COUNCIL INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MEETING
Remote Participation - Digital Zoom Meeting
January 25, 2023
5:30 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 5:32 p.m. by Chair Elisa Márquez ROLL CALL:
Members Present:
Angela Andrews, City Council Member, Mayor Pro Tempore Elisa Márquez, City Council Member, Chair
Mark Salinas, Mayor
Staff Present:
Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
David Donovan, Waste Pollution Control Facility Manager Suzan England, Senior Utilities Engineer
Kathy Garcia, Deputy Director of Public Works
Sammy Lo, Senior Civil Engineer
Glenn Micko, Senior Utilities Engineer
Cheryl Munoz, Water Resources Manager
Salvador Navarro, Assistant Civil Engineer
Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager
Michael Wolny, Administrative Secretary (Meeting Recorder) PUBLIC COMMENTS:
There were no public comments.
1. Approval of Minutes of the Council Infrastructure Committee (CIC) Meeting Held on October 26, 2022
The item was moved by Mayor Salinas, seconded by Council Member Andrews, and approved unanimously.
2. Cargill Mixed Sea Salts Processing and Brine Discharge Project - Information and Discussion
Director Alex Ameri, introduced Jackie Zipkin, with East Bay Dischargers Authority (EBDA) and Don Brown with Cargill, Incorporated who provided the presentation and update.
Public Comments
Eddie Alvarez, with the Building Trades Council of Alameda County, spoke in favor of the Cargill project as it would provide jobs for workers all throughout Alameda County.
Committee Questions / Discussion
Council Member Andrews asked EBDA what types of public comments have been received so far regarding the Environmental Impact Report. EBDA staff confirmed that they have not received any comments yet, but encourages the public to provide feedback before February 17, 2023. Council Member Andrews requested Cargill staff to include Chambers of Commerce throughout the region in their outreach efforts. Mayor Salinas added that Cargill staff should reach out to businesses along the proposed pipeline area, so they are educated on this project as well.
Mayor Salinas asked what the status is of the existing pipe. Director Ameri confirmed that the existing pipe easement was created in 1930 but never fully developed. A portion of that easement was used to construct a major conveyance pipeline from the City of Newark into Hayward’s well fields between 1961-1965. The pipeline easement goes throughout the city including an area under the airport. Cargill staff added that they will review the easement and most likely determine the existing pipeline as a conduit to run the new pipeline through it after their initial pipeline borings. Mayor Salinas asked Cargill staff if the pipeline exists under the airport, what is the process for getting the Federal Aviation Administration involved? Cargill staff said that after their pipeline boring investigation, and if pipeline is found under the airport, Cargill would most likely redesign and redirect the pipeline so that it does not go under the airport to minimize disruption for the area. Director Ameri expressed reservations for this project due to the large impact it would have throughout the City. Director Ameri added that, although Cargill could work in line with future City projects such as Fiber Optic Cable and a Recycled Water Pipeline, the impact on the City for this brine pipeline may not be justifiable on the current easement. City staff will continue to work with Cargill on the most optimal design for this pipeline after further review of the existing easement. Cargill staff confirmed that they would do their utmost to minimize the impact on the Hayward community as much as possible and thanked City staff for their partnership.
Chair Márquez emphasized to Cargill staff that outreach needs to be customized for the City of Hayward, especially for business and residential areas along the proposed pipeline. She encouraged Cargill staff to include the benefits of this project to the community of Hayward so they can grow support and help residents understand the overall impact of the potential construction throughout the area. She also would like to see the Sierra Club and the Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency (HASPA) added to outreach and education efforts.
Chair Márquez also asked Cargill staff to include quantifiable data of how this project will benefit the City of Hayward when the item is presented to City Council. Council Member Andrews asked to include how much of EBDA’s staff time is also being reimbursed for their research and review of this project in their report when this goes to City Council.
3. Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) Improvements – Phase II Project Administration Building Update
Director Ameri introduced Suzan England, Senior Utilities Engineer who provided the presentation and update alongside MWA Architects Inc.
Public Comments
There were none.
