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Contra Costa Council News
The Contra Costa Council is a public policy advocacy organization
that promotes the economic vitality of Contra Costa County and the region.
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Upcoming Events |
Thurs., January 29
Join us for the Contra Costa Council signature event.
Evening keynote: George F. Will, Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative newspaper columnist, journalist and author.
Hilton Concord Hotel
1970 Diamond Boulevard
Morning and evening program.
Please see this issue for details.
Title sponsor is Chevron. Major sponsors are the Contra Costa Times, Morrison & Foerster, John Muir Health, Shell Oil Products and Wells Fargo.
Additional sponsorships are available!
Contact the Council office at 925-246-1880 for more information.
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Share the news about the Council
This e-newsletter is published monthly by the Contra Costa Council. Find this edition and past issues at the Contra Costa Council News Archive.
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News & Comment |
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 Political pundit George Will to headline Contra Costa USA on January 29
George F. Will, noted author, syndicated political columnist and television panelist, will keynote the Contra Costa Council's signature event--Contra Costa USA--on Thursday, January 29, at the Hilton Concord Hotel. The speaker will address the CCUSA audience at the 6 p.m. dinner banquet, which will follow a full half-day program, starting with registration at 8 a.m., and finishing with a lunchtime panel that begins at 12:30 p.m.
Will is a twice-weekly columnist for The Washington Post, writing about foreign and domestic politics and policy since 1974. Since 1976, he has been a regular contributor to Newsweek magazine. Will serves as a contributing analyst with ABC News and has been a regular member of ABC's "This Week" on Sunday mornings since the show began in 1981. His books include "Restoration: Congress, Term Limits and the Recovery of Deliberative Democracy" (1992); "Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball" (1989) and "Statecraft as Soulcraft" (1983).
Will was the recipient of a 1978 National Headliners Award for his "consistently outstanding special features columns" appearing in Newsweek. A column on New York City's finances earned him a 1980 Silurian Award for Editorial Writing. In 1985, The Washington Journalism Review named Will "Best Writer, Any Subject." He won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary in 1977.
The CCUSA 2009 program, which opens with registration and exhibits at 8 a.m., starts officially at 9 a.m., with an always amusing message from political satirist Will Durst. Two panel discussions on state budget reform follow, the first at 10 a.m. with Jim Mayer, Executive Director, California Forward; Chris McKenzie, Executive Director, League of California Cities and two additional panelists. An 11 a.m. panel will include former legistators Willie Brown (invited), Joe Canciamilla and Keith Richman; Phil Matier of the San Francisco Chronicle has been invited to moderate.
A luncheon presentation at 12:30 p.m. on state finance and governance reform will feature Leon Panetta (invited, schedule permitting) of the Panetta Institute and former White House Chief of Staff, Thomas V. McKernan, CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California, and leaders of California Forward; Sunne Wright McPeak, former State Secretary of Business, Housing and Transportation, will moderate.
Following an afternoon break, participants will return for a 6 p.m. banquet and keynote address by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author George Will. Invitations will be mailed in early January. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the event. For more information, please contact Linda Best or Terry Shoaff at the Council office, 925-246-1880. |
| Election 2008 |
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| Assembly 15 Candidates Forum hosts and sponsors
The Council thanks hosts and sponsors of the Assembly 15 Candidates Forum on October 10, which was co-hosted by AT&T, the Engineering and Utility Contractors Association and Wells Fargo, and was sponsored by Tesoro. (This sponsors mention was omitted from the report in the November issue.) | |
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CEO Viewpoint |
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Contra Costa a leader in high school academies
By Linda Best, President and CEO, Contra Costa Council
Ensuring a skilled workforce for our growing industry sectors is vital to maintaining a vibrant economy in our region. The high school career academy model has been shown to have positive impacts on school performance and guiding students to achieve career goals. This not only feeds the pipeline for jobs in growing industry clusters, but it helps prepare our young people for high-wage, high-skill jobs that allow them to live locally and support their families.
In particular, career academies have been very successful in motivating "at risk" students who have not done well in traditional academic programs. They help these students understand the relevance of their academic classes to a real-world application in future careers.
