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Home My WebLink About04-09-2018 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Monday, April 9, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair Sebourn on Monday, April 9, 2018 at 3:31 p.m. in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Board 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 John Withers, Member-At-Large COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Chad Wanke, Member-At-Large PUBLIC COMMENTS: None . STAFF PRESENT: Jim Herberg, General Manager Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager Rob Thompson , Assistant General Manager Celia Chandler, Director of Human Resources Jim Colston, Director of Environmental Services Ed Torres, Director of Operations & Maintenance Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Tina Knapp, Deputy Clerk of the Board Jennifer Cabral Tanya Chong Daisy Covarrubias Al Garcia Mark Kawamoto Rebecca Long Kelly Lore Mark Manzo Kelly Newell Roya Sohanaki Chris Stacklin OTHERS PRESENT: Kendra Carney, Assistant General Counsel Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via teleconference) Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs 04/09/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 5 REPORT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR: Board Chair Sebourn did not provide a report. REPORT OF GENERAL MANAGER: General Manager Jim Herberg reported that Public Affairs Supervisor Jennifer Cabral was recently appointed as Chairperson of the newly-formed California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) State Communications Committee . CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board) MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the Committee meeting held on March 12, 2018 . AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein, Kim , Sebourn , Shawver, and Withers None None Wagner and Wanke 2. SUPPORT SENATE BILL 929 (Bob Ghirelli) MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve letter of support for Senate Bill 929 -Special districts: Internet Web sites (McGuire). AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein , Kim , Sebourn , Shawver, and Withers None None Wagner and Wanke 3. SUPPORT, IF AMENDED, ASSEMBLY BILL 2379 (Bob Ghirelli) MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO : Approve letter of support, if amended, for Assembly Bill 2379 -Waste management: polyester microfiber (Bloom). AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: 04/09/2018 Bernstein, Kim , Sebourn, Shawver, and Withers None None Wagner and Wanke Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 5 4. SUPPORT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BILL 5127 (Bob Ghirelli) MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve letter of support for House of Representatives Bill 5127 -Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act (Napolitano). AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein, Kim, Sebourn, Shawver, and Withers None None Wagner and Wanke NON-CONSENT CALENDAR: 5. AB 967: DISPOSAL OF HUMAN REMAINS VIA WATER CREMATION (Jim Colston) Director of Environmental Services Jim Colston provided a presentation that gave an outline of this matter including a definition of water cremation and the components of same. Mr. Colston responded to a question regarding enforcement of the Ordinance indicating we could pursue legal action for violation . Mr. Colston also responded to questions pertaining to the disposal of pet remains and it was determined that this topic may need to be revisited by the GWRS Joint Steering Committee. MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of Directors to : Direct staff to prepare amendments to the Orange County Sanitation District's (Sanitation District) Wastewater Discharge Regulations Ordinance No. OCSD-48 for consideration by the Board of Directors prohibiting the direct or indirect receipt of hydrolysate into the Sanitation District's sewerage system. AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein, Kim, Sebourn, Shawver, and Withers None None Wagner and Wanke Director Wagner arrived at 3:54 p.m. INFORMATION ITEMS: 6. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long) Rebecca Long , Senior Public Affairs Specialist, introduced Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, who reported on the following items: infrastructure policy and appropriations and planned meetings during next week's lobby days in Washington , DC , which fall during Water Week. Eric O'Donnell , Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), provided an informative PowerPoint presentation that began with reviewing the upcoming key dates of the 2018 04/09/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 5 legislative session and other general information pertaining to this legislative session including empty Assembly seats and assignments; an update on the California WaterFix plans; and an update on the current status of Assembly Bill (AB) 2379 -Waste management: polyester microfiber (Bloom). The Committee discussed AB 2379 in more detail and expressed concerns over the specifics of the legislation . Without objection, Board Chair Sebourn requested that Agenda Item No. 3 be reopened for further discussion. The Committee discussed alternatives as to what positions could be taken on the legislation. MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Take no position on Assembly Bill 2379 -Waste management: polyester microfiber (Bloom). AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein , Kim , Sebourn , Shawver, Wagner, and Withers None None Wagner and Wanke The Committee requested that a presentation on microplastics be provided at a future meeting and include information as to what microplastics are, what generates them, and OCSD's position on same. Mr. O'Donnell continued the presentation with an update on the current status of Senate Bill 929 -Special districts: Internet Web sites (McGuire). Cori Williams, TPA, concluded the presentation by providing an update on Assembly Bill (AB) 2003 (Daly) which is the legislation sponsored by OCSD and indicating that the bill will be heard on May 9 by the Assembly Local Government Committee and that it will be tagged as non-fiscal. Ms . Williams indicated that it would be of value for an OCSD representative to attend the hearing to testify on behalf of the legislation. Advocacy for the legislation will continue up to May 9 and the Committee requested that staff continue to approach our member agencies for their support. Board Chair Sebourn ind icated that a request was previously made to contact each Board Member so that he/she could coordinate their agency's support of this legislation and that a reminder should be communicated . Board Chair Sebourn indicated that an OCSD staff member would be an excellent representative to attend the hearing on May 9. Ms. Long indicated that the State of the District event is scheduled for October 12 in the morning at Mile Square Park. 7. COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE STATE COLLEGE SEWER PROJECT IN ANAHEIM (Jennifer Cabral) Ms. Cabral provided an overview of this item and introduced Senior Staff Analyst Da isy Covarrubias who provided a PowerPoint presentation on this item that included a more in-depth overview of the project and staff answered questions to 04/09/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 5 offer more information about the project. Ms. Covarrubias continued the presentation by reporting on community outreach conducted and preparation and mitigation for same, the community outreach program developed as a result of these activities , and recapped with an overview of the locations that will affected and the dates during which the locations will be affected . Board Chair Sebourn commended the team for the outreach conducted on the previous phase. Rob Thompson, Assistant General Manager, indicated that the lowest responsive, responsible bidder has been disqualified for the next phase of this project. Board Vice-Chair Shawver asked that staff focus on obtaining letters of support for AB 2003 (Daly) from the cities of Santa Ana , Anaheim, Irvine, and Huntington Beach. Director Withers departed the meeting at 4:30 p.m. 8. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral) Ms. Cabral indicated that Earth Day is April 22 and OCSD will be working with a media company to release segments highlighting OCSD staff. Ms. Cabral also gave an overview of the recent tours provided to influential public. Ms. Cabral indicated that three public service announcements were selected as winners and the winners will be recognized at an upcoming Board meeting. Lastly, Ms. Cabral reported that the Honor Walk ceremony will be held May 23 at 4:00 p.m. and that one former Board Member has been nominated. OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IFANY: None. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Sebourn declared the meeting adjourned at 4:34 p.m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting , Monday, May 14, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Submitted by: T tM. Iv f-ri r-rr Tina Knapp, CMC Deputy Clerk of the Board 04/09/2018 "':" ,. -.... ' ---··. /. . / ... --·-...... ,. .,.: ...... " -·-'('·./ .. ,,.... ,,... ... .. ... " .J ... ----. . .., ,,,._ -. - .... -.. '-.I "'_,, _ -... , _,,,,. '"' -·-.. .,,.. -,. . . -...... .r,... ................ -... -.. . - Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 5 of 5