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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-14-2015 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Monday September 14, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. A regular meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair Nielsen on Monday, September 14, 2015 at 8:06 a.m., in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Director Kiley 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 Robert Kiley, Director Lucille Kring, Director John Withers, Director COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Tyler Diep, 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 Jim Colston Norbert Gaia Al Garcia Rebecca Long Kelly Newell OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hogin, General Counsel Eric Sapirstein, ENS (via Teleconference) Chris Townsend, Townsend Public Affairs Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs Casey Elliott, Townsend Public Affairs Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs 09/14/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1of5 PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. REPORTS: General Manager, Jim Herberg, did not provide a report. CONSENT ITEMS: 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board) MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the Committee meeting held on July 13, 2015. AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 2. Public Affairs Update Beamish, Kiley, Kring, Nielsen, Sebourn and Withers None None Diep Principal Public Affairs Specialist, Jennifer Cabral updated the committee on current joint media strategies with OCWD, including updated GWRS information. She also stated that all future presentations of the GWRS will be provided with equal representation between the agencies. Ms. Cabral also stated that high ranking officials from the Singapore Public Utility Board recently received a presentation. Ms. Cabral also informed the committee of the following: NBC Today Show interviewed Ed Torres regarding flushable wipes; KNX radio interview and LA Times publication regarding unintentional consequences of the drought; three awards received for the OCSD annual report and the 60th anniversary video; tour program statistics; recently attended community outreach events including: Westminster Safety Day and the Anaheim Eco challenge, and upcoming events including: SARBS coastal cleanup day on Sept. 19, Newport Beach Green Fair Expo, and Huntington Beach Green Expo on Sept. 26. Ms. Cabral stated that the second phase of the Newport Force Main Rehabilitation Project began this past week and in preparation OCSD hosted three community meetings with approximately 50 attendees, and Director of 09/14/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 5 Engineering, Rob Thompson presented project information to the City Council at a recently Planning Session. Finally, Ms. Cabral noted that OCSD had received an email from Marc, Marcantonio, General Manager of Yorba Linda Water District, who had recently taken an ocean monitoring tour on the Nerissa and commended our professional staff for the excellent tour. Director's tour dates are still available for October 3rd, 1 oth and 17th if anyone is interested. 3. Legislative Updates Senior Public Affairs Specialist, Rebecca Long announced the following dates: ACCOC Energy and Environment Committee Meeting will be held at OCSD on November 15th from 12:30 p.m. -2:30 p.m. with lunch provided; and the State of the District which will be held on October 16, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. to be held at OCSD. Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, reported that Congress had returned to session on September 8, and will likely continue through December to find budget resolution. Mr. Sapirstein reported on Senator Feinstein's attempt to add an additional 53 million in funding to the Bureau of Reclamation budget to deal with emergency spending and competitive grants program. Mr. Sapirstein also informed the committee of the status of S.1894 California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2015, which is currently pending in the Energy Committee. The bill would reform Title XVI, by providing additional funding over several years. Mr. Sapirstein requested that the district write a letter of support to Senator Feinstein. Mr. Sapirstein also reported on the possible budget cuts to the Clean Water Act State Revolving Loan Fund Program and H.R. 3533, the citizen suits under the Clean Water Act, which he recommended OCSD send a letter of support to the sponsor and to the delegation at large. Staff answered questions regarding the possible retraction of pending legislation due to extreme wet weather; FEMA; El Nino vulnerabilities; preparedness training and pre-disaster efforts. Ms. Long announced that she is working with Senator Janet Nguyen's office to provide a tour. Chair Nielsen received consensus from the Committee and asked Ms. Long to prepare the two letters of support requested by Mr. Sapirstein. 09/14/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 5 Christopher Townsend, Townsend Public Affairs introduced Casey Elliott, Cori Williams, and Eric O'Donnell from his legislative team. He also announced that he had recently hired Sharon Gonsalves, who previously was the Legislative Director for Diane Harkey and most recently was the Legislative Director for Senator Anthony Cannella. Casey Elliott, Townsend Public Affairs, provided a state capital update including: legislature adjournment on Sept. 11; leadership changes in 3 of 4 caucuses including: Senate Republican Caucus voted in Senator Jean Fuller as its new minority leader; Assembly Member Chad Maze will be next Republican minority leader; and Assembly Democratic Anthony Rendon has been chosen to be next speaker, with final vote in January; various outstanding issues at the end of session including: transportation, health care, budget items on cap and trade and the status of SB 350. Mr. Elliott provided an amended OCSD Priority Legislation handout to the Committee and reviewed the listed bills that were either signed by or are in front of the Governor to sign. Discussion ensued regarding recently introduced SB 163 (Hertzberg) Wastewater treatment: recycled water. Ms. Cabral announced that Environmental Compliance-Regulatory Affairs Manager, Jim Colston is the federal CASA Committee member and stated that CASA has been asked to provide a presentation to the committee regarding their legislative platform as it aligns with our agency. Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs, provided an informative update on Proposition 1 Water Recycling Program funding, coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board and applicable future projects. Chair Nielsen requested that rather than have CASA make a presentation to the Committee, that staff provide written information at the next meeting. Ms. Long stated that a legislative matrix with associated agencies will be completed by next month. NON-CONSENT CALENDAR: None. OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS. IF ANY: None. 09/14/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 5 ADJOURNMENT: Chair Nielsen declared the meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m . to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Meeting, October 12, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. 09/14/2015 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 5 of 5