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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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1355 Willow Way, Suite 253, Concord CA 94520 / 925.246.1880 / www.contracostacouncil.com
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Upcoming Events
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Contra Costa Council, East Bay Economic Development Alliance and Jobs & Housing Coalition present:
An Update on California's Fiscal Crisis
by State Controller John Chiang
Thursday, April 21
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Embassy Suites
1345 Treat Boulevard, Walnut Creek
(adjacent to Pleasant Hill BART)
Register by Monday, April 18, at the Calendar page on the Council website.
For questions, contact the Council office at 925-246-1880.
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Small Business Awards Luncheon
Presented by the Small Business/Entrepreneur Task Force
Friday, May 6
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Hilton Concord
1970 Diamond Boulevard, Concord
Keynote by Sunne Wright McPeak, president and CEO, California Emerging Technology Fund
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Habitat for Humanity Work Day
Saturday, May 21
Contact the Council office at 925-246-1880 to sign up!
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Save the date!
Installation Dinner
Thursday, June 9
Lafayette Park Hotel
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27th Annual Golf Tournament
Monday, August 15
Round Hill Country Club
Alamo
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Questions? Contact the Council office
at 925-246-1880 about any Council event.
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Become a Member!
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Join the Contra Costa Council and help guide our economy and quality of life.
Visit our website or contact the Council office at 925-246-1880, fax 925-674-1654.
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March-April 2011
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Don't keep the Council a secret!
The Contra Costa Council News is published to keep you informed about Council events and activities. This issue and past issues are posted in the News section on our website.
Please share the news about the Council with your friends and colleagues. Click on the link here to forward this issue:
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Woman of the Year Honors
| |  Linda Best honored as Woman of the Year for the 15th Assembly District
Contra Costa Council President and CEO Linda Best was honored as the "Woman of the Year" for the 15th Assembly District by Assemblymember Joan Buchanan and colleagues during a ceremony at the California State Capitol on March 21.
"Linda is an extraordinary business and community leader," Buchanan said. "She is a pivotal leader in Contra Costa County and a dedicated advocate for public policies that enhance the quality of life in our communities and create economic growth. . . . Her leadership has resulted in the Council becoming the region's primary public policy and economic organization," said Buchanan in a press release.
The Woman of the Year ceremony is sponsored by the Women's Caucus of the California State Legislature. The annual Woman of the Year event was started in 1987 by former Assemblymembers Bev Hansen and Sally Tanner. In celebration of the contributions to society made by outstanding women throughout California, one woman from each Senate and Assembly district is invited to come to the capitol to be honored for their accomplishments.
In the photo above, Assembly District 15 "Woman of the Year" Linda Best is flanked by (from left) Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, Vice-Chair of the California Legislative Women's Caucus; John Perez, Speaker of the Assembly; Connie Conway, Republican Minority Leader; and Joan Buchanan, Assemblymember, 15th District. |
March 25 Luncheon Recap
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Transportation Task Force offers forum on transportation project funding
In a sell-out educational luncheon forum presented by the Contra Costa Council's Transportation Task Force on March 25 at Diablo Valley College, three experts shared their knowledge and vision about how regional transportation projects may get funded in the future.
Task Force Co-chairs Kris Johnson and Jim Melino say the forum is the first in a series planned to educate the business community and government officials about different approaches to funding transportation projects. (The next forum is set for Wednesday, April 27, at 11:30 a.m. at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. Watch the Council website for details and registration information.)
Panelist Ross Chittenden, deputy executive director, projects, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, underscored the reality that project financing is not the same as project funding. Chittenden discussed traditional funding mechanisms, offering praise for the half-cent sales tax Measures C and J, which he called "a wise investment." He also discussed "tolling" in terms of the proposed 500-lane-miles hotline/express lane "backbone network" between Route 680 and I-80, the Route 152 Trade Corridor Project in the Central Valley, and the State Route 239 Planning Study.
Kome Ajise, director of Caltrans District 10, affirmed that private investment will be necessary in future transportation projects, as traditional funding sources are limited and cannot be relied on. He discussed AB 680, approved in 2009, which allowed the state to enter into public-private partnership (P3) agreements for demonstration projects. Ajise cited the Presidio Parkway project in San Francisco, noting that the state is trying to establish P3 as a way of funding projects. He identified three projects in the current pipeline: I-710 Freight Corridor, I-710 Tunnel and the High Desert Corridor (Los Angeles to San Bernardino). In terms of lessons learned with P3s, he said, "We need to be organized on the public side to deal with the private sector. It is not a cure-all solution; it will not solve infrastructure funding [issues]."
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Kate Speir of HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions North America Inc.
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Kate S. Speir, director, project development, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions North America Inc., offered a private sector perspective relative to her firm's involvement in the Presidio Parkway project. She said overall project viability is dependent on a combination of factors: project type/procurement model, public sector commitment, a well developed process, appropriate risk transfer and financeability or certainty of financial close. She described a rapid evaluation criteria process. "The private sector wants the public sector to succeed, and it is extremely interested in the California market," said Speir. "There is so much potential and so many projects on the horizon. We have equity we want to invest in California."
Presentations are posted on the Transportation Task Force page of the Council website.
The Council thanks co-hosts, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP and Nossaman LLP San Francisco, and sponsors, Gray-Bowen, Kleinfelder and Mark Thomas Company, Inc. |
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March 11 Luncheon Recap
| |  Assemblymember Joan Buchanan offers sobering Sacramento Update
Sobering, informative and timely are three words describing Assemblymember Joan Buchanan's Sacramento Update to a Contra Costa Council audience of some 90 people at the Round Hill Country Club in Alamo on March 11. The 15th Assembly District representative offered her perspective on budget and legislative issues at the state capital.
The presentation will air on CCTV Wednesday, April 13, at 8 p.m., Friday, April 15, at 1 p.m., and Wednesday, April 20, at 5 p.m. CCTV is AT&T U-verse channel 99, Comcast channel 27 and Astound channel 32. Or visit CCTV's program guide at www.contracostatv.org.
The Council thanks luncheon co-hosts Contra Costa Association of Realtors and IBEW-Local 302, and event sponsor, Wells Fargo. |
February 10 Luncheon Recap
| |  Supervisor Gayle Uilkema says county's goal is long-term sustainability
Building a long-term sustainable organization is the goal of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, Chair Gayle Uilkema told a Contra Costa Council luncheon audience in her State of the County address on February 10 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Concord.
Uilkema asserted that while the county had experienced a substantial drop in revenue, administrators were doing a good job of using resources wisely, including downsizing departments, consolidating workloads and taking advantage of opportunities to reduce costs.
"The budget is balanced but we have future challenges," Uilkema said. She cited the daunting issues of the questionable state budget, a real estate downturn with no end in foreclosures, increases in pension and health care costs, and labor negotiations coupled with contracts expiring at the end of June, and infrastructure needs. Uilkema said the supervisors would continue to address budget issues, along with staffing and technological efficiencies and other post employment benefits (OPEB) provisions. She said Contra Costa had reduced its OPEB liability from $2.6 billion to $1 billion and has over $50 million in a trust fund to provide benefits for retirees. The reduction reflects health plan changes, caps on contributions and labor concessions.
She reaffirmed the policy to use county revenue to backfill state revenue cuts, and said the board is looking at ways to consolidate services and flatten the organization with fewer managers and more direct service providers. Maintaining core service levels is their expectation. She encouraged people to visit the county's updated website and a new redistricting website for news and information about the redistricting process.
Uilkema said the overall goal is to avoid layoffs and to sustain services with a minimal impact to employees. "We recognize that the organization is unsustainable as it is right now. . . . We've got to put in place a sustainable system, not patches on patches. We are buying new tires."
The Council thanks co-host IBEW-Local 302 and event sponsors, AT&T and the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Refinery. |
CCUSA 2011 Recap
| |  Contra Costa USA celebrates 25 years with a star-studded program
Following a day of excellent speakers and expert panels about the regional and statewide economy at the Contra Costa Council's annual Contra Costa USA (CCUSA) program on January 27, some 400 people gathered for dinner and a keynote address at the Hilton Concord by Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Bob Woodward. While he titled his address, "Inside the Obama White House," Woodward in fact discussed everything from why classification and secrecy is a disease in government to his concern about the disconnect that exists between the larger US population and those who serve in the military and fight in wars.
Other speakers during the all-day event included Dan Walters, longtime political columnist for The Sacramento Bee, Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics, and Willie Brown, Jr., former mayor of San Francisco and former speaker of the California Assembly. Panelists included Sunne Wright McPeak of the California Emerging Technology Fund and Michael Genest, former director of the state's Department of Finance, along with Thornberg. In addition to lunch and networking, the annual event features an extensive exhibits section. Ann Notarangelo, journalist and CBS 5 Eyewitness News Weekend Edition anchor, served as dinner emcee.
