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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 |
Ninth Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon
Fri., May 15
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Hilton Concord Hotel
1970 Diamond Blvd.
Honoring award-winning small-business owners selected by their local Chambers of Commerce
Keynote by James Sheppard of Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Surfaces. Master of Ceremonies: Mark Quinn, Regional Director, Small Business Administration
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Annual Contra Costa Council Board Installation Dinner
Wednesday, June 3
Social hour at 6 p.m.
Dinner at 7 p.m.
Lafayette Park Hotel
3287 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette
Installation of the Council's 2009-2010 Executive Committee officers
Honoring the 2009 Contra Costa Medal Award recipient,
ConocoPhillips
For information or to RSVP, contact the Council office at 925-246-1880. | |
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This e-newsletter is published monthly by the Contra Costa Council. The current issue and past issues can be found at the Contra Costa Council News Archive.
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News & Comment
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Contra Costa Council Chair Ed Shaffer (at left) with former State Finance Director Tom Campbell at April luncheon presentation.
Tom Campbell discusses
the state's and the nation's economic challenges at Council luncheon
In remarks to a Contra Costa Council luncheon audience
on April 23, former State Finance Director and current gubernatorial candidate Tom
Campbell offered a surprisingly positive assessment of the economy, but said
the national stimulus package was
"too much" and will leave the nation with an inflationary price to pay as soon
as next year.
"We have been
through worse and have gotten out of worse recessions," said Campbell, a former
dean of the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and proponent of fiscal responsibility in government
and individual liberty. He said he sees a "number of positives" in the current economic picture, and
pointed to an unemployment rate "that hasn't hit the rate we hit in the last
recession," improving productivity--with companies adjusting to lower employment
levels, a housing price downturn that is still above the investment line and a
drop in gas prices.
Campbell said that if the United States stopped
borrowing money as of today, it would take 293 years to pay it all back. Foreign
creditors know we won't pay it back, and China is asking to be paid back in
something other than U.S. dollars. When you owe a large amount of money to
another country, you give them an economic weapon, he said. And while you hear
it said that we owe so much money that our creditors would never call
it--because if they did, the value of their holdings would drop, and US bonds
would plummet in value--a large debt creates an opportunity for foreign policy
pressure. In the case of California,
it would take 84 years to pay back today's debt, if the state borrowed no more
money, he noted.
Campbell observed that the
current level of taxation in California--we
are the number one state in income tax and sales tax--makes the state unattractive
for business and investment. Property taxes are low but property values are
high. Simply raising taxes has consequences; the answer cannot be to just
increase taxes. That will lead to businesses taking their business elsewhere,
and the wealthy, by definition, can go elsewhere.
Campbell
also responded to audience questions, and noted his stand on the May 19 special ballot
propositions, including support for Propositions 1A, 1D and 1E, and non-support
for measures 1B and 1C.
The Council thanks
luncheon sponsor, Archer Norris.
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Advocacy Action
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Council divides vote
in recommending and opposing special ballot measures
In a
thoughtful discussion of ballot measures 1A through 1F, which will be
presented to California
voters in the May 19 special election, the Contra Costa Council's Board of Directors
considered the measures separately at its April 17 meeting.
In separate voting--and in the case
of measures 1E and 1F, with a close result--directors voiced support,
opposition and "no position" on individual propositions.
Proposition 1A: State
budget. Changes California
budget process. Limits state spending. Increases "rainy day" budget
stabilization fund. This measure would make major changes to the way in
which the state sets aside money in one of its "rainy day" reserve accounts and
how this money is spent. Supporting
Proposition 1B:
Education funding. Payment plan. Amends the State Constitution as it
relates to Proposition 98, providing "supplemental education" payments in place
of recent "maintenance factor" payments. Also provides greater discretion to
the Legislature and Governor regarding how the payments would be distributed. Supporting
Proposition 1C:
Lottery Modernization Act. The measure makes major changes to the 1984
voter initiative that created the California Lottery. These changes could
increase lottery ticket sales and allow the state to borrow $5 billion in the
2009-10 fiscal year from future lottery profits. No position
Proposition 1D:
Protects children's services funding. Helps balance state budget. This
measure would temporarily redirect a significant portion of Proposition 10
(First 5 program) funds to achieve budgetary savings and would make permanent
changes to state and local First 5 commission operations. Opposing
Proposition 1E:
Ensures funding for children's mental health services. Helps balance state budget.
Proposition 63 provides state funding for certain new or expanded mental
health programs through a personal income tax surcharge of one percent on the
portion of a taxpayer's taxable income in excess of $1 million. Opposing
Proposition 1F: Elected
officials' salaries. Prevents pay increases during budget deficit years. This
proposition amends the Constitution to prevent the California Citizens
Compensation Commission from approving increases in the annual salary of
elected state officials in certain cases when the state General Fund is
expected to end the year with a deficit. Supporting
Council applauds
collaboration with community clinics to maintain basic health services
At the recommendation of the Health Care Task Force, the
Contra Costa Council has applauded and encouraged the County Board
of Supervisors' directive to the Health Services Department "to continue to work
collaboratively with community clinics and other private health care providers
to explore every possible avenue to maintain basic health care services for all
county residents, including undocumented immigrants."
