HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-13-2017 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Orange County Sanitation District
Monday, November 13, 2017 at 12:00 p.m.
A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by
Chair Sebourn on Monday, November 13, 2017 at 12:03 p.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, Member-At-Large
Peter Kim, Member-At-Large
Chad Wanke, Member-At-Large
John Withers, Member-At-Large
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Donald P. Wagner, Member-At-Large
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR:
Chair Sebourn did not provide a report.
STAFF PRESENT:
Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager
Jim Colston, Director of Environmental Services
Rob Thompson, Director of Engineering
Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance &
Administrative Services
Tina Knapp, Deputy Clerk of the Board
Jennifer Cabral
Tanya Chong
Daisy Covarrubias
Alfredo Garcia
Rebecca Long
Kelly Newell
Man Nguyen
Tyler Ramirez
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brad Hagin, General Counsel
Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs
Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs
David French, ENS Resources (via
teleconference)
Adam Link, California Association of Sanitation
Agencies (CASA)
11/13/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 4
REPORT OF GENERAL MANAGER:
Assistant General Manager Bob Ghirelli reminded the Committee that the Board of
Directors and Steering Committee meetings are a week early this month, on Wednesday,
November 15. He also reminded the Committee of the State of the District event being
held on Friday, November 17 at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley .
CONSENT CALENDAR:
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board)
MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the
Committee meeting held on October 9, 2017.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
Bernstein, Kim, Sebourn, Shawver, Wanke, and
Withers
None
None
Wagner
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR:
None.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
2 . CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SANITATION AGENCIES (CASA)
PRESENTATION (Jim Colston)
Jim Colston, Director of Environmental Services, introduced Adam Link, Director of
Government Affairs from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA).
Mr. Colston indicated that staff actively participates in CASA in many capacities
and on various committees. Mr . Link provided a PowerPoint presentation that
reviewed the 2017 legislative year and specific legislation, highlighted upcoming
goals for 2018, and provided upcoming meeting and event dates. In response to a
question from the Committee, Mr. Link indicated that participation in CASA
committees is typically staff oriented due to the technical nature of the matters
handled; however, Board Members are always welcome and the conference is a
good way to sample what the committees do.
Chair Sebourn reordered Item No. 3 to follow Item No. 5.
3. CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM UPDATE
(Jennifer Cabral)
4 . LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long)
Rebecca Long , Senior Public Affairs Specialist, introduced David French, ENS
Resources, who provided a general update on current tax reform, specifically
reporting on the status of municipal bonds. Mr. French also provided an update on
11/13/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4
the infrastructure policy proposal and changes made to Water Infrastructure
Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and the potential that this program be
transitioned from a pilot program to permanent program.
Ms. Long indicated that 104 individuals have registered for the State of the District
event and that the Legislative Plan will be presented to the Committee next month
and will include the proposed legislative concepts. Ms. Long indicated that staff will
provide the attendance list to the Committee following today's meeting.
Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), provided a PowerPoint
presentation pertaining to this item that included a recap of the 2017 legislative
session and a recap on major topics of interest (potable reuse, hydrolysis , public
records, and parks bond). The presentation also included a preview of the
upcoming 2018 legislative session and what might be expected (long term water
conservation regulations, tax on water, medical waste, and leadership in the
Senate). The presentation also provided information on tours to various legislators .
Cori Williams, TPA, continued the presentation, providing an update on the OCSD
legislative concepts, as determined by the Committee at the October meeting, that
might be developed into proposed legislation:
• Legislative Concept 1: Amend Public Contracting Code for Sanitation District
to increase the threshold for contracting and/or bidding I Proposed Date to
Introduce Legislation: January 2019
• Legislative Concept 2: Amend Public Contracting Code for Sanitation Districts
to modify the bid advertising requirement to post construction bid notices in a
newspaper I Proposed Date to Introduce Legislation: January 2019
The Committee indicated that Proposition 218 noticing does not need to dictate
the timing of introducing this legislation and requested that staff change the
introduction to January 2018, even if initially draft language.
•· Legislative Concept 3: Design Build Authorization for future OCSD
Administration Buildings I Proposed Date to Introduce Legislation: to be
determined based on construction timing. The Committee provided a
suggestion to monitor this topic to determine the timing of introducing this
legislation.
5 . PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral)
This item was not discussed .
Chair Sebourn reordered Item No. 3 to follow Item No. 5.
3 . CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM UPDATE
(Jennifer Cabral)
Public Affairs Supervisor Jennifer Cabral introduced Senior Staff Analysts Tanya
Chong and Daisy Covarrubias, who provided a PowerPoint presentation that
11 /13/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4
included an overview of the construction community outreach program, ways in
which outreach is made, and examples of recent construction and the outreach
done. Staff indicated that construction outreach is coordinated with odor
concerns/incidents.
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS;
IFANY:
Chair Sebourn reminded the Committee that this month's Steering Committee and Board
of Directors meetings are this. Wednesday, Novembe r 15 . It was mentione d that these
meetings conflict with an Association of California Cities-Orange County meeting and
event.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Sebourn declared the meeting adjourned at 1 :22 p.m. to the next Legislative and
Public Affairs Committee meeting, Monday, December 11, 2017 at 12:00 p.m.
Submitted by:
T lt\.NJ ,~ 'rr
Tina Knapp , CMG
Clerk of the Board
11/13/2017 Legislat ive and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4