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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda Packet - EVWD Board of Directors - 01/13/2015 SPECIAL BOARD MEETING January 13, 2015 – 5:30 pm 31111 Greenspot Road Highland, Ca 92346 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL OF BOARD MEMBERS PUBLIC COMMENTS Any person wishing to speak to the Board of Directors is asked to complete a Speaker Card and submit it to the District Clerk prior to the start of the meeting. Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes, unless waived by the Chairman of the Board. Under the State of California Brown Act, the Board of Directors is prohibited from discussing or taking action on any item not listed on the posted agenda. The matter will automatically be referred to staff for an appropriate response or action and may appear on the agenda at a future meeting. 1. Legislative Review and Update 2. Establish date and representation of Legislative visit Reports 3. General Manager/CEO 4. Legal Counsel Report 5. Board of Directors Comments ADJOURN Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2(a), any request for a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, that is sought in order to participate in the above agendized public meeting should be directed to the District Clerk at (909) 885-4900. Legislative Review and Update January 13, 2015 1 State Partnership History Project Amount Plant 134 Grant $3 million Plant 134 Loans (0% Interest) $7 million Baseline Gardens Grant (100% Funded) $6.4 million 134 Bridge Replacement Grant $650,000 Eastwood Farms Grant $390,000 Eastwood Farms Loans (0% Interest) $4 million Total Grants and Loans $21.44 million Estimated Interest Savings $22.8 million 2 •Pilar Oñate Quintana •20 years of legislative and public affairs experience •8 years in the Capitol •Several years in a prior Administration in various legislative‐related capacities •10 years of lobbying experience •Currently represents: •North Bay Water Reuse Authority •Yuba County Water Agency The Oñate Group 3 •David Quintana •Co‐Founded Gonzalez, Quintana & Hunter, LLC in 2011 •Strategy development, policy analysis, relationship‐ building, campaign consulting and direct lobbying services •Over 15 years of experience in and around the Capitol •Served as a Legislative Director in the State Senate •Consultant for the Senate Committee on Public Safety Gonzales, Quintana & Hunter 4 •Angela Pontes •Legislative Coordinator and Advocate at Gonzalez, Quintana & Hunter, LLC since 2014 •Provides policy research and advocacy •Experience in the Capitol as a legislative aide for health and human services, local government, water, housing, and revenue and taxation issues •Served as Outreach Coordinator to former First Lady of California, Maria Shriver, on her research and communications project “The Shriver Report.” Gonzales, Quintana & Hunter 5 Full-Service Advocacy Support •Monitoring: Monitor, review and advise East Valley of state legislation, budget impacts, funding opportunities and issues which may impact EVWD •Legislative Communications: Will advise legislators, Administration officials and others of EVWD’s positions on key issues via correspondence, testimony during committee hearings, meetings with legislators/legislative staff, etc. 6 Full-Service Advocacy Support •Maintaining an active presence in Sacramento: We will establish and maintain an active presence in Sacramento on behalf of EVWD on multiple fronts, including legislative offices, the Administration and relevant associations •Facilitate Face ‐to‐Face Opportunities: In addition to day‐to‐ day advocacy, we will coordinate meetings for EVWD leadership as desired 7 Advocacy Support •Legislative Platform: Update the existing Legislative Platform to maintain relevance in the context of Sacramento dynamics and given EVWD priorities •Special Project Facilitation: Serve as a special project facilitator for EVWD before state agencies on funding matters, regulatory issues, etc. 8 Duties of the Legislature •The Legislative Branch of the State Government •On average, the Legislature will propose, analyze and debate more than 6,000 bills in a single two‐year session •Each year the Legislature must pass a budget •Composed of: •State Assembly •80 members –2 year terms •State Senate •40 members –4 year terms •This branch holds the principle lawmaking powers of the state 9 10 Running the Legislative Gauntlet •Step 1:Proposed idea is drafted