Title
Study Session Summary of August 27, 2019 - Sunnyvale Clean Water Program Administration and Lab Building Site and Architecture Update
Summary
Call to Order:
Vice Mayor Melton called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
City Councilmembers Present:
Mayor Larry Klein
Vice Mayor Russ Melton
Councilmember Gustav Larsson
Councilmember Glenn Hendricks
Councilmember Nancy Smith
Councilmember Michael S. Goldman
Councilmember Mason Fong
City Councilmembers Absent:
None.
Public Comment:
None.
Study Session Summary:
Chip Taylor, Director of Public Works, introduced Allison Boyer and stated that she would present updates on the Administration and Laboratory Building and Ramana Chinnakotla would speak about the Food (Scraps) to Energy Program.
Allison Boyer, Assistant City Engineer, delivered a PowerPoint presentation on the Administrative and Lab Building Site. She gave an overview of the project highlighting alternative locations, cost comparisons, concerns, solutions, and a preferred site which will house a combined Admin & Lab and Maintenance building. She noted that the Secondary Treatment and Dewatering project, Administration and Laboratory Building, and Plant Rehabilitation project will be combined and submitted as part of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) application.
Ramana Chinnakotla, Director of Environmental Services, introduced Steve Hogg who spoke about the Food to Energy Program and the benefits to the City.
Steve Hogg, Water Pollution Control Plant Division Manager, gave an overview of the Food to Energy Program. He explained the treatment process to produce biogas, discussed what the Master Plan entailed, upcoming opportunity for Sunnyvale with new legislative that passed through processing and co-digestion, revenue opportunities and noted that this will be a great opportunity to include in the WIFIA application.
Kent Steffens, City Manager, commented that the new design puts the building inside the flood wall and improves resilience. Mr. Steffens also noted that having the Admin & Lab and Maintenance building in one location improves the ability for collaboration, staff management, and to share facilities amongst the different groups at the plant.
Councilmembers asked questions, made comments, and requested additional information:
• Question and discussion on expansion of the Admin & Lab in the future and if the 46M estimate from last year included design or not.
• Question and discussion on the Food to Energy Program and any required output from the Sunnyvale plant to the Santa Clara plant that we have currently committed to.
• Question and discussion on the 99 tons of food mash and if that is based on an actual permit or the ability to process that.
• Question and discussion on the WIFIA grant and if it is only for the 5th digester or is it more than that.
• Question and discussion regarding the acidic water that comes out, if it gets used and if the output is available from our processing.
• Question and discussion regarding the proposed site for the Admin & Lab and what was the reason for originally not choosing that site.
• Question and discussion regarding the burning of natural gas and if the digested gases are worse or better compared to natural gas.
• Staff was acknowledged for their creative innovative ideas, hard work and ability to solve complex problems at the Water Pollution Control Plant.
• Question and discussion on what happens to the CO2 that gets created after the methane is burned and if it is being captured.
• Question regarding PowerPoint presentations being publicized prior to Study Sessions.
• Question and discussion on why it was not known to Staff that the Household Hazardous site was not a closed landfill.
• Question and discussion on if the City of Santa Clara is planning on doing co-digestion or of any other known place that co-digestion has been done.
• Question and discussion on the possibility of revenue from excessive food mash from other facilities and a fee associated with disposing of the marsh at the plant.
• Question and discussion regarding the WIFIA process and if it is different application or will it be rolled into the same application.
• Invitation to Staff to participate in a conference call with the Army Corps of Engineers for the WIFIA program.
• Question and discussion on recuperating the costs of the Food to Energy Program and other benefits.
• Comment regarding Green House Gases and the release of carbon into the atmosphere, turning it into soil amendments, and offsetting natural gas that otherwise would have been burning.
• Question and discussion on the possibility of using Clean Electricity from Silicon Valley Clean Energy to power some of the equipment as apposed to using various types of gas.
• Comment on the merging of the three buildings into one facility and tackling the utility lines.
• Interest in learning more on the unclosed landfill and the impact if not closed.
• Question and discussion on the Food to Energy Program and the possibility of lowering sewer bills for residents and businesses in the future.
Adjournment:
Vice Mayor Melton adjourned the meeting at 6:54 p.m.