SCVTV Blog: SCV Chamber Briefing (11-6-2013)

Santa Clarita Valley Chamber Government Affairs & Transportation Committee

Source: Headington Media Group

A number of issues were discussed at the October Chamber Government Affairs & Transportation Committee (GA/TC)-from the government shutdown to hearings on the aerospace industry.

The crowd of roughly two dozen included College of the Canyons Board of Trustees Member Bruce Fortine, Hart School Board Member Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Santa Clarita City Councilmember Marsha McLean, BIA Los Angeles Ventura’s Sandy Sanchez and Glendale Community College Board of Trustees Member and The Gas Company’s Tony Tartaglia.

GA/TC Co-Chair and Poole & Shaffery partner, Hunt Braly, brought the meeting to order and his Co-Chair and Ex. Dir. of the Golden State Gateway Coalition, Victor Lindenheim, led the conversation on transportation. Lindenheim talked about how the government shutdown affected transportation, AB 401 and design-build projects, AB 1222 and pension reform exemptions for transit workers and how the McBean Bridge Widening is still moving along. **UPDATE: Both Assembly Bills (AB) were signed into law by Governor Brown.**

Legislative Reports

No report from the office of Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon“(R-Santa Clarita). You can contact his District Director, Morris Thomas, or Field Representative Brett Walter with any issues, concerns or updates. Victor Lindenheim did note, however, that while the government shutdown continues, there is also the debt ceiling deadline on October 17^th to contend with.

Sarah Tyndall, Field Representative for state Senator Steve Knight (R-Antelope Valley), said the office is working on an updated listing of transportation bills and should have it ready by the end of the month. Knight was still waiting to see if SB 328 and SB 582 would be signed by Governor Brown before the October 13^th deadline. While ultimately vetoed, SB 582 would have aided taxpayers by requiring the Board of Equalization (BOE), Franchise Tax Board (FTB), and Employment Development Department (EDD) to develop a web-based portal that virtually consolidates the agencies to enable online, self-service access through a single logon for taxpayers. SB 328, however, was signed by the Governor and authorizes counties to use several construction delivery methods (i.e. design-build, design-bid-build, and job order contracting).

Source: Headington Media Group

**You might note that Governor Brown signed into law SB 105, a bill co-authored by Senator Knight in an effort to comply with the Supreme Court’s order to reduce California’s prison population (by increasing the number of cells rather than releasing upwards of 10,000 inmates). You can click here for the press release.

Tyndall also mentioned that the Knight office can help put together GO-Biz workshops to promote economic development in the area. It could be done in conjunction with the Chamber and the Valley’s Economic Development Corporation. She closed with an invite to the hearing to be chaired by Senator Knight on the Aerospace and Defense industry-set for October 29^th at the Mojave Air & Space Port.

No reports from the office of state Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills). You can contact her District Director, Kara Seward, with any issues, concerns or updates.

Erik Richardson, Field Representative for Assemblymember Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), gave an extensive round-up of legislation supported and opposed by our local state legislator.

SB 743 – Provided mild CEQA Reform (supported); Signed by the Governor

AB 767 – Increased motor fee allowed by Counties (opposed); Signed by the Governor

AB 1092 – Adoption of new building standards for electric cars (opposed); Signed by the Governor

SB 109 – Mandatory emergency exits for stretch limousines (opposed); Signed by the Governor

AB 1229 – Adds conditions to development like inclusionary housing requirements (opposed); Vetoed by the Governor

AB 227 – Deals with shakedown lawsuits resulting from the passage of Prop. 65 (supported); Signed by the Governor

Richardson also shared two recent op-eds written by Assemblymember Wilk: The Gut & Amend Process and California’s Drug Medical Program.

Changes to Chamber Facebook Page

The Chamber Facebook page is moving and you are urged to “LIKE” it even if you are part of the old page. The old page will be phased out soon and the new URL is www.facebook.com/chamberscv.

The GA/TC Briefing prepared by Santa Clarita Valley Chamber member

About the SCV Chamber

Government Affairs &

Transportation

Committee

Our Government Affairs & Transportation Committee (GA/TC) reviews legislative bills and issues brought before them from local, county, state and federal sources, and crafts policy positions for Executive Committee and Board of Director’s support or opposition.

The GA/TC also looks over and considers policy position statements on local bond issues. Candidates running for public office on the local level can present before the GA/TC for possible Chamber of Commerce endorsement.

Source: Headington Media Group

It meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 10:30 a.m. in the Chamber boardroom. Hunt Braly

and Victor Lindenheim are the GA/TC

Co-Chairs.

For more information on this committee, our events or other related Chamber issues, please call (661) 702-6977 or email info@scvchamber.com.

County & City Matters

Dave Perry, Field Deputy for Supervisor Michael Antonovich, spoke about the City of Los Angeles public health initiative and noted that the Supervisor is in opposition because it would have the reverse effect of reducing health services, cost the County around $100 million in revenue and roughly 1,000 jobs. Perry also updated GATC members on the 512 (M7 classified) inmates to be sent to a private prison in Taft and the financial costs of illegal immigration and related “anchor babies.” **UPDATE: The County Board of Supervisors have shelved the $75 million inmate plan; click here for the Signal story.

Mike Murphy, Intergovernmental Relations Officer for the City of Santa Clarita, said the City was still hopeful regarding the Cemex mining issue and thought a hearing may still happen in December. Murphy also noted the upcoming meetings regarding chlorides this month and that the VLF reduction (vehicle license fee) has resulted in $1 to $2 million in lost revenue a year coming into Santa Clarita Valley.

Nancy Starczyk, local realtor and longtime GATC member, noted that inventory is still low (379 single-family homes and 138 condos for sale) but the media price for both have gone up–$450,000 for homes and $295,000 to $300,000 for condos.

Traffic & Law Enforcement Reports

CHP California Highway Patrol Officer John Lutz shared with everyone that the CHP has hit the million mile mark of not having a patrol crash. He also said that all grants have expired for DUI checkpoints and they are waiting from the state for more funds.