HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-08-2026 Administration Committee Complete Agenda PacketNOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION NOTICE
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
APRIL 8, 2026 - 5:00 PM
ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Your participation is always welcome. OC San offers several ways in which to interact during
this meeting.
MEETING PARTICIPATION INSTRUCTIONS
www.ocsan.gov
IN-PERSON MEETING ATTENDANCE
OC San Headquarters: 18480 Bandilier Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
ONLINE MEETING PARTICIPATION
Join the meeting now
PARTICIPATE BY TELEPHONE
Dial: (213) 279-1455
https://ocsd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Details on how to participate can be found on our website at
Join the live meeting on Teams:
Phone Conference ID: 506 018 365#
WATCH THE MEETING ONLINE
The meeting will be available for online viewing at:
SUBMIT A COMMENT
Online at: https://ocsd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx or by emailing: OCSanClerk@ocsan.gov
ROLL CALL ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Finance, Information Technology, Environmental Services
and Human Resources
Meeting Date: April 8, 2026 Time: 5:00 p.m.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS (14)
OTHERS
STAFF
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - 5:00 PM
Headquarters - Board Room
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE DISABLED: If you require any special disability related accommodations, please
contact the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) Clerk of the Board’s office at (714) 593-7433 at least 72
hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Requests must specify the nature of the disability and the type of
accommodation requested.
AGENDA DESCRIPTION: The agenda provides a brief general description of each item of business to be
considered or discussed. The recommended action does not indicate what action will be taken. The Board of
Directors may take any action which is deemed appropriate.
MEETING RECORDING: A recording of this meeting is available within 24 hours after adjournment of the
meeting at https://ocsd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx or by contacting the Clerk of the Board.
SUBMIT A COMMENT: You may submit your comments and questions in writing in advance of, or during the
meeting by using the eComment feature available online at: https://ocsd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx or by
sending them to OCSanClerk@ocsan.gov with the subject line "PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM # [insert relevant item
number]" or "PUBLIC COMMENT NON-AGENDA ITEM". All written public comments will be provided to the
legislative body and may be read into the record or compiled as part of the record.
NOTICE TO DIRECTORS: To place items on the agenda for a Committee or Board Meeting, the item must be
submitted to the Clerk of the Board: Kelly A. Lore, MMC, (714) 593-7433 / klore@ocsan.gov at least 14 days
before the meeting. For any questions on the agenda, Board members may contact staff at:
General Manager: Rob Thompson, rthompson@ocsan.gov / (714) 593 7110
Asst. General Manager: Lorenzo Tyner, ltyner@ocsan.gov / (714) 593 7550
Director of Communications: Jennifer Cabral, jcabral@ocsan.gov / (714) 593 7581
Director of Engineering: Mike Dorman, mdorman@ocsan.gov / (714) 593 7014
Director of Environmental Services: Lan Wiborg, lwiborg@ocsan.gov / (714) 593 7450
Director of Finance: Wally Ritchie, writchie@ocsan.gov / (714) 593 7570
Director of Human Resources: Laura Maravilla, lmaravilla@ocsan.gov / (714) 593 7007
Director of Operations & Maintenance: Riaz Moinuddin, rmoinuddin@ocsan.gov / (714) 593 7269
View Current Board of Directors
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Regular Meeting Agenda Wednesday, April 8, 2026
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM:
Clerk of the Board
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Your participation is always welcome. Specific information as to how to participate in a meeting is detailed in the
Special Notice attached to this agenda. In general, OC San offers several ways in which to interact during
meetings: you may participate in person, join the meeting live via Teams on your computer or similar device or
web browser, join the meeting live via telephone, view the meeting online, and/or submit comments for
consideration before or during the meeting.
REPORTS:
The Committee Chairperson and the General Manager may present verbal reports on miscellaneous matters of
general interest to the Directors. These reports are for information only and require no action by the Directors.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Consent Calendar Items are considered to be routine and will be enacted, by the Committee, after one motion,
without discussion. Any items withdrawn from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion will be considered in
the regular order of business.
1.2026-4731APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve minutes of the Regular meeting of the Administration Committee held March
11, 2026.
Originator:Kelly Lore
Attachments:
2.2026-4839NINTEX WORKFLOW CLOUD SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Approve a Purchase Order Contract for one year with Konica Minolta Business
Solutions to renew Orange County Sanitation District’s subscription for Nintex
Workflow Cloud utilizing Sourcewell State Contract No. 060624-KON for a total
amount not to exceed $158,664; and
Page 2 of 5
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Regular Meeting Agenda Wednesday, April 8, 2026
B. Approve a contingency of $15,866 (10%).
Originator:Wally Ritchie
Attachments:
3.2026-4849PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Public Affairs Update for the month of March 2026.
Originator:Jennifer Cabral
Attachments:
NON-CONSENT:
4.2026-4847LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of March 2026.
Originator:Jennifer Cabral
Attachments:
5.2026-4854FY 2025-26 BUDGET AMENDMENT
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Approve a budget increase of $68,000,000 for FY 2025-26, for a total budget as
follows:
FY 2025-26
Net Operating $260,365,399
Self-Insurance $ 6,745,565
Page 3 of 5
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Regular Meeting Agenda Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Net Capital Improvement Program $317,959,620
Debt/COP Service $ 60,431,104
Intra-District Joint Equity Purchase/Sale (1) $ 3,500,000
Total $649,001,688
(1) Cash to/from Revenue Area 14 (RA14) in exchange for capital assets to/from
Consolidated Revenue Area 15 (RA15)
Originator:Wally Ritchie
Attachments:
INFORMATION ITEMS:
6.2026-4858FY 2026-27 AND 2027-28 OPERATING BUDGET EXPENDITURES
RECOMMENDATION:
Information Item.
Originator:Wally Ritchie
Attachments:
7.2026-4859PRETREATMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
Information Item.
Originator:Lan Wiborg
Attachments:
8.2026-4860UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORANGE COUNTY
SANITATION DISTRICT EASEMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY
RECOMMENDATION:
Information Item.
Originator:Lorenzo Tyner
Page 4 of 5
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Regular Meeting Agenda Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Agenda Report
Presentation - Easement Policy
Attachments:
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF
ANY:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS INITIATED ITEMS FOR A FUTURE MEETING:
At this time Directors may request staff to place an item on a future agenda.
ADJOURNMENT:
Adjourn the meeting until the Regular Meeting of the Administration Committee on May 13,
2026 at 5:00 p.m.
AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING:
I hereby certify under penalty of perjury and as required by the State of California, Government Code §
54954.2(a), that the foregoing Agenda was posted online at www.ocsan.gov, in the lobby, and outside the main
door of Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters at 18480 Bandilier Cir. Fountain Valley, CA 92708 not
less than 72 hours prior to the meeting date and time above. All public records relating to each agenda item,
including those distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting to a majority of the Board of Directors, are
available for public inspection with the Clerk of the Board.
/s/ Kelly A. Lore, MMC
Clerk of the Board
April 1, 2026
Page 5 of 5
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Headquarters
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2026-4731 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:1.
FROM:Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Kelly A. Lore, Clerk of the Board
SUBJECT:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve minutes of the Regular meeting of the Administration Committee held March 11, 2026.
BACKGROUND
In accordance with the Board of Directors Rules of Procedure,an accurate record of each meeting
will be provided to the Directors for subsequent approval at the following meeting.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Resolution No. OC SAN 26-02
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·March 11, 2026 Administration Committee meeting minutes
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/27/2026Page 1 of 1
powered by Legistar™
Orange County Sanitation District
Minutes for the
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
5:00 PM
Headquarters - Board Room
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Administration Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District
was called to order by Committee Vice Chairwoman Jamie Valencia on Wednesday, March
11, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in the Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters. Director Jose
Medrano led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM:
Assistant Clerk of the Board Jackie Castro declared a quorum present as follows:
PRESENT:Debbie Baker, Ted Bui, Jon Dumitru, Melinda Liu, Christine Marick,
Jose Medrano, Jordan Nefulda, Andrew Nguyen, David Shawver,
Jamie Valencia, Chad Wanke, Erik Weigand and Jordan Wu
ABSENT:Ryan Gallagher
STAFF PRESENT: Rob Thompson, General Manager; Lorenzo Tyner, Assistant General
Manager; Jennifer Cabral, Director of Communications; Mike Dorman, Director of
Engineering; Laura Maravilla, Director of Human Resources; Riaz Moinuddin, Director of
Operations and Maintenance; Wally Ritchie, Director of Finance; Lan Wiborg, Director of
Environmental Services; Jackie Castro, Assistant Clerk of the Board; Mo Abiodun; Cheri
Calisang; Morty Caparas; Belen Carrillo; Sam Choi; Daisy Covarrubias; Thys DeVries; Al
Garcia; Mark Kawamoto; Rebecca Long; Tom Meregillano; Rob Michaels; Don Nguyen; Don
Stokes; Thomas Vu; Kevin Work; Sammady Yi; and Ruth Zintzun were present in the Board
Room.
OTHERS PRESENT: Scott Smith, General Counsel, and Jason Celente and Thierno Sylla,
Insight Investment, were present in the Board Room. Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, was
present virtually.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
REPORTS:
Vice Chair Valencia and General Manager Rob Thompson did not provide reports.
Page 1 of 7
ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTEE
Minutes March 11, 2026
CONSENT CALENDAR:
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2026-4730
Originator: Kelly Lore
MOVED, SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO:
Approve minutes of the Regular meeting of the Administration Committee held
February 11, 2026.
AYES:Debbie Baker, Ted Bui, Jon Dumitru, Jose Medrano, Jordan Nefulda,
Andrew Nguyen, David Shawver, Jamie Valencia, Chad Wanke, Erik
Weigand and Jordan Wu
NOES:None
ABSENT:Ryan Gallagher, Melinda Liu and Christine Marick
ABSTENTIONS:None
2. FLEET MOBILE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PURCHASES 2026-4802
Originator: Lorenzo Tyner
AYES:Debbie Baker, Ted Bui, Jon Dumitru, Jose Medrano, Jordan Nefulda,
Andrew Nguyen, David Shawver, Jamie Valencia, Chad Wanke, Erik
Weigand and Jordan Wu
NOES:None
ABSENT:Ryan Gallagher, Melinda Liu and Christine Marick
ABSTENTIONS:None
NON-CONSENT:
Director Melinda Liu arrived at the meeting at 5:11 p.m.
3. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
2026
2026-4807
Page 2 of 7
ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTEE
Minutes March 11, 2026
Originator: Jennifer Cabral
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of February 2026.
AYES:Debbie Baker, Ted Bui, Jon Dumitru, Melinda Liu, Jose Medrano,
Jordan Nefulda, Andrew Nguyen, David Shawver, Jamie Valencia,
Chad Wanke, Erik Weigand and Jordan Wu
NOES:None
ABSENT:Ryan Gallagher and Christine Marick
ABSTENTIONS:None
Committee Chair Christine Marick arrived at the meeting at 5:24 p.m.
4. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2026 2026-4812
Originator: Jennifer Cabral
Receive and file the Public Affairs Update for the month of February 2026.
AYES:Debbie Baker, Ted Bui, Jon Dumitru, Melinda Liu, Christine Marick,
Jose Medrano, Jordan Nefulda, Andrew Nguyen, David Shawver,
Jamie Valencia, Chad Wanke, Erik Weigand and Jordan Wu
NOES:None
ABSENT:Ryan Gallagher
ABSTENTIONS:None
Page 3 of 7
ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTEE
Minutes March 11, 2026
5. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR 18350 MT. LANGLEY
STREET AND 18250 EUCLID STREET, FOUNTAIN VALLEY
2026-4814
Originator: Lorenzo Tyner
AYES:Debbie Baker, Ted Bui, Jon Dumitru, Melinda Liu, Christine Marick,
Jose Medrano, Jordan Nefulda, Andrew Nguyen, David Shawver,
Jamie Valencia, Chad Wanke, Erik Weigand and Jordan Wu
NOES:None
ABSENT:Ryan Gallagher
ABSTENTIONS:None
6. COMPREHENSIVE COST OF SERVICE RATE STUDY,
SPECIFICATION NO. CS-2025-711BD
2026-4769
Originator: Wally Ritchie
A. Approve a Professional Consultant Services Agreement with HDR Engineering,
Inc. to perform a Comprehensive Cost of Service Rate Study, Specification No.
CS-2025-711BD, for a total amount not to exceed $254,280; and
B. Approve a contingency of $25,428 (10%).
AYES:Debbie Baker, Ted Bui, Jon Dumitru, Melinda Liu, Christine Marick,
Jose Medrano, Jordan Nefulda, Andrew Nguyen, David Shawver,
Jamie Valencia, Chad Wanke, Erik Weigand and Jordan Wu
NOES:None
ABSENT:Ryan Gallagher
ABSTENTIONS:None
Page 4 of 7
ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTEE
Minutes March 11, 2026
7. ORANGE COUNTY WASTE AND RECYCLING WASTE
INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT AND
ORGANIC SERVICES AGREEMENT
2026-4819
Originator: Lan Wiborg
AYES:Debbie Baker, Ted Bui, Jon Dumitru, Melinda Liu, Christine Marick,
Jose Medrano, Jordan Nefulda, Andrew Nguyen, Jamie Valencia,
Chad Wanke, Erik Weigand and Jordan Wu
NOES:David Shawver
ABSENT:Ryan Gallagher
ABSTENTIONS:None
INFORMATION ITEMS:
8. INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE RESULTS 2026-4743
Originator: Wally Ritchie
Information Item.
Page 5 of 7
ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTEE
Minutes March 11, 2026
Chair Marick announced that, per Staff recommendation, Item No. 10 would be heard before
Item No. 9.
10. FY 2026-27 AND 2027-28 ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
BUDGET REVENUES AND RESERVES OVERVIEW
2026-4745
Originator: Wally Ritchie
Information Item.
9. PROCUREMENT PROCESS, BIDS VS RFPS, SOLE SOURCE
CONTRACTS VS COMPETITIVE CONTRACTS
2026-4818
Originator: Wally Ritchie
Information Item.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF
ANY:
None.
Page 6 of 7
ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTEE
Minutes March 11, 2026
BOARD OF DIRECTORS INITIATED ITEMS FOR A FUTURE MEETING:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Marick declared the meeting adjourned at 6:11 p.m. to the next Regular Administration
Committee meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Submitted by:
_____________________
Jackie Castro, CMC
Assistant Clerk of the Board
Page 7 of 7
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Headquarters
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2026-4839 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:2.
FROM:Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Wally Ritchie, Director of Finance
SUBJECT:
NINTEX WORKFLOW CLOUD SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Approve a Purchase Order Contract for one year with Konica Minolta Business Solutions to
renew Orange County Sanitation District’s subscription for Nintex Workflow Cloud utilizing
Sourcewell State Contract No. 060624-KON for a total amount not to exceed $158,664; and
B. Approve a contingency of $15,866 (10%).
BACKGROUND
Orange County Sanitation District (OC San)purchased Nintex Workflow Cloud (NWC),a modern
workflow automation platform,in 2021 and has since been developing digital forms and workflows to
streamline business processes.Today,more than 60 forms and workflows are in production,
supporting a variety of business functions including Payment Request Vouchers,Travel Expenses,
Employee Status Changes,Sole Source Requests,and Bid Requests.Increased utilization of the
NWC platform to support additional business requirements has resulted in higher licensing and
operational costs, necessitating this action.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Ensure the public’s money is wisely spent
·Maintain a culture of improving efficiency to reduce the cost to provide the current service level
or standard
PROBLEM
The current Purchase Order for OC San’s NWC subscription expires on July 17,2026.This
subscription provides the workflow platform used to support critical business processes such as
Payment Request Vouchers,Travel Expenses,Employee Status Changes,Sole Source Requests,
and Bid Requests.
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/31/2026Page 1 of 2
powered by Legistar™
File #:2026-4839 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:2.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Approve a Purchase Order Contract for one year with Konica Minolta Business Solutions to renew
OC San’s Nintex Workflow Cloud subscription to ensure continued support of critical business
processes and avoid disruption of digital workflows.
TIMING CONCERNS
The current Purchase Order term will expire on July 17,2026;renewal must be completed prior to
July 17, 2026, to prevent a lapse in coverage.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
OC San would not be able to complete critical business processes associated with the Nintex
Workflow Cloud digital workflow system after the existing term ends.Many OC San business
processes rely on forms and workflows supported by this contract.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
May 2023 -Approved a Purchase Order for a three-year contract with a term from July 18,2023
through July 17,2026 with Konica Minolta Business Solutions to renew OC San’s subscription for
Nintex Workflow Cloud,payable annually,utilizing the Sourcewell State Contract:#090320-KON for a
total amount not to exceed $386,928; and approved a contingency of $38,693 (10%).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OC San previously secured a 5%annual rate increase under the prior multi-year agreement.The
vendor’s current standard rate increase is 7%annually;however,OC San continues to receive the
5%rate.As a result,there is no additional financial advantage to committing to another multi-year
agreement at this time.
CEQA
N/A
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
This request complies with authority levels of OC San’s Purchasing Ordinance.This item has been
budgeted (Budget Update FY 2025-26,Page 23,Repairs &Maintenance)and the budget is sufficient
for the recommended action and will be included in the FY 2026-2027 Budget.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
N/A
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/31/2026Page 2 of 2
powered by Legistar™
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Headquarters
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2026-4849 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:3.
FROM:Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Jennifer Cabral, Director of Communications
SUBJECT:
PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Public Affairs Update for the month of March 2026.
