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Contra Costa Council News for April 2013
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Upcoming Events
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Lunch with State Senator Mark DeSaulnier
Friday, April 26
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Crowne Plaza Hotel, 45 John Glenn Drive, Concord
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Small Business Awards Luncheon
Friday, May 10
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Hilton Concord, 1970 Diamond Boulevard
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Affordable Health Care for Small Business
Wednesday, May 22
7:30 to 9:30 a.m. JFK University, 100 Ellinwood, Pleasant Hill
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Board Installation Dinner
Thursday, June 13******* Contra Costa Council/WSPA 29th Annual Golf Tournament
Monday, August 12
Round Hill Country Club, Alamo
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Register for all events at the Council website. For more information, contact the Council office or call (925) 246-1880, fax (925) 674-1654.
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| WHAT'S NEW? | | Share the good news about the Council
The Contra Costa Council News is published to keep you informed about Council events and activities.
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MAY 10 AWARDS LUNCHEON
| |  East Bay entrepreneur Rich Stump to keynote annual Small Business Awards
Keynote speaker at the Contra Costa Council's 13th Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 10, will be Rich Stump, founder and principal at Fathom, a full-service East Bay product development company specializing in 3D printing, rapid prototyping and design. Master of ceremonies will be Dan Ashley, ABC7/KGO-TV news anchor.
The annual luncheon honors award-winning small-business owners selected by Chambers of Commerce throughout Contra Costa County. Presented by the Contra Costa Council's Small Business/Entrepreneurial Task Force, the luncheon will be held at the Hilton Concord, 1970 Diamond Boulevard, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., May 10.
Stump will share his knowledge on how to strategically approach the market with new ideas while utilizing market-leading technologies. Through his experience in product development and taking products to market, Stump developed and grew three other successful product development businesses, won the World Wide Dominator award at ANSYS Inc. in 2006, and recently helped start and grow Simple Wave, LLC.
Luncheon title sponsors are Chevron and Wells Fargo. Additional sponsorships are available. For reservations, please call the Council office at (925) 246-1880, or visit www.contracostacouncil.com. Tickets are $50 for members, Chambers and public officials, and $60 for nonmembers. |
APRIL 8 LUNCHEON RECAP
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 | | Pollster Alex Evans with moderator Lisa Vorderbrueggen |
Contra Costa Poll finds voters have a positive outlook on the future
A recent telephone survey found Contra Costa voters generally optimistic about the direction the county is heading. In fact, general optimism is at its highest level since 2006, according to the Contra Costa Poll, conducted by well-known pollster Alex Evans, president of EMC Research.
Results of the poll were shared with a Contra Costa Council audience at an April 8 luncheon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Political reporter Lisa Vorderbrueggen moderated the session. The Council event was presented by Phillips 66, Shell and Tesoro, which funded the study.
The poll is part of an ongoing effort to explore local voter opinions to help encourage an informed conversation on timely public policy issues. Specifically, the survey sought opinions on Proposition 13, tolerance for new taxes for public services and perspectives on Governor Brown's Proposition 30.
Other key results of the poll were:
- A majority of county voters supported Prop 30 (and still admit to it).
- Contra Costa County voters in general are open to supporting certain tax measures and paying higher taxes for high quality public services.
- Voters would like to see their tax dollars go toward education, public safety, and infrastructure.
- Many voters are unfamiliar with Prop 13; when they learn more about it most have a favorable opinion.
- A majority favor tax breaks for businesses.
For more information about the poll, see the PDF presentation, posted on the Council website, here.
Photos of the event can be viewed in the Photo Gallery. |
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APRIL 5 LUNCHEON RECAP
| |  Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla looks to the May Revise for a (possibly) better California budget outlook
A packed crowd gathered for a ribs lunch at the Back Forty Texas BBQ in Pleasant Hill on April 5 to hear from Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla on the Governor's proposed budget package and current legislation. The event was hosted by the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce with participation by the Greater Concord, Hispanic, Martinez, Pittsburg and Walnut Creek Chambers and the Contra Costa Council.
