ORCAA Board of Directors
OLYMPIC REGION CLEAN AIR AGENCY
2940 B Limited Lane NW
Olympia, Washington 98502
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
November 8, 2006
Members present: Bob Beerbower, Grays Harbor County (Chair)
Lynda Ring Erickson, Mason County
Phil Johnson, Jefferson County
Jeff Kingsbury, in for Mark Foutch, City of Olympia
Ann Burgman, City of Lacey
Mike Doherty, Clallam County
Members absent: Pat Hamilton, Pacific County
Bob Macleod, Thurston County
Grant Munro, City of Port Angeles (Vice Chair)
Legal Counsel: Fred Gentry, Bean & Gentry
Staff Present: Richard Stedman, Executive Director, Mark Goodin, Professional Engineer; Robert Moody, Compliance Supervisor; Dan Nelson, Public Information Officer; and Debbie Moody, Recorder
The meeting was called to order at 10:10 am.
Beerbower was not present at the start of the meeting; Doherty was nominated to Chair. There were no additions or omissions to the Agenda. Burgman moved approval of the Agenda. Ring Erickson seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Burgman moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Johnson seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Compliance Update
Robert Moody, Compliance Supervisor, noted his staff has completed 29 inspections in the past month and dealt with 150 complaints. We have issued 98 land clearing burn permits, a few of which we have had some issues with, which Stedman will address shortly.
ORCAA Permit Actions
Mark Goodin, Professional Engineer, noted his staff has been busy with several permits. The front of the report shows pending cases, while on the backside (those with dates) are final. We have a new facility in Tumwater – a steel cutting facility. We are currently working with Sierra Pacific Industries Lumber mill; they will be installing an additional kiln. Imperium Renewables has been completed and was mailed out in October.
Beerbower arrived and assumed the position of Chair.
School Bus Retrofit Update
Dan Nelson, Public Information Officer, noted the city of Olympia is going forward with the some retrofit equipment on several of their vehicles. We will be funding those projects through the school bus funds. Stedman reminded the Board that we have funds available for city and county fleet vehicles. Ring Erickson stated Mason County Solid Waste Division would like to do a demonstration project. Nelson stated he would contact Mason County. Nelson also noted ORCAA’s new website is up and running at www.orcaa.org.
Beerbower asked if we had contacted the transit authority in Grays Harbor. Nelson stated the project in Grays Harbor is an ecology project; however he has been working on contacting the new people in Grays Harbor.
Ocean Protein Update
Stedman noted Ocean Protein made their final payment of $50,000 on their $250,000 fine. As part of the settlement, $75,000 of that money will be made available to the city of Hoquiam, for an air emission reduction related project. We will be dealing with the money on a grant basis. The city will have to apply for the money and we will decide if it is an air emission reduction worthy proposal. The city did ask about using the money to purchase an alternative fuel vehicle and run it on 100% biodiesel; however we explained to them that no manufacturer would warranty the vehicle. We did suggest they use the money for a woodstove buyback program.
Fee Regulation Changes
Stedman explained we are gearing up to notice a public hearing for the January Board meeting. The hearing will be in regards to the civil penalty fee increase as well as an increase in our land clearing burn fees.
Land Clearing Burn Incidents
Stedman stated we have had two major land clearing burn incidents that caused a lot of time for our agency. Both burns were in Thurston county; one on 93rd and Rich Road, and the other out in Hawks Prairie.
We had issues with the Rich Road location last year and were reluctant to issue the permit, but after talking to counsel it was determined we couldn’t deny the permit outright, based on complaints from the public. We issued them the permit with extremely tight conditions. They met the conditions, lit the piles and we received complaints from a nearby school, neighbors, etc. At that point we shut the burn down and revoked their permit. We did get word that they will be appealing the revocation of the permit. Stedman stated we are now having counsel looking into what leverage we have as far as pulling permits and not allowing burns. We do have a lot of support from the fire department.
The second problem burn was on Marvin and 56th. We received a lot of complaints that stated neighborhoods were severely impacted by smoke. We did go out and shut this burn down as well. Apparently the contractor started putting the pile back together to get it burning again after we left and being that it was on a Friday evening, we had several complaints when we got back to the office on Monday morning. We have let the contractor know there will be no further burning there either.