BACKGROUND
Included in this report are recent activities of interest,managed by the Public Affairs Office for the
month of March 2026.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
·Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators,stakeholders,and
neighboring communities
·Listen to and seriously consider community input on environmental concerns
PROBLEM
The Orange County Sanitation District (OC San)is a recognized leader in the water/wastewater
industry.Despite our industry recognition,awareness among our customers may be limited
regarding the pivotal role we play in protecting public health and the environment.The absence of
direct communication through a billing method may contribute to this gap in knowledge.
It is our responsibility to ensure that our ratepayers understand the vital services we provide.Many
customers may not realize that improper waste disposal into the sanitation system can adversely
impact our sewer lines,reclamation plants,and the quality of water supplied by the Groundwater
Replenishment System (GWRS).By enhancing communication channels and fostering
understanding,we aim to bridge the gap and empower our ratepayers with the knowledge needed to
support and appreciate the essential work we undertake for the well-being of our community and the
environment.
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/30/2026Page 1 of 4
powered by Legistar™
File #:2026-4849 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:3.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
By providing tours,community outreach,education,and general communication via OC San’s
website,social media,and direct mailings,we can share information with the community,local
agencies,and businesses on key programs such as the What2Flush program,energy production,
water recycling,biosolids,and our source control program.This,in turn,helps improve the quality of
wastewater that is recycled or released to the ocean,as well as public knowledge and understanding
of wastewater treatment.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
Failing to inform the community,local agencies,and businesses about OC San might result in
insufficient support for our mission and hinder our effectiveness.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
December 2025 -Received and filed the Public Affairs Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2024-2026 Mid
-Year Update.
July 2025 -Received and filed the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Year-End Update to the Public Affairs
Strategic Plan (FY 2024-2026).
December 2024 -Received and filed the Public Affairs Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2024-2026 Mid
-Year Update.
June 2024 - Received and filed the Public Affairs Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2024-2026.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Activities for this Reporting Period (February 20 - March 20):
Outreach Report
An outreach report that includes tours,website updates,social media posts,construction
notifications, speaking engagements, and more is attached to this Agenda Report.
Social Media
OC San messaging,announcements,and program updates are posted across OC San’s social
media platforms. Our social media handle is @OCSanDistrict.
·Facebook: 14 posts reaching 3.6k people
·X: 11 posts reaching 313 people
·Instagram: 11 posts reaching 6.3k people
·LinkedIn: 4 posts reaching 4.7k people
·Nextdoor: 1 post reaching 2.8k people
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/30/2026Page 2 of 4
powered by Legistar™
File #:2026-4849 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:3.
March Retirement Celebration
Each March OC San bids farewell to retiring staff with a small celebration.The celebration was
hosted in the Headquarters courtyard where staff had an opportunity to share stories and send off our
dedicated employees with a heartfelt goodbye. Former retirees also joined the celebration.
Presentations & Outreach
OC San had nine (9)tours during the reporting period,welcoming groups from Cal State Fullerton,
Estancia High School,Canyon High School,Huntington Beach High School,Best Academy Charter
School,a general public tour,and Cal State Long Beach Nursing.Staff also participated in a Career
Day at Cerro Villa Middle School,participated in a Construction Networking panel,held a film
screening, and were judges for the Orange County Science and Engineering Fair.
Wastewater 101 Citizens Academy Tour and Graduation
OC San concluded the 7th session of Wastewater 101 Citizens Academy with an average attendance
of over 50 participants per class.Participants were invited to a special facility tour of Headquarters,
Reclamation Plants Nos.1 and 2,and a pump station.Attendees who successfully completed all
four sessions of the Wastewater 101 Citizens Academy were recognized at the March 25 Board
Meeting.This cohort consisted of 46 graduates.The next academy will take place in winter 2027.An
interest list is already available at ocsan.gov/wastewater101.
Show Your Love OC San Art Contest
OC San’s first employee art contest,Show Your Love for OC San,had a total of six entries,each
featuring a unique view of OC San through the eyes of the people who make it come to life.The
three submissions with the most votes were awarded certificates of recognition and an OC San swag
bag. The art pieces were displayed in the Headquarters lobby from March 18 through March 31.
Internal Communication
Over the reporting period,there were 33 posts on the employee intranet -The San Box,and four
emails were distributed to staff on relevant weekly topics through our Three Things to Know email.
Awards
California Water Environment Association
OC San was awarded third place in the Community Engagement &Outreach Large category for
Wastewater 101 Citizens’Academy.The award recognizes significant achievements in promoting
awareness and understanding of water quality issues and follows OC San’s first place at the regional
level.
WateReuse
OC San was awarded the 2026 WateReuse Award for Excellence in Outreach and Education for our
Wastewater 101 Citizens’Academy.This award recognizes significant success in advancing public
acceptance of recycled water.
Construction Outreach Update
Outreach efforts for OC San construction activities are ongoing throughout the service area.Updates
were shared for projects taking place in the cities of Orange,Cypress,La Palma,Los Alamitos,Costa
Mesa,Newport Beach,Huntington Beach,and Santa Ana through our website,printed content,and
email and text alerts.A new project in Garden Grove,bordering Santa Ana,also started construction
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/30/2026Page 3 of 4
powered by Legistar™
File #:2026-4849 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:3.
email and text alerts.A new project in Garden Grove,bordering Santa Ana,also started construction
to replace a manhole.OC San also works with the respective cities to share construction updates via
city publications and social media. For details on each project, visit www.ocsan.gov/construction.
Activities for the Next Reporting Period:
Social Media
OC San continues to share messaging across the various social media platforms.This messaging aligns
with OC San’s overall communications and includes timely,relevant content,such as rain-focused
messaging during the wet weather season.
Presentations & Outreach
OC San has ten (10)scheduled tours for April.We hope to welcome a variety of groups including
Cal State Fullerton Nursing,Fullerton College,Cypress College,Cal State Long Beach Nursing,OC
Department of Education,Rosary Academy,Santa Ana Valley High School,new employees,and
more.Staff will be giving a presentation to engineering students at Golden West College and
attending the California Water Environment Association conference.
Children’s Water Festival
OC San is participating in the Orange County Water District’s Children’s Water Festival April 15 and
16.Over the two-day period,OC San will engage with 4th and 5th grade students from various
Orange County schools.
Construction Outreach
OC San will continue sharing construction project updates using our various communication methods
to keep the community informed. Project details are available at www.ocsan.gov/construction.
CEQA
N/A
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
All items mentioned are included in OC San’s FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 Budget.
ATTACHMENTS
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·Outreach and Media Report for March 2026
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/30/2026Page 4 of 4
powered by Legistar™
Outreach and Media
Summary
March 2026
OC San Public Affair s Of f ice
Table of Contents
OUTREACH REPORT…………………………………………………………PAGE 1
FACEBOOK POSTINGS ……………………………………………...............PAGE 3
TWITTER POSTINGS …………………………………………………………PAGE 4
INSTAGRAM POSTINGS………………………………………………………PAGE 5
LINKEDIN POSTINGS………………………………………………………....PAGE 6
NEXTDOOR POSTINGS……………………………………………………………………..PAGE 7
NEWS ARTICLES……………………………………………………………………………. PAGE 8
Outreach Report: February 20 - March 20, 2026
Date Tours Attendees
2/2426 Documentary Tour 45 Rob Thompson/ Mike Dorman/Jon Bradley
3/5/26 Estancia High School 12 Jenna Torres
3/5/26 HDR 5 Self-Guided
3/10/26 Public Tour 17 Eric Halverson
3/12/26 Cal State Long Beach Nursing 11 Sharon Yin
3/13/26 Cal State Fullerton 13 Randa
3/16/26 Huntington Beach High School 12 Dickie Fernandez
3/19/26 Best Academy Charter School 30 Donald Herrera
3/20/26 Canyon High School 30 Chris Cervellone
Date Speaking Engagements/Events Attendees
2/24/26 Documentary Screening at HQ 103
2/26/26 Wastewater 101 Session #3 55 Kelly Newell /
3/5/26 Career Day- Cerro Villa Middle School 24 Andy Ortiz
3/10/26 Construction Network Panel 55 Adam Nazaroff
3/10/26 State of the City Irvine 150 Lorenzo Tyner
3/11/26 Orange County Science and
Engineering Fair 100 David Lo/ Dawn Meyers/ Jeff Brown/ Shawn
3/12/26 Wastewater 101 Session #4 54
Kelly Newell/ Justin Fenton/ Nasrin Nasrollahi/ John Frattali/ Thys DeVries
1
3/20/26 State of the City Orange 100 Belen Carrillo/
Mike Dorman
Project Area Outreach Notifications # of People Reached
Orange Taft Ave. Sewer Improvement Project 39 page views 1 website post
Beach Ocean Outfalls Rehabilitation 15 page views 1 website post
Cypress Cypress Trunk Sewer Project 95 page views
383 email subscribers
2 website posts 1 email alert
Newport Beach Bay Bridge Pump Station 50 page views 1 website post
Garden Grove/ Santa Ana Newhope/Westminster Manhole Replacement 1750 notices distributed 1 website post 1 printed notice
Santa Ana Santa Ana Trunk Sewer Rehabilitation Project 48 page views 9000 notices distributed
1 printed notice
External
Communications Distribution # of People Reached
5 Minutes Per Month
OC San Supports Key Legislative
Measures to Strengthen Local Infrastructure and Ratepayer 123
One 50
Website Posts 4 posts 51 views
Facebook 14 posts 3.6k reached
X 11 posts 313 reached
Instagram 11 posts 6.3k reached
LinkedIn 4 posts 4.7k reached
Nextdoor 1 post 2.8k impressions
2
Post performance - Facebook Pages
Data from 23 Feb, 2026 to 19 Mar, 2026
Sources
Orange County Sanitation DistrictOD
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 18, 18:01OD Where were we in the '90s? Right here. We’ve actually been here since the '50s.
Learn about where we've been at ocsan.gov/history.9 153 457
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 17, 15:30OD Feeling lucky this St. Patrick's Day? Don't push it 🍀 Only flush the 3 P's: Pee,
Poop, and Toilet Paper. No wipes, no floss, no sanitary products—just those P's
please!
13 77 87
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 14, 16:05OD Not the food pie but the number pi 🥧 Where there are circles, there's pi. And
around our plants, circles are everywhere: pipes, clarifiers, tanks. Today, we're
celebrating all the ways pi shows up in our work!
15 126 522
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 10, 18:40OD Yesterday, OC San proudly received an Excellence in Outreach and EducationAward from the WateReuse Association for our Wastewater 101 Citizens'Academy! The WateReuse Awards of Excellence recognize organizations and…30 114 157
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 09, 17:00OD A bird’s-eye view 👀 Headworks at Plant No. 1 is in the middle of a big upgrade.Improved metering and diversion structures, bar screens, grit basins…it's all inthe works. Learn more at ocsan.gov/headworks.26 162 315
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 09, 14:35OD The OC San Administration Committee Meeting (5 PM) will be happening on
Wednesday, March 11. You can view the agenda here:2 33 49
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 06, 16:05OD 600+ employees. One team. 💪💧 Today we’re celebrating the people who
work hard every day to serve 2.6 million people across Orange County.91 151 475
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 04, 17:25OD Your next career move starts here 🚀 OC San is hiring across multiple positions—
explore open opportunities and apply today at www.ocsan.gov!7 74 170
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 02, 18:00OD From 😧 to 🙂. P.S. If you haven't heard, the only thing down the drain should
be pee, poop, and toilet paper.12 135 211
Orange County SanitationDistrict
Mar 02, 15:32OD The OC San Operations Committee Meeting (5 PM) will be happening on
Wednesday, March 4. You can view the agenda here:3 37 63
Orange County SanitationDistrict
Feb 26, 22:25OD And that's a wrap 🎬✨ This week, we proudly hosted a special premiere ofUnless Something Goes Terribly Wrong! The film took over 100 communitymembers behind the scenes for a day in the life of a wastewater operator and…11 88 145
Orange County SanitationDistrict
Feb 25, 21:00OD The Olympics may be over, but we still brought home the gold🥇 That’s right.OC San’s Headquarters is o icially Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) Gold Certified by the US Green Building Council! By earning hig…18 172 436
Orange County SanitationDistrict
Feb 23, 17:00OD It's Engineers Week😎⚙ Planning, design, project & construction
management…if it needs to get done, we're on it. Because world-class projects
don't build themselves.
58 128 468
Orange County SanitationDistrict
Feb 23, 16:05OD The OC San Steering Committee Meeting (5 PM) and Board of Directors Meeting
(6 PM) will be happening on Wednesday, February 25. You can view the agenda
here:
3 44 59
DATE POST ENGAGEMENT FAN IMPRESSIONS (UNIQUE)REACH
3
Post performance - X
Data from 23 Feb, 2026 to 19 Mar, 2026
Sources
@OCSanDistrict@
@OCSanDistrict
Mar 18, 18:0
Where were we in the '90s? Right here. We’ve actually been here since the '50s.
Learn about where we've been at http://ocsan.gov/history. https://twitter.com/11.11%3 27
@OCSanDistrict
Mar 17, 15:3
Feeling lucky this St. Patrick's Day? Don't push it Only flush the 3 P's: Pee,
Poop, and Toilet Paper. No wipes, no floss, no sanitary products—just those P's 0%0 24
@OCSanDistrict
Mar 14, 16:0
Not the food pie but the number pi Where there are circles, there's pi. And
around our plants, circles are everywhere: pipes, clarifiers, tanks. Today, we're 8.33%3 36
@OCSanDistrict
Mar 10, 18:4
Yesterday, OC San proudly received an Excellence in Outreach and EducationAward from @WateReuseAssoci for our Wastewater 101 Citizens' Academy!5%1 20
@OCSanDistrict
Mar 09, 17:00
A bird’s-eye view Headworks at Plant No. 1 is in the middle of a big upgrade.
Improved metering and diversion structures, bar screens, grit basins…it's all in
the works. Learn more at http://ocsan.gov/headworks. https://twitter.com/OC…
0%0 23
@OCSanDistrict
Mar 06, 16:05
600+ employees. One team. Today we’re celebrating the people who
work hard every day to serve 2.6 million people across Orange County. https://t
witter.com/OCSanDistrict/status/2029951451015827891/photo/1
8.57%3 35
@OCSanDistrict
Mar 04, 17:25
Your next career move starts here OC San is hiring across multiple positions—
explore open opportunities and apply today at http://www.ocsan.gov! https://t
witter.com/OCSanDistrict/status/2029246759357010198/video/1
11.76%2 17
@OCSanDistrict
Mar 02, 18:00
From to . P.S. If you haven't heard, the only thing down the drain shouldbe pee, poop, and toilet paper. https://twitter.com/OCSanDistrict/status/2028530819157868962/video/1 3.33%1 30
@OCSanDistrict
Feb 26, 22:25
This week, we hosted a special premiere of Unless Something Goes TerriblyWrong, where over 100 community members learned about the essential workthat keeps our communities clean. See how you can catch the last showing in…0%0 38
@OCSanDistrict
Feb 25, 21:00
The Olympics may be over, but we still brought home the gold That’s right.OC San’s Headquarters is o icially Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) Gold Certified by the US Green Building Council! Learn more…2.27%1 44
@OCSanDistrict
Feb 23, 17:00
It's Engineers Week Planning, design, project & constructionmanagement…if it needs to get done, we're on it. Because world-class projectsdon't build themselves. https://twitter.com/OCSanDistrict/status/202597919…
DATE POST ENGAGEMENT RATE ENGAGEMENTS IMPRESSIONS
15.79%3 19
4
Post performance - Instagram Business
Data from 23 Feb, 2026 to 19 Mar, 2026
Sources
ocsandistrictO
ocsandistrict
Mar 18, 18:02O Where were we in the '90s? Right here. We’ve actually been here since the '50s.
Learn about where we've been at ocsan.gov/history.0%0 60 0
ocsandistrict
Mar 17, 15:30O Feeling lucky this St. Patrick's Day? Don't push it 🍀 Only flush the 3 P's: Pee,
Poop, and Toilet Paper. No wipes, no floss, no sanitary products—just those P's
please!
0%0 12 0
ocsandistrict
Mar 14, 16:05O Not the food pie but the number pi 🥧 Where there are circles, there's pi. And
around our plants, circles are everywhere: pipes, clarifiers, tanks. Today, we're
celebrating all the ways pi shows up in our work!
