ALMOST $1.3 MILLION IN GRANTS SECURED IN PAST MONTH!

In the month of May, California Consulting has been notified that grants written by California Consulting grant writers have been awarded in the amount of $1,290,175.  In the past 30 days, the following grants written by California Consulting grant writers have been funded for our clients:

City of Lemoore/$16,164

ABC GAP Grant Assistance Program

City of Arvin/$10,783

JAG (Justice Assistance Grant)

City of Delano/$31,442

JAG (Justice Assistance Grant)

City of Reedley/$13,906

JAG (Justice Assistance Grant)

Fresno Economic Opportunity Commission (EOC)/$70,000

CSBG Targeted Initiatives & Innovative Projects

Alvina Elementary School District/$54,250

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

City of Delano/$144,625

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

City of Gonzales/$36,350

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

City of Lemoore/$150,000

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

City of Newman/$122,545

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

City of Orange Cove/$25,375

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

City of Sanger/$14,790

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

Farmersville Unified School District/$150,000

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

Newman Crows Landing Unified School District/$150,000

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

Parlier Unified School District/$150,000

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

Salinas City Elementary School District/$149,945

Tire Derived - Cal Recycle

Congratulations and we look forward to securing many more grant awards for California Consulting clients.

LOBBYING ACTIVITY

·        SB 325 Update:  The first policy committee hearing for SB 325 (Senator Rubio's short haul rail bill) was held on April 12, 2011 at the State Capitol.  The Senate Transportation and Housing Committee heard SB 325 at 1:30pm in Capitol Room 112. In preparation for the hearing California Consulting and COG staff met with several Legislators, legislative staff, and both Republican and Democrat Committee Consultants.  California Consulting and COG staff also organized a list of key individuals to testify in support of the bill including private sector leaders, representatives from cities, school districts, and others.  California Consulting's Steve Samuelian testified in support of SB 325 at the hearing.  After much discussion SB 325 passed the Committee with a bi-partisan 9-0 vote. In the weeks and days before the hearing, California Consulting kept in daily communication with Senator Rubio's capitol staff and organized a variety of meetings and conference calls to line up support for the bill.  We also organized letters of support and council resolutions in support from various organizations. In May, our team focused on the Senate Appropriations Committee and if the Committee will place SB 325 on "suspense calendar."  This important designation would have meant that the bill would be held in Committee.  Fortunately, SB 325 avoided suspense calendar designation and was moved out of Senate Appropriations Committee.  SB 325 passed the Senate on a 38-1 vote.  We worked closely with Senator Rubio personally as well as his staff. Senator Rubio has again distinguished himself as a champion for Kern County, Valley COGs, and the San Joaquin Valley region. He should be commended for his leadership on this and other important issues.  Once SB 325 is passed by the Senate, the bill will go to the Assembly to start the process over again in Assembly Transportation and Housing Committee.

·        Governor Brown's May Revise Budget Proposal:  On May 16, 2011 California Consulting, LLC sent out a summary of Governor Brown's May Revise state budget proposal.  The Governor's revised budget proposal acknowledges a $6.6 billion increase in tax revenues over the next 13 months.  Gov. Brown also reiterated his proposal to extend tax increases in order to avoid an "all cuts" budget. Brown approximates the state budget deficit at $9.6 billion through June 30, 2012 and his plan would eliminate 5,500 state jobs and 43 boards and commissions. Brown's plan assumes the state will take in $3.6 billion more in the next fiscal year.  Brown's plan envisions schools getting about $3 billion more next year than in the next fiscal year. Brown is still calling for the elimination of RDA's which he believes will save the state $1.7 billion. In his January budget Brown called the elimination of Enterprise Zones. In the May Revise, Brown calls for limiting the credits to new hires but not eliminating the EZ program.

·        Assembly Republican Caucus Releases Budget Proposal:  The Assembly Republican Caucus released a budget proposal  to close the state's budget deficit. The plan would cut spending without raising taxes. The proposal protects local public safety funding, protects Enterprise Zone funding, and recognizes the RDA proposal proposed by the California Redevelopment Association as a viable option.  The GOP proposal adds to the $14.3 billion in cuts and other solutions that the Legislature already adopted.  The Republican proposal counts on $5 billion in revenue ($2.5 billion in higher tax revenues into the State for the current year and a projected $2.5 billion for next fiscal year).  Other elements of the Republican proposal include saving $1.1 billion by cutting state employees by 10 percent; agreeing to another $1.3 billion in cuts originally proposed by the Governor; obtaining $2.4 billion by transferring all remaining Prop. 10 (First 5) and Prop. 63 (tax on millionaires for mental health) funds; and accepting more than $1 billion in cuts and other proposed solutions recommended by the LAO and the Bureau of State Audits.

·        VLF Extension:  There is new language in the budget trailer bill that would give the state more time to extend the VLF increase of 0.15 percent that is set to expire on June 30, 2011. This revenue funds Citizens Options for Public Safety (COPS ), booking fee remediation, and other law enforcement grants that are critical to local police departments. The budget trailer bill (SB 94) was recently amended to include language to delay expired vehicle registration notification, collection, and delinquent payment penalties by approximately two months for vehicle with registration expiring on or after July 1. This gives the Administration and Legislature additional time to attempt to achieve the two thirds vote that is necessary to keep the programs funded.

·        RDA's: We are continuing to work with League of Cities and California Redevelopment Association and others in an attempt to save RDA's.  The vote to eliminate RDA's fell one vote short in the Assembly. In April we have met with several State Assembly Members, State Senators and key staff lobbying them in support of preserving RDA funding. We have also held numerous meetings with the Department of Finance and the Governor's Office regarding this issue. Senator Rubio and Senator Wright also have a bill that we have been involved with that would bring back RDA's in a different form in the event that there is a vote to eliminate them.  We recently sent out the "fact sheet" that summarizes the Wright/Rubio RDA bill.  Juan Garza II from California Consulting has taken the lead in working with the League of Cities and CRA on this issue. Steve has taken the lead working with the Legislature, Department of Finance, and the Governor's Office.

·        Enterprise Zones:  Liz Gomez from California Consulting continues to participate in the weekly EZ conference calls as part of the EZ statewide coalition.  In addition, during the month of April Steve met with several State Assembly Members, Senators, and key staff lobbying in support of EZ's.  Steve has met with Department of Finance and the Governor's Office in April regarding this important issue.  Steve has worked as part of the EZ working group on AB 231, the reform package for EZ's. A summary of the highlights of AB 231 is attached to this report. We encourage all cities, counties, and others to pass resolutions and send letters in support of AB 231.  AB 231 is a fair and reasonable compromise that preserves EZ funding but makes some needed reforms to the program. We are working closely with Assemblyman Perez's Committee staff on AB 231.

·        AB 892: California Consulting has been communicating with Cal-TRANS regarding AB 892 (Carter) a bill that deals with NEPA requirements. This bill is worthy of support and we have attached a summary of the bill.

•       AB 890: Assemblyman Perea has a bill that streamlines CEQA and NEPA requirements.  We recently sent out a summary of AB 890.  A few days ago we were notified that Assemblyman Perea has decided to make this a two year bill so the bill will not be heard or considered this year.

TESTIMONIAL

"As City Manager of the City of Salinas I have witnessed California Consulting's great work first hand. The hard working and responsive team at California Consulting has gone above and beyond the call of duty for the City of Salinas. I strongly recommend California Consulting and have been impressed by their work."

 Artie Fields City Manager City of Salinas