CCUSA celebrated its 25th year in 2011, which was saluted in a proclamation by the California State Senate and Assembly, represented by State Senator Mark DeSaulnier and Assemblymember Susan Bonilla.
The Council thanks all CCUSA sponsors, exhibitors and table patrons, including Chevron (title sponsor); Contra Costa Times, John Muir Health, Kaiser Permanente, Shell Oil Products and Wells Fargo (major sponsors); AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah, Allied Waste Services, Comcast, ConocoPhillips Rodeo Refinery, Morrison & Foerster, Sunvalley Shopping Center, San Francisco Business Times and The PMI Group, Inc. (sustaining sponsors); Citi, Delta Diablo Sanitation District, ECORP Consulting, Inc., First Republic Bank, Foley & Lardner LLP, Grubb & Ellis, Harris & Associates, Mechanics Bank, Miller Starr Regalia, Mirant, LLC, SunPower Corporation and Waste Management (contributing sponsors).
Photo by Timothy Burman Photography |
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Cheryll LeMay chairs Nominating Committee
Contra Costa Council director and immediate past chair, Cheryll LeMay, is chairing the Council's Nominating Committee. LeMay and her committee have developed a slate of board members who will serve for the 2011-2014 term and a slate of officers for 2011-12, who will be installed at the Annual Board Installation Dinner, scheduled for Thursday, June 9.
Ed Shaffer appointed co-chair of Land Use Task Force
Ed Shaffer, past Council chair and an attorney at Archer Norris, joins Mike McGill as co-chair of the Land Use Task Force.
Mike McGill named to Contra Costa LAFCO
Council Director Mike McGill, who co-chairs the Land Use Task Force, has been appointed to the Special District seat for the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). |
Advocacy
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Council supports cities vying for Lawrence Berkeley National Lab campus
Richmond and Walnut Creek proposals to become the site of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's second campus have received the support of the Contra Costa Council.
In a February 18 letter offering strong support for the city of Richmond's proposal, Council President and CEO Linda Best said, "Not only is the city ideally suited for this facility, it will be a huge asset in generating additional economic development and quality jobs in the city and county." She noted that Richmond is located within minutes of the University of California and LBNL, has enough land to accommodate the potential 2-million-square-foot requirement and has excellent transportation access. "The city also offers a vibrant business climate that includes green-tech research and development and medical and biotechnical science. It has room for Lab spinoff companies, incubators, support services and student housing that will grow with the second campus," she added.
In a March 2 letter supporting the Walnut Creek bid, Best noted, "The City of Walnut Creek has a vibrant business climate that includes state of the art medical facilities, strong financial and professional services sectors, robust art and cultural facilities and a highly skilled workforce. The Shadelands Business Park is home to the Joint Genome Institute and several other prominent businesses. . . . LBNL would realize great benefit in locating the second campus in Contra Costa County and would generate increased economic activity and high quality jobs for its residents."
Endorsement for governor's plan to place tax extension issue on June special ballot
In a unanimous vote at the March 19 meeting, Council directors endorsed California Governor Jerry Brown's proposal to place the tax extension issue on the June special election ballot. The plan seeks voter approval for the state to extend taxes for five years or make additional spending cuts, much of it from schools and public safety.
Directors endorsed placing the issue on the ballot after hearing from education leaders, who included County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joe Ovick, California State University East Bay President Mohammad H. Quyoumi, and Acting President of Diablo Valley College Peter Garcia, who each made a strong case for the need for business support for public education.
Support for SB 14 and SB 15 performance-based budgeting
The Council's Executive Committee strongly supports SB 14 (Wolk, DeSaulnier, Huff and Coauthors: Fletcher, Buchanan) and SB 15 (DeSaulnier, Wolk), California Forward bills on multi-year budgeting and performance-based management and budgeting. "These are non-partisan reforms that apply best practices from successful businesses, local governments and other states and would improve the way the state manages our money and plans for the future," wrote Council President and CEO Linda Best in a February 4 letter to legislative representatives.
Council backs Saint Mary's College bid to host 2012 presidential debate
"Saint Mary's College would be an ideal location for one of the presidential debates due to its location in the greater San Francisco Bay Area," wrote Contra Costa Council President and CEO Linda Best to the Commission on Presidential Debates in offering strong support for the college's bid to host a 2012 US presidential candidates' debate.
