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.
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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 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:
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Tina Knapp, CMC
Clerk of the Board
02/05/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4