into bill text by Legislative Counsel and then introduced by an elected Senator or Assemblymember –Deadline to introduce a bill is February 27, 2015 –Bill must be in print for 30 days before it may be heard in a committee •Step 2:The bill is heard in relevant policy committees in the House of Introduction –During the committee hearing, the author presents the bill and testimony is heard in support and opposition. The committee members must approve the bill with a majority vote for it to continue moving forward 11 Running the Legislative Gauntlet •Step 3:If the bill has a fiscal impact or a state cost, it will be heard in Appropriations Committee –This committee is only concerned with state fiscal impact and not policy considerations. (However in reality often other considerations factor into whether a bill stays with the committee) 12 Running the Legislative Gauntlet •Step 4:Once passed out of all committees, the bill will go to the Floor of the House it was introduced in for a vote by the full House membership –The author will present the bill and answer questions from other legislators. There is no public testimony •Vote Requirement:Most bills require a simple majority vote to pass – Bills that create a new tax or fee or have an urgency clause require a 2/3 majority vote (27 in the Senate and 54 in the Assembly) to be passed 13 Running the Legislative Gauntlet •Step 5:Repeat this full process again in the Second House. –If there are amendments to the bill in the Second House it will go back to the House of Origin for a “Concurrence Vote.” –If there are significant changes to the subject matter of the bill, it will need to go back through committees in the House of Origin. 14 Running the Legislative Gauntlet •Step 6:Once successfully passed out of both houses, the bill goes to the Governor’s desk. –The Governor must either sign into law or veto every bill within 12 days. This timeframe is extended to 30 days for bills passed on the last day of session. –If a bill is not signed or vetoed, it becomes law without signature. 15 Running the Legislative Gauntlet •Other Notes: –Bills can be amended an unlimited number of times throughout the legislative process in the two houses but cannot be amended if they return to the first house for concurrence. –A bill analysis for the current version of the bill is prepared by each committee the bill goes through and when the bill is on the Floor. Staff and legislators refer to these in forming positions. 16 Legislative Calendar 2015 Legislative Session January 5 Legislature reconvenes February 27 Last day for bills to be introduced March 26‐April 6 Spring recess May 1Last day for policy committees to hear and report to Fiscal Committee. Fiscal Bills introduced in their house May 29 Last day for fiscal committees to hear and report to the Floor bills introduced in their house. June 5Last day for bills to be passed out of the House of Origin June 16 Budget must be passed by midnight July 17‐August 17 Summer recess September 4Last day to amend bills on the Floor September 11 Last day for each house to pass bills October 11 Last day for the Governor to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature 17 California Budget Process •Summer to Fall:State departments develop baseline budgets and may prepare “budget change proposals” to increase or reduce service levels in the upcoming fiscal year. •By January 10:Governor releases the proposed budget. •February‐Early May:Budget Subcommittees review the Governor’s proposed budget. •By May 14:Governor releases the “May Revision” indicating changes and revenue adjustments. •Mid‐May:Each House meets to finalize its version of the Budget. •June:Governor, and Legislative Leadership convene to address outstanding issues. •June 15:Deadline for the Legislature to pass the Budget Bill (majority vote). •July 1:New fiscal year begins. 18 Political Landscape After 2014 19 Political Landscape After 2014 Elections Senate •President pro Tempore:Kevin de León (D) •Minority Leader:Bob Huff (R) •Natural Resources and Water Committee (7D‐2R): Pavley (Chair), Stone (Vice‐ Chair), Allen, Fuller, Hertzberg, Hueso, Jackson, Monning, and Wolk. Assembly •Speaker:Toni Atkins (D) •Minority Leader:Kristin Olsen (R) •Water, Parks & Wildlife (10D‐5R): Levine (Chair), Bigelow (Vice‐ Chair), Dahle, Dodd, Gaines, Garcia, Gomez, Gray, Harper, Lopez, Mathis, Medina, Rendon, Ridley‐Thomas, Williams. 