HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-13-2015 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Orange County Sanitation District
Monday, April 13, 2015, at 3:30 p.m.
A regular meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order
by Chair Beamish on Monday, April 13, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. in the Administration
Building of the Orange County Sanitation District.
Director Kiley led the pledge of allegiance.
A quorum was declared present, as follows:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRESENT:
Tom Beamish, Board Chair
John Nielsen, Board Vice-Chair
Tyler Diep, Director
Robert Kiley, Director
Lucille Kring, Director
Greg Sebourn, Director
John Withers, Director
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
None.
STAFF PRESENT
Jim Herberg, General Manager
Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General
Manager
Nick Arhontes, Director of Facilities
Support Services
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
Norbert Gaia
Al Garcia
Rebecca Long
Kelly Newell
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brad Hogin, General Counsel
Eric Sapirstein, ENS (via Teleconference)
Ian Delzer, Townsend Public Affairs
04/13/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 5
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
REPORTS:
General Manager, Jim Herberg, reported that he and Mike Marcus, General
Manager of Orange County Water District (OCWD) were interviewed for
Newsweek regarding an article they will be running on the drought in California,
the Groundwater Replenishment System and in particular how our two agencies
are working together, in partnership, to recycle more water.
Mr. Herberg also announced the Kelly Lore had been appointed Clerk of the
Board.
CONSENT ITEMS:
1. MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the
Committee meeting held on March 9, 2015.
AYES: Beamish; Diep; Kiley, Sebourn and Withers
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: Kring and Nielsen
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
2. Public Affairs Update
Principal Public Affairs Specialist, Jennifer Cabral provided an update on
recent public affairs activities including: Active Newport Force Main
community outreach team, media coverage on Costa Mesa project, and
news alerts sent to the Board. In the last month there have been 21 plant
tours, 5 joint tours with OCWD, Joint Speakers Bureau and Tour Program,
attendance at 5 events, including the Children's Water Festival, and activity
on social media sites.
Director Sebourn suggested using the hashtags of the city or agency
representatives referenced in our media posts.
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Vice-Chair Nielsen arrived at 3:37 p.m.
Director Kring arrived at 3:38 p.m.
Ms. Cabral showed the winning video of the 2nd local high school Public
Service Announcement contest which engages and educates the students.
Director Sebourn suggested setting up marketing scholarships for
partnerships with colleges.
Mr. Herberg also mentioned that he will be attending the CWEA Annual
Conference "Crafting New Water" on April 29th where he will be presenting
in the opening sessions along with Mike Markus, General Manager, OCWD,
Celeste Cantu, General Manager, SAWPA, Assembly member Anthony
Rendon, and others in support of wastewater recycling.
3. Legislative Updates
Eric Sapirstein ENS Resources reported that Chair Beamish, Vice-Chair
Nielsen, General Manager Herberg and Senior Public Affairs Specialist,
Rebecca Long visited Washington D.C. recently and met with congressional
delegations and Senior Administration Officials at the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation and the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers to discuss the
priority policy items of interest to our District. The District was met with
great support regarding the District's Water Recycling Feasibility Study.
Mr. Sapirstein reported on the various meetings including the Corp of
Engineer's Deputy Program Director for Civil Works for the District's region,
to discuss the SARI Line relocation and riprap removal and an upcoming
tour of districts operations by Senator Boxer's office.
He further reported that the Chairman of the Committee of Transportation
Infrastructure who is in charge of the Clean Water Act and Chairman Gibbs
of the Subcommittee, introduced legislation today that would revoke and
replace the USEPA current rulemaking effort. More information to follow.
Finally, Mr. Sapirstein discussed the tax-exempt municipal bond financing
status, his attendance at Water Week 2015 and a letter of support of the
preservation of tax-exempt status which was sent to Speaker Boehner and
Minority Leader Pelosi.
Ms. Long stated that the following upcoming tours of the district will take
place: Maurice Lyles of Senator Boxer's office April 17th, at 2:00 p.m. and
Assemblywoman Young Kim on May 28th at 3:00 p.m.
04/13/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 5
Ms. Long stated that letters of support had been sent from the District
regarding: AB 1144 (Rendon) California Renewables Portfolio Standard
Program: unbundled renewable energy credits and AB 888 (Bloom) Waste
Management: plastic microbeads.
Ian Delzer, Townsend Associates reported on the status of the following:
SB 119 (Hill) Protection of Subsurface Installation; SB 355 (Lara) San
Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy which
is set for hearing and takes a seat away from Orange County; legislative
deadlines; the Governor's emergency drought package, Proposition 1 and
Proposition 1 E; Water Recycling guidelines; Proposition 84; and the
Governor's executive order for a 25% reduction from water suppliers.
Ms. Cabral stated that an application for grant funding has been completed
for the Effluent Reuse Study, Project SP-173 under Proposition 1.
Mr. Herberg clarified that the amount of the funding available is $450,000.
Director Diep requested a list of grants available and applied for. Director
Withers inquired about an application for Proposition 84 funding.
Mr. Herberg stated that this funding is directly geared toward products that
directly create new water.
Ms. Long provided a PowerPoint presentation on the quarterly Legislative
update, sharing actions taken and progress made regarding five initiatives
of the Legislative Strategic Plan.
Vice-Chair Nielsen discussed possible funding opportunities with AQMD,
cap and trade funds and alternative fueling projects.
NON-CONSENT ITEMS:
Ms. Long provided a brief explanation of the item. The Committee discussed the
possible reasons for changing the voting membership. Director Withers suggested
that staff reach out to the Governor's office to see how the vacant Orange County
representative could be filled.
4. MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO:
A. Take the position of "Oppose" for SB 355 (Lara), an act to amend
Section 32605 of the Public Resources Code, relating to the San
Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy;
and
B. Approve the execution of the Letter of Opposition addressed to
Senator Lara.
04/13/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 5
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
Beamish; Diep; Kiley, Kring , Nielsen, Sebourn and
Withers
None
None
None
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
ITEMS, IF ANY:
Ms. Cabral stated the importance of having one or more board members represent
the District at the upcoming dignitary tours and that she would be reaching beyond
this Committee to the entire Board of Directors to ensure attendance.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Beamish declared the meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m. to the next Legislative
and Public Affairs Committee Meeting , May 11 , 2015 at 8:00 a.m .
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