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Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, November 03, 2025 9:30 AM BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Maricopa County, Arizona (and the Boards of Directors of the Flood Control District, Library District, Improvement Districts and/or Board of Deposit) "The mission of Maricopa County is to provide regional leadership and fiscally responsible, necessary public services to its residents so they can enjoy living in healthy and safe communities” Board Members Thomas Galvin, Chairman, District 2 Kate Brophy McGee, Vice Chair, District 3 Mark Stewart, District 1 Debbie Lesko, District 4 Steve Gallardo, District 5 County Manager Jen Pokorski Clerk of the Board Juanita Garza Meeting Location Supervisors’/ Sullivan Conference Room 301 W Jefferson, 10th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The Board of Supervisors of Maricopa County, Phoenix, Arizona, convened in an Informal Session at 9:30 AM on Monday, November 3, 2025, in the Supervisors’/ Sullivan Conference Room 301 W Jefferson, 10th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003, with the following members present: Thomas Galvin, Chairman, District 2; Kate Brophy McGee, Vice Chair, District 3; Mark Stewart, Supervisor, District 1; Debbie Lesko, Supervisor, District 4; Steve Gallardo, Supervisor, District 5 (entered meeting late). Also present: Juanita Garza, Clerk; Mia Vargas, Minutes Coordinator; Jen Pokorski, County Manager; Brooke Worcester, Legal Counsel. PRESENTATION AND ACTION 1. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE AD HOC TASK FORCE FOR THE MARICOPA COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS Presentation of the final report and recommendations of Environmental Services’ Onsite Wastewater Ad Hoc Task Force on process improvements. The action requested is to consider the recommendations, accept the report, whole or in part, as submitted by the Ad Hoc Task Force, and provide guidance and direction to staff. Andy Linton, Environmental Services Director David Pounders, Professional Engineer, Onsite Ad Hoc Task Force Committee Chair (C-88- 26-012-X-00) Andy Linton, Environmental Services Director and David Pounders, Professional Engineer, Onsite Ad Hoc Task Force Committee Chair came forward for a presentation on this matter. Mr. Linton noted the task force identified seven different areas that needed improvement. He said that staff met with the task force every two weeks for a period of two months. Mr. Linton stated there were 27 recommendations for improvement. Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, November 03, 2025 Page 2 of 6 David Pounders reviewed the seven major issues and recommendations for improvement. He noted that the slide above was directed to County staff. Recommendations Ad Hoc Task Force Committee David Pounders : Committee Chair 05 Issue: Staff Interpretation of rules and statutes can be communicated to customers more effectively. 01 Recommendation Status Develop a procedure for customers to escalate concerns/disagreements regarding rule requirements Complete by 11/30/25 Provide direction in the staff training manual for resolving conflicts with general permits related to proprietary products Complete by 12/31/25 Provide customers with guidance when deviations between General Permits, proprietary products, and product installation manuals present themselves Complete by 11/30/25 Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, November 03, 2025 Page 3 of 6 Mr. Pounders highlighted the recommendation to provide the Department’s procedure for accepting Certificates of Completion to stakeholders via the Waterworks Bulletin on the slide above. He said he is highlighting this recommendation because they would like to see this bulletin play a more active role in the community. Mr. Pounders reviewed the second issue saying it was more technical. He explained the alluvial basins are where they install a certain type of septic system, which is a seepage pit technology. The recommendation to use only the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) alluvial map is stated in the slide above. 06 (Continued) Issue: Interpretation of requirements needs to be communicated more effectively. 01 Recommendation Status Provide the Department’s procedure for accepting Certificates of Completion to stakeholders via the Waterworks Bulletin Complete by 01/31/26 Share new rule interpretations a with stakeholders via the Waterworks Bulletin prior to implementation Complete by 12/31/25 Schedule a quarterly check-in meeting between Environmental Services and Planning & Development to ensure consistency Completed 07 Issue: Requirements related to alluvial basins are unclear due to inconsistencies with publicly available maps. 02 Recommendation Status Provide a directive in the staff training manual that staff utilize the ADEQ online alluvial map to make compliance determinations Complete by 11/30/25 Issue: Redundant soil testing causes delays and unnecessary expense. 03 Recommendation Status Create a procedure that allows a health certificate to be issued based on the submittal of a geological report Completed Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, November 03, 2025 Page 4 of 6 The third issue is depicted in the above slide specifically for subdivisions and concerns redundant soil testing. The recommendation would remove one of the steps with the submittal of a geological report. Mr. Pounders explained the fourth issue is detailed in the slide above and the recommendations to help alleviate the issue. Mr. Pounders reviewed the fifth issue in the above slide noting the recommendations to reduce waiting times for inspections. This will also familiarize County staff with the newer alternative septic systems and the new technologies coming through all the time. He explained what some of the alternative systems are. 08 Issue: Sometimes, designers get a second hold letter with new items that were not addressed on the first hold letter. 