0%0 42 0
ocsandistrict
Mar 10, 18:40O Yesterday, OC San proudly received an Excellence in Outreach and EducationAward from the WateReuse Association for our Wastewater 101 Citizens'Academy! The WateReuse Awards of Excellence recognize organizations and…8.13%0 16 160
ocsandistrict
Mar 09, 17:01O A bird’s-eye view 👀 Headworks at Plant No. 1 is in the middle of a big upgrade.Improved metering and diversion structures, bar screens, grit basins…it's all inthe works. Learn more at ocsan.gov/headworks.13.97%0 34 272
ocsandistrict
Mar 06, 16:05O 600+ employees. One team. 💪💧 Today we’re celebrating the people who
work hard every day to serve 2.6 million people across Orange County.16.51%0 54 430
ocsandistrict
Mar 04, 17:25O Your next career move starts here 🚀 OC San is hiring across multiple positions—
explore open opportunities and apply today at www.ocsan.gov!2.48%0 4 242
ocsandistrict
Mar 02, 18:00O From 😧 to 🙂. P.S. If you haven't heard, the only thing down the drain should
be pee, poop, and toilet paper.7.74%0 37 620
ocsandistrict
Feb 26, 22:33O And that's a wrap 🎬✨ This week, we proudly hosted a special premiere ofUnless Something Goes Terribly Wrong! The film took over 100 communitymembers behind the scenes for a day in the life of a wastewater operator and…7.64%0 25 406
ocsandistrict
Feb 25, 21:00O The Olympics may be over, but we still brought home the gold🥇 That’s right.OC San’s Headquarters is o icially Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) Gold Certified by the US Green Building Council! By earning hig…9.18%0 55 697
ocsandistrict
Feb 23, 17:01O It's Engineers Week😎⚙ Planning, design, project & constructionmanagement…if it needs to get done, we're on it. Because world-class projectsdon't build themselves.12.5%0 37 328
DATE POST ENGAGEMENT RATE IMPRESSIONS LIKES REACH
5
Post performance - LinkedIn Pages
Data from 23 Feb, 2026 to 19 Mar, 2026
Sources
Orange County Sanitation DistrictOD
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 10, 18:40OD Yesterday, OC San proudly received an Excellence in Outreach and Education
Award from the WateReuse Association for our Wastewater 101 Citizens'
Academy! The WateReuse Awards of Excellence recognize organizations and…
7.2%958 34 1
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 06, 16:05OD 600+ employees. One team. 💧 Today we’re celebrating the people who work
hard every day to serve 2.6 million people across Orange County.19.86%1,420 52 3
Orange County Sanitation
District
Mar 04, 17:25OD Your next career move starts here 🚀 OC San is hiring across multiple positions—
explore open opportunities and apply today at www.ocsan.gov!6.91%622 5 1
Orange County Sanitation
District
Feb 25, 22:43OD OC San's Headquarters is o icially Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) Gold Certified! To earn this distinction, the Headquarters projectmet rigorous standards across key several categories, including water…7.97%1,669 71 3
DATE POST ENGAGEMENT RATE IMPRESSIONS REACTIONS SHARES
6
7
Article Date Source Link
Orange County Sanitation District Feb 25 Agenda 2/24/2026 Fullerton Observer
On the February 25 Agenda for the Orange County
Sanitation District - Fullerton Observer
Orange County Sanitation District March 11 Agency 3/5/2026 Fullerton Observer
Orange County Sanitation District agenda for March
11, 2026 - Fullerton Observer
Orlando Approval to Launch Licensed Waste
Destruction Services Hub 3/10/2026 Fidelity.com
fidelity.com/news/article/default/202603100830AC
CESSWRNAPR_____1145382
374Water secures Orlando approval to launch waste
destruction services at Iron Bridge 3/10/2026 Yahoo Finance
374Water secures Orlando approval to launch waste
374Water Announces 5-Year Agreement with the City of
Orlando Approval to Launch Licensed Waste
Destruction Services Hub 3/10/2026 MorningStar
of Orlando Approval to Launch Licensed Waste
2026 WateReuse Awards Highlight Leaders in Water
Reuse 3/10/2026 Pumps & Systems
2026 WateReuse Awards Highlight Leaders in Water
Reuse | Pumps & Systems
Orlando approves 374Water waste destruction services
3/11/2026 Innovationnewsnetwork.com
Orlando approves 374Water waste destruction
374Water Secures 5-Year Waste Destruction Services
Agreement with City of Orlando 3/12/2026 MiniChart
374Water Secures 5-Year Agreement with City of
Orlando to Launch PFAS Waste Destruction Services
Using AirSCWO Technology 1 – Minichart
destruction hub 3/12/2026 Stock Titan
374Water wins 5-year Orlando waste services deal |
SCWO SEC Filing - Form 8-K+A7:D11
News Articles from February 20- March 20
8
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Headquarters
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2026-4847 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:4.
FROM:Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Jennifer Cabral, Director of Communications
SUBJECT:
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of March 2026.
BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District’s (OC San)legislative affairs program includes advocating for
OC San’s legislative interests,sponsoring legislation (where appropriate),and seeking local,state,
and federal funding for projects and programs.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
·Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
·Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators,stakeholders,and
neighboring communities
PROBLEM
Without a strong advocacy program,elected officials may not be aware of OC San’s mission,
programs, and projects, or how they could be impacted by proposed legislation.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Continue to work with Local,State,and Federal officials to advocate for OC San’s interests and help
identify,create,and monitor legislation and grant opportunities that benefit OC San,the wastewater
industry,and the community.To strengthen relationship building efforts,OC San will continue to
engage elected officials through facility tours,one-on-one meetings,and outreach trips to
Washington D.C. and Sacramento.
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/30/2026Page 1 of 3
powered by Legistar™
File #:2026-4847 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:4.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If OC San does not actively engage with Local,State,and Federal elected officials,legislation could
be enacted that negatively impacts OC San and the wastewater industry.Additionally,a lack of
engagement may result in missed funding opportunities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Activities in March:
Through the guidance of the OC San Board of Directors and in conjunction with the Board approved
Legislative and Regulatory plan, OC San has taken two support positions:
·Assembly Bill (Johnson)2381-Local Agency Public Construction Act:Municipal Water
Districts: Sanitation Districts: Lowest Responsible Bidder.
AB 2381 amends the Local Agency Public Construction Act to update competitive bidding
requirements for municipal water districts and sanitation districts.Specifically,the measure
increases the threshold for public works contracts that must be awarded to the lowest
responsive and responsible bidder from $35,000 to $220,000.
·Assembly Bill (Ward) 2180 - Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act.
AB 2180 clarifies how local governments may demonstrate compliance with the constitutional
requirement that fees not exceed the proportional cost of service.The bill allows agencies to
use any reasonable method to allocate service costs among parcels,supported by existing or
reasonably estimated data.
Upcoming Activities in April:
·OC San staff will virtually attend two California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA)
Legislative Committee meetings:
o On April 2,staff will participate in the State Legislative Committee to discuss proposed
and current legislation,including potential impacts on OC San and our fellow
wastewater agencies.
o On April 13,staff will participate in the Federal Legislative Committee meeting where
ENS Resources,OC San’s Federal Lobbyist,will present on Federal topics and
potential impacts on OC San and our fellow wastewater agencies.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
N/A
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/30/2026Page 2 of 3
powered by Legistar™
File #:2026-4847 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:4.
CEQA
N/A
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
All items mentioned are included in OC San’s FY 2025-26 adopted Budget.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·Federal Legislative Update
·Federal Matrix
·State Legislative Update
·State Matrix
·Local Legislative Update
·Assembly Bill 2381 (Johnson) - Support
·Assembly Bill 2381 (Johnson) - Bill Language
·Assembly Bill 2180 (Ward) - Support
·Assembly Bill 2180 (Ward) - Bill Language
·Presentation
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/30/2026Page 3 of 3
powered by Legistar™
ENS Resources, Inc.
1367 Connecticut Avenue N.W./Suite 310
Washington, D.C. 20036 / Telephone (202) 466-3755
www.ensresources.com
TO: Orange County Sanitation District
Fiscal Year 2027 Spending
Legislation Introduced to Address Drought Resilient Water Supplies
on local governments resulting from WIFIA’s existing 80
WIFIA’s current
borrowers’
ENS Resources, Inc.
1367 Connecticut Avenue N.W./Suite 310
Washington, D.C. 20036 / Telephone (202) 466-3755
www.ensresources.com
rates. The California Association of Sanitation Agencies has publicly expressed its
support for the bill.
PFAS Passive Receivers Protection Briefing
Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) submission of a PFAS liability exemption to the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works (where he sits as subcommittee
chair) has served as a catalyst to promote passage of liability protections for water
and wastewater agencies. To this end, the Passive Receivers Coalition, which
includes stakeholders from the water, wastewater, biosolids, cities, counties and
solid waste sectors, is convening a congressional briefing to highlight the need for
the exemption. The Ricketts exemption could become part of a larger clean water
and safe drinking water infrastructure initiative later this summer.
Clean Water Reauthorization Expected to Be Considered Later This Year
Consideration of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) reauthorization
has thus far stalled in both the House and Senate committees. However, the
committees may shift their attention to the CWSRF following completion of the
Surface Transportation funding reauthorization and Water Resources Development
Act (WRDA). Deferring consideration of CWSRF reauthorization to later in the year
would also allow the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works staff
additional time to review submissions received through the committee’s CWSRF
priorities portal. Of relevance to OC San, is a CWSRF portal submission from Senator
Pete Ricketts (R-NE) proposing language to provide PFAS Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) liability
exemption for clean water agencies and biosolids management activities.
Last modified: 03/11/2026 at 11:55 AM EDT
OC San Federal Legislative Update
March 2026
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
S. 1092
WIPPES Act
High Priority Support
Summary: S.1092 would direct the Federal Trade Commission to
estabilsh federal "Do Not Flush" labeling requirements for nonflushable
wet wipes packaging. The labeling requirements would be enacted one
year after the bill's enactment. The bill mirrors California's state labeling
law and is supported by clean water, industry, environmental advocates,
and civil engineer stakeholders. House companion legislation is HR
2269.
03/24/2025Introduced:
Sen. Jeff Merkley ORSponsor:
Latest Actions:
09/19/2025 - Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General
Orders. Calendar No. 166.
09/19/2025 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the n...
05/21/2025 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nat...
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committees:
Committee
S. 1092 provides a source control solution to the problem of the flushing of Why it matters:
nonflushable wipes that will reduce costs associated with fixing damaged treatment
infrastructure for wastewater utilities. The labeling requirements compliment existing "Do Not
Flush" labeling state law. Senator Alex Padilla is an original co-sponsor. OC San continues to
publicly support the effort and has sent support letters to the delegation this Congress.
Outlook: S. 1092 has high potential to be passed by the Senate this Congress based on
the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's bipartisan markup of the bill
earlier this Spring. The committee's action raises the possibility for S. 1092 will be
considered on the Floor under Unanimous Consent
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
H.R. 2269
Summary: H.R. 2269 would direct the Federal Trade Commission to
estabilsh federal "Do Not Flush" labeling requirements for nonflushable
wet wipes packaging. The labeling requirements would be enacted one
WIPPES Act
High Priority Support
year after the bill's enactment. The bill mirrors California's state labeling
law and is supported by clean water, industry, environmental advocates,
and civil engineer stakeholders. Senate companion legislation is S. 1092.
03/21/2025Introduced:
Rep. Lisa McClain MI-09Sponsor:
Latest Actions:
06/24/2025 - Received in the Senate.
06/23/2025 - Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without
objection.
06/23/2025 - On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to
by voice vote. (text: CR H2852-2853)
House Energy and Commerce CommitteeCommittees:
H.R. 2269 provides a source control solution to the problem of the flushing Why it matters:
of nonflushable wipes that will reduce costs associated with fixing damaged treatment
infrastructure for wastewater utilities. The labeling requirements compliment existing "Do Not
Flush" labeling state law. Rep. Lou Correa is a co-sponsor. OC San continues to publicly
support the effort and has sent support letters to the delegation this Congress.
Outlook: H.R. 2269 has high chances of passing the House this session. The legislation
has been scheduled to be voted on under suspension on the House Floor the week of
June 23. The Committee on Energy and Commerce's bipartisan markup of the bill also
infer a bipartisan vote on the Floor.
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
H.R. 3898
PERMIT Act
No Priority No Stance
The PERMIT Act amends the Federal Water Pollution AI Summary:
Control Act to streamline water quality standards, improve transparency
in criteria development, reduce regulatory burdens, and enhance
permitting efficiency for infrastructure and agricultural projects.
06/11/2025Introduced:
Rep. Mike Collins GA-10Sponsor:
Latest Actions:
12/15/2025 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
12/11/2025 - Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without
objection.
12/11/2025 - On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 205 (Roll
no. 330).
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Committees:
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Water Resources
and Environment Subcommittee, Senate Environment and Public Works
Committee
H.R. 3898 represents a comprehensive Clean Water Act permitting reform Why It Matters:
bill. Key provisions:
Outlook. The House is expected to consider H.R. 3898 this Fall. Passage is highly
likely as many of the bill's provisions passed the House during the last Congress. This
included ten year permits.
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
H.R. 2093
To amend the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act with
respect to permitting terms,
and for other purposes.
High Priority Support
Summary: H.R. 2093 would amend the Clean Water Act's permitting
provisions to allow for delegated states or USEPA to issue ten year
National Permit Discharge Eliminate System (NPDES) permits. The bill,
if enacted, would extend current terms from five years.
03/14/2025Introduced:
Rep. Ken Calvert CA-41Sponsor:
Latest Actions:
03/14/2025 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment.
03/14/2025 - Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure.
03/14/2025 - Introduced in House
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Committees:
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Water Resources
and Environment Subcommittee
H.R. 2093 amends the NPDES permit term to align with the current project Why it matters:
construction timeline realities for water utilities and help reduce costs associated with permit
renewals for both utilities and state regulators. H.R. 2093 provides this while preserving
existing permit reopener provisions to ensure environmental protections are upheld.
Outlook: H.R. 2093 has the potential to advance this Congress. Committee majority staff
support the bill's policy intent and has expressed the desire to pursue last year's Creating
Confidence Clean Water Permitting Act (HR 7023)again this Congress, which included H.
R. 2093's permit extension language. H.R. 7023 passed the House in the 118th Congress.
mandated 10 year NPDES permits
codification of exemption from WOTUS definition for wastewater and water storage
facilities
expedited review and approval of section 404 permit applications
ten year general permits for dredge and fill activities with requirement for 2 year
advanced notification if permit not to be renewed
water quality certification reviews limited to project impacts on water quality
The legislation would provide important protection to water and wastewater Why It Matters:
agencies against third party litigation seeking to secure cost contributions for cleanups that
involve PFAS contamination. Absent an explicit liability protection provision such agencies
would be exposed to liability simply because an agency treated water and wastewater that
contained PFAS chemicals and disposed of residuals and biosolids.
Outlook: H.R. 1267 represents a placeholder bill to address the water sector's concerns
over the potential liability created by USEPA's designation of PFAS as a hazardous
substance under CERCLA. Both the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over
CERCLA have expressed interest in addressing PFAS liability. However, any significant
legislative activity is expected to await USEPA's recommendations on how to address
passive receivers liability created by the PFAS designation.
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
H.R. 1265
To amend the Save Our Seas
2.0 Act to expand eligibility for
certain wastewater
infrastructure grants, and for
other purposes.
No Priority No Stance
Summary: H.R. 1265 aims to expand eligibility for certain wastewater
infrastructure grants under the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act12. This expansion
would allow communities and projects to qualify for federal funding,
which can be used to improve and modernize wastewater treatment
facilities. By increasing access to these grants, the bill seeks to enhance
the capacity of wastewater management systems to handle pollutants,
reduce environmental impacts, and support public health. This could
lead to more efficient and effective wastewater treatment processes,
ultimately contributing to cleaner waterways and a healthier environment.
02/12/2025Introduced:
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton DC-At LargeSponsor:
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
H.R. 1267
Water Systems PFAS Liability
Protection Act
High Priority Support
The Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act AI Summary:
exempts water and wastewater treatment facilities from CERCLA liability
for releases of certain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances,
provided they comply with applicable laws and regulations.
02/12/2025Introduced:
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez WA-03Sponsor:
Latest Actions:
02/12/2025 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment.
02/12/2025 - Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and
in addition to the Committee on Transportation an...
02/12/2025 - Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and
in addition to the Committee on Transportation an...
House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Committees:
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee Water Resources and Environment
Subcommittee
Latest Actions:
04/01/2025 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment.
02/12/2025 - Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure.
02/12/2025 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E120)
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Committees:
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee Water Resources and Environment
Subcommittee
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
H.R. 1285
Water Infrastructure
Subcontractor and Taxpayer
Protection Act of 2025
No Priority No Stance
Summary: H.R. 1285 would amend the Water Infrastructure Finance
and Innovation Act of 2014. The key points: Payment and Performance
Security Requirements: The bill establishes new requirements for
payment and performance security for projects funded under the act.
Project Funding: Ensure that projects financed through the Water
Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act have adequate financial
safeguards.H.R. 2093 would amend the Clean Water Act's permitting
provisions to allow for delegated states or USEPA to issue ten year
National Permit Discharge Eliminate System (NPDES) permits. The bill,
if enacted, would extend current terms from five years
02/13/2025Introduced:
Rep. Mike Bost IL-12Sponsor:
Latest Actions:
02/13/2025 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment.
02/13/2025 - Referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ene...
02/13/2025 - Referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ene...
House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Committees:
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee Water Resources and Environment
Subcommittee
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
H.R. 2344
Water ISAC Threat Protection
Act
No Priority No Stance
Summary: Would establish a program to enhance the preparedness
and resilience of drinking water and wastewater systems against various
threats. The bill's primary focus is on safeguarding these critical utilities
from risks such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, and other
vulnerabilities that could disrupt essential water services.
03/25/2025Introduced:
Rep. Jan Schakowsky IL-09Sponsor:
Latest Actions:
03/25/2025 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment.
03/25/2025 - Referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ene...
03/25/2025 - Referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ene...
House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Committees:
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee Water Resources and Environment
Subcommittee
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
S. 857
Water Conservation Rebate
Tax Parity Act
No Priority No Stance
Summary: Amends federal tax law so that homeowners would not need
to pay income tax when they receive rebates from water utilities for
water conservation and water runoff management improvements. S. 857.
03/05/2025Introduced:
Sen. John Curtis UTSponsor:
Latest Actions:
03/05/2025 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
03/05/2025 - Introduced in Senate
Senate Finance CommitteeCommittees:
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
S. 1118
Water Intelligence, Security,
and Cyber Threat Protection
Act of 2025
No Priority No Stance
Summary: S. 1118 would provide funding and additional access for
clean water and
wastewater utilities to become members of the Water Information
Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC). The WaterISAC is a critical
source of information and best practices for water systems to protect
against, mitigate, and respond to threats. House Companion bill H.R.
