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.
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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 Any items withdrawn from the Consent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:
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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.
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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
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