04 Recommendation Status The Onsite Program will develop written guidance for staff to: • Ensure the same plan reviewer reviews plans for contiguous lots • Ensure plan reviewers include all deficiencies on initial hold letters • Prohibit the addition of hold items based on phone conversations and email exchanges • Provide red line annotations when they are required by a municipality Complete by 11/30/25 Develop a list of top hold letter items/deficiencies and other common mistakes and best practices when submitting applications Complete by 11/30/25 09 Issue: Wait times tend to average 3 - 5 days for inspections. Ideal wait times should be 1 - 2 business days to align with building inspections. 05 Recommendation Status Maintain a 1-2 day response time to inspection requests by developing a procedure that allows for virtual re -inspections Complete by 12/31/25 Provide direction in the staff training manual that approval from the designer is sufficient to issue Construction Authorizations for alternative systems Complete by 12/31/25 Develop procedures to better train Onsite Wastewater Program inspectors on alternative systems and network with industry for in -person training Complete by 12/31/25 Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, November 03, 2025 Page 5 of 6 Mr. Pounders explained the sixth issue in the slide above is the need for the original designer of the system to be involved in approving changes to a conventional system. Mr. Pounders reviewed the seventh issue on the slide above. He said there is a lot that goes into this recommendation as shown. He said the department is going to submit to the Board of Supervisors a letter to the ADEQ summarizing the County’s regulatory concerns caused by outdated rules. Mr. Linton explained the County is tied to rules in the Arizona Administrative Code and they do not have any leeway to make process changes because we are bound by our delegation agreement with ADEQ to follow those rules as is. However, those rules are now 20 years old and do not fit the current environment. Mr. Pounders then explained different components to this recommendation. 10 Issue: If a significant change is needed on a conventional system after Construction Authorization is issued, the original designer should be involved in approving it. 06 Recommendation Status Develop guidance in the staff training manual to ensure revisions submitted after the Construction Authorization has been issued are completed by the original designer or their designee when available Complete by 11/30/25 11 Issue: ADEQ’s onsite wastewater rules cause delays and unnecessary expense because they are outdated, unclear, and do not adequately consider current practices. 07 Recommendation Status Send a formal letter to the ADEQ director summarizing the regulatory concerns caused by outdated on-site wastewater rules, to be signed by the Director of MCESD and the Ad Hoc Task Force: Complete by 11/30/25 • There is no process for new owners of properties with alternative systems to be make aware of O&M requirements • Clarification is needed on where SPPT locations should be in relation to the proposed disposal area • Greater consideration should be given to not requiring a reserve area in septic subdivisions • Subdivision soil testing requirements are not clear for health certification approval • The interpretation of a “contiguous site” is inconsistent • Clarity and clear parameters are needed for a determination of sewer availability • There is no way to extend or renew a septic permit construction authorization. Consideration should be given to renew them without a reapplication Informal Meeting Minutes Monday, November 03, 2025 Page 6 of 6 Supervisor Lesko expressed concern about whether the septic systems will work properly and safely with these recommended changes. He explained that the diverse composition of the committee and stakeholders brought forth their concerns to be addressed and they were all in agreement that these changes needed to be made. ~ Supervisor Gallardo left the meeting ~ Supervisor Stewart had concerns about plans to seek rule changes in order to provide permit and construction extensions as needed for these septic systems. Mr. Linton responded this was the goal. Supervisor Stewart also asked if the department was going to be measuring the reduced waiting times and Mr. Linton responded they were. Vice Chair Brophy McGee asked how the department was able to catch septic failure in defunct Homeowner Associations (HOAs), abandoned buildings, etc. Mr. Linton said neighbors will report suspected problems She asked for an estimate of how many of these calls does the department get in a month or a year. Mr. Linton said he would follow up with the Vice Chair with those numbers. Vice Chair Brophy McGee thanked the task force for all of their hard work. Chairman Galvin thanked Andy Linton and Mr. Pounders for their presentation. Chairman Galvin also thanked the committee members, Brian Main, Dan Caparo, David Bartholomew, Jamie Griffin, Kathy Mills, Mark Basik, and Tabitha Zapata, and David Pounders. Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee made the motion to accept the report from the Maricopa County Environmental Services’ Onsite Wastewater Ad Hoc Stakeholder Task Force and direct staff to proceed with implementation of recommendations as contained in the report. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Mark Stewart. Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Kate Brophy McGee, Mark Stewart, Debbie Lesko Absent: Steve Gallardo 2. EXECUTIVE SESSION Vote to convene in Executive Session to consider the items on the Executive Agenda dated Monday, November 03, 2025, for Board of Supervisors and relevant Special Districts pursuant to the statutory authority listed for each item. Motion to approve by Supervisor Kate Brophy McGee, seconded by Supervisor Debbie Lesko Ayes: Thomas Galvin, Kate Brophy McGee, Mark Stewart, Debbie Lesko Absent: Steve Gallardo MEETING ADJOURNED After discussion of the items listed on the Executive Session agenda and there being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. _______________________________ Thomas Galvin, Chairman of the Board ATTEST: ___________________________ Juanita Garza, Clerk of the Board