GOOD MORNING. WE'LL CALL THIS
HEARING OF WATER PARKS AND
WILDLIFE. SESSION. BEFORE YOU
BEGIN TO ENSURE MEMBERS OF THE
MEDIA PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO THE
PROCEEDINGS. TODAY THIS HEARING
WILL BE STREAMED ON THE
ASSEMBLY'S WEBSITE AND MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC CAN PROVIDE
TESTIMONY IN PERSON HERE. WE'RE
IN THE SWING SPACE ROOM 1100 OR
VIA TELEPHONE WILL BEGIN WITH A
BRIEF BILL HEARING, FOLLOWED BY
AN INFORMATIONAL HEARING ON THE
ADMINISTRATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE
POLICY PACKAGE. FOR ANY MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC PROVIDING COMMENT
VIA TELEPHONE. WE'RE USING A
MODERATED TELEPHONE SERVICE
TODAY. THE CALLING NUMBER FOR
THE HEARING IS 87769289 AND THE
PUBLIC ACCESS CODE IS 18 50 1100
. PLEASE CALL IN WHEN THE AUTHOR
OF THE BILL YOU'D LIKE TO
COMMENT ON BEGINS THEIR
PRESENTATION. THE OPERATOR ON
THE LINE WILL GIVE YOU
INSTRUCTIONS AND HOW TO BE
PLACED IN QUÊ. WE DO DEFINITELY
DO NOT HAVE A QUORUM, BUT THANK
YOU TO THE MEMBERS THAT ARE
HERE. UM SO WE WILL BEGIN AS AN
INFORMATIONAL HEARING OR BEGIN
AS A SUBCOMMITTEE. EXCUSE ME. UM
SO WE'RE GOING TO THE
SUBCOMMITTEE. I SEE THAT ONE OF
OUR AUTHORS IS HERE, SENATOR
MENJIVAR. HI, MONA.
DO YOU WANT YOUR WITNESS TO JOIN
YOU? PERFECT. OKAY WELL, WELCOME
TO THE ASSEMBLY. WE'RE SO HAPPY
TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR WITNESS.
YOU GUYS CAN BOTH JOIN US UP
HERE. AND WHEN YOU ARE READY.
DIFFERENT TODAY. COLLEAGUES
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S GOOD MORNING.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
BATS TODAY. UM YOU MAY NOT KNOW
, BUT BATS PROVIDE A GREAT
AMOUNT OF BENEFIT TO THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. IN FACT, THEY SAY
FARMERS $1.2 BILLION.01 TO $2
BILLION BECAUSE THERE ARE
NATURAL PESTICIDE. UM ALSO, THEY
HELP WITH THEIR WILDFIRE
MITIGATION. IN FACT, THEY'RE THE
ONES WHO KILLED THE BARK
BEETLES, WHICH HELP AND ENSURING
THAT WE HAVE SOME KIND OF
CONTROL WITH OUR WILDFIRES. UM
THE PALETTE BACK IS WHAT S B? UM
732 IS ABOUT LOOKING TO MAKE THE
PALETTE BAT THE STATE BAT WE'VE
MADE, UM WE HAVE THE STATE BEAR
. WE HAVE A STATE QUILL. WE HAVE
A STATE GOLDEN POPPY. WE EVEN
HAVE A STATE DINOSAUR. AND NOW
I'M LOOKING TO MAKE THE PALETTE
BACK THE STATE THAT UM, AND
WHILE MANY OF US HAVE NEGATIVE
ASSOCIATIONS WITH BATS THEY LIKE
I MENTIONED PROVIDE A LOT OF
BENEFITS. IN FACT, YOU'LL HEAR
FROM ONE OF THE EXPERTS HERE
SITTING TO MY RIGHT HAS TAKEN ME
ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM HERE THE
CAPITAL TO LOOK AT OVER 1000
BATS THAT SIT UNDER THE FREEWAY
AND WHERE THEY COME OUT EVERY
SINGLE NIGHT TO GO HUNT AND THEY
HUNT IN THE NEARBY FORMS AGAIN,
A NATURAL PESTICIDE. BUT I'M
GONNA STOP TALKING BECAUSE I'M
GOING TO GIVE SPACE TO MY 12
YEAR OLD, THE 12 YEAR OLD EXPERT
THAT YOU HAVE HERE TO MY RIGHT
WHO WERE BETTER BE ABLE TO
EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY THE PALETTE
BAT SHOULD BE OUR STATE BATS. SO
MADAM CHAIR WITH YOUR
PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO TURN
OVER TO MY WITNESS. WE ARE
DELIGHTED TO HAVE HER HERE TO
PROVIDE TESTIMONY. YEAH. SO
THAT'S OUR IMPORTANT EVERY PART.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF EXTRA AND
INTRODUCE YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
MY NAME IS NAOMI D'ALESSIO. OKAY
WHAT? BEFORE YOU START
EXPLAINING BATS? ARE YOU HERE ON
BEHALF OF YOURSELF ON THE BEHALF
OF THE BATS? WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO
OUR COMMITTEE? UM I WAS THE
AUTHOR OF THE BILL TO OKAY. THIS
IS A CONSTITUENT OF MY WHO
MONTHS AGO GAVE ME A THOROUGH
PRESENTATION. UM SAT ME DOWN AND
GAVE ME A WAY MORE THOROUGH
PRESENTATION THAT I'VE GOTTEN
FROM A LOT OF OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
ON OTHER ISSUES. UH UM. AND HERE
WE ARE. AMAZING OKAY. WELL,
THANK YOU FOR BEING PLEASED. NOW
ARE WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU
EXPLAINED TO THE SENATOR? SO BY
CONSUMING INSECT PESTS, BUT SAVE
OUR FARMERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
WORTH OF CROPS AND PROTECT US
FROM MOSQUITO BORN DISEASES SUCH
AS THE ZIKA AND WEST NILE VIRUS
IS THEY ALSO EAT BARK BEETLES,
HELPING TO CREATE HEALTHIER,
LESS WILDFIRE PRONE FORESTS.
WELL MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER SEEN
A BAT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SCIENTISTS AT THE NATURAL
HISTORY MUSEUM IN LOS ANGELES
BACKYARD BAT SURVEY AND THAT
EVERY SINGLE SITE THROUGHOUT
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THEY
OBSERVED AT LEAST ONE TYPE OF
BAT. WE'VE LIVED IN MY HOUSE FOR
ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE BUT HAVE
NEVER SEEN A BAT. BUT WHEN WE
SET UP A MICROPHONE TO RECORD
BACK CALLS, WE HAD 54 BAT FLIES
FROM FOUR DIFFERENT SPECIES ON
THE VERY FIRST NIGHT. AND SINCE
BATS LIVED FOR DECADES, MANY OF
THOSE EXACT BATS HAVE PROBABLY
BEEN EATING MOSQUITOES IN OUR
YARD FOR LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN
ALIVE. I'M EXCITED THAT WE'VE
CHOSEN THE PALETTE THAT TO BE
OUR STATE BAT BECAUSE THEY'RE
REALLY AMAZING ANIMALS. THEIR
GOLDEN FOR COLOR IS PERFECT FOR
OUR GOLDEN STATE, AND THEY'RE
IMMUNE TO THE VENOM OF SCORPIONS
, ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE MEALS.
THEY'RE ALSO ONE OF THE FEW BATS
IN THE WORLD THAT ARE OMNIVORES
AS THEY ALSO ENJOY THE FRUIT AND
NECTAR OF CACTI IN CALIFORNIA'S
DESERTS. THEY'RE VERY SOCIAL
BATS AND BATS IN DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE STATE SPEAK TO EACH OTHER
IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES THAT WE
CAN ACTUALLY TELL APART JUST
LIKE HUMANS DO. DESIGNATING THE
PALETTE BACK AS THE OFFICIAL
STATE BACK WILL HELP PEOPLE
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BATS
AND WILL MAKE THEM WANT TO
PROTECT THEM. THAT POPULATIONS
ARE DECLINING CALIFORNIA AND
URGENTLY NEED PROTECTIONS, AND
YOUR VOTE. TODAY IS A FIRST STEP
TOWARDS THAT. THANK YOU FOR
SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA'S FAST
THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM WELL, NOW
WE WILL GO TO, UH, ASK IF
THERE'S ANY REGISTERED
OPPOSITION, WHICH I HOPE THERE'S
NOT I'D HAVE TO LET THE INNER
CHAIRMAN IN ME COME OUT. UH, ANY
SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION FROM THE
AUDIENCE. WELL, YEAH. THIS IS A
REAL HONOR TO HAVE NAOMI HERE.
NAOMI IS A RELATIVE OF OURS. UM
AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT SHE
BROUGHT THIS BILL FOR ALL ON HER
OWN EFFECT. I REJECTED TAKING
THE BILL BECAUSE OF MY BILL
PACKAGE WAS SO BIG AND I WAS SO
HAPPY THAT CARRY US SENATOR
MENJIVAR DID DO THIS, BUT THIS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT BILL IN MY
PARTICULAR DISTRICT. JUST 20
MINUTES AWAY. YOU CAN GO SEE
WHAT THE BATS ARE DOING AND HOW
THEY'RE SAVING. UM THE HELPING
THE FARMERS OUT IN THE RICE
FIELDS. AND SO I'M HONORED TODAY
THAT SHE'S HERE AND THAT I ASKED
FOR YOUR I VOTE. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING, ABIGAIL MILE HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
PARKS FOUNDATION, AND WE ARE
EXCITED TO BE SUPPORTING THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. WE'RE GONNA
PAUSE REAL QUICK AND HAVE THE
SECRETARY ESTABLISHED CORAM.
BARRICADE HIM. MATHIS METHODS
HERE. COLONIES IS HERE. BENNETT
DAVIES DAVIES HERE, FRIEDMAN.
FRIEDMAN HERE HEART KALRA
PELLERIN. PELLERIN HERE, RUBIO.
RUBIO HERE'S SHIAVO HERE, PHILIP
VALLAPUDUA. BUT WHY? HERE? WARD
WEBER WEBER HERE. ALL RIGHT. WE
HAVE A QUORUM. WE'RE DOING
OPERATOR PHONE LINE FOR
SUPPORTING OPPOSE. OPERATOR. IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION. PLEASE
PRESS ONE THAN ZERO ON YOUR
TELEPHONE KEYPAD IN 18. T
SPECIALISTS WILL PROVIDE YOU
WITH YOUR LINE NUMBER BY WHICH
JULIA IDENTIFIED. WELL FIRST GO
TO LINE 12 GO AHEAD. HELLO
MICHAEL JARED ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE FOR
BIODIVERSITY AND SUPPORTED THIS
BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE
HAVE NO FURTHER LINES IN QUÊ.
ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL
GO UP TO THE DIOCESE FOR
MEMBERS. MISS DAVIS. THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE AUTHOR
FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I GREW UP
WITH BATS, AND I THINK THERE
MIGHT BE SOME POSITIONS FOR
CAPITAL LARGE DIRECTORS OPEN. SO
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND
JUST PUT THE RESUME TOGETHER,
AND MOST ARE PASSING IT OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THAT
SHOVEL. I'M SO SORRY TO HAVE
MISSED THE PRESENTATION. UM BUT
I DID GET TO GO AND CHECK OUT
SOME BATHS LAST NIGHT WITH
NAOMI. UM AND SEE THEM GO UP
INTO FLIGHT AND THEIR RIBBONS
AND LEARN A LOT ABOUT THE
PALETTE BAT AND SO, UM, PROUD TO
HAVE NAOMI AS A CONSTITUENT, A
BRILLIANT UP AND COMING
CONSTITUENT IN MY DISTRICT. AND
SUPER EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS,
AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU IS
DEVIL'S ADVOCATE BECAUSE WE HAVE
A LOT OF ST THINGS. UM SO WHY DO
YOU THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT
WE INCLUDE A STATE BACK? WELL I
THINK THAT BECAUSE THAT'S DON'T
REALLY HAVE AS GOOD OF A
REPUTATION AS SOME OTHER PLANTS
AND ANIMALS THINK THAT HAVING A
STATE BAT WILL GET PEOPLE MORE
EXCITED ABOUT BATS IF THEY SEE
THAT THEIR STATE IS CELEBRATING
ANIMALS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE
AS GOOD OF AN OPINION ABOUT AND
THEN THAT MIGHT MAKE THEM WANT
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM, AND
THAT WILL HOPEFULLY MAKE THEM
WANT TO PROTECT THEM. CREATE
ANSWER. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT ANY
OTHER ANY OTHERS FROM THE
COMMITTEE? WE GOT EMOTION IN A
SECOND. ON NAOMI AS A PAST BOY
SCOUT WHO SPENT MANY SUMMERS AND
MONTHS AND TIMES PUTTING
TOGETHER BAT BOXES. UM, I
APPRECIATE YOU. THINKING ABOUT
THIS AND TAKING THE INITIATIVE
TO ACTUALLY STEP UP AND DO
SOMETHING THAT'S MEANINGFUL. IN
OUR STATE. UM YOUR POINTS ABOUT
HOW THEY HELP WITH INSECTS ARE
VERY PARAMOUNT. SO THANK YOU FOR
HAVING THE COURAGE TO REACH OUT
AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS IMPORTANT.
LET'S DO SOMETHING. UM SENATOR,
THANK YOU FOR FINDING. AS
MENTIONED A LOT OF US WHEN WE
LOOK AT OUR BILL PACKAGES WERE
LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, NOT ANOTHER
ONE. UM SO THANK YOU FOR FINDING
THE TIME FOR NAOMI AND SITTING
DOWN AND HAVING THE HEART TO DO
SO. WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION
IN A SECOND. UM, IF YOU'D LIKE
TO CLOSE THANK YOU, MR VICE
CHAIR. UM COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM THE
COMMENTS THAT WERE GIVEN. I
THINK IT'S SUCH A GREAT HONOR TO
REPRESENT OUR OUR YOUTH YOUTH
WHO ARE STEPPING UP TO BRING
LEGISLATION IDEAS TO US, AND I'M
SO HONORED TO REPRESENT NAOMI
HERE AND I RESPECTIVELY ASK FOR
MY VOTE TO MAKE THE PALETTE BACK
OR SAY BACK. ALL RIGHT. OTHER
ROLE. MATHIS. YES COLONIES
COLONIES BY BENNETT. BABIES
BABIES I, FRIEDMAN FRIEDMAN I
HEART CHOLERA. PELLERIN. PILLAR
AND I, RUBIO RUBIO, I SHIAVO VÚI
VILLE VALLAPUDUA VALLAPUDUA I
WARD WEBER. WEBER. AYE. RIGHT
THE BILL HAS NINE VOTED OUT.