"In the past, candidates have found welcoming crowds that appreciate the fact that the candidate values this region's perspective on the American dilemma. Saint Mary's provides a scholarly venue that offers a value-based perspective and background for a presidential debate which would play well to the nationwide audience," she said.
East County conservation plan component should be integrated with Army Corps' permitting
In comments concerning the proposed Regional General Permit (RGP) for East Contra Costa County, the Council is supporting permit provisions that integrate the aquatic features component of the East County Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) with the US Army Corps of Engineers' 404 permitting program. (Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates discharge into wetlands, streams, rivers and other waters.)
"We believe [the HCP] offers an opportunity to streamline the permit process while protecting environmental resources and creating more certainty for the development community," wrote Council President and CEO Linda Best in a letter to Mary Packenham-Walsh, project manager, US Army Corps of Engineers. Best noted that the Council has been very involved with development and adoption of the habitat conservation plan.
"We also believe it is very important that the RGP apply to the entire HCP area, and that it incorporate state agency oversight, for consistency and effective management of the area," said Best, adding a strong recommendation that one district should be in charge of implementing the regional permit. "Since the majority of the HCP area is in the Sacramento District, and since that district has been actively drafting and seeking comments on the RGP, the Sacramento District should also manage its implementation," she said. The Council has also urged compliance with Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (activity resulting in a discharge to U.S. navigable waters) through the RGP. "Such compliance would be an important component of the overall strategy to better coordinate implementation of the Clean Water Act with the Endangered Species Act . . ." continued Best.
BART needs federal funding to replace aging passenger train cars
The Contra Costa Council has written to House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, along with area legislators, urging them to help secure federal funding for BART's highest priority capital project-the replacement and expansion of its fleet of aging passenger train cars. Total cost is estimated at $3 billion to design, build and roll out new and improved vehicles starting in 2017.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has recognized the critical need to assist BART in funding this project. However, at a cost of more than $3 million per car, MTC and other local funds alone will not cover the costs, underscoring the importance of federal participation in the program.
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Social Responsibility Task Force Briefing
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Building a successful business/nonprofit partnership
By Kate Ertz-Berger
On March 24, Charles Broom, vice president of The PMI Group, Inc., and Daryl Lee of Habitat for Humanity East Bay, spoke to the Council's Social Responsibility Task Force about their organizations' unique partnership. After Lee described the work of Habitat for Humanity, Broom discussed how his company became involved with the nonprofit and what they get out of it. His comments offer a blueprint for other companies who are considering such a partnership--and for nonprofits who would like to develop such partnerships.
In addition to donating funds to Habitat for Humanity, PMI employees contribute countless volunteer hours to the nonprofit's building efforts. According to Broom, PMI chose to work specifically with Habitat for Humanity because the organization was highly visible, well known and respected in the community. Broom had served on Habitat for Humanity's board of directors and was therefore very familiar with the agency. Also, working with Habitat offered PMI the opportunity to engage beyond simply donating money. Since the nonprofit builds homes for low-income families, and PMI is in the home loan insurance business, the partnership was a good fit with PMI's corporate purpose.
Working with Habitat for Humanity also offers an opportunity for PMI employees to work together. Broom said that the company found that this corporate/employee engagement extended beyond just the work being done with Habitat for Humanity. It offered a unique teambuilding experience, with the chairman and other PMI executives working side by side with employees from all levels of the company. This has resulted in increased transparency and better communications within PMI.
It should be noted that although PMI does share a special relationship with Habitat for Humanity, employees can volunteer with other groups during the company's monthly volunteer day.
When asked which key ingredients helped develop such a partnership, Broom offered two important ones: 1) finding a connection between the nonprofit and your company; and 2) identifying an individual in the company who can champion the partnership and move it forward.
The Social Responsibility Task Force would like to thank Charles Broom and Daryl Lee for sharing their experience and advice with us. They have given us a great deal to think about.
Kate Ertz-Berger is co-chair of the Council's Social Responsibility Task Force and executive director of the Contra Costa Child Care Council. |
Task Force Spotlight
| |  Environmental/ Manufacturing Task Force strives for balance
The Contra Costa Council's Environmental/Manufacturing Task Force Co-chairs George Smith and Peter McGaw are a dedicated pair. In addition to their role on the task force, they each hold leadership positions on the Council Board of Directors.
