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
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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.
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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
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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 :
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