WE'LL LEAVE IT ON CALL FOR ANY
ABSENT MEMBERS TO ADD ON.
CONGRATULATIONS. RIGHT NEXT WE
HAVE. NEXT WE HAVE SENATOR DODD
WITH SENATE BILL 668. WELCOME TO
THE NEW ROOM. THANK YOU. PICK A
SEAT. MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE
BUTTON TO TURN THE MIC ON. HOW'S
THAT LOUD AND CLEAR? I DON'T
WANT TO PUT ANY PRESSURE ON MY
WITNESS, BUT I HOPE MY WITNESSES
AS GOOD AS NAOMI THAT'S A THAT'S
A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW A HARD ACT
TO FOLLOW FOR SURE. WELL, GOOD
MORNING. UH, MR CHAIR AND
MEMBERS. SB 68668 WOULD ALLOW
THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION TO CONTINUE ENTERING
INTO OPERATING AND CO MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENTS WITH QUALIFIED
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS,
ELIMINATING THE JANUARY 2025
SUNSET ON THIS AUTHORITY. FOR
THE PAST 12 YEARS, MANY OF OUR
BELOVED PARKS HAVE BEEN
OPERATING PROPERLY MAINTAIN
THANKS TO THE IMPORTANT
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN STATE AND
NON PROFITS. THESE AGREEMENTS
WERE FORMED IN RESPONSE TO THE
2011 BUDGET CRISIS THAT NEARLY
RESULTED IN THE CLOSURE OF 70
PARKS ACROSS THE STATE. SINCE
THE PASSAGE OF THE ORIGINAL LAW
, ESTABLISHING THIS AGREEMENTS.
NOT ONLY HAVE OUR PARKS REMAINED
OPEN, BUT VISITATION IS GROWN,
AND PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES HAVE
BEEN ENHANCED. PARK OPERATORS
ARE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS
AS CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS AND
HAVE PROVEN THEY ARE MORE THAN
CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING THEM.
THESE AGREEMENTS SERVE AS AN
IMPORTANT TOOL TO AID MAN AID
AND MANAGING UP TO 280 PARKS IN
THE STATE PARK SYSTEM TODAY AND
CONTAIN CLEAR SAFEGUARDS WITH
DETAILED PROVISIONS,
REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES ASSIGNED
TO THE NONPROFITS AND PARK
AGENCY. WE HAVE SEEN THE VITAL
PARTNERSHIPS BENEFIT OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND THIS BILL WILL
ENSURE THAT SUCCESS TO THESE
BELOVED PARKS REMAIN OPEN NOT
ONLY TO CALIFORNIANS, BUT TWO
VISITORS WORLDWIDE WHO WISH TO
ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF OUR GREAT
STATE. I HAVE WITH ME TODAY.
RACHEL NORTON, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
PARKS FOUNDATION, AND MARTIN
LOEWENSTEIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF FRIENDS OF CHINA CAMP TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SENATOR
DODD. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR
AND MR VICE CHAIR. I AM RACHEL
NORTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
FOUNDATION. AND WE ARE PROUD
SPONSOR OF SB 668 AS UH, SENATOR
DODD MENTIONED THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION. A B 42 CAME OUT OF
THE STATE'S BUDGET CRISIS WHEN
ALMOST A THIRD OF PARKS WERE IN
DANGER OF CLOSURE. AND WE WERE
THE ORIGINAL SPONSOR OF HB 40
TO, UM, TO HELP AVOID THOSE
CLOSURES AND TO PROVIDE A WAY
FOR STATE PARKS TO ACCEPT HELP
OFFERS OF HELP THAT WERE
FLOODING IN FROM ALL OVER THE
STATE, THE NONPROFIT
PARTNERSHIPS THAT AROSE OUT OF A
B 42 HAVE SHOWN INCREDIBLE
SUCCESS OVER THE PAST DECADE,
AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO HEAR
FROM MARTIN. ABOUT WHAT THEY
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT. CHINA
CAMP PARK VISITATION HAS
INCREASED PROGRAMS AND
FACILITIES HAVE BEEN ENHANCED
AND PARKS HAVE GAINED ADDITIONAL
SUPPORTERS AND CONSTITUENTS AS A
DIRECT RESULT OF THE EFFORTS OF
NON PROFIT OPERATORS LIKE
FRIENDS OF CHINA CAMP, SONOMA
ECOLOGY CENTER, AND JACQUELINE
AND PARK PARTNERS TO NAME JUST A
FEW. THERE WAS A SUNSET DATE
INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL AB 42
BECAUSE IT ESTABLISHED A NEW
MODEL FOR PARK MANAGEMENT THAT
SUNSET WAS EXTENDED IN 2016
BECAUSE THE NONPROFIT OPERATOR
ARRANGEMENTS WERE SO SUCCESSFUL
. AND NOW THIS LEGISLATION, UM,
SEEKS TO REMOVE IT COMPLETELY
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT IS A
PROVEN MODEL THAT HAS WORKED TO
THE BENEFIT OF PARKS AND IS NOT
APPROPRIATE FOR EVERY PARK IN
EVERY SITUATION, BUT NEEDS TO BE
A TOOLBOX FOR STATE PARK. WORKS.
UM, TO HAVE IN THEIR TOOLBOX. SO
OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS ARE
ESSENTIAL AND BENEFICIAL PART OF
THE STATE PARKS ECOSYSTEM THAT
WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO
ENSURE OUR PARKS CAN CONTINUE TO
SERVE CALIFORNIAN STATEWIDE, AND
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
VOTE. HMM. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD,
SIR. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
MARTIN LOEWENSTEIN. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF
CHINA CAMP. WE ARE THE A B 42,
NONPROFIT OPERATOR OF TRYING TO
CAMP STATE PARK, WHICH IS IN
MARIN COUNTY, RIGHT ON THE BAY.
TO OPERATE TRYING TO CAMP STATE
PARK PROPERLY REQUIRES ABOUT
$1.2 MILLION BUDGET. THE TRUTH
IS MY ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET IS
$800,000. THAT $400,000
DIFFERENTIAL IS MADE UP BY
VOLUNTEERS. WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS
EACH YEAR, CONTRIBUTING 12,000
HOURS OF WORK IN THE PARK. THESE
ARE PRIMARILY RETIREES. BUT
THERE ARE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND
THEY COME WITH, UH, CAREERS OF
EXPERIENCE, AND THEY HOLD KEY
OPERATIONAL ROLES IN THE PARK.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR $800,000
ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET. ABOUT
HALF OF IT COMES FROM PARK
REVENUE, CAMPING FEES, PARKING
FEES, TRAIL FEES, EVENTS AND SO
FORTH. THE OTHER HALF COMES FROM
DONATIONS. AND OUR MEMBERSHIP
PROGRAM. WITHOUT VOLUNTEERISM IN
THE PARK. THE MODEL OF OPERATING
A STATE PARK SUSTAINABLY FAILS
WITHOUT COMMUNITY FINANCIAL
SUPPORT. THE MODEL OF OPERATING
A STATE PARK SUSTAINABLY FAILS
THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A
NONPROFIT OPERATOR IS THAT WE
ARE LOCALLY TIED IN WITH THE
COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
RAISE UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF
VOLUNTEERISM AND FINANCIAL
SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY TO
MAKE CHINA CAMP IN THIS
PARTICULAR CASE, A FINANCIALLY
SUSTAINABLE PARK. IN TERMS OF IN
TERMS OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE
HAVE WITH STATE PARKS. IT IS
VERY STRONG. WHAT WE BRING TO
THE TABLE, LIKE I SAID, IS THAT
LOCAL CONNECTION WITH THE
COMMUNITY WHICH STATE PARKS
BRINGS TO THE TABLE IN THEIR
OVERSIGHT POSITION IS EXPERTISE
. THEY BRING EXPERTISE AND
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT,
CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
THEY HAVE HISTORIANS, ADA
EXPERTS AND SO FORTH AND THAT
COMBINATION IN THIS PUBLIC
NONPROFIT MODEL IS VERY
POWERFUL. AND I'LL JUST SAY A
QUICK WORD ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY
AND THE PARK JUST AS WE HAVE A
STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE
PARKS. WE ALSO HAVE A STRONG
PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THE LOCAL
EMERGENCY SERVICES. THE SAN
RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT IS FIVE
MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD SHERIFF'S
OFFICE IS JUST DOWN THE ROAD AS
WELL WHEN WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY
IN THE PARK 911 WHEN WE HAVE
PERSISTENT PROBLEMS, I WORK
CLOSELY WITH STATE PARKS, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, AND THEY COME AND
ROOT OUT THE PROBLEM. I'LL JUST
GIVE YOU ONE QUICK EXAMPLE OF AN
EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP. WE
RECENTLY INSTALLED BRAND NEW
TRAIL SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE
PARK. WE WENT TO THE CENTER FELT
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SOLICITED
THEIR INPUT AS TO WHAT THEY
MIGHT WANT TO SEE ON OUR TRAIL
SIGNAGE. THEY REQUESTED
EMERGENCY LOCATOR NUMBERS. AND
SO WE INSTALLED TRAIL SIGNAGE
AND AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME,
EACH TRAIL SIGN EACH BRIDGE HAS
AN EMERGENCY LOCATOR NUMBER. THE
SAN RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS A
MAP OF ALL OF THESE NUMBERS IN
CASE THERE IS ANY EMERGENCY IN
THE PARK. AND FURTHERMORE, THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO
ROLL THIS OUT WITH OTHER LAND
AGENCIES THAT ABOUT CHINA CAMP,
BOTH CITY PARKS AND COUNTY OPEN
SPACE AND ASSAULT BEGINS WITH
LOCAL INNOVATION AND
PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ANY OTHER? NO I ARRIVED,
SENATOR. UH GOOD MORNING. ANY
OTHER WITNESSES IN THE ROOM IN
SUPPORT? NAME ORGANIZATION IN
POSITION, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING,
ABIGAIL, MILE ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL
CONSERVATION COURSE AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME
IS ALMA SHAH AND I AM HERE FROM
SONOMA ECOLOGY CENTER, A B 42
PARTNER OPERATED OR SUGARLOAF
RIDGE STATE PARK IN SUPPORT OF
SB 668. THANK YOU. I'M JOHN
RONEY, PARK MANAGER, SUGARLOAF
RIDGE STATE PARK OR FOR THE
STOMACH ECOLOGY CENTER, ALSO
HERE IN SUPPORT. UM AND WHEN THE
REASONS I THINK THAT THESE
PARTNERSHIPS ARE SO SUCCESSFUL
IS THAT WE HAVE UH, COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY FOCUS, AND WE HAVE
PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY
AS WELL AS LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME
IS MATT LEOPARD. I'M THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JACQUELINE
AND PARK PARTNERS IN PARTNERSHIP
WE HELP TO OPERATE JACQUELINE
AND STATE HISTORIC PARK IN GLEN
ELLYN. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO
SENATOR DODD AND TO THE
CALIFORNIA START, STATE PARKS
FOUNDATION SUPPORTED THIS BILL,
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK
YOU. I WAS JUST TAKING
MEMORIZATION RIGHT NOW. THANK
YOU. TONY PASSING TINO, THE
EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGER FOR
THE SONOMA ECOLOGY CENTER IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM
DO WE HAVE A PRIMARY WITNESS IN
OPPOSITION? YOU CAN JOIN THEM AT
THEM. NICE WOULD LIKE.
THANK YOU. WE'LL GIVE YOU FOUR
MINUTES. MATCH THE SUPPORT OKAY.
THANK YOU. DO I NEED THE AM I
CAN HEAR YOU. GO AHEAD. GOOD MY
NAME IS DAVID. CARL. I'M THE
PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
STATE PARK RANGERS ASSOCIATION.
WHICH THE ACRONYM IS SEA SPRAY,
AND THAT'S HOW WE GENERALLY ARE
REFERRED TO, UM ARE
ORGANIZATIONS. UH MEMBERS ARE
ACTIVE DUTY PARK PROFESSIONALS.
AND ALSO RETIRED PARK
PROFESSIONALS. UM MANY JOB
CLASSIFICATIONS. THE STATE PARK
SYSTEMS. UH OPERATIONS AND
MANAGEMENT INCLUDE ALL YOU KNOW
, WE JUST HEARD ABOUT SOME OF
THE EXPERTISE AND THE VARIOUS.
IT'S A LONG LONG LIST. I WON'T
GO INTO IT, BUT THE LENGTH OF
THAT LIST, AND THE MAKEUP OF IT
IS PART OF WHAT YOU KNOW. WHY
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
THIS BILL. FOR 25 YEARS. I WORE
THIS HAT. AND IT HAD A SOME SOME
SYMBOLISM AND A LOT OF RESPECT
THAT PEOPLE, UM YEAH. YOU KNOW,
RELATE TO THE RANGERS, STETSON.
IN RECENT YEARS SINCE I RETIRED
I HAVE SOMETIMES WARNED THIS
BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THEM. MANY
THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS WHO, UH
THERE. WHO HELPED SUPPORT UM
PARKS AND IN IN THE PARTNERSHIP
ORGANIZATIONS. I WORK WITH THE
FRIENDS OF THE MONO LAKE
RESERVE. THERE ARE FRIENDS
GROUPS THERE ARE COOPERATING
ASSOCIATIONS. THERE ARE STATE
PARK FOUNDATIONS, UM, APART PARK
FOUNDATION'S DISTRICT
FOUNDATIONS, LIKE THE ENDS OF
ARRIGO FOUNDATION IN THE CR
STATE PARKS FOUNDATION. C SPRAY
IS A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF THE
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARK
PARTNERS. SO WE SUBMITTED A
LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO SP 668.
UM SEE SPRAYS. CONCERN IS WITH
OPERATING AGREEMENTS THAT
OUTSOURCE FULL OPERATION OF
STATE PARK UNITS WITH THE
INDEFINITE AND END WITH THE
INDEFINITE EXTENSION OF THIS
AUTHORIZATION BEYOND THE SUNSET
DATE. WE SUGGEST THAT THE BILL
BE AMENDED TO FOCUS SOLELY ON CO
MANAGEMENT RATHER THAN COMPLETE
OPERATION BY OUTSIDE GROUPS. AND
WE SUGGEST EXTENDING THE SUNSET
DATE BECAUSE IT OFFERS THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LEGISLATURE
AND THE DEPARTMENT TO, UM
PERIODICALLY TAKE A LOOK AT HOW
THINGS ARE GOING WITH. THIS KIND
OF AN APPROACH, WHICH IS AN IS A
MAJOR CHANGE. WHEN YOU TAKE, UH
, TAKE TAKE THESE KINDS OF STEPS
SO THAT'S MY POSITION. THANK YOU
FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. OF COURSE
. THANK YOU ANY OTHER WITNESSES
IN THE ROOM AND OPPOSITION?
