Water Reclamation District Board Requests More Information on "Furnish and Deliver" Contracts

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting  
February 21, 2019  


What the Board Discussed:

• "Furnish and Deliver” contracts, with multiple requests for more information. 
• Minority/women business participation relative to some specific agenda items was brought up by Commissioner Garcia. 
• Plaans relative to compost bagging were discussed, with more specifics to be provided. 
• Commissioner Davis asked how the carbon dioxide purging services that MWRD proposed to contract out would ultimately capture CO2 emissions, with the contract deferred pending more information. 
• Commissioner Davis brought up the Watershed Management Ordinance (“WMO”) amendment near the end of the meeting, noting the tight timeline.  The staff assured the Board that by March 14 a comments package would be delivered with information on public comments and a tracked changes copy of the proposed modifications. A study session on the WMO will be held in March.  Commissioner Davis stated it was a complicated topic and asked, if needed, could the deadline of May 1, 2019 be moved back.  The General Counsel stated since the deadline is written into the ordinance, action would need to be taken by April to formally extend the time.   

Requests by the Commissioners:

1. Relative to “furnish and deliver” contracts, 
   1. Commissioner Morita requested more information on certain legal aspects and information on how other governmental bodies treat.
   2. Commissioner McGowan requested a Study Session and a list of the bidders once available. 
2. Relative to compost bagging:
   1. Commissioner Morita requested a memorandum on the current research and understanding of PFOS in biosolids.
   2. Commissioner Davis requested an analysis of what is in the biosolids and how the District scans for contaminants. 
3. Commissioner Shore requested Board transmittal letters include explanations that constituents can understand. 

​Items to watch for in the Future: 

• Further discussions relative to selecting an Inspector General (Intergovernmental Agreement and/or RFPs); 
• transmittal letters to the Board relative to consent agenda items, 
• the role of MWRD committees
• the Watershed Management Ordinance (copy on the MWRD website under the engineering tab).

Observed by: Marjy Gilbert                                                    Meeting Length:  1 hour