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Home My WebLink About05-14-2018 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Monday, May 14, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. A meeting of the Leg islative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair Sebourn on Monday, May 14, 2018 at 12:01 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 John Withers, Member-At-Large COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Donald P. Wagner, Member-At-Large Chad Wanke, Member-At-Large PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. REPORT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR: STAFF PRESENT: Bob Ghirelli , Assistant General Manager Rob Thompson , Assistant General Manager Celia Chandler, Director of Human Resources Jim Colston, Director of Environmental Services Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Tina Knapp, Deputy Clerk of the Board Kathryn Beechinor Jennifer Cabral Tanya Chong Cory Coogan Daisy Covarrubias Mark Kawamoto Rebecca Long Kelly Lore Kelly Newell Tyler Ramirez Roya Sohanaki OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hagin, General Counsel Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via teleconference) Eric O'Donnell , Townsend Public Affairs Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs Board Chair Sebourn did not provide a report. 0511412018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 4 REPORT OF GENERAL MANAGER: Assistant General Manager Bob Ghirelli did not provide a report. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board) MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the Committee meeting held on April 9, 2018. AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein, Kim , Sebourn, Shawver, and Withers None None Wagner and Wanke NON-CONSENT CALENDAR: 2. SUPPORT ASSEMBLY BILL 1933 (Bob Ghirelli) Mr. Ghirelli provided background information pertaining to this item and Chair Sebourn read the letter of support. MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve letter of support for Assembly Bill 1933 -Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: recycling infrastructure projects (Maienschein). AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: INFORMATION ITEMS: Bernstein, Kim , Sebourn, Shawver, and Withers None None Wagner and Wanke 3. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long) Rebecca Long, Senior Public Affairs Specialist, introduced Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, who updated the Committee on the following items: Washington , DC lobby days held in April ; WIFIA program ; WRDA, including potential support from Congressman Lowenthal for amendments of interest to OCSD; and the current and next year's budget and infrastructure. The Committee inquired as to the interest rate of WIFIA loans and whether or not these might be of interest to OCSD. Staff indicated that these loan opportunities will be reviewed as to if OCSD will consider pursuing this funding. In response to a question from the Committee, Mr. Sapirstein indicated that at this time no OCSD action is needed in response to the recisions to the budget. 05/14/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4 Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), provided an informative PowerPoint presentation that began with reviewing the upcoming key dates and deadlines of the 2018 legislative session; an update on California WaterFix plans; long term water conservation regulations; and an update on bill status activity, specifically mentioning that there has not been any recent activity on SB 623 (Manning) and that SB 831 (Wieckowski) has been amended to remove the ban on connection and capacity fees. Cori Williams , TPA, concluded the presentation by providing an update on Assembly Bill (AB) 2003 (Daly), indicating that the legislation was pulled from the Assembly Local Government Committee calendar and outlining the concerns of the Assembly Local Government Committee that included transparency, public participation, legal ramifications, and precedent setting . Ms. Williams also reviewed what next steps might be for the future of this legislation and answered questions from the Committee regarding the next steps and data collected for substantiation of the need for this legislation. Director Withers indicated that he feels that continued efforts pertaining to this legislation exceed the potential cost savings to OCSD. Board Chair Sebourn expressed an interest in transitioning efforts made by OCSD thus far to another organization like the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) or California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA). Board Vice-Chair Shawver indicated the importance of OCSD's involvement in issues that directly affect the public. Board Chair Sebourn requested that staff reach out to partner agencies, including CSDA and CASA, and evaluate the interest in pursuing this legislation collectively. OCSD would continue to take the lead but the partner agencies would involve all of their member agencies to garner support. Staff indicated this item will be further researched and brought back to the Committee at a future meeting . 4. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON MICROPLASTICS PRESENTATION (Jim Colston) Mr. Ghirelli provided background information pertaining to this item and indicated that this presentation was requested during the Committee's prior discussion of AB 2379 -Waste management of polyester microfiber (Bloom). Mr. Ghirelli introduced Engineering Supervisor Mark Kawamoto who provided an informative PowerPoint presentation on microplastics that included a definition of microplastics and where they come from , plastics waste management and gyre (large system of rotating ocean currents), why microplastics are of concern, impacts of plastics and microplastics, and how microplastics make their way from clothing to the environment to the food chain . In response to a question from the Committee, Mr. Kawamoto indicated he was unsure as to whether or not microplastics are tested for after treatment through the GWRS; however, Director of Environmental Services Jim Colston indicated staff will follow up on this question and that the Sanitation District is very efficient in removing microplastics. Director Withers indicated it might be of interest to estimate the quantity of microplastics removed from the GWRS through the levels of treatment and market this good news. Board Chair Sebourn expressed an 05/14/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4 interest in the Sanitation District further studying microplastics and the impact of such to not only the Sanitation District's plants, but to the environment. Mr. Ghirelli indicated that other organizations have studied microplastics and that the Sanitation District could use this research as a foundation for further study. Board Chair Sebourn expressed an interest in specifically understanding the effects of microplastics in and on our service area . Director Kim inquired as to whether or not this discussion affects the Sanitation District's position on AB 2379 (Bloom) to which Board Chair Sebourn indicated that the position might be modified depending on further study. Public Affairs Supervisor Jennifer Cabral indicated that CASA is researching ocean contamination in response to SB 1263 and that collaboration with CASA may be an additional resource pertaining to this discussion. 5. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral) Ms. Cabral gave an overview of the recent tours provided to influential public and future events at which the Sanitation District will have representation. Ms. Cabral also reminded the Committee of the Honor Walk ceremony on May 23 at 4:00 p.m. Ms. Cabral also reported on awards recently received by the Sanitation District. Ms. Cabral also indicated that the Sanitation District will be the largest battery storage facility in the world once implemented, which will mean the Sanitation District will decrease the amount of electricity purchased. Ms. Cabral reported that Mayor Villaraigosa will be touring the GWRS on Thursday, May 17 at 1 :00 p.m. and requested direction as to who to invite from the Board Chair/Committee. Board Vice-Chair Shawver indicated he will attend and it was decided that members of this Committee and the Steering Committee should be invited to attend. Ms . Cabral reported that she will be speaking at the CSDA Conference at the General Manager's Summit in June on transparency as a result of the Little Hoover Commission report and distributed the recent CSDA magazine that included an article co-authored by Ms . Cabral. Ms. Cabral indicated that staff will also send the article electronically to the Committee. OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IFANY: None. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Sebourn declared the meeting adjourned at 1 :24 p.m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting. Monpay, June 11 , 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Submitted by: [V1A-N~~ Tina Knapp, CMC Deputy Clerk of the Board/" 05/14/2018 ,.. ................ / r ,. r. /' -.... , ... ,., ..... ,,,.... ' ~ - ..... -'" : ...: ... I""~ ....... - Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4