GOOD. WELCOME TO THE ASSEMBLY
LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
HEARING. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND
THE PUBLIC FOR THAT FOR THIS AND
FUTURE HEARINGS. TESTIMONY WILL
BE IN PERSON AS WE NO LONGER USE
A MODERATED TELEPHONE SERVICE.
WE ALSO ACCEPT WRITTEN TESTIMONY
THROUGH THE POSITION LETTER
PORTAL ON THE COMMITTEE'S
WEBSITE. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO GO
OVER OUR GROUND RULES FOR
APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR. AND
CONDUCT. THE ASSEMBLY HAS
EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF
DISRUPTIONS TO COMMITTEE AND FOR
PROCEEDINGS IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS, CONDUCT THAT DISRUPTS
DISTURBS OR OTHERWISE MPC. EARLY
CONDUCT OF THE HEARING IS
PROHIBITED. SUCH CONDUCT MAY
INCLUDE TALKING OR MAKING LOUD
NOISES FROM THE AUDIENCE,
UTTERING LOUD AND THREATENING OR
ABUSIVE LANGUAGE SPEAKING LONGER
THAN THE TIME ALLOTTED, EXTENDED
DISCUSSION OF MATTERS NOT
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT OF THE
HEARING OR BILL. AND ANY OTHER
DISRUPTIVE ACTS. TO ADDRESS ANY
DISRUPTIVE CONTACT. I WILL TAKE
THE FOLLOWING STEPS INDIVIDUAL
DISRUPTS OUR HEARING PROCESS. I
WILL DIRECT THEM TO STOP AND
WARNED THAT THE CONTINUED
DISRUPTIONS MAY RESULT IN
REMOVAL FROM THE CAPITOL
BUILDING. I WILL ALSO DOCUMENT
ON THE RECORD AND INDIVIDUAL
INVOLVED AND THE NATURE OF THE
DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT. I'M A
TEMPORARY RECESS. THE HEARING.
AND IF THE CONDUCT DOES NOT
STOP, ARE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE
FROM THE SERGEANTS AND ESCORTING
THE INDIVIDUAL FROM THE CAPITOL
BUILDING. AND PLEASE HAVE
PATIENCE WITH THE POUNDING. I'M
SO SORRY. UM WE HAVE 12 ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON. TWO
OF THESE ITEMS ARE PROPOSED FOR
CONSENT. ITEM NUMBER ONE A. B
354 FROM ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
STEPHANIE NGUYEN. ITEM 10 A B 17
36 FROM ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S IRWAN
KOREAN IN ADDITION, ONE ITEM HAS
BEEN PULLED FROM TODAY'S AGENDA.
ITEM FIVE A B 10 90 BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S JOAN SAWYER.
WE'LL HEAR ALL BILLS IN THE
ORDER SHOWN ON OUR AGENDA UNLESS
OTHERWISE NOTED. WE WILL TAKE UP
TO PRIMARY WITNESSES IN SUPPORT
IN TWO PRIMARY WITNESSES AND
OPPOSITION. THESE WITNESSES WILL
HAVE THREE MINUTES EACH TO
PROVIDE THEIR TESTIMONY. ALL
SUBSEQUENT WITNESSES SHOULD ONLY
STATE, THEIR NAME, THEIR
ORGANIZATION AND THE POSITION ON
THE BILL. ONLY WE DO NOT HAVE A
QUORUM YET, SO WE WILL OPERATE
AS A SUBCOMMITTEE UNTIL WE'RE
ABLE TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM.
LET'S SEE HERE. SO THE ONLY ONE
I SEE HERE IS GOOD. UH,
REMEMBER, UM MCCARTHY IS ITEM IS
HERE, SO WE'LL DO ITEM NUMBER
FOUR A. B 10 52. AND, UM,
WELCOME.
DISTRICT WHICH I KNOW YOU ARE
FAMILIAR WITH. I'LL START OVER.
THIS IS A DISTRICT BILL A B 10
52. IT'S RELATED TO THE AREA
JUST HERE IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY
OR REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT.
THIS WOULD AMEND THE RULES TO
WHO CAN VOTE ON A MEASURE PLACE
BEFORE THE VOTERS TO ALLOW A
PARTIAL OR NARROWED AREA TO BE
COVERED, ESSENTIALLY THE AREA
THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT FROM
THOSE TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS. THIS
WOULDN'T CHANGE THE VOTE
THRESHOLD, IT WOULD STILL BE THE
TRADITIONAL VOTE THRESHOLD. WE
HAVE DONE THIS SAME CONCEPT FOR
OTHER AREAS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
. UM RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR I
VOTE WITH ME TODAY AS A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM OUR TEA.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM.
MEMBERS OF MY NAME IS GREG
FISHMAN. I'M THE SENIOR
COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER FOR
SACRAMENTO. REGIONAL TRANSIT
SACK RT IS THE LARGEST REGIONAL
TRANSIT PROVIDER IN THE CAPITAL
REGION OPERATING OVER 82 BUS
ROUTES. 43 MILES OF LIGHT RAIL
SERVING 53 STATIONS. MICRO
TRANSIT SERVICE 80, A
PARATRANSIT SERVICES ALL WITHIN
ABOUT 440 SQUARE MILE SERVICE
TERRITORY THROUGHOUT SACRAMENTO
COUNTY. INCLUDING THE CITIES OF
SACRAMENTO, CITRUS HEIGHTS, ELK
GROVE, FOLSOM AND RANCHO CORDOVA
. WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH
ANNIVERSARY OF SERVICE THIS YEAR
. WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT
CONVENIENT AND INEXPENSIVE
PUBLIC TRANSIT BENEFITS
EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY
WHETHER THEY RIDE TRANSIT OR
NOT, HOWEVER, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE
THAT SOME TRANSIT PROJECTS MAY
PROVIDE MORE BENEFIT TO A
SPECIFIC PORTION OF THE
COMMUNITY OR ONE AREA THAN
OTHERS. CONSEQUENTLY WE WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
ASK ONLY SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY
THAT WE SERVE TO APPROVE A
BALLOT MEASURE TO PAY FOR
PROJECTS IN THOSE SPECIFIC
JURISDICTIONS. MAYBE 10 52 WOULD
GIVE SACK RT THE AUTHORITY TO
PLACE THE MEASURE ON THE BALLOT
THAT WOULD AFFECT ONLY THE
JURISDICTIONS SPECIFIED IN THAT
MEASURE, FOR EXAMPLE, IT WOULD
ALLOW US TO PLACE THE MEASURE ON
THE BALLOT FOR THE CITY OF
SACRAMENTO ALONE, OR THE CITIES
OF SACRAMENTO AND ELK GROVE.
SOME OTHER JURISDICTIONS,
INCLUDING IN NEIGHBORING PLASTER
COUNTY ALREADY HAVE THIS
AUTHORITY WERE ALREADY REQUIRED
TO MAKE PUBLIC A PLAN FOR HOW
ANY NEW REVENUE WOULD BE SPENT.
HOWEVER CURRENTLY, ANY SUCH
MEASURE MUST COVER OUR ENTIRE
SERVICE TERRITORY, AND WE'D LIKE
TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THAT THIS
MEASURE IS INTENDED TO GIVE SACK
RT ANOTHER TOOL TO USE TO HELP
US NAVIGATE AND UNCERTAIN
FINANCIAL FUTURE AND TO ENSURE
EQUITY AND VOTING FOR SECRETARY
MEASURES BY ONLY ASKING THOSE
AFFECTED TO VOTE. WE MAY NEVER
NEED TO USE THIS TOOL, BUT WE
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT AVAILABLE
IF NEEDED, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR
AN I VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
HARD THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES
IN SUPPORT? GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM
SARA GARRITY, REPRESENTING
SACRAMENTO, METRA POPO ADVOCATES
FOR RAILROAD AND TRANSIT. WE ARE
HERE IN SUPPORT OF A B 10 52.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS FRANK TURAN AND I'M
REPRESENTING SACRAMENTO. METRO
ADVOCATES FOR REAL AND TRANSIT
AND WE ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF A
B 10 52. THANK YOU. HELLO MY
NAME IS JEREMIAH AURORA
REPRESENT THE SACRAMENTO AREA
BICYCLE ADVOCATES SABA AND THE
CYCLING COMMUNITY SUPPORT THIS
BILL AND ARTIE IN GENERAL. THANK
YOU. MAX PERRY ON BEHALF OF THE
SACRAMENTO METROPOLITAN AIR
QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT,
ALSO IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MATT CLICK EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, PLASTER COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AGENCY
HERE IN SUPPORT OF 10 52. THANK
YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MY NAME IS
RALPH PROPER. I'M WITH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL OF
SACRAMENTO, AND I WISH TO
EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT AS WELL.
RIGHT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? THIS IS
A B 10 52. SEEING NONE. ANY
QUESTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE. OKAY
SINCE WE CAN'T HAVE A WE DON'T
HAVE A QUORUM. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. I DID NOT KNOW IT
EARLIER. I THINK THE COMMITTEE
AND WE WILL ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS. YOU KNOW,
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS SO
CRITICAL FOR OUR COMMUNITIES FOR
SOME PEOPLE, UM, IT'S A LUXURY,
BUT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY, IT'S A NECESSITY THEY
NEEDED TO GET TO SCHOOL TO WORK
TO SEE A FAMILY MEMBER TO GO
SHOPPING. AS WELL AS WE KNOW IF
WE WANT TO ADDRESS OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS, WHETHER
THEY'RE FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
OR IMPROVING AIR QUALITY.
GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CARS
IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF THE
PUZZLE AS WELL. AND THIS HELPS
US EXPAND PUBLIC TRANSIT RIGHT
HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY.
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
AND WHEN THE TIME IS A
APPROPRIATE, UM THANK YOU FOR
TAKING THE AMENDMENTS, AND AT
THAT TIME WHEN WE HAVE OUR BOAT,
I WILL BE SUPPORTING YOUR
BUILDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR MCCARTHY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY.
OH, KEVIN. EXCUSE ME. I DIDN'T
SEE THE QUESTION AND ANSWER. I
APOLOGIZE. I THINK THAT'S ALL
RIGHT. UM I UNDERSTAND THIS.
METHODOLOGY HAS BEEN USED IN
OTHER JURISDICTIONS. IT SEEMS TO
ME THAT IT WOULD BE, UH, FOR
THEIR BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT
THAT WERE THAT ADDITIONAL SALES
TAXES BEING LEVIED? ISN'T THAT
ADVERSE TO THE BUSINESSES? I
MEAN, IS IT CONFUSING TO PEOPLE
WHO ARE SHOPPING AND THEN? WELL,
THIS? THIS IS A LINE WHERE THE
SALES TAX IS HIGHER THAN OVER
HERE. I MEAN, DOESN'T HAVE THAT
KIND OF AN IMPACT. WELL I KNOW
THAT YOU COME FROM A CITY DOWN
IN ORANGE COUNTY, WHERE THERE IS
A LOT OF JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE
DIFFERENT SALES TAX JURISDICTION
, BUT THEIR AVERAGE CONSUMERS
DON'T GO SHOP AND GET A TV. VÆ
DRIVING TO ANOTHER COUNTY. YOU
DON'T KNOW THAT. BUT AVERAGE
BUTTERS RESEARCH SHOWS THEY
DON'T SO, UM, WE'RE NOT
CONCERNED. UM I KNOW THAT THIS
IS AN OPTION FOR THIS COUNTY
LIKE WE'VE GIVEN TO PLASTER
COUNTY IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, BUT
I DON'T THINK THAT'S MUCH OF A
DETRIMENT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
THANK YOU. RESTAURANTS DON'T
MIND. WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANY
ANY, UM, BUSINESS GROUPS
CONCERNED. I KNOW THERE ARE
LOCAL, UM, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THERE THERE. UM, THEY LIKE WHAT
WE'RE DOING HERE IN THIS
PROPOSAL. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO ON
WITH FILE NUMBER TWO A. B 440.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WICKS, THE
OTHER WE'RE JUST BRINGING THEM
IN AND UP TODAY. OKAY? AND WHEN
YOU'RE COMING TIMING HELLO,
MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS STAFF. LAST
YEAR I CARRIED A B 2334, WHICH
CHANGED THE DEFINITION OF
MAXIMUM DENSITY OR BASED DENSITY
Tð. IN BONUS DENSITY LAW TO MAKE
CLEAR THAT THE MAXIMUM DENSITY
IS CALCULATED BASED ON THE
GREATEST DENSITY IN ANY OF THE
UNDERLINING ZONING DOCUMENTS.