Assemblywoman Bonilla, who chairs the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, noted that the Assembly has the largest freshman class ever with 28 new members, and 27 freshman are now part of the Democratic Caucus. She said that members have to rely on staff to stay in touch, and she finds that lobbyists are helpful "in protecting our interests from unintended consequences."
"A lot of trust was placed in us with the passage of Proposition 30," she observed. "I don't think being in this position is something you take for granted." Bonilla discussed cap and trade and other legislative issues. She commented on the rolling back of Cal grants and the fact that the governor's proposal for adult education "was not thought through and the plan didn't work." She called for more funding for career tech and Linked Learning and said she hoped for changes in the May Revise. "We'll see if there is more revenue then," she added.
Photos of the event can be viewed in the Photo Gallery. |
| CONTRA COSTA ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP'S STEM WORKFORCE INITIATIVE | |
 | | San Ramon Valley Unified School District students swept the top awards at the annual fair. |
Future scientists and engineers show their stuff at regional competition
More than 140 employer representatives converged on Los Medanos College (LMC) on March 22 to judge close to 250 science and engineering projects from 20 Contra Costa middle and high schools. The setting was the 9th Annual Intel-affiliated Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair, which each year showcases students' original experiments and allows the region's budding scientists and engineers to demonstrate their knowledge and critical-thinking skills.
The three-day science competition, hosted by LMC, was generously sponsored by Bio-Rad Laboratories, John Muir Health, Chevron, Lawrence Livermore National Securities and 12 other local companies.
"I was amazed at the caliber of science and engineering our students are engaged in," said Richard Tornai, Global IT Business Technology manager at Bio-Rad Laboratories. Tornai served as one of six chief judges at the fair and spent more than 13 hours reviewing and discussing projects before making the final decisions on student awards. "I was impressed by the event. The fair is an important venue to support high-quality STEM exploration for our region's young people," he said.
At the awards ceremonies on March 23, San Ramon Valley Unified School District students swept the top awards at the annual fair with projects from Monte Vista and Dougherty Valley high schools and Windemere Ranch and Gale Ranch middle schools.
More than 1,000 community members watched as 65 special awards were conferred, including over $6,500 in cash prizes. Six "best in fair" Grand Sweepstakes awards were given to the top projects, which included both senior (grades 9-12) and junior (grades 7-8) divisions. Senior division winners go on to compete in the international science fair in Phoenix, May 13-17. Junior Sweepstakes winners compete in a national science competition, which culminates in Washington, D.C., in October.
For more information, go to http://www.cccsef.org/ or contact April Treece at the Contra Costa Economic Partnership at ccep@cococo.org. |
MARCH 21 RECEPTION RECAP
| |  Assemblymember Jim Frazier of Oakley receives a warm Council welcome
District 11 Assemblymember Jim Frazier was greeted like an old friend at his first Contra Costa Council reception on March 21 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Concord. The former Oakley City Council member and mayor introduced himself, his wife Janet and his staff, and talked about how he became involved in public service following a family tragedy.
In December 2000, the two Frazier daughters were in a head-on collision due to black ice on their way to Lake Tahoe. One daughter died and the other was in critical condition. When the grief-stricken family learned that there had been 143 accidents and many fatalities on that stretch of Highway 50, the family succeeded in convincing Caltrans to widen the median and install a new pavement to prevent black ice on that part of the highway. The unfortunate tragedy sparked Frazier's interest in highway safety and transit issues.
The contractor and small-business owner has served as a commissioner on the Contra Costa Transit Authority and as vice-chair of TRANSPLAN. He also chairs the State Route 4 Bypass Authority and has been a member of the eBART Advisory Committee. Frazier says his priorities are protecting the Delta, repairing the infrastructure of our roads and highways, limiting hikes in college tuition, maintaining funds for local public safety and encouraging job creation. The 11th Assembly District includes Oakley, Pittsburg, Brentwood, Rio Vista, Fairfield, Antioch, Vacaville and Isleton.
Photos of the event can be viewed in the Photo Gallery.
The Council thanks sponsors Gray-Bowen, Tesoro and Republic Services.