SEEING NONE. WE WILL GO TO THE
PHONE LINES MODERATOR WILL TAKE
FOLKS IN SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION. PLEASE PRESS ONE,
THEN ZERO ON YOUR TELEPHONE
KEYPAD AT THIS TIME. ONCE AGAIN
TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION. PRESS ONE, LENS ZERO
. MADAM CHAIR. WE HAVE NO ONE
QUEUING UP FOR A SUPPORTER
OPPOSITION. THANK YOU, MODERATOR
. WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE
DIET ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
YES, DR WEBBER. THANK YOU,
SENATOR. THAT FOR THIS BILL, AND
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO SPEAK
IN SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION, UM I
DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE
NUMBER OF. UM PARKS THAT
NONPROFITS COULD ESSENTIALLY
TAKE OVER, UM AND RUN ON THEIR
OWN. I HAD THIS QUESTION FOR MY
STAFF. THEY'VE TOLD ME ONE THING
, BUT NOW THE WITNESSES
BASICALLY SAID THAT IT WOULD
ALLOW FOR ALL PARKS TO
POTENTIALLY BE GO AHEAD. UM THIS
IS A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX OR
PARKS, NO. ONE STATE PARKS STATE
PARKS FOUNDATION, ANY OF THE
NONPROFIT OPERATORS THINKS THAT
IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR
EVERY PARK. IT IS REALLY, YOU
KNOW, WHEN IT MAKES SENSE
BECAUSE THERE IS A COMMUNITY
GROUP OR BECAUSE THERE IS A LACK
OF CAPACITY IN THE DEPARTMENT.
OR MAYBE, UM, SOME COMBINATION
OF THOSE TWO FACTORS THAT THAT
THIS COULD BE AN OPTION, BUT IT
IS NOT UM, FIRST LINE OPTION FOR
STATE PARKS NOR ONE THAT WE
WOULD RECOMMEND AS A FIRST
OPTION. SO IS THERE A SPECIFIC
LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF PARKS
THAT COULD BE COMPLETELY
OPERATED BY A NON PART? UM
NONPROFIT IN THE BILL? YES I
OVER HERE FROM THE A B 42 TEXT,
UH, FROM 2011. IT SAYS THE
DEPARTMENT MAY ONLY ENTER INTO
AN OPERATING AGREEMENT THAT
INVOLVES THE OPERATION OF THE
ENTIRETY OF A PARK UNIT. FOR NO
MORE THAN 20 PARK UNITS. OKAY,
THAT'S WHAT THAT'S THE
INFORMATION THAT I HAD, BUT I
WOULD NOW HEARING SOMETHING
ELSE. I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE
THAT IT IS STILL A LINE THAT
IT'S ONLY 20 NO MORE. MADAM
CHAIR. GOODNIGHT. YES PLEASE,
SENATOR ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
QUESTION. THIS IS A HUGE
UNDERTAKING. FOR A NONPROFIT TO
GET INVOLVED AND TO BE RUNNING A
STATE PARK, SO I DON'T WANT
PEOPLE TO THINK THIS IS GOING TO
HAPPEN. I MEAN, YOU HEARD THE
STATUE WOULD ONLY ALLOW FOR 20.
BUT EVEN AT THAT IT IS A REALLY
BIG DEAL. LOT OF WORK A LOT OF
TIME. AND THE ORGANIZATION HAS
TO BE MEET THE STANDARDS OF THE
STATE PARKS AND IT'S VERY, VERY
HIGH BAR. RIGHT THANK YOU SO
MUCH. NOW I KNOW THERE'S ONLY 14
EITHER BEING OPERATED OR CO
MANAGED AT THIS POINT, BUT I
HEARD SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT I HAD READ. AND WHEN I HAD
BEEN TOLD, SO I WANTED TO JUST
GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT. SO
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR WARD.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK
YOU FOR THIS BILL. THANK YOU FOR
THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR PARKS,
ESPECIALLY DURING DIFFICULT
FISCAL YEARS. I CLARIFICATION ON
THIS, THOUGH, SO IS IT 20 PER
OPERATING AGREEMENT OR 20 TOTAL
BELIEVE IT'S 2020. 20 TOTAL.
THAT'S ENCOURAGING BECAUSE IN
GENERALLY WHERE I WANT TO SEE
OUR PUBLIC JOBS GO IS TO, YOU
KNOW BE RETAINED IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR, WHERE WE HAVE BETTER
ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT AND
SUPPORTING THOSE CAREERS FOR
THEIR LONGEVITY. SO THAT GIVES
ME A LITTLE BIT OF COMFORT THAT
WE HAVE THAT THAT LIMIT. AND
THEN, FURTHERMORE, ARE THERE ANY
TRIGGERS, I GUESS FOR WHEN WE
WOULD CONSIDER USING A
OUTSOURCED OPERATING AGREEMENT
THAT THAT ARE THAT ARE
UNDERSCORED IN THIS BILL. I
THINK, UM, I MEAN, I WOULD WANT
STATE PARKS TO ANSWER THAT
BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE
SPECIFIC CRITERIA WHERE FOR THEM
OF HOW WHEN THEY WOULD CONTACT
WITH THE NONPROFIT BUT IN
GENERAL, UM, MOST OF THESE, THE
CURRENT AGREEMENTS CAME UP
BECAUSE THERE WAS A LACK OF
CAPACITY IN THE LOCAL DISTRICT,
SO AND THERE WAS COMMUNITY
SUPPORT OF FOLKS LIKE CHINA CAMP
WAS ALL VOLUNTEER. MARTIN WAS
THEIR FIRST EMPLOYEE JUST A FEW
YEARS AGO. SO YOU KNOW, THESE
ARE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT
SPRING UP AROUND WORKS TO HELP.
ABSOLUTELY AND WE SHOULD BE
GRATEFUL FOR THAT, AND I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT IS SORT OF A
CHECK AND BALANCE, RIGHT, UM,
THAT STATE PARKS ARE DOING ALL
THAT IT CAN DO, BUT WE DON'T
WANT TO LOSE THE ACCESS AND WE
DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE
FUNCTIONALITY AND THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR CALIFORNIANS TO
ENJOY THEIR PARTY A BIT ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE YOU
MENTIONED THAT SO ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT THE
ORIGINAL A B 42 AND WHICH SP 668
LEAVES UNTOUCHED IS THAT EACH OF
THESE ORGANIZATIONS MUST SUBMIT
AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE STATE
ABOUT THEIR FINANCES ABOUT ALL
THE OPERATIONS OF THE PARK
IMPROVEMENTS. VISITATION IT'S A
MAJOR UNDERTAKING, AND THOSE ARE
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. IN ADDITION,
BECAUSE THESE ARE ALL FIVE AT
ONCE, HE THREE NONPROFITS, THEY
ARE AUDITED EVERY YEAR. UM AND
YOU KNOW, SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS UNDER UNDER
FEDERAL TAX LAW. THANK YOU. I
THINK OPPOSITION HAD A COMMENT.
THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT
, UM FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF
SEA SPRAY AND MY BOARD AND MY
MEMBERS, UM IF WE IF THE BILL
WERE AMENDED TO FOCUS ON CO
MANAGEMENT UM RATHER THAN, UH,
COOPERATING AGREEMENTS THAT
COMPLETELY RIGHT PAST THE
OPERATION OVER TO AN OUTSIDE
GROUP. WE FEEL AT THAT POINT
UNDER THAT APPROACH, THERE IS NO
REAL REASON TO LIMIT THE NUMBER
. UM IT'S THERE'S A LOT OF CO
MANAGEMENT GOING ON TODAY. UM
AND, UH BY THE DEFINITIONS
WITHIN THIS BILL, IF WE JUST IF
WE JUST ADJUSTED IN THAT
DIRECTION THAT AT THAT POINT, A
LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS, UM COULD
BE ADDRESSED AND NOT NOT BE A
CONCERN TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
IT'S UM IT'S A BIG STEP TO DO
THAT. BUT ALL OF THESE
AGREEMENTS THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE
TODAY AND MAY COME UP DOWN THE
LINE HAVE TO BE NEGOTIATED AND
HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT IN GREAT
DETAIL ABOUT HOW THE BALANCE OF
STATE AND NON PROFIT IS WORKED
OUT. AND SO IF WE JUST CAN TAKE
THAT APPROACH, WE WOULD BE MUCH
MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE BILL.
OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS? MADAM CHAIR. UM
SENATOR DODD. I CAN'T QUITE LET
ME ASK YOU THIS WAY. UM I DO
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. UM MY ENTIRE UNDERGRAD
WAS DIVING DEEP INTO HOW
NONPROFITS WORK ALONG WITH
GOVERNMENTS AND HOSPITALS
BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN THE
V A DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A
CONVOLUTED MIX OF OVERSIGHT? UH
UM. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS,
UM FOR CO BUT WITH THE NONPROFIT
SECTORS THERE'S SO MUCH RED TAPE
IN STRENUOUS REPORTING THAT GOES
INTO EVERY LITTLE DETAIL. UM I
DO FEEL LIKE CONCERNS ON THE
MANAGEMENT SIDE BECAUSE
OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A BASE WEALTH
OF KNOWLEDGE FROM THE FOREST.
SERVICE. AND FROM THERE, PARK
RANGERS, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT AS WE GO FORWARD. THE
SAD REALITY OF IT IS THIS COMES
DOWN TO BUDGET PRIORITIES. IN
THE STATE DOESN'T NECESSARILY
ALWAYS PUT PARKS FIRST. UM AS WE
ALL NOD OUR HEADS, YES. SO THIS
IS A TOOL. THAT MAKES SURE THAT
THOSE PARKS ARE STILL
MAINTAINED. BECAUSE I THINK THE
LAST THING ANY OF US WANTS IS TO
SEE A PARK. GO COMPLETELY TO
WASTE. WHEN WE COULD HAVE A
PARTNERSHIP. ONGOING THAT'S
GOING TO ENSURE THAT THE PARK IS
MAINTAINED THAT IT IS TAKING
CARE OF. UH UM. THIS PROVIDES
THAT TOOL ENSURES THAT LONGEVITY
. THIS ENSURES THAT WHATEVER
HAPPENS WITH THE STATE BUDGETS
AS WE'RE SEEING OUR BILLION
DOLLARS SURPLUS GOING TO
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF NOT BEING
THERE. UM THIS PROVIDES THAT
SHIRT E THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE
PUBLIC. SO MR DOT IF YOU WOULD
HAVE ME AS A PRINCIPAL AUTHOR ON
THIS TO SHOW SOMEBODY
PARTISANSHIP PORTS ON THIS SIDE.
AND IN THE ASSEMBLY, I'D BE
HAPPY TO JOIN YOU AND CHAMPION
THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO
HAVE THESE PARTNERSHIPS. IT'S
IMPORTANT. AND IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT WHEN THERE'S ENOUGH PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY TO WANT TO DO
ALL THE HARD WORK TO CREATE A
NONPROFIT UM, THAT THEY'RE ABLE
TO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO GET
BEHIND IT AND THAT A PARTNERSHIP
IS ABLE TO BE BUILT OUT. SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
UM I DO BELIEVE YOU'RE ENSURING
THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME
OVERSIGHT FROM THE PARKS. THERE
HAS TO BE. THAT'S THE WAY
GOVERNMENT WORKS, AND THAT'S THE
WAY NONPROFIT WORKING. THAT'S
HOW PARTNERSHIPS HAPPEN. SO
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU, SAM.
REMEMBER MOVE THE BILL. THANK
YOU. WE HAVE EMOTION AND WE HAVE
A SECOND. PERFECT TIVO. SO UM,
JUST TO THE POINT OF THE PARK
RANGER HERE, IS THERE IS THERE.
A REASON THAT IT'S NOT CRAFTED
IN A WAY THAT THERE COULD BE
THIS KIND OF CO. UM COOPERATION
OR COKE OR PARTNERSHIP MORE, I
GUESS MORE OF A PARTNERSHIP AND
HOW DOES THE PARTNERSHIP HAPPEN?
NOW VERSUS HOW WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT? WHAT HAPPENED? I
GUESS WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN HOW IT HAPPENS NOW? HOW
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT HAPPEN?
UM AND WHAT ARE THE FEELINGS
ABOUT THAT? HMM SO, YEAH,
CURRENTLY THIS UNDER A B 42.