"We believe this to be the best course of action from both a
public health and a fiscal standpoint, inasmuch as those without health
coverage will suffer from acute illnesses that will be treated in the more
expensive emergency departments of our community's hospitals," wrote Council
President and CEO Linda Best to
Board Chair Susan Bonilla on April 10. "Moreover, the County could benefit from
entering into arrangements with private health care providers at a cost
savings," said Best.
The letter noted the steps the county has taken
so far under the Board's direction, including the March 23 stakeholder meeting
led by Susan Bonilla, County Administrator David Twa, and Director and Health
Officer, Contra Costa Health Services, Dr. William Walker. "We urge you to
exert vigorous leadership in ensuring this collaborative effort continues via a
productive and transparent process, with the recognition that there are
many partners, including community clinics, private hospitals and physicians,
and other community-based organizations, that are motivated to help and have a
lot of wisdom and other resources to bring to the table."
AB 744 offers "innovative
approach" to region's traffic congestion
The Contra Costa Council supports AB 744 (Torrico), which
would authorize the Bay Area Toll Authority to create and operate a value
pricing/high occupancy vehicle network in the nine Bay Area counties, including
high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes.
"We believe that relieving congestion is a high priority to
assure continued economic vitality in our region," wrote Council President and
CEO Linda Best to Kevin de Leon,
Chair of the State Assembly Appropriations Committee, regarding the proposed
legislation. "We support HOT lanes as a congestion management tool that will
benefit commuters by allowing single-occupant vehicles to use HOV lane excess
capacity during peak commute hours for a fee. Linking HOV and HOT lanes will
provide continuous travel benefit for an entire commute, rather than short
trips at a time."
The Council's letter noted the "great value in allowing all
nine Bay Area counties to participate," which would create a region-wide
seamless network of HOV/HOT lanes, providing a much faster commute during peak
hours. The system will also help alleviate commute congestion by diverting
single-occupant vehicles from regular traffic lanes.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission plan shows a comprehensive plan to construct an 800-mile regional HOT network in the
Bay Area. The revenue generated from the initial HOT lane projects in Alameda and Santa
Clara counties could be used to construct additional
HOT lanes to close gaps and extend the system, thus making it truly
region-wide.
Council joins AB 32
Implementation Group in opposing new oil tax proposal
The Contra Costa Council joined other representatives of California's leading business and taxpayer associations
in expressing opposition to AB 656, an oil severance tax proposal that will "penalize
California companies and consumers, result in higher
fuel costs, increase dependence on imported foreign oil and destroy thousands
of California
jobs."
At a time when the state is facing a budget crisis and
families are losing jobs in historic proportions, this proposed severance tax
would further this hardship and likely increase fuel costs even more, noted the
letter from the Council and other members of the AB 32 Implementation Group.
California oil production is already among the
most heavily taxed in the country, and California
motorists pay the highest taxes on gasoline in the country. This new oil
severance tax makes California's
combined taxes on petroleum the highest taxed in the nation by far, the
coalition wrote.
There are few things more volatile than the price of oil in
the world market. The oil severance tax proposal contained in AB 656 would rely
on revenues based on the price-per-barrel of oil on the world market. This will
exacerbate the budget volatility problem that our higher education system has
experienced over the last 10 years and is contrary to the goal of revenue
stabilization.
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More News, Events & Briefings
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Council CEO Linda Best named one of Bay Area's most influential women
Contra Costa Council President and CEO Linda Best was honored as one of "the Bay Area's
most influential women in business" by the San
Francisco Business Times, in a special section of the April 24-30 issue of
the business journal. Best was one of 150 women recognized as "outstanding
women business leaders who wield significant influence in their companies, their
industries and their communities."
The profile noted Best's involvement in Opportunity
Junction; STAND! Against Domestic Violence and the West Contra
Costa Development
Center. Her advice for
young women was "work hard, and use your skills, experience and networking
opportunities to achieve your goals."
When asked what makes her influential, Best referred to
the Council's work, saying, "The organization I represent has credibility. With
a cross section of stakeholders and advocacy based on research and
deliberation, decision makers take our recommendations seriously."
All of the women named by the journal will be honored at
a gala dinner celebration at the San Francisco Hilton on June 4.
Best small businesses to be honored at the Ninth Annual Awards Luncheon on May 15
Ten Contra Costa
County small-business
owners, all nominated by their local Chamber of Commerce, will be recognized at
the Ninth Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon, this Friday, May 15, from 11
a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Concord Hilton Hotel, 1970 Diamond Boulevard. Awards are based on the business owner's
success in developing an outstanding business and the business's contribution
to the community. Winners will be announced at the luncheon.
The popular
annual event is presented by the Contra Costa Council, along with Chevron,
Contra Costa Newspapers and Wells Fargo. Participating Chambers of Commerce
include Antioch, Concord,
El Cerrito, the Hispanic Chamber, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Richmond and
Walnut Creek.