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| CEO VIEWPOINT | |  Have you had the Conversation? By Linda Best, President and CEO, Contra Costa Council
In cooperation with the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association, the Contra Costa Council recently co-sponsored a very informative session about end-of-life medical care and the decisions associated with that important part of our lives. Co-sponsors were the California HealthCare Foundation and the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California.
The conference was keynoted by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and social commentator Ellen Goodman, who discussed "good deaths" and "bad deaths." She stressed the importance of "having the conversation" with loved ones to discuss end-of-life choices and to do it before the pressure cooker of a doctor's office or a hospital admission turns into a cascade of decisions that may not reflect the wishes of the patient.
A survey conducted by the California HealthCare Foundation found that 60 percent of those surveyed felt it was extremely important that family members are not burdened by tough decisions about their care. However, only 42 percent have had the conversation with family members and only 23 percent have put their wishes in a written document. Reasons cited for not dealing with this important issue include "too many other things to worry about" and "don't want to think about death or dying."
In addition to individuals having the conversations and putting their wishes into a written document, it is equally important that the health care system have processes in place to ensure that the patient's wishes are known and respected. Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez has begun this process and has educated and engaged its medical language translators for non-English speaking patients in end-of-life conversations.
Contra Costa has been identified as a pilot area to launch The Conversation Project in California. It is a diverse area with a lot of interest and where the "end of life" conversations are already taking place. The region has aging baby boomers, big businesses, multiple ethnicities and a ready set of players to begin the conversation. There are two paramount goals:
- Improve the lives of the people of Contra Costa by facilitating conversations about end-of-life care at the kitchen table (rather than in the intensive care unit); and
- Have Contra Costa become a national leader in transforming our culture around talking about how we want to live at the end of our lives.
The assembled group at the conference committed to carrying this message forward and to make Contra Costa a leader in The Conversation Project.
If you are interested in more information, go to The Conversation Project website at www.theconversationproject.org. There is also a starter kit available on the website to guide you through the process.
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| ADVOCACY | | Council endorses extending air quality and clean transportation legislation
The Contra Costa Council has signed on with a range of other organizations to express strong support for SB 11 and AB 8, which would extend the sunset dates in important programs that provide critically needed investment in air quality and clean transportation. These include the Carl Moyer Program and the local diesel emission reduction programs authorized under AB 923 (Firebaugh, 2004) as well as the Air Quality Improvement Program, the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, and the Enhanced Fleet Modernization Program, which were authorized under AB 118 (Nunez, 2007).
Additionally, the bills provide a path forward under AB 118 for hydrogen fueling infrastructure funding necessary to support commercial fuel cell vehicle deployment in California in 2015.
The incentives provided through these programs have already resulted in significant quality and public health benefits, supported advances in clean transportation technology, and supported deployment of advanced technology vehicles. The programs provide significant economic assistance and support new jobs in communities throughout California.
Organizations supporting the action include the California Association of Winegrape Growers, the Coalition for Clean Air, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, California Rice Industry Association, the Environmental Defense Fund and others. |
| NEWS FOR OUR MEMBERS | | UC Berkeley Extension Internship Program seeks business mentors
The University of California Berkeley Extension's Internship Program might be just what you're looking for. The program is part of the International Diploma Programs (IDP) at UC Berkeley Extension, and according to program coordinator/instructor Marena Cortes, it attracts high achievers from around the world, all of whom typically have undergraduate degrees, are multilingual and may have significant work experience.
Many have advanced degrees or plan to earn an MBA in the future. Areas of focus include business administration, finance, global business management, marketing and project management. All five of the rigorous IDP academic programs are reviewed and approved by the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.