ZONING ORDINANCE, THE LAND USE
ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN OR A
SPECIFIC PLAN WHEN AMENDING THE
DEFINITION WE LEFT IN ASCENDANCE
THAT SAYS THAT IF THERE IS
INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE
LENNY'S ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL
PLAN AND A SPECIFIC PLAN, THE
GREATER DENSITY OF THE TWO
PREVAILS. THIS HAS CREATED
CONFUSION BECAUSE IT IS MORE
SPECIFIC THAN THE PRIOR SENTENCE
. THIS BILL CORRECTS THAT
CONFUSION RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
MY VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUPPORT. YOUR STAFF Ó. SHE'S
HERE FOR TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.
SHOULD WE HAVE ANY WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? YOU KNOW THERE ANY
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? THINGS THAT ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS? THE COMMITTEE. YOU
SURE? YEAH ANYONE ELSE? OKAY UM
, SINCE WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM,
YET, WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION
AT THAT TIME. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE WHEN YOU HAVE A QUORUM?
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR MY VOTE.
OKAY AND I'M PLEASED TO SUPPORT
YOUR BILL TODAY, AND SO WHEN WE
GET WHEN WE GET EVERYONE HERE,
UM DO PASS TO THE FLOOR. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. IF YOU FIND
ANYONE OUT THERE ABOVE YOU SHOW
HIM THE DOOR.
THE ASSEMBLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE IS LOOKING FOR AUTHORS
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY OVER.
ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW AT ITEM
NUMBER SIX A. B 12 59
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SORIOT. GET
YOUR BREATH. WE'RE NOT IN A
RUSH. SO THANK YOU. CHAIRWOMAN
AND MEMBERS FIRST LET ME BEGIN
BY JUST MENTIONING THAT I AM
ACCEPTING THE COMMITTEE
AMENDMENTS MEMBERS. A B 12 59 IS
A DISTRICT BILL THAT ONLY
APPLIES TO THE CITY OF MERCED.
THE BILL PAVES THE WAY FOR THE
CITY OF MERCED TO ESTABLISH AN
ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE
FINANCING DISTRICT OR ALSO KNOWN
AS E F I. D TO FUND PROJECTS,
WHICH WILL FURTHER THE CITY'S
AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOALS AND ARE
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE'S
PRIORITIES SUCH AS TRANSIT
ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AND
RESPECTIVE RAIL PROJECTS. UH E I
F D WILL ALSO FUND NECESSARY
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO
SUPPORT A GROWING U. C MERCED
CAMPUS WITHOUT THIS BILL, THE
CITY OF MERCEDES UNABLE TO FORM
AN E I F D TO DO TO NOT DUE TO
NOT RECEIVING A FINDING OF
COMPLETION. FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE WHEN TO SOLVING ITS
FORMER REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, THE
ISSUES AROUND DISSOLVING
MERCED'S FORMER ARDA HAS HAVE
BEEN RESOLVED SINCE THEN. AND SO
TODAY, I HAVE HERE TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF THIS BILL FRANKEN
TERO, WHO IS THE DEPUTY CITY
MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF MERCED.
VERY SIMPLE, BILL. WELCOME. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. WE SEEK YOUR
SUPPORT ON THIS BILL AND AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SORRY S STATED
, WE ARE REALLY SEEKING THIS TO
PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES, ENHANCE OUR
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
OPPORTUNITIES. ALSO AND ALSO WE
ARE SEEKING TO MOVE FORWARD CROW
HOUSING DESIGNATION. WE NEED
THIS BILL TO MOVE FORWARD,
ESPECIALLY AND GROW. YOU KNOW
OUR CITY. SO WITH THAT BEING
SAID WE CROSSED AN AYE. VOTE,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY
OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? GOOD
AFTERNOON, BEN. TRIPLE WITH THE
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES AND
SUPPORT THANK YOU. THANK YOU
ANYONE ELSE IN SUPPORT? ARE
THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE
COMMITTEE. UM IF YOU DON'T MIND
, I'M WE'RE GOING TO ESTABLISH
QUORUM SO THAT WE CAN WORK ON
GETTING A BILL OUT, OKAY?
SECRETARY. AGUIAR-CURRY CURRY
PRESENT. DIXON PRESIDENT
BOERNER HORVATH. PRESIDENT RAMOS
RAMOS PRESENT GRIEVOUS WALDRON
WILSON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE
HAVE A QUORUM. UM, IS THERE ANY
QUESTIONS? BUT WE HAVE EMOTION
BY SOME REMEMBER BURNER
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FOR CHICO. DID
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I WOULD
JUST ASK FOR AN I VOTE. THANK
YOU MEMBERS. UM THANK YOU.
SOMETHING MEMBER, UM, ACCEPTING
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS AND THE
THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING TO HELP
SUPPORT THEIR CITY OF MERCED
WITH ANOTHER TOOL TO MEET THEIR
HOUSING NEEDS AND I WILL BE
VOTING I TODAY THE MOTION IS DUE
PASS AS AMENDED TO THE FLOOR
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
AGUIAR-CURRY CURRY. I DIXON
DIXON. NO BURNER BURNER. I
PACHECO CHICO, I RAMOS RAMOS.
AYE. YES. OKAY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE
41, AND WE'LL KEEP THE ROLE OPEN
FOR ABSOLUTE MEMBERS.
CHAIRWOMAN. THANK YOU. WELL, WE
HAVE EVERYONE HERE, LET'S DO THE
CONSENT CALENDAR. AN EMOTION.
EMOTION, BUT. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BURNER AND A SECOND BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS.
AGUIAR-CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE
DICKSON DICKSON I BURNER
BOERNER HORVATH CHICO! CHICO, I.
RAMOS. RAMOS I RIVERS WALDRON
WILSON. 50. OKAY. CONSENT IS
OUT. 50. AGAIN ANYONE THAT IS
GOING TO BE PRESENTING IN LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE. IF YOU
COULD HEAD OUR WAY, WE WOULD
LIKE SOME OTHERS.
WHY DON'T WE TAKE UP A COUPLE OF
THE BILLS THAT WE'VE HAD?
PREVIOUSLY WE HAVE, UM, A B 440
WEEKS. WE NEED EMOTION. WE HAVE
A MOTION FROM ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
RAMOS, THE SECOND FROM
SOMETHING, MERYL PACHECO.
MOTIONS DO PASS TO THE FLOOR
BEFORE 40 WEEKS. AGUIAR-CURRY
CURRY I DICKSON DICKSON. NO
BURNER. BURNER I PACHECO I RAMOS
. ALMOST I REVERSE WALDRON.
WILSON WILSON I FIVE POINT OKAY,
BUILDS UP 50. WE HAVE ONE OTHER
BILL WE CAN IDENTIFY. THAT'S
HERE. UH, A B 10 52 MCCARTY.
NEED EMOTION. MOTION BY PACHECO.
EXCUSE ME. LET'S DO THIS. SO
MOTION BY PACHECO. SECOND BY
BURNER. I AGREE. OUR CURRY
CURRY, I DIXON DIXON, NO BURNER.
BOERNER HORVATH CHICO. CHICO I.
RAMOS RAMOS SIDE RIVAS, WALDRON
WILSON WILSON. I BUY ONE. FIVES
THE FIGHT THE BILLS OF 51.
THEY'RE NOT GETTING.
AT 10 52. WE DO WE HAVE OUR.
OKAY? WHERE WE SEE A COUPLE OF
AUTHORS THAT HAVE APPEARED SO WE
WILL GO WITH FOUND NUMBER THREE.
SOME OF THEM ARE PELLERIN. A B
939. WITNESSES. GOOD WELCOME.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
ALSO KNOWN AS VALLEY WATER. THE
AGENCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY,
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT, FLOOD
PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP OF STREAMS FOR THE
TWO MILLION PEOPLE OF SANTA
CLARA COUNTY. THE BILL UPDATES
ANTIQUATED LIMITS ON BOND
ISSUANCE THAT FORCED VALLEY
WATER TO FINANCE SOME OF THE
LARGEST WATER SUPPLY AND FLOOD
PROTECTION PROJECTS IN THE
STATE. USING COSTLY CONTRACTUAL
BORROWING, RATHER THAN ISSUING
WATER SYSTEM, REVENUE BONDS OR
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. MAYBE
939 FIXES VALLEY WATERS REVENUE
BOND AUTHORITY, ALLOWING THE
AGENCY TO ISSUE REVENUE BONDS
BASED ON THE NET REVENUE OF
THEIR WATER SYSTEM, WHICH IS
FAVORED BY BOND MARKETS AND IS
IN THE INTERESTS OF WATER
RATEPAYERS. THE BILL ALSO
AUTHORIZES VALLEY WATER TO
PROPOSE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS
FOR THE COUNTY WIDE BALLOT.
PROPOSITION 13, AND IT'S TWO
THIRDS VOTER APPROVAL THRESHOLD
WOULD STILL APPLY, THEREBY
LETTING A SUPER MAJORITY OF
VOTERS DECIDE OF WATER SUPPLY
AND FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECTS
SHOULD BE PAID THROUGH GENERAL
OBLIGATION BONDS. THESE BOND
REFORMS WILL SAVE MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS AND UNNECESSARY
FINANCING COSTS JUST BY GIVING
VALLEY WATER THE SAME BOND
AUTHORITY THAT OTHER REGIONAL
AGENCIES, WATER AGENCIES LIKE
THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT
ALREADY HAVE. THE BILL ALSO
WOULD REMOVE A SUNSET DATE ON
CURRENT LAW, ALLOWING UP TO 15
COMPENSABLE MEETINGS DAYS PER
MONTH FOR THE VALLEY WATERBOARD
AT THE BOARD MEMBERS DON'T WORK
THE DAYS THEY DON'T GET THE
PRETTY, UM HOWEVER, THE RECORD
SHOWS BOARD MEMBERS DO WORK 15
DAYS AND OFTEN, MANY MORE AGAIN
. 89 39 ONLY MAINTAINS THE PER
DIEM AT ITS CURRENT LEVEL. I
HAVE TWO WITNESSES TO OFFER
BRIEF TESTIMONY. WE HAVE ANTONIO
ALFARO IS THE GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS MANAGER FOR VALLEY
WATER, AND DOUG BROWN IS THE
BOND COUNSEL FOR VALLEY WATER.
WELCOME THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
ANTONIO FAR REPRESENTING VALUE
WATER. MAYBE 99 REMOVES THE
SUNSET DATE. ON THE EXISTING
PROVISION THAT ALLOWS 15
COMPENSABLE DAYS MEETINGS PER
MONTH. EACH OF OUR SEVEN ELECTED
BOARD MEMBERS REPRESENTS
APPROXIMATELY 275,000 PEOPLE AND
MAKE MULTIBILLION DOLLAR WATER
SUPPLY AND FLOOD PROTECTION.
INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS. THESE
ARE BIG JOBS, AND UNLIKE OTHER
BOARDS ARE DIRECTORS ARE NOT
MAYORS, COUNTY SUPERVISORS OR
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH
COMPENSATION FROM OTHER
GOVERNMENTAL ROLES. BY KEEPING
THE 15 COMPENSABLE DAYS PER
MONTH. IN CURRENT LAW, MORE
PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO SERVE ON
OUR BOARD, INCLUDING PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND THOSE FROM
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
VALLEY WATER IS ON THE FRONT
LINES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTATION AND IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR SILICON VALLEY'S DEFENSE
AGAINST EXTENDED DROUGHT.
