May 21, 2019

Open Board Meeting-Sterling Natural Resource Center (SNRC)

 Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Open Board Meeting- Chris Carrillo, Chairman, and John Muro, General Manager/CEO East Valley Water District

Norton Regional Event Center
1601 E. Third St., Suite 138
San Bernardino, CA 92408

Minutes

Present:   Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Ann Bryan, Rachelle Bussell, Sandra Espadas, Adam Eventov, Ashley Gaines, Milford Harrison, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, Bill Lemann, P.T. McEwen, John Mirau, Vikki Ostermann, Keven Porter, Dan Roberts, Kristine Scott, Phil Southard, David Van Voorhis, Steve von Rajcs, Ray Wolfe and Frank Zabaleta.

Guests:  Tom Brickley, Mark Gibbs, John Holcomb, Jake Orta, Frank Reyes and Pete Van Helden,

A brief closed session was requested by Kristine Scott, Past Chair, presiding. 

The Executive Committee recommends a letter of support and op ed be sent for the Eastgate Air Cargo Logistics Center.  The Eastgate project located on the San Bernardino International Airport property will create an additional 2,000 high quality jobs and will generate millions in revenue that will be invested to promote aviation.  They will be environmentally friendly using green buildings and will be located away from residential communities to reduce noise and truck traffic near homes and schools.  The facility will be built solely from private funds.

M/S/P: A letter of support and op ed for the Eastgate Air Cargo Logistics Center will be sent.

The closed session ended.

Announcements: 1) Copies of the Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO) report was available to members, courtesy of Pam Langford.

M/S/P: Minutes from April 30, 2019

Frank Zabaleta introduced Chris Carrillo, Chairman, and John Muro, General Manager & CEO, East Valley Water District.

The Sterling Natural Resource Center (SNRC) is a state-of-the-art recycled water treatment facility and community center in Highland, California, that will provide a sustainable new water supply to boost the region’s water independence. It will be capable of treating up to 10 million gallons a day of recycled water for groundwater replenishment of the local Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin.  It will also create new opportunities for the surrounding community in the form of education and training, community space, neighborhood improvements, and new habitat for the Santa Ana Sucker fish.

The SNRC will be constructed on a 14-acre parcel of land located at North Del Rosa Drive between East 5th Street and East 6th Street. The Treatment Facility is located on the eastern property while the Administration Center will be located on the western parcel. The collection/conveyance pipelines would be constructed along the existing rights of way. The grounds will be park-like providing green space with water features, enhancing the neighborhood.  They will have a multipurpose community facility where events may be held.

Construction on the Sterling Natural Resource Center began in late 2018 and is scheduled to be completed in late 2021.   Long standing agreements with water delivery to Orange County will be maintained.  Funding for the $175M SNRC project has predominantly through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

The facility will transform and enhance the region’s water supply by creating a new, local source of water for the community and region.  Additionally, by replenishing the Bunker Hill Basin with recycled water, the region will be able to store hundreds of millions of gallons of water for dry years.  This effort creates an opportunity to assist with meeting both local water agencies’ needs and environmental commitments. Revenue will be created as the sewage treatment technology will generate twice the electricity they consume.  The excess will be sold back to Edison.

Sewage sludge, the residual semi-solid material that is produced as a by-product during sewage treatment, is currently being shipped to Arizona.  The expense to transport the material will be eliminated with the SNRC that will process it on site.  They will have a 2-million-gallon capacity in the odor and noise free covered area. The by-product of the sludge will be made into fertilizer, which could be donated to schools. Mr. Muro stated we must always be thinking of secondary uses for all of our resources.

Projecting a shortfall of industry workers due to retirement of Baby Boomers they are acting proactively by partnering with local schools to offer hands-on educational opportunities and provide a pathway for students to learn about water and wastewater treatment operations as a potential career option.  Positions often do not require a college degree, the industry pays well, provides excellent benefits and has many advancement opportunities.

A Q & A period followed.

Meeting Adjourned 8:30 a.m.