[3:19] >> You got play for enjoy

[3:33] going, you know, an

[4:26] Good

[4:27] afternoon. Like to call the

[4:28] meeting of the Board of Public

[4:29] Utilities for the city of

[4:30] Santa Rosa to order.

[4:31] >> We have a roll call,

[4:33] please.

[4:35] >> Board member right here.

[4:40] Board Eisler here board member

[4:42] present board member been for

[4:46] vice chair. And Tony, here and

[4:46] check out been here. But the

[4:47] record reflect all board

[4:49] members are present. Thank

[4:50] you.

[4:50] >> Any statements of

[4:54] abstention by board members?

[4:55] Seeing none. All right. We

[4:58] have no study session. We have

[5:00] the minutes before the AUGUST

[5:02] 20th meeting that you are

[5:03] sent. Are there any questions

[5:08] or changes to those minutes?

[5:09] All right. We'll open up for

[5:12] public comment on item number.

[5:13] >> 5.1. If you wish to make

[5:14] comment on the minutes, please

[5:17] move to the podium. Seeing no

[5:18] one rise. The minutes will be

[5:22] approved in entered. We have 3

[5:23] staff briefings item 6.1

[5:27] director Burke.

[5:28] >> Thank you. Chair governor

[5:30] members of the board are first

[5:32] U.S. Staff briefing as our

[5:36] 2026 wildfire preparation and

[5:37] Joe Shabani, our deputy

[5:39] director of local water and

[5:40] sewer operations will be

[5:54] presenting.

[6:31] >> Good afternoon, Chair

[6:31] Galvin, vice chair Tony

[6:33] members of the board here

[6:35] today to brief you on some of

[6:36] the fire related emergency

[6:37] preparation work that's been

[6:38] completed throughout the year

[6:39] in the local water and sewer

[6:45] operations division. JUNE

[6:47] first was the official start

[6:49] in Santa Rosa for fire season.

[6:50] And we have been very

[6:51] fortunate to only have one red

[6:51] flag warning so far this

[6:56] season. We did receive below

[6:58] average rainfall for the 25 26

[7:00] year. But everything is still

[7:02] looking like a normal fire

[7:06] season for our area. We, as of

[7:08] Monday had about 302,000 acres

[7:11] burned throughout the state.

[7:12] So probably a little bit ahead

[7:14] of where we were this time

[7:14] last year. But again, still

[7:20] pointing towards normal. The

[7:22] knot in front of you shows the

[7:22] fires throughout the region

[7:26] for the entire year. And as of

[7:27] Monday, that active fires that

[7:28] were still burning throughout

[7:31] the state. So this this

[7:32] changes quickly and around

[7:33] this time of year, we'll

[7:34] probably see quite a few more

[7:38] that come into play.

[7:38] Fortunately that nothing

[7:39] active around our region right

[7:44] now. We do work with the Santa

[7:48] Rosa Fire team to get the fire

[7:49] potential outlook. And the

[7:53] prediction as you can see, the

[7:54] above average areas are sort

[7:55] of mimicking what we're seeing

[7:57] in the news lately where fires

[7:58] are kind of have been in that

[8:02] region this year ours again,

[8:03] the stihl and not in that

[8:08] normal prediction. So even

[8:09] with the weather that we're

[8:10] seeing today and potential

[8:11] potentially a little bit more

[8:14] rain next week versus to

[8:14] return to a little bit warmer

[8:17] weather on Monday. They're

[8:19] still looking at OCTOBER as a

[8:22] normal fire season for us

[8:23] Wood, which is kind of good

[8:25] news for us. OCTOBER can be

[8:27] kind of risky as we all know

[8:29] with fires that we've had in

[8:30] the past. It's very dry during

[8:33] that time of year. So.

[8:33] Optimistically looking for a

[8:39] normal season. The preparation

[8:40] and planning side our ongoing

[8:41] efforts to continue to train

[8:45] staff whenever possible

[8:48] regarding rd oc operations. We

[8:50] do try to develop effective

[8:51] drills when every year and

[8:53] refine those trails when

[8:55] necessary taking advantage of

[8:57] tools like technology using

[8:59] our eyenet site as a resource

[9:03] for staff as well as a way for

[9:06] them to easily check in both

[9:08] their time and the equipment.

[9:10] A big portion of these

[9:10] operations for us is capturing

[9:14] all the time for staff and

[9:14] materials so that if it

[9:15] becomes a large event, we can

[9:23] seek reimbursement. On the

[9:25] infrastructure side. We

[9:26] continue to complete projects.

[9:28] A lot of in-house projects

[9:30] this year. As I mentioned,

[9:31] presentations in the past, we

[9:33] are taking advantage of some

[9:35] of the enhancements we're

[9:36] seeing in radio project that

[9:38] we did a few years ago

[9:39] allowing us to monitor our

[9:40] system a little bit better

[9:43] remotely. Our trucks and

[9:45] equipment are are fairly well

[9:46] stocked throughout the year.

