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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