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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. 06/08/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1of4 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. 06/08/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4 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 06/08/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4 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: 06/08/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4