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In This Issue
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Wine and Jazz Walk Info
Chamber to Host 10th Annual Chili Cook-off
Chamber Supports Alverno, SCAG
SGVEP CEO Addresses Rotary Club
Workman's Comp Program Assists Small Businesses/Workeers
Sen. Huff Small Business Advisory Meeting
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Sierra Madre Wine and Jazz Walk to Offer Great Music, Food, Boutiques and HOPE 
 
Wine and Jazz Walk logo
 
The 4th Annual Sierra Madre Wine and Jazz Walk to benefit the City of Hope will be held on Saturday, October 3rd from 4 to 7pm in downtown Sierra Madre.  Thirty Sierra Madre merchants, retailers and downtown businesses will swing open their doors to welcome attendees, offering delicious food from more than a dozen local eateries / caterers / chefs.  As attendees stroll the downtown area, they will be entertained at a dozen venues by twelve jazz combos/bands.  This year's event features the San Antonio Wine Garden in Kersting Court,with Latin jazz band Sweet Heat performing.  The garden will be open 6 to 8pm. There will also be a silent auction featuring dozens of items up for bid.  In its first three years, this event has raised more than $130,000 for City of Hope.
 
But the star of the night will be of course, the wines.  The Riboli Family Wine Estates is the presenting sponsor of the event, donating wine from the historic, award-winning San Antonio Winery to be served at each of the venues.  The Winery was founded in 1917.  During prohibition, when most wineries closed down, San Antonio was able to stay in business by providing sacramental wines to the Catholic Church, and to this day, produces altar wine as well as the aforementioned award winners.
 
Tickets for the event are available online by visiting the event website, or by visiting one of the participating businesses in downtown Sierra Madre.  Advance tickets are $35, on the day of the event, tickets will be $40.
 
About City of Hope - City of Hope is recognized worldwide for its compassionate patient care, innovative science and translational research, which rapidly turns laboratory breakthroughs into promising new therapies. It is one of only 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers nationwide and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. An independent biomedical research, treatment and education institution, it is a leader in the fight to conquer cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases.
 
About San Antonio Winery - Since 1917, The San Antonio Winery has added flair and flavor to celebrations of friends and families throughout Los Angeles and the West.  Today, it is the last of more than one hundred producing wineries that once lined the Los Angeles River Basin.  It is a popular restaurant and legendary banquet location, a comprehensive tasting room, and an international wine shop with hundreds of domestic and imported labels.  The winery is an oasis of good living in the heart of the city.
Chamber to Host 10th Annual Chili Cook-off  The Sierra Madre  Chamber of Commerce will hold its 10th annual Chili Cook-off on Thursday, Oct. 8th from 6 to 8pm in the Sierra Madre Library Garden, at 440 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 
 
Attendees will have the opportunity to sample up to two dozen different chilis.  In addition to prizes awarded based on judging by local judges (Robin Salzer of Robin's BBQ is confirmed as a judge, others will be announced as they are confirmed), those in attendance will have the option of participating in a "People's Choice" award determined by their votes. 
 
All contestants must provide 4 quarts of homemade, ready to serve chili in a crock pot or other heating tray.  Contestants must also provide a serving spoon or ladle, plus condiments specific to your recipe (onions, cheese, etc.).  Chili cups, spoons and napkins will be supplied. 
 
Contest is limited to 25 entries. 
 
The deadline for entry is October 7, 2009.  Entry forms can be downloaded from the Chamber website, or picked up at the Chamber office, 37 N. Auburn Ave., Sierra Madre.  If you'd like a form faxed to you, call the Chamber office at (626) 355-5111.
Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce
Weekly Update - Another way to stay updated is to attend the Coffee with the Chamber each Thursday morning.  Visit us at 37 Auburn, Ste. 1., any time between 7 and 9am.  See you then!
Greetings!

The Board of Directors' meeting, usually held the last Thursday of the month, has been moved to Wednesday, Sept. 30th at 6:30pm in the conference room at City Hall, due to a conflict on the 24th.
 
