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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