Oro Loma Sanitary District

Departments

Oro Loma Sanitary District provides wastewater collection and treatment services, and residential and commercial solid waste and recycling services to its customers. The District is organized into the following:

• Board of Directors
• Administration Department
• Collections Department
• Engineering Department
• Maintenance Department
• Operations Department

Board of Directors

The Directors invite the public to attend Board meetings and Board Committee meetings. Board meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. in the District Administration Building. Board Committee meetings are held at various times. A tentative listing of dates and times are available here.

The Board of Directors makes all policy determinations through the enactment of ordinances and resolutions, and has final authority in the implementation of these policies. The Board determines how the District will obtain and spend funds, and reviews and approves the District‘s two-year budget. The Board also appoints the General Manager and Legal Counsel, as well as the members of the District‘s five standing committees.

Major Objectives and Strategic Goals

Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010

• Provide customers with the best possible service at the lowest possible cost.
• Meet operating, construction, and current debt service requirements while maintaining competitive rates.
• Provide proper infrastructure, maintenance, operational capacity, and organizational awareness to meet all collection and treatment requirements in a highly reliable manner.
• Maintain and further develop the District’s high caliber staff, recognizing the significant level of expected turnover in the next five years due to planned retirements.
• Optimize procedures and treatment methods to maximize the utility of District expenditures and resources.
• Continue to create a culture which reflects a value for safe work practices, accomplishes established strategic goals, encourages entrepreneurial spirit, an attitude of ownership for the facility and operations, and one that rewards extraordinary accomplishments.

Administration Department

Mission Statement

“Providing excellent service with a positive attitude.”

Department Description and Purpose

The Administration Department provides administrative support to the Board of Directors, Board Committees and all departments, and undertakes overall general management of the District. Core functions include: accounting, budgeting, human resources, investments, public information, risk management, safety and training, general administration, and representation at various regulatory agencies. The Administration Department also oversees and administers long-term contracts with Waste Management of Alameda County for providing solid waste and recycling removal and disposal activities.

Staffing

Five and one-half authorized positions for FY 2009-10 and FY 2010-11.

Goals and Objectives

• Support General Manager‘s activities and provide information on current issues to the Board
• Manage department expenditures within budget
• Manage District‘s staffing within the authorized level
• Ensure OSHA compliance with all regulatory safety and training
• Issue accurate financial reports on a timely basis
• Ensure that treasury investments are in compliance with California State Government Code and the Board‘s investment policies
• Update and maintain the District‘s policies and standard procedures
• Maintain zero lost time injuries
• Provide excellent internal and external customer service

Performance Measures and Results

• Mail Board agenda packets 48 hours prior to the Board meetings, at least 90% of the time
• Process payroll and accounts payable, and complete monthly financial statements on time, 100% of the time, and error free > 99.5 % of the time
• Publish the Oro Loma News on a quarterly basis
• Publish the award-winning Comprehensive Annual Financial Report by December 31 each year

Collections Department

Mission Statement

“Treat every customer like family.”

Department Description and Purpose

The primary responsibility of the Collections Department is to maintain the integrity of the District‘s collection system, which consists of approximately 280 miles of sanitary sewer lines, 6,015 manholes, more than 60 special structures, 14 pump stations, and several inverted siphons. In addition to cleaning over 2 million feet of sewer lines per year, the Collections crew conducts video inspections and maintains records of sewer line condition; is instrumental in establishing repair and replacement priorities; and handles investigation, regulatory reporting, and claims for infrequent sewer overflows.

Staffing

Eight authorized positions for FY 2009-10 and FY 2010-11

Goals and Objectives

• Zero overflows
• Continue aggressive sewer line cleaning – on average 180,000 feet per month
• Continue digital video inspection – one-third of District per year
• Courteous and timely response to customer calls
• Proactive participation in sewer line repair and replacement
• Maintain zero lost time injuries

Performance Measures and Results

Through continuous sewer line cleaning and digital video inspections, the Collections Department strives to achieve:

• Further reduction of collection system service calls – 260 calls in 2000 to 184 calls in 2008
• Further reduction of stoppages – 34 stoppages in 1998 to 4 stoppages in 2008
• Maintaining the number of annual overflows at below 3 per 100 miles of sewer
• To be recognized as the “No. 1 Collections Department” in the State of California. Prestigious awards received in the past include ”Collections System of the Year“ in the 250-500 miles category (2000 and 2005), and “Collections Supervisor of the Year” (2005) from the California Water Environment Association (CWEA).

