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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-2018 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Monday, February 5, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair Sebourn on Monday, February 5, 2018 at 12:00 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 Donald P. Wagner, Member-At-Large COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Chad Wanke, 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 Celia Chandler, Director of Human Resources 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 Cory Coogan Daisy Covarrubias Rebecca Long Kelly Newell 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) General Manager Jim Herberg did not provide a report. 02/05/2018 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 December 11, 2017. AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein, Kim, Sebourn, Shawver, and Wagner None None Wanke and Withers NON-CONSENT CALENDAR: None. INFORMATION ITEMS: 2. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long) Rebecca Long, Senior Public Affairs Specialist, indicated that the 2018 Legislative Priorities Key Message Card was distributed to the Committee. Ms. Long indicated that Assemblymember Daly would be sponsoring OCSD's legislation pertaining to bid advertising requirements and that Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) would provide more information about this item later in the meeting. Ms. Long also indicated that lobby days are being scheduled and that David French, ENS Resources, would provide additional information in his report. Lastly, Ms. Long indicated that Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act (WllN) funding information should be available in the next several months. Ms. Long introduced David French, ENS Resources, who reported that lobby days meetings are being scheduled in Washington, DC for April 19 and the morning of April 20. Mr. French provided an overview of current activity pertaining to the Federal budget and indicated that legislation pertaining to water was recently introduced including S.2364, Securing Required Funding for Water Infrastructure Now Act or SRF WIN Act (Boozman). Mr. French briefly highlighted a few key components of S.2364. Mr. French provided information on the Federal administration's infrastructure principles and goals. Mr. French also provided an update on the Waters of the US Rule (WOTUS) and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) development. Ms. Long indicated that staff anticipates the support of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles and the California Association of Sanitation Agencies for AB 2003 (Daly), legislation pertaining to bid advertising requirements. Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), provided an informative PowerPoint presentation that reviewed the key dates of the 2018 legislative session and composition of the legislature due to recent changes, an overview of the Governor's 02/05/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4 January budget including components specific to water, a breakdown of the funding of the Cap and Trade expenditure plan and details of funding of interest to OCSD, an update on OCSD's request made to Assemblymember Quirk-Silva for a direct expenditure through cap and trade for the installation and operation of a food waste co-digestion facility at Plant No. 2, and information pertaining to AB 2003 (Daly) which was introduced on February 1 and is legislation to modify the bid advertising requirement. The language for AB 2003 remains as previously seen by the Committee, that bid advertising requirements are to be published in a manner that the OCSD Board determines to be reasonable, which may include, but is not limited to, newspapers, Internet Web site, radio, television or other means of mass communications. The co-author is Senator Wilk. The introduced legislation will now sit for 30 days until heard in its first policy committee. During this time, TPA will be working with the author and co-author on next steps and to secure support for this legislation. 3. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral) Jennifer Cabral, Public Affairs Supervisor, introduced Cory Coogan who is a new intern from Long Beach State and will be providing support for graphics work in the Public Affairs Office. Ms. Cabral provided an overview of recent Public Affairs activities and reported on a couple of media tours recently given and a meeting recently held with Bloomberg for an article being developed regarding fuel cells. Ms. Cabral provided information on the upcoming Winter Fest event being held on February 16 to celebrate the 1 oth anniversary of the Groundwater Replenishment System and the Guinness World Record attempt for the most wastewater recycled to drinking water in 24 hours. Ms. Cabral indicated that OCSD received 22 entries to the recent Public Service Announcement contest and gave an overview of next steps. Ms. Cabral indicated that the Honor Walk nomination period will begin this month and briefly described the Honor Walk program. Ms. Cabral reviewed the steps being taken for the upcoming rehabilitation of the western regional sewer project that will impact six member agencies. Ms. Cabral indicated that staff is working closely with the Orange County Transportation Authority regarding the upcoming 1-405 improvement project. Ms. Cabral indicated that the Prop. 218 notices regarding rates will be mailed on February 9 and the OCSD website will be updated to include the information being mailed. Meetings pertaining to this topic are scheduled with Orange County Tax, Orange County Building Industry Association, and the Orange County Business Council. The public hearing for the adoption of the rates will be held at the Board of Directors meeting on March 28. Vice-Chair Shawver requested that the website include information as to the cost of the services OCSD provides broken into a daily expense. Ms. Cabral reviewed some of the information included on the notice and responded to Chair Sebourn's request to include information on the website regarding urban run-off. OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IFANY: None. 02/05/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4 ADJOURNMENT: Chair Sebourn declared the meeting adjourned at 12:36 p.m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting, Monday, March 12, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Submitted by: T l/IJLJv hlL rrrr Tina Knapp, CMC Clerk of the Board 02/05/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4