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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. 04/13/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 5 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 . 04/13/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 5 of 5