Ms. Henry discussed the sewer shed sampling that occurred during Phase II.
She noted that some spots were strictly residential. Three residential sites and
three industrial discharger sites.
In response to Chair Wedington’s question regarding the number of agencies
participating in the sampling, Ms. Brown stated there were seven agencies in
Phase II and fourteen agencies in Phase I.
Ms. Henry stated that the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) gave strict
sampling protocols and that four people collected samples and each sample
took 24 hours to composite.
Ms. Brown provided the main findings of the phase II study; it conclusively
confirmed that there was removal of PFAS through the treatment process
(from influent to effluent) by analyzing the TOP data and PFAS in the influent
were transformed and partitioned to biosolids.
Ms. Henry reviewed the Phase II findings which included large amounts of
TOP PFAS from industrial laundry facilities. These facilities wash clothing that
are treated with fire retardant products which may contain PFAS. She advised
that SFEI did a flow analysis and found that 95% of flows into Publicly Owned
Treatment Works (POTWs) come from residential and businesses with a lower
amount of flow from industries.
Ms. Brown provided the next steps in the study which included: the Bay Area
Clean Water Agencies (BACWA) Phase III study, identification of controllable
sources into the sewer, and two PFAS analytical methods were finalized in
January 2024.
Ms. Schectel advised that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be
requiring additional sampling from agencies.
COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update.
April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 87 of 97
Page 3 of 8
Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes
March 19, 2024
Page 3
b. Receive the annual Regulatory Updates
This item was heard immediately following Item 3.c. and continued with the
remaining items on the agenda.
Ms. Schectel reviewed the presentation included in the agenda materials.
In response to a question posed by Chair Wedington on the fine violation
costs, Ms. Schectel advised that the fines were under $20,000. There was a
discussion regarding the tolling agreement and District Counsel has signed
another six-month agreement while a delegation issue is worked out between
the air district and the EPA.
Member Hockett inquired how the state evaluates success of the toxic air
contaminants regulations and noted that she has observed increased number
of asthma/respiratory cases in recent years. Ms. Cheng stated that the state
and local regulatory agencies are continuing to push for health risk driven
regulations to reduce impacts on public health.
Member Hockett complimented Central San for leading the pharmaceutical
take back program and all its success.
The Committee requested a presentation on the microplastics removal
process report when it is completed.
Mr. Bailey thanked Ms. Schectel and her team for all their hard work and
stated that they are the best in the business.
The committee expressed their appreciation for the team’s hard work,
collaboration and effort.
Ms. Schectel advised that the District has adopted new software, Klir, to track
permitting requirements and will bring back and provide a demo for the
Committee.
COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update.
c. Receive update on the most recent meeting of the Bay Area Clean Water
Agencies (BACWA)
This item was heard immediately following Item 3.a.
Ms. Schectel advised that the BACWA annual meeting will be held Friday, May
3rd at the David Brower Center in Berkeley. She also recapped recent
meetings between BACWA and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
(BAAQMD).
April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 88 of 97
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Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes
March 19, 2024
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Results from a BACWA member recycled water survey indicated that top
priorities for the region included jointly addressing concentrate management
as a shared challenge for water and wastewater utilities and cost sharing for
water and wastewater utilities. Mr. Norby stated that the survey had a practical
set of questions for partnerships and is good to put cost-benefit pictures
together. He opined that the questions need a much more extensive approach
to costing and allocating out the public benefit elements of the project.
Mr. Bailey advised the Committee that although he appreciates the aspiration
when it comes to nutrients but, he cannot help but be skeptical regarding the
projections and is concerned when a very substantial cost is laid on the
customers.
For the 3rd Nutrient Watershed Permit, the Water Board will likely publish the
Tentative Order in the next few weeks. It was noted that the adoption schedule
has been pushed back to June 12. Currently staff is working with the
Waterboard to make meaningful changes to the existing draft permit prior to
publication of the Tentative Order. The permit is not workable as currently
written.
Ms. Schectel provided the Committee with a handout regarding Algal Blooms
and Nutrients in San Francisco Bay (attached).
Mr. Bailey stated that the Taxpayers’ Association, Chamber of Commerce and
other agencies all need to voice their concerns regarding the matter given the
significant cost and rate impacts that the order will entail.
COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the update.
Immediately following this item, the agenda moved to Item 3.b.
4. Announcements
None.
5. Suggestions for future agenda items
a. Receive list of upcoming agenda items and provide suggestions for any other
future agenda items
The Committee requested the following items:
Update on nutrients
Klir demonstration
Update on Microplastics Report
COMMITTEE ACTION: Received the list and provided input to staff.
April 4, 2024 Special Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 89 of 97
Page 5 of 8
Real Estate, Environmental & Planning Committee Minutes
March 19, 2024
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6. Future scheduled meetings
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 8:30 a.m.
7. Adjournment – at 10:28 a.m.
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