GROUNDWATER OVERDRAFT
INTENSIFIED URBAN FLOODING. AND
SEA LEVEL RISE. MAYBE 99
PROVIDES NEW OPTIONS TO FINANCE
THESE PROJECTS AND WILL HELP
VALUE WATER KEEP OUR WATER RATES
MORE AFFORDABLE. FOR LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS. I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
MY NAME IS DOUG BROWN. I'M
PUBLIC FINANCE ATTORNEY WITH THE
LAW FIRM OF STRADDLING YOKA
CARLSON. RALPH AND WE ARE HERE
ON BEHALF OF VALLEY WATER. THE
FINANCING PROVISIONS OF SANTA
CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT ACTS
HAVE NOT BEEN REVISED
SIGNIFICANTLY IN MANY DECADES,
WHILE THE DISTRICT ACT DOES
CURRENTLY ALLOW THE ISSUANCE OF
REVENUE BONDS, THOSE REVENUE
BONDS DEBT SERVICE HAS TO BE
PAID PRIOR. TO THE DISTRICT
PAYING ITS OWN, O AND M. THIS
PROVISION IS NOT FAVORED BY THE
CURRENT MARKET BECAUSE IT
ACTUALLY WOULD REQUIRE DEBT
SERVICE TO BE PAID PRIOR TO
CONTINUING TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM
AND PROVIDING WATER TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC. MAYBE 9 39 WOULD
PERMIT VALLEY WATER ISSUE
REVENUE BONDS CONSISTENT WITH
CURRENT BOND MARKET PRACTICES
AND THE OTHER BORROWINGS OF THE
AGENCY. THE BILL ALSO ADDRESSES
THE AGENCY'S DESIRE FOR GENERAL
OBLIGATION BONDS. MANY REGIONAL
WATER AGENCIES HAVE STATUTORY
AUTHORITY. JUST A GENERAL
OBLIGATION BONDS CONSISTENT WITH
PROP 13. LIKE OTHER REGIONAL
WATER AGENCIES, VALLEY WATER
SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROPOSE
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO
THEIR VOTERS AND WITH TWO THIRDS
APPROVAL, MOVE FORWARD WITH
THOSE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
FINALLY THE DISTRICT ACT
AUTHORIZES A SHORT IT HAS A
SHORT TERM DEBT CAP OF JUST $8
MILLION. THIS IS VERY SMALL FOR
AN AGENCY WITH ANNUAL REVENUES
OF $500 MILLION. THE BILL WOULD
AUTHORIZE VALLEY WATER TO ISSUE
SHORT TERM DEBT IN AMOUNTS
CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER SHORT
TERM DEBT STATUTES THAT ARE
GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC
AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA. WE
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AND I VOTE
ON A B 9 39 AND HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. IS THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? ANYONE ELSE IN
SUPPORT. DON'T BE SHY. OKAY
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NO
ONE MORE ANYONE ELSE AND THEN
QUESTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE. OKAY
WE HAVE A MOTION BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WILSON AND
SECOND BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
PACHECO. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? YES I RESPECTFULLY URGE
YOUR I VOTE ON THIS DISTRICT
BILL TO REDUCE FINANCING COSTS
FOR OUR LOCAL WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL
BE IN SUPPORT OF YOUR BILL TODAY
WITH THAT, AND WE DO PASS TO THE
FLOOR SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. AGUIAR-CURRY CURRY I
DICKSON DICKSON. I
BOERNER HORVATH CHECK. OI,
RAMOS. RAMOS I. RIVAS WALDRON
WILSON WILSON. NICE 61. BILLS AT
60. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY
I'M GOING TO, UM, MOVE TO ITEM
NINE. MR MAIENSCHEIN WAS HERE
FOR A WHILE. SO IF YOU DON'T
MIND, I KNOW YOU WON'T TAKE TOO
MUCH TIME. MR MAIENSCHEIN. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MR AMBULANCE.
WITH THAT SUBTLE HINT. I WILL GO
QUICK. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR AND
MEMBERS A B 68 46 TO GIVE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS MORE TOOLS TO COMBAT
THE ILLICIT CANNABIS MARKET.
DESPITE THE LEGALIZATION OF
CANNABIS IN 2016, WE HAVE NOT
SEEN REDUCTION IN ILLEGAL AND
UNLICENSED COMMERCIAL CANNABIS
ACTIVITY. IN FACT, THE ILLEGAL
MARKET STILL MAKES UP
APPROXIMATELY 78 TO 80% OF THE
CANNABIS INDUSTRY. IN CALIFORNIA
. UNLICENSED ACTIVITY POSES
SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO THE PUBLIC
TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO THE
VIABILITY OF THE LEGAL
MARKETPLACE. A B 16 84 ALLOWS
FOR INCREASED ADMINISTRATIVE
ENFORCEMENT AGAINST UNLICENSED
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITIES
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AND CREATES
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER
GREATER COOPERATION BETWEEN
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AND THE
OFFICE OF THE A G WITH ME TO
TESTIFY AND SUPPORT AS DEPUTY
ATTORNEY GENERAL ETHAN TURNER.
WELCOME THANK YOU. ETHAN TURNER
WITH THE CANNABIS CONTROL
SECTION AT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE. THE A G HAS
LONG SUPPORTED ILLEGAL, WELL
REGULATED COMMERCIAL CANNABIS
INDUSTRY BECAUSE IT ENSURES
LEGAL SAFE CANNABIS TO
CALIFORNIA ADULTS AND BECAUSE IT
SEEKS. TO RIGHT, THE INEQUITIES
THAT CAUSED CAUSED BY THE WAR ON
DRUGS, AND ATTORNEY GENERAL
BONTA IS PLEASED TO SUPPORT A B
16 84 AND ITS GOAL TO PROVIDE
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS WITH
ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO UNDERTAKE
CANNABIS ENFORCEMENT. AND THANKS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S MAIENSCHEIN FOR
AUTHORING THIS IMPORTANT
MEASURE. I AM A FORMER ATTORNEY
CITY ATTORNEY AND A FORMER
DEPUTY COUNTY COUNCIL AND IT WAS
PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN DRAFTING
AND IMPLEMENTING REGULATORY
ENFORCEMENT FOR CANNABIS AND
ALSO FOR REGULATING LEGAL
COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITIES.
AND FROM THAT EXPERIENCE, I KNOW
THAT THIS MEASURE WILL ASSIST
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AND
IMPLEMENTING GREATER ENFORCEMENT
AGAINST ILLEGAL CANNABIS
OPERATIONS. CURRENTLY MANY LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS RELY HEAVILY ON
CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT AND ON
COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING CIVIL
ENFORCEMENT, AND THIS BILL WILL
ENCOURAGE THEM TO UNDERTAKE
ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT
THROUGH CODE COMPLIANCE EFFORTS
AND THROUGH NUISANCE ABATEMENT
EFFORTS, WHICH ARE MUCH MORE
COST EFFECTIVE AND CAN BE, UM,
EMPLOYED AT A MUCH GREATER
SCALE. AND WE BELIEVE THAT IF
THIS BILL PASSES, LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO
EXPAND THEIR USE OF THOSE TOOLS
, AND IT WILL DISCOURAGE AND
DETER ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AND
SUPPORT THE LEGAL MARKET BY
ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT. AND
FINALLY, A B 16 84. IT SUPPORTS
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS THAT NEED
STATE HELP. BECAUSE THE
PRINCIPAL STATUTE GOVERNING
CIVIL ENFORCEMENT AGAINST
UNLICENSED COMMERCIAL CANNABIS
ACTIVITY, BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONS CODE, 26038 HAS
THRESHOLD REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS, AND THERE'S ONLY
11 OF THE 58 COUNTIES THAT CAN
UNDERTAKE THESE KIND OF CIVIL
ACTIONS ON THEIR OWN BEHALF AND
A SMALL HANDFUL OF CITIES THAT
CAN AND THIS BILL WOULD
ENCOURAGE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.
TO REFER THESE KIND OF CASES AND
POTENTIAL CASES TO THE A G S
OFFICE SO THAT THIS POWERFUL
TOOL CAN BE USED AROUND THE
STATE. UM AND FOR THESE REASONS
, AND ON BEHALF OF A G BARTA,
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? YES GOOD AFTERNOON,
MADAM CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, AMY JENKINS HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA
CANNABIS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
AND CANNOT CRAFT AND VERY STRONG
SUPPORT OF THE BILL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION TO THE
BILL? THING NONE. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE? YES.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S DIXON. I DON'T
REALLY HAVE SO MUCH OF A
QUESTION. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF
BILLS BEING PROPOSED TO DO THE
SAME THING. I THINK YOU HAVE THE
MOST APPROPRIATE PROPOSED
SOLUTION, AND I APPRECIATED THE
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
COMMENTS BECAUSE I REALLY THINK
THIS IS GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS BILL. I
WILL BE SUPPORTING IT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH ANY
OTHER ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A
MOTION BY SOMEBODY MEMBER BURNER
A SECOND BITE. SOMETHING FROM
PACHECO. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS AND I
WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AND I
VOTE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
BILL, BECAUSE, UM WE NEED TO
ENSURE THAT THE LAW OF THE LEGAL
CANADA'S MARKET IS NOT HAMPERED
BY ILLEGAL OPERATORS. AND I
REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR SPOT ON
TESTIMONY. YOU'VE BEEN THERE
DONE THAT, AND YOU SAW THE
BENEFITS OF THIS BILL AS WELL
AND THAT MEANS A LOT TO THOSE OF
US WHO ARE MAKING DECISIONS UP
HERE ON THE MOTIONS DO PASS TO
THE FLOOR SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL. CURRY CURRY I, DICKSON
DICKSON I BURNER BOERNER HORVATH
CHICO! CHICO, I. RAMOS RAMOS. I
REVERSE REVERSE. WALDRON WILSON
WILSON. I 78. FILLS OUT 70.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS.
ALL RIGHT. LOOKS LIKE OH, ITEM
NUMBER SEVEN A. B 12 75
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ARAMBULA. OKAY.
WE HAVE A MOTION. BY SOMEBODY ON
BURNER, SECOND BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS. THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE
STAFF FOR THE RECOMMENDED
AMENDMENTS, WHICH I ACCEPT. A B
12 75 PROVIDES A NARROWLY
TAILORED MODIFICATION TO THE
BROWN ACT FOR STATEWIDE STUDENT
RUN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE STUDENT
SAFETY, PRIVACY AND
ACCESSIBILITY. IN AN AGE WHERE
TELECONFERENCING HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY COMMON. MANY
ASPECTS OF OUR CURRENT LAWS NEED
UPDATING TO ADJUST THE
CHALLENGES THAT OUR STUDENTS
FACE. CURRENT LAW POSES A MAJOR
ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNED FOR
STUDENTS WHO ARE DISABLED OR WHO
ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
MEETINGS IN PERSON. A B 12 75
WOULD ALLOW FOR STUDENTS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THEIR STUDENT RUN
LEGISLATIVE BODIES VIA
TELECONFERENCING WHEN THEY MAY
NOT BE ABLE TO OTHERWISE.
ADDITIONALLY PROVISION OF THE
BROWN ACT REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS
WHO TELECONFERENCE FROM HOME IN
THESE MEETINGS TO PUBLICLY
RELEASED THEIR PRIVATE
ADDRESSES. WE MUST PROTECT THE
SAFETY OF STUDENTS WHO ARE
DISABLED. PARENTS UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE OR ANY OTHER MEMBER OF
AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, WHO
ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO
HAVING THEIR HOME LOCATIONS,
PUBLICLY DISCLOSED. THE BROWN
ACT HAS BEEN A LANDMARK POLICY
THAT'S ENSURED OPEN ACCESS TO
GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION. BUT IT
IS TIME TO UPDATE LAW TO REFLECT
MODERN TIMES AND NEW CHALLENGES
FACED BY OUR VULNERABLE
STUDENTS. A B 12 75 WILL RESTORE
STUDENTS, SAFETY, PRIVACY AND
ACCESSIBILITY. FOR THE STUDENTS
WHO PARTICIPATE IN STUDENT RUN
COMMUNITY COLLEGE ORGANIZATIONS.
TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF A B 12
75 ZACHARIAH WOODEN, VICE
PRESIDENT OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
AT THE STUDENT SENATE FOR
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES,
AND STEPHANIE GOLDMAN, ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR OF THE STUDENT SENATE
FOR CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
COLLEGES. WELCOME. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. CHAIR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AGAIN. MY NAME IS
ZACHARIAH WOULDN'T BE VICE
PRESIDENT OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
WITH THE STUDENT CENTER FOR
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES,
THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF 1.8
MILLION COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE. UM
WITH SUCH A LARGE STUDENT
POPULATION, IT COMES WITH AN
IMPLICIT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE
SERVE A DIVERSE BODY OF STUDENTS
IN OUR STATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE
SERVE THE TOP 100% OF STUDENTS
IN OUR STATE. AS
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ARAMBULA
MENTIONED. THIS INCLUDES ADULT
LEARNERS, STUDENT PARENTS,
WORKING STUDENTS, DUAL ENROLLED
STUDENTS, UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS,
FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS,
DISABLED STUDENTS, JUSTICE
INVOLVED STUDENTS SO MANY
DIFFERENT POPULATIONS SEEKING TO
BETTER THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES
OF THEIR DEPENDENCE THROUGH MANY
VILLE THROUGH THE MANY AVAILABLE
PATHS ON CAMPUS. IT'S THE
REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITY IN
THE COLLEGE THAT MAKES
ARCHAEOLOGISTS SO RESPONSIVE AS
COMMUNITY CENTERS, NOT JUST FOR
EDUCATION, BUT FOR WORK AND LIFE
AS WELL. WHICH BRINGS ME TO WHY
WE NEED A B 12 75 EARLIER THIS
YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, A B 17 36
CAME INTO LAW EXPANDING THE
ABILITY OF NON CREDIT AND
DISABLED STUDENTS TO SERVE IN
THEIR STUDENT BODY ASSOCIATIONS.
IT WAS AN AFFIRMATION FROM THE
LEGISLATURE THAT JUST AS THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
TRANSFORMED TO SERVE STUDENTS IN
PERSON HYBRID AND VIRTUALLY SO,
TOO, SHOULD STUDENT GOVERNMENTS
MEET THIS NEW STANDARD OF
ACCESSIBILITY A B 12 75 WHILE
RESPECTING THE SPIRIT OF THE
BROWN ACT, UH, IN OPENNESS AND
TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC IS IN
THAT SAME VEIN OF BELIEF THAT
STUDENT RUN LEGISLATIVE BODIES,
WHICH FALL UNDER THE BROWN ACT,
MADE UP OF FUNDAMENTALLY UNDER
RESOURCED AND OFTEN ALREADY
UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS.
SHOULD CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THE
CAUSE OF ACCESSIBILITY FOR
COMMUNITY COLLEGES. BILL AS
CURRENTLY AMENDED NOT ONLY WOULD
IMPROVE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF
BROWN ACT MEETINGS FOR STUDENT
RUN LEGISLATIVE BODIES, BUT ALSO
ADDRESSES CONCERNS BY REQUIRING
A SINGLE PHYSICAL. LOCAL
PHYSICAL QUORUM MUST BE AT A
LOCATION LISTED ON THE AGENDA IN
ORDER TO UTILIZE THE
TELECONFERENCING PROVISIONS OF
THIS BILL. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR
A WILD DEVIATION FROM THE BROWN
ACT WITH THIS BILL. INSTEAD, WE
ARE ASKING THIS COMMITTEE IN THE
NAME OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND
EMPOWERMENT OF THE NEXT
GENERATION OF LEADERS IN THE
NAME OF ACCESSIBILITY FOR OUR
STUDENTS FACING THE MOST
BARRIERS TO OTHERWISE
EXPERIENCED THE OPPORTUNITY
EXPERIENCING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LEAD SUPPORT AND VOTE IN FAVOR
OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU. WELCOME
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE STEPHANIE
GOLDMAN. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO
BE READING TESTIMONY ON BEHALF
OF HEATHER BRANDT, WHO IS THE
STUDENT CHANCELLOR OF THE
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS AT CITY
COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO, WHO
COULD NOT ATTEND TODAY. PRIOR TO
THE PANDEMIC AS A WORKING
STUDENT PARENTS, MOTHER OF THREE
CAREGIVER FOR MY MOTHER WHO HAS
ALZHEIMER'S AND SOMEONE WITH
LITTLE OUTSIDE SUPPORT. I COULD
NOT PARTICIPATE IN STUDENT
GOVERNANCE. WELCOME COVID SHUT
DOWN MUCH OF THE WORLD. IT
OPENED UP A WHOLE HOST OF
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS LIKE
ME. THE GOVERNOR'S COVID STATE
OF EMERGENCY PROVISIONS OF THE
BROWN ACT ALLOWED ME TO
PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS WITHOUT
NEEDING TO FIND AND PAY FOR
CARE. I WENT FROM NEVER BEING
ABLE TO ENGAGE IN THE DECISION
MAKING PROCESS TO BECOMING THE
FIRST STUDENT PARENT, PRESIDENT
OF THE DISTRICT'S LARGEST CAMPUS
AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE FIRST
STUDENT PARENT TO SERVE AS A
STUDENT, CHANCELLOR OF THE
DISTRICT WIDE ASSOCIATED STUDENT
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN JUST THREE
YEARS. SINCE THE STATE OF
EMERGENCY WAS LIFTED. I, LIKE
MANY OTHER COMMUNITY, COLLEGE
STUDENTS HAVE STRUGGLED TO
PARTICIPATE. PUBLIC LOCATIONS
ARE DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT
REQUIRES FINDING CARE FOR MY
CHILDREN. AND WHEN I PARTICIPATE
IN MEETINGS FROM MY HOME, I'M
EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE POSTING
MY ADDRESS PUBLICLY FOR VARIOUS
SAFETY REASONS. THIS IS THE CASE
FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY OUR IN
HOUSE STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES AND STUDENT PARENTS
LIKE ME WHO DON'T ALWAYS HAVE
THE FINANCIAL MEETINGS TO ATTEND
MEETINGS. THE BROWN ACT IS ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY AND A STATE LEADERS
. TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT TO
US. BUT CURRENT LAW MAKES
STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES IN
EXCESS, INACCESSIBLE, EXCLUSIVE
AND INEQUITABLE AS THEY ARE
CURRENTLY MORE EXCLUSIONARY THAN
TRANSPARENT. COLLEGE AND STUDENT
ORGANIZATIONS ARE MOST EFFECTIVE
WHEN THEY ARE DIVERSE,
EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE AND
ACCESSIBLE, THUS REFLECTING THE
ENTIRE STUDENT BODY, NOT JUST
HOUSED OR ABLE BODIED STUDENTS
WHO ARE CHILD OR CARETAKER, FREE
OR FINANCIALLY WHILE RESOURCED.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT A B 12 75
SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STUDENTS CAN HAVE EQUAL ACCESS
TO STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES
ABOUT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND IN
STATEWIDE REPRESENTATION. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER WITNESSES IN SUPPORT?
SEEING NONE ARE THERE ANY
WITNESSES AND OPPOSITION? WOULD
YOU LIKE TO COME TO THE TABLE? I
WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. YES THANK
YOU. PLEASE DO SO BOTH OF YOU
HAVE BEEN. MHM. THANK YOU,
PROFESSOR. I APPRECIATE A
PODIUM. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
NICOLE VARGAS. I'M AN ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR OF DIGITAL JOURNALISM
IS SAN DIEGO CITY COLLEGE. BUT
TODAY I'M HERE AS THE STATE
PRESIDENT FOR FACULTY FOR THE
JOURNALISM ASSOCIATION OF
COMMUNITY COLLEGES. WE ARE HERE
IN OPPOSITION OF A B 12 75.
FOUNDED IN 1955. J. C C.
SUPPORTS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
NEWSROOMS, STUDENTS AND THE
FACULTY. SITTING HERE NOW,
BEFORE YOU IS THE FIRST FOR
ORGANIZATION. WE ACTUALLY
TYPICALLY DO NOT WEIGH IN ON
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS, BUT THIS
PARTICULAR BILLS OF MAJOR
CONCERN TO US J. C C HAS THREE
PRIMARY ELEMENTS OF CONCERN WITH
THE BILL EVEN AFTER THE
AMENDMENTS WERE OFFERED. THANK
YOU FOR DOING CONSIDERATION AS
WELL. FIRST WE'RE COMMITTED TO
EDUCATIONAL EQUITY FOR ALL OF
OUR STUDENTS AND ENSURING THAT
THEY GET THE BEST HANDS ON
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE THEY CAN
AND THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM IN
PREPARATION FOR CAREERS THAT
INCLUDES THE STUDENTS SERVING IN
THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT, AS WELL
AS THE STUDENT JOURNALISTS WHO
COVER THEM. SECOND, WE VALUE
ACCESS, TRANSPARENCY AND SERVICE
TO CONTINUE CONSTITUENTS AND
COMMUNITY OVER THE CONVENIENCE
OF THOSE SERVING AND THIS BILL,
WE CAN. WE'RE WORRIED WE'LL
WE'LL CREATE A POTENTIAL BARRIER
FOR STUDENTS. WHO THE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE CHARGED WITH
REPRESENTING AND WHO MAY NOT
HAVE RELIABLE WIFI ACCESS MAY
RELY ON IN PERSON ACCESS, AND
THAT DOES ABSOLUTELY INCLUDE
ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED
STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS WITH
DISABILITIES UNTAPPED, HOUSED
AND SHELTERED, UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENT PARENTS AND OTHERS. AND
FOR THEM DIGITAL DOESN'T ALWAYS
EQUAL ACCESS, AND WE WANT TO
ENSURE THAT FLEX SHOULD AFFECTS
THE EXCUSE ME THAT FLEXIBILITY
SHOULD FAVOR AND PRIORITIZE. THE
STUDENTS BEING SERVED. AND
FINALLY, WE'RE HERE AS
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COALITION
, THE COALITION OF JOURNALISM
ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS FOCUSED
ON PROTECTING THE BROWN ACT
WITHSTAND AS FIERCE DEFENDERS OF
ACCESS AND TRANSPARENCY. ALL OF
THOSE THAT ARE PART OF THIS
IMPORTANT LAW AND RESPECTFULLY
HOPE THAT YOU WILL SEE THAT AS
WELL, BUT THEIR VOTE TODAY THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. HELLO
EVERYONE. HELLO GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS SUSANA SERRANO. I AM
THE STUDENT PRESIDENT OF J. C.
C. JOURNALISM ASSOCIATION OF
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS WELL AS
ONE OF JOURNALISM STUDENT AT SAN
DIEGO CITY COLLEGE. UM I
REPRESENT STUDENTS IN THE 116
COMPANY COLLEGES HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, AND THERE IS A
CONCERN THAT A B 12 25 IS BEING
DONE TO ACCOMMODATE CALIBRATE
COLLEGE, WHICH IS THE COLLEGE
THAT IS FULLY ONLINE AND NOT
ACCREDITED. WE SHOULDN'T AND WE
ALL BELIEVE THAT THAT WE
SHOULDN'T BE CHANGING THE LAW
FOR ONE CAMPUS. WHEN THE
STUDENTS OF ALL THE CAMPUSES I
REPRESENT BELIEFS SO STRONGLY
AND WHAT IT DOES FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF ACCESS
AND TRANSPARENCY, AND I GUESS
ADDING TO WHAT ALSO, MY
COLLEAGUE SLASH PROFESSOR HAS
HAS SAID, UM, COMING FROM A LOW
INCOME COMMUNITY. I AM FULLY
AWARE OF THAT THERE IS NOT
ENOUGH INTERNET ACCESS OR EVEN
COMPUTERS AT SOME HOMES. AND YOU
KNOW, WE DID. WE DID A COVERAGE
VERY COMMUNITY COVERAGE OF BIRTH
FELLOWSHIP ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO,
WHERE IT SHOWED THAT OVER 60% OF
PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY I COME
FROM NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA
IN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY DO NOT HAVE
ACCESS TO THIS. AND WHILE THERE
WAS PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY DID HAVE
ACCESS TO TAKE THEIR ONLINE
CLASSES AND ALL THAT THERE WAS A
LOT OF STUDENTS WHO WERE
ATTENDING OR TRYING TO GO TO, UH
LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, FAST FOOD
RESTAURANTS WHO DID HAVE WIFI
ACCESS AND OUR LIBRARIES WERE
CLOSED, WHICH WAS MUCH EASIER
FOR THEM TO USE BACK THEN, BUT
IN 2020, IT WASN'T OPEN FOR
ANYONE. SO NOW THAT WE'RE ABLE
TO COME IN PERSON TO SHOW UP. I
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DON'T
BELIEVE THAT IT'S FULLY
NECESSARY TO BE ONLINE WHEN
THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY
SITUATION AND IN MY COMMUNITIES
WHO DO NOT HAVE THAT TYPE OF
ACCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TESTIMONY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT OF THE
BILL? ANY WITNESSES AND
OPPOSITION OF THE OTHERS IN
OPPOSITION OF THE BILL. I THINK
I NEED TO MAKE A COMMENT RIGHT
NOW. SO JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR WE
ARE NOT AMENDING THIS BILL. AND
THE THERE IS A POLICY
CONSIDERATION THAT WE PUT IN THE
ANALYSIS, BUT IT'S NOT A
COMMITTEE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT IN
I'M HOPING THEY'LL BE CONTINUE
TO WORK ON IT. BUT I WILL. I
HAVE SOME THINGS TO SAY AT MY
CLOTHES. IS THERE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? I THINK I'M NOT
UNDERSTANDING. I REREAD THE
BILL. I REREAD THE COMMITTEE
ANALYSIS. I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING
YOUR OPPOSITION TO THIS. WELL,
YOU SUMMARIZE IN CLEAR LANGUAGE
. WHAT YOUR NUMBER ONE MOST
IMPORTANT THING IS WHERE WE WANT
TO KEEP THE BROWN ACT AS INTO AS
INTACT AS IT IS, UM, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE AS JOURNALISTS
AND AS JOURNALISM EDUCATORS
BELIEVE IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO
THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
THAT THAT WE BRING, AND THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE THAT
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATE
NEWS PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION.
