HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-16-2014 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
Orange County Sanitation District
The Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee meeting convened on
Monday, April 16, 2014, at 8:06 a.m. in the Administration Building of the Orange
County Sanitation District. Vice-Chair Beamish led the Flag Salute.
A quorum was declared present, as follows:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRESENT:
Troy Edgar, Board Chair
Tom Beamish, Board Vice-Chair
Brad Reese, Administration Committee
Chair
John Withers, Administration
Committee Vice-Chair
David Benavides, Director
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
John Nielsen, Operations Committee
Chair
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
STAFF PRESENT
Jim Herberg, General Manager
Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General
Manager
Nick Arhontes, Director of Facilities
Support Services
Jeff Reed, Director of Human
Resources
Rob Thompson, Director of
Engineering
Ed Torres, Director of Operations
and Maintenance
Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance &
Administrative Services
Maria Ayala, Clerk of the Board
Jim Colston
Faviola Miranda
Kelly Newell
OTHERS PRESENT:
Eric Saperstein, ENS
Minutes of the Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee
April 16, 2014
Page 2 of 4
REPORTS:
Jim Herberg, General Manager, reported on the following:
• Recent trip to Washington DC, with Chair Edgar, where they accepted the
U.S. Water Prize and held various congressional office meetings regarding:
SARI Line; funding opportunities; other possible District initiatives, etc.;
• Grant Program application, and possible trip or teleconference to Denver, to
discuss with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation the possibility of the District
proceeding with a grant application;
• Recent trip to Sacramento, with Chair Edgar, to attend the Committee
Hearing on SB 946; and
• With respect to federal funding, there may be an issue with the District's
engine emissions control project (Project No. J-111), as any possible
federal funding for this project can only be granted if the project has not
started yet. At present, however, the District must move forward with
beginning the project to ir order to meet its regulatory deadline.
Chair Edgar reported on the following:
• Thanked Mr. Sapirstein for being present at today's Committee meeting.
Commended Mr. Sapirstein on his work with the District in federal
legislation; and
• Requested that PAO staff look into preparing reference material for all
Board members to have regarding top 6 federal and state legislative focus
points and how that may be communicated to the public.
(Director Benavides arrived at 8:15 a.m.)
• The District is considering having to restructure the rates, bonds, debt; and
having more discussion on financial policies.
CONSENT ITEMS:
1. MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED: Approve the minutes for the
Committee meeting held on March 10, 2014.
AYES: Beamish; Benavides; Edgar; Reese; and Withers
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: Nielsen
Minutes of the Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee
April 16, 2014
Page 3 of 4
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
2. Federal Legislative Update
Mr. Sapirstein reported on Mr. Herberg's and Chair Edgar's trip to
Washington DC and Chair Edgar's speech when receiving the Water Prize;
the office visits held in Washington D.C.; and the impact to the District from
the Buy American Mandate.
3. State Legislative Update
Jim Colston, Environmental Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Manager,
reported on the current bill AB 371 that regulates biosolids land application;
and SB 1014 on pharmaceutical waste.
5. OCSD Public Affairs Update
Faviola Miranda, Sr. Public Affairs Specialist, gave a report that included
the following: What 2 Flush campaign's recent award; various recent and
upcoming community outreach events attended by OCSD; upcoming 60 1h
Anniversary celebratory events (Nacho Average Day, Employee Luncheon,
VIP Breakfast, etc.); PAO presentations at April Committee Meetings;
working on possible translation of OCSD information material into various
languages; etc.
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
ITEMS, IF ANY:
Chair Edgar inquired as to an update on the local sewer service issue involving
Tustin, LAFCO, and EOCWD. Mr. Herberg responded that a letter from
OCLAFCO was recently received and he would distribute that to the Committee.
Director Benavides inquired as to a possible Community Outreach Strategic Plan.
Ms. Miranda responded that the District does have one in place and she would
share it with the Committee.
Director Withers announced he will be attending a meeting with OCLAFCO, and
talked about the importance of a good working relationship between the two
agencies.
Chair Edgar, in light of the recent earthquakes that have been occurring,
requested a staff update on the District's emergency response plan and/or
process, and how that is communicated.
Minutes of the Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee
April 16 , 2014
Page 4 of 4
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Edgar declared the meeting adjourned at 8 :59 a .m.
Submitted by:
.~Gl ~-
Maria l E. Ayalo 6
Clerk of t he Board