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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-10-2016 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. A regular meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair Nielsen on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 8:03 a.m. in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Director Withers led the pledge of allegiance. A quorum was declared present, as follows: COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: John Nielsen, Board Chair Tom Beamish, Director Robert Kiley, Director Peter Kim, Director Lucille Kring, Director John Withers, Director COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Greg Sebourn, Board Vice-Chair PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. STAFF PRESENT: Jim Herberg, General Manager Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager Celia Chandler, Director of Human Resources Rob Thompson, Director of Engineering Ed Torres, Director of Operations & Maintenance Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Tina Knapp, Deputy Clerk of the Board Jennifer Cabral Tanya Chong Jim Colston Daisy Covarrubias Alfredo Garcia Rebecca Long Mark Manzo Kelly Newell OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hogin, General Counsel Eric Sapirstein, ENS (via Teleconference) Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs 05/10/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 4 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. General Manager Jim Herberg reported that Director of Engineering Rob Thompson recently presented an overview of the Sanitation District, highlighting some of the Capital Improvement Program projects, to the City of Brea. Mr. Herberg will be making a similar presentation at the Association of California Cities -Orange County City Managers' meeting on May 11, 2016. CONSENT CALENDAR: Consent Calendar Items are considered to be routine and will be enacted, by the Committee, 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 Any items withdrawn from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion will be considered in the regular order of business. 1.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 regular Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting held on April 11, 2016. AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Beamish, Kiley, Kim, Nielsen, and Withers None None Kring and Sebourn Director Kring arrived at 8:05 a.m. NON-CONSENT CALENDAR: None. INFORMATION ITEMS: 2. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral) Principal Public Affairs Specialist Jennifer Cabral indicated that staff will be presenting an overview of the Sanitation District to the City of Tustin next week and arrangements are being made with the City of Fullerton. Ms. Cabral introduced Daisy Covarrubias, Sr. Staff Analyst, and Tanya Chong, Sr. Staff Analyst, who are capital outreach program liasons. Ms. Covarrubias and Ms. Chong provided an informative PowerPoint presentation regarding Capital Project Outreach, highlighting how communities affected by Sanitation District projects are engaged through a variety of means, providing information ahead of construction, and providing response to questions from the public within 24 hours. 05/10/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4 Ms. Chong reported on the public outreach made to residents and businesses in affected areas for the Newhope Sewer Replacement and Red Hill Sewer Improvements projects. Ms. Cabral, Ms. Chong, and Ms. Covarrubias responded to questions from the Committee regarding details of the outreach done on these projects. Ms. Cabral provided dates for upcoming community outreach events and indicated that progress is being made to update the Sanitation District's video portfolio as identified in the Public Affairs Strategic Plan. Ms. Cabral reported that August 13, 2016 is the tentative date for the joint open house with the Orange County Water District, which will highlight the Groundwater Replenishment System. Ms. Cabral reminded the Committee of the Honor Walk ceremony on May 25th. 3. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (Rebecca Long) Senior Public Affairs Specialist Rebecca Long announced that Friday, October 14, 2016 from 8:00-10:00 a.m. is the tentative date/time for the State of the District. Ms. Long provided a brief update on SB 885 Wolk (oppose) and SB 163 Hertzberg (support). A trip to Sacramento is being coordinated for the next couple of weeks to focus on AB 2022 Gordon (support). Letters of support are also being worked on for the Matsui bill, Water Resources Development Act bill, and HR 2993. The Sanitation District will also be applying for a Department of Energy grant for AquaCritox® in the next several weeks. Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, provided an update on the highlights over the last month, which included a trip to Washington, DC in late April where General Manager Herberg provided testimony to the House Committee on Natural Resources. The visit also included meetings with members of the delegation and committee staff at the Bureau of Reclamation and Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Sapirstein reported that he has recently responded to questions surrounding the rule that the Internal Revenue Service has published that would redefine what sub-governmental units are eligible to issue tax-exempt bonds and the potential need for the Sanitation District's General Counsel to review the rule and determine future activity. Mr. Sapirstein also reported that the California League of Cities wrote a letter of support for Senator Feinstein's drought bill (S.2533). Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs, provided an update on state legislative activity including: an executive order made by the Governor yesterday requiring that the SWRCB extend water conservation regulations through January 2017 and mandating new targets be made for permanent conservation while 05/10/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4 recognizing different conditions throughout the state, the Governor's May revise of the state budget is expected in the next week, concerns and amended bill language have been proposed to Senator Hertzberg 's office regarding SB 163 and work continues on this bill, and AB 2022 passed the Assembly and will next be heard by the Senate (Environmental Quality). Ms. Williams responded to questions from the Committee regarding SB 163 . OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY: Ms . Cabral indicated that Sanitation District name badges/lapel pins have been provided today to the Directors . ADJOURNMENT: Chair Nielsen declared the meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m . to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Meeting, Tuesday , June 14 , 2016 at 8:00 a.m. Submitted by: (~~Tr Tina Knapp Deputy Clerk of the Board ..... 05 /10/2016 Legislative and Publi c Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4