Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Virtual Meeting via ZOOM
Minutes
Present: Ruthy Argumedo, Deborah Barmack, Carole Beswick, Greg Bradbard, Mike Burrows, Mark Cloud, Ken Coate, Kevin Dyerly, Louis Goodwin, Otis Greer, Milford Harrison, Fran Inman, Mark Kaenel, Lena Kent, Lowell King, Pam Langford, Mike Layne, P.T. McEwen, Darcy McNaboe, Miguel Mendoza, Dan Murphy, Vikki Ostermann, Catherine Pritchett, Thomas Rice, Michael Rivera, Dan Roberts, Dan Schenkel, Kristine Scott, Phil Southard, Eric Ustation, Pete Van Helden, Ray Wolfe, Marisa Yeager and Frank Zabaleta.
Guests: Megan Barajas.
Announcements: 1) Darcy McNaboe has volunteered to put together an Inland Action matrix which will help us know how individual members are connected to elected officials, lobbyists and important boards and commissions. Very soon a questionnaire will be sent out to each member/alternate to complete. We hope to have a timely response from the membership to assist us on our State advocacy on June 8, 2021. 2) Supervisor Baca will present his “Roadmap to Revitalization” today at 10 a.m. the Supervisor’s Board. He would welcome a representative from Inland Action to speak at this meeting if available. 3) So. Cal Edison is hosting a live stream wildfire safety meeting for San Bernardino County on Wednesday, May 26th from 6-7:30p.m. This outreach is intended to better educate our community. Information will include public safety power shut offs that may affect us. If interested, please contact Carole Beswick.
Phil Southard announced that tomorrow the City of San Bernardino will discuss a moratorium on any new warehouses in the City. The ordinance can be extended for two years based on Council direction. The City Council seems to be split on the issues and Inland Action may want to weigh in. Phil suggested that Inland Action oppose the measure as the logistics industry has and continues to be critical to our economy. Board action would be needed to take action.
A draft letter of opposition was shared with the members. Discussion ensued and comments included:
- If passed the City could lose a keyway for them to improve their economic development opportunities.
- The City of Colton has recently passed a 45-day moratorium in order to pause any new development. This may be a rising trend.
- The logistics industry is largely responsible for keeping the supply chain working thru the pandemic.
- Job recovery in the region has been driven by the logistics industry.
- Truck traffic will increase, and the State is not interested in increasing capacity on our roads, which are already overburdened.
- There is a need for a comprehensive study of our current traffic capacity.
- The City is working through their general plan revision and the moratorium would give them additional time to plan and finalize this work. However, the two-year option could significantly slow their post pandemic recovery.
- The City Council is highly criticized, and they should be mindful and give careful thought to San Bernardino residents and what is overall in the best interest for their community.
- There is no immediate need for Inland Action to weigh-in. A discussion will take place at the Council meeting tomorrow night, but they do not have an ordinance drafted and it is not on the Agenda. More information and Council members positions will be clearer after their meeting. Inland Action can address the issue further.
Inland Action opposes a warehouse moratorium in the City of San Bernardino.
Motion by P. Van Helden/Second by L. Goodwin
Motion to table D. McNaboe/Second by K. Scott: Carried with a majority
Committees presented their issues:
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Support AB 1425 (Gipson) and SB 743 (Bradford) which will provide funding for broadband access within public housing and affordable housing.
- Support funding for locating the California Sustainable Logistics Center for Excellence (CSLCE) in the Inland Empire.
- Support continued efforts to reduce homelessness, expand affordable housing, and maintain affordability of housing, including a fair allocation of funding to the Inland Empire from the Governor’s proposed $12B budget.
EDUCATION
- Support the Governor’s proposed restoration of budget cuts and new investments in the California State University and University of California systems, as well as additional funding to help close graduation equity gaps, support undocumented students and foster youth, and invest in critical capital and infrastructure projects across campuses.
- Support AB 940 (McCarty), the College Mental Services Program Act, which allocates surplus funding from Proposition 63 to the State’s higher education segments to expand mental health services on campuses.
- Support AB 1456 (Medina), the Cal Grant Reform Act, which increases post-secondary educational accessibility for low-income students, including older students, adult learners, students who are parents, and students of color, ensuring that students and families with modest incomes are not lost in the reconfigurations.
