Laserfiche WebLink
Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - September 7, 1993 Page - 6 - <br /> • <br /> NEW BUSINESS (continued) <br /> Council Member Kerr said a study report of 16 agencies in the Bay Area <br /> showed San Leandro's costs as the highest at $1,797/million gallons, second <br /> only to Half Moon Bay. He said, if we are serious about cutting costs, we <br /> should be looking at consolidations and privatizations other than the Fire <br /> Department. He said, it appears sewer treatment is more sacred than the <br /> Fire Department. He suggested holding off on this matter at this time and <br /> requesting a proposal from EBMUD on the feasibility and costs associated <br /> with consolidation with them for sewer treatment. He said we should <br /> maintain control of our collection system. <br /> Council Member Corbett said these are allegations she never heard before, <br /> and she'd like to hear a comment as to where the information came from. <br /> She said it could not be further from the truth that the City Council <br /> thinks the sewer treatment plant is more sacred than the Fire Department. <br /> City Manager Mike Oliver said he was not sure of the origin of Council <br /> Member Kerr's comments but said, a month or so ago, Council Member Kerr had <br /> requested some information regarding the long-term study the City had done <br /> on sewer processing and the future of the Water Pollution Control Plant, <br /> which was furnished by Bob Taylor. If Council Member Kerr and the Council <br /> wanted staff to prepare a presentation on the view of where the Plant is <br /> and how it operates, and the City Council wants to evaluate this, staff <br /> could do so. He said this would be a more reasonable approach than issuing <br /> an RFP and would allow the City Council to make some informed choices. <br /> Mayor Faria said this has been done once before, but there are two members <br /> who might not have seen the study. <br /> Council Member Kerr said EBMUD's response to the study challenged many of <br /> the figures and allegations. <br /> Mayor Faria asked if they challenged them to the City directly. <br /> Council Member Kerr said he had a copy of EBMUD's response to the <br /> consultant who prepared the study. He asked if the Resolution could be put <br /> off to a Work Session. <br /> Bob Taylor, Public Works Services Director, said there is no great urgency, <br /> but this is something that should be moving along in a regular planned <br /> program. He said, as businesses move out of the area, the City is always <br /> a suspect regarding odors. He said the City is trying to be a good <br /> neighbor and has spent other money to control odor in the area. He said, <br /> under Air Quality Control Board regulations, if there are verified <br /> complaints, the City is subject to daily fines, so this is not something we <br /> want to wait on. On the grit removal , he said, even if we did go to a <br /> different treatment option, it would take two to four years before it <br /> actually occurs; and, during that period of time, the grit removal is a <br /> safety factor for the employees and to reduce the wear and tear of the <br /> equipment. He said maintenance of the equipment is a high cost. He said <br /> we would probably proceed on those projects even if the decision was to go <br />