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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-09-2017 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Monday, October 9, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair Sebourn on Monday, October 9, 2017 at 3:35 p.m. in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Chair Sebourn 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 John Withers, Member-At-Large COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Donald P. Wagner, Member-At-Large Chad Wanke, Member-At-Large PUBLIC COMMENTS: None . REPORT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR: Chair Sebourn did not provide a report. REPORT OF GENERAL MANAGER: STAFF PRESENT: Jim Herberg, General Manager Jim Colston, Director of Environmental Services Rob Thompson, Director of Engineering Ed Torres, Director of Operations & Maintenance Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Tina Knapp, Deputy Clerk of the Board Jennifer Cabral Marc Dubois Alfredo Garcia Rebecca Long Mark Manzo OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hogin, General Counsel Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via teleconference) Heather Stratman, Association of California Cities-Orange County (ACC-OC) General Manager Jim Herberg did not provide a report. 10/09/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 4 CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board) MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the Committee meeting held on September 11, 2017. AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein, Kim, Sebourn, and Shawver None None Wagner, Withers, and Wanke Chair Sebourn requested that Item No. 3 be re-ordered to be heard prior to the Non-Consent Calendar. INFORMATION ITEMS: 3 . ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA CITIES -ORANGE COUNTY PRESENTATION (Bob Ghirelli) Public Affairs Supervisor Jennifer Cabral introduced Heather Stratman from the Association of California Cities-Orange County (ACC-OC). Ms. Stratman provided a PowerPoint presentation that reviewed the role of ACC-OC, governance and membership of the organization, significant issues addressed by the organization in 2017, the organization's agenda and priorities for 2018, ACC-OC's commitment to collaboration with its stakeholder groups, and the partnership between ACC-OC and the Sanitation District. In response to his request , Ms . Stratman indicated that she will provide Vice-Chair Shawver a list of how California legislators, statewide , voted on legislation last year, sorted by political party. Director Withers arrived at 3:55 p.m. NON-CONSENT CALENDAR: 2 . LEGISLATIVE CONCEPTS (Bob Ghirelli) Ms. Cabral introduced this item and provided a brief background. Ms. Cabral introduced Eric O'Donnell from Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), who provided a PowerPoint presentation that reviewed each of the proposed legislative concepts : Legislative Concept 1: Amend Public Contracting Code for Sanitation Districts to increase the threshold for contracting Legislative Concept 2: Amend Public Contracting Code for Sanitation Districts to modify the bid advertising requirement Legislative Concept 3 : Design Build Authorization for Future OCSD Administration Buildings Legislative Concept 4: Inspection of sewer laterals at the time of a parcel sale 10/09/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4 Mr. Herberg indicated that Legislative Concept 2 would have the most immediate cost benefit. MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: The Committee provided direction to staff to further research and develop Legislative Concepts 1 - 3 and continue to monitor activity surrounding Legislative Concept 4 for potential future action . AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein, Kim, Sebourn, Shawver, and Withers None None Wagner and Wanke The Committee further prioritized the Legislative Concepts be addressed in the following order: 1st priority -Concept 2 2nd priority -Concept 1 3rd priority -Concept 3 AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein, Kim, Sebourn, Shawver, and Withers None None Wagner and Wanke Ms. Cabral indicated that staff would return to the Committee with further information in November. INFORMATION ITEMS: 4 . PROPOSED OUTREACH STRATEGY FOR ANTICIPATED RATE PLAN ADJUSTMENTS (Bob Ghirelli) Ms. Cabral reviewed this item and provided an overview of the approach to be utilized to maximize outreach , hinging on efforts through the OCSD tour program , community outreach, tabling at events, and speakers' bureau. The approach will continue to tell the OCSD story with an emphasis on OCSD's influential public. The OCSD story includes highlighting OCSD's successes and the key role OCSD plays in the community. Ms. Cabral distributed a sample of what a potential outreach mailer might look like. 5. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long) Rebecca Long, Senior Public Affairs Specialist, introduced Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources , who reported on the testimony pertaining to water infrastructure needs at the infrastructure hearing by the California Association of Sanitation Agencies and National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). Mr. Sapirstein reported that he continues to watch activity pertaining to tax reform as it might have 10/09/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4 an impact on OCSD constituents not being able to deduct OCSD rates from federal tax reporting. Director Withers departed the meeting at 4:32 p.m. Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), provided a PowerPoint presentation pertaining to this item that included a recap of the legislative session and a recap on major topics of interest (affordable housing funding package, cap and trade extension plan, and 2018 park bonds). The presentation also included an update on several bills, including AB 967 (Gloria)-Hydrolysate, AB 574 (Quirk)- Potable Reuse, AB 1479 (Banta) regarding the designation of a Custodian of Records , SB 212 (Jackson)-Pharmaceutical Waste , and SB 623 (Monning)-Public Goods Charge. Mr. O'Donnell also briefly reviewed the tours of OCSD offered to various legislators . 6. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral) Ms. Cabral updated the Committee on community outreach, speaking engagements in which OCSD staff is participating, and social media postings for the month of September. Ms. Cabral also reviewed upcoming events. Ms. Cabral indicated that the flyer announcing the public services announcement contest is provided in the blue folders and reviewed the mode of dissemination of contest information to the educational facilities in the OCSD service area . Ms. Cabral asked the Committee to contact staff should they have additional avenues through which to advertise the contest. OTHER BUSllNESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY: None. ADJOURNMENT:. Chair Sebourn declared the meeting adjourned at 4:49 p .m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting, Monday, November 13, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. Submitted by: r l/l;yJ ~rr- Tina Knapp, CMC Clerk of the Board 10/09/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes