MINUTES WATER ADVISORY BOARD AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE JOINT MEETING September 13, 2019 WAB Commissioner Steve Geller, Broward County Board of County Commissioners, Chair MEMBERS Commissioner Kevin Biederman, City of Hollywood PRESENT: Commissioner Tim Lonergan, City of Oakland Park Council Member, Susan Starkey, Town of Davie Vice Mayor Tom Good, Pembroke Pines Mayor Sandy Welch, City of Coconut Creek Commissioner Tim Ryan, Broward County Board of County Commissioners Albert Carbon, TAC Chair Ron Bergeron, South Florida Water Management District Commissioner Doug Bell, Central Broward Water Control District Board of Commissioners Mayor Greg Ross, South Florida Regional Planning Council Mark Peterson, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Jack McCluskey, Alternate, South Broward Drainage District Board of Commissioners WAB Mayor Wayne Messam, City of Miramar MEMBERS Mayor Ken Thurston, City of Lauderhill ABSENT: Michele R. Clawson Commissioner Richard Blattner, Alternate, City of Hollywood Commissioner Neil Kerch, Alternate, City of Sunrise Mayor Frank Ortis, Alternate, City of Pembroke Pines Commissioner Dan Daley, Alternate, City of Coral Springs Mayor Dean Trantalis, alternate, City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Michelle Gomez, Alternate, City of Tamarac Commissioner Barry Moss, Alternate, City of Pompano Beach TAC Albert Carbon, Chair MEMBERS Kevin Hart, Co-Chair PRESENT: Talal Abi-Karam Harold Aiken Mike Bailey Doug Bell Randy Brown Patrick Davis Sara Forelle Rafael Frias Susan Bodmann for Alan Garcia Barry Heimlich Diego Munoz for Leny Huaman Jennifer Jurado Pete Kwiatkowski Cindy Griffin for Lisa Milenkovic Pat O’Quinn JOINT WAB/TAC SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 NE Steve Urich Tim Welch Renuka Mohammed TAC Mark Collins MEMBERS Mike Crowley ABSENT: Steve Holmes Jose Lopez Stephanie Pearson ALSO Michael Owens, Broward County Attorney’s Office PRESENT: Charles Drake, Vice President, Tetra Tech Terri Lowery, Senior Vice President, Jones Edmunds Pat Quinn, Natural Resources Specialist Senior, Broward County Environmental Planning Kevin Carter, Assistant to the Director, Broward County Water & Wastewater Services Nancy Cavender, The Laws Group A joint meeting of the Broward County Water Advisory Board, Technical Advisory Committee was held at the Broward County Government Center, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 430, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 at 10:07 am. (The WAB/TAC meeting minutes were summarized by Norma Ellison. Copies of the presentations, as well as the sign-in sheet, are filed with the supplemental papers of the meeting.) Roll Call – Water Advisory Board (WAB) Roll call was taken by the Real Time Reporter. A quorum was established. The Chair introduced new board member Ron Bergeron representing South Florida Water Management District. Mr. Bergeron expressed his honor at being appointed a board member. He also promised to follow the instructions of the governor to focus on the quality of the environment for future generations. Roll Call – Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Roll call was taken by the Real Time Reporter. A quorum was established. Public Comments None WAB Approval of Minutes from May 10, 2019 On Motion of Mayor Ross, seconded by Council Member Starkey, and unanimously carried, the Board approved the Joint WAB/TAC Meeting Minutes from May 10, 2019. PRESENTATIONS Partner Recognition – Play Conservation Pays and Win! Sponsorship Commissioner Steve Geller, Broward County Presented to Charles Drake, Vice President Tetra Tech The Chair presented and read aloud a plaque of appreciation to Tetra Tech, Broward County’s partner serving as the sole private sector sponsor of the Play Conservation Pays and Win! water conservation initiative. Charles Drake, Vice President of Tetra Tech, accepted the award and expressed his gratitude. As a result of Tetra Tech’s JOINT WAB/TAC SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 NE sponsorship and the campaign’s overall success, the Broward Water Partnership received a National Association of Counties Best in Class Award for the Play Conservation Pays and Win! initiative. Coastal Video Show and Tell Pat Quinn, Natural Resources Specialist Senior, Broward County Environmental Planning Dr. Quinn provided a brief video of an encounter on September 6th with a super pod of dozens of dolphins off Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. The video was a result of an offshore artificial reef assessment after Hurricane Dorian. Dr. Quinn and some of his staff took underwater dive pictures as well as dolphins following alongside the boat. The Chair along with the audience applauded Dr. Quinn for his remarkable video. Septic Tank Ordinance Update A Review of Best Practices Terri Lowery, Senior Vice President, Jones