THERE ARE REALLY TWO CATEGORIES
OF MANAGEMENT, COOPERATING AND
AGREEMENTS FOR OPERATION, UM OF
THE FULL OPERATION. AND CO
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS IS THAT'S
THE TERMINOLOGY AND, UH AND IN
ALL CASES, THERE HAS TO BE A
LOOK AT, UH YOU KNOW, WHICH
WHICH, UH, TASKS HAVE TO REMAIN
WITH THE STATE AND ITS
EXPERTISE. UM AND WHICH CAN BE
HANDLED BY THE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION TO FURTHER THE AND
MAKE THEIR WHOLE OPERATION WORK
BETTER. UM, BUT THEREFORE, YOU
JUST JUST FOCUS ON CO MANAGEMENT
. UM THAT'S SO MUCH MORE
COMFORTABLE APPROACHED FROM OUR
POINT OF VIEW, THEN, UH, TAKING
THE STATE PARK SYSTEM. SO FAR
LIMITED TO JUST A CERTAIN
NUMBER, BUT YOU WONDER DOWN THE
LINE WHEN MAYBE CONCERNS ABOUT
BUDGET AND CANNED ALL. UM IT'S
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA AND THE
LEGISLATURE AND OF THE STATE
PARK SYSTEM TO PROTECT THE
PUBLIC TRUST THAT'S BEEN
ESTABLISHED BY CREATING THIS
INCREDIBLE STATE PARK SYSTEM.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT
DIMINISHED AND SO CO MANAGEMENT
. DOES THAT MEAN DOES THAT MEAN
YOU'RE ON THE BOARD? DOES THAT
MEAN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IN
PRACTICE? IT'S A SPECIFIC
THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF
AGREEMENTS. SO CO MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENT IS GENERALLY WITH A
NONPROFIT OR A SMALL GROUP THAT
PROVIDES SOME SERVICE IN THE
PARK. A SPECIALIZED SERVICE SO
MAYBE THEY'RE THE CAMP. THEY RUN
THE CAMPGROUND AND THEIR CAMP
HOSTS AND SELL FIREWOOD OR UM,
THEY RUN A VISITOR CENTER OR
DOCENTS FOR TOURS. THAT KIND OF
THING. SO THERE'S ONE FUNCTION
THAT, UM STATE PARKS WILL HAVE
AN AGREEMENT WITH A GROUP TO DO
THAT. THE TWO ARE NOT MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE, NOR SHOULD THEY BE
SEEN THAT WAY. IT'S NOT AN
EITHER OR THEIR THEIR ADDITIONAL
TOOLS FOR STATE PARKS TO HAVE
THE FLEXIBILITY THAT IT NEEDS TO
RUN THE PARKS IN THE BEST WAY
POSSIBLE AS VICE CHAIR. MOUTH
HAS SAID THAT THE SYSTEM IS
CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED. WE ALL
AGREE WITH THAT. SO, UH, THEY
NEED FLEXIBILITY, AND THEY NEED
DIFFERENT TOOLS IN THEIR TOOLBOX
FOR SPECIFIC LOCAL SITUATION. SO
THE IDEA THAT CO MANAGEMENT IS
ALWAYS IN ALTERNATIVE TO A
NONPROFIT OPERATOR AGREEMENT IS
JUST NOT THE CASE. IT'S NOT
ALWAYS AN ALTERNATIVE, BUT IT'S
AN OPTION. IT'S AN OPTION, BUT
IT'S A IT'S A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT KIND OF AGREEMENT. SO
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
COMPLEXITY OF WHAT, UM, TRYING
TO FRIENDS OF CHINA CAMPER
DOING, OR JACQUELINE AND PARK
PARTNERS OR ANY OF THE OTHER
OPERATORS THAT WERE HERE, IT'S A
MUCH MORE GLOBAL APPROACH TO
MANAGING A PARK NOW, LIKE AS I
SAID IN MY OPENING TESTIMONY,
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE
THINK IS APPROPRIATE FOR EVERY
PARK. AND THERE'S MANY PARKS
WHERE CO MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS
ARE A MUCH BETTER MODEL. BUT
AGAIN, IT IS. THIS GIVES STATE
PARKS THE FLEXIBILITY TO USE
DIFFERENT MODELS IN MANAGING
PARKS ACCORDING TO ITS OWN
CAPACITY AND ITS OWN NEEDS FOR
PARK. AND WHEN YOU SAY IT GIVES
STATE PARKS THE FLEXIBILITY THEY
NEED DOES WHO MAKES THAT
DECISION ON WHAT KIND OF MODEL
IT'S GOING TO BE? THAT WOULD BE
GENERALLY THE I MEAN THE
DIRECTOR AND THE WHOLE
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE WITHIN PARK
OPERATION. SO YOU KNOW EACH
STATE PARKS IS ORGANIZED INTO 18
DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, AND SO THE
DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT WOULD BE
THE ONE THAT WOULD DETERMINE YOU
KNOW, I NEED I NEED THIS KIND OF
AGREEMENT. BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE
I WANT THIS PARK TO GO. UH I
THINK I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR
SUPERINTENDENT. YEAH AND I CAN
ALSO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT
THE PARSING OF RESPONSES
RESPONSIBILITIES MIGHT LOOK LIKE
IN AN OPERATING AGREEMENT. UM
YES, WE OPERATE THE ENTIRETY
THAT PARK. HOWEVER STATE PARKS
RETAINS RESPONSIBILITY
OPERATIONALLY, FOR EXAMPLE, UM,
THE WHAT ARE CALLED LIFT
STATIONS, THE SEWAGE PUMPS TO
KEEP THE SEWAGE FLOWING
THROUGHOUT THE PARK. THEY RETAIN
RESPONSIBILITY FOR CULTURAL
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. WHICH IS TO
SAY WE CONSULT WITH THEM
REGULARLY ON ANY REPAIRS OR
MAINTENANCE NEEDED FOR HISTORIC
STRUCTURES. THEY ARE THEY RETAIN
RESPONSIBILITY FOR NATURAL
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, WHICH MEANS
IF YOU SEE A MOSQUITO ABATEMENT
SERVICE IN THE PARK STATE PARKS
IS THE ONE THAT DISPATCHED THEM
TO DEAL WITH THAT. SO THOSE ARE
EXAMPLES OF HOW YES, THIS IS AN
OPERATING AGREEMENT, BUT STATE
PARKS HAS HELD ON TO CERTAIN
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY, UM, FOR
WHICH AGAIN, BUT IN GENERAL,
THEY HOLD AN OVERSIGHT POSITION
FOR EVERYTHING. I'LL ALSO SAY
THAT YOU KNOW, OPERATING
AGREEMENTS DO ALLOW FOR STATE
PARKS TO TERMINATE THEM, UH, IN
THIS PARTICULAR CASE, 30 DAYS
WITH CAUSE UNDER AN 80 DAYS
WITHOUT CAUSE, SO THEY DO, UM,
ROUTINE FULL AUTHORITY. AND
WHAT'S SO ARE THERE? UM,
STANDARDS THAT LIKE STATE
STANDARDS, STATE PARK STANDARDS
THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET. UPHOLD.
AND ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR
EVERY RESPECT. WE FRIENDS ARE
TRYING TO CAMP FRIENDS OF CHINA
CAMP DOES NOT SET POLICY. WE WE
ABIDE BY STATE PARKS POLICY IN
EVERY FACET OF THE OPERATION.
WHETHER IT'S THE NARRATIVE THAT
WE SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC, AND,
UH, THE HISTORIC CHINESE SHRIMP
IN VILLAGE IN THE PARK TO THE
STANDARDS BY WHICH WE MAINTAIN
AND RE TREAD TRAILS. EVERYTHING
IS ACCORDING TO STATE PARKS
POLICY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SEEING NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, I WILL SAY
, UM, FOR REFERENCE. THERE ARE
280 STATE PARK. SO 20 PARKS IS
DEFINITELY A MINORITY OF THE
PARKS IN THE SYSTEM. UM, SO IT
WILL FOUR STATE PARKS TO BE
THOUGHTFUL IN WHERE THEY MAKE
THESE CONTRACTS THAT THEY CAN'T
DO IT. AND EVEN 10% OF THE
PARKS, UM AND, UH, I'VE BEEN TO
SUGAR LOAF AND MANY OF THE PARKS
THAT ARE ON THE LIST OF THE
AGREEMENTS AND HAVE ENJOYED THEM
. LAST YEAR, WE HEARD A BILL ON
CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK BY SOME
REMEMBER PETRIE-NORRIS WHO CAME
IN AND TOLD US ABOUT HOW MUCH
SHE LOVES THAT PARK IN HER OWN
BACKYARD. SO UM, YOU KNOW, I
THINK THERE'S A LOT GOING ON
HERE THAT OBVIOUSLY IS WORKING
IN THE VERY FEW STATE PARKS
WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING, BUT I
KNOW THAT CALIFORNIANS, ALSO ONE
OF THE PLACES WHERE THEY ENGAGED
WITH THE STATE IS ARE IN A
REALLY POSITIVE WAY IS OUR PARKS
AND OUR RANGERS ARE A HUGE PART
OF THAT. AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL
INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR
EVERYTHING OUR RANGERS DUE TO
PROVIDE ACCESS AND KNOWLEDGE AND
THE LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS TO
EVERY CALIFORNIAN WHO HAS THE
PRIVILEGE OF SHOWING UP IN OUR
STATE PARK. SO I THINK THAT WE
HAVE I WANT TO THANK THE SENATOR
FOR STRIKING A REALLY IMPORTANT
BALANCE WITH THIS BILL. AND
ENSURING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE THE SERVICES WE NEED IN
THESE STATE PARKS WHILE ENSURING
THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR STATE
PARKS ARE BEING RUN BY THE
RANGERS, WHO HAVE THE SKILLS AND
KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO DO SO. UM
AND WITH THAT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE MR DODD? RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR VOTE GREAT AND WE HAVE
A MOTION AND A SECOND SO WE WILL
CALL THE ROLL. SP 668 MOTION IS
DUE PAST TWO APPROPRIATIONS
BARRICADE HIÆN. BAUER-KAHAN I
MATHIS METHODS I COLONIES IN
EAST I, BENNETT BENNETT. I
DAVIES BABIES. I FRIEDMAN
FRIEDMAN I HEART PART I CHOLERA,
CHOLERA I PELLERIN RUBIO. RUBIO.
I SHIAVO. YEAH, THAT I VILL
VALLAPUDUA. VALLAPUDUA I WARD
WARD. I WEBBER WEBBER. AYE. THE
BILL HAS 13 IT IS OUT. WE WILL
LEAVE THE ROLLED UP IN FOR OUR
ABSENT MEMBER. THANK YOU. MADAM
CHAIR MEMBERS APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND WE
WILL OPEN THE ROLE FOR, UM SB 7
32 BEFORE WE MOVE INTO
INFORMATIONAL HEARING. SB 7 32
MOTION IS DUE PAST BAUER-KAHAN.
I CAN I, BENNETT BENNETT, I
HEART HEART I CHOLERA. CHOLERA I
WARD WARD. AYE.
WE'RE GOING TO RECESS ARE UM,
BILL HEARINGS SO THAT WE CAN
MOVE INTO OUR INFORMATIONAL
HEARING NOW, UM WE HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF HAVING SECRETARY
PROFIT HERE. THAT WONDERFUL
DEBATE ON HOW ARE STATE PARKS
SHOULD BE MANAGED. SO HOPE YOU
TOOK SOMETHING AWAY FROM IT. UM
SO FOR EVERYONE'S, UM
INFORMATION. UH WE HAVE WITH US
TODAY. UM THE CHAIR OF
TRANSPORTATION, AND WE'VE ALSO
INVITED THE CHAIRS OF BOTH
JUDICIARY, NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEES AND OTHER
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S TO JOIN US FOR
THIS WHO MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY
THE PROPOSALS TO PARTICIPATE IN
THIS DISCUSSION. UM SO I WANNA,
UM, WELCOME ANYONE WHO JOINS US.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYONE AT
THIS TIME. BUT WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TO
ENGAGE IN WHAT IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION ABOUT
SIGNIFICANT POLICY. UH THE WAY
THIS HEARING WILL PROGRESS IS
THAT SECRETARY CROW FOOT IS
GOING TO OPEN WITH SOME REMARKS
REGARDING THE PROPOSALS, AND
THEN WE WILL TEACH TREAT EACH OF
THE FOUR PROPOSALS THAT THIS
COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARING THIS
INFORMATIONAL. HEARING
SEPARATELY WITH A REPRESENTATIVE
FROM THE ADMINISTRATION
PRESENTING THE PROPOSAL AND THEN
WE'LL HEAR FROM A LEAD WITNESS
IN SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION. UM
REGARDING THE PROPOSAL, AND THEN
THE COMMITTEE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE
ABLE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF
EITHER, UM, AND PROVIDE COMMENTS
ON THE PROPOSALS. WE WILL BEGIN
WITH SOME OPENING REMARKS. IF
ANYONE I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE
SOME OPENING REMARKS PRIOR TO
THE SECRETARY. OKAY THEN I WILL.
I WILL JUST SAY A FEW THINGS,
WHICH IS, UM I THINK WE ARE ALL
ABUNDANTLY CLEAR OF WHERE WE ARE
, UM, IN THE CLIMATE CHANGE
PROCESS THAT THE WORLD IS GOING
THROUGH. UM AS WELL AS WITH THE
NEED TO, UM, TO BUILD
INFRASTRUCTURE TO GET THE STATE
TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. UM
THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY
HEADING OUR WAY IN THE WAY OF
MANY STATES, AND, UM, I THINK
THAT ALL OF US UNDERSTAND THE
URGENCY OF BEING AS COMPETITIVE
AS POSSIBLE TO GET THOSE
MODERATOR. YOU MIGHT WANT TO
MUTE. UM. TWO AND THE BALANCE OF
ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
WHILE ENSURING THAT THE STATE
GETS TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE IN
BUILDING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT WE NEED TO BE IN, UM, WHERE
WE ARE TODAY IS REALLY, REALLY
CRITICAL AS WE SAW EVEN JUST
TODAY WITH A PROPOSAL REGARDING
STATE PARKS OPERATING AGREEMENTS
, THE POLICY PROCESS IS AN
IMPORTANT ONE AND ONE THAT THIS
COMMITTEE ESPECIALLY ENGAGES IN
IN A ROBUST WAY, WE KNOW THE
CRITICAL NATURE OF ENSURING
CALIFORNIA'S WATER RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE ARE CLEAN, ARE SAFE
AND THAT THE ENVIRONMENT AND
CALIFORNIA'S PEOPLE ARE
PROTECTED AS WE MOVE POLICY
FORWARD THAT AFFECTS
CALIFORNIA'S WATER AS WELL AS
OUR SPECIES AND THE OTHER ISSUES
THAT ARE UNDER THE JURISDICTION
OF THIS COMMITTEE, SO IT'S
REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE
THIS REALLY ROBUST CONVERSATION
TODAY. TO VET THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSALS THAT
ARE BEING PROPOSED TO BE MOVED
THROUGH THE BUDGET, BUT IMPACT
CRITICAL AREAS OF POLICY THAT WE
HERE IN THIS COMMITTEE YEAR IN
AND YEAR OUT. I WANT TO THANK
ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING HERE TO
HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH US,
AND, UM, THE PUBLIC THAT'S HERE
TO ENGAGE IN THIS CONVERSATION
WITH THAT. LET ME TURN IT OVER
TO THE SECRETARY. THANK YOU SO
MUCH CHAIR AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE,
UH, THIS SET OF PROPOSALS. I
VERY MUCH AGREE AND APPRECIATE
OUR ALIGNMENT AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON ALL THINGS RELATED
TO WATER, PARKS, WILDLIFE AND
THE ENVIRONMENT. AND I'M HOPING
THAT YOU'LL SEE ALIGNMENT WITH
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THIS
PROPOSAL PACKAGE. UM I WANT TO
SPEND A LITTLE TIME BUILDING THE
CONTEXT OF WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING
HERE TODAY, BUT I'LL START BY
EXPLAINING WHY WE'RE PROPOSING
THIS. AND WHY NOW IMPORTANTLY,
IN RECENT MONTHS. YOU ALL KNOW
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE
WEATHER WHIPLASH. UM VARIATION
ALMOST UNTHINKABLE EVEN A FEW
YEARS AGO. IN OCTOBER, WE ENDED
THE DRIEST THREE YEAR PERIOD IN
STATE HISTORY FOLLOWED VERY
QUICKLY BY WHAT IS LIKELY THE
WETTEST THREE WEEKS IN OUR
STATE'S HISTORY. GOING INTO THE
WINTER 6 MILLION CALIFORNIANS
WERE UNDER WATER RATIONING AND
SCORES OF RURAL COMMUNITIES HAD
RUN OUT OF WATER AS A RESULT OF
DROUGHT, AND JUST WEEKS LATER,
WE HAD DEPLOYED THE NATIONAL
GUARD ACROSS THE STATE TO DEAL
WITH CATASTROPHIC FLOODING THAT
RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF LIFE. UM
SCIENTISTS TELL US WE'RE GOING
TO LOSE 10% OF OUR WATER SUPPLY
IN THE NEXT 15 YEARS AS A RESULT
OF HOTTER TEMPERATURES AND 7% OF
OUR STATE HAS BURNED MOST OF IT
DUE TO CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE IN
THE LAST THREE YEARS. WE USED TO
TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IS A
PROBLEM OR A GROWING THREAT. WE
BELIEVE IT IS A CRISIS A CLEAR
AND PRESENT CRISIS RIGHT NOW.
