HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-11-2017 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Orange County Sanitation District
Monday, December 11, 2017at12:00 p.m.
A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by
Chair Sebourn on Monday, December 11, 2017 at 12:00 p.m . in the Administration
Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Director Kim 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
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Donald P. Wagner, Member-At-Large
John Withers, 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
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
Alfredo Garcia
Rebecca Long
Kelly Newell
Tyler Ramirez
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brad Hogin, General Counsel
Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs
Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs
Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via
teleconference)
General Manager Jim Herberg did not provide a report.
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CONSENT CALENDAR:
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board)
MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the
Committee meeting held on November 13, 2017.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
Bernstein, Kim, Sebourn, Shawver, and Wanke
None
None
Wagner and Withers
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR:
2 . LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY PLAN AND YEAR-END REVIEW
(Bob Ghirelli)
Assistant General Manager Bob Ghirelli introduced this item and Rebecca Long,
Senior Public Affairs Specialist, provided an informative PowerPoint presentation
that provided legislative highlights of 2017, tours and briefings given to State and
Federal delegations, and reviewed the 2018 Legislative and Regulatory Plan. Cori
Williams, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), reviewed the status of the legislative
concept identified by the Committee regarding bid advertising.
MOVED. SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of
Directors to: Approve the Orange County Sanitation District 2018 Legislative and
Regulatory Plan.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
INFORMATION ITEMS:
Bernstein, Kim, Sebourn, Shawver, and Wanke
None
None
Wagner and Withers
3. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long)
Ms. Long introduced Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, who provided an update on
the tax bill (H.R. 1 and S. 1 ), highlighting the elements that have indirect and direct
impacts on OCSD. Mr. Sapirstein indicated that further information pertaining to
infrastructure policymaking is anticipated at the beginning of 2018. Mr. Sapirstein
also provided the names of individuals recently appointed to agencies of interest to
OCSD.
Ms. Long provided an overview of the recent California Association of Sanitation
Agencies State Legislative Committee meeting, indicating that discussions focused
on legislation; as well as the priorities of the organization, which are currently
flushable wipes and microplastics. In response to a question from the Committee,
12/11/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 3
Ms. Williams indicated that, in regard to the bid advertising legislative concept being
developed by OCSD , the current priority is finding an author .
4. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral)
Jennifer Cabral, Public Affairs Supervisor, provided an overview of recent Public
Affairs activities and reported that the project to update OCSD's video library has
been completed and that this was primarily undertaken as an extension of
onboarding new Board Members and employees . Ms. Cabral thanked the
Committee for attending the State of the District event in November. Two new
videos (one pertaining to resource recovery and the other to the flushable three)
were shown to the Committee . Ms. Cabral indicated that these videos will be
provided to our member agencies for them to share . Vice-Chair Shawver offered
local school districts as an additional avenue for sharing the videos.
OTHER BUSINESS AND C_OMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS,
IFANY:
Vice-Chair Shawver thanked the consultants and staff for their commitment to the
legislative efforts of OCSD and commented that it is being recognized by legislators .
Director Bernstein echoed Vice-Chair Shawver's suggestion of sharing the videos with
local school districts and voiced his appreciation for the Sanitation District's staff and
consultants . Vice-Chair Shawver suggested also sharing the videos with Orange Coast
Community College.
Board Chair Sebourn reminded the Committee that the next Board meeting is
December 20. Chair Sebourn reiterated the importance of having a working knowledge
of OCSD to aid in the decision-making process and encouraged all Board Members to
take the tour of both Plant Nos . 1 and 2 being offered before the December 20 Board
meeting and, if unable to participate on this tour date , please contact staff to schedule a
date and time.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Sebourn declared the meeting adjourned at 12:37 p .m . to the next Legislative and
Public Affairs Committee meeting, Monday, February 5, 2018 at 12:00 p .m.
Submitted by :
T f/vupJf-n ~
Tina Knapp , CMC ~
Clerk of the Board
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