[9:48] This is a busier time of year

[9:49] for us just because we have a

[9:51] longer days and better

[9:52] weather. So pretty heavily

[9:53] stocked at this time with

[9:56] regard to supplies. We are

[9:57] making sure that not only we

[9:58] have the supplies that we need

[10:01] to to help I fix or maintain

[10:02] our system if needed, but also

[10:03] the personal protective gear

[10:06] that might be necessary. So

[10:07] even if we don't have a fire

[10:09] in our jurisdiction, we can be

[10:10] heavily impacted by things

[10:12] like air quality folks are

[10:15] coming in after hours or

[10:16] unplanned, then we have the

[10:17] supplies that they need to

[10:21] keep them safe. And again, on

[10:22] communication. We have a lot

[10:24] of communication with our

[10:25] crews on a daily basis really

[10:29] helping them understand what

[10:30] might be needed if we have an

[10:32] event letting them know any

[10:33] changes in our system

[10:34] throughout the year. So if

[10:36] they come in unexpectedly,

[10:37] they'll know why some things

[10:38] operating differently than it

[10:44] has been in the past. We're

[10:45] very fortunate center is a

[10:49] water to have a high level of

[10:50] system resiliency. The fact

[10:51] that we have stationary

[10:52] generators at all of our water

[10:56] pump stations and most of our

[10:56] sewer lift station just a

[10:59] great benefit to our community

[11:01] and then receiving the hazard

[11:01] mitigation Grant that we

[11:03] received a few years ago to

[11:03] help fund a large scale

[11:06] generator replacement project

[11:07] really is helping us out quite

[11:14] a bit. The fires that we had

[11:15] between 2017 really, we're

[11:16] using our generators quite a

[11:18] bit more than they were

[11:19] probably ever planned to be

[11:20] used and much more than

[11:23] they've been used in the

[11:25] decades before. So a really

[11:26] great enhancement to have new

[11:26] generators at all of those

[11:30] facilities. We also work

[11:32] diligently to stand or at

[11:33] standardize the equipment. So

[11:36] this allows us to have a local

[11:37] vendor. So when we're in the

[11:37] middle of an emergency and we

[11:39] have an issue, we're able to

[11:42] get parts and service quickly.

[11:46] We continue to work to harden

[11:47] our facilities, make them is

[11:47] fire resistant as possible.

[11:48] This includes things like

[11:50] incorporating cmu walls.

[11:51] Whenever we replace a roof are

[11:53] typically doing that with a

[11:54] metal roof. Again, just to

[11:55] make the facility more fire

[11:58] resistant. And a lot of work

[12:02] on the radio communications.

[12:04] We are able to use the newer

[12:05] radius and the way that we

[12:06] were not a lot of enhancements

[12:08] that help us monitor things

[12:09] like these generators

[12:10] remotely. So if we are in a

[12:12] department operations center

[12:14] mode, we can see what's going

[12:16] on from from the command

[12:17] center. It's been very

[12:22] helpful. Just general

[12:23] communication, which is

[12:23] probably one of the most

[12:24] important parts for

[12:27] preparation with us. We have

[12:28] quarterly water operations

[12:30] meeting meetings with Sonoma

[12:32] Water and all the contractors.

[12:34] This gives us an opportunity

[12:35] as word as we're entering into

[12:37] different seasons throughout

[12:39] the year to coordinate with

[12:39] them. Any issues they're

[12:40] seeing the demands that they

[12:43] have. How we can help them and

[12:48] they can help us as well.

[12:49] After 2017, we formalize the

[12:50] water fire and communications

[12:55] meetings that we have. This is

[12:56] been a huge benefit for a

[12:56] Santa Rosa Fire has been a

[12:59] great partner for us. They

[13:00] provide us with a lot of

[13:00] information. We work closely

[13:04] together to make sure that our

[13:05] operations are supporting each

[13:07] other throughout the year. But

[13:09] certainly during the fire

[13:10] season, we've developed

[13:10] several techniques to

[13:11] communicate with one another

[13:14] during large events and

[13:15] exercise several different

[13:18] times. Large portion of us

[13:20] attend weekly meetings with

[13:21] the Sonoma County Department

[13:23] of Emergency Management, which

[13:24] includes National Weather

[13:26] Service or getting a lot of

[13:28] prediction n forecast of what

[13:28] the weather is going to look

[13:29] like. Any changes that are

[13:32] coming our way. That does

[13:33] include our regional partners.

[13:33] So if there are issues

[13:36] throughout this region, we

[13:36] know what they're facing and

[13:39] what MAY be coming our way.

[13:40] And then again, a lot of

[13:40] internal and external

[13:41] communication, the external

[13:45] being. Generally were

[13:46] mentioning before and then

[13:48] letting the public know what's

[13:48] going on and internally

[13:49] working with folks like our

[13:50] capital improvement team to

[13:53] let them know if a project

[13:54] might impact some of our

[13:55] operations during a sensitive

[14:00] time. With that, I'd be happy

[14:01] to answer any questions that

[14:05] you MAY have. Thank you.

[14:06] Deputy director some phony

[14:07] opened up for any board member

[14:08] questions or comments.

[14:12] >> Board member do it. Yes,

[14:12] please. It's nice

[14:15] presentation. Thank you. You

[14:16] folks also talk with the Santa

[14:19] Rosa Parks department. I ask

[14:20] because you have a number of

[14:21] trends and vagrants that live

[14:26] in the parks and they do fires

[14:28] near Woodland type situations.

[14:29] Do you have that kind

[14:33] interaction, your meetings?

[14:34] >> So of course, we work with

[14:36] all other departments. Most of

[14:37] the information that we hear

[14:40] regarding that is through the

[14:41] fire department who's dealing

[14:42] with whatever fire might be in

[14:43] that area. So we certainly

[14:46] hear if there's an uptick.

[14:47] >> just let you know that the

[14:48] Roseland Creek Park of 19 and

[14:50] a half acres as a number of

[14:53] campers that bill fires

[14:54] regularly and strong wind

[14:55] comes as fires could blow into

[14:56] the trees and then over to the

[14:59] houses. Thank you kindly.

[15:06] Remember my

[15:08] >> I'm curious what measures

[15:09] that you have been looking

[15:10] into with respect to hardening

[15:11] this Keita equipment in

[15:12] particular. There's been some

[15:14] news in the press about water,

[15:19] infrastructure. And curious

[15:20] what's going on there? I don't

[15:20] know if that's in your

[15:25] purview. Thank you.

