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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 02/06/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1of4 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 02/06/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4 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 02/06/2 017 Le gisl at ive a nd P .~1bli c A fftifr.; Co ;;1r11ittee Minutes Pag e 4 of 4