Currently Council Chair, George Smith (pictured at left) has co-led the task force for the past five years. He owns and manages GBR Smith Group, LLC, a management consulting and recruiting firm that works with senior management teams on vision, strategic plans and market development, and places executives, engineers and construction managers in key positions nationwide. Smith worked in the environmental consulting and engineering field for many years, which led him to active participation in the Environmental/Manufacturing Task Force.
McGaw (at right), who serves as the Council's chief legal counsel, is a past Council chair and has co-chaired the task force since the mid-1990s. "George and I work well as a team," he says. An environmental attorney with the Walnut Creek law firm Archer Norris, McGaw counsels clients on wastewater permitting, regulatory interactions and groundwater cleanups and defends Clean Water Act and "Proposition 65" lawsuits.
Global climate change
One of the task force's principal topics in the last few years has been global climate change and the implementation of the "AB 32" environmental law. AB 32 and the associated spin-off regulations in other areas--the Bay Area Air Quality Management District rules and CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) guidelines, for example -- are important because of their impact on the business community.
The push for renewable energy is not going to displace conventional energy sources in our lifetime, says McGaw. "Renewable energy is an important part of the picture, but we simply cannot get the infrastructure in place quickly." Permitting alone can take years, once the technology is developed. "It's going to be very challenging to meet our 20% renewable energy target by 2020."
"Emerging regulatory rulemaking under AB 32 has a direct impact on many Council members," observes Smith. "Some of these issues are very hot, very controversial. For example, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission has said it plans to regulate the shoreline of the Bay based on predicted sea level rise, which would extend BCDC's jurisdiction far inland, not just along the existing shoreline of the Bay."
Manufacturing sector represented
Many of the Council's members are from the manufacturing sector, which is highly regulated, particularly on the environmental side. "These members need to be informed on regulatory issues, and we try to meet that need in the task force. As the regulatory climate changes, these businesses can help the regulators understand the consequences of their actions," says McGaw. "Regulation is generally motivated by good intentions, but sometimes the regulatory community loses sight of the impact their regulations have on the community and economy and jobs." He points to the example of recently-proposed air district regulations that would have the effect of driving jobs out of lower-income communities. "These communities need jobs. Imposing stricter regulation on them than on other communities would be counter-productive."
Regulation tends to have a dampening effect on the economy, and onerous regulations are driving business out of the state, they assert. "The state has lost a lot of its industrial base and we see facilities choosing to not expand in California. California is not on the table for discussion as a place to move for a lot of companies," observes McGaw. Smith adds, "there were more than 30 operating petroleum refineries in California 30 years ago. Today, there are 13 active refineries in California. Often, state regulators take the attitude that the loss of energy infrastructure and jobs is okay. Even proposals for modernization of petroleum refineries that are focused on cleaner emissions and improved safety for workers are difficult to implement."
Smith notes that the task force works hard at taking a position that reflects its membership. Recently, Proposition 23 offered a mixed bag of viewpoints and positions, with some members clearly in favor, some opposed and some neutral. In the end, the task force took no position.
Task force briefings
Smith adds that the topics selected for the task force's monthly briefings tend to overlap with those of other Council task forces--Economic Development, Land Use, Water and Health Care in particular. In the year ahead, more joint task force meetings are planned.
McGaw is a strong advocate of consensus building inside and outside the Council. "We on the task force believe it is important that our members understand the issues. It is less important that we take a formal position on every issue that comes before us. By educating our members, they can take the information and disseminate it." He adds, "I don't think we should shy away from debating difficult issues. Our members need to understand multiple sides of the key issues, and it's very healthy to hear all parties and viewpoints."
As for advocacy of Council positions outside the Council, "Peter and I will collaborate," says Smith. "It has not been uncommon for both of us to testify before regulatory agencies, along with Council President and CEO Linda Best."
Broader Council membership
What's on the horizon? Environmental rulemaking will continue, they say. Global warming is a principal area of new regulation. "In the last 10 years, the Council has become more active with its advocacy. In addition, the Council has broadened its membership to include more nonprofit organizations," observes McGaw. "If we can come to a consensus that crosses a larger number of interests, our positions carry that much more weight. We are bringing more people under the umbrella by continuing to focus on economic vitality and quality of life."