Key components of the academy model include: (1) curriculum focused on a career theme and coordinated with academic classes; (2) a voluntary student selection process; (3) a team of teachers who work together to plan and implement the program; and (4) partnerships with the private sector to encourage academic and occupational preparation, including mentor and internship programs, speakers, field trips and post-secondary options. It should also be noted that academic classes are rigorous and designed to prepare the student for higher education and training.
We should be very proud that Contra Costa has a total of 14 career academies in high schools spread throughout the county, with an additional eight in planning stages. Importantly, these academies are focused on growing industry sectors with excellent job opportunities for our workforce.
Contra Costa's success is due in no small part to the Contra Costa Economic Partnership's Workforce Development Initiative, under the leadership of April Treece and with the excellent work of Keith Archuleta and Jennielyn Dino Rossi. These three dedicated professionals provide intermediary assistance to connect business and industry with education (K-12 and higher education) in concrete, "on-the-ground" ways to ensure the success of the academies.
I know of no other region in the state that has this kind of effort that works in such a productive way to bring education and the private sector together to ensure a qualified workforce and enable our young people to take advantage of dynamic career opportunities.
Congratulations to April, Keith and Jennielyn, and to the industry partners who support their work. For more information or to become involved, call the Council office at 925-246-1880.
Also please see the articles this issue about the Pinole Valley High School Environmental Studies Academy students, who attended the Council's recent Business Sustainability Conference, and Richmond High School Academy graduate Marvin Salazar. -- Ed. |
| Advocacy Action |
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Council endorses plan to restore the Mt. Diablo beacon
At its November 21 board meeting, the Contra Costa Council Board of Directors endorsed an effort by Save Mount Diablo to restore the Mt. Diablo beacon, an aerial navigation beacon originally erected atop the county's major peak in 1928.
According to Ron Brown, executive director of Save Mount Diablo, the beacon's electrical wiring has deteriorated, and the light has lost some of its brightness. Since last year, the Save Mount Diablo group has raised about $7,500 toward the restoration, with an estimated total cost yet to be determined.
Historically called the "eye of Diablo," the beacon was temporarily lit in a special ceremony on December 7 to honor Pearl Harbor survivors and the more than 2,400 Americans who died in the 1941 attack by Japanese forces, which marked the U.S.'s entrance into World War II. This is the 45th year that the Mt. Diablo chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, along with the group Save Mount Diablo, has held a ceremony as a preface to lighting the beacon, which stays lit until sunrise the next day. Speakers at the remembrance event were Ron Brown and retired Navy Rear Adm. Russell Gorman.
Council cautions CARB on over-ambitious scoping plan
In a letter to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), offering comments on the board's recently issued scoping plan, the Contra Costa Council cautioned that the air board's "extremely challenging regulatory program" has not adequately assessed the true costs to businesses and residents. The plan is likely to drive up the cost of electricity, natural gas, transportation fuel and construction of homes and businesses, noted Council President and CEO Linda Best in the December 3 letter to CARB Chair Mary Nichols. The plan does not evaluate alternatives in order to confirm we are following the most cost-efficient path. And, as proposed, it only gives a minimal role to a market-based trading system that would ensure overall emission reductions goals are met but would give businesses flexibility as they work to meet the new requirements. We suggest that CARB take time to conduct a balanced economic analysis of the costs to businesses and consumers so we can be confident that the final plan will not harm our economy, continued Best. "It should also analyze the impacts of existing and proposed regulations on the competitiveness of California companies and place greater emphasis on a market-based cap and trade system. We also encourage incentive programs, such as tax write-offs for equipment, R&D grants and incentives for entrepreneurs." The Council recognizes that time is of the essence to reduce emissions and avoid the worst effects of global warming, said Best in summation. "Further analysis should be conducted quickly so we can move forward with a plan that will be a model for the rest of the nation."
State stimulus package gets Council commendation
Asked by Governor Swarzenegger's office to comment on the proposed state stimulus package, the Contra Costa Council commended the governor's efforts to take action to stimulate California's flagging economy.