[15:27] >> It is a great We are very

[15:30] fortunate to a very secure

[15:31] skin, a system where closely

[15:32] with partners and the it

[15:35] Department and we have been

[15:36] notified quite some time about

[15:37] the some of the issues that

[15:41] are surrounding that. We also

[15:42] had the audits on our system

[15:46] as well. And we feel we're as

[15:46] prepared as we can as we can

[15:47] possibly be. And we kind of go

[15:51] to. The extra mile to make

[15:52] sure that we are ready for any

[15:54] of that type of activity.

[15:54] >> That is great to hear.

[15:57] Thank you. The board member

[16:02] questions or comments.

[16:03] >> All right. Will open up for

[16:04] public comment on item. Number

[16:05] 6, 0.1, if you to make a

[16:06] public comment, please move to

[16:10] the podium. Seeing no one

[16:11] rise. Thank you again for the

[16:16] presentation. Move to item 6.2

[16:19] director Burke. Thank you.

[16:23] Chair governor members of

[16:26] >> board item 6.2 is our 2026

[16:30] Creek Week. Update. Staff

[16:31] briefing and Kyle Small number

[16:35] are environmental nationalist

[16:36] with our stormwater and creeks

[16:38] team will be presenting. Good

[16:53] afternoon, MR. Spawn Bird.

[16:57] >> Thank you, Good afternoon.

[16:58] Chair governor members of the

[17:01] board. I'm here today to talk

[17:02] to you about the exciting

[17:03] events that we have for this

[17:05] year's Creek week. Activities

[17:11] and celebration. The Creek

[17:12] week this year. We'll be

[17:14] starting off with our creek to

[17:14] coast cleanup, which will be

[17:18] occurring on SEPTEMBER 19th

[17:21] Saturday from 10 to noon. And

[17:22] this is also in celebration of

[17:25] California's coastal cleanup

[17:27] day. This year's particularly

[17:28] expect exciting and special as

[17:29] the commission is celebrating

[17:31] 50 years of the California

[17:32] Coastal Act, which was adopted

[17:37] in 1976. On Sunday, SEPTEMBER.

[17:38] 20th, our staff will lead a

[17:39] guided nature walk along Santa

[17:42] Rosa Creek. And on Monday,

[17:43] SEPTEMBER, 21st volunteers are

[17:46] invited to join our milkweed

[17:47] Monday event at the Lower

[17:49] Colgan Creek Restoration

[17:51] Project. We'll be waiting in

[17:52] scattering milkweed and other

[17:54] wild seeds across our newly

[17:58] restored creek landscape. Are

[18:00] popular. Downtown underground

[18:02] tours will be taking place on

[18:02] Tuesday, SEPTEMBER 22nd

[18:06] Thursday, SEPTEMBER 24th

[18:07] registered participants are

[18:08] welcome to join this event and

[18:09] explore the culverts any time

[18:15] between 04:00pm and 06:00pm.

[18:17] On Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 23rd

[18:18] City staff will compete for a

[18:19] chance to earn the gold and

[18:21] trash Cup. This is our 5th

[18:23] annual event. City staff are

[18:25] very excited and ask lots of

[18:26] questions about this event. So

[18:28] we're excited to keep the

[18:29] momentum going. We'll have

[18:30] cleanup stations and supplies

[18:32] set up near the municipal

[18:34] buildings Downtown and Prince

[18:36] Gateway Park at Santa Rosa

[18:38] Creek at Stony Point Road. And

[18:40] then near Laguna de Santa Rosa

[18:41] and at the Laguna Treatment

[18:46] plant. Finally, Creek Week

[18:48] will conclude on Friday,

[18:49] SEPTEMBER 25th with a

[18:50] bilingual burning event

[18:51] co-hosted and led by Laguna de

[18:56] Santa Rosa Foundation. The

[18:58] staff and registrants will be

[18:59] meeting on will a side road

[19:00] and walking downstream along

[19:04] Centers. Creek to observe the

[19:05] great biodiversity and burning

[19:09] that they're just offer there.

[19:10] Anyone interested in attending

[19:12] one of the events. We asked to

[19:13] please visit Our Creek Week

[19:16] website and Register. Also

[19:18] find additional details and

[19:19] registration links. Thank you

[19:20] for your time. And we hope to

[19:20] see you out there at the Creek

[19:25] week. Events. Thank you. Open

[19:26] up for any board member

[19:27] questions or comments. I did

[19:29] mention.

[19:29] >> And are pretty meeting

[19:33] lunch. I was able to do the

[19:34] the other underground tour

[19:36] last year and it was very,

[19:37] very interesting. I would

[19:39] encourage all of you, too,

[19:42] take advantage of the

[19:43] opportunity to go into any

[19:47] city hall and and the all the

[19:47] way to the other other side

[19:51] the Southeast are different.

[19:51] Yeah. And you other board

[19:52] member questions or comments

[19:54] for member do it. Yes. Thank

[19:58] you. Those nice presentation.

[20:00] >> The creek week activities.

[20:01] And I'm curious, do you

[20:01] actually go out and look at

[20:02] other creeks besides Rosa

[20:08] Creek? Yes, we do. In the past

[20:12] and this year in particular,

[20:13] often times we focus on that

[20:13] just sticks and then large

[20:14] number of people that end up

[20:17] coming to these events. But we

[20:18] have visited other creeks,

[20:19] Colgan Creek being one of

[20:21] them. And we're always looking

[20:21] at expanding to other creeks

[20:25] in the future as well. Thank

[20:26] you, sir. I spent time

[20:30] yesterday and today. Roseland

[20:31] Creek has 2 bridges, one in

[20:34] McMinn Avenue one Burbank

[20:35] Avenue. Transient vagrants

[20:39] store should possessions,

[20:42] belongings think they collect

[20:43] under those bridges, sometimes

[20:45] even sleep under there. And

[20:48] this unexpected rain has come.

