Minutes of the ISD Board Special Workshop Meeting September 23, 2014

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE

IRONHOUSE SANITARY DISTRICT

 

September 23, 2014

 

The Ironhouse Sanitary District (ISD) Board of Directors met in Special Session to hold a Recycled Water Feasibility Study Workshop on Tuesday, September 23, 2014.

 

The place of the meeting was the Ironhouse Sanitary District Office at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley, California.  President David Huerta called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

 

1. Call to Order  
    
2. Roll Call
    
               Members present:                   David Contreras, David Huerta, Chris Lauritzen, Michael Painter, and Doug Scheer
    
               Members absent:                    None
    
   Staff/Consultants present:      Tom Williams, General Manager
   Jenny Skrel, District Engineer
   Susan Walde, District Secretary
   Joe Mueller, Environmental Compliance Officer
   Marc Haefke, Operations Superintendent
   Dave Dal Porto, Reclamation and Cattle Supervisor
    
               Interested parties present:      Dave Richardson, RMC Water and Environment
                                                               Christy Kennedy, RMC Water and Environment
                                                               Carolyn Phinney, Orinda, CA
                                                               Mike McGill, CCCSD
    
3. Approval of the Agenda
    
   4.         Public Comment – There were no comments from the public in attendance.
    

1. BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD
    
   5A.      CONSIDERATION OF REPAIR AND USE OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MOBILE STAGE FOR ISD’S 70^TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT IN AUGUST 2015.
   Mr. Williams reported the Outreach Committee has discussed the 70^th Anniversary event in August 2015.  In preparation for the event, the committee felt the Chamber stage would help ISD’s event be successful and inquired if the stage might be available.  After inquiring, it is available, but will need some maintenance/repair work prior to ISD’s event.  Staff’s recommendation is to authorize staff to have the Oakley Chamber of Commerce list ISD as an additional insured on their insurance policy and to temporarily house the Chamber stage on ISD property to assess and implement repairs, up to an amount of $1,000 to the stage in exchange for using the stage at ISD’s 70^th anniversary event. 
   M/S C. Lauritzen, Michael Painter and the Board voted to authorize staff to work with the Oakley Chamber of Commerce to name ISD as an additional insured and, move the Chamber stage to ISD property for inspection and needed repairs up to an amount of $1,000 for use at the ISD 70^th Anniversary Event in August 2015.
   In favor: D. Contreras, D. Huerta, C. Lauritzen, M. Painter and D. Scheer.  Opposed: None.  Absent: None.
    
   5B.      RECYCLE WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY WORKSHOP
   Ms. Skrel reported that since the last workshop with the Board, staff have outlined 10 projects to review with the Board for alternatives to consider.  Mr. Dave Richardson of RMC gave an interactive presentation with staff to the Board.  His presentation included the background of the Recycled Water Feasibility Study, the overview of Alternatives, Alternative Costs, ISD Staff Recommendations, Financing/Funding Opportunities and Steps to Implement an Off-Site Recycled Water Project. 
   Discussion was held on each of the alternative projects, including discussion on the cost and benefit to the District. 
   Director Scheer asked staff if the profits from an alternative could be used to finance the purple pipe needed to market our recycled water.  Staff responded it is a possibility but unlikely.  Mr. Mueller brought to the attention of the Board that six months of the year we use 100 percent of our discharge water on our farming operation and the other six months the water goes to the river, and this must be a consideration of possible recycled water projects.
   Director Lauritzen would like to be more aggressive and have a fill station considered for the public; and would like to see us have purple pipe to use for construction projects on Jersey Island.  Ms. Skrel stated we don’t yet have the permitting, and the process to go forward is one year plus.  Staff can complete the fill station for on-site recycled water, and after permitting is completed, we can offer the recycled water to the public. 
   Director Lauritzen stated that he would like to see Sanitary Districts work together to go forward to market recycled water in East Contra Costa County.  He stated he would like to see long term, direct potable reuse water to the Wilbur Avenue Corridor.  He would like to see ISD involved in the redevelopment of the Northern Waterfront Project and partner with Delta Diablo to market reuse water.
   Director Contreras asked what the penalties are if the ISD Board decided to change direction of the alternatives.  Staff stated there would be no penalties, that we need to determine an alternative(s) to move forward with the Recycled Water Feasibility Study.  The document can be altered and revised down the road should the Board change directions.
   Mr. Mike McGill, Board member on Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, also LAFCO representative for Special Districts, spoke to the Board in his capacity as a citizen.  Mr. McGill spoke to the Board with encouragement for use of ISD’s recycled water as it might help with the Northern Waterfront Development.  Looking at what we can do to help with the economic vitality, and consider how we can use our strategic resource.  He referred to the EC² effort being developed and encouraged the Board to work with the land use action team.  He would like the Board to consider what they can do to increase the economic value of this area, and possibly use the recycled water to help create jobs. 
   Ms. Phinney spoke to the Board regarding the consideration of green houses on Jersey Island as well as on ISD mainland.  She would like to encourage the Board to consider sustainable farming through greenhouses-hydroponics-aquaponics.  She stated there are possible grants available to help fund this alternative. 
   Mr. Williams stated that after developing the Mainland Land Management Plan, we could add the greenhouses to our Recycled Water Study. 
   Ms. Skrel asked the Board to consider the alternatives recommended by staff: 
   Immediate:

