HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-2018 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Orange County Sanitation District
Monday, September 10, 2018at12:00 p.m.
A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by
Committee Chair Peter Kim on Monday, September 10, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. in the
Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Committee Chair
Peter Kim led the pledge of allegiance.
A quorum was declared present, as follows:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Peter Kim, Chair
Allan Bernstein, Vice-Chair
Donald P. Wagner, Member-At-Large
Chad Wanke, Member-At-Large
John Withers, Member-At-Large
Greg Sebourn, Board Chair
David Shawver, Board Vice-Chair
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR:
STAFF PRESENT:
Jim Herberg, General Manager
Lorenzo Tyner, Assistant General Manager
Celia Chandler, Director of Human Resources
Jim Colston, Director of Environmental Services
Ed Torres, Director of Operations &
Maintenance
Tina Knapp, Deputy Clerk of the Board
Jennifer Cabral
Daisy Covarrubias
Marc Dubois
Rebecca Long
Kelly Newell
Thomas Vu
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brad Hogin, General Counsel
Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via
teleconference)
Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs
Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs
Committee Chair Kim thanked the Committee Members, staff, and OCSD partners for
their continued service to this Committee and OCSD.
REPORT OF GENERAL MANAGER:
General Manager Jim Herberg did not provide a report.
09/10/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1of4
CONSENT CALENDAR:
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board)
MOVED. SECONDED. and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the
Committee meeting held on July 9, 2018.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
INFORMATION ITEMS:
Kim, Sebourn, Shawver, Wagner and Withers
None
None
Bernstein and Wanke
Committee Vice-Chair Bernstein arrived at the meeting at 12:02 p.m.
2. PRESENTATION ON PAST AND CURRENT CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS
(Jennifer Cabral)
Public Affairs Supervisor Jennifer Cabral introduced this item, indicating it was
information previously requested by the Committee. Ms. Cabral introduced Cori
Williams, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), who provided a PowerPoint
presentation that included information pertaining to the history of water bonds
in California and a review of Proposition 84 (2006), Proposition 1 (2014),
Proposition 68 (2018), and Proposition 3 (2018). Director Withers inquired as
to next steps to obtain available funding. General Manager Herberg indicated
that as CIP projects begin, staff pursues and reviews funding opportunities. Ms.
Cabral indicated that a matrix of grants is provided monthly in the Committee
packet.
3. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long)
Director Wanke arrived at the meeting at 12:14 p.m.
Ms. Cabral introduced Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, who updated the
Committee on the following items: Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)
which contains reauthorization of financing, creation of a new program called
SRF WllN, and places a new emphasis on integrated plans which will allow
agencies to develop permits with EPA to address multiple needs and
compliance dates. Mr. Sapirstein also reported that a bill is forthcoming for
water resources development and that the ceiling for WIFIA loan assistance is
being considered for potential increase. Mr. Sapirstein answered a question
pertaining to the Orange County Water District WIFIA loan and the variance
between the cap and the actual amount of the loan.
Ms. Williams, TPA, provided a PowerPoint presentation that reviewed the 2018
legislative session; the November 2018 election and impacts on the State
legislature; and bill status and advocacy, especially AB 2447 (Reyes) pertaining
09/10/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4
to preparation of EIR's and negative declarations (OCSD sought and obtained
an amendment, (SB 212 Jackson) pertaining to a stewardship program (OCSD
supports), and water tax legislation. Ms. Williams reviewed potential legislative
concepts (below) for consideration and asked if there were any additional
legislative concepts of interest. Each of the following will be reviewed and
additional information will be presented in the future.
Bill Concept 1 -Bid advertising requirements
• Potentially a pilot program
• Revival of last year's AB 2003 (Daly)
Bill Concept 2 -Job Order Contracting
• Reduce costs and time associated with contracting
• Requires legislative authority
Bill Concept 3 -Raising the contract/bid threshold
• Current threshold is $5,000 for force account work; $35,000 for open bid
work
Bill Concept 4 -Video surveillance
• Adjust special district requirements for surveillance video retention
Marc Dubois, Contract & Purchasing Manager, provided information as to what
Job Order Contracting is, indicating that the focus is small public works contracts
and takes into consideration all costs related to a particular project.
In response to a question from Director Withers, Ms. Cabral provided a review
of the process as to how pursuing potential legislation is developed. Staff
indicated that Bill Concepts 1 and 4 are of most interest to OCSD to partner with
the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) to pursue. Staff will
further develop the four concepts presented and return to the Committee in the
near future for direction. Board Vice-Chair Shawver asked that staff publicly
promote what OCSD does and how OCSD uses grant money/tax payer money.
Ms. Cabral reminded the Committee that the State of the District will be held on
October 19 at Mile Square golf course. Ms. Cabral will share the invite list with
the Board of Directors and obtain names of individuals to invite from the Board
Members.
4. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral)
Ms. Cabral provided information regarding current construction projects and a
survey that will be conducted in the future pertaining to parameters for the
upcoming Westminster project. Ms. Cabral reported that the VIP volunteer
recognition event is being held on September 18. Ms. Cabral indicated that
Channel 3 recently recorded a couple of hours of a recent tour of Plant No. 2.
09/10/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
ITEMS, IF ANY:
Board Chair Sebourn recognized the Committee's recently appointed Chair, Peter Kim,
and Vice-Chair, Allan Bernstein.
ADJOURNMENT:
Committee Chair Kim declared the meeting adjourned at 12:52 p.m . to the next
Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting, Monday, October 8, 2018 at
3:30 p.m .
Submitted by:
09/1 0/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4