HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-13-2017 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Orange County Sanitation District
Monday, March 13, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.
A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair
Sebourn on Monday , March 13 , 2017 at 8:00 a .m . in the Administration Building of the
Orange County Sanitation District. Director Bernstein led the pledge of allegiance.
A quorum was declared present, as follows:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Greg Sebourn, Board Chair
David Shawver, Board Vice-Chair
Allan Bernstein , Director
Peter Kim, Director
Donald P. Wagner, Director
John Withers , Director
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
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
Mike White , Controller
Tina Knapp , Deputy Clerk of the Board
Jennifer Cabral
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 (via
teleconference)
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 the Association of California Cities-Orange
County (ACC-OC) continues work on developing a leadership symposium for elected
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officials that would begin with a leadership assessment and provide training on topics
such as homelessness , transportation infrastructure , changing workforce
demographics , among other topics .
Chair Sebourn reported that an agenda item will be presented to the Steering
Committee for consideration of chang ing the frequency of meetings of the Legislative
and Public Affairs (LaPA) Committee . Chair Sebourn expressed an interest in having
the public affairs update and legislat ive update (both currently monthly information items
to the LaPA Committee) moved to information items for the Steering Committee and
holding LaPA meetings quarterly. Vice-Chair Shawver expressed an interest in having
the LaPA Committee meet when the legislature (State and Federal) is in session.
Director Bernstein expressed his appreciation for what the LaPA Committee addresses
and indicated that he would like to see more practical use of the Committee to delve
into legislative topics facing OCSD.
CONSENT CALENDAR: Consent Cale n da r Items are considere d to be rou tine and will be ena c ted,
by the Committee , aft er one motion , without discu ss ion . An y item s withdr a wn from the Conse n t Calendar
for separate discu ssion w ill be con s idere d in the re g ula r order of bu sin es s .
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Boa rd)
MOVED , SECONDED , and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the
Legislative and Public Affa irs Committee meeting held on February 6 , 2017 .
AYES :
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
Bernstein , Kim , Sebourn , Shawver , Wagner , and
Withers
None
None
Wanke
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR:
None .
INFORMATION ITEMS:
2 . LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long)
Rebecca Long , Sen ior Public Affairs Specialist , provided an update on the Cal
Recycle program grant and indicated that OCSD wi l l be applying . Ms . Long also
indicated that OCSD will be applying for the OC Waste and Recycling grant.
Eric Sapirstein , ENS Resources , reported that appointments have been made
with the Environmental Protection Agency , provided an overview on a variety of
federal loan programs , and reported on the recent California Association of
Sanitation Agencies conference .
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Ms. Long indicated that the Orange County Water District will be applying for
funding through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) for
the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) expansion .
Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), provided an update on activities
in the State government , including a recap of legislation submitted before the
recent deadline for the introduction of legislation . Ms . Williams provided an
update on legislation regarding the feasibility of direct potable reuse of water (AB
574) and SB 231 , which would amend Proposition 218 . Ms . Williams also
indicated that the State Water Resource Control Board recently extended urban
water conservation regulations until May.
Eric O'Donnell , TPA , reported on the Little Hoover Commission and the recent
meeting the Commission had regarding permitting and special district rules . Mr .
O 'Donnell also reported on the recent Cap & Trade auction. Mr. O 'Donnell and
Ms. Long indicated that congratulatory letters will be sent to State and Federal
legislators , in which tours of OCSD will also be offered .
3. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral)
Ms . Cabral provided a brief overview of the Public Affairs Strategic Plan and
reviewed the community events at which OCSD will be , and has been , present.
Ms. Cabral also reviewed recent publications that have included information on
OCSD .
Ms. Cabral provided an overview on OCSD 's recent video production efforts and
two videos were shown -the General Manager's welcome/introduction to OCSD
video and recruitment video . Ms. Cabral indicated that the next video to be
produced/finalized will be a tour video .
Ms . Cabral reported on the upcoming marketing efforts for the GWRS water
bottling campaign . The first event will be the WateRuse event on March 20th in
San Diego and the second event will be in Sacramento on April 18th. The Chair
and Vice-Chair will be attending , and there is one additional vacancy for another
elected official to attend.
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
ITEMS, IF ANY:
None .
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ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Sebourn declared the meet ing adjourned at 8 :56 a .m . to the next Legislative and
Public Affairs Committee meeting , Monday , April 10 , 2017 at 3 :30 p .m.
Submitted by:
TiAMvrr
T K ~ 1na napp
Deputy Clerk of the Board
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