"We support efforts to accelerate construction projects, especially water and transportation infrastructure and clean technology projects," wrote Council President and CEO Linda Best in a November letter. This will create new jobs, as well as address the urgent need for new capacity. Additionally, implementation of public-private partnerships and "design-build" agreements will leverage funding for badly needed infrastructure and allow projects to be built more quickly and cost-effectively.
The Council also registered support for efforts that allow businesses to operate more efficiently and competitively by streamlining rules and regulations, and suggested consideration of tax incentives to attract green/clean technology industries and help maintain and grow those that are already here.
"We urge you to ensure that our state maintains a strong educational system," Best continued. "Incentives for curriculum aimed at training students for the new clean technology industries should also be considered. An educational system geared to emerging industries is critical to our ability to have a skilled workforce and maintain our competitiveness nationally and globally."
Regional stakeholder group promotes a vision for CNWS
In a November 17 letter to the Concord City Council, a group of regional stakeholders, dubbed the CNWS Regional Stakeholder Group, commended the City of Concord for the "very comprehensive public process it has undertaken in planning for the Concord Naval Weapons Station and the recent progress that has resulted in the two alternatives" then before the group. The stakeholder group generally supports the Clustered Village alternative, which "provides a good balance between housing and job creation, open space and recreation and public amenities, including community, cultural and educational facilities." The stakeholder group consists of Cal State East Bay, Carlson, Barbee & Gibson, Central Labor Council, Contra Costa Community College District, Contra Costa Council, Craft Consulting Group, East Bay Housing Organizations, East Bay Regional Park District, Gray-Bowen, Homebuilders Association of Northern California and Save Mount Diablo. The stakeholder group also suggested a comprehensive vision for the Naval Weapons Station property, based on integrating innovation, economic development, housing, education and training, and parks and open space, to make the site "world class." For more information or a copy of the vision statement, please contact the Council office at 925-246-1880.
Contra Costa ready-to-go projects recommended for federal stimulus package
Applauding Congress's consideration of a new economic stimulus package with a focus on infrastructure, the Contra Costa Council wrote in November to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, indicating Contra Costa County projects that are "ready or nearly ready to go to construction and could be put to bid within the next few months."
Projects specified in the letter, written by Contra Costa Council President and CEO Linda Best and Contra Costa Economic Partnership Chair Alex Mehran included segments of the State Route 4 Bypass Project, which had been delayed due to the downturn in the economy. These segments include: (1) Sand Creek/Route 4 bypass Interchange ($28 million, construction; $4 million, construction and engineering); (2) widening Route 4 bypass: four lanes from Laurel Road to Sand Creek Road ($14 million, construction; $2 million, construction and engineering); and (3) State Route 4 Bypass: Segment 3 overlay and flashing beacon project ($6.5 million).
Some of these projects will require allowing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to satisfy National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, which is appropriate since CEQA is more stringent than NEPA.
In addition, the letter noted that the Vasco Road safety improvements project "could go to construction within approximately a year's time, but acceleration could be accomplished by allowing CEQA to satisfy NEPA requirements."
Copies of the letter were also sent to county Congressional representatives. |
| Helping Your Community |
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Earn It! Keep It! Save It! campaign needs volunteers and space to work
Nobody wants to lose hard-earned money. But that very thing happens each year to a surprisingly large number of Contra Costa workers. Volunteers are needed to help these individuals claim tax money from their earnings, which is rightfully theirs under U.S. tax law.
Since 2004, the Family Economic Security Partnership, or FESP, has operated the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Contra Costa (EKS) campaign, a free volunteer-based tax service that helps low-income, working families claim the earned income tax credit (EITC) and other federal tax credits they are due. Since the inception of the program, FESP has overseen the preparation of over 9,000 returns and secured more than $11 million in refunds. Yet more than $15 million in tax credits goes unclaimed each year.
FESP intends to maintain and expand the EKS program as well as to implement additional asset development programs countywide and year-round. The group is in the process of developing a financial education component to help low-income workers learn more about how to preserve, save and increase their assets.