In this week's (heavily Government Affairs) issue, we discuss the Chamber's statements to City Council about two local issues, Sierra Madre's membership in SCAG, and Alverno's request for a TUP.  We have a couple of updates about the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, which the Chamber became a member of in May, and we talk about the Small Business Advisory Meeting held by State Senator Bob Huff.  Rather than turning this into a novel instead of a newsletter, I only briefly discuss what occurred at these meetings, please feel free to call to discuss any of these meetings or issues that you find interesting.  In addition, there is often literature and/or presentations distibuted at these meetings, will be available to you at the Chamber office.
 
Also in this newsletter, we have information provided by the Division of Workers' Compensation about a program they have, designed to help injured employees stay at work while injured, or come back to work after an injury.   
Chamber Supports SCAG Membership and Alverno TUP Application at 9/22/09 Council Meeting  The Chamber addressed the City Council at Tuesday night's meeting, issuing statements in support of retaining the City's membership in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and in favor of the issuance of a Temporary Use Permit for the rental use of the Villa del sol d'Oro at Alverno High School.  Here's an excerpt from the statement regarding SCAG.  The complete statement can be found on the Chamber website, on the Government Affairs page, in the Legislation section. 
 
"As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for Southern California, SCAG is mandated by the federal government to research and draw up plans for transportation, growth management, hazardous waste management, and air quality.  
 
In 1966, then Ventura County Supervisor John Montgomery stated that "Regional planning is not a matter of if, but rather when and who. Regional planning must come via cooperation and mutual assistance. Regional planning will (either) be accomplished through local governments working together or by big brother mandates from state and national governments."  The Chamber believes that Sierra Madre should be one of the local governments working together in cooperation with our neighbors, rather than being subjected, without any input, to big brother mandates from state and national governments...
 
...The Chamber of Commerce believes that the City of Sierra Madre should remain in SCAG, rather than bowing out, remaining silent during the decision making, and then just having to accept what is decided by others about our City.  We encourage the Council to retain the City's membership in the Southern California Association of Governments."
 
Here's an excerpt from the Chamber's statement regarding the Alverno TUP Application.  The complete statement can be found on the Chamber website, on the Government Affairs page, in the Legislation section. 
 
"The TUP as submitted has numerous conditions designed to mitigate potential negative impact on its neighbors, and we believe that Alverno, in agreeing to these conditions, is doing everything it can to ensure that it does its part to be a good neighbor, while still allowing a venue that will be desirable for certain events.
 
We support our member, Alverno High School, in its request for a TUP, and recognize that this decision has the potential to impact not only Alverno, but several others of our members, such as food and beverage suppliers, restaurants, caterers, and performers who stand to benefit if they are hired at these rental events.  In addition, any additional business brought to town by the TUP (sales tax generated at events, last minute wedding presents, post event snacks at local eateries, etc.) will also benefit the City.  Therefore, we ask the members of the Council to vote to approve Resolution NO. 09-62, the Temporary Use Permit to allow private rental events to occur in the Alverno Villa."
 
Both items were continued until the October 27th meeting.
SGVEP CEO Addresses Rotary Club
Cynthia KurtzCynthia Kurtz, CEO of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, recently addressed the Sierra Madre Rotary Club at their regular Tuesday morning meet at Cafe 322.   Ms. Kurtz began by noting that because the Sierra Madre Chamber is a member of the partnership, its members receive discounted member rates for Partnership events.  She then informed the members of Rotary about the history and mission of the SGVEP, which was started in the 1980s by several SGV city managers who felt that the Valley didn't really have an image, which contributed to difficulty attracting and retaining businesses. So they began a project to address that, and from that the San Gabriel Valley Consortium of Cities was formed.   Because of concerns that the name wasn't effective, it was renamed the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership a few years later. She noted that the agency is currently made up of 68% businesses, 12% cities, 9% education and research institutes, 5% non-profits, and 6% public agencies such as sanitation and water districts.  She described the organization's mission as bringing together the private and public sectors to build the economic base of the entire region.
 
