Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Closed Board of Directors Meeting
San Bernardino Community College District
114 S. Del Rosa Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Dimitrios Alexiou, Deborah Barmack, Carole Beswick, Tom Brickley, Erin Brinker, Ken Coate, Ron Fremont, Ron Griffin, Scott Hofferber, Mark Kaenel, Al Karnig, Lowell King, Temetry Lindsey, Sue McKee, John Mirau, Steve PonTell, Beverly Powell, John Prentice, Susan Rice, Kristine Scott, Paul Shimoff, Steve von Rajcs, Phil Waller, A.J. Wilson and Ray Wolfe.
Announcements: 1) Washington, D.C. participants should plan to attend an organizational meeting held on Monday morning in the lobby of the Palomar Hotel. 2) The Executive Committee members are invited to a meeting with the Mayor of San Bernardino and the City Manager on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 8:15a.m. 4)
M/S/P: Minutes from February 18, 2014.
Committee Chairs & Co-Chairs summarized the following 2014 federal issues:
Economic Development
- Urge Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and Local Decision-Making for Workforce Investment Boards. (H.R. 804/S. 1356)
- Support legislation and budget actions to restore, enhance and protect Community Development Block Grant Funding.
- Oppose legislation and budget actions to cap or eliminate tax exemption on municipal bonds.
- Support Congressional efforts to encourage return of Ontario International Airport to local control.
Education
- Urge Congress and the Administration to support Pell Grants at the current individual maximum amount.
Environment
- Support California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014.
- Support timely reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act.
- Support provisions in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Authority (WIFIA) bills that support financing for critical habitat acquisition.
- Support the Desalinization and Water Purification Program (H.R.745).
- Support the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan..
- Support the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.
Transportation
- Support Rail to Redlands and partner with State and local agencies to develop multi-modal systems that link vital transportation corridors.
- Enact long-term legislation with appropriate funding levels and additional streamlining provisions to support the nation’s current and emerging infrastructure needs.
- Develop a dedicated federal funding source to resolve goods movement issues and encourage stakeholder participation in planning throughout full corridors.
- Continue Expansion of the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) for rail and highway projects.
- Streamline the project delivery process by implementing process changes that can deliver mobility improvements to commuters more efficiently.
- Encourage enhanced federal role to improve air quality by reducing emissions from intrastate and international goods movement vessels.
- Support Establishment of an Inland Empire Regional Office of U.S. Customs Service and urge a commitment of personnel for Inland airports.
Healthcare
- Urge Congress and the Administration to take action to enhance graduate medical education and funding for research and education.
- Urge Congress and the Administration to support the Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 1250/S. 1012.)
Discussion ensued.
Members present agreed that the top priorities are:
Transportation
- Support Establishment of an Inland Empire Regional Office of U.S. Customs Service and urge a commitment of personnel for Inland airports.
- Enact long-term legislation with appropriate funding levels and additional streamlining provisions to support the nation’s current and emerging infrastructure needs.Economic Development
- Oppose legislation and budget actions to cap or eliminate tax exemption on municipal bonds.Environment
- Support California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014 and support the Bay Delta Conservation Plan
Meeting adjourned at 8:34a.m.