2344. Endorsed by American Water Works Association, Association of
Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Clean Water
Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, and Water
Environment Federation.
03/25/2025Introduced:
Sen. Ed Markey MASponsor:
Latest Actions:
03/25/2025 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment
and Public Works.
03/25/2025 - Introduced in Senate
Senate Environment and Public Works CommitteeCommittees:
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
H.R. 7845
DROUGHT Act
Summary: The bill address the Western water supply resiliency
concerns caused by drought conditions by increasing current federal
share cap from 80% to 90% for certain WIFIA projects.
03/05/2026Introduced:
Rep. Scott Peters CA-50Sponsor:
Latest Actions:
03/05/2026 - Referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ene...
03/05/2026 - Referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Ene...
03/05/2026 - Introduced in House
House Energy and Commerce Committee, House Committees:
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
The legislation would increase the federal cost share cap for the WIFIA .Why It Matters:
Program from the current 80% to 90% for projects that are located in areas of extreme
drought, projects of national significance, or serves disadvantaged communities. By raising
the federal cap for these categories of eligible projects, H.R. 7845 aims to help address
concerns about Western water supplies resiliency due to prolonged drought conditions.
Importantly, the bill does not change borrowers' obligations, payment plans, or interest rates
under WIFIA.
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
H.R. 3184
PFAS Alternatives Act
No Priority No Stance
The bill establishes a research and training program to AI Summary:
develop PFAS-free turnout gear for firefighters, supporting innovation
and safer protective equipment through grants and partnerships.
05/05/2025Introduced:
Rep. Debbie Dingell MI-06Sponsor:
Latest Actions:
05/06/2025 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and
Environment.
05/05/2025 - Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Transp...
05/05/2025 - Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Transp...
House Science, Space and Technology Committee, Committees:
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Water Resources and
Environment Subcommittee
Outlook: H.R. 7845 has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure. While the issue of Western water supply security continues to be a focus
for lawmakers in the 119th Congress, the committee is currently focused primarily on
drafting and advancing the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA) later this
summer. As a result, committee consideration on H.R. 7845 will likely be delayed until the
summer at the earliest.
FEDERAL - 119TH CONGRESS
S.3737
GROW SMART Act
No Priority No Stance
The GROW SMART Act amends the Reclamation States AI Summary:
Emergency Drought Relief Act to provide financial and technical
assistance for innovative, voluntary water-sharing agreements among
agricultural, municipal, and industrial entities, emphasizing water
conservation and rural economic resilience.
01/29/2026Introduced:
Sen. Alex Padilla CASponsor:
Latest Actions:
01/29/2026 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks...
01/29/2026 - Introduced in Senate
Senate Energy and Natural Resources CommitteeCommittees:
Page 1
MONTHLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
To: Orange County Sanitation District
From Townsend Public Affairs
Date: March 20, 2026
Subject: March Legislative Monthly Report
STATE UPDATE
The Legislature has transitioned from the bill introduction period into the early stages of policy
committee deliberations and budget oversight activity. Lawmakers introduced more than 1,800
bills ahead of the deadline, including several hundred placeholder “spot” bills that are expected
to be amended with substantive language in the coming weeks, signaling a wide-ranging
legislative agenda for the final year of the two-year session.
As March progresses, committee activity is expected to increase steadily throughout the month
as additional bills become eligible for hearings. At the same time, budget committees and
subcommittees continue to review departmental proposals and expenditures tied to the
Governor’s January budget proposal, providing lawmakers with an early opportunity to examine
funding priorities and program implementation.
Looking ahead, several key deadlines will shape the pace of legislative activity. Bills with fiscal
impacts must advance out of policy committees and move to fiscal committees by April 24, while
non-fiscal measures must clear policy committees by May 1 to reach their respective house floors.
Together, these milestones mark the beginning of a more intensive phase of the legislative
process as policymakers move from bill introductions to active policy and budget deliberations.
CALIFORNIA WATER PLAN 2028
Governor Newsom recently announced the California Water Plan 2028, describing it as the most
comprehensive water planning effort undertaken by the state to date. The initiative seeks to
modernize California’s planning framework in response to increasingly variable hydrologic
conditions, including prolonged drought and more intense storm cycles. It emphasizes stronger
coordination across regions and sectors, updated data and modeling, and clearer statewide
benchmarks to better align local and state strategies. A central component of the announcement
is the establishment of a statewide goal to develop an additional 9 million acre-feet of water supply
by 2040.
Page 2
As described by the administration, this represents the first consolidated, statewide supply target
of its kind, intended to address projected gaps between future water demand and available
supplies. State officials indicated that meeting this objective will require a combination of
conservation efforts, expanded storage capacity, groundwater recharge, and other strategic
supply investments.
The target builds in part on SB 72 (Caballero, 2025), which revises the process for developing
the California Water Plan and strengthens accountability. The measure expands advisory
committee representation to include tribes, labor, and environmental justice stakeholders,
updates the interim 2050 planning benchmarks to better reflect long-term urban, agricultural, and
environmental needs, and requires cost-benefit analysis and public workshops during
future plan updates.
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE PERMIT OVERSIGHT HEARING
The Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife held an oversight hearing on March 10,
on the implementation of AB 658 (Arambula, 2019), which created a five-year temporary water
rights permit to support groundwater recharge during periods of high river flows. Assembly
Member Joaquin Arambula, the bill’s author, joined the committee discussion and emphasized
the importance of capturing water during wet periods as California continues to experience
increasingly variable hydrologic conditions.
State Water Resources Control Board Chair, Joaquin Esquivel, provided an overview of the
evolution of temporary recharge permits, noting the shift from earlier 180-day permits to the five-
year authorizations established under AB 658. Although the law took effect in 2019, the first five-
year permits were not issued until 2023 following prolonged drought conditions. The longer permit
term is intended to provide greater planning certainty for recharge projects and support the state’s
broader goal of expanding groundwater recharge capacity. During the discussion, he also
highlighted key elements of the permitting framework, including environmental safeguards and
restrictions on certain recharge locations, and suggested that shifting from the current formal
protest process to a public comment framework could help reduce permitting delays.
The hearing highlighted both the opportunities and implementation challenges associated with
the five-year recharge permits authorized under AB 658 (Arambula, 2019), including permitting
costs and timelines, technical requirements for water availability analyses, and the need for
infrastructure investment to support expanded groundwater recharge statewide. Committee
discussion suggested that future legislative or administrative changes may be considered to
further streamline the permitting process and support the state’s groundwater recharge goals.
LAWMAKERS CONDUCT OVERSIGHT HEARING ON CAP-AND-INVEST RULEMAKING
The Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies convened to examine proposed
amendments to California’s reauthorized Cap-and-Invest program, the state’s primary market-
based mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through 2045. The hearing focused
on regulatory updates released by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to implement AB
1207 and SB 840, which extended the program and introduced new design requirements
emphasizing emissions targets, affordability, and program transparency.
Page 3
CARB outlined several proposed changes, including aligning post-2030 allowance budgets with
the state’s climate targets, revising allowance allocations to electric utilities based on updated
emissions and load data, and gradually transitioning free allowances from natural gas suppliers
to electric utilities. CARB also proposed mechanisms intended to stabilize year-to-year allowance
supply and reduce revenue volatility for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), which
supports a range of climate and resilience programs.
While no formal action was taken, legislators signaled continued oversight of CARB’s rulemaking
as the program evolves. TPA continues to engage in Cap and Invest discussions to identify
opportunities to advocate for OC San priorities. The outcome of these changes may influence
future climate funding priorities and energy cost trends that affect OC San and infrastructure
planning statewide.
OC SAN LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS
OC San staff and Townsend Public Affairs monitor current and upcoming legislation. Per the
Board approved Legislative and Regulatory Plan, OC San has submitted two position letters:
Assembly Bill (Ward) 2180 - Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act
AB 2180 clarifies how local governments may demonstrate compliance with the constitutional
requirement that fees not exceed the proportional cost of service. The bill allows agencies to use
any reasonable method to allocate service costs among parcels, supported by existing or
reasonably estimated data. The bill is sponsored by the Association of California Water Agencies.
AB 2180 will be heard in the Assembly Local Government Committee on March 25.
OC San’s Position: Support. Page 24 section K (h) of the Legislative and Regulatory Plan and is
consistent with previous bill concepts that TPA has discussed with OC San staff and the Board.
Assembly Bill (Johnson) 2381- Local Agency Public Construction Act: Municipal Water Districts:
Sanitation Districts: Lowest Responsible Bidder
AB 2381 amends the Local Agency Public Construction Act to update competitive bidding
requirements for municipal water districts and sanitation districts. Specifically, the measure
increases the threshold for public works contracts that must be awarded to the lowest responsive
and responsible bidder from $35,000 to $220,000. The bill is sponsored by the Elsinore Valley
Municipal Water District.
AB 2381 was referred to the Assembly Committee on Local Government will be heard as early
as March 23.
OC San’s Position: Support. Page 23 section J (e) of the Legislative and Regulatory Plan.
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 35 Alvarez [D]This legislation, would exempt the adoption of regulations needed to effectuate or implement
programs of the act from the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The bill
would require a state entity that receives funding through Proposition 4 to administer a
competitive grant program established using the Administrative Procedure Act exemption to do
certain things, including develop draft project solicitation and evaluation guidelines and to
submit those guidelines to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, except as provided.
The bill would require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to post an electronic form
of the guidelines submitted by a state entity and the subsequent verifications on the Natural
Resources Agency’s internet website.
In Senate Rules waiting
assignment
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Grant
Funding – Oppose proposals placing further
requirements on grant recipients that return low value
for high administrative costs
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Support
CASA - Support
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
AB 634 Gonzalez [R]The legislation intends to add tianeptine to the Schedule I category of controlled substances,
reflecting the highest level of legal restriction. This action is intended to limit the potential
misuse and abuse of the substance by prohibiting its manufacture and sale unless explicitly
allowed. The bill emphasizes the importance of this classification to curb the substance's
availability and mitigate associated risks to public health.
In Senate Rules waiting
assignment
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies Source
Control – Support legislation, regulations, and
funding assistance that would lead to decreased
introduction of microplastics, and other contaminants
of concern discharged into the sewer system.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 643 Wilson [D]AB 643 mandates a 75% reduction in organic waste disposal to landfills by 2025 to combat
methane emissions. The bill tasks the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery,
along with the State Air Resources Board, with formulating associated regulations. Local
jurisdictions are empowered to utilize organic materials as agricultural soil amendments to
meet these goals, provided they follow specific guidelines. This approach aims to enhance
California's climate resilience through sustainable waste management practices.
In Senate Rules waiting
assignment
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Special
Districts – Oppose further state regulations that
adversely impact special district financing,
operations, and administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Support in
concept
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - NYC
AB 748 Harabedian [D]AB 748 authorizes the development and use of preapproved single‑family and multifamily
housing plans that local agencies may adopt to expedite housing approvals and reduce
duplicative design review. The bill adds Section 65852.29 to the Government Code, allowing a
property owner to build housing consistent with a jurisdiction’s preapproved plan without
undergoing additional design review, provided the housing meets the criteria of the adopted
plan. This aims to accelerate production of housing units while maintaining local standards for
design and land use, reducing processing time and cost for both agencies and developers. The
bill is intended to support increased housing supply and consistency in planning approaches
across jurisdictions.
In Senate Rules waiting
assignment
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Housing &
Infrastructure Planning – Support statewide efforts
to improve housing production and planning
efficiency while protecting local infrastructure
planning authority and avoiding unfunded mandates.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 1198 Haney [D]Beginning July 1, 2027, changes in prevailing wages by the Director of Industrial Relations will
affect contracts awarded or announced after this date. Affected parties can request a review
within 20 days, with a final decision issued within 20 days thereafter. Certain housing projects
are exempt from these updates.
In Senate Rules waiting
assignment
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Special
Districts – Oppose further state regulations that
adversely impact special district financing,
operations, and administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Oppose
CASA - Watch
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 1383 McKinnor [D]AB 1383 revises the pensionable compensation limits for public retirement systems in
accordance with federal guidelines starting January 1, 2027. It introduces new retirement
formulas for safety members, allowing for collective bargaining agreements to adjust these
formulas. This bill supports the alignment of state retirement benefits with federal standards
and facilitates negotiation over pension terms.
In Senate Rules waiting
assignment
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Labor
Relations/Human Resources – Oppose any
measure that imposes upon local government
mandated employee benefits that
are more properly decided at the local bargaining
table
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Oppose
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 1617 Alanis [R]AB 1617 requires public agencies and contractors handling household hazardous waste to
submit the Form 303 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Report annually for the prior
calendar year, aligning the reporting period with the calendar year. This shift aims to improve
the consistency and accuracy of hazardous waste tracking.
Referred to Assembly
Appropriations
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Biosolids,
Organics, and Biogas – Limit redundant reporting
requirements on organics, recyclable material, and
solid waste.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 1621 Wilson [D]AB 1621 amends Government Code sections on the Housing Accountability Act to streamline
post‑entitlement permit processing. It limits redundant plan check reviews, clarifies inspection
consistency with approved plans, and shortens appeal timelines for local agencies and
applicants.
Referred to Assembly
Local Government
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Housing &
Local Agency Authority – Monitor and assess
legislation that affects housing development
processes and ensure local agency discretion is
preserved in infrastructure planning and project
implementation.
ACC‑OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
Proposed Legislation 2026
High Priority
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 1710 Carrilo [D]AB 1710 redefines the criteria for "ordinances, policies, and standards" within housing
development, adding materials, requirements, and standards imposed by other public
agencies. It mandates compliance with existing plans and standards at the time of a preliminary
application. The bill aligns with the Permit Streamlining Act, requiring projects considered for
housing developments or emergency shelters to meet consistency and compliance evaluations.
This bill enforces a state-mandated local program impacting all cities, including charter cities,
and affects provisions for mandated cost reimbursements to local agencies.
Was heard in Assembly
Housing and Community
Development on March 25
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Special
Districts – Oppose further state regulations that
adversely impact special district financing,
operations, and administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Not Favor
Unless Amended
AB 1729 Lee [D]AB 1729 revises existing telecommuting provisions by introducing the term "telework" and
mandates the Department of General Services to create a dashboard documenting the benefits
and savings of state telework programs. Each state agency must evaluate its telework program
every 10 years to ensure alignment with operational needs and workforce goals. This bill is
labeled an urgency statute for immediate effect and only impacts state agencies.
Will be heard in Assembly
Public Employment and
Retirement on April 8
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Special
Districts – Oppose further state regulations that
adversely impact special district financing,
operations, and administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 1777 Garcia [D]AB 1777 would amend the Health and Safety Code to explicitly authorize the California Air
Resources Board (CARB) to adopt regulations to reduce or mitigate emissions from indirect
sources of air pollution, such as facilities, land uses, and activities that attract mobile emission
sources like trucks, trains, and other vehicles. The bill clarifies that CARB can take this action
when necessary to achieve ambient air quality standards required under federal law, expanding
the agency’s authority beyond current direct vehicle emissions regulation. It aims to fill gaps
where regional indirect source rules have been adopted locally but no consistent statewide
mechanism exists to reduce pollution from high‑traffic indirect sources.
Was heard in Assembly
Natural Resources on
March 23
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Air Quality &
Environmental Protection – Support measures that
strengthen air quality protections while minimizing
undue regulatory or operational impact on local
agencies.
ACC‑OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 1772 Papan [D]AB 1772 aims to address and prevent the proliferation of aquatic invasive species, specifically
the golden mussel, within California's water systems. This legislation intends to help safeguard
the state's biodiversity and maintain ecological balance by implementing measures to monitor,
report, and control the spread of these species in waterbodies and infrastructure systems.
Eligible to be heard on
March 12. Has not yet been
assigned to Rules
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Quality & Ecosystem Protection – Support
measures that control invasive species and protect
California water systems.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - Support
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
AB 1821 Pacheco [D]AB 1821 amends provisions of the California Public Records Act related to public records
under the Government Code and allows a public agency to levy a fee on a public records act
requester if they submit more than 6 requests in a year, or a single request exceeds 10 pages.
Journalists and newspapers are exempt. The bill would also extend the time period to respond
when there are “unusual circumstances” from 14 days to 21 days.
Referred to Assembly
Judiciary
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Public
Transparency and Governance – Support policies
that promote transparency and accountability in
public agency operations while ensuring
administrative requirements remain reasonable for
local agencies.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 1838 Berman [D]AB 1838 requires disclosures on wage‑and‑hour violations from contractors bidding on local
agency public contracts and authorizes disqualification of certain bids lacking mandated
disclosures.
On Assembly Floor Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Public
Contracting Transparency – Support policies that
enhance transparency and accountability in public
contracting while ensuring competitive and equitable
procurement processes.
ACC‑OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 1997 Lee [D]AB 1997 amends Government Code sections relating to housing development approvals by
modifying timelines and processes for local agency decisions on housing projects, reinforcing
Housing Accountability Act provisions, and adjusting scoring for affordable housing program
applications.
Referred to Assembly
Local Government and
Assembly Housing &
Community Development
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Local
Agency Authority & Infrastructure – Support
policies that affirm local control and clarity in agency
operations affecting infrastructure development and
system management.
ACC‑OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 2013 Bennett [D]AB 2013 mandates that water suppliers serving over 100 customers in designated fire hazard
severity zones must create plans for emergencies, including red flag warnings and extreme
weather events. These plans should ensure adequate water service and supply for firefighting,
identifying necessary water pump types and quantities.