Engineering Department

Mission Statement

“Friendly customer service with quality engineering and project management.”

Department Description and Purpose

The Engineering Department oversees the design, bidding and construction of projects in the District‘s Renewal and Replacement (R&R) and Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The department also manages capital facilities planning and budgeting; performs annual updates of the database for revenues collected for District services; inspects the installation of all collection system improvements of private developments and construction projects; installs and collects data through flow-monitoring devices; reviews plans submitted by public agencies and private companies; issues permits to contractors and/or developers for construction, repairs, or encroachments; processes annexations to the District; and, maintains records of engineering drawings and the District‘s mapping system.

Staffing

Six authorized positions for FY 2009-10 and FY 2010-11.

Goals and Objectives

• Professionally manage the scope, schedule, and budget of each project
• Screen projects based on cost-benefit analysis
• Deliver projects with the lowest overall life cycle costs
• Prepare and maintain quality as-built drawings, maps and engineering records
• Deliver courteous and timely response to customer calls and “over the counter” services
• Maintain zero lost time injuries

Performance Measures and Results

• Ensure that the department‘s expenses are managed within the adopted budget
• Complete 90% of R&R and CIP projects each year
• Minimize construction change order costs (for projects closing out in the current fiscal year) to be no greater than 4% of the original contract amount.

Maintenance Department

Mission Statement

“We are here for you.”

Department Description and Purpose

The Maintenance Department provides equipment repair and maintenance services, including electrical instrumentation, process control, and mechanical & electrical services for treatment plant operations, collection system pumping facilities, vehicles, buildings, and a 720 kilowatt cogeneration facility. Additionally, the department maintains an on-site pump station and recycled water facility owned by East Bay Dischargers Authority. The Maintenance Department also manages and/or builds small capital improvement projects.

Staffing

Ten authorized positions for FY 2009-10 and FY 2010-11

Goals and Objectives

• Maintain a work order back log at less than 6 weeks
• Maintain SCADA servers availability above 99.5%
• Maintain cogeneration units online at least 95% of the time
• Provide timely turnaround time for unscheduled equipment repair
• Provide staff with the safest possible work environment
• Maintain zero lost time injuries

Performance Measures and Results

• Ensure that the department expenses do not exceed 100% of the adopted budget
• Maintain zero lift station overflows or effluent violations due to equipment or instrumentation failures

Operations Department

Mission Statement

“Safe and cost effective wastewater treatment in compliance with all regulatory requirements.”

Department Description and Purpose

The Operations Department is responsible for the 24/7 operation of the District‘s sewage treatment plant and biosolids disposal. The plant has an average dry weather flow of 10.95 mgd (Year 2008), with a design flow of 20 mgd. The treatment plant is jointly owned by Oro Loma Sanitary District (75%) and Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSD) (25%). Under long term mutual agreements, CVSD reimburses the District for operations and maintenance costs for wastewater treatment, based on its actual contributory sewage flows (approximately 27%), and 25% for capital costs, based on its ownership interest. In addition to operating the plant, staff is involved in the operation and maintenance of an East Bay Dischargers Authority pump station, Sky West Golf Course water reclamation facilities, laboratory services, state-mandated pretreatment activities, and compliance with numerous governmental regulations regarding treatment and disposal of wastewater and byproducts.

Staffing

Fifteen and one-half authorized positions for FY 2009-10 and FY 2010-11

Goals and Objectives

• Protect public health and the environment
• Meet regulatory compliance with local, state and federal requirements
• Provide staff with the safest possible work environment
• Staff development and recruitment to meet agency needs and align with new technological capabilities
• Optimize plant energy and chemical use through ongoing process control and evaluation
• Maintain system reliability through ongoing training and operational awareness
• Maintain zero lost time injuries

Performance Measures and Results

• Ensure that department expenses are managed within the limits of the adopted budget
• Achieve 100% regulatory compliance with local, state and federal requirements