[20:49] I don't know if this was

[20:50] strong enough to be what you

[20:53] call the first flush. But I do

[20:53] believe that debris needs to

[20:55] be moved out from under those

[20:57] 2 bridges. I'm hoping that

[20:59] you're that person that can

[21:01] handle that and that we can

[21:01] get that stuff out of there.

[21:02] So it doesn't go to the Laguna

[21:06] de Santa Rosa because it would

[21:07] flow on out there if that was

[21:10] the case. Thanks again for

[21:11] your time, sir. And letting me

[21:16] volunteer. I appreciated. The

[21:18] board member questions or

[21:19] comments for member bound for

[21:19] its really just a comment.

[21:22] Thank you very much.

[21:25] >> I also did in the

[21:26] underground culvert or downed

[21:27] downtown. It's been several

[21:31] years now actually, it as a

[21:34] board member very, very

[21:35] educational. I'm really glad I

[21:35] didn't. I'd like to do it

[21:36] again, actually, especially

[21:40] since we're doing a lot more

[21:43] storm water work. There's some

[21:44] new interesting. There's 3 d

[21:45] down. There's some I'm certain

[21:47] I'm certain that a tour.

[21:48] >> I think going out and

[21:48] getting on site, especially

[21:54] for for projects we often kind

[21:56] of sit up here in offices and

[21:57] don't really get out to really

[22:02] can just help us be better

[22:03] stewards and advocates and

[22:04] decision makers around it. So

[22:06] sign me up for. Whatever the

[22:11] next board tour is. Thanks.

[22:11] >> Other board member

[22:15] questions or comments. Right.

[22:16] We'll open it up for public

[22:18] comment on item. 6.2, he was

[22:18] to make a public comment.

[22:22] Please move to the podium.

[22:23] Seeing no one rise that will

[22:25] take care of item. 6.2, thanks

[22:26] again, MR. Palmer. Yeah. Thank

[22:29] you all. Item 6.3 Director

[22:33] Burke.

[22:34] >> Thank you. Our final staff

[22:35] briefing as a review of the

[22:37] track toys program for the

[22:40] Laguna treatment plants and

[22:44] Ray Nagin, d r New tract waste

[22:45] program coordinator will be

[22:48] presenting.

[22:49] >> Good afternoon and welcome

[23:03] this county.

[23:36] >> Good afternoon, chair

[23:38] Khalfan and members of the

[23:40] board. My name is Renee Gundy.

[23:40] And I.

[23:44] >> Yeah, little closer story.

[23:45] My name is Renee Gundy. I am

[23:48] the truck to ace Program

[23:49] coordinator, which is a newer

[23:52] position and the environmental

[23:55] compliance section with it.

[23:56] Environmental services. Today,

[23:57] I'm going to be talking about

[23:57] the tracked waste program at

[24:00] the Laguna Treatment Plant.

[24:01] Program allows companies to

[24:02] hallways water to the

[24:06] treatment plant by truck. The

[24:07] service is particularly

[24:09] important for ways that cannot

[24:10] or should not be discharged

[24:13] directly to the sewer. For

[24:14] example, when a location where

[24:17] the waste is generated has no

[24:19] sewer connection or operates

[24:21] under stricter discharge

[24:23] requirements. So today I'm

[24:25] going to be providing us some

[24:26] background about the program

[24:27] and then bring you up to speed

[24:33] on where we are today. So

[24:34] before the truck to ace

[24:37] program was formally

[24:38] established public in a

[24:39] treatment plant, primarily

[24:40] excepted landfill leachate

[24:41] from the Central Landfill and

[24:42] several of the counties closed

[24:46] landfills. And for clarity, is

[24:49] the liquid ways that percolate

[24:51] through the soil and landfill

[24:52] material and will collect in a

[24:55] pond on the site. And we also

[24:56] occasionally would we receive

[24:59] septic? Waste from a small

[25:02] number of callers. At this

[25:04] time. We saw approximately 10

[25:06] to 20 trucks per day during

[25:08] the summer increasing to as

[25:09] many as 70 trucks a day during

[25:13] the heavy rains. And then in

[25:16] 2006 pipeline was constructed

[25:18] from the Central landfill. So

[25:19] that eliminated the need for

[25:20] that ways to be trucked into

[25:25] our plant. And 2015, the

[25:27] septic disposal rate was

[25:29] lowered to more competitive

[25:30] price, which brought in more

[25:32] septic and portable toilet

[25:35] waste. And then in 2016, the

[25:37] high Strength weigh station

[25:38] was constructed which allowed

[25:39] us to are concentrated way

[25:43] strains. And unlike other

[25:44] trucked away streams that

[25:46] discharge to the plants had

[25:48] words. The high strength weigh

[25:51] station is meter directly into

[25:52] the digest ERs where it

[25:52] generates methane that can be

[25:53] used to power engines and

[25:57] heat. The digest ERs. So this

[25:58] provides an energy benefit to

[26:00] the treatment process,

[26:01] although the mount that we can

[26:02] except per day is limited by

[26:05] the on-site storage capacity.

[26:07] And although until Mardi Patel

[26:08] later about each of the

[26:14] discharge areas. So as the

[26:14] high strength weigh station

[26:15] was added and we began

[26:19] evaluating additional ways

[26:19] streams. We identify that

[26:20] there was a need to

[26:22] accommodate what we now call

[26:25] medium strength wastewater

[26:27] because as we permitted more

[26:29] haulers, we found that some of

[26:29] the wastewater didn't fit

[26:30] neatly into the existing

[26:31] categories of waste that we

[26:35] have currently been accepting.