• Fill station (ISD internal use initially with expansion to off-site use for landscape irrigation and dust control).
• Consider growing grapes on 42 acres on Jersey Island.

Near Term:

• Provide recycled water to Oakley Generating Station, when constructed. 
• Continue to pursue conveyance of recycled water to the Wilbur Avenue Corridor for industrial reuse.
• Include in the Mainland Property Management Plan the concept of sustainable farming through greenhouses/ hydroponics / aquaponics.

Long Term:

• Pursue direct potable reuse with CCWD.

Director Contreras would like the following changes made to the alternatives.

Immediate Use: To develop the engineers report to expand the Fill Station to use for off-site landscape and irrigation and dust control; Near-Term: add the Northern Waterfront to the industrial reuse option. 

 

5C.      ACTION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF RECYCLED WATER PROJECTS(S) IN THE DRAFT RECYCLED WATER FEASIBILITY STUDY.

Mr. Williams stated to the Board that we need to determine an action to implement a plan with specific alternatives for direction. 

Director Painter has a very strong concern with the District committing to viticulture.

Director Lauritzen stated we are getting away from our core values.  We are in a drought situation and as a District; we need to be looking at the highest and best use of our water.  Jersey Island is a short-term use until we have a better plan for marketing our water and bringing business to East Contra Costa County.  Do we go from Hay to grapes?  We know how to harvest hay.  We need to go with the alternative that is the highest and best use of our recycled water. 

Director Scheer stated he would like the Board to consider the use of greenhouses.

The following Staff Recommendations as revised by the Board are to be considered as the Recycled Water Feasibility Study:

Immediate:

• Fill station (initial ISD internal use with expansion to off-site for landscape irrigation and dust control).
• Higher Value Farming on 42 acres on Jersey Island.

Near-Term:

• Provide recycled water to Oakley Generating Station when constructed.
• Continue to pursue industrial reuse along the Wilbur Avenue Corridor and the Northern Waterfront area.
• Include in the Mainland Property Management Plan: sustainable farming through greenhouse/hydroponics/aquaponics.

 

Long-Term:

• Advance Treatment suitable for potable reuse.

 

M/S D. Contreras, M. Painter and the Board voted to adopt the amended proposed alternatives for the projects to move forward with in the Recycled Water Feasibility Study. 

In favor: D. Contreras, D. Huerta, C. Lauritzen, M. Painter and D. Scheer.  Opposed: None.  Absent: None.

 

 

6.         Adjournment

President Huerta adjourned the Workshop meeting at 8:12 p.m. to Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. for the next regular meeting in the Ironhouse Sanitary District offices at 450 Walnut Meadows Drive, Oakley, California.