"What you do and where you invest your time comes down to what your passion is and why you get up in the morning," summarizes Smith. "I believe in a strong economy, creating jobs and having a high standard of living. I also have a passion for a clean environment and think these can coincide. I am the eternal optimist. Even in the state of California, I believe things will work out. We can have a healthy economy and environment."
"It's the same for me," says McGaw. "My work with the Council and the task force is a way to give something back to the community. The Council's goals are very close to my own. It's a nice fit for me. I value a clean environment and yet I recognize we need to have the economy to support growth and employment. People need jobs and places to work. The Council is an organization that promotes that balance."
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Task Force Briefings
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March and April meetings . . .
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The Economic Development Task Force's January program featured Erik Stenehjem, director of the Industrial Partnerships Office of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
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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 may change. To view task force agendas, policy papers and recent presentations, visit the individual task force pages on the Council website.
Workforce Development/Education Task Force . . . Wednesday, March 2, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . Contra Costa Workforce Development Board offices, 300 Ellinwood Drive, Bodega Room, Pleasant Hill. Reviewed and approved task force charter; California Adult Schools presentation by Joanne Durkee. The next meeting on Wednesday, April 6, will include a presentation and discussion of the "Enhancing Green Economic Vitality in Contra Costa County through Baccalaureate and Graduate Higher Education" study and Stephen Baiter of the Workforce Development Board will discuss the vision and goals of the Summer 2011 Youth Jobs Program. Co-chairs: Joanne Durkee and Kathleen Robinson
Health Care Task Force . . . Thursday, March 3 . . . 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . No meeting in April . . . Morgan Miller Blair, 1331 N. California Blvd., Suite 200, Walnut Creek. Discussed health care reform, countywide indicators and the newsletter articles series being planned. Next meeting is May 5 (first Thursday). Co-chairs: Lynn Baskett and Steve Van Wart
Environmental/Manufacturing Task Force . . . Friday, March 4, 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. . . . Brown and Caldwell, 201 N. Civic Drive, Suite 300, Walnut Creek. Gary Craft provided an update of the strategic action plan being developed for the Diablo Innovation Alliance, a collaborative to support growth of clean energy and water technology industry clusters in the Greater East Bay Region. At the next meeting on Friday, April 1, an update on the activities of the Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Commission, including reports on brownfields and household hazardous waste. (Also see the Task Force Spotlight, this issue.) Co-chairs: Peter McGaw and George Smith
Land Use Task Force . . . Wednesday, March 9, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . Archer Norris, 2033 N. Main Street, Suite 800, Walnut Creek. Ed Shaffer led a discussion of the Williamson Act and Governor Brown's proposal to eliminate state subsidies. Update on the US Army Corps of Engineers' proposed Regional General Permit development for the East County Habitat Conservation Plan; heard from Kate Dadey, Ph.D., and Mary Pakenham-Walsh of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento Regulatory Division. (This presentation is posted on the Land Use Task Force homepage as a pdf file.) The next meeting on Wednesday, April 13, will cover the Sustainable Communities Strategy. Co-chairs: Mike McGill and Ed Shaffer
Water Task Force . . . Tuesday, March 15, 8:15 to 10 a.m. . . . John F. Kennedy University, 100 Ellinwood Way, Room N-358, Pleasant Hill. Discussion of a Delta Risk Management & Emergency Preparedness statement. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 19. Co-chairs: Bob Whitley and Ann Spaulding
Small Business/Entrepreneur Task Force . . . Tuesday, March 22, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah, 3055 Oak Road, Walnut Creek (next to Pleasant Hill BART) . . . Quarterly meeting with chamber executives and legislative representatives; discussion of small-business issues, update on 1099 legislation. Planning the Small Business Awards luncheon event honoring outstanding small-business owners on Friday, May 6, at the Hilton Concord (see upcoming events). Co-chairs: Angela De La Housaye and Zachary Sahar
Economic Development Task Force . . . Wednesday, March 23, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . City National Bank, 2001 N. Main Street, Suite 200, Walnut Creek. Michael Keer, founder and CEO of the Product Realization Group, described PRG's "one-stop-shop" of outsourced services that enable rapid and cost-effective introduction of products to market (including the cleantech market) with additional compliance, manufacturing, service and lifecycle support. Next meeting is Wednesday, April 27. Co-chairs: Mike Conlon and Gary Craft
Social Responsibility Task Force . . . Thursday, March 24, 8 to 9:30 a.m. . . . Brandman University, 2950 Buskirk Ave., Room 307, Walnut Creek. Presentation on the unique partnership between The PMI Group, Inc., and Habitat for Humanity. Next meeting is April 14 (second Thursday). Co-chairs: Kate Ertz-Berger and Mark Hughes
Transportation Task Force . . . Friday, March 25, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. . . . Special educational luncheon forum on transportation project funding at Diablo Valley College, Trophy Room, Pleasant Hill (see recap, this issue). Next meeting is Wednesday, April 27, at Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Round Hill Road, Alamo. Co-chairs: Kris Johnson and Jim Melino
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New Members
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Please welcome our new Contra Costa Council members!