OUR CABINET, THOSE AGENCY
LEADERS THAT WORK ON WATER HAVE
BEEN MEETING ON A WEEKLY BASIS
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS IN
EMERGENCY RESPONSE MODE, YOU ALL
HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE GOVERNOR
ON MYRIAD EMERGENCY
PROCLAMATIONS THAT HAVE ITERATED
OVER TIME FROM DROUGHT TO
FLOODS. THE WILDFIRE AND SO WE
HAVE VERY MUCH BEEN IN EMERGENCY
RESPONSE MODE, AND THAT, OF
COURSE, IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY
COLLECTIVELY IS TO PROTECT
CALIFORNIANS FROM THESE CHANGES.
INCREASINGLY WE KNOW WE NEED TO
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. WE SHOULD
PREPARE FOR MORE WEATHER
WHIPLASH IN COMING MONTHS AND IN
COMING YEARS TO AVOID DOING SO
WOULD BE AN ABDICATION OF
RESPONSIBILITY. WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S HAPPENING OR WHERE WHAT
WILL GO IN TERMS OF WET OR DRY,
BUT WE KNOW IT WILL GET MORE
SEVERE. SO WE'RE WORKING TO
IDENTIFY WHAT ARE DURABLE
ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE TO MOVE MORE
QUICKLY TO PROTECT CALIFORNIANS
AND MAINTAIN THE LIVELIHOODS AND
THE LIVES THAT WE KNOW WE WANT
OURSELVES AND OUR KIDS AND OUR
GRANDKIDS TO LIVE. I'LL NOTE
THAT THERE IS A NONPARTISAN POLL
THAT WAS RELEASED TODAY FROM THE
PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE OF
CALIFORNIA WERE FULLY TWO THIRDS
OF CALIFORNIANS FEEL PERSONALLY
CONCERNED. ABOUT THEIR SAFETY
AND PROPERTY AS A RESULT OF THE
CLIMATE CRISIS. SO CHAIR I AGREE
. I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE
SEVERITY AND URGENCY OF WHAT WE
FACE. I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE
ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT FOR 30
YEARS AND I'VE NEVER FELT THE
PRESSURE OR THE URGENCY TO TAKE
ACTION. UM, THAT WE NOW NEED TO
TAKE. AT THE SAME TIME,
SCIENTISTS TELL US THAT WE NEED
TO BEND THE CURVE ON CARBON
POLLUTION ACROSS THE GLOBE IN
THE NEXT 78 MONTHS BY 2030 TO
AVOID A CATASTROPHIC FUTURE YOU
I THINK I'LL KNOW THIS. UM THE
GOOD NEWS IN MY MIND IS THAT
CALIFORNIA IS LEADING THE WORLD
COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE. UM YOU
ALL STATE LEADERS AND GOVERNOR,
NEWSOM STOOD TOGETHER LAST FALL
AND CELEBRATED THE PASSAGE OF A
LANDMARK SET OF CLIMATE BILLS TO
ESTABLISH WHAT ARE ARGUABLY THE
WORLD'S MOST AMBITIOUS CLIMATE
ACTION TARGETS. CARBON
NEUTRALITY IN LAW 90% CLEAN
ENERGY BY 2035 SETBACKS FROM OIL
DRILLING TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES.
COMPLEMENTED BY A COLLECTIVE
COMMITMENT AMONG THE LEGISLATURE
AND GOVERNOR TO ALLOCATE UPWARDS
OF $50 BILLION FOR CLIMATE
ACTION. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAT
SUCCESS THAT SUCCESSFUL
LEADERSHIP WAS THE RESULT OF AN
URGENT FOCUSED PUSH OVER A
MATTER OF WEEKS TO TAKE ACTION
THAT WE KNOW WE NEEDED TO TAKE.
AH! FROM MY PERSPECTIVE
CALIFORNIA THAT'S THIS MEETING
THESE TARGETS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT
FOR OUR STATE, IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR THE WORLD AS NEARLY THE
FOURTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE
WORLD, THE WORLD IS WATCHING
WHETHER WE CAN MEET THESE
TARGETS AND MOVE TO A LOW
CARBON, NO CARBON ECONOMIC
FUTURE AND PROTECT OUR CITIZENS.
BUT HERE'S THE TOUGH PART AND
I'LL JUST BE COMPLETELY HONEST.
WE ARE NOT POSITIONED TO MEET
THESE TARGETS, NOR DO WHAT WE
NEED TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITIES
FROM THIS WORST. THESE WORSENING
CLIMATE IMPACTS SIMPLY PUT. IT'S
TOO LENGTHY AND DIFFICULT TO GET
THE PROJECT DONE THAT WE KNOW WE
NEED TO GET DONE. I THINK ALL OF
US RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A
SYSTEM THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE
OVER TIME. ARE VERY GOOD REASONS
THAT'S NOW NOT WORKING VERY WELL
TO DELIVER WHAT WE NEED
DELIVERED, WHETHER IT'S CLEAN
ENERGY, WATER, RESILIENCE,
INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION. I WANT TO GIVE
YOU A FACT ON ENERGY. OVER THE
LAST 10 YEARS, WE BROUGHT ON AN
AVERAGE OF 2.5 GIGAWATTS OF
ENERGY A YEAR. THE MOST RECENT
ANALYSIS BY R. CALIFORNIA ENERGY
COMMISSION IN 2021 SAYS WE HAVE
TO BRING OVER AN AVERAGE OF OVER
EIGHT GIGAWATTS OF ENERGY ONLINE
PER YEAR OVER THE NEXT TWO
DECADES TO MEET OUR CLEAN ENERGY
TARGETS AND MAINTAIN RELIABILITY
AND AFFORDABILITY. THAT'S AN
INCREASE IN THREE TIMES THE
AMOUNT OF CLEAN ENERGY THAT WE
NEED TO BRING ON AND WE DO NOT
HAVE A PROCESS OR A SET OF
PROCESSES THAT WILL ALLOW THAT.
UM MUCH LESS TO GET THE WORK
DONE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE DONE
TO, UH, ADJUST TO WORSENING
DROUGHTS AND FLOODS THAT WE KNOW
ARE COMING AND IN FACT ARE
ALREADY HERE. SO THE PROPOSALS
YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT TODAY IMPACT
MAJOR PROJECTS, CLEAN ENERGY
PROJECTS, RENEWABLE SORRY. SOLAR
WIND, UM, PROJECTS THAT NOT ONLY
WILL HELP US CLEAN OUR GRID BUT
WILL FACILITATE THE HOUSING THAT
WE KNOW WE NEED TO BUILD ACROSS
CALIFORNIA'S COMMUNITIES. UM
CRITICAL BUT COMPLICATED
ENVIRONMENTAL HABITAT PROJECTS
TO PROTECT OUR FISH AND WILDLIFE
, A CHARGE OF THIS COMMITTEE,
INCLUDING PROJECTS IN THE DELTA,
WHICH YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT
SAFETY REPAIRS AND CANAL
IMPROVEMENTS TO ADDRESS
SUBSIDENCE AND KEEP WATER
FLOWING TO OUR COMMUNITIES. AND
TRANSIT PROJECTS THAT NOT ONLY
BENEFIT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
BUT HELP US ATTACK THE BIGGEST
BIGGEST SINGLE SOURCE OF
POLLUTION WE HAVE IN OUR STATE.
AS THE CHAIR NOTED. FEDERAL
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE NOW, WITH
THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT CAN
HELP US MAKE THE SCALABLE
CHANGES WE NEED. UM THE BIDEN
HARRIS ADMINISTRATION IS VERY
CLEAR. THEY WANT FUNDING
ALLOCATED THROUGH THE INFLATION
REDUCTION ACT AND THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW TO HIT THE
GROUND AND WORK RIGHT AWAY. AND
TOO OFTEN, CALIFORNIA GETS
DISMISSED OR DE PRIORITIZED
WHETHER THAT SUFFICIENTLY OR
UNOFFICIALLY BECAUSE OF THE
PERCEPTION THAT WE WILL MOVE TOO
SLOWLY TO GET THIS MONEY TO
WORK. WE NEED OUR PROJECTS TO BE
POSITIONED FOR THAT FEDERAL
FUNDING. I EXPERIENCED THIS ON A
WEEKLY OR MONTHLY BASIS, MAKING
THE CASE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING. SO
DELAYING THE CHANGES WE'RE
PROPOSING BY SIX MONTHS, ONE
YEAR TWO YEARS. FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE REALLY MATTERS GIVEN
THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACTS WERE
EXPERIENCING AND THE NEED TO
MOVE FAST TO MEET OUR TARGETS.
NOW GIVEN THAT MANY OF YOU SIT
ON THE PARKS, WATER PARKS AND
WILDLIFE COMMITTEE, I WANT TO
PROVIDE BRIEF CONNECTION BETWEEN
WATER AND PARKS AND OUR WATER
AND WILDLIFE TO THIS WATER. FROM
OUR PERSPECTIVE IN THE NEWS
AMENDMENTS ADMINISTRATION, WE
NEED TO BE IN A DEAD SPRINT TO
IMPLEMENT WHAT WE CALL THE WATER
SUPPLY STRATEGY FOR A HOTTER,
DRIER FUTURE. I MENTIONED THAT
WILL LOSE 10% OF OUR WATER
SUPPLY, SAY SCIENTISTS OVER THE
NEXT 15 YEARS, SO WE HAVE TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO DIVERSIFY
OUR WATER SUPPLIES CAPTURE WATER
WHEN IT COMES IN THESE ROUGH
WINTER STORMS PURIFY SOURCES OF
WATER THAT ARE CURRENTLY
UNAVAILABLE MODERNIZER
INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKE IT
CLIMATE RESILIENT AND RESTORE
ENVIRONMENTAL HABITAT. IT ALL
MATTERS. IT'S IN ALL OF THE
ABOVE SOLUTION. ON ON FISH AND
WILDLIFE, WHICH IS WHICH IS MY
PERSONAL PASSION. WE CAN DO A
BETTER JOB PROTECTING THIS
INCREDIBLE BIODIVERSITY WE HAVE
IN THE STATE AND FACILITATE THE
DEVELOPMENT THAT WE THAT WE
NEED. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY WE'RE CHAMPIONING ALONG WITH
LEADERS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE
30 BY 30 MOVEMENT, CONSERVE MORE
LAND AND COASTAL WATERS FOR THE
BENEFIT. OF WILDLIFE, FISH AND
WILDLIFE SO WE CAN DO BOTH. SO
LASTLY, I'LL PROVIDE BRIEF
CONTEXT ON THE FOUR PROPOSALS
AND THEN BRING UP THE EXPERTS
THAT CAN WALK YOU THROUGH. THE
DETAILS OF THOSE PROPOSALS
MENTIONED THAT THESE FOUR
PROPOSALS ARE PART OF A LARGER
PACKAGE THAT REPRESENTS AN ALL
OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH. GOVERNOR
NEWSOM ASKED HIS CABINET MYSELF
INCLUDED FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
AROUND WHAT PROCESS CHANGE WE
NEEDED. ARE WE NEED TO DELIVER
THE CLIMATE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
WE KNOW IS SO VITAL. SO THE
FIRST PROPOSAL YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT
OUR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DELTA
REFORM ACT, WHICH WAS A LAW THAT
PASSED IN 2009 AND ESTABLISHED
THE DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL TO
ENSURE THAT WE WERE TAKING CARE
FOR THE DELTA FOR ALL THAT IT
PROVIDES FOR COMMUNITIES FOR
BIODIVERSITY FOR OUR WATER
SUPPLY. THIS PROPOSAL INCLUDES
SURGICAL CHANGES THAT IMPROVES
THE WAY THE DELTA STEWARDSHIP
COUNCIL WORKS IMPORTANTLY, THIS
THIS RECOMMENDATION SET OF
RECOMMENDATIONS WAS DEVELOPED BY
THE DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
ITSELF COMPRISED OF APPOINTEES
OF BOTH THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR, AS WELL AS THE CHAIR
OF THE DELTA PROTECTION
COMMISSION. THESE CHANGES HAVE
BEEN SUGGESTED BASED ON A FIVE
YEAR REVIEW PROCESS THAT THE
STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL DID, AND THE
LESSONS LEARNED OF ITS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, JESSICA PEARSON, WHO
YOU'LL SOON HEAR FROM WHO'S BEEN
IN THAT ROLE FOR 10 YEARS. NOW I
KNOW THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE
DELTA, A LOT OF PEOPLE
AUTOMATICALLY GO TO THE PROPOSED
CONVEYANCE PROJECT IN THE DELTA
. LET ME BE CLEAR. THIS PROPOSAL
IS NOT RELATED TO THAT. THIS
COMES FROM THE DELTA STEWARDSHIP
COUNCIL. DELTA STEWARDSHIP
COUNCIL SERVES AS AN
ADJUDICATORY BODY. UM, THAT WILL
REVIEW THAT CONVEYANCE PROJECT
AND SO IT DOES NOT HAVE A
POSITION ON THE CONVEYANCE
PROJECT, AND IN FACT, WE HAVE NO
CONTACT WITH THE STEWARDSHIP
COUNCIL OR ITS STAFF ON THAT
PROJECT. I'LL LET DIRECTOR
PEARSON WALKED THROUGH THE
SPECIFICS, BUT BASICALLY THIS IS
APPLYING PROTOCOL AND
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE THAT IS
APPARENT OR EXISTS IN OTHER
BODIES WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT,
INCLUDING THE WATERBOARD, THE
COASTAL COMMISSION AND OTHER
BODIES TO WORK AS EFFECTIVELY AS
POSSIBLE, IN PARTICULAR,
IMPROVING THE PROCESS TO APPEAL
DECISIONS AT THE COUNCIL. THESE
WE THINK, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
THE DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
THINKS THAT IMPROVING THIS
PROCESS WILL HELP GOOD PROJECTS
HAPPEN IN THE DELTA MORE QUICKLY
WHETHER THAT'S FLOOD
IMPROVEMENTS FOR COMMUNITIES OR
MULTI BENEFIT HABITAT PROJECTS
THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE
RECOVERY OF ENDANGERED FISH.
