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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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