True Life Financial
Rick Vossekuil
Justin Clark
6111 Bollinger Canyon Road, Suite 560
San Ramon, CA 94583
www.americapdp.com
Rick Vossekuil
925-824-4318 ph
rvossekuil@americapdp.com
Justin Clark
925-824-4325 ph
jclark@americapdp.com
An established land development, consulting and construction firm headquartered in San Ramon.
Burr Pilger Mayer, Inc.
Jenise Gaskin, Shareholder
Phil Leibowitz
Jackie Matsumura
David Chong
100 Pringle Avenue, Suite 340
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-296-1016 ph
925-296-1099 fax
www.bpmcpa.com JGaskin@bpmcpa.com
jmatsumura@bpmcpa.com
pleibowitz@bpmcpa.com
dchong@bpmcpa.com
The largest regional accounting firm in California with offices in San Francisco, San Jose, Palo Alto, Walnut Creek, Novato and Santa Rosa
Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay
Michael Shabaka, Senior Director of Business Development
Kimberly Scrafano, VP Communications & Fundraising Director
1301 30th Avenue
Oakland, CA 94601
www.eastbaygoodwill.org
mshabaka@eastbaygoodwill.org
Kimberly.scrafano@eastbaygoodwill.org
A nonprofit agency providing job training, employment experience and life skills, enabling disadvantaged and disabled individuals to achieve self-sufficiency
Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County
Barbara Cappa, Legislative Liaison
1410 Danzig Plaza, Suite 110
Concord, CA 94520
925-938-8258 ph
925-930-0892 fax
www.capc-coco.org bycappa@aol.com
Through education, support, community resources, mentoring and example, CAPC has led Contra Costa County's efforts to protect children.
Environmental Risk Consulting
Ed Morales, Principal
2212 Alps Court
Martinez, CA 94553
925-437-4590 ph
Edmorales928@gmail.com
Environmental risk management consulting, environmental insurance consulting, environmental insurance expert witness and environmental due diligence
Holland & Knight LLP
50 California Street, Suite 2800
San Francisco, CA 94111
415-743-6900 ph
415-743-6910 fax
www.hklaw.com
David Preiss
David.preiss@hklaw.com
Michelle Moore
Michelle.moore@hklaw.com
With 1,100 lawyers, 150 practice areas and a global presence, the law firm of Holland & Knight offers the experience and resources to handle the most difficult legal challenges. In California, including Contra Costa County, Holland & Knight has a strong presence in land use and environmental law.
Law Office of R. Paul Bonnar
R. Paul Bonnar, Principal
2255 Contra Costa Blvd., Suite 205
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
925-825-4852 ph
925-825-1218 fax
bonnarlaw@comcast.net
Merrill Lynch
Susan Wichmann, VP
1331 North California Blvd., Suite 700
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-945-4806 ph
925-234-4156 fax
Susan-a-wichmann@ml.com
Wealth management
Presidio Bank
Scott Hagan, SVP
Vern Padgett
Kathleen "Pru" Pruden
Mark Russell
1850 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite 650
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-287-7887 ph
925-287-7899 fax
www.presidiobank.com
shagan@presidiobank.com
vpadgett@presidiobank.com
kpruden@presidiobank.com
mrussell@presidiobank.com
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About the CouncilThe Contra Costa Council is a public policy advocacy organization that promotes the economic vitality and quality of life of Contra Costa County and the Greater East Bay region. The Council engages on issues of critical importance to the business community and residents of the county, balancing the needs of a diverse region through policy efforts that provide for local and regional economic development while retaining our quality of life. Through its task forces, the Council develops and supports policy positions to further its mission and sponsors educational forums for its members and the community. 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. © 2011 Contra Costa Council
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