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Home My WebLink About07-13-2015 Legislative Committee Minutes 07/13/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 5 MINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Monday, July 13, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. A regular meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair Nielsen on Monday, July 13, 2015, at 3:31 p.m. in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Director Beamish led the pledge of allegiance. A quorum was declared present, as follows: COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: John Nielsen, Board Chair Greg Sebourn, Board Vice-Chair Tom Beamish, Director Tyler Diep, Director Robert Kiley, Director Lucille Kring, Director John Withers, Director COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: 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 Raul Cuellar Norbert Gaia Al Garcia Rebecca Long Kathy Millea Kelly Newell OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hogin, General Counsel Eric Sapirstein, ENS (via Teleconference) Heather Stratman, Townsend Public Affairs Eric O’Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. REPORTS: Assistant General Manager, Bob Ghirelli, informed the Committee of the upcoming Strategic Plan Update interviews to be conducted by consultant Kristine Thalman from K.E. Thalman & Associates throughout the month of July. The Clerk of the Board has sent information to the Board of Directors and will schedule interview date and times. CONSENT ITEMS: 1. MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the Committee meeting held on June 10, 2015. AYES: Beamish, Kiley, Kring, Nielsen, and Sebourn NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Diep and Withers Director Withers arrived at 3:35 p.m. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 2. Public Affairs Update Public Affairs Specialist, Kelly Newell reported on the following: 14 high school and college tour groups; past events including: June 7th Tustin Chili Cook off reaching 600 people; June 27th Fountain Valley Summer fest event reaching 400 people and which was a partnership with MODOC and OCWD; upcoming events including: July 22nd Westminster Safety Day; and July 25th City of Anaheim Eco Challenge Day at Angel Stadium. Ms. Newell then provided a social media update and reported the success of the GWRS Dedication ceremony. Director Kring inquired as to the possibility of hosting a booth at the Orange County Fair. Staff stated that OCSD had hosted a booth in the past, but the challenges of finding volunteers for the length of the event was the reason it was eliminated. The committee suggested a possible partnership with other agencies. 07/13/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 5 Chair Nielsen announced that ACCOC had recently requested an open house here at the District and SAWPA is interested as well. Director Diep arrived at 3:42 p.m. 3. Legislative Updates Senior Public Affairs Specialist, Rebecca Long introduced Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, who provided an update on drought relief bills H.R. 2898 (Valadao) and alternate drought bill H.R. 2983 (Huffman), the difference in the two being that the latter places priority upon the development of water recycling and desalination project, as well as other conservation approaches. Another alternative bill is expected to be introduced soon by Senator Feinstein. Mr. Sapirstein reported on appropriations; the Waters of the U.S. Rule, and the SRF program funding level. Mr. Sapirstein stated that he is working with staff to review opportunities for competitive grants with the Economic Development Administration, which awards grants to public agencies to stimulate economic growth and which wastewater is a component of that agency. Director Kring questioned why there is no sense of urgency regarding the drought bills with the California Delegation. Mr. Sapirstein stated his belief that Senator Feinstein will address the urgent need for this legislation in the near future. Heather Stratman, Townsend Associates introduced Eric O'Donnell who is a new associate of the firm, and then reported on the following: finalization of the 2015-16 budget; 2.7 billion in drought related spending appropriated over the next 3 years; Chapter 11 -$210 million appropriation over a three-year period for water recycling; possible application for feasibility study; and the GWRS final expansion. Ms. Stratman further reported on Legislative dates to note including: July 18 -Adjournment for summer recess, August 18 -Return from summer recess, September 11 -legislative recess and 10/11 -deadline for Governor to sign or veto bills. She then updated the Committee on AB1217 (Daly) which met with resistance in the Senate; Mr. Daly worked with OCFA and came to a compromise by excluding their alternate board members. Ms. Stratman believes the bill is dead for now, but she believes an alternative bill will be back next year. Ms. Stratman stated the approval process of Proposition 84 funding for the 07/13/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 5 Integrated Regional Water Management program, which is administered by SAWPA and the recommended funding to OCSD of $1 million for the Newhope-Placentia Trunk Replacement project. Chair Nielsen stated that OCFA had thanked us for our letter of opposition the District sent in regards to AB 1217. Senior Public Affairs Specialist, Rebecca Long informed the Committee of the following: watch position on AB 304 (Gonzalez); tour for the staff of Congressman Ed Royce; and attendance of Mr. Herberg at Congressman Huffman's round-table discussion. Ms. Long then provided an overview of the process of Proposition 84 funding. Raul Cuellar, CIP Project Manager provided a short PowerPoint presentation on the advantages and challenges of the project that is recommended for the Proposition 84 funding, Newport-Placentia Trunk Sewer Replacement Project 2-62. Questions from the committee on this item were answered by Director of Engineering, Rob Thompson, and Engineering Manager Kathy Millea and included: Grant amount; SARI Line diversion into GWRS; diversion systems; project choices; economic analysis; project costs; wet weather flow; SAWPA recommendation/DWR approval; SARI line potential flows; Ms. Long announced a save the date for the State of the District which will be held on October 16, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. to be held at OCSD. At the request of Chair Nielsen, Ms. Stratman provided information regarding SB 88 which allows the State Water Resources Control Board to consolidate districts to provide clean water supply. The submitted applications to LAFCO for the proposed transfer of ownership of local sewers in Service Area 7 were discussed briefly. NON-CONSENT ITEMS: 4. MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of Directors: Cancel the August 10, 2015 regular meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee. AYES: 07/13/2015 Beamish, Diep, Kiley, Kring, Nielsen, Sebourn and Withers Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 5 NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: None OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICAT IONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY: None. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Nielsen declared the meeting adjou rn ed at 4:37 p.m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Meeting, September 14 , 2015 at 8:00 a.m. ~ 07/13/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 5 of 5