A fundamental aspect of the internship program is to mentor future business leaders. A business's willingness to take on this role is essential for a successful internship experience. For details, visit www.unex.berkeley.edu/diploma or contact coordinator Marena Cortes at mcortes@unex.berkeley.edu, (510) 643-4228. |
| NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS |
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Grab the opportunity to provide input to the Workforce Development Board's strategic plan 
Contra Costa County Supervisors are holding public meetings to discuss the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County's five-year strategic plan. Your input is essential as the board develops a plan to meet the needs of businesses in the county and ensure that residents have the necessary skills to compete for jobs in the regional economy.Opportunities to provide input include:
- Thursday, April 18, from 3 to 5:30 p.m., Martinez IBEW meeting hall, 1875 Arnold Drive, Martinez, with District II Supervisor Candace Andersen and Supervisor Karen Mitchoff
- Tuesday, April 23, from 3 to 5:30 p.m., Richmond City Hall, 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, with District I Supervisor John Gioia
- Thursday, April 25, 3 to 5:30 p.m., Dallas Ranch Middle School, 1401 Mt. Hamilton Drive, Antioch, with District V Supervisor Federal Glover and District III Supervisor Mary Piepho
The meetings are being presented in partnership with EastBay Works, the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County and the Richmond Workforce Investment Board. Visit the Workforce Development Board website or call (925) 602-6800.
Decision Makers Conference focuses on the importance of trade to region's economic success
Plan to attend the Bay Planning Coalition's 26th Annual Decision Makers Conference, titled Fueling California's Economic Engine & Jobs: The Importance of Trade to Northern California, on Friday, May 3, at the new Pavilion at Scott's Seafoord, 2 Broadway, Jack London Square, Oakland. The forum will highlight the considerations involved in supporting thriving commerce while preserving our natural environment and sustaining an exceptional quality of life. Breakfast and registration start at 7:45 a.m., and the all-day meeting concludes with a reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
The conference features an array of speakers and panel discussions, including a keynote by Dr. Scott Anderson, chief economist, Bank of the Best, and a luncheon address by US Congressman Eric Swalwell. Visit the DMC website for more information or contact BPC at (510) 768-8310, bpcstaff@bayplanningcoalition.org.
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TASK FORCE BRIEFINGS
| | April and May briefings
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 meeting topics, time and location, as details may change. To view task force agendas, policy papers and recent presentations, visit the task force pages on the Council website.
Land Use Task Force . . . . Tuesday, April 2, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . PMI Building, 3003 Oak Road. Walnut Creek. Joint meeting with the Transportation Task Force. "Plan Bay Area" presentation by Amy Worth, chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and mayor of Orinda, and Julie Pierce, vice president of the Association of Bay Area Governments and mayor of Clayton. Next regular meeting is Wednesday, May 8, at Archer Norris, 2033 N. Main Street, 8th floor (parking entrance on Pringle), Walnut Creek. Topic will be CEQA reform. Co-chairs: Mike McGill and Ed Shaffer
Transportation Task Force . . . Tuesday, April 2, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . PMI Building, 3003 Oak Road, Walnut Creek. Joint meeting with the Land Use Task Force (see above). Next regular meeting is Tuesday, May 7 (to be confirmed). Co-chairs: Kris Johnson and Roger Hughes
Health Task Force . . . Thursday, April 4, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . Burr Pilger Mayer, 2001 N. Main Street, Suite 360, Walnut Creek. Discussed plans for the Exchange Educational Series, the first of which was held April 11, and an update on the county budget and health care reform from Dr. William Walker. Planning the Affordable Health Care for Small Business event on Wednesday, May 22 (see upcoming events). Co-chairs: Steve Van Wart and Mitchell Zack
Environmental/Manufacturing Task Force . . . Friday, April 5, 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. . . . Brown and Caldwell, 201 N. Civic Drive, Suite 300, Walnut Creek. Presentation by Earl Hagström of the Sedgwick law firm, entitled "Hydraulic Fracturing - Understanding and Managing the Risk." Next regular meeting is Friday, May 3. Co-chairs: Peter McGaw and George Smith
Water Task Force . . . Tuesday, April 16, 8:15 to 10 a.m. . . . John F. Kennedy University, 100 Ellinwood Way, Room S-312, Pleasant Hill. Karla Nemeth, California National Resources Agency program manager responsible for developing the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), discussed the plan, next steps for public review and later actions. Next meeting is Tuesday, May 21. Co-chairs: Ann Spaulding and Bob Whitley
