FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
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LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST 2022
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and File the Legislative Affairs Update for the months of July and August 2022.
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BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District’s (OC San) legislative affairs program includes advocating OC San’s legislative interests; sponsoring legislation (where appropriate); and seeking Local, State, and Federal funding for projects and programs. Staff will provide an update on recent legislative and grant activities.
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 and how they could be impacted by proposed legislation.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Continue to work with Local, State, and Federal officials to advocate OC San’s legislative interests. Help to create/monitor legislation and grants that would benefit OC San, the wastewater industry, and the community as a whole. To assist in our relationship building activities, we will continue to reach out to our elected officials providing facility tours, one-on-one meetings, and trips to Washington D.C. and Sacramento.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not work with Local, State, and Federal elected officials, legislation could be passed that negatively affects OC San and the wastewater industry as a whole. Additionally, a lack of engagement may result in missed funding opportunities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Each year, staff crafts a legislative and regulatory plan, which is a summary of OC San’s goals, key issues, and policy positions. In mid-August, Public Affairs staff and State/Federal lobbyist staff met with OC San’s Subject Matter Experts to assist in the overall review, development, and update of the Draft 2023 Legislative and Regulatory plan. The legislative and regulatory policies in the Draft 2023 Legislative and Regulatory Plan were developed taking into consideration OC San’s priorities, the wastewater industry, and the needs OC San’s member agencies and wastewater policy. The current plan is in draft format and the near-final draft version will be brought to the November Legislative and Public Affairs Committee for the Committee’s guidance and then to the December Board of Directors meeting for approval.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda package:
• ENS Resources Legislative Update
• Federal Legislative Matrix - ENS Resources
• Presentation - ENS Legislative Update
• Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) Legislative Update
• State Legislative Matrix - TPA
• Presentation - TPA Legislative Update
• 2023 Draft Legislative and Regulatory Plan
• Grant Matrix 2022