EXCUSE ME FIRST AMENDMENT
COALITION. SOME OF THESE OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS, THAT'S THE
PRIMARY CONCERN. ALSO, AS WE
MAKE CHANGES TO IF WE MAKE
CHANGES AT ONE LEVEL, UM AT THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF OUR CONCERN
IS THAT IS GOING. WHERE ARE WE
GIVING THE STUDENTS AT THE
ABILITY TO PREPARE ADEQUATELY
FOR ONCE THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE VERY
SERIOUSLY AND ARE NEWS MISS. FOR
INSTANCE, WE DON'T CHANGE THE
RULES BECAUSE WE'RE IN AN
EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. WE WANT
TO TRAIN STUDENTS WITH THE MOST
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, AND THAT'S
A VERY BIG PART OF WHAT WE'RE
DOING. RIGHT PART OF THE BILL.
DO YOU THINK UNDERMINES ANY OF
THAT? UM I THINK THE WHEN WE SAY
THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE WHAT WE
WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IS KEEP IN
PERSON ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
WHO WANT TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS.
SO WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WHETHER
IT BE STUDENTS WHO ARE SERVED BY
THESE BOARDS. BUT ALSO
JOURNALISTS RECOVERING THESE
ORGANIZATIONS. ALL OF THAT'S
VERY IMPORTANT BEING ABLE TO
HAVE ACCESS IN THAT TRANSPARENCY
IS VERY IMPORTANT. BECAUSE THE
AUTHOR RESPOND TO THOSE CONCERNS
BECAUSE I'M I THINK I'M I DON'T
KNOW. I'M LOOKING AT MY FELLOW
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND I
JUST JUST DON'T KNOW IF I'M
UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY.
ACCESSIBILITY OF THIS BILL.
ACCESSIBILITY GOES BOTH WAYS,
AND WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE
STUDENTS WERE WAS THAT IT WAS
INACCESSIBLE. THAT FOR YOUNG
MOTHERS, THEY STRUGGLED TO FIND
THE CHILD CARE TO BE ABLE TO
SHOW AND SO THEY WERE ASKING FOR
THE TELECONFERENCING AND
LISTENING TO THE STUDENTS. THEY
REALLY WERE STATING THAT THE
REQUIREMENT TO COME IN PERSON
MADE IT INACCESSIBLE FOR SOME OF
THEM. NOW WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH
THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
TALKED ABOUT WAS TOO NARROW THE
BILL AND TO ENSURE THAT THERE
WAS A QUORUM OF A MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE PRESENT AT ONE PLACE THAT
THERE WOULD BE A POSTED AGENDA
AT THAT PLACE. JUST AS WE DO
WITH OTHER BROWN ACTED SIMPLY
ALLOWED FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY FOR
STUDENTS IN THE MINORITY OF THE
TOTAL, WHO COULD TELECONFERENCE
IN TO BETTER ALLOW THEM TO
PARTICIPATE AS AS I THINK THEIR
VOICES ARE NEEDED. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED
TO HAVE A VOICE AND A SEAT AT
THE TABLE AND A VOTE AND THE
REQUIREMENT FOR THEM TO COME IN
PERSON. THE FLEXIBILITIES THAT
WE'RE GIVING DURING THE
PANDEMIC. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE TAKE THE BEST OUT
OF THAT MOVING FORWARD. I THANK
YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT BECAUSE
I THINK THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE
BEEN ON THE COMMITTEE FOR AWHILE
I'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE. RIGHT
AFTER I GOT ELECTED THE ASSEMBLY
I HAD TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF
MY FINAL COUNCIL MEETINGS. AND
IF YOU STAY AT A HOTEL, THEY
CAN'T POST YOUR ROOM NUMBER AND
THE AGENDA TO THAT ROOM NUMBER
72 HOURS BEFOREHAND BECAUSE YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT ROOM YOU HAVE.
SO I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE
LEGAL CITIES OPENED UP THEIR
DOORS. THEY USUALLY HAVE A
SECURITY LOCK ON THEIR DOOR.
THEY HAD TO HAVE SOMEBODY STAY
DOWNSTAIRS TO SEE IF ANYBODY
COULD COME IN. WE HAD THE BROWN
ACT AND THERE ARE MANY GOOD
PROVISION OF BROUGHT UP. YOU
DON'T WANT, UH, COLLUSION BEHIND
THE SCENES. YOU WANT
TRANSPARENCY? YOU WANT ALL THESE
THINGS, BUT WE HAVE TO UPDATE
THESE RULES FOR THE 20TH CENTURY
21ST CENTURY. SORRY I'M IN THE
WRONG CENTURY 21ST CENTURY. AND
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT ACCESS.
AND I HAD A SON THAT SHOWS TO
KEEP TELECOM. UM, JUST KEEP
RESUME SCHOOLING. UM EVEN AFTER
THE SCHOOL OPENED UP, AND IF HE
WASN'T ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE
REMOTELY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT
JUST SOMETHING WE LEARNED
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC TO MANAGE A
CRISIS. IT'S SOMETHING WE
LEARNED THAT HAD AN ADVANTAGE.
REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ADVOCATING
FOR A STOP SIGN NEAR MY KID'S
SCHOOL? SO MANY PARENTS COULDN'T
COME. THEY COULDN'T PARTICIPATE
IN COUNCIL MEETINGS. THEY
STARTED SIX PEOPLE HAD YOUNG
KIDS BABIES. THEY WERE FEEDING
THEIR FAMILIES. SOME FAMILIES
HAD TO WORK TWO JOBS, THOSE
PEOPLE COULDN'T NECESSARILY
PARTICIPATE. BUT ONCE YOU DO
OPENED UP WITH REASONABLE
GUARDRAILS TO PROTECT
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHEN YOU OPEN IT UP, YOU'RE
ACTUALLY INCREASING ACCESS. SO I
AM GLAD I MADE THE MOTION OF THE
AUTHOR'S BILL AND I WOULD HOPE
THE OPPOSITION YOU IF THERE'S A
REASONABLE PLACE TO WORK WITH
THE OPPOSITION. I HOPE THE
OPPOSITION WOULD SEE THAT, AS
THE AUTHOR SAID. IT GOES TWO
WAYS AND WE WANT TO INCREASE
ACCESSIBILITY TO ANY FORM OF
GOVERNMENT THAT IS COVERED BY
THE BROWN ACT, UM TO THE PEOPLE
OF CALIFORNIA. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL JUST MAKE
IT. COMMENT, UM IT'S AN
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION ON A
BROADER LEVEL. BECAUSE I THINK
ON THIS COMMITTEE AND ON THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHERE I ALSO
SIT THERE ANOTHER DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT LOOSENING UP THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE BROWN ACT
BECAUSE OF THE ZOOM MEETING IN
THE TELECONFERENCING IN THE
VIDEO. AH I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
THAT. I MEAN, WE'VE ALL
EXPERIENCED PUBLIC MEETINGS
DURING THE COVID CRISIS. THAT
WERE HELD ON TO THEM. AND YES,
IT DID FACILITATE THAT
INTERACTION AND TO KEEP CONTINUE
TO KEEP THE PUBLIC MEETINGS
GOING FORWARD, BUT IT'S MY OWN
OPINION. IT'S WAS NOT THE SAME
AS BEING IN PERSON. AND
OBVIOUSLY WE COULDN'T BE ANY
PERSON. AH, SOMETIMES THE
QUALITY OF THE DIGITAL
TRANSMISSION WAS PROBLEMATIC.
UH, IT'S. AND TECHNOLOGY ALWAYS
IMPROVES. I THINK PART OF THE
ARGUMENT HERE ABOUT JOURNALISM
AND THE PRESS. I MEAN, I JUST
THINK THE ACCESS ISSUE AND
SERVING IN A PUBLIC CAPACITY.
REQUIRES IN PERSON
PARTICIPATION. I MEAN, JUST LIKE
THIS COMMITTEE WERE NOT ALLOWING
IT TO BE ZOOMED, AND I THINK
IT'S A ULTIMATELY IT BECOMES A
SLIPPERY SLOPE. SO IT'S A
STUDENT RUN ORGANIZATION. AND
IT'S A WONDERFUL THAT THE YOUNG
PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN THEIR
STUDENT GOVERNMENT APPLAUD THEM
, AND I HOPE THAT CONTINUES TO
SET A STANDARD FOR THE REST OF
THEIR LIFE TO BE INVOLVED. BUT I
BELIEVE THAT ALSO PART OF THE
ARGUMENT THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS
A COMPUTER IN LOWER INCOME
COMMUNITIES UNTIL WE HAVE
ESTABLISHED WIDESPREAD BROADBAND
IN THE STATE, SO I WANT TO
PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE BROWN
ACT. I KNOW IT'S NOT PERFECT. AH
PERHAPS, BUT IT DOES ESTABLISH
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
AND RESPONSIBILITY OF PUBLIC
OFFICIALS AND DO NOT. UH HUH.
AND IN FACT, WHEN I DURING THAT
PERIOD OF TIME WHEN I PERSONALLY
TRAVELED OUT OF TOWN DURING A
PUBLIC MEETING AND I'VE HAD TO
POST MY ADDRESS IN BROOKLYN, NEW
YORK BECAUSE I WAS AT MY
DAUGHTER'S HOME AND I HAD TO BE
THERE AND OPEN THE DOOR. AND I
MEAN I DID IT. I MEAN, THAT'S
JUST A PART OF BEING A PUBLIC
PERSON. AND YOU DO THOSE THINGS
. UM I WILL BE VOTING. NO, I
APPRECIATE I THINK IF WE ANY
COMMITTEE. A LEGISLATURE WANTS
TO AMEND THE BROWN ACT. I THINK
IT REALLY REQUIRES SOME SERIOUS
THOUGHT PROCESS OF THE
IMPLICATIONS ON A GO FORWARD
BASIS. THANK YOU. CHAIR. ANY
OTHER. COMMENTS. YES. REMEMBER
WILSON? THANK YOU, AND I
APOLOGIZE TO THOSE WHO HAVE TO
THE BAG AND FOR ME FOR MY PART
ON THIS. I THINK THAT, UM,
FLEXIBILITY GIVEN WITH THE BROWN
ACT AND WHERE WE ARE, UM AS
REALLY AS A NATION OR THE WHOLE
ENTIRE WORLD IN TERMS OF HOW WE
DO BUSINESS, UM AND CONDUCT OUR
MEETINGS IS GOOD. IT'S A GOOD
THING. UM AND EVEN IN MY OWN
CITY, WE MOVED TO, OF COURSE.