Referred to Assembly
Emergency Management
and Assembly
Environmental Safety and
Toxic Materials
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Disaster
Preparedness – Support legislation that improves
emergency preparedness and infrastructure
resilience to protect critical water and wastewater
services during disasters.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - Support
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - OUA
AB 2026 Aguiar-Curry [D]The bill aims to improve groundwater recharge methods by implementing policies that expand
groundwater storage while maintaining the balance of water rights and environmental concerns.
It seeks to enhance the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act by ensuring groundwater
resources are efficiently managed, thus promoting sustainable water management practices
across the state.
Referred to Assembly
Water Parks and Wildlife
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Supply and Resource Management – Support
policies that improve water supply reliability and
sustainable groundwater management across
California.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - Support
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 2125 Bennett [D]AB 2125 specifies new obligations for plaintiffs in groundwater basin adjudications. Upon
completing notice procedures, plaintiffs must now include affidavits and delivery receipts
detailing mailing specifics when filing the notice of completion. If a return receipt is missing,
additional affidavits and photographic evidence of the notice posting are required.
Referred to Assembly
Judiciary
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Resources Administration – Support policies that
improve transparency and accountability in water
rights and groundwater basin management.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 2127 Johnson [D]AB 2127 expresses the Legislature’s intent to streamline accessory dwelling unit (ADU)
permitting in rural areas to reduce barriers to housing production and ensure efficient permit
issuance and consistency with state goals.
Referred to Assembly
Housing and Community
Development and
Assembly Local
Government
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Regulatory
Reporting & Transparency – Oppose proposals
that create redundant reporting requirements that do
not yield commensurate public benefit and impose
unnecessary administrative burden on local
agencies.
ACC‑OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 2180 Ward [D]This bill pertains to the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act, focusing on the levying of
property-related fees by local agencies in California. It mandates that these fees not exceed the
proportional cost of the service provided to a property. It allows local governments to measure
service costs using reasonable allocation methods and permits uniform or tiered fees based on
common characteristics of water or sewer usage. The bill outlines that costs within each service
tier can be allocated using any reasonable basis.
Referred to Assembly
Local Government
Support Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Local
Agency Authority – Support policies that protect
local agencies’ ability to set rates and fees necessary
to provide essential wastewater and water services.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 2381 Johnson [D]AB 2381, introduced by Assembly Member Natasha Johnson, aims to amend the Local Agency
Public Construction Act to increase the threshold for contracts awarded by municipal water
districts and sanitation districts to the lowest responsible bidder from $35,000 to $220,000. The
bill mandates the Controller to adjust this amount annually to reflect the percentage change in
the Engineering News-Record Construction Cost Index and publish the adjusted amount on its
internet website.
Referred to Assembly
Local Government
Support Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Public
Contracting – Procurement & Fair Practices –
Support fair and effective public contracting
standards that enhance local agency
competitiveness while preserving transparency and
accountability.
ACC‑OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 2447 Bauer-Kahan [D]Focuses on improving water quality by regulating nitrogen discharges from commercial
agricultural areas. Requires regional boards to update irrigation regulations, adopt waste
discharge orders by 2028, and establishes a Safer Fertilizer Task Force. Final report due by
2031.
Has not yet been assigned.Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Quality & Ecosystem Protection – Support policies
promoting nutrient management, water quality, and
sustainable agriculture.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
AB 2568 Johnson [D]Bill AB 2568 proposes an amendment to existing legislation to increase the allowable
compensation days for water district governing board members from 10 to 20 days per
calendar month. This change aims to align compensation practices with the responsibilities and
time commitments required by board members.
Referred to Assembly
Local Government
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Governance
& Compensation – Support policies aligning
compensation with board responsibilities.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 2630 Bennett [D]AB 2630 focuses on the regulation of water diversion and use in California. It requires that all
regulations related to water diversion, as adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board,
be classified as emergency regulations, ensuring their immediate effect until further revision.
The bill further specifies that these emergency regulations are exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act, aiming to expedite regulatory processes related to water
management in the state.
Was heard in Assembly
Water Parks and Wildlife
on March 24
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Resources Administration – Support policies that
streamline water regulation and protect water supply
reliability.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
AB 2777 Environmental
Safety and Toxic
Materials
[Committee]
AB 2777 focuses on the State Water Quality Control Fund, requiring transparency by ensuring
that notifications are provided regarding the allocation of loan and grant moneys. The bill
emphasizes improved communication and accountability in managing financial assistance
aimed at protecting water quality.
Referred to Assembly
Environmental Safety and
Toxic Materials
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Quality & Funding – Support policies promoting
accountability in water quality financing.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
SB 239 Arreguin [D]Current law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes specified neighborhood city councils to use
alternate teleconferencing provisions related to notice, agenda, and public participation, as
prescribed, if, among other requirements, the city council has adopted an authorizing resolution
and 2/3 of the neighborhood city council votes to use alternate teleconference provisions, as
specified. This bill would authorize a subsidiary body, as defined, to use alternative
teleconferencing provisions and would impose requirements for notice, agenda, and public
participation, as prescribed. The bill would require the subsidiary body to post the agenda at
the primary physical meeting location. The bill would require the members of the subsidiary
body to visibly appear on camera during the open portion of a meeting that is publicly
accessible via the internet or other online platform, as specified.
Has passed the Senate.
Pending assignment in the
Assembly.
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Special
Districts – Oppose further state regulations that
adversely impact special district financing,
operations, and administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Sponsor
CASA - NYC
CSDA - Support
ACWA - Favor
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
SB 342 Umberg [D]SB 342 revises the Contractors State License Law, enabling contractors to claim compensation
for work if properly licensed during contract execution, even if unlicensed at other times. It
allows clients to recover payments made to unlicensed contractors based on the period the
contractor was unlicensed.
Has passed the Senate.
Pending assignment in the
Assembly.
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Public
Contracting – Support legislation that protects local
agency contracting integrity.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
SB 899 Grove [D]SB 899 requires the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to coordinate with health
agencies to evaluate the health impacts of severe wildfire smoke by July 1, 2028, utilizing
existing data. The findings will guide the enhancement of health outcomes in the Wildfire
Resilience Action Plan and allow for independent consultancy contracts as necessary.
Was heard in Senate
Natural Resources on
March 24
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Disaster
Preparedness – Support policies that improve
wildfire resilience and public health outcomes.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
SB 951 Reyes [D]This bill mandates a 90-day notice for technological displacement affecting 25 or more
workers. Employers must notify affected employees, the EDD, and state and local entities. It
also includes provisions for worker rights, penalties for non-compliance, and establishes a fund
for recovered civil penalties.
Referred to Senate Labor
and Employee Relations
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Labor
Relations – Support policies ensuring worker
notification and protections.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
SB 992 Niello [R]SB 992 addresses the auditing process for special districts, removing the January 1, 2027,
repeal date for certain auditing exceptions. It increases the financial threshold from $150,000 to
$250,000, allowing districts with annual revenues below this amount to replace an annual audit
with a financial review, agreed-upon procedures, or a financial compilation.
Referred to Senate Local
Government. Author
cancelled first hearing date.
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Governance
& Finance – Support policies that streamline audits
while maintaining accountability.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
SB 1001 Archuleta [D]SB 1001 mandates the creation of a water utility worker identification card program by the
Office of Emergency Services to facilitate access to restricted areas during disasters. This
initiative aims to support the health and safety of the public while aiding in the repair and
restoration of water services. The bill includes provisions for fee collection from water utilities to
cover program costs and ensures that cardholders can enter restricted areas unless it is
deemed unsafe or obstructive to emergency responses.
Was heard in Senate
Emergency Management
on March 24
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Disaster
Preparedness – Support programs that improve
water utility safety during emergencies.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
SB 1036 Grayson [D]SB 1036 aims to refine the Mitigation Fee Act by requiring fees imposed on development
projects to reflect the net impact on public facilities and recognize if the project replaces an
existing use. This adjustment ensures fair fee assessment and mandates local agencies to
provide fee credits or reductions for redevelopment projects that alleviate prior impacts.
Referred to Senate Local
Government
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Development
& Land Use – Support policies that ensure fair fee
assessment.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
SB 1081 Laird [D]SB 1081 revises the definition of “small community” under the Porter‑Cologne Water Quality
Control Act to allow systems serving ≤3,000 people to use mandatory penalty funds for
compliance projects in lieu of penalties, providing regulatory flexibility for small wastewater
agencies.
Will be heard in Senate
Environmental Quality on
April 8
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Quality & Compliance Flexibility – Support policies
that improve regulatory flexibility and compliance
mechanisms for wastewater systems, particularly in
ways that enable small systems to invest in
infrastructure rather than non‑productive penalties.
ACC‑OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - Support
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
SB 1085 Durazo [D]SB 1085 mandates cities or counties to identify public water systems for approved projects,
whether or not they are subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This
change imposes a local program without state reimbursement, streamlining water assessments
and expanding city duties within project planning.
Was heard in Senate
Natural Resources and
Water on March 24
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Supply & Project Planning – Support policies that
improve water system planning and assessments.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
SB 1117 Cervantes [D]SB 1117 focuses on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units,
refining the calculation of impact fees. It mandates that fees for ADUs over 750 square feet be
based solely on the area exceeding this threshold, altering local agencies' responsibilities and
overriding municipal affairs to ensure statewide applicability. The bill stipulates no state
reimbursement for local costs incurred due to these changes.
Will be heard in Senate
Housing on April 7
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Housing –
Support policies that improve equity in ADU fee
structures.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
SB 1125 Menjivar [D]SB 1125 mandates the State Water Resources Control Board to devise an annual needs
assessment for drinking water by May 1, 2027, and every year afterwards. This includes
evaluating the funds required to maintain affordable water services for community systems with
fewer than 3,000 connections, updating this analysis every three years.
Will be heard in Senate
Environmental Quality
April 8
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Supply – Support policies ensuring safe, reliable
drinking water.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
SB 1139 Laird [D]SB 1139 addresses the enforcement of prohibitions on using potable water for irrigating
nonfunctional turf on specific properties. It mandates civil penalties for noncompliance,
enabling special districts with water conservation authority to enforce these regulations
effectively. This bill aims to strengthen local enforcement measures for better water
conservation.
Referred to Senate Natural
Resources and Water
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Conservation – Support policies enforcing potable
water conservation.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
SB 1153 Caballero [D]SB 1153 focuses on enhancing disaster preparedness for urban retail water suppliers in fire
hazard zones. Starting January 2028, it requires these suppliers to integrate wildfire response
procedures into their disaster plans. The bill emphasizes mitigation actions to minimize wildfire
impact on water systems. It clarifies that water supply issues during a wildfire don't contribute
significantly to wildfire damages and that wildfire spread is not automatically linked to water
system design or maintenance. Additionally, there's no requirement for state reimbursement to
local agencies under this bill.
Was heard in Senate
Emergency Management
on March 24
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Disaster
Preparedness – Support policies enhancing water
supplier wildfire response.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
SB 1313 McNerney [D]SB 1313 aims to empower the State Water Resources Control Board to offer financial
assistance through grants or loans to public water systems. The focus is on addressing
contaminants like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. The bill
outlines funding sources and related activities, while allowing implementation via policy
handbooks or workplans outside the rulemaking procedures.
Will be heard in Senate
Environmental Quality on
April 22
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Water
Quality & Contaminants – Support policies
addressing PFAS in drinking wat
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
SB 1417 Pérez [D]SB 1417 mandates that disaster-impacted public water systems conduct a disaster impact
assessment within six months of a disaster. This assessment is required before state funding is
granted and must determine if consolidating water systems is necessary to ensure access to
quality water. Furthermore, it obliges the incorporation of public participation, subjecting
coordinating bodies to the California Public Records Act and public commentary, while
ensuring translated versions of key documents are available. Violations constitute
misdemeanors under expanded criminal classifications, thus instituting a state program with
local legal implications.
Referred to Senate
Emergency Management
and Senate Environmental
Quality
Watch Legislative and Regulatory Policies: Disaster
Preparedness – Support policies improving post-
disaster water system assessment and recovery.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - NYC
CASA - NYC
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Support
Legend:
ACC-OC - Association of California Cities, Orange County
LOCC - League of California Cities
NYC - Not Yet Considered
CASA - California Association of Sanitation Agencies
ACWA - Association of California Water Agencies
CSDA - California Special Districts Association
1 | P a g e
TO: Orange County Sanitation District
FROM: Whittingham Public Affairs Advisors
DATE: March 20, 2026 SUBJECT: Local Legislative Report
Following are a few of the more notable developments and issues that have transpired in Orange County over the last several weeks:
• The Cypress City Council recently announced the appointment of Shannon DeLong as City Manager. Ms. DeLong previously served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Whittier, a role she has held since June 2018, and prior to that she spent more than a decade with the City of Downey. She will begin her role as the 10th
City Manager, and first woman, in the City’s history on March 30.
• Anaheim’s Assistant City Manager, Greg Garcia, has been serving as Interim City Manager since the resignation of former City Manager Jim Vanderpool in early
February.
• The Board of Supervisors may consider extending the contract of current CEO Michelle Aguirre beyond its current June 30, 2026, terminus while an outside search firm continues the search to find a potential successor. Ms. Aguirre has
served as CEO since June of last year after a nine-month tenure as Interim CEO.
• The Board of Supervisors recently approved Phase II of Orange County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), a comprehensive roadmap outlining projects and programs
aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and other emissions from a variety of
sources. Key initiatives include expanding stormwater capture and infiltration, reducing organic waste sent to landfills by 75 percent while increasing edible food recovery
by 20 percent, and exploring the feasibility of regional anaerobic digestion and
conversion technology facilities. A completed CAP is required for the County to apply for and secure Proposition 4 grant funding to support these and other targeted programs—many of which are
designed to benefit disadvantaged and environmental justice communities.
2 | P a g e
• The Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (OC LAFCO)
leadership participated in a meeting on March 24 with counterparts from Los
Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego County LAFCOs. This initial meeting of the Alliance of Local Agency Formation Commissions (Alliance) was focused on relevant legislation and other matters of interest to the four agencies, which formed the Alliance in 2025 to provide better coordination on common issues and priorities
than was offered through the California Association LAFCO.
County Supervisor Don Wagner was recently reappointed as the sole Board representative to OC LAFCO. Yorba Linda City Council member Peggy Huang’s spot will come before the City Selection Committee this Spring; Derek McGregor’s
spot as Public Member will be voted upon by the other LAFCO Commissioners;
and the election of two Special District Commissioners, currently held by Doug Davert, East Orange County Water District, and Alternate Commissioner Kathryn Freschley, El Toro Water District, was initiated by the OC LAFCO on March 9 with notification letters emailed to each Special District. Nominations and
declarations for interested candidates for the special district seats are due by April
13, and ballots will be emailed to each special district presiding officer by May 4 and will be due back to OC LAFCO by June 8.
• The County deferred a scheduled virtual community meeting on the proposed
increase of the Prima Deshecha Landfill’s daily maximum trash intake from 4,000 tons to 8,000 tons. The California Environmental Quality Act process for this proposed expansion began in 2023 and the project is necessitated by the planned closure in several years of Olinda Alpha Landfill near Brea.
• As of the date of this report, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has issued nine Notices of Violation (NOVs) to Orange County Waste and Recycling’s Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine. Since the start of the year, SCAQMD inspectors have been responding to several hundred public complaints
of “rotten, sour, garbage-type odors” in the area. The inspectors confirmed the
odors with community members and traced them back to operations at the landfill and subsequently issued three initial NOVs in January and another six in February and early March for violations of the public nuisance rules. In addition, the Prima Deshecha Landfill has been issued two NOVs, and SCAQMD staff have visited the
Olinda Alpha Landfill several times but have not yet issued any NOVs regarding
that facility.
• The Board of Supervisors recently approved the official establishment of the South
Orange County Beach Coalition as a decision-making body designed to protect the
coastline between Newport Beach and San Clemente. A major component of the Coalition’s emphasis will be sand replenishment, with the Sand Compatibility and Opportunistic Use Program, or SCOUP, streamlining sand placement permits for all cities and jurisdictions with beaches from various agencies, including the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the
State Lands Commission.
3 | P a g e
• An audit report commissioned by the Board of Directors of CalOptima Health
found no evidence of impropriety related to actions taken by former County
Supervisor and Board Chair Andrew Do, who is currently serving a five-year sentence in federal prison for accepting bribes to direct more than $10 million in COVID-19 funding to a charity affiliated with his daughter.
A separate audit commissioned by the Board of Supervisors in 2025 found that
former Supervisor Do did steer contracts and payments to allies and campaign contributors well beyond the $10 million he was convicted of diverting. The audit, conducted by a Houston-based accounting firm, also identified approximately $800,000 in payments to a firm that may have double-billed the County for
COVID-19 testing and directed funds to campaign contributors involved in a Tet
Festival event sponsored by Do’s office.
• The operator of the Balboa Island Ferry reached a deal to receive more than $10
million from the CA Air Resources Board and SCAQMD to convert its three-ship fleet into zero emission technologies. Seymour Beek, whose father began operating the ferry in 1919, signed an agreement with the two agencies to replace each of the three existing diesel-powered ferries with electric battery-powered vessels that will
include a replica smokestack. It is possible that the first new ferry could be in
operation by the end of 2026; the existing ferries have been in operation since the mid-1950’s.
• The Newport Beach City Council recently authorized spending more than $700,000
to cover the cost of repairs to the city’s two piers ahead of the summer tourism season. Maintenance on the Newport Pier, which was built in 1939 and is registered as a California Historic Landmark, and the Balboa Pier, was built in 1906 as the sister project to the Balboa Pavilion.
