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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-SJC-2009-09-09 SJC MEETING September 9, 2009 SJC Members Staff Wade Wykstra, Chair Mayor Carolyn Peterson Supervisor MaryAnn Sumner Supervisor Herb Engman Pat Leary Mary Tomlan Joel Zumoff Rich DePaolo Erik Whitney Scott Gibson Dan Ramer Steve Thayer Bill Gray Dan Walker Guests Chris Kalwara, Johnson Controls Krisy Gashler, Ithaca Journal Walter Hang Jose Lozano Wade called the meeting to order at 12:33PM. Approval of August 2009 minutes – MaryAnn moved the minutes. Seconded by Joel, the motion passed without dissent. Rich DePaolo abstained. WRC (Water Resources Council)/CU Monitoring Partnership – Jose Lozano Proposed Resolution: IAWWTF – SJC Resolution __ Supporting the participation of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility in the Water Resources Council/Cornell University Partnership in defining objectives and advancing the Strategic Lake Monitoring Plan. MOVED by ______, seconded by ______. WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Water Resources Council, an advisory board to the Tompkins County Legislature, promotes the protection of the community’s water resources, and WHEREAS, in 1998, Cornell University received a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to construct and operate the Lake Source Cooling plant on Cayuga Lake, and WHEREAS, the DEC permit required Cornell University to undertake a program to detect the impact of Lake Source Cooling on the southern end of Cayuga Lake, and 1 WHEREAS, in 2004, Cornell University requested the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to reduce the permit-required Lake Source Cooling monitoring sites in the southern end of Cayuga Lake, and WHEREAS, in 2006, the Water Resources Council and Cornell University entered into a partnership to collaborate on issues related to Cayuga Lake, and WHEREAS, the IAWWTF has a SPDES discharge permit, has upgraded its phosphorus abatement technology and performed lake monitoring for several years to evaluate the impact of that upgrade, and WHEREAS, the IAWWTF supports continuation of all existing Lake Source cooling testing sites related to permit compliance monitoring with an increase in the testing standards, and WHEREAS, the Water Resources Council-Cornell University partnership has proposed a Strategic Monitoring Plan for the impaired southern basin of Cayuga Lake that includes physical, chemical, and biological monitoring components to determine trends and variations in these indicators of the health of the lake and to develop data that supports defensible scientific understanding of the ecological characteristics of the southern end of Cayuga Lake, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That Special Joint Subcommittee, the governing body of the IAWWTF, supports the participation of the IAWWTF in the Water Resources Council/Cornell University Partnership in better defining objectives of the Strategic Lake Monitoring Plan, and supports the overall approach described in the Strategic Monitoring Plan for the southern end of Cayuga Lake, RESOLVED, further, That the Special Joint Subcommittee believes that the strategic monitoring plan and Lake Source Cooling permitting process are two separate topics that should be addressed separately, RESOLVED, further, that a certified copy of this resolution be sent to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Herb suggested adding a new fifth WHEREAS to the proposed resolution to support the IAWWTF participation in the WRC/CU Partnership for the Strategic Lake Monitoring Plan that could read: WHEREAS, the IAWWTF supports the continuation of all existing Lake Source Cooling testing sites related to permit compliance monitoring with an increase in the testing standards. Jose stated that he would have to read the complete monitoring plan before endorsing Herb’s suggestion as he believes that this is already stated in the plan. 2 Rich questioned the need for a resolution as he believes that endorsement by this body is an endorsement of the WRC bid to back Cornell’s request to reduce the number of LSC monitoring sites. Rich argues that the WRC has politicized the Lake Monitoring Plan by backing Cornell’s request and Jose and Dan R. argue that our objectives are scientific in nature and dictated by our permits. Rich stated that there is nothing to preclude this body from sharing data with the WRC and therefore we should not have to become an official partner. Herb noted that without the LSC component, what the WRC is proposing would not be a bad idea. Bill suggested keeping the first RESOLVED and rewording it as follows with input from members: RESOLVED, That the Special Joint Committee, the governing body of the IAWWTF, supports the participation of the IAWWTF in the Water Resources Council/Cornell University Partnership in better defining the objectives of the proposed Strategic Monitoring Plan for the southern end of Cayuga Lake. Rich pointed out a typographical error in the third WHEREAS, and also asked that the (if any) be stricken noting that the DEC has weighed in on the issue and has characterized that LSC does have a possible/probable impact on the southern end of the lake. Bill suggested changing the sixth WHEREAS to read that the IAWWTF has a SPDES discharge permit. The WRC is an official organization. The Partnership is a group of people/organizations working with the WRC and sharing data with no official membership. Staff is currently participating from the outside and this resolution is to gain input from the SJC as a governing body and for staff to represent this body in their participation. Erik noted that our testing and data is analyzed for the purpose of our permits and we should be separate from LSC. Rich moved to table the resolution. Herb moved to vote on the resolution. The motion to table failed 3-5 with DePaolo, Peterson, and Tomlan in favor, and Engman, Leary, Sumner, Wykstra, and Zumoff opposed. Walter Hang spoke to the members and urged them not to adopt this resolution. MaryAnn moved to pass the resolution. Seconded by Herb, the motion is defeated by a 4-4 vote with Engman, Leary, Sumner, and Wykstra in favor, and DePaolo, Peterson, Tomlan, and Zumoff opposed. It was decided to table the discussion until the October meeting. Energy Reduction – Chris Kalwara, Johnson Controls Chris gave an update on the progress of the study. Dan reported that none of the grant notifications have come through yet. 3 The investigation phase should be complete by the end of October. The total amount of the project development agreement is $79,500. The SJC has previously approved $24,000. Steve said that we have reserves to pay the difference of $55,500. There is a resolution on the table to approve an additional $55,500 for a total of $79,500 to complete the performance contract on the part of Johnson Controls, Inc. Carolyn moved the resolution. Seconded by Rich, the motion carried unanimously. Financial Report – Steve Thayer Steve distributed the current financial reports. Current 2009 activity is within budget at this time. We have a positive result to date of $565,000. We have spent about $32,000 in the Miscellaneous Plant Improvement project in the last month. Steve said that he wanted to discuss the 2010 Budget but suggested a special meeting due to time constraints. All agreed that this would be best. Steve gave an overview of the 2010 Budget Request and briefly explained the process of determining final numbers based on historical numbers and usage, or trends. The members will submit their schedules for the next 2 weeks to determine a date and time for a Special Budget meeting. Operators Report Summary– Dan Ramer Jeremy Giordano has accepted our offer as our new Operator Trainee/Instrumentation Tech. Staff attended the September WRC/CU partnership meeting. Jose made a presentation regarding the Doppler Current Profiler. We have contacted a manufacturer for the mixer on the Actiflow System to resolve an issue with the breakage of bolts on the blades. JCI and O’Brien & Gere are working diligently on our project as discussed above. A settlement agreement has been signed for our violation of the bulk petroleum storage regulations. A fine has been levied in the amount of $1350.00. Engineering Report Summary – Scott Gibson Crane Hogan - Final step to be determined. Headworks Loading Study Update in October. On a motion, the meeting was adjourned. 4 5 The next meeting is scheduled for October 14, 2009 at 12:30PM.