UH, UH, DIGITAL ONLY DURING THE
PANDEMIC AND THEN HAVE BEEN
GRADUALLY WENT TO A HYBRID AND
NOT HYBRID HAPPENED TO WORK
REALLY WELL, AND THIS IS WHAT
THIS LOOKS LIKE TO ME. UM I
ALWAYS TAKE EXCEPTION ON CERTAIN
BILLS, AS RELATES TO THE BROWN
ACT WHEN, UM YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED
TO TELL WHERE SOMEONE IS. I DO
RECOGNIZE THE SAFETY CONCERNS
THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOW, UM AND SO
I'VE ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY. I DO
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW. UM
WHAT CITY THE PERSON WHO IS
PARTICIPATING IS IN. UM AND ONLY
BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THAT ABUSED OR
PEOPLE ONE HAVE NOT LIVED IN
THEIR COMMUNITY. OR YOU CAN HAVE
A STUDENT WHO'S DOING ONLINE
THERE IN A WHOLE ANOTHER STATE,
YOU KNOW, BEING A PART OF THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND TAKING A
CLASS AND YOU DON'T KNOW THAT
SOMEBODY WHO'S SITTING IN TEXAS
AND NEVER IN CALIFORNIA, NEVER
IN THE DISH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DISTRICT. YOU KNOW, ARE
PARTICIPATING. AND SO THAT'S NOT
A GOOD THING. AND SO, UM, I'LL
SUPPORT THIS BILL. BUT KEEP THAT
IN MIND, AND I SAY THAT ON
EVERYBODY'S BILL RELATED TO THE
BROWN ACT THAT IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT YOU KNOW WHERE THE PERSON
WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE
REPRESENTING YOU. ARE YOU DON'T
HAVE TO KNOW THEIR EXACT ADDRESS
. UM BUT HAVING SOME GENERAL
LOCATION IS VERY HELPFUL, AND I
THINK THAT'S PART OF
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. AND I
THINK TO YOUR POINT, UM TO MY
COLLEAGUE HERE THAT YOU KNOW
THAT'S PART OF BEING A PUBLIC
SERVANT. UM YOU'RE IN THE PUBLIC
EYE AND PEOPLE DO PEOPLE. YOU'RE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO DIFFERENT
PEOPLE, SO THE STANDARDS ARE
DIFFERENT. AND YES, AS A COMMON
PERSON WHO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT
HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY ANYBODY. I
DON'T NOBODY HAS TO KNOW WHERE
I'M AT. BUT YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU
SAY I'M GOING TO REPRESENT YOU
UM IT IS REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO
KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. UM, WITHIN
REASON, BALANCING THAT WE DO
LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD. UM
AND IT'S NOT THE DAYS OF OLD AND
SAFETY. IS A CONCERN AND SOME
LEVEL OF PRIVACY FOR THOSE THAT
ARE AROUND YOU BECAUSE JUST
BECAUSE I GO TO MY LIKE, AS WAS
NOTED TO YOUR DAUGHTER'S. HOW'S
YOUR DAUGHTER DIDN'T SIGN UP TO
HAVE THE PUBLIC ADDRESS LISTED?
SO IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO KNOW
THAT YOU'RE IN BROOKLYN? BUT
MAYBE NOT, YOU KNOW, AT 555
WINTER STREET IN BROOKLYN, SO,
UM, BUT I KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE
BIT BIGGER THAN THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE DISTRICT. BUT JUST KEEP
HIM OUT IN MIND. YOU DO KNOW YOU
DON'T HAVE TO BE KNOWN JUST THAT
THEY'RE PARTICIPATING
TELECONFERENCE AND THAT SHOULD
BE SOMETHING THAT YOU CONSIDER
IN THE FUTURE THAT WE DON'T GO
TOO FAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS. OKAY UM, WE
HAVE A MOTION BY SOMETHING MORE
BURNER, A SECOND BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S RAMOS. UM.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LOSE? THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO
APPRECIATE THE STUDENTS WHO
WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THEIR
COMMUNITY ENJOYED THE
FLEXIBILITIES DURING THE
PANDEMIC AND BROUGHT THIS
PROPOSAL TO MY OFFICE. IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US AS
REPRESENTATIVES TO LISTEN TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND TO BE MOVED BY THEM
. AND SO I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS BILL
TODAY. AND RESPECTFULLY ASKED
FOR AN I VOTE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ARAMBULA
. SO LET'S REMIND EVERYONE THIS
IS PRETTY NARROWLY DEFINED TO
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT
ORGANIZATIONS, OKAY? UM, BUT
IT'S NO SECRET. THAT I HAVE
RESERVATIONS ABOUT CHANGING THE
BROWN ACT IN A WAY THAT RELAXES
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GOVERNING
BODY MEMBERS TO SHOW UP IN
PERSON. WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS
TO DO THE IMPORTANT WORK THEY DO
AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
PEOPLE. HOWEVER BECAUSE OF THE
IN PERSON CORUM REQUIREMENT YOUR
BILL CONTAINS AS WELL AS THE
SUNSET DATE. I WENT PREPARED TO
SUPPORT IT TODAY. AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
INCORPORATE THE PROVISIONS IN
YOUR BILL. BUT I ALSO WANT TO
ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE
REFINING THE LANGUAGE TO ENSURE
THAT YOUR BILL CONTINUES TO
INCLUDE MORE CLEARLY THE
ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR THE
PUBLIC THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE
PROVISION OF A B 2449 AND
ELSEWHERE IN THE BROWN ACT. UM.
YOU KNOW, I'M I HAVE A HARD TIME
WITH THESE AND IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THIS FACE TO FACE
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S OUR JOB.
AND EVEN AS A SMALL ORGANIZATION
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE CONSTITUENTS
THAT WANT TO MEET THEM AS WELL.
SO I THINK WE HAVE A FINE LINE
HERE. UM I THINK YOU REALLY NEED
TO WORK ON THIS SOME MORE. UM AS
YOU MOVE FORWARD. UM, SO TODAY
THE MOTION IS DUE PASS TO THE
FLOOR SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL. CURRY CURRY I DICKSON
DICKSON. NO BURNER. PACHECO HØI
RAMOS. RAMOS I, ROBERT RIVAS.
ROBERT RIVAS AYE, WALDRON.
WILSON WILSON? AYE. YOU HAVE 61.
BUT 61 THANK YOU VERY MUCH
ASCENDING MEMBER. OKAY? OKAY ALL
RIGHT NOW WE'LL GO TO ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
GARCIA A B 13 85. MADAM CHAIR
AND COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR
THE MOTION IN THE SECOND, I WILL
BE BRIEF. OFTENTIMES YOU HEAR
THIS IS A SIMPLE BILL AND THAT
IT'S A DISTRICT BILL, AND I'LL
KEEP IT TO THAT. THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE HAVE HERE. IT HAS TO DO
WITH TRANSPORTATION, LOCAL
EMPOWERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND
ALLOWING THE VOTERS TO MAKE A
DECISION TO ENHANCE
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WITH ME
TODAY IS AMERICA'S FAVORITE
MAYOR TO BECKY G POP STAR, UM
ICON MAYOR STEVE HERNANDEZ AND
SEE BAG AND OUR CTC, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AND MAYOR TO TESTIFY. I
ALREADY GOT HIS AUTOGRAPH,
HAHAHAHA. GOOD AFTERNOON,
HONORABLE AND CHAIRWOMAN AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. AGAIN
STEVE HERNANDEZ. I AM HERE TODAY
AS A CHAIRMAN OF THE COACHELLA
VALLEY ASSOCIATION GOVERNMENTS,
THE MAYOR OF COACHELLA AND ALSO
COMMISSIONER TO RIVERSIDE COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION. I'M
PROUD TO SUPPORT AND TESTIFY ON
BEHALF OF A B 13 85 ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, GARCIA, THE COACHELLA
VALLEY. ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENTS IS A JOINT POWER
AUTHORITY COMPRISED OF NINE
CITIES IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY,
THE CITY OF LIFE AND FOUR TRIBAL
NATIONS AND THE COUNTY OF
RIVERSIDE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION AND ITS MEMBER AGENCY
. SEE VAG ALSO PLANS AND BUILDS
REGIONAL PROJECTS OF
SIGNIFICANCE FOR RESIDENTS AND
VISITORS OF THE COACHELLA
VALLEY. LOCAL MEASURING FUNDS,
WHICH IS A HALF CENT SALES TAX
TO SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY
HELPS TO FIND CRITICAL REGIONAL
PROJECTS, FOR INSTANCE, THE VAG
IS CURRENTLY BUILDING CV LINK A
40 MILE PLUS MULTI MOTO PATHWAY
FOR BICYCLISTS, PEDESTRIANS, LOW
SPEED ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THIS
PROJECT WILL ENABLE HEALTHIER
LIFESTYLES FOR ECONOMIC
INNOVATION AND MAKE THE
COACHELLA VALLEY MORE.
SUSTAINABLE AND APPEALING PLACE
TO LIVE WORK AND PLAY FOR MANY
GENERAL FOR MANY GENERATIONS OF
RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. OTHER
PROJECTS INCLUDE LOCAL ROAD,
GREAT SEPARATIONS AND ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT ARE
CRITICAL FOR EFFICIENT MOVEMENT
OF PEOPLE AND GOODS, PUBLIC
SAFETY AND FOR MEETING THE
CLIMATE GOALS OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. IN THE COACHELLA
VALLEY. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS ARE IDENTIFIED AS PART
OF SEA BAGS, TRANSPORTATION
PRIORITY PROJECT PRIORITIZATION
STUDY, WHICH RANKS REGIONAL
PROJECTS BASED ON VARIOUS
CRITERIAS, SUCH AS ACCIDENTS,
MOBILITY, VEHICLE MILES,
TRAVELED REDUCTION AND ROADWAY
SAFETY CONDITIONS TO PRIORITIZE
INVESTMENTS. DESPITE HAVING A
MEASURE A PHªN THE COST OF
PROJECTS IDENTIFIED IN THE T P.
P S FOR WAYS AVAILABLE FUNDING
FOR THE COACHELLA VALLEY ALONE.
THE TPP S IDENTIFIED 3.1 BILLION
IN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS,
WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN
AVAILABLE FRONTS FROM LOCAL
STATE AND FEDERAL, UH, FUNDING
SOURCES AS SUCH. RIVERSIDE
COUNTY REGIONAL NEEDS. IN
ADDITION, WE NEED MORE TOOLS TO
HELP NEED TO MEET THE GROWING
NEEDS OF TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY FOR
OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES,
ACCORDING TO THE RECENT SENSES
THAT VALLEYS NINE CITIES GREW BY
6.8% TO A TOTAL OF ABOUT 370,000
RESIDENTS IN THE COACHELLA
VALLEY. AND THE CITY OF
COACHELLA ALONE, WHERE THE
MEDIUM HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS
$440,000, BUT THAT'S PARTLY
BECAUSE WE HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE
LIVING IN A HOME. WE HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY BUILD PUEBLO VIEJO
VILLAS, 100 AND FIVE UNIT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
WITH SUPPORT FROM THE STATE INFO
INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT. HOWEVER
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE NEEDED
, UH FOR THE CITY TO MEET HIGH
QUALITY TRANSIT AND OTHER MULTI
MODAL REQUIREMENTS TO UNLOCK
HOUSING DOLLARS BY PROVIDING RCT
SEE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY
TO ADAPT TO MODIFY FUNDING.