As part of our scope of work, Whittingham Public Affairs Advisors has continued to monitor the various City Council agendas and highlighted issues and items of relevance to OC San. We also continue to monitor activities at the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Orange County Water District, and South Orange County Wastewater Authority.
It is a pleasure to work with you and to represent the Orange County Sanitation District. Sincerely,
Peter Whittingham
March 11, 2026
The Honorable Natasha Johnson
California State Assembly 1021 O Street, Suite 4520 Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 2381 (Johnson): Local Agency Public Construction Act: Municipal Water Districts: Sanitation Districts: Lowest Responsible Bidder Orange County Sanitation District – Notice of Support Dear Assembly Member Johnson:
On behalf of the Orange County Sanitation District, I am writing to express our support for Assembly Bill (AB) 2381 (Johnson), which amends the Local Agency Public Construction Act to update competitive bidding requirements for municipal water districts and sanitation districts. Specifically, the measure increases the
threshold for public works contracts that must be awarded to the lowest responsive
and responsible bidder from $35,000 to $220,000. Beginning January 1, 2028, the bill also requires the Controller to annually adjust that threshold based on the Engineering News-Record Construction Cost Index (20-city average) and to publish the adjusted amount on its internet website.
Under existing law, sanitation districts must competitively bid public works contracts at or above $35,000. That amount has not kept pace with inflation or the rising costs of materials, labor, and regulatory compliance. By raising the threshold and establishing an ongoing cost index adjustment, AB 2381 modernizes the statute to
better reflect current construction market conditions. This statutory update would provide greater flexibility to efficiently deliver critical infrastructure projects, including wastewater treatment facilities, recycled water systems, and essential maintenance work. Increasing the threshold will help reduce
administrative burdens and project delays associated with formal bidding on relatively small-scale projects, while maintaining transparency, fiscal accountability, and the requirement to award contracts to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder when the adjusted threshold is met.
Page Two
AB 2381 strikes an appropriate balance between accountability and operational efficiency.
By aligning the bidding threshold with contemporary construction costs and incorporating an objective inflationary adjustment mechanism, the bill promotes prudent stewardship of public resources and supports the timely delivery of essential public health infrastructure. For these reasons, the Orange County Sanitation District supports AB 2381.
If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Cabral, Director of Communications, at (714) 593-7581 or via email at JCabral@ocsan.gov.
Sincerely,
Ryan P. Gallagher Board Chairman
california legislature—2025–26 regular session
ASSEMBLY BILL No. 2381
Introduced by Assembly Member Johnson
February 20, 2026
An act to amend Sections 20642 and 20783 of the Public Contract
Code, relating to public contracts.
legislative counsel’s digest
AB 2381, as introduced, Johnson. Local Agency Public Construction
Act: municipal water districts: sanitation districts: lowest responsible
bidder.
Existing law, the Local Agency Public Construction Act, sets forth
the requirements for competitive bidding on various types of contracts
awarded by local agencies. Under existing law, a municipal water district
and a sanitation district, when letting a contract for $35,000 or more,
is required to let the contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
This bill would increase that threshold dollar amount to $220,000.
The bill would require the Controller, commencing January 1, 2028, to
adjust that amount annually to reflect the percentage change, as
specified, and publish the adjusted amount on its internet website.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
line 1 SECTION 1. Section 20642 of the Public Contract Code is
line 2 amended to read:
line 3 20642. (a) (1) When work is not to be done by the district
line 4 itself by force account, and the amount involved is thirty-five two
99
line 1 hundred twenty thousand dollars ($35,000), ($220,000) or more,
line 2 any contract for the doing of the work shall be let to the lowest
line 3 responsible bidder, after publication, in the manner prescribed by
line 4 the board, of notices inviting bids therefor. However,
line 5 (2) Commencing January 1, 2028, the Controller shall adjust
line 6 the amount specified in this subdivision annually to reflect the
line 7 percentage change in the Engineering News-Record Construction
line 8 Cost Index (20-city average) and publish the adjusted amount on
line 9 its internet website.
line 10 (b) However, the board may reject any and all proposals.
line 11 SEC. 2. Section 20783 of the Public Contract Code is amended
line 12 to read:
line 13 20783. (a) (1) When work is done by the district itself by
line 14 force account, the amount shall not exceed five thousand dollars
line 15 ($5,000). When
line 16 (2) (A) When the expenditure required for the work exceeds
line 17 thirty-five two hundred twenty thousand dollars ($35,000),
line 18 ($220,000) it shall be contracted for and let to the lowest
line 19 responsible bidder after notice. The notice inviting bids shall set
line 20 a date for the opening of bids. The
line 21 (B) Commencing January 1, 2028, the Controller shall adjust
line 22 the amount specified in this paragraph annually to reflect the
line 23 percentage change in the Engineering News-Record Construction
line 24 Cost Index (20-city average) and publish the adjusted amount on
line 25 its internet website.
line 26 (3) The first publication or posting of the notice shall be at least
line 27 10 days before the date of opening the bids. Notice
line 28 (4) Notice shall be published at least twice, not less than five
line 29 days apart, in a newspaper of general circulation, printed and
line 30 published in the district, or if there is none, it shall be posted in at
line 31 least three public places in the district that have been designated
line 32 by the district board as the places for posting this notice. The
line 33 (5) The notice shall distinctly state the work to be done.
line 34 In
line 35 (b) (1) In its discretion, the district board may reject any bids
line 36 presented and readvertise. If
line 37 (2) If two or more bids are the same and the lowest, the district
line 38 board may accept the one it chooses. If
line 39 (3) If no bids are received, the district board may have the work
line 40 done without further bid.
99
— 2 — AB 2381
line 1 If
line 2 (4) If all bids are rejected, the district board, on a resolution
line 3 adopted by a four-fifths vote, may declare that the work can be
line 4 performed more economically by day labor, or the materials or
line 5 supplies furnished at a lower price in the open market and may
line 6 have the work done in a manner stated in the resolution in order
line 7 to take advantage of this lower cost.
line 8 If
line 9 (c) If there is a present or anticipated great public calamity,
line 10 including an extraordinary fire, flood, storm, or other disaster the
line 11 district board may, by resolution adopted by a four-fifths vote
line 12 declaring that the public interest and necessity demand immediate
line 13 expenditure of public money to safeguard life, health, or property,
line 14 expend any sum required in the emergency without submitting the
line 15 expenditure to bid.
line 16 Cost
line 17 (d) Cost records of the work shall be kept in the manner
line 18 provided in Sections 4000 to 4007, inclusive, of the Government
line 19 Code.
line 20 This
line 21 (e) This section shall not apply to sewerage maintenance, repair
line 22 work, or to any uncompleted works under construction by district
line 23 forces prior to the enactment of this section, and shall not be
line 24 construed to exempt any work from Part 7 (commencing with
line 25 Section 1720) of Division 2 of the Labor Code.
O
99
AB 2381 — 3 —
March 11, 2026
The Honorable Christopher M. Ward
California State Assembly 1021 O Street, Suite 6350 Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: AB 2180 (Ward): Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act Orange County Sanitation District – Notice of Support Dear Assembly Member Ward,
On behalf of the Orange County Sanitation District, I am writing to express our
strong support for AB 2180, the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation Act.
As a public agency providing regional wastewater collection and treatment
services, we value clear statutory guidance that promotes transparency and
fairness in establishing property-related service charges.
AB 2180 clarifies how local governments may demonstrate compliance with
the constitutional requirement that fees not exceed the proportional cost of
service. The bill allows agencies to use any reasonable method to allocate
service costs among parcels, supported by existing or reasonably estimated
data. Importantly, it confirms that agencies are not required to calculate exact
parcel-by-parcel costs and may instead impose uniform or tiered fees for
customer classes defined by characteristics such as land use, parcel
improvements, or peak demand.
These clarifications are essential for sanitation districts that operate complex
regional wastewater systems. By recognizing reasonable cost allocation
methods and tiered rate structures, AB 2180 preserves constitutional
safeguards while giving agencies the flexibility to design equitable,
transparent, and financially sustainable rates that reflect the true cost of
service.
Page Two
For these reasons, the Orange County Sanitation District supports AB 2180 (Ward). If you
have any questions, please contact Jennifer Cabral, Director of Communications, at (714)
593-7581 or via email at JCabral@ocsan.gov.
Sincerely,
Ryan P. Gallagher
Board Chairman
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 11, 2026
california legislature—2025–26 regular session
ASSEMBLY BILL No. 2180
Introduced by Assembly Member Ward
February 19, 2026
An act to add Section 53751.5 to the Government Code, relating to
local government finance.
legislative counsel’s digest
AB 2180, as amended, Ward. Local government: Proposition 218
Omnibus Implementation Act: proportional cost of service.
The California Constitution specifies various requirements with
respect to the levying of assessments and property-related fees and
charges by a local agency. As part of those requirements, the California
Constitution mandates that such fees or charges that are extended,
imposed, or increased satisfy certain requirements, including, but not
limited to, that the amount of the fee or charge imposed upon any parcel
or person as an incident of property ownership not exceed the
proportional cost of the service attributable to the parcel.
Existing law, known as the Proposition 218 Omnibus Implementation
Act (act), prescribes specific procedures and parameters for local
jurisdictions to comply with these requirements and, among other things,
authorizes an agency providing water, wastewater, sewer, or refuse
collection services to adopt a schedule of fees or charges authorizing
automatic adjustments that pass through increases in wholesale charges
for water, sewage treatment, or wastewater treatment or adjustments
for inflation under certain circumstances.
This bill would authorize a local government to demonstrate the
proportional cost of the service attributable to the parcel by any method
98
that reasonably allocates the ascertainable cost of providing service to
all parcels, if substantiated as provided. The bill would, however,
provide that for water or sewer service fee or charge impositions, a local
government is not required to provide an exact measure of the cost of
the service at each parcel and may instead impose uniform or tiered
fees or charges rates to parcel or customer classes that are defined based
on common characteristics indicative of likely water or sewer use. The
bill would provide that the proportional cost of service within each tier
of water service may be substantiated by using any reasonable basis for
allocating costs attributed to the tier, as described. described, and would
provide a local government discretion to determine the costs allocated
to each tier as long as the rate for each tier does not exceed the
proportional cost of service reasonably allocated to parcels subject to
that tier.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
line 1 SECTION 1. Section 53751.5 is added to the Government
line 2 Code, to read:
line 3 53751.5. (a) For any fee or charge adopted under Section 6 of
line 4 Article XIII D of the California Constitution, “the proportional
line 5 cost of the service attributable to the parcel” may be demonstrated
line 6 by any method that reasonably allocates the ascertainable cost of
line 7 providing service to all parcels. That allocation shall be
line 8 substantiated by existing or reasonably estimated historic, existing,
line 9 estimated, or projected data that reasonably captures the cost of
line 10 the service to be provided.
line 11 (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), when imposing a fee or
line 12 charge for water or sewer service, an agency is not required to
line 13 provide an exact measure of the cost of the service at each parcel
line 14 and an agency may impose uniform or tiered fees or charges rates
line 15 to parcel or customer classes that are defined based on common
line 16 characteristics indicative of likely water or sewer use, including,
line 17 but not limited to, the nature and size of improvements to a parcel,
line 18 land use, the nature or number of plumbing fixtures, meter size,
line 19 or peak use characteristics.
line 20 (c) (1) When imposing a fee or charge tiered rate for water
line 21 service, an agency may substantiate the proportional cost of the
98
— 2 — AB 2180
line 1 service within each tier by using any reasonable basis for allocating
line 2 costs attributed to the tier, including, but not limited to, the
line 3 following:
line 4 (A) The cost of water from various sources.
line 5 (B) Facilities operation, maintenance, or construction costs.
line 6 (C) Contribution to systemwide peak demand projections.
line 7 (D) Costs that an agency incurs as a result of the use of water
line 8 at various tiers or to implement water conservation or demand
line 9 management measures, or incremental costs, as that term is used
line 10 in Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 370) of Division 1 of the
line 11 Water Code.
line 12 (2) An agency is not required to have a cost-based, or any other,
line 13 justification for establishing any tier breakpoint. For purposes of
line 14 this paragraph, “tier breakpoint” means the point where a
line 15 customer leaves one tier and enters another tier.
line 16 (2)
line 17 (3) An agency has discretion to determine the service costs
line 18 allocated to each tier. That allocation is consistent with subdivision
line 19 (b) of Section 6 of Article XIII D of the California Constitution if
line 20 tier, provided that the rate assigned to each tier reasonably reflects
line 21 the cost of providing service for does not exceed the proportional
line 22 cost of service reasonably allocated to parcels subject to that tier.
O
98
AB 2180 — 3 —
3/25/2026
1
OC San
Administration Committee
Local Legislative Report
Presented By: Peter Whittingham
Whittingham Public Affairs Advisors
April 8, 2026
Agenda
•Waste Infrastructure System
Enhancement (WISE) Agreement
•City Management Updates
•Emerging Issues
•2026 Regional Issues Forecast
2
1
2
3/25/2026
2
City Management Updates
•Cypress
•Anaheim
•Fullerton
•Newport Beach
•Aliso Viejo
3
OC Waste & Recycling WISE Agreements
•Adopted by Board of Supervisors
•Proposition 218 Hearings
•Rates
•July 1 Implementation
4
3
4
3/25/2026
3
Emerging Issues
5
Prominent OC Properties Being Converted to Housing
TBN Headquarters Regal Big Newport Westminster Mall
6
5
6
3/25/2026
4
County Audits Findings and Revenues
7
•CalOptima
•County Contracts
•Recovered Revenues
Orange County Landfill Issues
•Notices of
Violation
•Permitting
•Facility
Expansion
8
7
8
3/25/2026
5
Bye Bye Bunnies?
9
DC1
2026 Regional Issues Forecast
•County CEO
•Primary Elections
•Semiquincentennial
10
9
10
3/25/2026
6
Whittingham Public Affairs Advisors
11
Peter Whittingham
CEO
peter@whittinghampaa.com
11
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Headquarters
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2026-4854 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:5.
FROM:Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Wally Ritchie, Director of Finance
SUBJECT:
FY 2025-26 BUDGET AMENDMENT
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Approve a budget increase of $68,000,000 for FY 2025-26, for a total budget as follows:
FY 2025-26
Net Operating $260,365,399
Self-Insurance $ 6,745,565
Net Capital Improvement Program $317,959,620
Debt/COP Service $ 60,431,104
Intra-District Joint Equity Purchase/Sale (1) $ 3,500,000
Total $649,001,688
(1)Cash to/from Revenue Area 14 (RA14)in exchange for capital assets to/from Consolidated
Revenue Area 15 (RA15)
BACKGROUND
In June 2025,the Board of Directors approved the Operating,Capital,Debt Service,and Self-
Insurance Budgets for FY 2025-26.An accelerated execution rate for the Capital Improvement
Program (CIP)and planned repairs and maintenance activities have driven the need to request a FY
2025-26 budget increase.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Ensure the public’s money is wisely spent
·Produce appropriate financial reporting -annual financial report &audit letter and Ops &CIP
budgets every two years, with annual update
PROBLEM
The budget authority for FY2025-26 is not adequate to cover the estimated expenses for the fiscal
year.
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 4/1/2026Page 1 of 3
powered by Legistar™
File #:2026-4854 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:5.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Approve the proposed budget increase for FY 2025-26.
TIMING CONCERNS
The budget increase needs to be approved before expenditures can exceed the previously approved
amount.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
OC San will not have a budget approved at sufficient levels to accommodate the expenses incurred
in FY 2025-26.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
June 2025 -Approved the proposed Operating,Capital,Debt Service,and Self-Insurance Budgets
for FY 2025-26 as follows:
FY 2025-26
Net Operating $ 246,365,399
Self-Insurance $ 6,745,565
Net Capital Improvement Program $ 254,276,633
Debt/COP Service $ 60,431,104
Intra-District Joint Equity Purchase/Sale (1) $ 3,500,000
Other Requirements $ 10,000,000
Total $ 581,318,701
(1)Cash to/from Revenue Area 14 (RA14)in exchange for capital assets to/from Consolidated
Revenue Area 15 (RA15)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The table below shows the approved budget and estimated actuals for FY 2025-26 (in millions).
Approved
Budget
Estimated
Actuals
Variance Performance
Percentage
Capital $254 $318 $64 125%
Operating $246 $260 $14 106%
Debt Service $60 $60 $ 0 100%
Other $21 $11 $(-10)52%
Total $581 $649 $68
Due to receiving higher than budgeted revenues for FY 2025-26 a portion of the increase of the
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 4/1/2026Page 2 of 3
powered by Legistar™
File #:2026-4854 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:5.
Due to receiving higher than budgeted revenues for FY 2025-26 a portion of the increase of the
expenditure budget is offset, detailed in the table below (in millions).
Adopted
Budget
Estimated
Actuals
Variance
Revenues $588 $617 $29
Expenditures $581 $649 $68
Net Revenues $7 $(32)$(39)
The requested increase does not impact the long term cashflow due to the capital increase request in
FY 2025-26 being predominantly driven by accelerated project spending,not project budget
increases.These spending increases are offset by a reduction in spending for the relevant projects
in future years.
