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.