ORCAA Board of Directors
April, 2006 - MINUTES
OLYMPIC REGION CLEAN AIR AGENCY
2940 B LIMITED LANE NW
OLYMPIA WA 98502
April 12, 2006
Members present: Pat Hamilton, Pacific County (Chair)
Bob Beerbower, Grays Harbor County (Vice Chair)
Ann Burgman, City of Lacey
Bob Macleod, Thurston County
Lynda Ring Erickson, Mason County
Phil Johnson, Jefferson County
Grant Munro, City of Port Angeles
Members absent: Mike Doherty, Clallam County
Mark Foutch, City of Olympia
Legal Counsel: Fred Gentry, Bean & Gentry
Staff Present: Robert Moody for Richard Stedman, Lynn Harding, and Debbie Moody, Recorder
The meeting was called to order at 10:03 am.
There were no additions or omissions to the Agenda. Burgman moved approval of the Agenda. Beerbower seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Johnson moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Beerbower seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
The Board held introductions around the room and welcomed our newest Board member, Lynda Ring-Erickson, Mason County.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
R. Moody noted that Stedman apologized for being absent.
Compliance Update
R. Moody noted we had issued a notice of violation to Nippon. After meeting with Nippon, the NOV was rescinded and replaced with an Order at Nippon's request. We proposed an agreement and we are waiting for that to be finalized. The intent of the agreement is to assure there are no painted materials in the wood waste they are accepting.
We have a settlement agreement with Ostrom's Mushrooms. Gentry noted it is actually in the process of being signed. R. Moody gave a brief overview of the case, as a reminder. Hamilton asked if they still stink. R. Moody stated they do. Burgman asked what the conditions of the settlement are. Gentry stated the settlement agreement allows for the payment of $2,100.00 to ORCAA. It was noted that PCHB agreed with Ostrom's that they do have an agricultural process, which we don't regulate. However they also sell compost, which does not fall under that umbrella of protection. Gentry noted it was a very difficult situation to sort through. The agreement stated the compost they produce must stay onsite and they cannot ship it off for sale. They are allowed to exchange compost between their two sites—the one here in Thurston County and the one in Everson. Gentry noted they are exempt from our odor regulation.
R. Moody noted we also have a settlement agreement with Ocean Protein. This case was mediated by PCHB. The total penalty assessed in the case was $750,000. Of that amount, $250,000 will be paid to ORCAA. Of that $250,000, $75,000 will be available, by grant, back to they City of Hoquiam for air quality projects. $250,000 must be used by Ocean Protein to upgrade their equipment and the final portion of the penalty is suspended but will become due and owing if they have any violations. Along with the agreement, R. Moody continued, they will not begin operating until they get our approval. We do have a public hearing scheduled on the 19 th of April at 6:00pm at the Hoquiam High School Little Theater.
ORCAA Permit Actions
R. Moody stated a current New Source Review list is included in the packet for Board review.
Air Quality Summary
R. Moody went over the AQI summary. He noted the numbers in Port Angeles seemed a bit out of the usual. Rita Cirulis, in our Port Angeles office has been contacted and will be looking at the neighboring area around the monitoring site, to see if she can determine if something odd is causing a problem, such as a woodstove burning nearby.
Grant Munro stated an interesting situation came up at the city council. We had a number of developments that have come through for approval and the folks specifically asked that we ban woodstoves in those developments. Munro noted we have actually granted the request in a couple of the developments and didn't receive any complaints from the developer.
School Bus Retrofit Update
R. Moody noted there is a current update in the packet for the Board to review at their leisure.
Title V Audit
R. Moody stated we recently went through an audit on our Title V program. The state had a contractor come in for the audit. There were three components to this audit; a specific permit was looked at (Rohm & Haas), an annual audit of the overall program, and a new component was a 5-year review of the overall program. We have not heard back from them to date, and we assume it will be awhile before we do.
Personnel Policy & Procedures Manual
The Personnel Policy & Procedures Manual has been under review since November. R. Moody stated we have recently received a draft from the attorney who was looking it over for us. There are a few small items that need to be discussed prior to finalization. R. Moody noted that Stedman will be bringing it before the Board soon.
Public Hearing Report
R. Moody noted the recent public hearing for Lakeside Industries was well attended. There is strong community concern with regards to the emissions from the plant. ORCAA did revise the permit requirements to reflect those concerns. We will be approving the permit, but we added several requirements. Burgman asked what the new conditions were. R. Moody noted we have limited their hours of production, the quantity per year is limited, trucks idling in the neighborhood are prohibited, no recycled asphalt is allowed, and they can't start up their operation until they have gas on site. R. Moody noted staff could send a copy of the permit conditions to any Board member wishing to receive them.
Macleod wanted to let the entire Board know that Thurston County has concerns with the Lakeside permit. Macleod read excerpts from Commissioner Oberquell's testimony. R. Moody stated that Commissioner Oberquell's testimony was taken into account and several of the concerns were incorporated into the new permit.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Building Lease CCS
R. Moody stated the new lease has been signed and it does reflect a small increase to CCS.
FY07 Draft Budget
R. Moody explained we have recently received a salary survey review that was done by the Northwest Clean Air Agency. After review of the survey, R. Moody stated, it appears Stedman is looking at adjusting some of the salaries for us as well. R. Moody added the proposed COLA for this budget cycle is 2.64%. R. Moody noted Debbie Moody would be contacting the finance committee to set up a meeting prior to the next Board Meeting.
Lynn Harding, Administrative Services Manager, noted that we are retaining a balance in our reserve, as directed by the Board, to cover administrative costs (for 3 months) if there is an emergency. There is also one fee increase, which was discussed at our last meeting. This is reflected under assessments. Currently we are charging $.375 per capita and the increase shows $.45. Hamilton asked what the reserve balance was. Harding stated the projected yearend balance is $717,000. Of that, we are keeping a 25% reserve for emergencies. $260,000 of the $717,000 will be used in next years budget.
Burgman stated she didn't believe the Board had discussed raising the assessments. She noted it has been discussed in the past and has never gone well. Hamilton stated we did discuss it at the last meeting.
Burgman added that she had met with the director of CCS and she wanted to let the Board know that CCS is very appreciative of ORCAA and they are very happy with where they are. We are the best landlords they have ever had.
Hamilton asked how we are doing with regards to Thurston County and getting our bills paid on time. Harding stated we are on their agenda, in the Financial Services Department, and they are meeting this morning. They will be discussing the issues we have raised with regards to getting our bills paid on time.
Harding stated they have stated their willingness to work with us.
NEW BUSINESS:
There was no New Business to be brought before the Board, however prior to adjournment, it was noted that the Board needed to hold elections.
Burgman moved to nominate Bob Beerbower for Chairman. There were no further nominations for Chairman. The motion was seconded by Johnson and carried unanimously.
Burgman moved to nominate Grant Munro for Vice Chair. There were not further nominations. The motion was seconded by Beerbower and carried unanimously.
Burgman moved to nominate Bob Macleod for Secretary. There were no further nominations. The motion was seconded by Johnson and carried unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 10:33 am.
PRESENTED BY:
Robert Moody, Compliance Section Supervisor
APPROVED BY:
The Majority of the Board
APPROVED and SIGNED this 10 th day of May 2006