"We do this through three main focuses, public poiicy advocacy, marketing the San Gabriel Valley and business assistance," said Ms. Kurtz.  She noted that the public policy advocacy is done through the organization's Legislative Action Committee, which tracks legislation in Sacramento and Washington, adding that the Committee has been very successful, and is often contacted by the elected officials of the region for the Committee's input..  She discussed marketing of the Valley, which she said is strategically located, particularly for import and export with it's proximity to LA and the ports.  She described the area as being diverse, and also noted that our health facilities and education facilities are respected and known throughout the world.  She told the Rotarians that the SGVEP has a staff member who assists businesses with whatever their needs might be, and that through his association with the LA Economic Development Corporation, he knows who and where the resources are to assist businesses that require help. 
 
She spent several minutes discussing upcoming events, with emphasis on meetings of the Legislative Committee's new Government Reform Task Force, and the various speakers at the meetings of the Task Force (see related California Forward story below, and this Larry Wilson story in the Pasadena Star News about the meeting on 9/3/09).  She discussed the Partnership's plan to start a marketing committee, probably in early 2010.
 
She also spoke briefly about the proposed NFL stadium in Industry, and this subject struck a chord with the Rotarians, as it and the impact that it might have on the Valley dominated the Q and A part of the meeting.

Workman's Comp Benefit Available to Small Businesses, Helps Keep Injured Employees in Work Force

The Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) has launched a campaign to help small employers bring their employees back to work or keep them working following workplace injuries. The "Bring em Back" campaign provides the specific information small employers need, in a user-friendly Web site, to apply for reimbursement for purchases they make to help employees stay working while they recover.
 
According to the RAND Corporation, a non-profit think tank, both employers and injured workers benefit when employees return to work quickly following a workplace injury. That's why the workers' comp reforms implemented in 2004 placed the emphasis on providing injured workers with sound medical treatment and getting them back to work as soon as possible.  It's also why the state developed an incentive program that helps small employers accomplish this goal by providing up to $2,500 in reimbursements for dollars spent on workplace modifications that bring an injured employee back to the job.

Specifically, any employer with fewer than 50 full-time employees, whose employee was injured on the job after July 1, 2004, may qualify for reimbursement of up to:

  • $1,250 for workplace modifications that bring a temporarily disabled employee back to work
  • $2,500 for workplace modifications that bring a permanently disabled employee back to
    work

Reimbursement can be for any of the following expenses, provided they are prescribed by a physician or are reasonably required by work restrictions laid out in a medical report: 

(1) Modification to the work site
(2) Equipment
(3) Furniture
(4) Tools
(5) Any other necessary costs reasonably required to accommodate your employee's restrictions.

Some examples of purchases the state has provided reimbursement for include:

  • A platform and extended eyepiece for a biological analyst
  • Custom knee pads for a tile setter
  • A computer keyboard tray and document holder for an office administrator. 

While there are some restrictions in the program, getting reimbursement is as easy as filling out a few short forms and providing receipts.  In addition to providing reimbursement for purchases that bring an employee back to work or keep them on the job, the state's return to work experts are available to provide consultations and
presentations for employers or employer organizations on the subject.

Questions? Our local contact is Tom Kirkeby, a Workers' Compensation Consultant for the Department of Industrial Relations Division of Workers' Compensation Retraining and Return to Work Unit (there's a mouthful).  Tom can be reached at (213) 576-7398.  He warned me that if he's out of the office, the voice mail call center can sometimes take a little time, so be patient.  He did promise to get back to anyone who calls, and will help you step by step through the process...Or you can call the Return to Work Reimbursement Program at (510) 286-6990 or [email protected]On the Web at www.dwc.ca.gov. Click the "Bring 'em Back" link in the right navigation pane. 

