Meeting Minutes - Final

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Hazardous

Materials Commission

4:00 PM

Thursday, October 23, 2025

777 Arnold Dr., Martinez, CA 94553 -

Paramount Room

Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/93502466349

Phone: 1 (669) 900-6833

Meeting ID: 935 0246 6349

Chair: Mark Hughes

Vice Chair: Fred Glueck

The meeting was called to order at 4:00 PM.

Agenda Items: Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the

Committee

Roll Call and Introductions

Commissioners Present: Mark Hughes, Fred Glueck, Drew Graham, Ron Chin, Maureen Brennan,

Jamin Pursell, Louis Flores, Lisa Martell, Jim Payne, Marielle Boortz

Commissioners Present Online: Madeline Kronenberg

Staff Present: Adam Springer, Breanna Lingenfelter

Public Present: Jennifer Quallick, George Carter

CONSIDER approval of the September 25, 2025 Hazardous Materials Commission

meeting minutes.

The commissioners present voted to approve the September 25, 2025 Hazardous Materials Commission

meeting minutes.

Motion: Jim Payne

Second: Lisa Martell

Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda

(speakers may be limited to two minutes).

There were not any comments made by members of the public.

4. RECEIVE a report from the Hazardous Materials Programs.

The Hazardous Materials Programs did not have anything to report at the time of this meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

REVIEW the statement and attached document from the Bay Area Air District and

CONSIDER having a presentation on outdoor air quality and household appliance

emissions.

"The Air District is concerned about the outdoor air quality problems caused by gas-fired hot water

heaters and furnaces. These two devices emit over 90% of the NOx from household appliances. A few

years ago we passed a couple of regulations that phased in a zero-NOx standard for these devices. I’ve

attached the most recent fact sheet about these regulations. We’d be happy to come talk about our

appliance rules, but our focus would be on outdoor air quality (NOx and primary/secondary PM) from

these devices. We could also talk about implementation and how that process is proceeding."

The commissioners have previously considered receiving presentations relating to indoor and outdoor air

quality, but debated if this was possibly outside of their scope. The Bay Area Air District cannot speak

to indoor air quality as their focus is on outdoor air quality. Commissioner Flores proposed a potential

guest speaker for December, former associate chief of neurology Brett Andrews, whose expertise

includes the health associations of indoor air pollution. The commissioners present discussed if they

would like either of the proposed guest speakers to give a presentation. Some commissioners felt that

although it would be meaningful to learn more about these topics, it may not necessarily result in being

able to make a formal recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Other commissioners expressed

that indoor household emissions such as NO2 pose a threat to the public and should be considered as

within the scope of the Hazardous Materials Commission. Commissioner Pursell expressed that both

topics are important, but was under the impression that this body focused more on soil contamination

versus air.

The commissioners present ultimately decided that it would be best to request additional information

from Brett Andrews and then decide how they would like to proceed: have him present to the

commission, add his materials to the commission's web page, have him as a panelist at the next forum,

or outside of our scope.

DISCUSS the commission roster and CONSIDER asking those who cannot commit to

meetings for the next calendar year to resign.

The commissioners present discussed having issues recently with meeting quorum and having to cancel

some meetings this year as a result. There are a few members of the commission that have not been seen

or heard from in over a year. There was some discussion of the bylaws and what requirements there are

for attendance and what actions the commission can take. The commissioners present discussed

potentially modifying the commission seats or the bylaws to address this issue, however, they can only

submit a recommendation, the decision ultimately lies with the Board of Supervisors. Staff proposed

reaching out to the individuals who have not participated over the past year and asking them to commit

to attending meetings next year or respectfully resign from their position, the commission agreed with

this proposal. Commissioner Hughes suggested reviewing the bylaws each year.

PREPARE for commissioner candidate interviews - logistics, interview questions, schedule

The commissioners present reviewed the attached interview questions and requested one modification.

The Operations Committee will conduct interviews during their November 14th meeting for the

Environmental Justice Representative seat. The other expiring seats are nominated by organizations and

therefore are not interviewed by the commission. In order to submit these recommendations to the

Internal Operations Committee and the Board of Supervisors before the end of the year, Commissioner

Payne made a motion to authorize the reappointment of Business Seat #2 and Environmental

Engineering Firms Seat which the commission approved.

Motion: Jim Payne

Second: Jamin Pursell

DISCUSS any updates on items of commission interest such as legislative updates, the

Richmond hydrogen project, events, etc.

Commissioner Brennan shared that she attended a Bay Area Air District meeting with a presentation

from community members of SB684/AB1243 and stated that they had 96 proposed projects and

estimated that they had removed CO2 emissions by 40 tons per year. She stated that the Richmond

community has made impressive advancements. Commissioner Glueck expressed that the commission

should work to stay on top of upcoming legislation, staff will share updates they receive and recommend

that commissioners also bring forward legislative packets they come across. Commissioner Pursell

shared that he visited the Viridi mobile electric battery company with the Richmond Economic

Development Committee and was very impressed by their technology for detection and suppressant of

thermal runaway. Commissioner Graham shared that Phillips 66 Rodeo Renewable Energy complex

voluntarily reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 44% (540,000 metric tons of CO2 removed from the

environment).

Plan next meeting agenda.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for December 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM.

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 5:04 PM.