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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-2015 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, February 9, 2015, at 8:03 a.m. in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Vice-Chair Nielsen called the meeting to order and Director Greg Sebourn led the pledge of allegiance. A quorum was declared present, as follows: COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: John Nielsen, Board Vice-Chair Greg Sebourn, Operations Committee Vice-Chair David Benavides, Director Tyler Diep, Director Lucille Kring, Director John Withers, Administration Committee Chair COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Beamish, Board Chair 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 & Maintenance Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Kelly A. Lore, Acting Clerk of the Board Jennifer Cabral Jim Colston Norbert Gaia Al Garcia Rebecca Long Kelly Newell OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hagin, General Counsel Eric Sapirstein, ENS (via Teleconference) Ian Delzer, Townsend Public Affairs Heather Stratman, Townsend Public Affairs Minutes of the Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee February 9, 2015 Page 2 of 5 PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. REPORTS: General Manager Herberg stated that to accommodate the members of Legislative and Public Affairs (LAPA) Committee and the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) Steering Committee, the start time for LAPA meetings will begin at 3:30 p.m. on days when the GWRS Steering Committee meets, which is four times per year. The committee will be notified/reminded in advance. Vice-Chair Nielson reported that he had recently attended the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) winter conference where converting food waste into energy was discussed. CONSENT ITEMS: 1. MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the Committee meeting held on January 12, 2015. AYES: Diep; Kring; Nielsen; Sebourn and Withers NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Benavides; Beamish INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 2. Public Affairs Update Principal Public Affairs Specialist, Jennifer Cabral reported on the Public Affairs outreach as follows: 15 tours with 200 guests hosted last month; two legislative tours and participation in a science fair at a local elementary school in Fountain Valley. In upcoming events, the District will participate at the Garden Grove Tet Festival on February 21 and the STEM Science Night at Sunny Hills High School on February 24. Ms. Cabral reported on the upcoming Honor Walk nominations due on Minutes of the Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee February 9, 2015 Page 3 of 5 March 16 and explained the program, which recognizes former OCSD board members and staff for significant contributions to the District. If you are interested in nominating a past member, please submit that person's name to General Manager Herberg. The Honor Walk Recognition will be taking place in May. Ms. Cabral further reported on the following: high school video contest; construction outreach efforts regarding the Newport Force Main project, and Tustin project; stakeholder outreach meetings; levels of outreach/coordination efforts between OCSD and Orange County Water District (OCWD). Director Benavides arrived at 8:10 a.m. Ms. Cabral discussed the recent Board Orientation, handed out the list of monthly informational presentations that are scheduled for Committee meetings and inquired if there is anything the committee would like to add. Questions regarding the consultant for the construction outreach of the Newport Force Main Project 5-60, issues with the contractor and changes that have been made were answered by Ms. Cabral and Director of Engineering Rob Thompson. Mr. Thompson also stated that he would be speaking at the April meeting of Speak Up Newport. Director Withers suggested that, due to the large board member turnover, staff prepare a Board orientation online, which could be easily accessed at any time on the Director's webpage. 3. Legislative Updates Sr. Public Affairs Specialist Rebecca Long reported that a letter would be going out to various congressional staff thanking them for their support in the completion of construction activities to relocate a portion of the Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI) line. She further reported on OCSD's opposition to SP-119 (Hill) which relates to the marking of lateral sewer lines that are not owned by OCSD; letters of support which are being prepared for the USRB WaterSMART grant for the GWRS feasibility study; plant tours taking place today for Assembly members' Ling Ling Chang and Matthew Harper; and the upcoming tour for Assemblywoman Young Kim. Minutes of the Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee February 9, 2015 Page 4 of 5 Eric Saperstein, ENS Resources, Inc., reported on the President's budget submittal to Congress last week containing new bond programs to support water infrastructure and infrastructure financing tools. He further reported on drought relief; ongoing efforts to redefine which waters of the U.S. are subject to the Clean Water Act -no more additional mandates on fund sources and the CASA Washington DC Conference in late February, which Ms. Long will be attending for the District. Ms. Long reported that Public Affairs Specialist, Kelly Newell recently attended Senator Huff's Brea Chamber luncheon. Heather Stratman, Townsend Public Affairs, reported on Governor Brown's 2015-16 budget allocations from Proposition 1 Expenditure Plan and the District's eligibility for funds; GWRS expansion -feasibility study; guidelines and processes for acquiring funds; Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) grant program funding opportunities; legislation cycle and the matrix list of bill introductions effecting the District; and education and outreach with new members Senator Pat Bates and Senator Janet Nguyen. Director Withers left the meeting at 8:40 a.m. NON-CONSENT ITEMS: Assistant General Manager Bob Ghirelli and Ms. Cabral explained the educational program and answered questions from the committee. The committee suggested that this item be brought back for an update in one year to see the progress and outcome of the program. 4. MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve a Cooperative Agreement with Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) for Educational Services with Inside the Outdoors, through June 30, 2015 with an amount not to exceed $11,065, with four one-year renewal options, at an amount not to exceed $24,365 per renewal year. AYES: Benavides; Diep; Kring; Nielsen and Sebourn NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Beamish and Withers Minutes of the Legislative and Public Affairs Special Committee February 9 , 2015 Page 5 of 5 OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY: In regards to Item 4, Ms. Cabral clarified that the dollar amount per student previously given was the total cost of the program , not just OCSD's portion. The final cost is $14.00 per student. ADJOURNMENT: Vice-Chair Nielsen declared the meeting adjourned at 9:03 a.m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Meeting, March 9, 2015.