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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. 12/11/2017 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 3 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 12/11 /2 017 Legislat ive and Publ ic Affa irs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 3