HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-06-2017 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Orange County Sanitation District
Monday, February 6, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.
A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair
Sebourn on Monday, February 6, 2017 at 8:01 a.m. in the Administration Building of
the Orange County Sanitation District.
Vice-Chair Shawver led the pledge of allegiance.
A quorum was declared present, as follows:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Greg Sebourn, Board Chair
David Shawver, Board Vice-Chair
Peter Kim, Director
Donald P. Wagner, Director
John Withers, Director
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Allan Bernstein, Director
Chad Wanke, Director
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
STAFF PRESENT:
Jim Herberg, General Manager
Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager
Celia Chandler, Director of Human
Resources
Jim Colston, Director of Environmental
Services
Rob Thompson, Director of Engineering
Ed Torres, Director of Operations and
Maintenance
Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance &
Administrative Services
Tina Knapp, Deputy Clerk of the Board
Jennifer Cabral
Tanya Chong
Daisy Covarrubias
Alfredo Garcia
Rebecca Long
Mark Manzo
Kelly Newell
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brad Hagin, General Counsel
Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs
Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via
Teleconference)
Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs
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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 reminded the Committee that Board Orientation is being
offered on Wednesday, February 15th and Wednesday, March 15th at 3:00 p.m. (both
dates). Mr. Herberg also reported that he has had the opportunity, through a recent
Association of California Cities -Orange County (ACC-OC) event, to address new City
Council members and share information about the Sanitation District and what we do.
Mr. Herberg also indicated that, if neither of the Board Orientation dates work for a
Board Member, he is happy to schedule a meeting/tour one-on-one. Mr. Herberg also
indicated that tours on the Sanitation District's vessel, Nerissa, would be offered soon.
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 Any items withdrawn from the Consent Calendar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
Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting held on December 14, 2016.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
Kim, Sebourn, Wagner, and Withers
None
Shawver
Bernstein and Wanke
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR:
None.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
Jennifer Cabral, Principal Public Affairs Specialist, provided the Committee with the
Public Affairs Strategic Plan and a brief overview of the Public Affairs division and the
division's responsibilities and objectives.
2. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long)
Rebecca Long, Senior Public Affairs Specialist, indicated that the Committee
was provided with the Legislative Priorities Key Message Card.
Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, provided an update on the timing for grant
awards and indicated that the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation
(WllN) Act includes a new competitive grants program for water recycling. Mr.
Sapirstein reported that the Sanitation District and Orange County Water District
02/06/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4
(OCWD) are considered priority agencies for funding consideration. Mr.
Sapirstein also provided an update on Federal Committee appointments,
including Congressman Alan Lowenthal's appointment to the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure. Mr. Sapirstein also provided an update on the
Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and responded to a
question from the Committee indicating that the Sanitation District has projects
for consideration under WIFIA.
Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), provided an update on activities
in the State government, including the timeframe for introduction of new
legislation and priorities included in the 2017-2018 budget, which the Governor
recently released.
Eric O'Donnell, TPA, provided a brief overview of past regulation activity by the
State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB) in which their regulations were
retracted regarding the mandatory conservation percentages through the
implementation of a self-certification program by which an agency, if that agency
could prove that they had a water supply that would least at least three years,
did not need to continue to abide by conservation regulations. These regulations
expire this month. The SWRCB addressed this issue last month and heard
robust public comment indicating that to maintain the illusion of the emergency
drought situation is dangerous for future emergency matters. SWRCB meets
tomorrow to discuss the situation and take action.
Ms. Williams indicated that the Committee was provided with a grant funding
matrix in the agenda packet. Ms. Williams indicated that the parks bond is
included in the matrix as one version (there are two versions) of the bond
contains water-related funding.
The Committee requested that the matrix be re-organized so that State and
Federal funding opportunities are identified separately and that information
pertaining to the actual dollar amount for which OCSD is applying be included.
Ms. Cabral asked the Committee to let staff know if there is additional information
they would like added to the matrix, which will be provided monthly, and that
OCSD is no longer planning to apply for loans, so WIFIA will no longer be
applicable. The OCWD may continue to do so, however, in regards to the
Groundwater Replenishment System.
The Committee also requested that the matrix be organized so that water and
biosolids are differentiated and that grants that require matching be identified.
3. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral)
Ms. Cabral reported that the Sanitation District uses construction outreach as a
mechanism to reach out to those we serve and reviewed the ways that are used
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to do so, including community workshops and construction update materials like
the one provided to the Committee . One element that has been added over the
last 18 months are community meetings prior to construction and a survey of the
impacted community as to preferred hours and similar components of the
construction .
Daisy Covarrubias, Senior Staff Analyst, indicated that the Committee received
a construction update for the Newhope Sewer Replacement Project and
continued by providing an overview of the project outreach. Ms . Covarrubias
indicated that a survey was done after Phase A regarding the success of the
outreach , impacts of the project, and what could be done differently in the future .
Ms. Covarrubias reported that pre -construction outreach is being done for an
upcoming project in Anaheim and indicated that collaboration with the City has
been positive and appreciated.
Chair Sebourn indicated that the contractor on a recent project in Fullerton did
an outstanding job and thanked Sanitation District staff for the efforts made to
ensure communication with City officials, City staff, and the public .
Rob Thompson, Director of Engineering, responded to a question from the
Committee regarding the efforts made to avoid changes to project construction,
which change the impacts to the City and the public .
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
ITEMS, IF ANY:
The Committee requested that staff ensure that tours are offered to OCSD 's influential
policy makers . Staff responded that these efforts are currently underway. Ms . Cabral
indicated that our policy makers, and other influential public , are invited to our annual
State of the District event. The Committee also offered ideas for outreach to various
groups of individuals, influential public , and policy makers .
In response to a question from the Committee , Ms. Cabral indicated that an online
virtual tour is being developed.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Sebourn declared the meeting adjourned at 8:53 a .m . to the next Legislative and
Public Affairs Committee meeting, Monday, March 13, 2017 at 8:00 a .m.
Submitted by:
-
fW-AV~7Jr
Tina Knapp
Deputy Clerk of the Board
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