HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-2013 Legislative Committee Meeting MinutesMINUTES
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
Orange County Sanitation District
The Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee meeting convened on
Monday, September 9, 2013, at 8:00 a.m. in the Administration Building of the
Orange County Sanitation District.
A quorum was declared present, as follows:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRESENT:
Troy Edgar, Board Chair
John Anderson, Board Vice-Chair
Brad Reese, Administration Committee
Chair
John Nielsen, Operations Committee
Vice-Chair
John Withers, Administration
Committee Vice-Chair
Joe Shaw, Director
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
None.
STAFF PRESENT
Jim Herberg, General Manager
Bob Ghirelli , Assistant General
Manager
Nick Arhontes, Director of Facilities
Support Services
Nick Kanetis, Director of Engineering
Jeff Reed, Director of Human
Resources
Ed Torres, Director of Operations &
Maintenance
Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance &
Administrative Services
Maria Ayala, Clerk of the Board
Jim Colston
Norbert Gaia
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brad Hagin, General Counsel
Heather Stratman, Townsend Public
Affairs
Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via
teleconference)
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Minutes of the Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee
September 9, 2013
Page 2 of 3
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Committee Meeting Schedule
The Committee agreed to meet on the second Monday of each month at 8 a.m. for
the next few months. After 6 months, the frequency of the meetings will be
reeva I u ated.
2. Overview of OCSD's Current Legislative Program
Ms. Stratman briefly reviewed the District's current legislative program. The
Committee discussed the current legislative platform and the public affairs
program.
3. Establishing Committee Goals
The Committee established what the purpose, objectives and goals of this new
committee will be in terms of legislation and public affairs.
They are:
• Maximizing the District's legislative and public affairs programs'
effectiveness at both the Federal and State levels;
• Being more proactive as a Board in legislation with a continued focus in
various areas, such as, but not limited to:
o Revenue protection
o Biosolids
o Going "green"
o AQMD
• Reconstitute branding of OCSD as water supplier and environmental
protection agency;
• Enhancing the public affairs communication plan, and it's execution; and
• "Green" Efficiency
4. Federal Advocacy Role
Eric Sapirstein joined the meeting via teleconference. Mr. Sapirstein provided
a federal legislative update on the following: Tax Exempt Financing; Buy
American Mandate; Water Resources Development Act (WRDA); and Sunshine
on Conflicts Act (H.R. 836).
Minutes of the Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee
September 9, 2013
Page 3 of 3
5. Future Agenda topics and Next Steps
The Committee discussed the sense of urgency in the legislative window for next
year at the state and federal level. Staff will provide informational items at the next
meeting on various topics for discussion and potential action.
ADJOURNMENT:
The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 9 :36 a .m.
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