CITY OF SUNNYVALE

City Council Study Session Summary

Mercury in the Environment and new Proposed Requirements

from the Regional Water Quality Control Board

October 26, 2004 - 6:30 PM West Conference Room

The City Council met in a study session at City Hall in the West Conference Room, 456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, California on October 26, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. with Mayor John Howe presiding.

Council Present:               Mayor John Howe

                                      Vice Mayor Dean Chu

                                      Council Member Fred Fowler

                                      Council Member Julia Miller

                                      Council Member Ron Swegles

                                      Council Member Otto Lee participated via teleconference

Council Absent:                Council Member Melinda Hamilton (Excused)

Staff Present:                   Amy Chan, City Manager

                                       Chuck Schwabe, Deputy City Manager

                                      Marvin Rose, Director of Public Works

                                      Joan Borger, Acting City Attorney

                                      Lorrie Gervin, Environmental Division Manager

                                      Coryn Campbell, Manager of IGR

Guests Present:                   Bruce Wolfe, Executive Officer, San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board (arrived @ 6:45 pm)

Adam Olivieri, EOA Inc.

Vice Mayor Dean Chu called the meeting to order at 6:32 pm.

Study Session Summary:

I.         Background on Mercury Issue in Bay Area

A presentation was made to the City Council on the recent developments of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of mercury for the San Francisco Bay.  Staff provided background on the TMDL process and differences between this process and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process. 

II.       Presentation by Bruce Wolfe, Executive Officer, San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board

The Executive Officer provided a PowerPoint presentation on the TMDL issue, including Clean Water Act and California Water Code requirements; background, history, and problems with mercury in the San Francisco Bay; and proposed solutions and implementation plans for the mercury TMDL.

III.     Issues Specific to Sunnyvale's Water Pollution Control Plant

Staff covered issues and concerns specific to Sunnyvale that included issues of equity between treatment plants relative to good performance and the effective loss of treatment plant capacity that would result from the TMDL.

IV.              Next Steps on Mercury Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

The Executive Officer indicated that the RWQCB will need assistance from Sunnyvale and the other wastewater treatment plants to support the overall allocation for treatment plants as EPA is arguing a lower value should be used.  EPA has final approval authority for the TMDL, after the RWQCB, State Water Resources Control Board, and Office of Administrative Law have all approved it.

V.      Questions and Answers

Staff and the City consultant responded to questions from Council members.

No time was available at the conclusion of the Executive Officers presentation for further questions, therefore, the Executive Officer and staff indicated they would accept follow-up questions from Council members subsequent to the Study Session.

ADJOURNMENT

The Study Session was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lorrie Gervin, Environmental Division Manager