20 Senate •Budget Subcommittee #2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation (2D‐1R): Wolk (Chair), Nielsen, and Pavley. Assembly •Natural Resources (6D‐3R): Williams (Chair), Dahle (Vice‐ Chair), Garcia, Hadley, Harpr, McCarty, Rendon, Stone, Wood. •Budget Subcommittee #3 on Resources & Transportation (3D‐ 2R): Bloom (Chair), Gordon, Obernolte, Patterson, Williams. Political Landscape After 2014 Elections 21 2014 – Big Year in the California Water World •Passage of the $7.5 billion water bond, including: •Storage ‐$2.7 B ‐Continuously appropriated to California Water Commission •Safe Drinking Water ‐$520 M –Small Community Wastewater Program $260M. –Drinking water public infrastructure $260M •Groundwater Sustainability ‐$900 M – $800 million ‐Prevent and reduce groundwater contaminants – $100 million –Provide sustainable groundwater management planning and implementation 22 2014 – Big Year in the California Water World •Water Recycling and Desalination ‐$725 M •Regional water reliability ‐$810 M – $510 million in IRWM funds – $200 million for storm water capture – $100 million for water conservation •Watershed Protection, Watershed Ecosystem Restoration, State Settlements ‐$1.495 B •Statewide Flood Management ‐$395 M 23 2014 – Groundwater Legislation •Groundwater Legislation –Supported by some urban/suburban agencies, heavily opposed by ag interests •Require the formation of local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) that must assess conditions in their local water basins and adopt locally‐based management plans. –The act provides substantial time –20 years –for GSAs to implement plans and achieve long‐term groundwater sustainability –It protects existing surface water and groundwater rights and does not impact current drought response measures. •Currently does not apply to adjudicated basins 24 2014 – Groundwater Legislation •June 30, 2017: Local groundwater sustainability agencies formed •Jan. 31, 2020: Groundwater sustainability plans adopted for critically over drafted basins •Jan. 31, 2022: Groundwater sustainability plans adopted for high‐and medium‐priority basins not currently in overdraft •20 years after adoption: All high‐and medium‐priority groundwater basins must achieve sustainability 25 Anticipated Issues in 2015 and Beyond…. •Water bond program appropriations/implementation •Groundwater legislation cleanup/follow up •Assistance for low income water customers and disadvantaged communities •Statewide water fee (?) –A perennial issue that will likely arise again as the state water plan released in October suggests an unspecified fee… •Recycled water –Efforts to ease regulatory hurdles to use recycled water 26 Current Legislative Platform •Adopted in 2012 •Designed to serve as a guide for East Valley Water District’s legislative advocacy efforts •Established organizational roles and responsibilities •Established four criteria to consider supporting •Established seven criteria to consider opposing 27 Existing Legislative Platform – Potential Updates •Enhanced emphasis on EVWD’s ongoing steps toward local and regional “sustainability” based on management of groundwater resources and vision for recycled water development. •Expanded information on EVWD successes in serving low‐ income/disadvantaged portions of the customer base. •Support for legislation that eases the path to development of recycled water resources. •Explicit position on the concept of a statewide water fee. •Position regarding efficient and fair implementation of the water bond programs. 28 •Clearing the path for the development of recycled water capabilities that will provide multiple benefits to East Valley and the broader region as a whole •Implementation of a new rate structure that will ensure the solid financial foundation to ensure ongoing capital improvements and maintenance •Supporting and serving substantial new development in the area – including the planned home community •Serving as a key player in groundwater management and sustainability planning and implementation for the region •Energetic engagement in the Santa Ana Watershed Habitat Conservation Plan Current District Priorities 29 Your Team in Sacramento.. •We look forward to providing committed service to EVWD in support of the district’s priorities •We never take a cookie cutter approach to serving our clients –Our information and recommendations for EVWD will be specific to EVWD priorities and needs •We are pleased to serve as EVWD’s team in Sacramento •Questions? 30