CEQA
N/A
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Increase in budget will not affect long term cash flow.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·Presentation
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 4/1/2026Page 3 of 3
powered by Legistar™
3/27/2026
1
FY 2025-26 Budget Amendment
Presented by Ruth Zintzun, Finance Manager
Administration Committee
April 8, 2026
$254
$318
$246
$260
$60
$60
$21
$11
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
Adopted Requested
Mil
l
i
o
n
s
Other
Debt Service
Operating
Capital
Budget Increase Request
2
$581 Million $649 Million
1
2
3/27/2026
2
Capital Improvement Program
3
$0
$5
$10
$15
$20
$25
$30
5-67 P2-128A J-137 3-64C
Mil
l
i
o
n
s
Original Cash Flow (FY 25-26)
Adjusted Cash Flow (FY 25-26)
- $21 million
- $75 million
$200
$220
$240
$260
$280
$300
$320
Capital Operating
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
Adopted
Operating Expenses
4
$11.9
$2.4
$200
$220
$240
$260
$280
$300
$320
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
Estimated
Maintenance and
repairs
3
4
3/27/2026
3
$500
$520
$540
$560
$580
$600
$620
$640
$660
Revenues Expenses
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
Adopted
Revenues
5
$500
$520
$540
$560
$580
$600
$620
$640
$660
Revenues Expenses
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
Estimated
No impact long long-term cash flow
Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Approve a budget increase of $68,000,000 for FY 2025-26, for a total budget as follows:
Recommendation
6
(1) Cash to/from Revenue Area 14 (RA14) in exchange for capital assets to/from Consolidated Revenue Area 15 (RA15)
FY 2025-26
$260,365,399 Net Operating
$6,745,565 Self-Insurance
$317,959,620 Net Capital Improvement Program
$60,431,104 Debt/COP Service
$3,500,000 Intra-District Joint Equity Purchase/Sale (1)
$649,001,688 Total
5
6
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Headquarters
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2026-4858 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:6.
FROM:Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Wally Ritchie, Director of Finance
SUBJECT:
FY 2026-27 AND 2027-28 OPERATING BUDGET EXPENDITURES
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Information Item.
BACKGROUND
Discussion of the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 Budget
development process was initiated at the January 28, 2026, Board of Directors meeting. During this
process, staff provide presentations to the Administration and Operations Committees, focusing on
various areas of the budget. Staff will make a brief presentation on the proposed expenditure details
of the Operating Budget at the Committee meetings.
The Operating and Capital Budgets, effective July 1 of this year, will be presented for adoption at the
June 24, 2026 Board meeting.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Produce appropriate financial reporting - annual financial report & audit letter and Ops & CIP
budgets every two years, with annual update
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·FY 2026-27 and 2027-28 Operating Budget Expense Additional Information
·FY 2026-27 and 2027-28 Budget Development - Expense Summary
·Presentation
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/27/2026Page 1 of 1
powered by Legistar™
Description 2025-26
Budget
2025-26
Projected
2026-27
Adopted
2027-28
Proposed
Salaries, Wages & Benefits $ 130.9 $ 130.2 $ 141.9 $ 150.7
Repairs & Maintenance 37.6 41.8 48.4 49.3
Operating Materials & Supplies 32.4 32.2 32.8 35.2
Contractual Services 23.8 23.6 25.3 26.6
Utilities 17.0 16.4 15.6 16.6
Professional Services 11.3 11.0 12.1 11.4
Other 15.7 27.5 29.3 28.0
Cost Allocation (22.4) (22.4) (26.7) (28.0)
Changes: Variations are based on consumption of utilities.
This includes legal services, engineering services, advocacy efforts, audit and accounting, software program
consultants, and other.
Changes: No significant changes are anticipated.
Changes: Proposed budget years are higher than the current fiscal year due to more internal costs being attributed to
the CIP program.
FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 OPERATING BUDGET EXPENSE – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(In Millions)
This includes salaries and wages, leave payoffs, overtime, OCERS, group insurance, and other benefits for 669.5 full-
time equivalent (FTE) positions in the current budget and proposed 699.5 FTE in FY 2026-27 and 718.5 FTE if FY 2027-
28
Changes: The increase is attributable to step advancements and planned salary increases per bargaining agreements.
This includes materials, services, and service agreements.
Changes: The increase in projected year end for FY 2025-26 is due to increased need for repairs at Reclamation Plants
No. 1. and No. 2 to sensure operational reliability. The proposed increase for FY 2026-27 is in anticipation of repairs
needed to maintain operational efficiencies while long term planning for future construction.
This includes chemical coagulants (anionic polymer, cationic polymer, ferric chloride), odor control (sodium hydroxide,
muriatic acid, magnesium hydroxide, ferrous chloride, calcium nitrate, bleach), disinfection, tools and safety equipment,
laboratory chemicals and supplies, gas, diesel, oil, and other.
Changes: No significant changes are anticipated.
This includes solids removal, other residual solids and waste, groundskeeping, janitorial, security, county service fee,
oxygen plant operations, temporary services, and outside lab services.
This includes property & general liability insurance, regulatory operating fees, feasibility studies, other operating, general
manager contingency, prior year appropriation, other non-operating, small computer items, memberships, supplies,
postage & publications, other administrative expenses, environmental monitoring, air quality monitoring, other research,
training, meetings, in-house publishing, other printing and publishing.
Changes: The increase in projected year end for FY 2025-26 is due to transferring feasibility studies from the capital
budget to the operating budget, per guidance from the Government Accounting Standards Board. This will be budgeted
here for future years.
Changes: No significant changes are anticipated.
This includes power, water, natural gas, and telephone.
FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 OPERATING BUDGET EXPENSE – ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
1
SALARIES, WAGES & BENEFITS
Salaries & Wages
Salaries for full-time equivalent (FTE) positions with a vacancy factor of 5 percent, based
on trend information.
Leave Payoffs
Leave Payoffs for retirements.
Overtime
Overtime is primarily for the reclamation plants that are in operation 24/7 (vacation, sick,
shift overlap), emergencies, unscheduled maintenance, backlog, and off-shift
construction support.
Orange County Emp. Ret. System
OC San employees are members of the Orange County Employees’ Retirement System
(OCERS).
Group Insurance
Includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Medicare, and Disability.
Benefits, Other
Includes Workers’ Compensation, Tuition Reimbursement, Development Pay, and
Uniform Rental. Workers’ Compensation is used to maintain the level of accumulated
reserves within the Workers’ Compensation self-insurance funds. The Development
Pay Program is intended to promote employee efforts that increase job knowledge,
skills, and abilities.
REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE
Materials & Services
Material and services support the maintenance of the collection system and the
treatment plants. Materials and services for the collections system include street
overlays/manhole raising, manhole cover purchases, surveying services, and easement
improvements and other materials and services. This also includes basic scheduled,
predictive, and preventive maintenance and emergency maintenance.
Service Agreements
Service contracts are mostly either computer-related or O&M maintenance-related.
Major contracts for Information Technology include IBM Software Maintenance,
Microsoft Enterprise License Agreements, Cisco Smart Net, Maximo support, disaster
recovery hardware and software support, Oracle support, and various smaller service
agreements. Contractor Support Services include crane certification, engine monitoring
systems, door and gate maintenance, scale certification, tree trimming, pest control, fire
extinguisher and fire sprinkler certification, Uninterruptible Power Supply electrical
maintenance, scaffolding, and various other plant maintenance and service
maintenance agreements covering various equipment located throughout OC San.
FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 OPERATING BUDGET EXPENSE – ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
2
Additional service maintenance agreements covering various equipment items are
budgeted throughout OC San.
OPERATING MATERIALS & SUPPLIES
Chemical Coagulants
Anionic Polymer – Anionic polymer is added to the primary clarifiers in
combination with ferric chloride to enhance primary clarifier performance.
Cationic Polymer – Cationic polymer is added to digested sludge prior to
dewatering to improve the sludge and water separation process. Cationic polymer
is also added to the waste activated sludge dissolved air flotation thickeners
(DAFTs) to improve solids coagulation.
Ferric Chloride – Ferric chloride is an iron salt which is used to increase the solids
removal efficiencies in the primary treatment process and to control digester
hydrogen sulfide. As the amount of ferric chloride is optimized in primary
treatment, additional amounts of ferric chloride are added to the digesters to
control hydrogen sulfide.
Odor Control
Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) – Caustic soda (25%) is used in the foul air
scrubbers and in OC San’s main trunk lines (50%) tributary to the treatment plants.
Muriatic Acid – Muriatic Acid (Hydrochloric Acid) is used to backwash the media
in the foul air scrubbers, associated piping, and pumps. This cleans deposits
caused by hard water, sulfides from the reaction with the foul air, and caustic soda
used in the scrubbing process. Muriatic Acid is also used as a method for cleaning
polymer tanks.
Magnesium Hydroxide, Trunklines – Magnesium hydroxide reduces the
formation of hydrogen sulfide in the collection system, which causes odor and
corrosion. Contract services include supply, tanks and delivery equipment,
operational monitoring, sampling, reporting, and on-going maintenance services
for odor control chemical dosing systems within the wastewater collection and
conveyance system.
Ferrous Chloride, Trunklines – Ferrous Chloride is used in the trunks to reduce
hydrogen sulfide generation. This contract provides supply, tanks and delivery
equipment, operational monitoring, sampling, reporting, and on-going maintenance
services for odor control chemical dosing systems within the wastewater collection
and conveyance system.
Calcium Nitrate, Trunklines – Calcium nitrate is a biological approach to controlling
odors in wastewater. It provides the naturally occurring bacteria with an alternate
FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 OPERATING BUDGET EXPENSE – ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
3
source of oxygen which, when metabolized, produces nitrogen gas as a byproduct
rather than the sulfides produced by the naturally occurring sources of oxygen. This
contract provides supply, tanks and delivery equipment, operational monitoring,
sampling, reporting, and on-going maintenance services for odor control chemical
dosing systems within the wastewater collection and conveyance system.
Bleach, Treatment Plant Odor Control – Bleach is used in treatment plant odor
control scrubbers and has replaced more expensive chemicals.
Disinfection
Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach): The treatment plant bleach usage is for disinfection of
plant water and the control of filamentous organisms in activated sludge in the
secondary treatment process.
Tools and Safety Equipment / Tools
Various personal protective equipment items required for job safety.
Laboratory Chemicals and Supplies
Environmental Laboratory purchases of glassware, filtration supplies, solvents used for
organic extractions, acids and bases used in metals digestion and glassware cleaning,
reagents, a variety of standards used in quality assurance of the tests, specialty gases,
microbiology supplies and growth media, chromatography columns, test organisms for
bioassay, toxicity, and various other laboratory supplies.
Gas, Diesel, and Oil
Gasoline, compressed natural gas, diesel, and oil are used in the operation of mobile
equipment, within generators and other operating equipment.
Other
Other smaller operating expenses such as janitorial supplies, miscellaneous operating
supplies, and property tax fees.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES
Solids Removal
The biosolids unit cost is mainly driven by the nature of the energy intensive thermal
conversion processes (Drying + Pyrolysis).
Other Residual Solids and Waste
The other residual solids and waste category includes disposal costs for grit and
screening waste, digester cleaning waste, and hazardous materials. The Grit and
Screening budget includes supplying bins to collect then haul and dispose of grit,
screenings, and drying bed material to a landfill. The grit is generated from the grit
chambers, and the screenings is the material collected off the bar screens. Drying bed
material is typically made up of the material cleaned out of pipes in the collection system
by OC San crews and other city crews in OC San’s service area.
FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 OPERATING BUDGET EXPENSE – ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
4
Groundskeeping/Janitorial/Security
Security and janitorial services are to support occupied OC San properties.
Groundskeeping services are used at all OC San facilities including pump stations.
County Service Fee
The County Service Fee is the fee charged by the County of Orange for the inclusion of
OC San’s sanitation fees on the County of Orange Property Tax Bill and for the collection
of these fees by the County on behalf of OC San.
Oxygen Plant Operations
OC San’s Oxygen Plant has been decommissioned and currently, the activated sludge
plant operates solely with purchased oxygen.
Temporary Services
Temporary Services for unexpected vacancies needing immediate support.
Outside Lab Services
OC San contracts out certain laboratory services that are not cost-efficient to perform
in-house. Examples include air quality analyses, oil analyses for transformers and
internal combustion engines, contaminants of potential concern, and hi-resolution mass
spectroscopy. As approximately half of OC San biosolids are reused in Arizona;
contracted testing for those biosolids must meet the State of Arizona requirement for
analyses to be performed in an Arizona certified laboratory.
UTILITIES
Power
Consumption of electrical energy to operate the functions of OC San.
Water
Potable water is supplied by the City of Fountain Valley for Plant No. 1 and the City of
Huntington Beach for Plant No. 2. Approximately 5% of the potable water at Plant No. 1
is used for domestic uses and less than 1% is used for irrigation. Most of the irrigation at
both plants uses reclaimed water. Less than 1% of the potable water used at Plant No. 2
is for domestic uses due to the relatively small number of employees at Plant No. 2.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is used for building heating, supplemental process heating, and Central
Generation.
Telephone
Over 600 landlines and mobile phones for management and field staff, as deemed
appropriate.
FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 OPERATING BUDGET EXPENSE – ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
5
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Legal Services
Legal services are services primarily provided by General Counsel for general legal
support, along with other specialized legal services from other firms.
Engineering Services
These services augment technical support for critical projects. Requested engineering
services include support for corrosion assessment; coatings and cathodic protection;
engineering support staffing for civil, mechanical, and instrumentation programs; and
support to maintenance projects.
Advocacy Efforts
These are consultant services for promoting OC San’s interests in Sacramento and
Washington D.C concerning legislation and funding.
Audit and Accounting
These services represent the cost for OC San’s independent annual financial audit and
contracted internal auditing services.
Software Program Consultant
These support costs are required to supplement programming staff as new software
versions and new programs are implemented and revised; they are also in support of
the SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system for process monitoring
and controlling.
Other
Professional services also include labor and industrial hygiene services. Collectively
reported within the line item, “Other” are various services including succession planning,
pre-employment testing, actuarial services, performance management consultant, local
sewer service fee rate study, specialized onsite training, strategic outsourcing,
development of lock-out – tag-out procedures, stratus environmental audits and studies,
groundwater extraction, Orange County Health Care Agency inspections, and grant
applications, and an analysis of the business practices of the of maintenance support
services.
OTHER
Property & General Liability Insurance
OC San’s has the following insurance coverages: outside excess general liability
property, flood, and earthquake.
Regulatory Operating Fees
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit and to the South
Coast Air Quality Management District for permit fees.
FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 OPERATING BUDGET EXPENSE – ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
6
Other Operating
Other material, supplies, feasibility studies and services.
General Manager Contingency
These funds are centrally budgeted and expended through the direct discretion and
approval of the General Manager to support unanticipated OC San needs or requests
of the Board.
Prior year Appropriation
Since the operating budget lapses at the end of each fiscal year, funds are needed to
be set aside for contacts, purchases, commitments, and other legal obligations that have
been incurred prior to June 30 in the prior year, but goods or services have not been
delivered until after June 30 in the new budget year.
Other Non-Operating
Other non-operating expenses and obsolete inventory.
Small Computer Items
New Computers/Notebooks/Tablets, printers, monitors, networking equipment,
computer peripherals, digital equipment, PDAs, digital cameras, etc.
Memberships
OC San-wide participation in groups such as the National Association of Clean Water,
the National Water Research Institute, the Water Environment Research Foundation,
the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, the Southern California Alliance of
Publicly Owned Treatment Works, the Association of California Water Agencies, and
the Center for Demographic Research, along with individual staff memberships in
professional associations.
Supplies, Postage & Publications
Office supplies include such items as envelopes, letterhead, notebooks, calendars, etc.
Other Administrative Expenses
Other smaller administrative expenses.
Environmental Monitoring
OC San’s NPDES permit-required ocean monitoring program.
Air Quality Monitoring
Periodic monitoring and analysis of air emissions requires testing from various sources
including the central generation facilities, validation of emissions from continuous
monitoring equipment, and source testing after CIP installation/modification (i.e., P1
trickling filters, P1 primary basin install and modifications, etc.). Periodically, there is a
requirement to test the waste gas flares.
Other Research
OC San contributes annually to research organizations such as the Southern California
Coastal Water Research Project.
7
FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 OPERATING BUDGET EXPENSE – ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Training
Ongoing technical and safety training and materials for staff, required training for
computerized plant monitoring, and control systems and training to allow for a more
adaptive and flexible work force.
Meetings
General meetings for operating.
In-House Publishing
Most OC San printing activities are completed in-house. These activities
including printing of OC San maps, brochures, budget materials, etc.
Other Printing and Publishing
Includes outside printing and publishing expenses and notices and ads.
COST ALLOCATION
This represents direct and indirect labor, benefits, materials, and services charged to
the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) where the related work was performed.
