Open Primary initiative gets Council endorsement

Based on the recommendation of the Council's Ad Hoc Task Force on Budget and Governance Reform, directors have endorsed the Open Primary measure on the June ballot. Under provisions of the Proposition 14 measure, all qualifying candidates would be listed on one ballot and voters, regardless of party registration, could vote for any one. Only the top two vote-getters would advance to the general election, even if those two were from the same party.

If passed, the measure would affect every primary race in California with the exception of presidential primaries, party committee elections and nonpartisan elections.

Council urges passage of "linked learning" teacher credentialing legislation

The Contra Costa Council has urged support of AB 1223 (Block), which encourages the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to form a work group to define and issue a linked learning (formerly known as multiple pathways) "recognition of study," a statement added to a teaching credential recognizing that the credential holder has completed a commission-approved course of study in the subject area listed. The Council's Workforce Development & Education Task Force recommended support of the legislation.

"Supporting our teachers to learn, develop and implement applied learning strategies in the classroom is key to student success and retention," said Council President and CEO Linda Best in a March 1 letter to California State Senate Committee on Education Chair, Gloria Romero. "Students should be able to apply their knowledge in ways that allow them to collaborate with other people and utilize new technology. We must educate a more highly trained, flexible workforce with skill sets that allow them to transition to different careers throughout their working lives," said Best.

The bill would acknowledge a competed field of study in multiple pathways/linked learning competence for holders of an appropriate single-subject teaching credential, and would increase the pool of qualified instructors who can link academic content with real-world application, as well as create a visible teacher pipeline for pathways in our state.

Get Connected! campaign raises awareness of the "digital divide"

At the February board meeting, Council directors endorsed the Get Connected! public awareness and education campaign of the California Emerging Technology Fund, which is designed to reach California residents that have not yet adopted broadband technology.

The program was formally launched in June 2009 with the unveiling of the Get Connected! website (www.GetConnectedToday.com) and multilingual public service announcements illustrating the benefits of being connected.

The California Emerging Technology Fund provides leadership statewide to close the "digital divide" (between internet haves and have nots) by accelerating the deployment and adoption of broadband to unserved and underserved communities and populations.

New and prospective Council members are welcome to attend task force meetings. Please notify a task force co-chair prior to the meeting to confirm time and location, as details often change. For more information and to view task force policy papers and recent presentations, visit the main Task Forces page and individual task force pages on our website.

Health Care Task Force . . . . . Thursday, March 4, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . Morgan Miller Blair, 1331 N. California Blvd., Suite 200, Walnut Creek. Provided an update on the Collaborative Care Model for Contra Costa County; reviewed the Health Care Task Force Policy Paper; set May 14 for the Health Care Forum and discussed county budget cuts. Next meeting is Thursday, April 1 (first Thursday.) Co-chairs: Lynn Baskett and Steve Van Wart

Environmental/Manufacturing Task Force . . . Wednesday, March 17, 9 to 10:30 a.m. . . . Brandman University, 2950 Buskirk Ave., Room 307, Walnut Creek. A joint meeting with the Land Use and Water task forces. Frances Spivey-Weber, vice chair of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), will discuss the process and timing of the 2009 water policy reform legislation. Next meeting is Friday, April 2 (first Friday) at Brown and Caldwell, 201 N. Civic Drive, Suite 300, Walnut Creek. Co-chairs: Peter McGaw and George Smith

Land Use Task Force . . . Wednesday, March 17, 9 to 10:30 a.m. . . . Brandman University, 2950 Buskirk Ave., Room 307, Walnut Creek. A joint meeting with the Environmental/ Manufacturing and Land Use task forces. Frances Spivey-Weber, vice chair of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), will discuss the process and timing of the 2009 water policy reform legislation. The task force also met on March 10 to continue to update its Land Use Policy Paper. Next meeting is Wednesday, April 14, 8 to 9 a.m. (second Wednesday), Morrison & Foerster, 101 Ygnacio Valley Road, Suite 450 (across from Walnut Creek BART). Co-chairs: Dan Muller and Mike McGill

Water Task Force . . . Wednesday, March 17, 9 to 10:30 a.m. . . . Brandman University, 2950 Buskirk Ave., Room 307, Walnut Creek. Coordinating a joint meeting with the Environmental/Manufacturing and Land Use task forces. Frances Spivey-Weber, vice chair of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), will discuss the process and timing of the 2009 water policy reform legislation. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 20, at Morrison & Foerster, 101 Ygnacio Valley Road, #450 (across from Walnut Creek BART). Co-chairs: Bob Whitley and Mitch Randall

