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OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
KAREEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK
UTILITIES JUNE 25, 2018 4:37 P.M.
Committee Members Present: Jake Teshka, Oliver Davis, Sharon L. McBride, Regina
Williams-Preston
Committee Members Absent: None
Other Council Present: Jo M. Broden, John Voorde, Karen White, Gavin Ferlic
Other Council Absent: Tim Scott
Others Present: Bianca Tirado, Graham Sparks, Bob Palmer, Casey Colvin,
Gabriel Murei, David Boling, Elivet Navarro
Presenters: Al Greek
Agenda: Bill No. 23-18-Request for Amendment of Local Standard
Regulations in the South Bend Municipal Code
Committee Chair Jake Teshka called to order the Utilities Committee meeting at 4:37 p.m. He
introduced members of the Committee and proceeded to give the floor to the presenters.
Bill No. 23-18- Request for Amendment of Local Standard Regulations in the South Bend
Municipal Code
Al Greek,Department of Public Works with offices on the 13u'floor of the County-City Building,
stated, Eric Horvath asked me to stand in for him today. I have a little handout here (available in
the City Clerk's Office). This is really a simple process here. What happens is the City has what
they call an NPDES permit. That is a legal document that allows us to discharge wastewater from
our treatment plant into the receiving stream being the St.Joseph River.Part of that document also
mandates us to provide oversight and regulation of the industry base that is in South Bend.As part
of that regulation we have a local ordinance and that is what we are asking to be changed. Every
five (5) years, as part of the process, we must do an evaluation study of the limits that are in the
ordinance to make sure the environment is protected, the City workers are protected and all the
processes of the waste water plant are staying effective. We walk through a bunch of data to see if
we are in a good place. The end result of this study requires a small adjustment. The adjustment
changes it from a daily maximum level to a monthly average level. It will make it a bit easier for
a lot of us. It was a bit more stringent than it has needed to be. We took our studies to the EPA and
they are in full agreement and now it is time to bring it to you for your approval. Once you approve
it we can send it back to the EPA and they can make the official change to our program.
Committee Chair Teshka then opened the floor to Committee and Councilmembers.
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CHIEF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS DEPuT4/DIR=oR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK
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®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
Committeemember Oliver Davis asked, In terms of any language, are we all up to date in regards
to the request for the ordinance change?
Mr. Greek confirmed, Yes.
Committee Chair Teshka stated, The handout is very helpful. Could you please share an example
of who is a significant industrial user?
Mr. Greek replied, They are categorized by the type of flow they can have and the processes they
use. They actually have what they call categorical industries.No matter where you go in the nation
the same regulating parameters apply. It is based off flow and the amount of discharging as well
as EPA standards.
Committee Chair Teshka followed up, So it won't penalize anyone if there are a larger couple
days?
Mr. Greek confirmed, Yes and these are for the heavy metals we test. So this is the one (1) we are
trying to change here. It is a benefit.
Councilmember Jo M. Broden asked, So we are proposing by way of crunching the numbers to go
to monthly? Was there any look at doing it weekly?
Mr. Greek replied, I think the way the standards are set up, there is a daily maximum and then a
month average. That is a great question but I don't think it applies here for this regulation.
Councilmember Broden followed up, And what are the staff and budget savings anticipated?
Mr. Greek replied,None on our part. We are giving the industry a chance to take in more samples
with this.
Councilmember Broden interjected, Ok, but we have an oversight rule. How frequently is that
oversight role administered?
Mr. Greek replied, Monthly. We require most of our industries to send us a monthly report.
Committee Chair Teshka asked, How many SIEs do we have in South Bend?
Mr. Greek replied, Eighteen(18).
Committee Chair Teshka then opened the floor to members of the public wishing to speak in favor
of or in opposition to the legislation.
Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, stated, My concern is that my mom built the wastewater
treatment plant in Elkhart and I remember one (1) of the discussions was about getting a huge
influx of chroming plating things. My concern with moving to monthly is getting a whole big wad
of something and then you average it out for the month so it doesn't quite look so bad but you've
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
really damaged the water. I'm a little concerned about going to that. I don't think this is a great
idea and that is just my opinion.
Committee Chair Teshka then gave the floor back to the presenter for rebuttal.
Mr. Greek stated,Let me assure you that we handle this in the most regulatory way that we possibly
could. We had to involve the EPA and we sent them all of our data to show them what we are
doing. This still is a regulation. This doesn't take away any regulation. If there is an outlier, this
gives us a way of getting something accomplished without doing more than we need to do. This
study looked at nine(9)different aspects of the treatment facility to make sure we are still protected
in everything we do.
Committeemember Regina Williams-Preston made a motion to send Bill No. 23-18 to the full
Council with a favorable recommendation. Committeemember Davis seconded this motion which
carried by a voice vote of four (4) ayes.
With no further business, Committee Chair Teshka adjourned the Utilities Committee meeting at
4:47 p.m.
Respectfully Sub Fitted,
ake Teshka, Committee Chair
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