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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are considered to be routine and will be enacted, by the Committee, after one motion, without discussio n. Any items withdrawn from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion will be considered in the regular order of business. 1.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