Volunteers are needed to serve as tax preparers, greeters, screeners or interpreters. Space is needed for tax preparation and equipment (laptops).
To volunteer, go to the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! website. For more information about FESP, visit the First Five website or call 510-238-2418. |
| Other News, Events & Briefings |
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 Pinole High School Academy students contribute to Council's sustainability conference
Among the exhibitors at the Contra Costa Council's October 24 Sustainability Business Conference, Getting It Right-Getting It Green: The Business Case for Going Green, was a group of Pinole Valley High School students, who seem to be ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainability issues. The high school's Environmental Studies Academy students (pictured above, with an advisor) shared a Diablo Valley College-hosted exhibit booth at the conference, and have completed some contributive science projects in their community this year.
Council director April Treece, a consultant with the Contra Costa Economic Partnership's Workforce Initiative, invited the students to attend the conference, where they had the opportunity to explain their work to business and science professionals and to learn what science careers are available to them and also how various businesses are doing their part to act environmentally responsibly.
If you are interested in supporting the work of the county's many academy programs, please contact Initiative consultants Jennielyn Dino-Rossi (west county), April Treece (central county) or Keith Archuleta (east county), or call the Partnership office at 925-246-1880.
Richmond High Academy grad Marvin Salazar is working to save the planet
Two years ago, Marvin Salazar was a student in the Richmond High School Multimedia Academy. Today he is a freshman at UC Berkeley, where he is pursuing environmental studies in the hope that he will be able to contribute to the world's climate-related issues in the future.
Salazar became interested in climate-change issues while a student in the Richmond Academy program. He decided to enter a video to become a "climate change ambassador" in the inaugural California Climate Champions Program, offered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the British Council. As Salazar explains in an online interview in The Green News, the video got him an interview, which resulted in his placement in the top three of the competition. The prize was a trip to London to prepare to meet with G8 Environmental Ministers in Kobe, Japan.
While in Kobe, Salazar and his fellow students blogged about their experiences on the Climate Champions website, and once back in the states, were charged with sharing the lessons learned with their fellow champions and continuing to increase awareness of climate change in their communities.
(To watch the YouTube video that Salazar used to apply for the California Climate Champions program, please click here.)
For more information about the Contra Costa Economic Partnership's role in supporting the county's high school academies, please see Linda Best's letter this issue. -Ed.
Council welcomes new directors
A warm welcome to new members of the Contra Costa Council Board of Directors, Kara Noe, government and public affairs director, Safeway, and David Rounds, publisher of the Contra Costa Times. |
| Task Force Briefings |
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 Upcoming briefings . . .
High winds briefing . . . Some 40 people enjoyed an excellent field trip to the FPL Energy High Winds facility in Solano County on November 7, which was arranged for Council and Environmental/Manufacturing Task Force members and guests. Participants received an informative briefing on wind-power generation operations at the Birds Landing site and FPL's plans to retrofit outdated wind turbines at its Altamont property. FPL is a leading clean-energy provider with natural gas, wind, solar, hydroelectric and nuclear power plants in operation in 25 states and Canada.
New and prospective Council members are welcome to attend Task Force meetings. Please notify a Task Force chair prior to the meeting to confirm time and location.