Workforce Development & Education Task Force . . . Thursday, March 18, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . JFK University, 100 Ellinwood Drive, Room S217, Pleasant Hill . . . Reviews of the anticipated human resource needs in the next three to five years at three institutions, with Ron Wetter of Kaiser Permanente, Marcos Blanco of Sutter Health and Amy Anderson of John Muir Health. Dr. Bette Fulton of the Contra Costa Workforce Development Board will provide an update of the allied health initiative of the Workforce Investment Boards of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Next meeting is Thursday, April 15 (third Thursday). Co-chairs: April Treece and Keith Archuleta

Small Business/Entrepreneur Task Force . . . Tuesday, March 23, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . De La Housaye & Associates, 1655 N. Main Street, Room 210, Walnut Creek. Met in February to begin planning for the May 7 Small Business Awards Luncheon, and attended a joint meeting with the Economic Development and Environmental/Manufacturing task forces featuring Dr. Jasmin Ansar of the union of Concerned Scientists, who addressed the impact of AB 32 on California small business. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 27 (fourth Tuesday), at De La Housaye and Associates, Co-chairs: Angela De La Housaye and Zach Sahar

Economic Development Task Force . . . Wednesday, March 24, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . City National Bank, 2001 N. Main St., #200, Walnut Creek. PMI Building, 3003 Oak Road, Room 124, Walnut Creek (across from Pleasant Hill BART). In February, held a joint meeting with the Small Business/Entrepreneur and Environmental/Manufacturing task forces featuring Dr. Jasmin Ansar of the Union of Concerned Scientists, who addressed the impact of AB 32 on California small business. Next meeting is Wednesday, April 28 (fourth Wednesday), City National Bank, 2001 N. Main St., #200, Walnut Creek. Co-chairs: Gary Craft and Mike Conlon

Social Responsibility Task Force . . . Thursday, March 25, 8 to 9:30 a.m. . . . Brandman University, 2950 Buskirk Ave., Room 307, Walnut Creek. Heard in February from John Cullen, former Contra Costa County administrator, who addressed the financial impact of government cutbacks on basic safety-net services locally. Next meeting is Thursday, April 22 (fourth Thursday). Co-chairs: Kate Ertz-Berger and Mark Hughes

Transportation Task Force . . . No meeting in March . . . Tuesday, April 6, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . PMI Building, 3003 Oak Road, Walnut Creek (across from Pleasant Hill BART). In February, heard from Julie Bueren, Contra Costa County Public Works director, who discussed operation and maintenance of the system of local major thoroughfares and planned projects that compose the county's transportation network. Updates from Brian Hooker of Congressman John Garamendi's staff and Washington, D.C., office staff. Co-chairs: Hank Haugse and Bob Brown

Tesoro's Golden Eagle refinery is located in Martinez on 2,206 acres, about 30 miles east of San Francisco. With a crude oil capacity of 166,000 barrels per day, the Golden Eagle refinery is the company's largest facility and the second-largest refinery in Northern California.

Using crude oils from California, Alaska and foreign sources, the refinery produces a high proportion of motor fuels, including cleaner-burning Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel, as well as conventional gasoline and diesel. The refinery also produces heavy fuel oils, liquefied petroleum gas and petroleum coke. Employing over 750 people, Tesoro Golden Eagle generates over $100 million annually in salaries, wages, and taxes in the state of California.

Environmental stewardship has always been one of Tesoro's most important priorities. Since acquiring the refinery in 2002, the company has invested over a billion dollars in capital projects to keep its refineries well-maintained, environmentally compliant and able to deliver the products necessary to meet customer demand.

The Golden Eagle refinery's community roots are deep, and the values of the company and its employees are aligned to meet its neighbors' expectations. Tesoro's Community Advisory Panel meets monthly to share information about how its operations impact neighbors in Clyde, Vine Hill, Martinez, North Concord, Bay Point and Pittsburg.

In 2009, Tesoro's Golden Eagle refinery invested nearly a million dollars into local charities through employee donations as well as company charitable contributions. During the past year, the refinery supported over 50 charities, and employees donated more than 5,000 volunteer hours. The Tesoro Golden Eagle refinery's commitment to supporting youth in the community is reflected in the fact that more than 90 youth baseball teams, local soccer leagues, and a high school soccer team are all supported by the donation of 15 baseball fields and soccer facilities owned by Tesoro Golden Eagle refinery. Tesoro's sports complex positively impacts local youth and serves over 4,000 families.

Nearly a dozen schools in Contra Costa and Solano counties receive support from Golden Eagle refinery in the form of volunteer teachers and mentors, financial grants, vocational career programs, science fair exhibits and teacher in-service training.

Tesoro Golden Eagle is proud to be a longstanding member of the Contra Costa Council. For more information about Tesoro, visit www.tsocorp.com.

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 on 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.

© 2010 Contra Costa Council