[26:36] We started by reviewing lap

[26:39] data and determining that this

[26:39] waste could be safely

[26:40] discharged at the same

[26:41] location that we were

[26:41] accepting the landfill

[26:45] leachate. For so many years.

[26:46] And this is what we called the

[26:48] emergency holding Mason, which

[26:53] talk about later. Other

[26:55] improvements honored,

[26:56] modernizing the check-in

[26:57] Hollers no longer had to

[26:59] complete a paper form for

[27:01] every load installing cameras

[27:05] to monitor disposal areas.

[27:07] Evaluating and adjusting the

[27:07] tipping fees based on

[27:09] treatment costs and

[27:11] competitive rates. And

[27:13] establishing my position,

[27:14] which created dedicated

[27:14] responsibility and oversight

[27:18] for the program. And all in

[27:20] all these changes have helped

[27:23] us to expand the program while

[27:24] improving efficiency,

[27:27] monitoring and cost recovery.

[27:30] So our program has 3 distinct

[27:31] disposal areas based on the

[27:33] type of waste that's been

[27:36] received. We currently have 66

[27:38] per minute hollers and more

[27:39] than 350 trucks that

[27:43] participate in the program. On

[27:44] average, we see about 50

[27:46] trucks per day during the dry

[27:47] weather and 75 trucks per day

[27:51] during the wet weather.

[27:53] However, in JANUARY we had a a

[27:55] record so far for this year,

[27:56] which was 101 transactions in

[28:00] one day. And as the program

[28:01] has grown, so has the variety

[28:06] of ways types that we get set.

[28:09] So looking closer at our

[28:10] disposal areas, this is a

[28:12] close-up of our septic

[28:13] receiving station where we

[28:15] take septic tank and portable

[28:19] toilet waste holler back their

[28:22] truck up to the discharge area

[28:24] it goes into that receiving

[28:26] trough, which has a screen to

[28:29] remove debris. And it's the

[28:30] hollers responsibility to

[28:31] remove the screen debris and

[28:32] clean the area before they

[28:36] leave. And arrow pointing to

[28:37] the waste haulers, Shaq is

[28:40] where every hollered when they

[28:41] come in, they go into that

[28:46] little building check in. So

[28:48] this is a track discharging

[28:49] our high strength weigh

[28:51] station behind the tanker the

[28:53] for 12,000 gallon holding

[28:55] tanks, which limits are how

[28:56] much of the high strength

[29:00] waste we can accept. The

[29:02] station accepts the more

[29:03] concentrated way streams from

[29:04] businesses such as Dairy and

[29:05] creamery processors, wineries

[29:09] and breweries and restaurant

[29:10] Grease interceptors. These

[29:11] wastes are generally not

[29:13] suitable for direct sewer

[29:14] discharge, for example, grace

[29:15] from restaurants can

[29:16] accumulate and the sewer lines

[29:19] and cause blockages in

[29:20] backups. So Greece

[29:21] interceptors at restaurants

[29:24] capture that grease and oil,

[29:26] which is then para lot

[29:27] periodically would be pumped

[29:27] out by holler and brought our

[29:32] plan. The high strength weigh

[29:33] station is also the only

[29:34] discharge station that

[29:36] requires staff assist

[29:38] assistance. Our operations

[29:40] staff will connect the hose

[29:41] from the holding tank to the

[29:41] tanker and assist a holler

[29:47] floating. This is our

[29:49] emergency holding basin, which

[29:50] is now very big area where a

[29:53] lot of color not. The

[29:54] emergency holding basin as

[29:55] where we receive all the other

[29:57] ways types. This includes low

[29:59] strength ways such as

[30:01] groundwater and certain wash

[30:04] waters as well as medium

[30:05] strength waste, which is like

[30:07] equipment washed down from the

[30:09] creameries and the wineries

[30:10] and we chait from soil

[30:14] composting operations as well

[30:14] as landfill leachate and

[30:17] tipping floor gray water that

[30:22] and receiving previously. So

[30:25] this slide shows the total

[30:27] gallons received by calendar

[30:30] year split up by each of the

[30:32] receiving areas to put the

[30:34] early numbers into

[30:36] perspective, the 1200 gallons

[30:37] that was received in 2013 is

[30:39] equivalent to one truckload of

[30:45] septic. I've also included a

[30:48] 2026 so far here today to show

[30:49] where we are so far this year

[30:57] gallons received. This slide

[30:58] provides an overview of the

[31:01] tipping fees collected by

[31:05] fiscal year 2013, the program

[31:07] generated approximately

[31:12] $195,000 and tipping fees. And

[31:15] now as you'll see the fiscal

[31:18] year 20 26 to JUNE was annual

[31:19] collections had grown to

[31:21] approximately 5 million

[31:22] reflecting the significant

[31:23] growth over the years that

[31:29] this program has 6 variance.

[31:30] So talk a little bit about the

[31:34] process that a holler Hass to

[31:35] go through in order to be able

[31:38] to discharge at the plant. Are

[31:43] permitted. As a waste hauler

[31:46] and in order to obtain the

[31:47] permanent, they have to submit

[31:49] an application that identifies

[31:50] the waste types that they plan

[31:52] to bring in as well as the

[31:53] vehicle license plates

[31:56] associated with their account.

[31:58] They have to pay an annual fee

[32:02] which is currently $654. They

[32:03] have to meet our insurance

[32:05] requirements and pride.