Social Responsibility Task Force . . . Thursday, April 18, 8 a.m. . . . Brandman University, 2950 Buskirk Avenue, Room 307, Walnut Creek. Special workshop about the benefits of serving on a nonprofit board, Strategic board service: Maximize the ROI for you, your company and the community. Featuring Jonathan Hawkins of BENU, Inc., Tim O'Keefe of Shelter Inc. of Contra Costa County, Ashoo Vaid of Wells Fargo, Susan Wichmann of Wells Fargo Advisors, and moderated by Leyna Bernstein of Leyna Bernstein Consulting. Next regular meeting is Thursday, May 23. Co-chairs: Mark Hughes and Judith Parker
Small Business/Entrepreneur Task Force . . . Tuesday, April 23, 8:30 a.m. . . . AAA, 3055 Oak Road, Yosemite Room A, Walnut Creek . . . (RSVP required.) Quarterly meeting. Also discussing plans for May 10 Small Business Awards Luncheon (see article this issue). Co-chairs: Angela De La Housaye and David Kelly
Economic Development Task Force . . . Wednesday, April 24, 8:15 a.m. . . . Contra Costa Workforce Development Board, 300 Ellinwood Way, Bodega Room, Pleasant Hill. Dr. Sean K. Wright of the Wright Start Family Wellness Center in Antioch, will discuss the EC2 initiative, a strategy to support the growth and vitality of East Contra Costa. Next regular meeting is Wednesday, May 22. Co-chairs: Mike Conlon and Gary Craft
Workforce Development/Education Task Force . . . April meeting canceled. . . . Wednesday, May 1, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . Contra Costa Workforce Development Board, 300 Ellinwood Way, Bodega Room, Pleasant Hill. In March, discussed the strategic plan of the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County, led by Donna Van Wert and Paul Buddenhagen. Heard from Tomi Van de Brooke of Assemblymember Susan Bonilla's office, who explained the role of the Education Budget Committee in the budget approval process. Co-chairs: Joanne Durkee and Kathleen Robinson |
CORPORATE MEMBER PROFILE
| |  Contra Costa Times is a great partner with the Council and the county
The Contra Costa Times was founded in 1947 by the late Dean S. Lesher, whose early vision of population growth and business potential in the San Francisco East Bay led him to build one of the country's most successful suburban daily newspaper networks.
In November 1995, the newspaper network was purchased by Knight Ridder, Inc., publisher of the San Jose Mercury News. In summer 2006, the Times and the San Jose Mercury News were purchased by Media News Group of Denver, CO, publisher of nine daily newspapers in Alameda, Marin, San Mateo, Solano and San Joaquin counties.
Combined, the newly formed Bay Area News Group provides award-winning daily news coverage to an audience of more than 2.7 million every week through its newspaper editions and their online sites, ContraCostaTimes.com, OaklandTribune.com, InsideBayArea.com and SanJoseMercuryNews.com.
Today, the Contra Costa Times has five daily editions: Contra Costa Times, San Ramon Valley Times, East County Times, West County Times ande Tri-Vally Times. The Times also publishes 13 localized weekly newspapers, each focused on its unique community, which are distributed throughout the Oakland Hills, Alameda County and Contra Costa County.
Additionally, a myriad of niche products include special interest magazines, and online and mail products providing multimedia marketing solutions for Bay Area businesses. Strategic online partnerships with companies like Yahoo!, Monster, Zillow and Cars.com underscore the Bay Area News Group's commitment to quality, innovation and new technology.
The Times' community relations program assists more than 100 nonprofit organizations and charities. Its own annual events include, Scholastic Journalism Awards, Project Ready To Learn, Share the Spirit holiday giving program, Election Preview political forums and Newspapers in Education school programs. The annual Contra Costa Times Spelling Bee sends one winning student selected from among more than 100 county elementary and middle schools to represent Contra Costa at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC.
Bay Area News Group is part of the California Newspapers Partnership, the largest publisher of daily newspapers in California. The Contra Costa Times is represented on the Council Board of Directors by Jenny Kohler, director of Advertising, and continues to sponsor many Contra Costa Council events, including the upcoming Small Business Awards Luncheon, the Annual Golf Tournament, Contra Costa USA and the Contra Costa Philanthropy Awards program. |
ABOUT THE CONTRA COSTA COUNCIL
The 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, please visit www.contracostacouncil.com.
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.
© 2013 Contra Costa Council
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