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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) f\C'i of 0 ,~~ oY. ~ 00~?! ~c,"\ Y.''-'itl '~>c<, of '~~\O~ -v\s'{.~ ''°'~ C'-~~~ $~~'\ o~~G~c c~-? ?.. S 1.,\\\l ._),,..· 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. Submitted by :