- Support AB 1176 (E. Garcia), the California Connect Fund, to ensure that high-speed broadband service is available to every household in the State at affordable rates.
- Support investment in Master of Science in Physician Assistant training programs to address the severe shortage of medical doctors in the Inland Empire by expanding the size and scope of primary care teams.
ENVIRONMENT
- Support for funding for continued management of the Salton Sea.
- Support for Delta Conveyance Project.
- Support Enhanced Reliability of Long-Term Supplies, Storage and Drought Resiliency for Southern California through:
- Support for the Governor’s $5.1 billion budget proposal
- Support (with amendments) for AB 1500 (Garcia, E.): Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2022; and SB 45 (Portantino): Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2022.
- Support for SB 559 (Hurtado): Department of Water Resources- Water Conveyance Systems: Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Fund.
- Support Water Purveyor Consolidation Efforts and Incentivizing funding.
- Secure Funding for Monitoring and Remediation of PFAS
- Support for programs that seek to achieve California Clean Air and emissions goals in an equitable manner and with respect for local control through:
- Support for AB 1261 (Burke) – State Air Resources Board: Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Incentive Programs.
- Support for SB 662 (Archuleta) – Energy: Transportation Sector: Hydrogen.
- Oppose SB 342 (Gonzales) – SCAQMD: Board Membership
HEALTH CARE
- Oppose SB 379 prohibiting the University of California from engaging with faith-based hospitals, which would dissolve a decades old partnership that provides life-saving are care for he vulnerable and underserved.
- Oppose the Mandatory Bonus Pay AB 650 (Muratsuchi) creating a state mandate bonus structure for employees of private entities.
- Support the CalAIM program a multi-year initiative to improve the quality of life and health outcomes by creating reforms in the Medi-Cal program.
JUDICIAL
- Support judicial funding of $4.8B at the level requested in the Governor’s Proposed Budget which will restore funding to Inland Empire Courts to pre-pandemic levels and provide new funding to keep up with the increased cost of doing business, invest in technology, and provide greater access to justice.
TRANSPORTATION
- Support continued funding for public transit and mobility projects aligned with the advancement of high-speed rail programs and alternatives, including increased access to the Inland Empire region of Southern California.
- Request State support and increased funding for rail to Ontario International Airport.
- Urge State leaders to engage with the transportation, employment, and supply chain sectors on lasting solutions for short- and long-term systems to sustain the logistics industry and delivery of critical goods and supplies.
Urge State coordination with Federal Environmental Protection Agency to reset the current trajectory for compliance with Clean Air Act pollution standards and/or provisions for withholding of federal transportation funds for non-compliance.
Suggested priority issues:
Education – Support AB 1456 (Medina), the Cal Grant Reform Act, which increases post-secondary educational accessibility for low-income students, including older students, adult learners, students who are parents, and students of color, ensuring that students and families with modest incomes are not lost in the reconfigurations.
Economic Development– Support continued efforts to reduce homelessness, expand affordable housing, and maintain affordability of housing, including a fair allocation of funding to the Inland Empire from the Governor’s proposed $12B budget.
Healthcare – Oppose SB 379 prohibiting the University of California from engaging with faith-based hospitals, which would dissolve a decades old partnership that provides lifesaving are care for he vulnerable and underserved.
– Oppose the Mandatory Bonus Pay AB 650 (Muratsuchi) creating a state mandate bonus structure for employees of private entities.
Combine broadband issues of access and affordability – Support AB 1176 (E. Garcia), the California Connect Fund, to ensure that high-speed broadband service is available to every household in the State at affordable rates. – Support AB 1425 (Gipson) and SB 743 (Bradford) which will provide funding for broadband access within public housing and affordable housing.
Environment – Oppose SB 342 (Gonzales) – SCAQMD: Adding two members to the District Board.
Transportation – Urge State leaders to engage with the transportation, employment, and supply chain sectors on lasting solutions for short- and long-term systems to sustain the logistics industry and delivery of critical goods and supplies.
The priorities will be e-mailed to the membership later today. Members were reminded that every effort will be made to discuss all issues with the legislators.
Motion by D. Roberts/Second by T. Rice/Passed: Minutes from May 11, 2021.
Meeting adjourned at 9:08 a.m.