HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-08-2015 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Orange County Sanitation District
Monday, June 8, 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, June 8, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. in the Administration
Building of the Orange County Sanitation District.
Chair Beamish 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 Lore, Clerk of the Board
Jennifer Cabral
Ann Crafton
Al Garcia
Lori Khadjadorian
Eric Sirjord
Nina Tran
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brad Hogin, General Counsel
Eric Sapirstein, ENS (via Teleconference)
Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs
Heather Stratman, Townsend Public Affairs
John Ruetten, Resource Trends, Inc.
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PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
REPORTS:
General Manager, Jim Herberg, introduced Nick Arhontes,Director of Facilities
Support Services, who reported on a proposed mural at "A" Street Pump Station.
The committee was very receptive to the concept.
CONSENT ITEMS:
1. MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the
Committee meeting held on May 11, 2015.
AYES: Beamish; Diep; Kiley, Kring, Sebourn and Withers
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: Nielsen
Vice Chair Nielsen arrived at 8:11 a.m.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
2. Public Affairs Update
Principal Public Affairs Specialist, Jennifer Cabral reported on the following:
19 tours provided; 6 career days; Public Works events; Korean festival,
Tustin chili cookoff; social media update; ocsd news alerts; published
articles; and the CBS interview with OCWD General Manager, Mike
Markus.
3. Legislative Updates
Principal Public Affairs Specialist, Jennifer Cabral reported on the following:
WaterSMART grant and the thank you letters of support to the delegation
being sent from Chair Beamish and a reminder of the GWRS expansion
ceremony to be held June 26.
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Ms. Cabral introduced Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, who provided an
update on the feasibility study; drought relief bill and policies; new grants
program at EPA for water recycling; reforms to the Clean Water Act and
and an update on the Waters of the U.S. Rulemaking.
Heather Stratman, Townsend Associates reported on the following: 2015-
16 proposed state budget which is due by June 15; one time drought
funding of 2.2 billion; 475 million in Water Recycling and advanced water
treatment projects; rolling applications for water recycling; and the a $5
million grant through Proposition 84 funds for the Newhope-Placentia Trunk
Replacement (2-72) project. OCSD will take part in a panel interview on
Friday, June 12 at SAWPA in Riverside where staff will discuss the value of
wastewater as a local resource and the future water reliability of our region.
Vice Chair Nielsen informed the Committee that the Chair of OCFA has
requested that OCSD prepare a letter of opposition to AB 1217 (Daly), a
proposed bill which would change the composition, selection method and
terms of the OCFA Board of Directors, increasing representation by County
supervisors from two members to three while decreasing the representation
of city board members from 23 to 10.
Ms. Cabral will reference the legislative plan to ensure a position to this bill
can be taken; or if this item needs to be agendized to a Committee.
Director Withers departed the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
NON-CONSENT ITEMS:
Assistant General Manager Bob Ghirelli gave a brief summary of the item and
introduced John Ruetten, Resource Trends, Inc. who provided an information
PowerPoint presentation which included: reasons to utility brand; perceptions and
categorizations by target audiences; transparency and accountability; OCSD's
business values and brand framework; organizational standards; communication
strategies and a review of OCSD's documents.
4. MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO:
Recommend to the Board of Directors:
Approve the Communication Strategy for OCSD Utility Branding as part of
the General Manager's Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Work Plan.
AYES: Beamish; Diep; Kiley, Kring, Nielsen, and Sebourn
NOES: None
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ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: Withers
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
ITEMS, IF ANY:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Beamish declared the meeting adjou rn ed at 9:45 a .m. to the next Legislative
and Public Affairs Committee Meeting, July 13, 2015 at 3 :30 p.m .
Submitted by:
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