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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-08-2016 Legislative Committee Minutes MINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Monday, February 8, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. A regular meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Vice-Chair Sebourn on Monday, February 8, 2016 at 8:01 a.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: STAFF PRESENT: John Nielsen, Board Chair Jim Herberg, General Manager Greg Sebourn, Board Vice-Chair Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager Tom Beamish, Director Nick Arhontes, Director of Facilities Robert Kiley, Director Support Services Peter Kim, Director Celia Chandler, Director of Human Lucille Kring, Director Resources John Withers, Director Rob Thompson, Director of Engineering Ed Torres, Director of Operations & COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Maintenance None. Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Kelly Lore, Clerk of the Board Jennifer Cabral Norbert Gaia Al Garcia Mark Manso Rebecca Long OTHERS PRESENT: Kendra Carney, Associate General Counsel Eric Sapirstein, ENS (via Teleconference) Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs James Peterson, Townsend Public Affairs Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. 02/08/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 4 CONSENT CALENDAR: Consent Calendarltems are considered to be routine and will be enacted, by the Board of Directors, after one motion, without discussion. Any items withdrawn from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion will be considered in the regular order of business. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board) MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the Committee meeting held on December 14, 2015. AYES: Beamish, Kiley, Kim, Sebourn and Withers NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kring and Nielsen NON-CONSENT CALENDAR: None. INFORMATION ITEMS: 2. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral) Principal Public Affairs Specialist, Jennifer Cabral, presented new visual communication rebranding efforts including: photographs of a new "Resource Recovery" lobby wall display; inclusion of statistics on recyclables; a new PowerPoint presentation template, and a display of new letterhead and business cards. Ms. Cabral provided information on media relations with the Discovery Science channel, and KTLA Channel 5, which focused on the Groundwater Replenishment System and featured General Manager Jim Herberg and OCWD General Manager Mike Markus. Ms. Cabral announced two new social media campaigns: "OCSD at Work" and "Wastewater Word Wednesday" and further explained the increasing efforts and benefits of social media. Director Beamish suggested adding the tagline "Resource Recovery" to the new letterhead and business cards. Finally, Ms. Cabral provided statistics on the community education outreach for the previous two months. Chair Nielsen arrived at 8:08 a.m. and presided. 3. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (Rebecca Long) Senior Public Affairs Specialist, Rebecca Long introduced and welcomed James Peterson, Townsend Public Affairs, and provided an update on the following: 02/08/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4 2016 Legislative Plan; legislative key note cards and the progress of SB 163 (Hertzberg). Ms. Long announced that Assemblymember Gordon agreed to be the author of the new water bottle bill, and OCSD, OCWD and WateReuse are the sponsors. A copy of the draft bill was distributed. Director Kring arrived at 8:11 a.m. Eric Sapirstein joined the meeting via teleconference. Mr. Sapirstein provided a federal legislative update on the following: Senator Feinstein's drought bill; feasibility study process through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, development of a renewed Water Resources Reform and Development Act bill; water recycling; and the President's final budget. Mr. Sapirstein announced a White House Water Summit will be held on March 22, to raise awareness of water issues and potential solutions in the United States. Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), introduced the newest member of the TPA team, James Peterson, and provided a state legislative update on the following: Current 2-year and newly introduced bills; cap and trade revenue; Governor's budget update; natural resources agency funding; and emergency drought mandate statistics. Director Withers suggested communicating the mandate goal reduction successes of GWRS to member agencies and the public. Ms. Williams provided additional information regarding the proposed water bottle bill, its author Assemblymember Rich Gordon, and the bill process and deadlines. Discussion on the process of drafting the bill ensued. Staff responded to questions regarding the District's position on SB 163 (Hertzberg) and the grant funding process. At the request of Chair Nielsen, Ms. Long and Ms. Cabral provided feedback and noted success on the recent ACC-OC event hosted by OCSD. REPORTS: The Committee Chair and the General Manager may present verbal reports on miscellaneous matters of general interest to the Committee Members. These reports are for information only and require no action by the Committee. Chair Nielsen did not provide a report. General Manager Jim Herberg reiterated the efforts of staff who track grants and opportunities for funding projects that increase recycling. Mr. Herberg announced that he and OCWD General Manager, Mike Marcus will be presenting at the Utility Management Conference in San Diego on February 24. 02/08/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4 Director of Engineering Rob Thompson distributed a map of the proposed entrance modifications to the OCSD Administration Building and informed the Committee of the current plan to widen the 1-405 freeway and the construction of a new southbound onramp proposed by OCTA. Discussion of the impact to OCSD staff, contractors and the public ensued. OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY: Director Kring stated that the Orange County Vector control is recommending the removal of all standing water due to the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Mr. Sapirstein announced that Ms. Long will be attending the CASA Washington DC Policy Forum on February 22. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Nielsen declared the meeting adjourned at 8:56 a.m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Meeting, March 14, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. Sub itted by: K ly . oe C.erk the Board 02/08/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4