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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-05-2018 Legislative Committee MinutesMINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Monday, November 5, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Committee Chair Peter Kim on Monday, November 5, 2018 at 12:01 p.m. in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Committee Chair Kim led the pledge of allegiance. A quorum was declared present, as follows: COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Peter Kim, Chair Allan Bernstein, Vice-Chair John Withers, Member-At-Large David Shawver, Board Vice-Chair Donald P. Wagner, Member-At-Large COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Chad Wanke, Member-At-Large Greg Sebourn, Board Chair PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. STAFF PRESENT: Jim Herberg, General Manager Rob Thompson, Assistant 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 Tanya Chong Daisy Covarrubias Marc Dubois Alfredo Garcia Rebecca Long Jennifer Martin Kelly Newell Thomas Vu OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hogin, General Counsel Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via teleconference) Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) Ms. Jessica Gauger, Director of Legislative Advocacy, CASA 11 /05/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of 4 REPORT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR: Committee Chair Kim did not provide a report, but advised that the agenda will be reordered today so that the Information Items will follow the Consent Calendar. Committee Chair Kim thanked staff for the State of the District event. REPORT OF GENERAL MANAGER: General Manager Jim Herberg indicated that staff will bring a list of District memberships to the Committee in December which will include potential membership opportunities and current memberships. Jim Colston, Director of Environmental Services, will provide an update on the Integrated Watershed Management Program that OCSD is a part of next month as agencies in Orange County have been looking at the way the funding is distributed and exploring the possibility of establishing a separate program. CONSENT CALENDAR:, 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board) MOVED, SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the Committee meeting held on October 8, 2018. AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: Bernstein, Kim, Shawver, Wagner, and Withers None None Sebourn and Wanke The Committee Chair reordered the agenda so that the Information Items were reordered to follow the Consent Calendar. INFORMATION ITEMS: 3. CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF SANITATION AGENCIES (CASA) (Jennifer Cabral) Jennifer Cabral, Public Affairs Supervisor, introduced this item, provided a brief background of the item, and introduced Jennifer Gauger, Director of Legislative Advocacy, from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA). Ms. Gauger introduced herself and provided a PowerPoint presentation that gave an overview of CASA's legislative priorities in 2018 which included microplastics, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) fees, septic to sewer conversions, biomethane procurement, and other legislation of interest. Ms. Gauger's presentation also reviewed Federal priority issues which included the WRDA package, 10-year permit terms legislation, regulatory reform proposals, 11 /05/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 of 4 and low-income water rate assistance proposals. Ms. Gauger also previewed legislative priorities for 2019 and reviewed the potential impacts of the mid-term elections. Ms . Gauger thanked OCSD for its participation and representation in CASA Ms. Gauger also reviewed CASA staff and contact information. 4. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long) Committee Chair Kim introduced Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, who updated the Committee on the following items: Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) was signed into law on October 23 and provides authorization for investment in harbor, waterway, flood protection, and other water infrastructure improvements including the WaterSense program and streamlining of funding programs. Mr. Sapirstein also provided an overview of the status of the EPA budget. Mr. Sapirstein also reported that language was recently introduced regarding low income water rate assistance. Eric O'Donnell, TPA, provided a PowerPoint presentation that reviewed the 2018 legislative session and successes of 2018, a preview of 2019 priorities, and an update on the potential legislative concepts (below) for OCSD led legislation. Bill Concept 1 -Bid advertising requirements Bill Concept 2 -Job Order Contracting Bill Concept 3 -Video surveillance Bill Concept 4 -Raising the contract/bid threshold 5. DRAFT 2019 LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY PLAN (Jennifer Cabral) Mr. O'Donnell continued his PowerPoint presentation with a review of the State 2019 legislative plan including how it was developed and suggested amendments. Mr. Sapirstein commented that the Federal draft legislative plan was developed to build on current efforts and to focus on streamlining permit timelines. 6. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral) Ms. Cabral reviewed outreach efforts made over the last month and provided information on State of the District attendance and thanked the Directors for their attendance. Ms. Cabral also reported on a recent media interview. NON-CONSENT: 2. LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS (Jennifer Cabral) Board Vice-Chair Shawver recused himself from this item due to a Levine Act conflict and departed the meeting (1 :00 p.m.). Ms. Cabral provided brief background information on this item. Committee Chair Kim made an alternate recommendation for this item as indicated below. 11/05/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4 MOVED. SECONDED. and DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of Directors to: A. ;r H B. A B. -f!i,~prave a Pfef@s&ienal Sep,iises Agreement ;.vith ToYmseAo~ Pu:blic Affairs, Inc. ior State begislative--Sswives, SpeGJ:f:ieation No. CS 2018 97080, for the period of January 11 ~1-9-thm1:1!JA-G>eGemtleF-31 , JQ22 -at ~oot;Rl:y f'.ate-m $G;QQO.per month aRC~ not to exceed ~QG-psr-y.ea., with (~~ OAe-ymHeAeWa~Fh- Approve a Professional Sei:vi68's Agreemem wit~ E.NS Resources for J;'.ederal-:Legislative SeFVioes, 8p.eoifisatioo-N~<J4g 9+ 1' BO, fer -the peR9EI ohlaR1:1ai:y ~·, 2019 th rough Deoembef 3 ~ , 2G~ at a-meRthly rate 047;-700-p~Rti-Ret to exceed $92.4 00 per year,w:lth (1) eRe- yeaF f°'eA8Vlal 0~ti0R. Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. for State Legislative Services, Specification No. CS-2018-970BD, for the period of January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021 at a monthly rate of $6,000 per month and not to exceed $72,000 per year, with (2) one-year renewal options. Approve a Professional Services Agreement with ENS Resources for Federal Legislative Services, Specification No. CS-2018-971 BO, for the period of January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021 at a monthly rate of $7,700 per month and not to exceed $92,400 per year, with (2) one-year renewal options. AYES: Bernstein, Kim, Wagner, and Withers None NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: None Sebourn, Shawver (non-participant -Levine Act Disclosure), and Wanke OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS. IF ANY: ADJOURNMENT: Committee Chair Kim declared the meeting adjourned at 1 :06 p.m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting, Monday, December 10, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Submitted by: fl/i;LtJ~~ Tina Knapp, CMC Deputy Clerk of the Board 11/05/2018 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 4