MAYBE 13 85 WILL ENABLE VOTERS
TO CONSIDERS CONSIDER OUR CTC'S
ABILITY TO MAKE ROBUST
TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS TO
MEET THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE
REGION. IN EFFECT, THIS BILL
WOULD HELP FACILITATE INCREASED
MULTIMODAL OPTIONS, REDUCING
MISSION AND HELP FACILITATE
TRANSIT ORIENTATED COMMUNITIES
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
ESPECIALLY WITHIN OUR LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. UM,
AND MAYOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, ALSO
KNOWN AS R. C T. C AND IT IS MY
PLEASURE TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU
TODAY. THANK YOU AS WELL TO
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GARCIA FOR HIS
STRONG SUPPORT FOR
TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS IN
RIVERSIDE COUNTY AND FOR
AUTHORING THIS BILL. RIVERSIDE
COUNTY IS THE FOURTH MOST
POPULOUS COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA
AND THE 10TH MOST POPULOUS IN
THE UNITED STATES, AND OUR
POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO
CONTINUE TO EXPAND, REACHING
THREE MILLION RESIDENTS BY 2048
FROM 2.5 MILLION IN 2022 REGIONS
. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, OPEN
SPACE QUALITY OF LIFE AND
RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS
WHY RIVERSIDE COUNTY WAS TASKED
WITH BUILDING MORE THAN 167,000
HOUSING UNITS BY 2029. WITH THIS
IN MIND, WE HAVE TO PREPARE OUR
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
FOR THIS GROWTH AS A SELF HELP
COUNTY, THE RESIDENTS HAVE TWICE
ELECTED TO TAX THEMSELVES TO
INVEST IN TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE. AS THE
ADMINISTRATOR OF MEASURE, A OR
HALF CENT SALES TAX VOTER
APPROVED R C T C HAS KEPT ITS
PROMISES TO OUR RESIDENTS FOR
NEARLY 35 YEARS BY USING TAX
REVENUE EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY TO SUPPORT PROJECTS
, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES APPROVED
BY THE VOTERS. MEASURE A HAS
GENERATED THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND
PROVIDED MORE THAN $4.1 BILLION.
FOR ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
AND HELPED US LEVERAGE STATE AND
FEDERAL FUNDINGS TO MEET THE
NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. A B 13
85 CHANGES ARE CTC SALES TAX
AUTHORITY FROM ONE SENT TO 1.5
CENTS PER DOLLAR, GIVING
RIVERSIDE COUNTY VOTERS THE
OPTION TO INCREASE LOCAL SALES
TAX IN THE FUTURE. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL DOES NOT
CHANGE EXISTING MEASURE A AND
IT'S STILL WOULD REQUIRE A VOTE
OF THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY
RESIDENTS TO APPROVE A NEW SALES
TAX MEASURE IN THE FUTURE. THE
COMMISSION REPRESENTED BY
ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS AND ALL 28 CITIES
IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, VOTED TO
SPONSOR THIS BILL IN THE
TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IS ALSO
SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AVAILABLE
FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, AND
I HOPE YOU JOIN US IN SUPPORTING
THIS BILL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. ARE THERE OTHER
WITNESSES IN SUPPORT? WELCOME.
THANK YOU. CHAIR MEMBERS. MARK
WATTS, REPRESENTING
TRANSPORTATION, CALIFORNIA
COALITION OF THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY. ALLIED LABOR WERE
STRONG SUPPORT. APPRECIATE YOUR
I VOTE TODAY. HEY, MAN, CHAIR
KEITH DONE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
SELF HOPE COUNTY'S COALITION,
THE 25 OTHER 24 OTHER AGENCIES
THAT HAVE THE HALF CENT SALES
TAX, INCLUDING ORANGE COUNTY
THAT VOTED FOR THIS TWICE, BUT
ALSO FOR THE DISTRICT COUNCIL OF
IRONWORKERS, MEN AND WOMEN WHO
WORK AND LIVE IN RIVERSIDE
COUNTY WHO WANT THE OPPORTUNITY
NOT ONLY TO GO TO JOB AND GO TO
A JOB, BUT ALSO TO HAVE SAFE,
RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE OF ALL
MODES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHIANA VALENTINE
ON BEHALF OF UNITED CONTRACTORS
AND SUPPORT THANK YOU. MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. GOOD
AFTERNOON. JAMES THROW ACTOR
WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE
COUNCIL LABORER'S AND STRONG
SUPPORT. THANK YOU SAYING NO
OTHERS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
ARE THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION TO THE BILL? SEEING
NONE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF
THE COMMITTEE? I WAS GIVING YOU
A CHANCE. OKAY UM, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO WE HAVE AN EXCUSE ME? WE
DO HAVE A MOTION BY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WILSON SECOND
BY SOME REMEMBER RAMOS. UM WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU FOR
THE AUDIENCE AND RESPECTFULLY
ASK FRIABLE. GREAT THANK YOU FOR
PRESENTING TODAY AND I'LL BE
VOTING I FOR YOUR BILL. THE
MOTIONS DO PASS TO THE FLORIST
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
CURRY CURRY, I DIXON DIXON, NO
BURNER. BERNARD NOT VOTING
PACHECO. CHECK UP I RAMOS RAMOS
, I RIVAS INSIDE WALDRON. WILSON
WILSON. AYE. BILL IS AT 51. IT'S
OUT. IT'S OUT. IT'S OUT. THANK
YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. YOU'RE
VERY WELCOME. OKAY LOOKS LIKE
IT'S MS WILSON'S TURN. ALL
RIGHT. UM WE HAVE FILE NUMBER 11
A B 233. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WILSON
AND SHE WILL FOLLOW BY HER
SECOND BILL. AFTER THAT. READY
FOR ME FEEL FREE. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND
FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
. UM THIS IS A BILL THAT I AM
VERY MUCH EXCITED ABOUT. I AM
PLEASED TO PRESENT A B 233,
WHICH MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES
HEARD ABOUT, UM, EVEN BEFORE THE
LANGUAGE WAS PUT INTO PRINT.
THIS WILL PROVIDE PERMISSIVE
LANGUAGE TO GIVE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS THE OPTION TO
IMPLEMENT AN ORDINANCE THAT
WOULD REQUIRE HORSE RIDERS TO
CLEAN UP HORSE MANURE THAT IS
DEPOSIT ON STREETS AND
SIDEWALKS. UM AND REALLY, THAT
IS BASED ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY
SIDE NOW. CURRENTLY THERE'S NO
LAW THAT REQUIRES PEOPLE IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CLEAN UP
AFTER HER THEIR HORSES, AND IT'S
A PROBLEM IN CITIES WHERE THERE
CAN BE A LOT OF HORSE TRAFFIC
AMONG BUILDINGS, BUSINESSES AND
PUBLIC PROPERTY. FOR ANY MANURE
THAT HAS LEFT ON PUBLIC OR
PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE COST OF
CLEANUP FALLS ON THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT OR LOCAL BUSINESS
OWNER, ADDITIONALLY, IF MANURE
REMOVAL IS NEGLECTED, THERE ARE
POTENTIAL RUNOFF ISSUES THAT CAN
LEAD TO NUTRIENTS ENTERING
GROUNDWATER OR SURFACE WATER
SOURCES. LOCAL CITY IS WORKING
TO IMPLEMENT AN ORDINANCE
REQUIRING A QUESTION WRITERS TO
CLEAN UP THE MANURE LEFT BEHIND
BY HORSES OR PUBLIC PROPERTIES,
SUCH AS ON THE SIDE WALKER
STREET THEY'RE CURRENTLY BLOCKED
BY THE STATE LAWS THAT REGULATE
HORSES WITHIN THE VEHICLE CODE
AS A FORMER LEADER. LOCAL
LEADER. I UNDERSTAND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE LOCAL
CONTROL BECAUSE LOCAL LEADERS
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
IMPLEMENT LAWS THAT WILL BENEFIT
THEIR CITIES AND A B 233 ALLOWS
LOCAL CONTROL. AT THIS CURRENT
STATE, THE ONLY LOCAL CONTROL OF
THAT CITIES HAVE AS WE RELATES
TO HORSES IS TO BAN THEM. NO ONE
WANTS TO BAN A HORSE HORSES ARE
BEAUTIFUL, UM, AND OUR
PARTICULAR CITY WHEN WE WANTED
TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF HORSE
MANURE ON OUR SIDEWALKS,
PARTICULARLY ON A WHAT WE WOULD
CALL A SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL. WE
COULDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT IT. WE
COULDN'T EVEN DISCUSS IT BECAUSE
WE HAD A NURSE JURISDICTION. SO
REALLY WHAT THIS BILL DIES. IT
ALLOWS CITY TO HAVE THAT
DISCUSSION THAT ALLOWS COUNTIES
TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND IF
THEY DETERMINED THROUGH THAT
DISCUSSION THAT IT'S NOT
NECESSARY. THE NO CHANGES TO THE
LAW IF THEY DETERMINED TO THAT
DISCUSSION THAT SOMETHING IS
NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC
PROCESS THAT WE HAVE. WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE BROWN EARLIER
TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE OF THE
PUBLIC PROCESS THAT WE HAVE.
THEN EVERYONE CAN WEIGH ON
WHAT'S BEST FOR THAT LOCAL CITY
OR COUNTY. SO REALLY, WHAT THIS
BILL DOES IS IT GIVES PERMISSIVE
LANGUAGE TO ALLOW LOCAL AGENCIES
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE
DISCUSSIONS IF IT IS AN ISSUE IN
THEIR COMMUNITY AND INCLUDE ALL
STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT DISCUSSION.
WITH THAT. I HAVE NO WITNESSES
HERE WITH ME TODAY. UM, SO I'M
OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I DO
APPRECIATE AND I VOTE. OKAY WELL
, JUST IN CASE OF SOMEBODY'S
LURKING OUT HERE, IT MIGHT
SUPPORT THERE'S A LURKER. THANK
YOU, CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS NO ITALY AND ON BEHALF OF THE
MID PENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN
SPACE DISTRICT. WE ARE IN
SUPPORT. THERE YOU HAVE IT. ARE
THERE ANY WITNESSES IN
OPPOSITION? YES, PLEASE. I AM
SUPPORT IN SUPPORT OF YOUR
CREATIVE PROPOSED BILL, BUT, UH
, TELL ME SOMETHING, OBVIOUSLY I
DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER. SO YOUR
LOCAL CITY, A LOCAL CITY COULD
NOT AMEND THEIR MUNICIPAL CODE
TO PROHIBIT OR TO REQUIRE HORSE
OWNERS TO PICK UP AFTER
THEMSELVES. SO THIS BECAME AN
ISSUE IN OUR CITY. AND WHAT IT
IS, IS THAT, UM, HORSES REALLY
ARE ORIGINAL FAST TRANSPORTATION
. NOW WE HAVE LIKE BART, WE HAVE
FAST VEHICLES, BUT EVEN ALL OF
OUR VEHICLES WE MEASURE THEIR
SPEED AND THEIR ABILITY BY
HORSEPOWER. SO HORSES WHERE THE
ORIGINAL TRANSPORTATION SO OUR
ORIGINAL VEHICLE CODE, UM WAS
BASED ON HORSES AND HORSES ARE
INCLUDED ON THAT WHICH IS STATE
LAW. SO WHEN WE TRY TO DEAL WITH
THIS AS A CITY, WE FOUND THAT
THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO WAS
BANNED. UM BAND HORSES, AND NO
ONE WANTED TO DO THAT, BECAUSE
WE WERE A BUDDING A COUNTY
ISLAND. SO WE HAD HORSES COMING
THROUGH ON OUR TRAILS ALL THE
TIME, AND NOBODY WANTED TO BAT.
AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL THING IN THE WORLD AND
WE LOVE SEEING THE HORSES. BUT
WE REALIZED WE COULDN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT THE LAW. UM I
WASN'T ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S THE
TIME. I WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, VICE
MAYOR, UM AND TALK TO MY
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S ABOUT IT. AND
SIMILAR MEMBER DIDN'T WANT TO
BRING THE BILL. OF COURSE. UM
LIKE, NOT THAT BIG A DEAL. HE
ONLY HAD ONE PERSON COMPLAINING
ABOUT IT AND THEN LITERALLY MY
FIRST TOWN HALL AFTER BEING
ELECTED OVER BREAK. UM SOMEONE
BROUGHT UP OH, URINE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S NOW SO YOU CAN
DO YOUR OWN BILL ON THIS BECAUSE
PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY ARE VERY
FAMILIAR WITH IT IS STILL AN
ISSUE IN OUR CITY. AND I WAS
LIKE, YOU'RE RIGHT. AND SO
THAT'S WHY WE'RE THAT'S WHY
WE'RE HERE TODAY AND IT REALLY
JUST THAT'S WHY I SAID I DIDN'T
WANT TO PUT SPECIFICALLY THAT,
UM ANY OTHER LANGUAGE BUT
ALLOWING THE DISCUSSION TO
HAPPEN AND IT JUST BE PERMISSIVE
BECAUSE AT THAT POINT WHEN,
BECAUSE THE ISSUE WE WENT TO
AGENDA, IS IT AND REALIZED WE
WERE PROHIBITED BECAUSE WE HAD
NO JURISDICTION OVER HORSES.
