Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Executive Committee – Members Only Meeting
Virtual Meeting via ZOOM
Minutes
Present: Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Mike Burrows, Ken Coate, Kevin Dyerly, Louis Goodwin, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, Bill Lemann, P.T. McEwen, John Mirau, Dan Murphy, Vikki Ostermann, Michael Rivera, Dan Roberts, Kristine Scott and Ray Wolfe.
M/S/P: Minutes from January 14, 2020.
Kristine Scott, Past Chair presiding.
Members discussed the Washington, D.C. advocacy trip.
- The group was pleased that the trip was successful and completed prior to the wide spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- The meeting with Lauren Moore, Senator Harris’s staff was productive. Ms Moore was well informed and members will follow up with her.
- Discussions regarding judicial issues were well received and resonated with legislators.
- A good deal of information was exchanged in the meeting with the Department of Commerce. EB-5 and Import/Export Bank issues were discussed. Members will follow up with continued dialog.
- Positive feed-back regarding the SBIA U.S. Forestry Service Tanker Base has been received. Congressman Aguilar will continue working for needed funding.
In the future, the group will more heavily rely on Leticia White, Innovative Federal Strategies to assist with scheduling appointments. The legislative leave-behind material is of great benefit and the group continues to receive compliments from staff and legislators.
California Senator Richard Roth indicated that the Inland Action group would be wise to postpone the Sacramento trip, realizing that the budget revise will come out in mid-May. He indicated that our issues should be laser focused on legislative or budgetary issue that can help and make a difference in the Inland Empire. He recommends that we not contact people who do not oppose our issues. Hearings have been canceled and the legislature is conducting only essential business. The group should consider contacting individual members to discuss specific issues.
Committee Chairs were asked to conduct committee meetings remotely and work to get written issues by April 10, 2020. A conference call can be scheduled for April 14, 2020 to discuss.
The group discussed having Zoom meetings with the entire membership. Future speakers were discussed that could educate the group on current challenges and community needs. Members were asked to send their speaker suggestions to Deborah Barmack.
Both the AGC and the Inland Empire Chamber Alliance support the continued authority of SBCTA regarding the Gold Line/rail service to ONT.
Mike Burrows reported on Eastgate Project and AB 2737 (Garcia, Christina) which would prohibit an air quality management district that contains a community selected under AB 617 (Hueso) from authorizing a new major source that increases air contaminants above the plan levels without the major source mitigating the emissions. Also requires the district to develop a localized land use assessment plan. The bill which has not yet moved into committee has been broadly written and creates additional bureaucracy.
The Environmental Committee recommends support of SB 1352, requiring California natural gas utilities to procure at least 20% of gas for residential and small- to-medium-sized businesses from renewable sources by 2030. This self-regulating bill will reduce methane gas and supports the Gas Company’s mission to increase renewable sources. The Environment Committee will supply further information on this bill which will be distributed to the membership.
M/S/P: Support SB 1352 requiring California natural gas utilities to procure at least 20% of gas for residential and small- to-medium-sized businesses from renewable sources by 2030.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 a.m.