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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-11-2015 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Monday, May 11, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. A regular meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair Beamish on Monday, May 11, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Director Diep 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 Greg Sebourn, Director John Withers, Director COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Lucille Kring, Director 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 Lore, 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 Heather Stratman, Townsend Public Affairs 05/11/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1of4 PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. REPORTS: General Manager, Jim Herberg, reported on the recent California Water Environment Association Conference in San Diego which the District actively participated in. Mr. Herberg stated that the District presented at the Opening General session, along with SAWPA, Silicon Valley Water Project and the City of San Diego based on the concept of water recovery/recycling. He also stated that OCSD won the large plant safety award at the conference. Chair Beamish reported that he was in Portland, OR recently where he even heard complaints on their drought. CONSENT ITEMS: 1. MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the Committee meeting held on April 13, 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: micromania handout; children's water festival; 11 groups for plant tours in April; Legislative tours with Congressman Alan Lowenthal and Senator Barbara Boxer's offices; Community outreach efforts; volunteers as judges at the QC Engineering & Science Fair; QC Public Works Day on May 16; Korean Festival on May 16; upcoming Career days; Sustain-A-Palooza Event; Inside the Outdoors with OCSD; speaking engagements; Public Works Week May 17; Honor Walk update; Save the Date Expansion Ceremony for GWRS at OCWD and construction outreach efforts. 05/11/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4 Director Rob Thompson also provided a short update on the Newport Force Main construction project. Vice-Chair Nielsen arrived at 8:10 p.m. 3. Legislative Updates Public Affairs Specialist, Rebecca Long introduced Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, who provided an update on the pending request submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for WaterSmart program assistance. The District has received a joint letter of support from the Orange County house delegation, and are awaiting a response back regarding additional letters of support from Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer. Mr. Sapirstein stated that in regards to the 2016 FY budget, the Energy and Waters Development Appropriation bill includes language in the report that directs the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to redouble its efforts in water recycling, noting the huge benefits and encourages them to submit to Congress projects that reaffirms funding WaterSmart projects. Mr. Sapirstein further reported on: Water funding projects; tax reform; tax exempt bond financing; Waters of the U.S. Rulemaking; Regulatory Integrity Protection Act (RIP); personnel changes in Senator Feinstein's office; water supply and drought relief legislation; possible loan and grant assistance for water recycling projects; and the recent ACWA meeting. Ms. Long updated the Committee on: AB 327 (Gordon) Public Works Volunteers, AB 1387 (Chu) Change Orders; SB 355 (Lara) San Gabriel and Lower LA Rivers and Mountains Conservancy; and Proposition 84. Ms. Long provided a Grant funding tracker to the Committee and explained the grants applied for and the benefited projects. She also distributed a Legislative Priorities Key Message Card. She thanked Director Kiley for representing the District at the recent dignitary tours; noted the upcoming tours and provided clarification on SB 119 (Hill). Chair Beamish requested that staff organize a joint policy committee meeting with SAWPA. Director Diep departed the meeting at 8:30 a.m. Heather Stratman, Townsend Associates reported on the following: legislative deadlines; Governor's budget update, which is expected to have nearly $1 billion in additional funding with the excess going towards education and possibly some remaining funds to Cap-and-Trade Program; Governor's drought focus; grant funding, including Proposition 84 IRWM 05/11/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4 program and Proposition 1 Water Recycling program; SB 355 (Lara) update; and possible funding for a study of available alternate water sources. Director Withers departed the meeting at 8:37 p.m. NON-CONSENT ITEMS: None. OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY: None . ADJOURNMENT: Chair Beamish declared the meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Meeting, June 8, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. Submitted by : 05/11/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4