FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
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2020 LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY PLAN
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
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RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Orange County Sanitation District 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Plan.
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BACKGROUND
Each year, the Board of Directors adopts a legislative and regulatory plan which is a summary of the Orange County Sanitation District’s (Sanitation District) legislative goals, key issues, and policy positions. The legislative and regulatory policies in this document were developed taking into consideration the Sanitation District’s priorities, the wastewater industry, and the Sanitation District’s member agencies and policy needs.
These Board-approved policies serve as the Sanitation District’s official positions of support or opposition on issues of importance to the agency. The legislative and regulatory plan is a dynamic document, adopted annually, and is modified to meet the needs of the Sanitation District as Federal, State, and local policymaking agendas change throughout the year.
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
• Listen to and seriously consider community input on environmental concerns
• Use all practical and effective means for resource recovery
PROBLEM
Local and Federal legislation and regulations can have significant impacts on the Sanitation District’s ability to accomplish our mission. Impacts from legislative action can affect the Sanitation District and our customers either positively or negatively. Also, the Sanitation District and other public agencies are sometimes precluded from pursuing innovations and solutions to problems without new legislation or changes to existing laws and regulations.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
The 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Plan, which will be brought to the Board for approval in December, includes our platform and approach to engaging with Federal, State, and local governments to inform and advocate for the Sanitation District’s legislative interests. This program includes sponsoring and monitoring legislation and grants that would benefit the Sanitation District’s customers and the wastewater industry, in addition to advancing our mission. The program also includes relationship building activities and outreach to our elected officials by providing facility tours, one-on-one meetings, and trips to D.C. and Sacramento.
TIMING CONCERNS
The 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Plan is scheduled to go to the Board in December for approval and adoption. It is important that the plan be reviewed and approved by the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee in December, prior to the final version that will be submitted to the Board.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not effectively work with the local, State, and Federal elected officials, legislation could be passed that negatively affects the Sanitation District and the wastewater industry as a whole. Additionally, the Sanitation District could miss out on grant funding opportunities.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) are included in hard copy and may also be viewed on-line at the OCSD website (www.ocsd.com) with the complete agenda package:
• Orange County Sanitation District 2020 Legislative and Regulatory Plan