Here is a list of upcoming briefings, as currently scheduled:
Transportation Task Force . . . Tues., December 2, 8 a.m. . . . PMI Building, 3003 Oak Road, Walnut Creek. Andrew Fremier, deputy director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Regional HOT Network - Bay Area, discussed efforts underway to implement the regional high-occupancy toll (HOT) Network, approved in July for inclusion in the Draft Transportation 2035 Plan. Next meeting is on Tues., January 6. Contacts: Hank Haugse and Bob Brown Environmental/Manufacturing Task Force . . . Fri., December 5, 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. . . . Brown and Caldwell, 201 N. Civic Drive, Suite 300, Walnut Creek. Tom Mumley of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board provided an update on development of the region-wide Municipal Stormwater Permit. Next meeting will be a joint meeting with the Water and Land use Task Forces on Tues., January 20. Contacts: Peter McGaw and George Smith
Land Use Task Force . . . Wed., December 10, 8 to 9 a.m. . . Morrison & Foerster, 101 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Suite 450 (opposite Walnut Creek BART). Discussion with Tim Coyle of the California Building Industry Association about the tax credit incentive proposal to stimulate housing construction. Next meeting is a joint meeting with the Environmental/Manufacturing and Water Task Forces on Tues., January 20, at Brown and Caldwell. Contacts: Dan Muller and Mike McGill
Nonprofit/Business Task Force . . . Thurs., December 11, 8 to 9:30 a.m. . . . Chapman University, 2950 Buskirk Ave., Room 307, Walnut Creek. Leyna Bernstein of the CBO Center, with a special presentation, along with public policy reports. Next meeting is Thurs., January 22. Contacts: Mike Erwin, Mark Hughes and Terry Shoaff
Economic Development Task Force . . . Wed., December 17, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . . City National Bank, 2001 N. Main St., Suite 200, Walnut Creek. Participating in current discussions about the Concord Community Reuse Project for the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Partnering with the Workforce Development & Education Task Force in reviewing the county's higher education needs. Continuing work on the Green Economy Study. Next meeting is Wed., January 28. Contacts: Gary Craft and Mike Conlon
Workforce Development & Education Task Force . . . Thurs., December 18, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . JFK University, 100 Ellinwood, Conference Room S209, Pleasant Hill. Roman Stearns, director of policy analysis and development at ConnectEd, the California Center for College and Career in Berkeley, invited. In November, reviewed activities in support of the Task Force's newly revised Workforce/Education Policy Paper (2008-2013). Next meeting is Thurs., January 15. Contacts: April Treece and Keith Archuleta
Health Care Task Force . . . No meeting in December . . . Thurs., January 8, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . Morgan Miller Blair, 1331 N. California Blvd., Suite 200, Walnut Creek. Recently reviewed the Task Force policy statement; discussed Healthy Before 5 Leadership Council and 2009 Health Care Task Force agenda. Continuing to explore a Council discussion forum joint venture event with the Nonprofit/Business Task Force based on Unnatural Causes, a public television documentary series aimed at promoting public discourse on health equity, and other topics. Contacts: Ron Wetter and Frank Puglisi, Jr.
Water Task Force . . . No meeting in December . . . Tues., January 20, 8:15 to 10 a.m. . . . Joint meeting with the Environmental/Manufacturing and Water Task Forces . . . Brown and Caldwell, 201 N. Civic Dr., Suite 300, Walnut Creek. Planned presentation by P. Joseph Grindstaff, Deputy Director for Water Policy and Director of the California Bay-Delta Authority. Contacts: Bob Whitley and Mitch Randall
Small Business & Entrepreneur Task Force . . . No meeting in December . . . Tues., Jan. 27, 7:30 a.m. . . . Mass Mutual Financial Group, 2121 N. California Blvd., Suite 395, Walnut Creek. Beginning planning for the May Small Business Awards event; also discussing impact of the banking and housing crisis on small business; continuing to work with county chambers of commerce to clarify how the Task Force can support their efforts on behalf of small business. Contacts: Stuart Bolinger and Zachary Sahar |
Our Mission
The mission of the
Contra Costa Council is to provide advocacy on public policy issues
affecting the economic vitality and quality of life in Contra Costa
County.
The Council engages on issues of critical importance to the business
community and residents of Contra Costa County, balancing the needs of
a diverse county though policy efforts that provide for economic
development while retaining our quality of life. The Council also produces top-tier events, including Contra Costa USA,
the premier business event in the County, featuring major national
speakers as well as providing a local perspective on current events.
The Council retains a close relationship with local, state and federal
elected officials. These relationships provide regular opportunities
for our members to interact with their political representatives and
other business leaders.
For more information about the Council, please visit our website.
To comment about items in this newsletter, please contact Linda Best at the Contra Costa Council.
This issue was edited for the Contra Costa Council by Molly A. Walker of Walker Communications.
© 2008 Contra Costa Council
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