Environmental Press # 128

Subj: OOG: OCSD FAHR Meeting: $200,000 Community Outreach Contract
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 2:49:06 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Jon V3
To: Jon V3
Dear OOG:

Interesting item in tonight's (Wednesday, October 9, 5 PM) OCSD FAHR (Finance, Administration and Human Resources) meeting.

See Item FAHR02-92, pages 78 to 88 on the ocsd.com website.

Go to ocsd.com, click on Board of Directors, then FAHR Agendas, October 9, Item Number FAHR02-92.

The General Manager proposes a $200,000 budget item for Community Outreach and Public Involvement Ascertainment. The goal is: "to determine the needs and expectations of the community in order to establish a strategic plan that will increase public awareness and stakeholder involvement-strengthening the methods of communication between the stakeholders and the board"

Believe it or not, here is what the second paragraph under the Summary states:

 

  

"Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) has experienced a tumultuous few years with intensive public and media attention. This attention has radically changed the way the district must communicate with all of its stakeholders. The proliferation of the Internet as a method for conveying information has forever altered the relationship between public agencies and those they serve. It has forever altered the way the public agencies and policies are set"

Also, third paragraph: "OCSD must develop a strategic communications plan through research and stakeholder group meetings to help it become more attune to the needs of the community, ascertain what the community expects from the district and to increase public awareness and involvement from a minority of residents in our service area to a majority."

Whoa Dude! What a backhanded compliment!

But is $200,000 of public money really needed to increase public awareness? I suggest OCSD seriously examine what they want to achieve. If they want to get good public relations, they need to speed up conversion to full secondary and show the world the good job in sewage treatment, UVL disinfection, and reclamation they are doing. They can also start allowing the public to nibble on a few morsels of catered food at the committee meetings so the public can actually be motivated to go to these meetings and feel wanted. $200,000 could buy a few paper plates and plastic forks and spoons for the unwashed hungry public.

What better would they gain from a $200,000 public relations consultant?

FAHR meeting, 5 PM, OCSD headquarters, 10844 Ellis, Fountain Valley, Wednesday, October 9.

Also good to go there and hear the latest reports from the managers and updates on the secondary treatment and GWRS progress.

Jan Vandersloot (949) 548-6326

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