Bob HuffState Senator Huff Hosts Small Business Advisory Committee Meeting  I attended State Senator Bob Huff's Small Business Advisory Committee Meeting this morning, along with, among others, executives from nearly two dozen Chambers in Senator Huff's 59th district.  Senator Huff gave an update from Sacramento, basically an end of session legislative wrap-up, and discussed a wide array of topics, including the impact of legislation signed by Governor Schwarzenegger on the State's business climate, water resources, policies, and the need for addressing the current crisis, transportation, including high speed rail, the Gold Line and the MTA, the ports and their effect on air quality, the budget, the proposed constitutional convention, the proposed NFL stadium in Industry, the Station fire and the potential for mud and debris flow caused by the damage of the fire, prison riots, education, the need for California to become more business friendly to retain existing businesses and to attract businesses, and more.  Definitely a wide ranging discussion, and I realize I haven't told you what he had to say about these issues, only that they were discussed.  I took pretty extensive notes, if there's an issue you'd like to know more about, feel free to call me, or call the Senator's office directly at his Walnut office, (909) 598-3981.  The handout from that meeting, available to members that are interested, was a list of Cal Chamber's pro business bills and a list of their job killer bills, with a brief summary of each.  It also included a list of some legislation that is on the horizon, not yet submitted.

CA Forward Addresses SGVEP Legislative Action Committee
From Senator Huff's meeting, I headed over to the SGVEP offices to sit in on the Legislative Action Committee meeting, which featured a presentation by California Forward, an organization the Sen. Huff had mentioned which claims as its mission to "...improve the quality of life for all Californians by creating more responsive, representative and cost-effective government."
 
I arrived late, as Sen. Huff's meeting ended five minutes before the SGVEP's began (and I was going from Diamond Bar to Irwindale), but arrived in time to see the following part of CA Forward's presentation, regarding their "2010 Reform Plan".
 
CALIFORNIA FORWARD 2010 REFORM PLAN
California Forward is a bipartisan group of citizens from every walk of life who have come together to reclaim our power and make our government work again. Our goal is fundamental change: government that's small enough to listen, big enough to tackle real problems, smart enough to spend our money wisely in good times and bad, and honest enough to be held accountable for results.
 
RESPONSIBLE BUDGETS ON TIME
 
1. Pay-As-You-Go. Require that new programs identify a funding source for any new spending they require.
 
2. Base Budgets on Results. Require the Governor and lawmakers to set clear goals for programs, consider results and effectiveness when making budget decisions, oversee performance to improve efficiency, and consider eliminating outdated and duplicative programs.
 
3. Two-year Budget.  Require the Governor and Legislature to craft two-year budgets with midcourse correction authority, and provide long-term revenue forecasts and capital investment plans.
 
4. One-Time Use of One-Time Revenues.  Reduce future budget shortfalls by prohibiting the use of unexpected spikes in revenues to increase spending on programs that continue year after year.
 
5.  Reduce the Budget Vote Requirement  Reduce the likelihood of budget stalemates by changing the legislative vote requirement for state budget approval to a simple majority (to be adopted in conjunction with the plan's other fiscal reforms, and while retaining the two-thirds majority vote requirement for tax increases).
 
6. Provide Certainty Regarding Passage of Fees. Clarify the circumstances in which the Legislature and the Governor can impose fees without a two-thirds majority vote to those areas with a clear and justifiable nexus to the service provided.
 
GOVERNMENT THAT'S CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE
 
1.  Protect Local Revenue.  Give communities more control over community-related services and prevent the state from siphoning off local revenue by giving local governments legal ownership of specific funds for community services, including the property tax.
 
2.  Foster and Fund Long-Term Collaboration.    Encourage community-level governments to coordinate and consolidate programs when it makes sense. Allow cities, counties and school districts that craft long-term flexible plans to address community needs, to seek majority-vote approval to provide funds to pay for them, while retaining the vote thresholds established under Proposition 218.
 
CONSTITUENT ACCESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY

1. Term Limit Reform. Reducing the total time newly-elected state legislators are allowed to serve from 14 years to 12 years, regardless of whether the time is spent in the Assembly or Senate.
 
2. Constituent Access and Accountability. Requiring legislators to spend part of every year in their district, in consultation with constituents and local leaders. 

California Forward is hopeful that they can bring about these reforms through legislation, but said that it seems more likely that they may need to do it through the initiative process on the November 2010 ballot.  You can find out more about California Forward at their website, www.CAForward.org
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