Members Only

Minutes from March 20, 2018 Member Only Board Meeting-Sacramento Debrief

March 22, 2018
inland

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

 Member Only Board of Directors Meeting
1601 E. Third St., Suite 138
San Bernardino, CA 92408

Minutes 

Present: Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Mike Burrows, Sandra Cuellar, Jennifer Cusack, Sandra Espadas, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, Bill Lemann, Dan Murphy, Roman Nava, Vikki Ostermann, Thomas Rice, Michael Rivera, Kristine Scott, Hassan Webb and Ray Wolfe.

Guest: Karen Feld

Announcements:  1) The Dodgers are scheduled to play the Washington Nationals during our trip to Washington, D.C.  Mark Kaenel is arranging for group tickets for those who would like to attend the game on Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 1:35 p.m.  Please contact Mark directly as soon as possible if you are interested or would like further information.

Ray Wolfe announced that Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez was authoring a bill to create a voting seat on the Foothill Extension Gold Line light rail governing board for the City of Montclair.  Inland Action agreed to oppose the bill unless amended to change the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority seat from ex-officio to a voting member.

The second announcement for potential member Vavrinek, Trine, Day, & Co. a CPA firm was made.    Kevin Pulliam, Managing Partner of the CPA firm will serve as their member.  Visit their web site at www.vtdcpa.com to learn more about them.  The group will vote next week.

M/S/P: Minutes from March 6, 2018.

The advocacy trip to Sacramento was discussed and meetings were summarized.

  • Those that acted as scribes for the meetings were thanked for their work and speed in submitting their notes.
  • The group stayed at Kimpton’s The Sawyer Hotel this year. All agreed the hotel accommodations were very nice.
  • The meeting room at the Capitol was a time saver and a comfortable space to meet legislators
  • Meeting participants will be asked to limit their cell phone use.
  • The “thank you” document identifying the legislators and specific issues was very useful for the group.
  • Both lunch speakers were interesting and informative. Thanks to Syrus Devers, BB&K and Felipe Fuentes of The Apex Group, arranged by Ken Coate
  • Introductions in the meetings of the many Inland Action members and who they represent emphasizes the groups diversity
  • Going forward, Inland Action Committees will decide who will speak about the issues during the meetings, allowing for broader participation by members.

The trip to Washington, D.C. (May 21-23, 2018) will again include a briefing on Monday from lobbyists and Inland Action will host a reception to be held on Tuesday, May 22 at the Office of Potomac Partners. White House and Capitol Dome tours will be available on a limited basis, and an evening Capitol tour will occur on Tuesday after the IA reception. All will be hosted by Congressman Aguilar.

Advocacy appointments cannot be succesfully requested without listing the issues to be discussed.  Inland Action’s broad issues must be ready the week of April 2nd.

Preliminary issues for the Washington, D.C. trip may include:

  • Department of Transportation
    • Secretary Elaine Chao
      • Fast Act funding
      • Capital Investment Grants- transit
    • Department of Homeland Security
      • Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen
        • Customs services ONT/SBIA/and others in the region
      • Housing and Urban Development
        • Secretary Ben Carson
          • Envision Centers
          • Housing Choice Vouchers

A joint meeting with Monday Morning Group will be requested in order to coordinate federal advocacy issues.

Meeting adjourned at 8:29 a.m.