Stedman added we will be looking at additional requirements when issuing permits as well as denying more and more permits due to the fact that so many are occurring in close proximity to residences. We are guessing these denials will be challenged at PCHB. Stedman added that if we had been able to utilize the new permit fees, the contractors for these burns would have paid around $2,000 or $3,000 and we would have possibly broke even on our time for these issues. Kingsbury noted even at the permit fee level proposed, we are dramatically below what we need to be. It is unconscionable that developers, because it would cost $45,000 to return the organic matter back into they system (via chipping, etc), would choose to purchase a $100 permit to burn $45,000 worth of timber materials.
Stedman explained, unfortunately, if one chips and buries the waste material, the Department of Ecology may step in to stop it. It isn’t as simple as it should seem. Until we have viable alternatives, we have to issue permits. There was further discussion, but no action required of the Board.
Stedman added that Steve Rybolt, Air Quality Specialist, has developed maps of the upcoming no burn areas. Just to remind you, there are 17 new areas that will be closed to burning starting January 1, 2007. Stedman explained we could print maps for Board members if interested. Nelson added we also have our education campaign and have posters available if anyone would like to take copies.
Director’s Contract
Stedman reminded the Board that his contract expires December 31, 2006. Stedman noted he was amendable to doing away with a contract, as he didn’t see an advantage or disadvantage to having one. Gentry noted he would be happy to discuss the possibilities with the Director and/or the Board. Having a contract does spell out the time for annual increases, etc. and there are advantages to having the contract, the Director could go ‘at will’ if the Board chooses. There was some further discussion. No action was taken.
Next Meeting Date
Stedman noted we are allowed to forego two Board meetings a year, and it appears we typically cancel the August and December meetings. Stedman asked if the Board would like to cancel the December meeting.
Doherty noted he was going to speak with the Governor to urge her to do a biofuel/biomass workshop and tour over in Grays Harbor. Doherty was hoping to bring this idea to the December meeting, hoping to get Board support. Stedman noted we could send a letter with the Chairman’s signature. Doherty stated the Board could empower Stedman to send out the letter. Burgman stated we could just do it now, rather than wait for December.
Doherty moved the Board authorize the Director to put together a support letter 1) to the Governor to participate in a biomass/biofuel tour workshop in Grays Harbor during the start of the session; and 2) Karen Frasier letter be copied and seek the support of legislatures in our jurisdiction. Burgman seconded the motion. Ring-Erickson added both the Executive Director and the Chairman’s signature should be on both letters. The friendly amendment was noted and the motion carried unanimously.
The Board agreed to cancel the December meeting as long as there is no significant need to hold one.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Financial Services Legislation
Stedman noted the draft letter to Senator Karen Fraser regarding our bill. Stedman stated he had spoken with Senator Fraser and she agreed that it was much needed legislation. She requested the letter which is ready for signatures.
Kingsbury moved approval of the draft. Doherty seconded the motion. Doherty asked if we could add a noted that we are sending a copy of the letter to the legislators in ORCAA’s jurisdiction districts, seeking their support. The friendly amendment was noted and the motion carried unanimously.
Building Siding Maintenance
Stedman explained we have received bids for the siding on our building. We received three bids and one of the bids stated it would be X amount unless they bid under prevailing wage and then it would be XX amount. Stedman admitted he was taken aback by the prevailing wage comment and sought clarification from Lynn Harding, Administrative Services Manager. As it turns out, all public entities are to use prevailing wage which, Stedman stated, seems wrong.
With the Board’s approval, Stedman noted, we would like to look at ways to get around the prevailing wage. We own the building but own only occupy a portion of it; we will be looking at the chance we can get this done and save money for the agency and the public.
Civil Penalty Increase
Stedman noted Robert Moody has done the research and come up with a new maximum penalty amount for civil penalties. The amount will go from $10,000 per day per violation to approximately $15,000 per day per violation. If the Board is in agreement, we will move forward and schedule the public hearing in January. Doherty motioned approval of the increase in the civil penalty assessment. The motion was seconded by Kingsbury and carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
Presentation: Dave Seavey, Fleet Manager for City of Olympia
Stedman introduced Dave Seavey, Fleet Manager for City of Olympia. Seavey gave a presentation showing the work the city of Olympia has done with their fleet to decrease emissions, among other energy saving ideas. Seavey left handouts for the Board and the record.
The meeting adjourned at 11:50 am.
PRESENTED BY
Richard A. Stedman, Executive Director
APPROVED BY:
The Majority of the Board
APPROVED and SIGNED this 10th day of January 2007