Description 2025-26
Budget
2025-26
Projected
2026-27
Proposed % Change 2027-28
Proposed % Change
Salaries, Wages & Benefits $ 130.9 $ 130.2 $ 141.9 9.0% $ 150.7 6.2%
Repairs & Maintenance 37.6 41.8 48.4 15.8% 49.3 1.9%
Operating Materials & Supplies 32.4 32.2 32.8 1.9% 35.2 7.3%
Contractual Services 23.8 23.6 25.3 7.2% 26.6 5.1%
Utilities 17.0 16.4 15.6 -4.9% 16.6 6.4%
Professional Services 11.3 11.0 12.1 10.0% 11.4 -5.8%
Other 15.7 27.5 29.3 6.7% 28.0 -4.4%
Total Non-Salary 137.8 152.5 163.5 18.7% 167.1 2.2%
Total Before Allocation 268.7 282.7 305.4 13.7% 317.8 4.1%
Cost Allocation (22.4) (22.4) (26.7) 19.2% (28.0) 4.9%
Net Operating Requirements $ 246.3 $ 260.3 $ 278.7 13.2% $ 289.8 4.0%
Fiscal Years 2026-27 and 2027-28 Budget Development - Expense Summary
(In Millions)
3/25/2026
1
FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28
Operating Budget Expenditures
Presented by:
Ruth Zintzun, Finance Manager
Administration Committee
April 8, 2026
All Budget Expenses (millions)
2
Operating
$246.4
42%
Capital
$254.344%
Debt$60.4
10%
Other
$20.2
4%
FY 2025-26
Total Expenses - $581.3
1
2
3/25/2026
2
Expenses Overview
3
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
Budget
FY 25-26
Estimated
FY 25-26
Proposed
FY 26-27
Proposed
FY 27-28
Mil
l
i
o
n
s
Other
Professional Services
Utilities
Contractual Services
Operating Materials
and Supplies
Repairs &
Maintenance
Salaries, Wages &Benefits
Salaries, Wages & Benefits
4
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
BudgetFY 25-26 EstimatedFY 25-26 ProposedFY 26-27 ProposedFY 27-28
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
Components:
•Salaries
•Retirement
•Group Insurance
•Other
3
4
3/25/2026
3
Repairs and Maintenance
5
$0
$5
$10
$15
$20
$25
$30
$35
$40
$45
$50
Budget
FY 25-26
Estimated
FY 25-26
Proposed
FY 26-27
Proposed
FY 27-28
Mil
l
i
o
n
s
Components:
•Materials and Services
•Service Agreements
Operating Materials and Supplies
6
$0
$5
$10
$15
$20
$25
$30
$35
$40
BudgetFY 25-26 EstimatedFY 25-26 ProposedFY 26-27 ProposedFY 27-28
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
Components:
•Chemical Coagulants
•Odor Control
•Tools & Safety Equipment
•Gas, Diesel & Oil
5
6
3/25/2026
4
Contractual Services
7
$0
$5
$10
$15
$20
$25
$30
Budget
FY 25-26
Estimated
FY 25-26
Proposed
FY 26-27
Proposed
FY 27-28
Mil
l
i
o
n
s
Components:
•Solids Removal
•Grounds, Janitorial, Security
•County Service Fee
•Temporary Service
•Outside Lab Services
•Contracted Services, Other
Utilities
8
$0
$2
$4
$6
$8
$10
$12
$14
$16
$18
BudgetFY 25-26 EstimatedFY 25-26 ProposedFY 26-27 ProposedFY 27-28
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
Components:
•Power
•Water
•Natural Gas
•Telephone
7
8
3/25/2026
5
Professional Services
9
$0
$2
$4
$6
$8
$10
$12
$14
Budget
FY 25-26
Estimated
FY 25-26
Proposed
FY 26-27
Proposed
FY 27-28
Mil
l
i
o
n
s
Components:
•Legal Services
•Engineering Services
•Advocacy Efforts
•Audit and Accounting
•Software Program Consultant
Other
10
$0
$5
$10
$15
$20
$25
$30
BudgetFY 25-26 EstimatedFY 25-26 ProposedFY 26-27 ProposedFY 27-28
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
Components:
•Property & General Liability
•Regulatory Operating Fees
•Feasibility Studies
•General Manager Contingency
•Prior year Appropriations
•Administrative
•Research & Monitoring
9
10
3/25/2026
6
Cost Allocation
11-$30
-$25
-$20
-$15
-$10
-$5
$0
Budget
FY 25-26
Estimated
FY 25-26
Proposed
FY 26-27
Proposed
FY 27-28
Mi
l
l
i
o
n
s
Summary
12
Proposed
FY 27-28
Proposed
FY 26-27
Estimated
FY 25-26
Budget
FY 25-26
$150.7$141.9$130.2$130.9Salaries, Wages and Benefits
167.1163.5152.5137.8Materials, Supplies and Services
(28.0)(26.7)(22.4)(22.4)Cost Allocation
$289.8 $278.7$260.3$246.3Net Operating Expenses
$11.1$18.4$14.0Change from Adopted Budget
4.0%13.2%5.7%
Operating Expenses (Millions)
11
12
3/25/2026
7
Key Meeting Dates
13
January February March April May June
Revenues and
Reserves
Operations
Administration
Expenditures
Operations
Administration
CIP
Operations
Administration
Proposed 2-Year Budget
Operations
AdministrationBoard
Insurance
Administration
Budget Assumptions and Calendar
Board
14
Information item.
Recommendation
13
14
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Headquarters
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2026-4859 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:7.
FROM:Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Lan C. Wiborg, Director of Environmental Services
SUBJECT:
PRETREATMENT PROGRAM UPDATE
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Information Item.
BACKGROUND
OC San supports regulatory compliance among its sewer users through a comprehensive
pretreatment and source control program (“Program”)that includes permitting,inspecting,monitoring,
reporting,and enforcement.Since July 1,2025,staff have collaborated with legal counsel to update
the 1995 Enforcement Response Plan (ERP)to ensure OC San’s compliance determination and
enforcement processes are legally sound and defensible.Staff will provide an overview of the
Program and progress report on the ERP update.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Protect public safety
·Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators, stakeholders, and
neighboring communities
·Make it easy for people to understand OC San’s roles and value to the community
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·Presentation
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/27/2026Page 1 of 1
powered by Legistar™
3/24/2026
1
Pretreatment Program Update
Presented by:
Lan C. Wiborg
Director of Environmental Services
Administration Committee
April 8, 2026
Outline
2
Overview of major updates in OC San’s pretreatment programOverview of major updates in OC San’s pretreatment programProvide
Regulatory drivers for updatesRegulatory drivers for updatesHighlight
Future items requiring Board review and approvalFuture items requiring Board review and approvalPreview
1
2
3/24/2026
2
Background
3
Program Overview
4
Origin
• 40 CFR Part 403
• A component of NPDES Program
• Federally mandated for POTWs >5 MGD
Purpose
• Enable “indirect
discharge” from
industries
• Prevent contaminant pass-throughs and interferences
3
4
3/24/2026
3
Industrial Discharge to OC San
5
Diverse and large
number of industries in
service area
Approximately 12
percent of total flow
Over 500 facilities
currently permitted
On-site treatment
required before
discharge
Program Components
6
OC San
Pretreatment
Program
Significant
Industrial
User
Federal
Categorical
Industries
Fats, Oil, and
Grease
Other
(e.g., Federal Dental
Amalgam Rule, radiator shops, dry cleaners, etc.)
5
6
3/24/2026
4
Protecting Collection System
7
Protecting Treatment System
8
Microorganisms are
Key to Secondary Treatment …and to Biosolids
7
8
3/24/2026
5
History of
Success
9
Heavy Metals (mass)
lb/d MGD
Program functions as extension of U.S. EPA authority
Periodic EPA inspections
Audit feedback drives comprehensive permitting
Regulatory Drivers for Updates
10
9
10
3/24/2026
6
Program
Improvements
Underway
11
Update
Enforcement
Response Plan
Modernize
industrial user
identification
procedure
Implement new
facility survey and
permitting
Align staffing with
program growth
Enforcement Response Plan Update
12
Compliance-first philosophy
Align with federal and state enforcement policies
Fair, firm, consistent, and transparent process
Reasonable, sustainable, and defensible enforcement
Updated ERP will require Board approval
11
12
3/24/2026
7
Modernizing Industrial User Identification
13
Current
process
inefficient and incomplete
Search using GIS-based business analytic tools
>300 potential
additional
categorical industries found
Thousands
more potential users detected
Expand Industrial Facility Surveys
14
Survey newly identified facilities Determine permit requirements Ensure compliance with federal mandates Ensure equity among dischargers and
compliance with Prop. 218
13
14
3/24/2026
8
Staffing and Program Growth
15
Increased inspections, permitting, monitoring, sample analysis
Additional permit engineers, inspectors, laboratory scientists
Cost-neutral staffing level (cost borne by permit/user fees)
Program evolving to
meet regulatory
requirements
Improvements: ERP,
analytics, surveys
Plan ensures compliance
and system protection
Future Board items
- Staffing
- ERP
Summary
15
16
3/24/2026
9
Informational Item.
Recommendation
17
17
ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Headquarters
18480 Bandilier Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2026-4860 Agenda Date:4/8/2026 Agenda Item No:8.
FROM:Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Lorenzo Tyner, Assistant General Manager
SUBJECT:
UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT EASEMENT
MANAGEMENT POLICY
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Information Item.
BACKGROUND
At a previous Committee Meeting,it was requested that staff provide a status report on the
development of the Orange County Sanitation District Easement Management Policy.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Protect OC San assets
·Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators, stakeholders, and
neighboring communities
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·Presentation
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 3/27/2026Page 1 of 1
powered by Legistar™
4/1/2026
1
OC San Easement Policy
Presented by:
Lorenzo Tyner
Assistant General Manager
Administration Committee
April 8, 2026
Types of Easements
2
Different Types of Easements in California Real Estate:
•Expressed – use another’s property for a specific purpose, such as access or
utilities (most common)
•Prescriptive – acquired through open use of an owner’s land which is adverse
to the owner’s rights, for a continuous and uninterrupted period
•Implied – is a non-recorded, legal right to use another person’s property
•By Necessity – created by law because the easement is indispensable to the
reasonable use of nearby property – split parcel
In California, public easements are usually express easements documented in
the property deed prior to ownership. The type of easement affects how it can
be terminated and the uses permitted under it.
1
2
4/1/2026
2
Typical Easement Language
3
Photos
4
*The arrow indicates the
path of easement
3
4
4/1/2026
3
Phase 1:
As of February 2026, 916 land records were identified. As of today, that
number has increased by 50 to 966; of these, 781 have been evaluated,
and 185 remain in various stages of evaluation. Tentative completion
of Phase 1 is scheduled for June 2026.
Initial Easement Assessment
5
Phase 2:
As part of Phase 1 efforts, we completed a survey analysis for project
7-69 in the cities of Orange and Tustin in December 2025. Additionally,
we began a survey of residential properties along our ConcordEasement in Costa Mesa in March 2026.
Easement Evaluation – Surveys
6
5
6
4/1/2026
4
Sample Map by City
7
Sample map of easement
locations by city
OC San is in the process of developing more comprehensive policies and
procedures to address easement encroachments and relinquishments.
The policies will:
•Outline steps to identify and manage easement encroachments
•Address situations where private or public structures, landscaping, or activities interfere with designated easement areas
Policy and Procedures
8
7
8
4/1/2026
5
Ensure that all stakeholders are informed and their rights are respected.
The goal is to create a transparent framework that:
•Facilitates effective communication regarding easement-related concerns.
•Safeguards the interests of the community.
•Protects the integrity of public infrastructure.
Policy and Procedures
9
Informational Item.
Recommendation
10
9
10
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
COMMON ACRONYMS
ACWA Association of California
Water Agencies LOS Level Of Service RFP Request For Proposal
APWA American Public Works
Association MGD Million Gallons Per Day RWQCB Regional Water Quality
Control Board
AQMD Air Quality Management
District MOU Memorandum of
Understanding SARFPA Santa Ana River Flood
Protection Agency
ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers NACWA National Association of Clean Water Agencies SARI Santa Ana River Interceptor
BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand NEPA National Environmental Policy
Act SARWQCB Santa Ana Regional Water
Quality Control Board
CARB California Air Resources
Board NGOs Non-Governmental
Organizations SAWPA Santa Ana Watershed
Project Authority
CASA California Association of
Sanitation Agencies NPDES National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System SCADA Supervisory Control And
Data Acquisition
CCTV Closed Circuit Television NWRI National Water Research
Institute SCAP
Southern California
Alliance of Publicly Owned
CEQA California Environmental
Quality Act O & M Operations & Maintenance SCAQMD South Coast Air Quality
Management District
CIP Capital Improvement
Program OCCOG Orange County Council of
Governments SOCWA South Orange County
Wastewater Authority
CRWQCB California Regional Water
Quality Control Board OCHCA Orange County Health Care
Agency SRF Clean Water State
Revolving Fund
CWA Clean Water Act OCSD Orange County Sanitation District SSMP Sewer System Management Plan
CWEA California Water Environment Association OCWD Orange County Water District SSO Sanitary Sewer Overflow
EIR Environmental Impact Report OOBS Ocean Outfall Booster Station SWRCB State Water Resources
Control Board
EMT Executive Management Team OSHA Occupational Safety and
Health Administration TDS Total Dissolved Solids
EPA US Environmental Protection Agency PCSA
Professional
Consultant/Construction TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
FOG Fats, Oils, and Grease PDSA Professional Design Services
Agreement TSS Total Suspended Solids
gpd gallons per day PFAS
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl
Substances WDR Waste Discharge
Requirements
GWRS Groundwater Replenishment
System PFOA Perfluorooctanoic Acid WEF Water Environment
Federation
ICS Incident Command System PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid WERF Water Environment & Reuse Foundation
IERP Integrated Emergency
Response Plan POTW Publicly Owned Treatment
Works WIFIA Water Infrastructure
Finance and Innovation Act
JPA Joint Powers Authority ppm parts per million WIIN Water Infrastructure Improvements for the
LAFCO Local Agency Formation
Commission PSA Professional Services
Agreement WRDA Water Resources
Development Act
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS – A secondary biological wastewater treatment process where bacteria reproduce at a high rate with the introduction of excess air or oxygen and consume dissolved nutrients in the wastewater.
BENTHOS – The community of organisms, such as sea stars, worms, and shrimp, which live on, in, or near the seabed, also known as the benthic zone.
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD) – The amount of oxygen used when organic matter undergoes decomposition by microorganisms. Testing for BOD is done to assess the amount of organic matter in water.
BIOGAS – A gas that is produced by the action of anaerobic bacteria on organic waste matter in a digester tank that can be used
as a fuel.
BIOSOLIDS – Biosolids are nutrient rich organic and highly treated solid materials produced by the wastewater treatment process. This high-quality product can be recycled as a soil amendment on farmland or further processed as an earth-like product for
commercial and home gardens to improve and maintain fertile soil and stimulate plant growth.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) – Projects for repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of assets. Also includes treatment improvements, additional capacity, and projects for the support facilities.
COLIFORM BACTERIA – A group of bacteria found in the intestines of humans and other animals, but also occasionally found elsewhere, used as indicators of sewage pollution. E. coli are the most common bacteria in wastewater.
COLLECTIONS SYSTEM – In wastewater, it is the system of typically underground pipes that receive and convey sanitary wastewater or storm water.
CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION (COP) – A type of financing where an investor purchases a share of the lease revenues of a program rather than the bond being secured by those revenues.
CONTAMINANTS OF POTENTIAL CONCERN (CPC) – Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants.
DILUTION TO THRESHOLD (D/T) – The dilution at which the majority of people detect the odor becomes the D/T for that air sample.
GREENHOUSE GASES (GHG) – In the order of relative abundance water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone gases that are considered the cause of global warming (“greenhouse effect”).
GROUNDWATER REPLENISHMENT SYSTEM (GWRS) – A joint water reclamation project that proactively responds to Southern California’s current and future water needs. This joint project between the Orange County Water District and OCSD provides 70
million gallons per day of drinking quality water to replenish the local groundwater supply.
LEVEL OF SERVICE (LOS) – Goals to support environmental and public expectations for performance.
N-NITROSODIMETHYLAMINE (NDMA) – A N-nitrosamine suspected cancer-causing agent. It has been found in the GWRS
process and is eliminated using hydrogen peroxide with extra ultra-violet treatment.
NATIONAL BIOSOLIDS PARTNERSHIP (NBP) – An alliance of the NACWA and WEF, with advisory support from the EPA. NBP is committed to developing and advancing environmentally sound and sustainable biosolids management practices that go beyond regulatory compliance and promote public participation to enhance the credibility of local agency biosolids programs and improved communications that lead to public acceptance.
PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) – A large group (over 6,000) of human-made compounds that are resistant to heat, water, and oil and used for a variety of applications including firefighting foam, stain and water-resistant clothing, cosmetics, and food packaging. Two PFAS compounds, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have been the focus of increasing regulatory scrutiny in drinking water and may result in adverse health effects including developmental effects to fetuses during pregnancy, cancer, liver damage, immunosuppression, thyroid effects, and other effects.
PERFLUOROOCTANOIC ACID (PFOA) – An ingredient for several industrial applications including carpeting, upholstery, apparel, floor wax, textiles, sealants, food packaging, and cookware (Teflon).
PERFLUOROOCTANESULFONIC ACID (PFOS) – A key ingredient in Scotchgard, a fabric protector made by 3M, and used in numerous stain repellents.
PLUME – A visible or measurable concentration of discharge from a stationary source or fixed facility.
PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORKS (POTW) – A municipal wastewater treatment plant.
SANTA ANA RIVER INTERCEPTOR (SARI) LINE – A regional brine line designed to convey 30 million gallons per day of non-reclaimable wastewater from the upper Santa Ana River basin to the ocean for disposal, after treatment.
SANITARY SEWER – Separate sewer systems specifically for the carrying of domestic and industrial wastewater.
SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (SCAQMD) – Regional regulatory agency that develops plans and
regulations designed to achieve public health standards by reducing emissions from business and industry.
SECONDARY TREATMENT – Biological wastewater treatment, particularly the activated sludge process, where bacteria and other microorganisms consume dissolved nutrients in wastewater.
SLUDGE – Untreated solid material created by the treatment of wastewater.
TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS) – The amount of solids floating and in suspension in wastewater.
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
TRICKLING FILTER – A biological secondary treatment process in which bacteria and other microorganisms, growing as slime on the surface of rocks or plastic media, consume nutrients in wastewater as it trickles over them.
URBAN RUNOFF – Water from city streets and domestic properties that carry pollutants into the storm drains, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
WASTEWATER – Any water that enters the sanitary sewer.
WATERSHED – A land area from which water drains to a particular water body. OCSD’s service area is in the Santa Ana River Watershed.