Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Member/Alternates Only Meeting
Virtual meeting via ZOOM
Minutes
Present: Ruthy Argumedo, Patti Arlt, Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Mike Burrows, Chris Carrillo, Ken Coate, Michelle Decker, Kevin Dyerly, Louis Goodwin, Otis Greer, Milford Harrison, Fran Inman, Mark Kaenel, Lena Kent, Lowell King, Pam Langford, Bill Lemann, P.T. McEwen, Darcy McNaboe, John Mirau, Dan Murphy, Ginger Ontiveros, Bansree Parikh, Catherine Pritchett, Brian Reider, Thomas Rice, Michael Rivera, Dan Roberts, Elizabeth Romero, Dan Schenkel, Kristine Scott, Paul Shimoff, Phil Southard, Sol Teh, Pete Van Helden, Ray Wolfe and Frank Zabaleta.
Guests: Don Berry, LaDonna DiCamillo, Carol Kim, Sheriff John McMahon and Todd Warden.
Announcements: 1) Members were reminded that Congressman Pete Aguilar will be the speaker next week November 24, 2020.
Louis Goodwin, Chair, presiding.
Motion by D. Roberts/Second by T. Rice/Passed: Minutes from November 10, 2020.
Frank Zabaleta introduced Bill Emmerson, former California Assemblyman and Senator, who has served as a public member on California’s Little Hoover Commission since 2018.
The Little Hoover Commission, created in 1962, is an independent State oversight agency, authorized to investigate state government operations and policy and to make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature to promote economy, efficiency and improved service in State operations. Since its founding, the Commission has issued over 250 reports on various policy areas designed to accomplish these goals. Unlike fiscal or performance audits, the Commission’s studies look beyond whether programs comply with existing statutes and regulations. They explore how programs can and should function today and in the future.
The Commission’s staff is nonpartisan, but by statute, the Commissioners are bipartisan. The Commission has four Commissioners from the Legislature: two from each house and each party. Additionally, there are nine Commissioners from the public, and no more than five can be from the same political party. The Commission is also staffed by seven permanent employees and occasional student interns.
The Commissioners select study topics that come to their attention from citizens, legislators, their own experiences, and other sources. Once topics are selected research is conducted under the direction of a Commission subcommittee. Staff conducts research by collecting data, reviewing research and consulting with topic experts. Based on staff research, the Commission subcommittee identifies key issues and schedules public hearings and advisory committee meetings. When the Commission has reached an agreement on the report’s findings and recommendations, the Commissioners vote to adopt the report. The subcommittee and staff then draft potential report findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. Finally, the Commission participates in meetings, presentations, hearings, briefings, and writes follow-up letters to encourage the implementation of its report recommendations.
Long-Term Economic Impacts of COVID-19
The Commission is looking at how the pandemic has impacted California’s economy overall and is also studying the pandemic’s disparate impact on different communities and populations in California. How can state government best support those impacted by the pandemic and encourage economic recovery? Where can state government help those impacted by improving government coordination? How can state government foster recovery by working more closely with the private sector?
Two approaches have been suggested:
- Supporting Small Business-Small businesses employ half of California’s private sector workers, but have been devastated by the pandemic, with the impact falling hardest on minority-owned businesses. State government can best support small businesses by working in partnership with the private sector. An example of this is the California Small Business Rebuilding Fund.
- Reskilling and Retraining the Workforce– Job losses have most impacted lower-wage workers and workers in the service industry. California must strengthen its approach to job training. Community colleges, workforce agencies, employers, and community organizations around the state are beginning to work together to strengthen job training programs and provide workers with the skills and training for “in demand” skills that employers seek. The Inland Empire Growth and Opportunity (IEGO) campaign was cited as a good example.
Recent and current studies include:
- Labor Trafficking, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
- The Future of Remote Work for the State Government Workforce
- Voting Equipment Security.
For up to date reports, events, and news, subscribe to the Commission’s email list at: http://bit.ly/LittleHooverNews.
A Q & A period followed.
Todd Warden, Public Affairs Specialist at South Coast AQMD announced new Clean Air Goods Movement funds. The Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) is specific to the Inland Empire and the Prop 1B funds are open to all of Southern California.
On November 6, 2020, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) announced the availability of up to $50 million in funds for the Proposition 1B-Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program. This program provides funding for the replacement of Class 5-8 diesel trucks (engine model year 2009 and older) with cleaner technology options including zero emission, optional low NOx, hybrid and natural gas. The replacement trucks must be new and equipped with an engine model year of 2019 or newer. Funding is also available for truck engine repowers, however this option is for small fleets only. Funding is also available for infrastructure, including electric charging stations, hydrogen fueling units, and electrification infrastructure at a truck stop, rail yard or other freight facility. You can submit your Proposition 1B Goods Movement application on-line. To view the Program Announcement and access the Proposition 1B Goods Movement On-line Application Portal, please visit: http://www.aqmd.gov/Prop1B
Meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.