The keynote
speaker is James Sheppard, President of Vetrazzo,
a Richmond
manufacturing company that transforms recycled glass into one-of-a kind
surfaces used for countertops, tabletops, flooring and wall
cladding. Master of ceremonies is Mark Quinn, District Director of the San
Francisco District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The event is
being sponsored by AMERITAC, Inc., AT&T, Comcast, First Republic Bank and Kelly
& Associates, LLP. Additional support is provided by OBDC/Small Business
Finance and the San Francisco Business Times.
For more
information, please contact the Council office at
925-246-1880. |
Task Force Briefings
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Upcoming briefings . . .
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 May and June briefings:
Environmental/Manufacturing
Task Force . . .
Friday, May 1, 8:15 to 10 a.m. . . .
Brown and Caldwell, 201 N. Civic Drive, Suite 115 (Mt. Diablo
Conference Room, third floor), Walnut
Creek. Don Trueblood of Brown and
Caldwell discussed Sonoma County's sustainability
program and the recently produced Sustainable Energy Practices Guidebook for Local Agencies. Next meeting
is Friday, June 5. Contacts: Peter McGaw and George Smith
Health
Care Task Force .
. . Thursday, May 7, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . Morgan Miller Blair, 1331 N. California Blvd., Suite 200, Walnut
Creek. Julie Freestone of County Health Services discussed the communication plan for swine flu (H1N1 strain). Ron Wetter provided an update on Kaiser Permanente's Chronic Conditions Management Community Forum, set for October 9. Next meeting
is Thursday, June 4. Contacts: Ron Wetter (925-372-1475) and Frank Puglisi, Jr. (925-683-6091).
Land Use Task Force . . . Wednesday, May 13, 8 to 9 a.m. .
. . Morrison &
Foerster, 101 Ygnacio Valley Road,
Suite 450 (across from Walnut Creek BART). "The
Effects of the Development Downturn on Local Government Revenues and Staffing
(Part II)," with Dan Keen, City Manager, City of Concord. Association of Bay Area Government's
"Projections 2009" proposal/process. Next meeting is Wednesday, June 10. Contacts: Dan Muller and Mike McGill
Water Task
Force . . . Tuesday,
May 19, 8:15 to 10 a.m. . . .
Morrison & Foerster, 101 Ygnacio
Valley Road, Suite 450 (south of Walnut Creek
BART). Ellen Hanak and Tom Sutton of the Public Policy Institute of California discuss the institute's report, "Comparing Futures for Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta." Next
meeting is Tuesday, June 16. Contacts: Bob Whitley and Mitch Randall
Workforce Development & Education
Task Force . . .
Thursday, May 21, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . .
JFK University,
100 Ellinwood, Room 209, Pleasant Hill. Thomas C. Dalton, Ph.D., Special Consultant, Office of the Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs, Cal State East Bay, discusses the college's recent selection by Living Cities as one of four demonstration sites sponsoring a P-20 Education and Workforce initiative, focused on education reform
and workforce development. Next meeting is Thursday, June 18. Contacts: April Treece
and Keith Archuleta
Small
Business & Entrepreneur Task Force . . . Tuesday, May
26, 7:30 a.m. . . . Mass
Mutual Financial Group, 2121 N.
California Blvd., Suite 395, Walnut Creek.
Producing the annual Small Business Awards event on May 15 (see News & Events, this issue). Next meeting is Tuesday, June 23. Contacts: Stuart Bolinger and Zachary Sahar Economic
Development Task Force
. . . Wednesday, May 27, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . City National Bank, 2001 North Main Street, Walnut Creek, 2nd floor.Heard from Robin Bedell-Waite, Hazardous Waste Reduction Manager, Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Program, on the county's Certified Green Business Program; also from Thomas Mills, Economic Development Administrator, City of Richmond, on the Richmond's economic development strategies and sustainability policies. Next meeting is Wednesday, June 24. Contacts: Gary Craft and Mike Conlon
Social
Responsibility Task Force
. . . Thursday, May 28, 8 to 9:30 a.m. . . . Chapman
University, 2950 Buskirk Ave., Room 307, Walnut Creek. (Check with
the Task Force co-chairs for details.) Recent presentation by the Contra Costa
County Health Department on its services to citizens; continuing to discuss
Unnatural Causes event. Next meeting is Thursday, June 25. Contacts: Mike Erwin
and Mark Hughes
Transportation Task
Force
. . . Tuesday, June 2, 8 a.m. . . . PMI Building, 3003 Oak Road, Walnut Creek
(across from Pleasant Hill BART). (Check with the Task Force co-chairs for
details.) Recently heard from Shirley Douglas, Community Relations Manager, Bay
Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), with an overview on
WETA's expanded mission and the status of its Draft Transition Plan and Draft
Emergency Water Transportation System Management Plan, which can be viewed
online at www.watertransit.org. (Please check with Task Force co-chairs to confirm the July meeting date.) Contacts: Hank Haugse
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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.
© 2009 Contra Costa Council | |
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