SECONDLY IS OUR PROPOSAL ON
ACCELERATING AND IMPROVING
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION. IN
RECENT YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A
GROWING AND REALLY STRONG
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR
TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES AND OUR
NATURAL RESOURCE AGENCIES TO
IMPROVE THE WAY TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS GET MITIGATED BOTH TO
HELP THOSE TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS HAPPEN MORE QUICKLY AND
COST EFFECTIVELY BUT TO IMPROVE
THE ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES FROM
THAT MITIGATION. THE
IMPROVEMENTS PRESENTED TODAY
COME OUT OF A PROCESS THAT WAS
ESTABLISHED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 12
82 PASSED IN 2017, WHICH DID A
DEEP DIVE IN WHERE OUR
MITIGATION PROCESSES, UM ARE ARE
LACKING OR FAILING AND HOW WE
CAN IMPROVE THEM. AND THIS
PROPOSAL PROVIDES IMPORTANT
TOOLS TO ALLOW CALTRANS TO MORE
EFFECTIVELY MITIGATE PROJECTS.
SPECIFICALLY ALLOWING FOR MORE
ADVANCED MITIGATION WHERE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS
ACTUALLY HAPPENED BEFORE
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS ARE
BUILT, WHICH IS OF NET BENEFIT
TO THE ENVIRONMENT. THE THIRD
PROPOSAL IS THE AUTHORITY FOR
PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD, WHICH
IS TO ALLOW A PUBLIC PROJECT TO
GET DONE BY A CONTRACTOR THAT
DOES BOTH THE DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT,
THEREBY SAVING FUNDING MONEY AND
TIME WE'VE SEEN THIS WORK
EFFECTIVELY TO RESTORE HABITAT
AT THE SALTON SEA TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR STATE WATER
PROJECT, AND I'LL NOTE THAT
DESIGN BUILD, HAS BEEN
AUTHORIZED IN VARIOUS BILLS OVER
YEARS BY OUR LEGISLATURE. UM
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES,
YOU'LL WHICH WE'LL HEAR FROM TED
CRADDOCK OF DWR WOULD USE THIS
DESIGN BUILD AUTHORITY, WHICH
PROVIDES AUTHORITY FOR EIGHT
PROJECTS FOR DWR. EIGHT PROJECTS
FOR CALTRANS TO ADDRESS DAM
SAFETY, CANAL IMPROVEMENTS AND
POTENTIALLY MULTI BENEFIT
HABITAT RESTORATION. AND THEN,
LASTLY, 1/4 PROPOSAL THAT YOU'LL
HEAR ABOUT TODAY IS TO MODERNIZE
A 50 YEAR OLD STATUTE IN OUR
CODE, UM, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE
TO MORE EFFECTIVELY PROTECT FISH
AND WILDLIFE. THIS PROPOSAL
SHIFTS 30 SECONDS 37 SPECIFIC
SPECIES OF ANIMALS THAT WERE
LONG AGO IDENTIFIED AS FULLY
PROTECTED. UM MOVING THAT INTO
THE MODERNIZED SCIENCE BASED
FRAMEWORK OF THE CALIFORNIA
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. NOW THE
FULLY PROTECTED STATUTE ACTUALLY
PROCEEDS, MY BIRTH AND I KNOW
THAT BECAUSE I TURNED 50 LAST
MONTH, SO I'M A CUTE I'M AWARE
OF MY AGE, AND I AM AWARE THAT
THAT THE STATUTE THAT WE'RE
WORKING TO MODERNIZE IS THREE
YEARS OLDER THAN THAT 53 YEARS
OLD, AND ESSENTIALLY, IT'S
CREATED A LAUNDRY LIST OF
SPECIES THAT ARE FULLY PROTECTED
THAT DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND
WILDLIFE CANNOT ACTIVELY
MITIGATE MANY OF THOSE SPECIES.
I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD AGREE
ARE FAIRLY COMMON AT THIS POINT
AND DON'T NEED PROTECTION. SOME
OF THOSE SPECIES REMAIN
THREATENED OR ENDANGERED AND
NEED MORE PROACTIVE PROTECTION.
AT THE SAME TIME, MODERNIZING
MOVING BEYOND THIS 53 YEAR OLD
LIST OF SPECIES INTO THE
CALIFORNIA ENDANGERED SPECIES
ACT WILL NOT ONLY ALLOW FOR MORE
PROACTIVE PROTECTION OF THOSE
SPECIES BUT ALLOW FOR MORE
REASONABLE MITIGATION TO
FACILITATE WHAT WE NEED,
INCLUDING CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS
AND THE TRANSPORTATION THAT'S
GOING TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND WE'LL HAVE OUR CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
DIRECTOR CHUCK BONHAM HERE TO
PROVIDE DETAILS ON THAT CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR INDULGENCE AND
PROVIDING THAT CONTEXT AND I'LL
STAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU,
SECRETARY. UM DO YOU WANT
QUESTIONS NOW OR DO YOU WANT TO
STAY AS THE PROPOSALS ARE BEING
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR SCHEDULE
IS, SECRETARY SO YOU'RE HERE.
GREAT WE APPRECIATE THAT. UM, SO
THEN I THINK, BUT REMEMBER,
BENNETT HAS A QUESTION BEFORE,
BECAUSE I KNOW SOMETIMES YOUR
SCHEDULE GETS BUSY AND AS
SECURING GOES ON, YOU MAY LEAVE,
SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY FROM THIS. LARGE
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE TO ADDRESS
THIS, WHICH IS NUMBER ONE. SO
MANY PEOPLE MYSELF INCLUDED,
HAVE BEEN SAYING WE HAVE TO HAVE
A GREATER SENSE OF URGENCY. AND
SO I APPLAUD THE ADMINISTRATION
FOR TRYING TO RECOGNIZE THAT
IT'S HARD TO MOVE BIG SHIPS LIKE
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT THE
SAME TIME, AND YOU'VE MADE THE
CASE ABOUT WE HAVE FEDERAL
FUNDING. IF WE WAIT SIX MONTHS
OR A YEAR, WE COULD HAVE
PROBLEMS. UM COULD YOU MAKE THE
CASE WHY THE ADMINISTRATION
FEELS LIKE WE NEED TO MOVE THIS
NOW AND NOT? WE DID TRAILER
BILLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
SUMMER IN AUGUST LAST YEAR. WHY
NOW VERSUS AUGUST I WANT TO MAKE
SURE I HEAR HEAR THAT
ARTICULATED. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S I'M GLAD TO
RESPOND, BUT LET ME TURN IT TO
MY COLLEAGUE GAIL MILLER, WHO
HELPS TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION
ON THE GLOBAL ADMINISTRATION
LEVEL. THANK YOU, SECRETARY. AND
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
BENNETT. I'M GAIL MILLER. I'M
ALSO THE SENIOR COUNSELOR ON
INFRASTRUCTURE. AND I'M I'M GLAD
YOU ASKED THAT BECAUSE I THINK
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS ONE. I
WANT TO USE AN EXAMPLE FROM LAST
WEEK AS THE DEBT CEILING DEBATE
WAS GOING THROUGH THE PART OF
THE THAT AGREEMENT WAS TO CLAW
BACK PART OF THE COVID RESPONSE
RELIEF AND SUPPLEMENTAL
APPROPRIATIONS ACT. CALIFORNIA
HAD $295 MILLION ON THAT
SHOPPING BLOCK. WE HAD FIVE DAYS
FROM THE DAY THE AGREEMENT WAS
ANNOUNCED UNTIL THE PRESIDENT
SIGNED THE BILL TO ENCUMBER
THOSE FUNDS. HERCULEAN TASK BY
CALTRANS AND CONGRATULATIONS
THEY'RE HERE, BUT IT'S AN
EXAMPLE THAT NONE OF THESE
FEDERAL FUNDS CAN BE TAKEN FOR
GRANTED. WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE
WILL BE A FUTURE LAW. THAT DOES
CALL THEM BACK. SO FIRST AND
FOREMOST, THE FEDS HAVE TOLD US
THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY. OF
COURSE, THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE
CALIFORNIA ANYTHING AND
COMPETITIVE FUNDS. I ENCOURAGE
YOU TO LOOK AT ANY PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, WHERE THEY
INVEST IN AMERICA TODAY CAME UP
WITH A MAP OF WHERE THE
COMPETITIVE FUNDING IS GOING. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHERE CALIFORNIA
STANDS VIS A VIS COMPETITIVE
FUNDS. SO THE URGENCY IS
ABSOLUTELY FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDS
. I THINK WE HAVE REALLY
COMPELLING INFORMATION FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS THEY AS
THEY ACT TO GET IT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. AND THEN TO I THINK
WHAT? WHAT YOU'LL HEAR TODAY
FROM THE NATURAL RESOURCES
AGENCY IS THAT THE SUPPORTS THAT
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT
TODAY FROM WATER AND ROADS AND
THE ABILITY TO REALLY MAKE SURE
THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CAN
SUPPORT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND
SUPPORT SCHOOLS IS REALLY
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO GET ALL
THE OTHER PIECES. MANY OF THE
BILLS THE GOVERNOR SIGNED 20
BILLS ON HOUSING ALONE. TO MAKE
SURE THAT THOSE GET BUILT SO
THERE ABSOLUTELY IS A SENSE OF
URGENCY AS WE LEARN MORE FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EVERY DAY
, THEY PUT OUT A NEW NOTE PHONE,
A FUNDING REQUEST OR GRANT
APPLICATION. WE KEEP SEEING MORE
AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT
CALIFORNIA NEEDS TO DO IN ORDER
TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN GET THESE
SHOVELS IN THE GROUND, SO
SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE
QUESTION. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS
IS A VERY QUICK TURNAROUND THAT
IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO
ACT QUICKLY ENACT NOW, MADAM.
SURE IF I COULD I APPRECIATE THE
FIRST PART OF YOUR ANSWER, WHICH
IS LITERALLY SOME FUNDING IS
DAYS MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE
SECOND PART OF YOUR OF YOUR
ANSWER. UM. I'M NOT SURE THAT I
QUITE GRASS Y DAYS MAKE A
DIFFERENCE. WHY NOW VERSUS YOU
KNOW THE MIDDLE OF JULY OR THE
MIDDLE OF AUGUST MAKES A
DIFFERENCE TO HELP ME WITH THAT,
AND I THINK I APPRECIATE IT.
THEY REASON THAT WE THINK THIS
PACKAGE REALLY GOES TOGETHER IS
THAT EVERY SINGLE TIME WE ANSWER
THE QUESTION? WHY NOW IT'S ABOUT
OUR ENTIRE APPROACH TO
INFRASTRUCTURE. SO I THINK UNTIL
THIS POINT, WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IS
A PIECEMEAL APPROACH FOR A
STADIUM, FOR EXAMPLE, OR FOR
HOUSING. THIS IS THE
ADMINISTRATION'S. PROPOSAL TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN ENTIRE
ANSWER FOR ALL OF INFRASTRUCTURE
ACROSS THE STATE, AND WE THINK
THE SOONER WE ANSWER THAT THE
SOONER WE CAN GET TO BUILDING
AND THAT'S THE INPUT WE HEAR
FROM OUR LABOR PARTNERS FROM THE
BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
AND FROM MANY OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERS WE HAVE
THAT ARE REALLY INVESTED IN THIS
IN OUR CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.
THANK YOU. THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK
YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY SO WE
WILL FIRST TAKE OUT THE DELTA
REFORM ACT. STREAMLINING
PROPOSAL. UM OH, SECRETARY, YOU
YOU CAN STAY. YOU WANT TO LEAVE,
OKAY? OKAY CHAIRS AND I WANT TO
THANK YOU, SECRETARY FOR YOUR
COMMENTS. I KNOW YOU HAVE MADE
YOUR LIFE'S WORK PROTECTING
CALIFORNIA'S ENVIRONMENT. SO I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO
BEAR. SO WE HAVE JESSICA PEARSON
, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL, WHO
WILL BE DISCUSSING THE PROPOSAL.
IF UM BARBARA BERGEN KOREA AND I
HOPE I'M NOT MISPRONOUNCING YOUR
NAME FROM A STORE OF THE DELTA
IS HERE IN KAREN LAYING ON
BEHALF OF THE DELTA COUNTIES
COALITION WANT TO JOIN US? THERE
ARE CHAIRS FOR EVERYBODY. UM AND
WE WILL BEGIN WITH JESSICA WHEN
SHE IS READY. I'M JUST MAKING
YOU SIT CLOSER KUMBAYAH A LITTLE
BIT. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR
AND MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JESSICA
PEARSON. I'M THE EXECUTIVE
OFFICER FOR THE DELTA
STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL POSITION
THAT I'VE HELD SINCE 2014.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS YOU TODAY, AND I WANT TO
NOTE THAT MY COMMENTS ARE
SPECIFIC TO THE DELTA REFORM
ACT. TRAILER BILL. WE BELIEVE
THAT THESE CHANGES ARE NECESSARY
TO ENSURE CLARITY IN THE DELTA
REFORM ACT AND TO ENSURE THAT
THE COUNCIL IS FULLY EMPOWERED
TO ACT IN THE MANNER INTENDED BY
THE LEGISLATURE. FOR BACKGROUND
, THE LEGISLATURE CREATED THE
COUNCIL JUST SHY OF 15 YEARS AGO
TO FURTHER THE STATE'S COEQUAL
GOALS. THAT IS FOR A MORE
RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY FOR THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND TO
PROTECT, RESTORE AND ENHANCE THE
DELTA'S ECOSYSTEM, ALL IN A
MANNER THAT PROTECTS AND
ENHANCES THE DELTA AS AN
EVOLVING PLACE. THE ACT DIRECTED
THE COUNCIL TO DRAFT A
COMPREHENSIVE, LEGALLY
ENFORCEABLE DELTA PLAN TO GUIDE
STATE AND LOCAL ACTIONS TO
FURTHER THOSE COEQUAL GOALS, AND
THIS PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN 2013
AND HAS BEEN SUBSEQUENTLY
AMENDED SEVERAL TIMES. SO THE
REFORM ACT REQUIRES THAT ANY
STATE OR LOCAL PUBLIC AGENCY
UNDERTAKING A COVERED ACTION
MUST FIRST SUBMIT A WRITTEN
CERTIFICATION OF CONSISTENCY TO
THE COUNCIL WITH DETAILED
FINDINGS AS TO WHETHER THE
COVERED ACTION IS CONSISTENT
WITH THE DELTA PLANS
REGULATIONS. THIS DETERMINATION
CAN BE APPEALED TO THE COUNCIL
WITHIN 30 DAYS. AND IF APPEALED
, THE COUNCIL UNDERTAKES A QUASI
JUDICIAL PROCESS TO HERE AND
MAKE A DETERMINATION ON THE
APPEAL. SO THE DELTA REFORM ACT
TRAILER BILL CONSISTS OF
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO ADDRESS
LESSONS LEARNED OVER THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DELTA PLAN
FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. AND THESE
CLARIFICATIONS OFFER CHANGES
THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER
STATUTES GOVERNING SIMILAR STATE
AGENCIES AND PROCESSES AND THEY
CLARIFY COUNCIL PROCESSES FOR
GREATER CERTAINTY AND BETTER
GOVERNANCE OF THE DELTA THROUGH
THE STATE'S DELTA PLAN.
