HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-10-2017 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Orange County Sanitation District
Monday, July 10, 2017 at 3:30 p.m.
A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by
Vice-Chair Shawver on Monday, July 10, 2017 at 3 :3 1 p .m . in the Administration
Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Director Wagner 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, Member-At-Large
Peter Kim, Member-At-Large
Donald P. Wagner, Member-At-Large
Chad Wanke , Member-At-Large
John Withers, Member-At-Large
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
None .
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
Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance &
Administrative Services
Kelly Lore, Clerk of the Board
Rebecca Long
Kelly Newell
Man Nguyen
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brad Hogin, General Counsel
Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs
Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via
teleconference)
Cori Williams , Townsend Public Affairs
Director Tim Shaw (La Habra)
REPORTS: The Committee Chair and the General Manager may present verbal reports on
misce llaneous matters of general interest to the Committee Members. These reports are for
information only and require no action by the Committee.
• Sacramento Visit -June 27, 2017
General Manager Jim Herberg did not provide a report.
07/10/2017 Legislative and Public A ffairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 4
Vice-Chair Shawver thanked Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) for their assistance in
Sacramento and stated that the full report on the Sacramento Visit would be
deferred until the end of meeting.
CONSENT CALENDAR: Consent Calendar Items are considered to be routine and will be
enacted, by the Committee, after one motion, without discussio n. Any items withdrawn from the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
Committee meeting held on June 12, 2017.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
Bernstein, Kim, Shawver, Wagner, Wanke
None
None
Sebourn and Withers
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR:
None.
Director Withers arrived at 3:41 p .m.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
2 . LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long)
Rebecca Long, Senior Public Affairs Specialist, introduced Eric Sapirstein,
ENS Resources, who provided a verbal update to accompany his written
report on the following : infrastructure legislation, water infrastructure
support, healthcare bill progression, tax reform, SRF programs, proposed
infrastructure privatization, US EPA projects for WIFIA program assistance
and funding, letter of support (Lowenthal) for permit terms bill, FY 2018
budget funding/cuts, Senate energy bill -water sense program , and the
status of H.R. 2510 (DeFazio) -the Water Quality Protection and Job
Creation Act of 2017. Mr. Sapirstein responded to questions regarding the
proposed privatization of infrastructure and stated the challenges and risks
involved include : the loss of control over regulatory enforcement, safety,
liability, reliability, and affordability to the public.
A press release from the office of Dianne Feinstein, dated June 28, 2017,
regarding the introduction of a bipartisan bill to encourage residential water
conservation, was distributed and made available to the public.
V ice-Chair Shawver introduced Cori Williams and Eric O'Donnell, TPA, who
provided an informative PowerPoint presentation that included information
regarding: 2017-18 Legislative Session, State Budget signed by the
07/10/2017 Legislative and Publi c Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4
Governor on June 27, budget trailer bills still outstanding (Cap and Trade
Legislation), summary and positions on bills : AB 574 (Quirk) Potable Reuse,
SB 231 (Hertzberg) Local Government Fees and Charges , and AB 967
(Gloria) Human Remains Disposal (hydrolysis facilities). Mr. Herberg
provided insight into the District's current process of permitting these types
of facilities. When asked , Director of Environmental Services Jim Colston
responded that there are currently no human remains faci lity permits and on ly
two pet remains facility permits, which discharge to the SARI line.
Chair Sebourn arrived at the meeting at 3:58 p.m.
Mr. O'Donnell provided an update on the recent Sacramento Advocacy Day
that took place on June 27, attended by Chair Sebourn , Vice-Chair Shawver,
Director Bernstein , Mr. Herberg , and TPA. Ms. Williams detai led information
delivered including design build projects and cost savings concepts for
OCSD to implement contracts . Ms . Williams also highlighted a meeting w ith
Steve Moore , Vice-Chair of the SWRCB .
Mr. O 'Donnell reported on the meeting held with the Little Hoover
Commission in which the anticipated final report on special dist ricts , focusing
on LAFCOs, transparency, climate change adaptation, and the
implementation of a program to mandate the inspection of sewer lines on
properties at the time of sale, were discussed.
Director Bernstein reported briefly on the trip to Sacramento , and thanked
TPA for their assistance .
3. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Bob Ghirelli)
Kelly Newell , Public Affairs Specialist, distributed requested information
regarding the Inside the Outdoors Program and updated the Committee on
recent community outreach, speaking engagements , social media postings ,
and upcoming events .
Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager, also provided a brief overview of
the current public affairs outreach efforts including: the GWRS bottled water
event, the Fountain Valley 6Qth anniversary parade, Tustin Chili Cookoff,
Dana Point food festival , newly released tour video, monthly legislative
emails, and the success of the Advocacy Day in Sacramento.
Mr. Ghirelli distributed information requested by the Committee regarding
four organizations , to which OCSD is a member, and briefly discussed each
one . He responded to questions regarding the necess ity and value of
membership in OCBC . The Committee requested a more comprehensive list
of these types of memberships (excluding trade/training opportunities .)
07/10/2017 Leg is lative a nd Pu blic Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4
Directors Wanke and Withers departed the meeting at 4:33 p .m .
C hair Sebourn provided an update on the Advocacy Day in Sa cramento stating the
great benefit in attending . He informed th e Committee that meetings held w ith the
Orange County Delegation were to maintain relationships and leve rage OCSD as a
resource, w hile other, more focused meetings targeted specific topics and have a
direct impa ct on what we do and how we do it. Chair Sebourn further remarked that
Cori and Eric have a great rapport wi th the legi slators .
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
ITEMS , IF ANY:
None .
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Sebourn declared the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p .m . to the next Legislative
and Public Affairs Comm ittee meeting , Monday, August 14, 2017 at 12 :00 p .m .
Submitted by :
07/10/2017 Legis la tive and Public A ffairs Committee M inutes Page 4 of 4