Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Virtual Meeting via ZOOM
Minutes
Present: Deborah Barmack, Carole Beswick, Mike Burrows, Ken Coate, Louis Goodwin, Lowell King, Pam Langford, P.T. McEwen, John Mirau, Dan Murphy, Vikki Ostermann, Bansree Parikh, Michael Rivera, Dan Roberts, Kristine Scott, Ray Wolfe, and Frank Zabaleta.
Louis Goodwin, Past Chair, presiding.
Motion by K. Coate/ Second by K. Scott/Passed: Minutes from March 5, 2020.
1 Abstention
The Executive Committee was asked to review and verify the Inland Action Committee member list that had been e-mailed yesterday. An accurate list of committee assignments is important for staff and to keep the Inland Action web site up to date.
The Inland Action Federal Legislative Platform is ready to present. Congressman Aguilar recommended the group ask for virtual meetings with individual legislators. Inland Action staff will coordinate with the Congressman’s office on a possible two-day window and times to present the platform. The Congressman has also offered assistance if the group would like to have meetings with agencies. Dan Roberts will reach out to Senator Feinstein’s Judiciary Staffer, Philip Brest with whom we met last year.
The Executive Committee reviewed the Inland Action calendar for the 2021 State Legislative Platform noting that the April 6th meeting will be for Committee work and that issue papers are due on April 20, 2021.
In light of a recent request for support on a specific warehouse project, staff recognized a need for a generalized policy to clarify the needed criteria for Inland Action to take a formal position. A proposed draft which was previously e-mailed to the Committee members was discussed. Comments included that policy guidelines should be flexible and that generally, Inland Action will not take a formal position on private development projects, unless the project has a regional or statewide impact or directly relates to a public policy issue previously taken by IA. The policy will be revised by staff and e-mailed to the Committee members for review.
Inland Action has received requests for letters of support on projects that are applying to the Federal Community Funding Earmarks. Letters of support are critical for any project’s consideration by the legislature as there is a need to show wide community benefit and a great deal of transparency. The following requests were discussed:
- Support for San Bernardino International Airport Authority Funding for Runway Repair Project
- Support for California State University, San Bernardino funding to launch a Master of Science in Physician Assistant program (equipment purchase)
- Support Ontario Airports-Airport Area Demolition, Cucamonga Channel Bridge & Avion Street realignment (eliminating abandoned buildings and increasing safety and security)
- Support San Bernardino County Transportation Authority funding for charging stations at the West Valley Connector.
Motion by L. King/Second by K. Coate/Passed: Create and send the four letters to the full membership for their review and vote at the next meeting on April 6, 2021.
Brightline West has asked for a letter of support for their notice of intent (NOI) and a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Caltrans and CalSTA on the extension from Apple Valley to Rancho Cucamonga.
Motion by M. Burrows/Second by D. Roberts/Passed: Recommend support from the board for the NOI and the MOU between Caltrans and CalSTA. 4 Abstentions.
The Executive Committee reviewed staff recommendations for possible in-person meetings beginning in September. The guidelines will be updated as is needed.
Meeting adjourned at 9:09 a.m.