SPECIFICALLY THE DELTA REFORM
ACT. TRAILER BILL CONSISTS OF
FOUR PARTS AND WOULD FIRST
ESTABLISHED A 60 DAY STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS PERIOD FOR LEGAL
CHALLENGES TO COUNCIL DECISIONS,
INCLUDING ON APPEALS. THIS
CHANGE WOULD PROVIDE GREATER
CERTAINTY FOR DELTA PLAN
CONSISTENT PROJECTS, AND IT
ALIGNS THE TIMEFRAME WITH
COMPARABLE AGENCIES LIKE THE
COASTAL COMMISSION, THE DELTA
PROTECTION COMMISSION AND THE
TAHOE REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY.
IT WOULD ALSO GIVE GREATER
FINALITY TO ROUTINE COUNCIL
ACTIONS, SUCH AS SCIENCE FUNDING
DECISIONS. SECOND THE COUNCIL
WOULD ESTABLISH THAT THE OVERALL
DELTA PLAN CAN REMAIN IN EFFECT,
EVEN IF A PORTION IS INVALIDATED
BY A COURT. THIS IS ALSO A
COMMON PROTECTION IN LAW
CONSISTENT WITH SIMILAR STATUTES
THAT FURTHERS THE LEGISLATURE'S
INTENT OF THE COUNCIL
CONTINUOUSLY ADMINISTERING A
LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE DELTA PLAN.
ABSENT A SO CALLED SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE, THE STATE WAS FACED WITH
A RISK IN 2016 OF BEING WITHOUT
A DELTA PLAN FOR A PERIOD OF
YEARS WHEN THE DELTA PLAN WAS
INVALIDATED BY THE SUPERIOR
COURT, EVEN WHILE THE SAME COURT
UPHELD THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE
DELTA PLANS, COMPONENTS THE
COUNCIL NOT APPEALED THE
DECISION FOR YEARS THE DELTA
COULD HAVE LACKED THE
PROTECTIONS OF THE DELTA PLANS,
REGULATIONS AND PROJECTS COULD
HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITHOUT DUE
PROCESS WITHOUT AN OPERABLE
DELTA PLAN AND WITHOUT A CHANCE
FOR APPEAL OR COUNCIL REVIEW.
THIRDLY IN THE TRAILER BILL TO
ALIGN WITH BROADLY ACCEPTED
COMMON LAW PRACTICE, THE BILL
WOULD ESTABLISH THAT ONCE QUORUM
IS MET A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL
PRESENT AT A MEETING DULY CALLED
AND HELD, CAN CARRY OUT THE
POWERS VESTED IN IT. THIS
INCLUDES DETERMINATIONS ON
APPEALS, BUT ALSO INCLUDES
ROUTINE COUNCIL BUSINESS, SUCH
AS APPROVING SCIENCE RESEARCH
FUNDING. THIS AVOIDS A POTENTIAL
STATUTORY INTERPRETATION ISSUE
BY MAKING CLEAR THAT WHEN A
QUORUM IS ESTABLISHED, A
MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS PRESENT IS SUFFICIENT
FOR COUNCIL ACTION. THIS IS A
GENERAL COMMON LAW RULE AND
PRACTICE FOR MOST BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS, AND IT IS NEEDED IN
THE EVENT OF VACANCIES, RECUSALS
ABSENCES AND TO ENSURE THAT IN
THOSE CASES, THE COUNCIL'S
BUSINESS CAN MOVE FORWARD,
ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE STRICT
REGULATORY TIMELINES THAT ARE
ESTABLISHED BY THE LEGISLATURE
FOR THE APPEALS PROCESS. AND
FINALLY, THE BILL WOULD EXTEND
THE TIME FRAME FOR THE COUNCIL'S
ANALYSIS AND DECISION ON
CONSISTENCY APPEALS FROM 60 DAYS
TO 90 DAYS. APPEALS ARE
EXTREMELY COMPLEX AND
ANALYTICALLY INTENSIVE, OFTEN
WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PAGES
OF A RECORD. WE ARE A SMALL
STAFF AT THE DELTA STEWARDSHIP
COUNCIL. SMALL BUT MIGHTY, AND
THIS CHANGE WOULD PROVIDE THE
COUNCIL WITH THE FLEXIBILITY OF
A MODEST TIME EXTENSION UP TO 30
DAYS. TO CONSIDER AND ANALYZE
THESE APPEALS. THIS IS
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IF WE HAVE
MULTIPLE APPEALS OF A PROJECT OR
MULTIPLE PROJECTS AT ONCE,
BEFORE THE COUNCIL THAT
CONCLUDES MY PREPARED REMARKS,
AND THEN I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. SO WE WILL GO, UM, TO
BARBARA AND KAREN. AND AGAIN YOU
GUYS HAVE UH, GOOD MORNING. OKAY
SORRY. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. BARBARA
BARICAN, PREAH WITH RESTORED THE
DELTA SINCE 2006 WHEN THE DELTA
REFORM ACT WAS CREATED FOR THOSE
NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR
ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE 70,000
REGULAR MEMBERS AND IN
CALIFORNIA WE REACH ABOUT
450,000 CALIFORNIANS WITH OUR
COMMUNICATIONS MONTHLY. THE
DELTA REFORM ACT. TRAILER BILL
WOULD CHANGE THE CURRENT
THRESHOLD FROM A MAJORITY VOTE
TO, UM, MAJORITY OF A QUORUM.
WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR
CONTROVERSIAL ITEMS TO BE PASSED
WITH LESS THAN A MAJORITY OF
COMMISSION MEMBERS. LET ME
EXPLAIN WHY THIS WOULD SUBVERT
THE COEQUAL GOALS OF PROVIDING
WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY, ALONG
WITH PROTECTING THE DELTAS, A
PLACE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE
DELTA REFORM ACT. OUR CONCERN
REALLY HAS TO DO IN THE TRAILER
BILL WITH THIS QUORUM CHANGE.
THE DELTA IS A MAJORITY
DISADVANTAGED BY PACKET
COMMUNITY REGION WITH POCKETS OF
WEALTH. SINCE 2018 SOCIAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS IN
THE SOUTH DELTA, PRIMARILY FROM
STOCKTON'S HAVE INVESTED
THOUSANDS OF HOURS WORKING WITH
FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES ON
AIR QUALITY WATER QUALITY WATER
PLANNING, POURED OPERATIONS, NEW
ENERGY PRODUCTION, LAND USE
PLANNING, CARBON CAPTURE
SEQUESTRATION ANALYSIS.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ANALYSIS
SUSTAINABLE FARMING, FLOOD
MANAGEMENT AND FLOODPLAIN
RESTORATION. INCLUDING AN
ANALYSIS OF THE DELTA TUNNEL. WE
HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH
THE DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL ON
AN APPROVED ENVIRONMENTAL
OUTCOMES REPORT FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
COMMUNITIES. AND WE'VE RECENTLY
BEGUN WORKING WITH THEM ON WHAT
A JUST TRANSITION WILL LOOK LIKE
WITH CLIMATE ADAPTATION. THE
DELTA'S GROUND 00 FOR EVERY
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING DECISION
IN CALIFORNIA, PARTICULARLY
STOCKTON'S. WE CANNOT BECOME THE
POLLUTION DUMPING GROUND AND
RESOURCE EXTRACTION EPICENTER TO
MITIGATE ALL THE CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACTS FOR EVERYONE ELSE IN THE
STATE. THE DELTA STEWARDSHIP
COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO
EVALUATE PROJECTS WITH THE
STATUTORY DELTA TO SEE IF THEY
ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE DELTAS
COUNCIL PLAN. THE DELTA TUNNEL
WILL BE EVALUATED WITH THE
PROCESS AS IT WAS DURING
CALIFORNIA WATER FIX. A SMALL
QUORUM OF COUNCIL MEMBERS,
THEORETICALLY UNDER PRESSURE
FROM ANY ADMINISTRATION OR
POWERFUL WATER DISTRICTS COULD
APPROVE A TUNNEL PROJECT THAT
WOULD NOT MEET THE NEEDS
CONCERNS AND ITEMS THAT HAVE TO
BE ADDRESSED BY DELTA
COMMUNITIES. PRESENTLY THE
TUNNEL E I. R. FAILS TO ADDRESS
MITIGATION NEEDS FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
COMMUNITIES IN THE DELTA. AND WE
ALSO THINK THAT IT FAILS TO
ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS
FOR WATER RELIABILITY. THE
TRAILER BILL UNDERMINES THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT OF THE DELTA
REFORM ACT, AND IT COULD LEAD TO
FURTHER UNJUST ENVIRONMENTAL
BURDENS TO BOTH RURAL AND URBAN
DELTA COMMUNITIES, BUT
PARTICULARLY TO STOCKTON, WHERE
A THIRD OF THE CITY'S RESIDENTS
LIVE AT THE BOTTOM 85 TO 99%
TILE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
DELTA REFORM ACT, CHANGES TO
THIS LAW SHOULD BE DISCUSSED
FULLY IN A NORMAL LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, ALLOWING FOR TIME FOR
BOTH INPUT BY TRIBES WITH
HISTORIC TIES AND CULTURAL SITES
WITHIN THE DELTA. AND UM, FOR
DELTA COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR AND MEMBERS KARIN LANG ON
BEHALF OF THE FIVE DELTA
COUNTIES THAT RING THE DELTA
SACRAMENTO, SOLANO, SAN JOAQUIN
CONTRA COSTA AND YOLO COUNTIES.
I WANT TO SAY AT THE OUTSET HOW
MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE STAFF
WORK DONE IN YOUR BACKGROUND
PAPER, THE POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
THAT WERE RAISED OR GREATLY
APPRECIATED, AND WE VALUE THE
FACT THAT YOU TAKE THE CONCERNS
OF THE DELTA COMMUNITY SO
SERIOUSLY. THE FIVE DELTA
COUNTIES ARE HOME TO 4 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS, THE BOARDS OF
SUPERVISORS AND ALL FIVE OF
THOSE COUNTIES ARE UNANIMOUSLY
OPPOSED TO THE CONVEYANCE
PROJECT THAT IS DIRECTLY AND
SPECIFICALLY BENEFITED BY WHAT
THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED AS
PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND
INCLUDED IN WHAT YOU'RE
CONSIDERING TODAY. MY COMMENTS
DAY ARE REGARDING THE TOTALITY
OF THE PACKAGE, AND I'M SPEAKING
ON THE FIRST PART, BUT PLEASE
APPLY THEM TO OFFER. PROPOSALS
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE
CONSIDERING TODAY. THERE'S A
LONG HISTORY IN THE CAPITAL
REGARDING THE PROJECT. THE
GOVERNOR IS ASKING YOU TO
EXPEDITE. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT
ARE NEWER TO THE LEGISLATURE.
THE SESSION THIS IS PERHAPS THE
FIRST TIME YOU'VE BEEN ASKED TO
CONSIDER THE MERITS OF
DESTROYING HISTORIC COMMUNITIES
LIKE THE TOWNS OF HOOD AND
COURTLAND AND SACRAMENTO COUNTY
TO BUILD TWO MASSIVE NEW INTAKES
AND 40 MILE LONG TUNNEL TO MOVE
UP TO HALF OF THE AVERAGE FLOW
OF THE SACRAMENTO RIVER. IT'S
BEEN A BAD IDEA FOR A LONG TIME.
SINCE THE DELTA REFORM ACT
PASSED, THE LEGISLATURE HAS
TAKEN DELIBERATE ACTION AND BOND
PROPOSALS AND OTHER POLICY AND
BUDGET ACTIONS TO NEITHER
ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE THE
TUNNEL. THAT'S BECAUSE THE
PROJECT ITSELF WOULD SPAN THREE
COUNTIES AND WOULD ABSOLUTELY
CREATE WINNERS AND LOSERS AND IN
RESPECT FOR THE 16 LEGISLATORS
WHO CURRENTLY REPRESENT THOSE
AREAS. THAT ARE ON THE LOSING
END OF THIS PROJECT. THE
LEGISLATURE HAS NOT APPROVED
POLICIES THAT WOULD HARM THE
DISTRICTS OF YOUR COLLEAGUES WHO
REPRESENT THE 55 DELTA COUNTIES
IN THE 4 MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE
THERE. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE
HERE LAST SESSION. YOU ARREST TO
VOTE ON A SEQUENCE STATUTORY
EXEMPTION FOR HABITAT PROJECTS
IN THE DELTA. THE PROPOSAL WAS
ONLY APPROVED AFTER LANGUAGES
MODIFIED TO EXCLUDE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE TUNNEL AS PART OF THE
EXEMPTION AND ASSURANCES WERE
PROVIDED TO YOUR COLLEAGUES ON
THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR THAT THE
EXEMPTION WOULD NOT BENEFIT THE
TUNNEL. HERE WE ARE 22 MONTHS
LATER, AND THE LEGISLATURE IS
BEING ASKED TO RAILROAD OVER THE
OBJECTIONS OF 4 MILLION PEOPLE
IN THE 25 COUNTY SUPERVISORS
THAT REPRESENT THEM AND ARE
TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES
AND COMMUNITIES. THE LAST TIME
ANY KIND OF COST ESTIMATE WAS
DONE. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO
COST AT LEAST $16 BILLION, AND
THIS WAS YEARS AGO. IT'S MORE
THAN LIKELY DOUBLE THAT AMOUNT
NOW AND WOULD LIKELY GROW EVEN
LARGER. BY THE TIME ACTUAL
CONSTRUCTION STARTED, NOT
INCLUDING THE ACTUAL FINANCE
COSTS. THE RATEPAYERS WHO
RECEIVED THE WATER FROM THE
WATER PROJECT WOULD NEED TO PAY
FOR IT. THAT LARGELY MEANS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WATER USERS
ARE GOING TO BE HANDED A BILL
FOR A PROJECT THAT COULD BE FAST
TRACKED AT THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL IS APPROVED. BUT YOU
WOULD BE SENDING THEM SORT OF AN
OPEN ENDED BILL. PROBABLY MORE
LIKE A RUNNING TRAP TAB WHEN YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO
COST. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO
HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO EXPLORE THE
DELTA AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES THAT THRIVE IN THE
ESTUARY AND ON THE LAND
SURROUNDING IT. YOU'VE LIKELY
SEEN FIRSTHAND SOME OF THE
SPECIES THAT ARE NOW AT RISK IN
THIS PROPOSAL, APPROVING THE
CHANGES THE GOVERNORS ASKING
YOU, TOO, WILL CAUSE REAL HARM
TO THE ECOLOGICAL WEB IN THE
DELTA WHEN 40 LINEAR MILES OF
MUCK TO CREATE A TUNNEL THAT'S
OVER 40 FT IN DIAMETER. LET'S BE
PULLED OUT OF THE GROUND AND
PILED UP. THESE PILES WILL BE
ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE EGYPTIAN
PYRAMIDS, AND THEY WOULD BE
PLACED INDEFINITELY ALL OVER THE
DELTA AND MR VILLA PUTO WAS
DISTRICT, MISS NEWMAN'S DISTRICT
AND MR FLORES DISTRICT AND ALL
FOR ALL OF THAT DESTRUCTION AND
COMMUNITY DISRUPTION, THE WATER
USERS ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANY
NEW WATER BECAUSE IT DOESN'T
INCREASE SUPPLIES. IT JUST
BYPASSES THE EXISTING FRESHWATER
PATHWAY THAT ALREADY DELIVERS
THAT WATER. IT ALSO WILL NOT DO
ANYTHING TO IMPROVE FLOOD
CONTROL, WHICH IS A NEW AND
GREAT CONCERN, BUT INSTEAD OF
INVESTING IN LEVIES AND
STRATEGIC WATER SUPPLIES TO KEEP
WATER MOVING THROUGH THE DELTA,
THE ADMINISTRATION IS PURSUING A
TUNNEL UNDERNEATH THE DELTA.