[32:06] Provide us updates as

[32:10] necessary. And ideally, we

[32:12] will request that they provide

[32:13] way sampling data so that I

[32:16] use that to profile the waste

[32:17] and determine the appropriate

[32:22] fee category. I then develop

[32:24] each callers waste hauler

[32:26] permanent, which outlines the

[32:27] requirements such as following

[32:28] plant safety rules paying

[32:30] their bills on time and

[32:31] cleaning the discharge areas

[32:36] after each load and each

[32:37] permitted vehicle is also

[32:38] issued a scan card which has a

[32:41] bar code on it and that links

[32:43] back to the vehicle license

[32:46] plates. And that is how the

[32:47] tipping fees are based on the

[32:53] total tank capacity. So like

[32:54] many programs, the truck to

[32:55] ace Program has had its share

[32:59] of challenges. We have shut

[33:02] downs that occur due to

[33:03] construction maintenance or

[33:04] stuffing. These most often

[33:05] affect the high strength weigh

[33:08] station because it as require

[33:09] staff to operate and has more

[33:10] equipment that requires

[33:13] maintenance. For example,

[33:15] we've had issues with rags and

[33:16] other debris getting caught up

[33:17] in the pumps during

[33:18] offloading, which is the top

[33:21] picture picture of a rag.

[33:24] Stuck in there. Wet weather

[33:28] can also create challenges

[33:28] more hollers coming That's

[33:30] holding ponds and tanks at

[33:32] wineries in landfills. Bill.

[33:33] More quickly at the same time,

[33:34] heavy rainfall can impact the

[33:36] treatment plant. If flooding

[33:39] becomes the concern are up.

[33:41] Variations staff MAY need to

[33:43] install barriers, which are

[33:44] the tiger dams that go across

[33:48] the entrance of the plant to

[33:49] set it, protects the plant

[33:50] equipment and processes and

[33:51] requires us to temporarily

[33:55] shut down checked waste and

[33:56] trucks. Waste can also be one

[33:57] of the first controllable

[33:58] source is that we would

[33:59] restrict to plant capacity was

[34:05] limited. We also occasionally

[34:06] receive mystery discharges

[34:06] such as a black tar like

[34:08] material that's shown on the.

[34:10] The one picture, which is

[34:13] emergency holding Mason. The

[34:15] addition of cameras, though,

[34:17] has made it much easier to

[34:18] identify the hollers when

[34:21] these incidences occur. And

[34:22] lastly, the plant wasn't

[34:24] originally designed for truck

[34:25] to waste program. So space

[34:28] limitations and truck crowding

[34:29] can be challenging, especially

[34:29] when multiple trucks are

[34:30] coming into the plan. At the

[34:38] same time. So despite

[34:39] challenges, there have been

[34:41] successes that I want to

[34:43] highlight. I think having a

[34:44] program coordinator provides a

[34:47] single point of contact.

[34:48] Improving program, oversight

[34:50] and customer service. I've

[34:52] made it a goal to increase

[34:54] sampling as resources, allow

[34:54] giving us a better

[34:55] understanding of the waste

[34:58] that's being received. The

[35:01] tipping fees help support the

[35:02] ongoing operation of the

[35:03] program. And the program

[35:06] provides an important disposal

[35:06] option for our community and

[35:07] in particular local way.

[35:10] Sellers. I've also recently

[35:11] started connecting with

[35:13] representatives from other

[35:15] agencies to share information

[35:16] and learn how different

[35:17] agencies manage their trucks

[35:22] waste and what I have learned

[35:23] through conversation is very

[35:24] few agencies will accept such

[35:27] a wide variety of ways strains

[35:28] and that makes our program

[35:28] very important regional

[35:36] resource. So this final slide

[35:38] provides JANUARY through JUNE

[35:39] 2026. Snapshot of the ways

[35:42] that we've received by type.

[35:44] You'll see that the largest

[35:48] portion was creamery

[35:48] wastewater 41% and not only

[35:52] represents 3 businesses.

[35:53] Winery wastewater has been

[35:57] increasing as the regulations

[35:58] that wineries have gotten

[35:58] stricter. That is currently up

[36:07] 15%. And landfill leachate

[36:08] 19%, which does not include

[36:09] the made Central landfill

[36:10] because goes to the pipeline

[36:11] and the septic waste was about

[36:17] 12%. And together these way

[36:18] streams generated

[36:18] approximately 2, 5, 0.4

[36:19] million and tipping fees so

[36:24] far from JANUARY to JUNE. If

[36:27] you have any questions. Thank

[36:28] you very much for the

[36:31] presentation. Vice Chair Tony.

[36:32] >> Thank you for presentation.

[36:35] Very complete. That's larger

[36:37] operation. I think all realize

[36:38] that times. So it's it's good

[36:40] to see overview of the whole

[36:42] thing. My question has to do

[36:45] with the 48,000 gallon

[36:46] limitation accepting high

[36:48] strength waste. Is it common

[36:49] for us to have to turn people

[36:50] away because we don't have any

[36:53] more storage space.

[36:56] >> Yes, actually, we have

[36:58] operation hours because staff

[36:58] does need to be present in

[37:02] order to offload. So currently

[37:03] the hours for the High Street

[37:08] are Monday through Friday.

[37:09] 6.30, to one 30 and a lot of

[37:11] times we have to shut down

[37:12] sooner because we have to shut

[37:16] down as soon as that pulls up.

[37:16] >> So that raises the question

[37:17] in my head it. What I've heard

[37:19] is it's been a very successful

[37:21] program and that has been

[37:23] useful for the region. And and

[37:23] it's it's it's been all to

[37:25] fight financial successful as

[37:25] well as resource successful.

[37:30] So. Would there be any reason

[37:32] to investigate increasing our

[37:33] storage capacity so that we

[37:33] can process more high streets,

[37:35] waste?