Committee Questions / Discussion
Council Member Andrews asked staff about the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification for the new building design. Director Ameri confirmed that this building will meet the requirements of LEED Silver. Council Member Andrews asked staff what the placards in the front garden area would discuss. Staff confirmed that the placards would be focused on educational information for the wastewater treatment plant process and sustainable gardening using recycled water. Staff added that the placards are completely customizable to whatever they would like to showcase. Ms. Andrews asked staff to include a placard dedicated to the history of the land parcel if that information is available.
Chair Márquez asked about parking for staff and if electric vehicle (EV) charging stations would be made available. Director Ameri confirmed that with the expansion of this building, additional parking would be needed for increased staff which will most likely be added in the back of the building. EV charging stations will also be added as current staff already use the existing stations and provided positive feedback for additional EV stalls.
The committee expressed support for the building design concept that showcased more glass windows.
4. East Bay Community Energy’s Community Solar Program - Discussion and Recommendation to Council
Director Ameri introduced Erik Pearson, Environmental Services Manager, who provided the presentation and report.
Public Comments
There were none.
Committee Questions / Discussion
Mayor Salinas asked where the map in the presentation is from and how it was created.
Environmental Services Manager Pearson responded that the State of California created it
and the data presented considers household income, environmental factors, and other demographics to show which areas could see the most benefit from this new program.
The committee asked staff to clarify the ask for this program. Mr. Pearson confirmed there are two requests for the committee: 1) Overall support of the program so that the City can be an official sponsor and help with outreach and education efforts during the enrollment period and 2) should the City take 25% of the solar generation or use 100% of the solar electricity generated to expand the program to as many low income customers and rate payers in Hayward.
Chair Márquez asked what enrollment would look like, and if successful can the program be expanded. Mr. Pearson and Ms. Ventura with East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) confirmed that this program would first reach out to rate payers who are already enrolled in a low-income discount program and this new program would be an additional benefit.
EBCE staff confirmed that there is an existing system they use for another discounted rate program that can target those who are eligible to enroll in this new program. EBCE staff would do outreach to the low-income rate payers first and ask them to apply online, over the phone, or have EBCE representatives sign people up at community events if needed for outreach efforts. EBCE would prefer to lead the enrollment effort to gather as many applications as possible using their existing system and the City (as a sponsor) would support outreach efforts. To expand the program, funding would need to be secured from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and reviewed and then approved by them.
Council Member Andrews asked staff to provide educational resources to rate payers, so they understand what happens when they enter the program and what happens if a developer joins the program and installs solar on their private building.
Chair Márquez moved the item, seconded by Mayor Salinas, to approve staff’s recommendation to move forward with the commitment letter for City Council to vote on at a future council meeting and waive the City’s 25% allocation to expand the new program and service to as many low-income residents/rate payers as possible.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS Andrews, Márquez, Salinas
NOES: None
5. Proposed 2023 Agenda Planning Calendar: Review and Comment
Public Comments
There were none.
Committee Questions / Discussion
Director Ameri made a general comment that due to the incoming volume of agenda items; staff will try to keep the agenda to three substantive items at each meeting (not including
minutes, planning calendar or oral reports). If there are smaller items, the agenda can be expanded to include more if timing allows.
Chair Márquez asked staff to limit staff presentations to 10-15 minutes as she’d prefer to save time for council questions and discussion. She understands that may not always be possible due to the topic, but if presentation slides can be sent in advanced, that would be helpful for the committee’s review.
ORAL REPORTS
There were none.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS
Council Member Andrews announced the Keep Hayward Clean and Greek Task Force (KHCGTF) Beautification event for Saturday, January 28, 2023 from 8:00am-12:00pm at Rancho Arroyo Park.
Ms. Andrews added she would like to see if storm drains can be adopted, like the adopt-a- block program, so that storm drains can be upkept considering the recent storms. She suggested this can be a joint effort with community members, Public Works, Maintenance Services Department and KHCGTF.
Chair Márquez asked Director Ameri to schedule a meeting to discuss the City’s green infrastructure initiatives.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Márquez adjourned the meeting at 7:21 p.m.
MEETINGS
Attendance
Present
1/25/23
Meeting
Present
to Date
This
Fiscal
Year
Excused
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Absent
to Date
This Fiscal
Year
Elisa Márquez ✓ 2 0 0
Angela Andrews ✓ 2 0 0
Mark Salinas ✓ 2 0 0