HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2004-05-24 #S AGENDA REPORT
DATE: May 24, 2004
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: John B. Bahorski, City Manager
FROM: Douglas A. Dancs, P.E., Director of Public Works /City Engineer
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION
DISTRICT UPGRADE PROGRAM — RECEIVE AND FILE
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
Authorize the Mayor to sign a support letter for the Orange County Sanitation District, for the
upgrade program.
BACKGROUND:
In 2002, the City of Seal Beach was the first City in Orange County to take a position against the
discharge waiver for the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), thereby setting the pace for
improved water quality. The District is now seeking Federal funds for upgrades to its treatment
works to comply with the Clean Water Act's secondary treatment standard mandate. The City is ,
being asked to send a letter to the United States House of Representative Congressman, Dana
Rohrabacher indicating our City's support for funding for the Sanitation District. The support
letter indicates our continuing support for the District and improvements to water quality in
Orange County.
Enclosed is the support letter being sent to OCSD signed by the Mayor of Seal Beach.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign a support letter for the
Orange County Sanitation District, to upgrade their wastewater system program.
Agenda Item
Prepared By: Concur: �j
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Mark K. Vukojevic, P.E. D ouglas A. Dancs, P.E.
Deputy City Engineer Director Public Works /City Engineer
NOTED A ► APPROVE 1 •
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Jo : ahorski, City Manager
. closure: OCSD Support Letter
Agenda Item
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May 11, 2004
The Honorable Dana Rohrabacher
U.S. House of Representatives
2338 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
On behalf of the City of Seal Beach, I write in support of the Orange County Sanitation
District's ongoing effort to upgrade its treatment works to comply with the Clean Water
Act's secondary treatment standard mandate. We are especially grateful for the leadership
role you have assumed on this matter over the past year. Because of your support and
active involvement, our community is enjoying a meaningful federal partnership to
ensure compliance with this water quality mandate. In our discussions with the District,
we understand that a request of $10,000,000 is being sought as part of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's fiscal year 2005 budget. We understand that this may
be an austere budget year and are therefore hopeful that you will be able to secure
assistance that at a minimum maintains the established federal partnership that began in
earnest last year.
We understand that in prior years the federal government has dedicated substantial
resources to other coastal communities to support their efforts to meet secondary
treatment mandates. Thus the support you are providing means that Orange County
ratepayers will only shoulder their proportional share of compliance costs as other
communities. Today's priority by the District to meet this mandate is vital to the
District's capability to provide improved water quality of our coastal waters as well as to
position the District with the ability to meet other pressing water quality needs. This
includes the ability to work with our local communities to address such matters as
stormwater controls and enhanced biosolids management. --
OCSD provides sewage collection, treatment and disposal services for more than two
million Orange County residents. It is a public agency responsible for safely collecting,
treating, disposing of sewage and industrial waste. In addition, OCSD is working jointly
with the Orange County Water District to design and construct a state -of the art ground
water replenishment system to help meet the water supply needs of the region. Through
the reclaiming of 70 million gallons per day of highly treated effluent from OCSD, this is
the largest reclamation project in the country. The support of our effort to meet secondary
treatment levels fully will enable OCSD to provide an increase of over 50 million gallons
per day of highly treated effluent to this project thereby enhancing the County water
supply reliability.
Again, we greatly appreciate your past support of the District and the needs of our
community. We look forward to learning of a successful outcome on this request. In the
interim, if we can provide any other information on this important project, please let me
know.
Sincerely,
ig--t 4,47
Mayor
City of Seal Beach