[37:37] >> I do think that that has

[37:38] been considered. I think

[37:39] there's a lot of other

[37:41] upgrades that would have to

[37:42] happen before we would be able

[37:47] to handle more. Okay. As far

[37:51] as like digester space and

[37:51] >> so as not just a storage

[37:52] capacity writing what we can

[37:57] do, ok? The board member

[37:58] questions or comments board

[38:03] member to every right.

[38:03] >> Thank you for the

[38:04] presentation and

[38:05] congratulation on your

[38:11] position. This is a fantastic

[38:12] program. We have recently been

[38:13] discussing this program from a

[38:15] budget standpoint because you

[38:17] raise your I'm glad that all

[38:18] the board can actually hear

[38:21] and see what this program

[38:23] does. This is a phenomenal

[38:25] program for the community in

[38:26] general. I mean, back in the

[38:28] 80's, we just didn't have this

[38:29] kind of stuff. Remember in the

[38:30] late 90's we started

[38:36] developing. It was pretty. You

[38:37] Clark Ticker it certainly

[38:38] becoming number one thing I

[38:41] just heard you say that

[38:43] running out a digester space.

[38:44] I thought with that that we

[38:47] had lots to digest or space.

[38:48] >> That would not be my area

[38:49] x.

[38:53] >> For tease all right. One in

[38:59] the room.

[39:02] >> All right. But thank you.

[39:03] Much of the presentation. And

[39:06] I I'm very happy about this

[39:08] program, very proud that the

[39:08] city is taking this on and

[39:10] been so aggressive that at

[39:16] developing Thank you. Remember

[39:17] to it?

[39:18] >> Yes, thank you. Nice

[39:19] presentation. Could you look

[39:26] at slide 11 for a moment. The

[39:27] picture of the truck that's

[39:30] driving up through some water.

[39:33] That's there at the site. And

[39:36] is that after a big rain?

[39:37] >> Yes, that was when we were

[39:40] on the verge flooding and we

[39:43] probably shut down soon after

[39:44] All right.

[39:46] >> And is there a risk of

[39:47] flooding this fall? We expect

[39:51] a bit more rain this year.

[39:52] >> I'm sure it's possible. I'm

[39:54] not really sure what's going

[39:57] to happen. Typically since we

[40:00] are at the lowest point, all

[40:03] the sewer gravity. Comes to

[40:07] us. So we do flood. Right with

[40:08] that in mind. One of the

[40:09] preparations that you do to

[40:11] keep it from going over into.

[40:16] >> The waste pond.

[40:16] >> While operations staff is

[40:19] responsible for them, they put

[40:21] up a tiger dams. Okay. So

[40:23] that's why when they put those

[40:26] up, they go across the road so

[40:26] that the hollers can't know

[40:28] can't come in anymore.

[40:30] >> I get that. I'm just

[40:33] concerned. Even without the

[40:33] haulers Youve got sandbagging

[40:35] and other types

[40:36] >> They they protected very

[40:39] well. Thank you. Kindly up.

[40:40] >> The board member questions

[40:43] or comments. Head board.

[40:46] Member of my I have a couple

[40:50] of questions. I'm curious.

[40:51] >> Is there any negative

[40:52] consequence environmentally

[40:55] when trucks are turned away,

[40:56] they go do something illegal

[41:00] to dump the waste somewhere

[41:00] >> Typically they will be

[41:03] permitted with another

[41:04] facility. They might just have

[41:09] to drive further because a

[41:12] similar program to ours is Bay

[41:12] mud. And depending on the

[41:14] waist height. They might have

[41:19] to drive there. Is there a

[41:20] tracking method to know what

[41:21] happens when they're turned

[41:23] Now?

[41:24] >> There is not. So it's just

[41:28] a trust relationship. Yes,

[41:28] curious there. And then I was

[41:31] curious. This is just a

[41:33] curiosity question. Is the

[41:34] sampling done by individual

[41:38] truckload by by the carriers.

[41:39] >> We have staff that will

[41:42] sample as as we cat can the

[41:44] operations currently samples

[41:48] once a week septic and then we

[41:48] have an intern that will

[41:53] sample twice a week right now.

[41:56] As much our laboratory will

[41:58] and a day for us to bring in

[41:59] as well. We well just randomly

[42:02] sampled the trucks. And then I

[42:05] have one final question. Is

[42:06] any of the solid waste that's

[42:08] collected? Appropriate for

[42:15] biochar. I am certain about

[42:21] solid waste. I think typically

[42:23] septic waste can be. And I'm

[42:23] curious I don't notice a

[42:27] patient. Pregnant. I'm

[42:31] unfamiliar. Thank you.

[42:32] >> board member questions or

[42:36] comments. I will open up now

[42:38] for public comment on item.

[42:39] 6.3 of you wish to make a

[42:40] public comment. Please move to

[42:43] the podium. Seeing no one

[42:44] writes, Thank you again for

[42:45] your presentation. Very well

[42:51] done. We have one item on the

[42:53] consent calendar, which is the

[42:54] approval of the professional

[42:56] services agreement was sent a

[42:58] resource and you'll see from

[43:02] the agenda give a report later

[43:04] that this matter would be for

[43:05] the contract review

[43:05] subcommittee and is being

[43:07] recommended to the full board.

[43:08] I move adoption of the consent

[43:12] calendar. Second. Motion by

[43:13] vice chair and only seconded

[43:17] by board member Baton Fort.

[43:18] This time we'll open it up for

[43:19] public comment on item. 7.1 of

[43:20] us make a comment. Please move

[43:24] to the podium. Seeing no one

[43:25] rising. We have a roll call

[43:26] vote. Please.