JUST LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE
JURISDICTION THAT MUCH OVER
CARS. YOU CAN'T TELL A CAR. YOU
KNOW A LOT OF THINGS. A LOT OF
THESE THINGS IS HANDLED AT THE
STATE AND SO THE SAME THING WITH
HORSES BECAUSE HORSES ARE
ORIGINAL CARS. THANK YOU FOR
THAT EXPLANATION. WELL, GOOD FOR
YOU. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY
COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WE NEED A
MOTION. OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION.
REMEMBER INNER? THE SECOND BIAS
SOMETHING MEMBER DIXON. WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CLOSE? I THANK YOU
ALL FOR YOUR FOR THE MOTION,
AND, UM AND SECOND AND
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
AH THANKS FOR THANK YOU FOR
PRESENTING THE BILL. MY OFFICE
IS DELIGHTED THAT THIS BILL'S
GONNA BE BEHIND US NOW BECAUSE
THE PHONES HAVE BEEN RINGING OFF
THUGS. UM I WAS VOTING FOR YOUR
BILL TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE
BRINGING FORWARD I KNOW THE
ISSUES. WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY
TO AND SO WITH THAT THE MOTION
IS DUE PASS TO THE FLOOR
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
CURRY CURRY, I, DICKSON DICKSON
. I BOERNER HORVATH AYE PACHECO,
CHICO I RAMOS BROUGH. I REVERSE
WALDRON. WILSON JOYFULLY, AYE.
THAT'S 60. OKAY? BILLS OUT 60.
AND ITEM FILE NUMBER 12 A B
NINE. EXCUSE ME 59 TO WILSON.
JUST THINK OF MY YEP. ALL RIGHT
. HELLO AGAIN. UM TODAY AS YOU
CAN SEE, MY THEME IS ABOUT WASTE
. THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND NOTED
WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT I'M PLEASED
TO PRESENT TO YOU A B 592. THANK
YOU. THIS WOULD AUTHORIZE
COUNTIES TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE
TO REGULATE THE TRANSPORT OF
SOLID WASTE BY NON FRANCHISE
SOLID WASTE HAULERS ON PUBLIC
ROADS AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
ILLEGAL DUMPING OCCURS WHEN
SOLID WASTE IS DISCARDED OR
PLACED ON ANY PROPERTY, EITHER
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, WITHOUT
PROPER AUTHORIZATION, AND IT HAS
BEEN A GROWING PROBLEM IN
CALIFORNIA FOR MANY YEARS.
VIOLATORS ASSUME THERE IS LITTLE
RISK BECAUSE IT IS ECONOMICALLY
FEASIBLE. LOG ENFORCEMENT HAS NO
PROBABLE CAUSE TO PULL OVER NON
FRANCHISE HAULERS AND DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA
REPORT HAVING DIFFICULTY IN
PROSECUTING CASES MATERIALS THAT
ARE LEGALLY DUMPED RANGE FROM
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS SUCH AS
MATTRESSES, FURNITURE AND LARGE
APPLIANCES TO OTHER, MORE
COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ITEMS SUCH
AS TIRES. HAZARDOUS WASTE ROCK,
CONCRETE, ASPHALT AND DIRT
ILLEGAL DUMPING
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES
BECAUSE THAT'S OFTEN WHERE THE
ILLEGAL DUMPING HAPPENS,
AFFECTING THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY,
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND
QUALITY OF LIFE. AS A RESULT BY
HELPING COMMUNITIES CURB ILLEGAL
DUMPING. THIS BILL WOULD NOT
ONLY INCREASE EQUITY BUT
IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE. WITH
ME TODAY IS CHRISTIAN LUCAS,
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CONTRA
COSTA COUNTIES ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH DIVISION. WELCOME. MADAM
CHAIR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AGAIN.
MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN LUCAS, AS
WAS STATED. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND
REPRESENT THE COUNTY OF CONTRA
COSTA AS HEALTH SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. AS A LONGTIME
RESIDENT AND PUBLIC SERVANT OF
THE COUNTY. I HAVE WITNESSED AN
INCREASE IN ILLEGAL DUMPING
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS,
CONTRIBUTING TO COMMUNITY BLIGHT
, OFTEN DISPROPORTIONATELY
AFFECTING THE COUNTY'S MOST
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, SUCH
AS BAY POINT, NORTH RICHMOND.
AND MANY OTHERS. UNFORTUNATELY
IT SEEMS THAT ILLEGAL DUMPING
ONLY LEADS TO MORE ILLEGAL
DUMPING. IN 2017 TO HELP COMBAT
THE AFOREMENTIONED ISSUE. THE
COUNTY CREATED A PROGRAM TO
REGULATE THE COLLECTION AND
TRANSPORT OF SOLID WASTE BY NON
FRANCHISE HAULERS IN THE
UNINCORPORATED AREA. THE COUNTY
HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT
FACILITATES THE NON FRANCHISE
SOLID WASTE HAULER PROGRAM,
WHICH REQUIRES HOLLERS TO OBTAIN
A PERMIT. DISPLAY A DECAL AND
PAY REGULATORY FEES TO COVER THE
COST OF PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.
HOWEVER, UNDER CURRENT COUNTY
ORDINANCE ONLY SOLID WASTE
HAULERS WHO COLLECT THEIR LOADS.
IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF
THE COUNTY ARE REGULATED UNDER
THIS PROGRAM. THE ORDINANCE
REGULATES BOTH COLLECTION AND
TRANSPORT, AS OPPOSED TO ONLY
TRANSPORT SO THAT THE COUNTY CAN
COLLECT REGULATORY FEES TO PAY
FOR THE PROGRAM. AND AVOID
RUNNING AFOUL. OTHER PROVISIONS
IN THE VEHICLE CODE THAT STATES
A PERMIT FEE CANNOT BE CHARGED
FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF USING
PUBLIC ROADWAYS. THUS
PROGRAMMATIC CHALLENGES EXIST,
ALLOWING BOTH PERMITTED AND NON
PERMITTED HAULERS TO OPERATE
WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA
BECAUSE THE LOCATION OF
COLLECTION IS A REQUIREMENT IN
THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, AND THE
ORIGIN OF A SOLID WASTE LOAD IS
NOT READILY ASCERTAINABLE. BY
ALLOWING A COUNTY TO REGULATE
THE MERE TRANSPORT OF SOLID
WASTE BY NON FRANCHISE SOLID
WASTE HAULERS REQUIRING A PERMIT
AND PAYMENT OF FEES TO OPERATE
ON ROADS IN THE UNINCORPORATED
AREA. THIS BILL HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO GREATLY EXPAND THE
REACH OF THE EXISTING PROGRAM IN
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. BY
DIMINISHING THE PROGRAMMATIC
CHALLENGES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST.
IF NON FRANCHISED, ALWAYS
TOLERANCE MUST OBTAIN UH, AND
DISPLAY EVIDENCE OF A PERMIT
SIMPLY TO TRANSPORT SOLID WASTE
ON ROADWAYS OF UNINCORPORATED
AREAS OF A COUNTY. THE AMBIGUITY
SURROUNDING WHO IS VERSUS WHO IS
NOT DOING SO LAWFULLY IS
REMOVED. IT ALSO LEADS TO A MUCH
SIMPLER AND EASIER TO UNDERSTAND
MESSAGE FOR HAULERS. PASSAGE OF
THIS BILL WOULD HELP TO SHORE UP
THE GAINS ALREADY MADE WITH THE
COUNTY'S OWN LOCAL LEGISLATION
TOOK ABOUT THE EVER PRESENT
REALITY OF ILLEGAL DUMPING. BY
ENSURING THAT SOLID WASTE IS NOT
CONTRIBUTING TO ENVIRONMENTAL
DECLINE IN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS,
THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND
COUNTLESS OTHER LOCATIONS
THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
THERE ANY OTHER WITNESSES IN
SUPPORT? WELCOME. PERSONAL LIKE
YOU TO US HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
NATIONAL STEWARDSHIP, ACTION
COUNSEL AND SUPPORT THANK YOU.
ANY WITNESSES IN OPPOSITION.
SEEING THEN. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE? I
HAVE NO QUESTIONS FROM THE WE
HAVE A MOTION BY SOME REMEMBER
BURNER. SECOND IS WHAT I NEED, A
SECOND BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
PACHECO. WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? I THINK MY WITNESS AND
THE SUPPORT AND RESPECTFULLY
ASKED FOR AND I VOTE. THANK YOU
ONCE AGAIN, ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S FOR
BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD. I'M
PLEASED TO SUPPORT IT TODAY. THE
MOTIONS DO PASS TO THE FLOOR
SECRETARY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
CURRY CURRY I DICKSON DICKSON. I
BOERNER HORVATH CHICO! CHICO I
RAMOS RAMOS. I RIVAS RIVERS, I
WALDRON WILSON WILSON. NICE.
SEVEN. OH, BUILDS UP SEVEN. OH,
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE BILL ON
CALL. THAT WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER
I BELIEVE TO A B. 4 40. UM MAYBE
BABY EXCUSE ME. A B, UH 12 59.
AND THAT'S SORIA. THE VOTE
CURRENTLY IS FOR ONE SECRETARY.
12 59 TO PASS AS AMENDED TO THE
FLOOR. RIVAS RIVERSIDE WALDRON
WILSON WILSON. AYE. SIX WEEKS.
OKAY, BILLS OUT 61. ALL OTHER
BILLS ARE OUT. BUT IF THERE'S
ANYBODY LIKE TO ADD ON, PLEASE
LET ME KNOW. OKAY, THAT ON WELL,
HOLD ON. OKAY, THERE. CONSENT
CALENDAR. RIVAS RIVAS. I WALDRON
WILSON WILSON. AYE. UH, CONCERNS
OUT 70. A B 4 40 DO PASS THE
FLOOR. THE VOTE IS CURRENTLY 51
RIVAS RIVAS. AYE. WALDRON.
THAT'S 61. BUILDS OUT 61. MAYBE
939 IS DO PASS TO THE FLOOR. THE
BOAT IS 60. GRIEVOUS RIVERS. I
WALDRON. BUILDS OUT 70. MAYBE 10
52 IS DO PASSES HAVE BEEN TO THE
FLOOR. THE VOTE IS 51. REVERSE.
AYE. 61 BILL IS OUT 61. A B 12
75 WAS TO PASS TO THE FLOOR. THE
VOTE IS 61. WALDRON. STAY 61.
STAY 61. A B 13 85 IS A DO PASS
TO THE FLOOR. THE VOTE IS 51.
WALDRON. IT STAYS THE SAME 61
EXCUSE ME. THAT WAS FIVE POINTS.
51 PARDON ME. NATIONAL VOTE.
DONE. A B TO CHOOSE THREE.
WILSON DO PASS TO THE FLOOR.
REVERSE I WALDRON 70. IT'S HERE.
WE CAN SEE RIGHT HERE. WE'RE
DONE. WE'RE DONE. OKAY? AND
WE'LL KEEP THE ROLE OPEN FOR A
MINUTE. SURE.
JUST DOING OUR ALBUMS. YEAH, YOU
COULD SAY PRIME. OKAY WE'LL
FINISH IT WILL DO ADD ONS. AND
SENT CAMERA. AYE. FINAL VOTE 80.
A B 440. WALDRON. WALDRON NO
FINAL VOTE 62. MAYBE 939.
WALDRON. WALDRON. AYE. BUILDS
OUT 80. MAYBE 10 52. WALDRON.
WALDRON, NO. BILLS OUT 62. 12
59. WALDRON. WALDRON. AYE. FILLS
OUT 71. A B 12 75 WALDRON.
WALDRON, NO. BILLS OUT 62. MAYBE
13 85 WALDRON. ADRIN NOW. BILLS
OUT FIVE TO. MAYBE 16 84
WALDRON. WALDRON I 80. A B TWO
TO MAYBE 233 WALDRON. WALDRON I
80. A B 592 WALDRON. WALDRON.
AYE. FILLS OUT 80. AND THAT IS
THE COMPLETION OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE MEETING.
THANK YOU. MEETING'S ADJOURNED.