[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.