[43:28] >> Board member right Eye

[43:30] Board Eisler. I board member

[43:36] do it. Yes. Board member Ford.

[43:37] Vice chair. Tony, and check

[43:39] out of an eye. Let the record

[43:40] reflect that the consent

[43:42] calendar passes unanimously.

[43:50] Thank you.

[43:51] >> We have no report next item

[43:54] on the agenda is item number 9

[43:57] public comments on non agenda

[43:58] matters. You to make a comment

[43:59] on non agenda matters. Please

[44:03] move to the podium. Seeing no

[44:04] one rise. Take care that we

[44:09] have no referrals. We have no

[44:10] written communications. As I

[44:11] mentioned a moment ago, we do

[44:12] have one subcommittee report.

[44:15] The contract review

[44:17] subcommittee met on Monday

[44:19] AUGUST 31st. We reviewed and

[44:21] unanimously recommended the

[44:22] professional services

[44:22] agreement that was just before

[44:25] us and has been approved. And

[44:27] believe that's the so

[44:30] committee report. Any

[44:35] questions on that? We'll open

[44:37] it up then for public comment

[44:37] on item number 12 is used to

[44:38] make a comment item 12. Please

[44:40] move to the podium. Seeing no

[44:43] one rise. Any board member

[44:50] reports. Board member to it? I

[44:54] do believe it's important.

[44:56] >> This spring that happened

[44:58] today, maybe a 4 runner, if

[44:58] you will, of more rain at

[45:03] unexpected times. Under the

[45:04] bridges. I'm sure not just in

[45:09] Roseland, but in other spots.

[45:09] >> There are.

[45:10] >> Collections of possessions

[45:14] of different. Whoever

[45:15] collection and puts in So I

[45:16] think we really need to be on

[45:18] the forefront of moving that

[45:19] stuff out. I know we don't

[45:21] have enough staff and some

[45:24] senses but it would be a good

[45:25] idea, too. Look under the

[45:26] bridge basically we're at and

[45:27] see what might be under there.

[45:31] That's going to get swept out

[45:31] to the Laguna and then

[45:32] possibly even to the Russian

[45:38] River. Thank you. And the

[45:39] other board member comments

[45:41] reports.

[45:42] >> We'll open it up for public

[45:45] comment item number 13, if you

[45:45] wish to make a comment, please

[45:47] move to the podium.

[45:50] >> Seeing no one rise. That'll

[45:51] take care of that item.

[45:52] Director's report. Director

[45:54] Burke. Thank you. Chair

[45:55] governor members of the

[45:56] Warren.

[45:57] >> I just have a few things to

[46:00] update the board on. First.

[46:02] >> As many of you MAY have

[46:05] been aware, there was 3.5

[46:06] magnitude earthquake a little

[46:07] earlier today. Senator Denmark

[46:10] field with just wanted to let

[46:14] the board know we did not

[46:17] receive any alarms are

[46:20] concerns. So we did find any

[46:22] damage to our facilities. Our

[46:23] systems and things are

[46:27] operating normally second. I

[46:29] wanted to let the board know

[46:30] that we will once again be

[46:31] celebrating water

[46:31] professionals Appreciation

[46:36] Week. That will be 2 3rd

[46:38] through OCTOBER 10. Our Sy

[46:41] Tober 11th and we will provide

[46:43] an update on those events and

[46:44] how we will be celebrating

[46:47] your wonderful team at your

[46:54] next board meeting. Also on

[46:56] OCTOBER 17, we are doing a

[46:59] trick or treatment mysteries

[47:03] of the Laguna treatment plant

[47:05] from 10 to 2. And this will be

[47:08] the launch of our newly

[47:09] renovated treatment Plant Tour

[47:14] program. We will be decorating

[47:16] parts of the treatment plant

[47:18] for Halloween will have kid

[47:23] friendly activities. Candy and

[47:25] tours members of the public.

[47:29] Just 10 and above.

[47:30] Pre-registration is required.

[47:32] If you want to go on the tour.

[47:36] Plus, you also have to wear

[47:37] closed toe shoes. If you want

[47:40] to go on that or and more

[47:41] information and registration

[47:45] is available at our city Dot

[47:48] Org. Slash toured the plant

[47:50] again. That's going to be on

[47:53] Saturday, OCTOBER 17th from 10

[47:53] to 2 at the Laguna Treatment

[47:58] Plant. And then also this

[48:04] year, the police department is

[48:05] re-imagining there. Family

[48:08] friendly trunk or treat event

[48:11] and that is going to now be a

[48:12] citywide event and the water

[48:14] department will be

[48:16] participating, bringing some

[48:17] of our I think our cleaning

[48:18] truck will be there as well as

[48:21] some other equipment that will

[48:24] be on Thursday, OCTOBER 29th

[48:27] from 04:00pm to 08:00pm at the

[48:32] Sonoma County Fairgrounds. And

[48:33] as anticipated that up to

[48:35] 5,000 people attend that

[48:39] event, we will have lots of

[48:44] candy fun activities for kids.

[48:45] And again, this is a

[48:48] family-friendly police

[48:50] department as well as other

[48:52] city departments and community

[48:56] partners will be participating

[48:57] and that is my update. And I

[48:58] am happy to answer any

[49:00] questions. Thank you. Any

[49:05] questions for the director?

[49:06] >> Very good. Will open up for

[49:07] public comment on item number

[49:08] 14, if you wish to make a

[49:09] public comment, please move to

[49:14] the podium. Seeing no one rise

[49:16] that concludes our agenda for

[49:17] today. So we are adjourned.

[49:32] Thank you.

Board of Public Utilities

Agenda

Transcript