Edmunds Kevin Carter, Assistant to the Director, Broward County Water & Wastewater Services, introduced guest speaker Terri Lowery, Senior Vice President, Jones Edmunds, the environmental consultant hired to assist local governments with the challenges involved in successfully transitioning from septic to sewer. Ms. Lowery provided background information and discussed in detail the septic-to-sewer issue in Florida that was researched when developing her septic-to-sewer guidance document, as follows: ◦ 12% of septic tanks in the US are in Florida with 30% of the state relying on septic tanks ◦ Many septic tanks are failing, but others working properly still discharge nitrogen at high levels ◦ Septic systems have been put in sensitive areas along waterways contributing to blue green algae ◦ The challenge of dealing with a lot of stakeholders including regulators, local governments, utilities, environmental groups, property rights groups, builders, realtors, legislators, and citizens ◦ Cost and funding challenges is the biggest issue with many variables that impact costs, funding sources are available for leveraging the costs ◦ Public education and acceptance, explaining that homeowners are part of the problem ◦ Political consistency is essential as there is a lack of understanding ◦ Legislation has been written regarding transferring ownership of septic permitting from DOH to DEP In summary, Ms. Lowery explained the goal of the septic-to-sewer document is to assist local governments in navigating challenges of septic tank transition. She outlined the different sections in the document noting case studies are included. She advised that the intent of the septic-to-sewer document is not to offer a comprehensive study, but collect thoughts, ideas, and resources from multiple sources in a single location. The Chair thanked Ms. Lowery for her presentation. A question and answer session ensued. In response to Chair Geller, Ms. Lowery agreed to provide Dr. Jurado and Mr. Carbon a non-technical information sheet that have been supplied to public attendees at various stakeholder meetings. The Chair alluded to the large septic tank community in Hollywood and the necessity for better communication. In response to Commissioner Ryan’s concern regarding proximity and distance between homes, Ms. Lowery responded that there are advanced treatment alternatives for removing nitrogen in certain situations. Commissioner Biederman informed that the City of Hollywood hired a new utilities director to deal with the financing component of its 10-year very aspirational conversion plan to 100% septic-to-sewer. He added that the County placed a limit of 15% to be spent on infrastructure. He advised that as a result, the City will have to rely on some state and federal funds so that residents aren’t burdened with those costs. JOINT WAB/TAC SEPTEMBER 13, 2019 NE In response to Commissioner Lonergan’s question on how much rural and/or small communities account for 30% of the state relying on septic systems, Ms. Lowery responded that there are different factors throughout the state, not a pattern, depending on the process of development that occurred in each city and the grant dollars available at the time for development. Ron Bergeron inquired about the percentage of septic tanks vs. surface water discharges entering state waters, and the impact septic tanks have on surface water in state waters. Ms. Lowery answered that there are different numbers associated with TMDL’s for different water bodies. TMDL’s in basin management plan documents depict pie charts that break down nutrient loading from septic tanks. Mr. Bergeron suggested that one big step to easily address is educating the public on avoiding fertilizer. He further stressed the necessity of identifying the septic hotspots in Broward County. The Chair directed Mr. Bergeron to meet afterwards with Dr. Jurado on that subject. TAC Recommendations Albert Carbon, TAC Chair Mr. Carbon explained that the referenced Septic-to-Sewer Guidance Document discussed by Terri Lowery is a living document, and would not be part of the ordinance but be a reference to it. This document could be updated outside the ordinance as new information becomes available. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) and their working group would update it with additional case studies and new reference information. The Chair thanked Mr. Carbon for his clarification and recommendation. WAB Vote on Recommended Ordinance Dr. Jurado and Michael Owens jointly addressed the provisions of the Septic Tank Ordinance. Dr. Jurado acknowledged Lenny Vialpando’s lead on this initiative. She informed that this recommendation is the work of Michael Owens’ consolidation of revisions. She detailed out the major provisions and considerations ◦ Article 2 relates to the 180 days required for connection once line is installed ◦ Article 2 ½ relates