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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-08-2016 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Tuesday, November 8, 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, November 8, 2016 at 8:05 a.m. in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Vice-Chair Sebourn led the pledge of allegiance. A quorum was declared present, as follows: COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: John Nielsen, Board Chair Greg Sebourn, Board Vice-Chair Robert Kiley, Director Peter Kim, Director Lucille Kring, Director John Withers, Director COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Beamish, Director PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. STAFF PRESENT: Jim Herberg, General Manager Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager Jim Colston, Director of Environmental Services Rob Thompson, Director of Engineering Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Tina Knapp, Deputy Clerk of the Board Jennifer Cabral Daisy Covarrubias Alfredo Garcia Rebecca Long Mark Manzo OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hagin, General Counsel Diana Coronado, Association of California Cities -Orange County Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via Teleconference) Heather Stratman, Association of California Cities -Orange County Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs 11/08/2016 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 on an emergency incident to which the fire department responded yesterday, indicating that no one was injured and repairs are underway. 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 Any items withdrawn from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion will be considered in the regular order of business. 1.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 October 10, 2016. AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Kiley, Kim, Kring, Nielsen, Sebourn, and Withers None None Beamish NON-CONSENT CALENDAR: None. INFORMATION ITEMS: 2. ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA CITIES -ORANGE COUNTY (ACC-OC) PRESENTATION (Rebecca Long) Senior Public Affairs Specialist Rebecca Long introduced Heather Stratman from the Association of California Cities -Orange County (ACC-OC). Ms. Stratman provided a PowerPoint presentation, which reviewed the mission statement of ACC-OC, governance and membership of the organization, significant issues addressed by the organization in 2016, the organization's agenda and priorities for 2017, ACC-OC's commitment to collaboration with its stakeholder groups, and strengthening the partnership between ACC-OC and the Orange County Sanitation District. 3. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long) Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), provided an update on the end of session legislative activities in Sacramento, especially the Governor's veto rate; election contests that will possibly affect the structure of the legislature; and an 11/08/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4 update on the status of the legislative calendar, contingent upon Proposition 54, which is anticipated to be released this week. Eric O'Donnell, TPA, provided an update on the Little Hoover Commission's recent meeting regarding climate change and how special districts are adapting to it, how special districts are funding these changes, what is needed from the State, and what special districts foresee as future issues. Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, provided a general update on federal legislative activity including the appropriations process; Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation; and the Energy Policy Modernization Act (S. 2012), including drought and WaterSense provisions. Senior Public Affairs Specialist Rebecca Long reported that staff is in the process on developing a public relations and marketing plan for the bottling of recycled water (AB 2022) and determining what might be used as the container for the bottled water. Ms. Long also reported that response to the Sanitation District's AquaCritox grant application is still pending. Ms. Long responded to a question from the Committee regarding what types of containers are being considered for bottling the recycled water. Director Kiley provided the name of a contact at Yorba Linda Water District who has been coordinating the bottling of water for that agency. Principal Public Affairs Specialist Jennifer Cabral indicated that contracts with TPA and ENS will be renewed for the coming year, pursuant to the current contract, and a Request for Proposal will be released next year as the current contract will be expiring at that time. Ms. Cabral indicated that the presentation by ACC-OC today, much like the presentation from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies last month and additional prior discussions and presentations, is in preparation for the Committee review of the Legislative Plan in December. Mr. Herberg reported that an educational leadership symposium for Orange County elected officials is in the early stages of development and he will bring more details to the Board in the near future. Director Kiley indicated that this might be his last meeting subject to the results of the recall vote in his jurisdiction and thanked the Committee for the opportunity to serve. Chair Nielsen indicated that this meeting is his last Legislative Committee meeting and offered his appreciation for the work of the Committee. 4. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral) Ms. Cabral did not provide a report. 11/08/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4 OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY: None. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Nielsen declared the meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Meeting, Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. Submitted by: T lJtfJ016r-~ Tina Knapp Deputy Clerk of the Board I i ! ... 11/08/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4