THAT ONLY BENEFITS SOME
CALIFORNIANS. NOT ALL. FOR THOSE
OF YOU THAT WOULD COMPARE WITH
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSING TO THE
NFL AND THE NBA STADIUM
LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN
APPROVED WOULD ASK YOU TO
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING THE
FOOTPRINT OF A STADIUM IS
ENTIRELY WITHIN A SINGLE CITY
AND THE ORLAND YOUTH AUTHORITY
UNLESS THAN A SQUARE MILE
STADIUM PROJECTS WERE DONE IN
COORDINATION WITH THE CITY WHERE
THE STADIUM WOULD BE BUILT.
LEADERSHIP PROJECTS WERE NOT
FORCED UPON ELECTED OFFICIALS
FOR THE CITY WHERE THE PROJECTS
WERE GOING. THEY WANTED THOSE
ARENAS AND STADIUMS. IN THE CASE
OF THE TUNNEL, EVERY COUNTY AND
CITY THAT IS AFFECTED BY IT
OPPOSES IT. IT WOULD BE 40 MILES
LONG, NOT A FEW CITY BLOCKS. IT
HAS NO FUN WRAPPED UP, AND IT
DOESN'T CREATE ANY NEW WATER. IN
CONCLUSION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE
THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T
REPRESENT THE DELTA, THE TO DO
CARE ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND THE
ABILITY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES TO
REPRESENT THEIR DISTRICTS
INTERESTS TO OPPOSE THIS SET OF
PROPOSALS WHEN THEY COME UP FOR
A VOTE. APPROVING THESE
PROPOSALS IS A BETRAYAL OF WHAT
HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO AS
RECENTLY AS TWO YEARS AGO, BUT
ALSO HAS BEEN THE CUSTOM AND
PRACTICE OF THE LAST 14 YEARS.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS RIGHTLY
DECLINED TO PICK WINNERS AND
LOSERS BETWEEN YOUR LEGISLATIVE
COLLEAGUES ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE
CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE PROCESS TO
PLAY OUT. THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT A
CALIFORNIA FOR ALL IS A
CALIFORNIA FOR SOME. THANK YOU,
CAM. SO BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO
MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS FIRST
PROPOSAL. UM I HAVE A QUESTION.
SO WHEN THE SECRETARY WAS
SPEAKING AT THE BEGINNING HE
MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE ALL
THINK OF CONVEYANCE. WHEN WE
THINK OF THE DELTA. WE'VE HEARD
THAT FROM THE OPPOSITION, YOU
SAID. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS
ABOUT. SO I GUESS LET'S CLEAR
THAT UP. THE PROPOSALS, ALL OF
THEM BEFORE US BOTH IN THIS
COMMITTEE AND IN OTHERS WILL
APPLY TO DELTA CONVEYANCE IN THE
TUNNELS. IF THAT IS NOT WITH
THESE PROPOSALS ARE ABOUT THEY
CAN DO WHAT OTHER LEGISLATION
HAVE DONE AND CARVE OUT
COMMANDS. BUT THEY DO NOT. SO I
GUESS MY QUESTION FOR YOU KNOW
IS SURE IF IT DOESN'T APPLY TO
CONVENIENCE. ARE YOU OPEN TO THE
LEGISLATURE EXEMPTING OUT DELTA
CONVENTS? SO I CAN. I CAN
EXPLAIN THAT FIRST, SO WHAT I
PROBABLY PROACTIVELY WANTED TO
ADDRESS IS THIS NOTION THAT
SOMEHOW THIS COLLECTION OF
PROPOSALS SOME OF WHICH ARE
BEING ADDRESSED IN THIS
COMMITTEE, SOME OF WHICH ARE
BEING ADDRESSED IN SISTER
COMMITTEES LATER THIS WEEK ARE
ALL ABOUT GETTING THE DELTA
TUNNEL DONE. THAT'S NOT THE
CASE. AS I MENTIONED THE PROCESS
FOR BRINGING THESE PROPOSALS
FORWARD WAS AGENCIES LIKE THE
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
IDENTIFYING WAYS TO HELP THEIR
PROCESSES WORK BETTER. THERE ARE
A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT THINGS
THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN IN THE DELTA
THAT ARE COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO
CONVEYANCE, INCLUDING ADDRESSING
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS, INCLUDING
FLOOD PROTECTION INVESTMENTS,
INCLUDING HUGE LANDSCAPE HABITAT
IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE VERY
DIFFICULT TO GET THROUGH THE
STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL BUT THAT ARE
ESSENTIAL TO ENDANGERED SPECIES
. AND IF YOU JUST, YOU KNOW FOR
THOSE THAT TAKE TIME TO
UNDERSTAND THE DELTA STEWARDSHIP
COUNCIL'S PROCESS. THE CURRENT
PROCESS, AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING
TO CHANGE MAKES ALL OF THAT WORK
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. UM, NOW TO
YOUR POINT, UH, THE DELTA
STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL CHANGES
WOULD APPLY TO ALL OF THIS,
INCLUDING THE INCLUDING THE
PROPOSED CONVEYANCE PROJECT. UM,
BUT THE NOTION THAT SOMEHOW
THESE CHANGES OR OTHERS ARE ARE
CONSTRUCTED OR PUSHED TO WITH
THE FOCUS ON GETTING THAT
PROJECT DONE. IT'S NOT THE CASE.
LASTLY, I WOULD SAY. UM, AND
IT'S NOT ENTIRELY GERMANE TO
THIS COMMITTEE. BUT LATER THIS
WEEK, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT, UM,
TRYING TO STREAMLINE THE
LITIGATION PROCESS OF SEQUA.
THERE ARE NO NO PART OF THE
PROPOSALS THAT GOVERNOR NEWSOM
HAS HAS PUT FORWARD THAT ADDRESS
IN THE SCALE AND SCOPE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OR
COMMUNITY INPUT. THE SEQUEL
PROCESSES UNTOUCHED IN THESE
PROPOSALS. WHAT IS TOUCHED, IS
TRYING TO STREAMLINE LITIGATION
. ABSOLUTELY CALIFORNIA SHOULD
HAVE THE RIGHT TO LITIGATE BASED
ON SEQUA. BUT IT CAN TAKE YEARS
AND YEARS AND YEARS AND IT CAN'T
BE DENIAL BY DELAY WE NEED WE
NEED THAT CALL THE QUESTION ON
PROJECTS AND EITHER OF APPROVE
THEM OR DENY THEM BUT THEN MOVE
FORWARD. I WILL SAY HAVING THE
FLOOR AND AS IT RELATES TO
CONVEYANCE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
CONVEYANCE WITH CHARACTERIZED BY
MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE. THE WATER
DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR 27 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS IS AT AT STAKE. SO
THREE QUARTERS OF CALIFORNIANS
GET THEIR WATER THAT THAT FLOWS
OFF THE SIERRA NEVADA THROUGH
THE DELTA. AND THE REASON WHY
WE'RE SO FOCUSED ON THIS IS FROM
OUR PERSPECTIVE. WE ARE ON
BORROWED TIME WITH THE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE CLIMATE CHANGE.
UNDENIABLY SEA LEVEL RISE IN
SALTWATER INTRUSION THAT ARE
GOING TO COME INTO THE DELTA
THAT COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT
ON WATER FOR THREE QUARTERS OF
CALIFORNIANS. AND IT'S WHY THOSE
WATER AGENCIES REPRESENTING
THOSE THREE QUARTERS OF
CALIFORNIANS UNDERSTAND THAT
MODERNIZATION. THE DELTA
CONVEYANCE, UH, TUNNEL IS NEEDED
LIKEWISE ARE, UH. THE EARTHQUAKE
EXPERTS IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, UH, THE U. S
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAINTAINS THAT
THERE'S MAJOR EARTHQUAKE RISKS
WITH THE EXISTING LEVIES. AND SO
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW,
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A
CHILD. THIS IS A CHALLENGING AND
DEEPLY CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL
FOR THOSE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE IN
THE DELTA RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT LIKE OUR FUTURE
OF THE STATE'S WATER SYSTEM IS
AT RISK. AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT
TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AND WE'RE
NOT TALKING ABOUT RUNNING OVER
THE PROCESS OR CUTTING CORNERS.
SEQUA IS BEING DONE. IT WILL BE
DONE IN ANOTHER IN ANOTHER FOUR
COMMITTEE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
STREAMLINING THE LITIGATION
PROCESS. BUT THESE THESE
PROPOSALS FOR THE DELTA
STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL ARE ABOUT
MAINTAINING A HEALTHY DELTA AND
TOTALLY REGARDLESS OF THE TUNNEL
PROJECT. THE DELTA HAS MAJOR
CHALLENGES, AND THE STEWARDSHIP
COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO
ADJUDICATE THESE THESE PROJECTS
MUCH MORE QUICKLY AND
EFFECTIVELY THAN IT IS TO DATE.
THANK YOU. AND I JUST, UM YOU
KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE WOULD
BE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF COMFORT
IF CANADIANS WERE OFF THE TABLE,
WHICH IT'S NOT. SO I JUST THINK
WE SHOULD BE HONEST ABOUT THAT
IN ALL OF THESE PROPOSALS. UM SO
WITH THAT I ACTUALLY SKIPPED A
STEP. UM MY APOLOGIES TO ANYONE
IN THE ROOM WHO WANTS TO COME UP
IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION NAME
ORGANIZATION AND, UM, POSITION
AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE
DIOCESE MEMBERS. SO BE READY.
NOBODY'S GETTING UP. NOBODY HAS
ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS. IT TURNS
OUT NO, THEY'RE COMING. YEAH.
THANK YOU. BARRY NELSON WITH
GOLDEN STATE SEMIN ASSOCIATION
REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE
CALIFORNIA SALMON FISHING
INDUSTRY, UM, WERE OPPOSED TO
THIS MEASURE, WHICH WE SEE IS
NOT A POLICY BILL. JUST DOING
NAME ORGANIZATION OF POSITIONS.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THIS
PROPOSAL. ALEX LEMUR ON BEHALF
OF PACIFIC FOREST TRUST, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FOUNDATION IN
OPPOSITION. ALREADY VALENCIA
WITH RESTORE THE DELTA AND
OPPOSITION. ERIN WOOLY ON BEHALF
OF SIERRA CLUB, CALIFORNIA AND
OPPOSITION. ASHLEY OVER HOUSE
WITH DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE, ALSO
OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATION, THE
BAY INSTITUTE IN OPPOSITION.
SCOTT WENT ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE PIPE TRADES
COUNCIL, THE WESTERN STATES
COUNCIL OF SHIPMENT OF WORKERS
AND THE CALIFORNIA STATE
ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRICAL
WORKERS. THE CALIFORNIA
COALITION OF UTILITY EMPLOYEES
IN SUPPORT. OKAY? GOOD MORNING
ADAM KENYANS ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER
AGENCIES AND STRONG SUPPORT.
YEAH. GOOD MORNING, JAMES
THURWACHTER ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE COUNCIL,
LABORER'S AND STRONG SUPPORT.
GOOD MORNING, BRENDA BASS WITH
THE CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND STRONG SUPPORT.
GOOD MORNING OCEAN RESERVE WITH
LOCAL AGENCIES OF THE NORTH
DELTA IN OPPOSITION AND THE
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES
PROVISION WOULD FACILITATE THE
TUNNEL. YES NAME ORGANIZATION IN
POSITION, EVERYBODY. SAME RULES
APPLY. GOOD MORNING, AARON
NORWOOD ON BEHALF OF THE ALMOND
ALLIANCE AND STRONG SUPPORT. LET
ME DOWN NOW. WHAT THE TRUST
REPUBLIC LAND OPPOSED TO THE
PROCESS. THANK YOU. FINALLY
AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA, SANTA CLARITA VALLEY
WATER AGENCY AND CN GABRIEL
VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. SAMANTHA
SAMUELSON FOR AUDUBON,
CALIFORNIA AND OPPOSITION. SUSAN
JORDAN, THE DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL PROTECTION
NETWORK, AND OVER 100
ORGANIZATIONS IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THE PROCESS AND
THE CONTENT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, BEVERLY YOU
ON BEHALF OF STATE BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL AND
SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIR CHRIS MCKAY LI ON BEHALF
OF THE LOS ANGELES AREA, CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. I'M TERRY ALEX TORRES,
DIRECTOR OF STATE GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS WITH THE BARRIER
COUNCIL. ALSO HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE NEW CALIFORNIA COALITION, IS
STATEWIDE COALITION OF BUSINESS
LEADERS THAT SUBMITTED A LETTER
WITH 80 ORGANIZATIONS ALL IN
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH SORRY AGAIN FOR GOING
STRAIGHT TO MY QUESTIONS AND
GIVING. OKAY, BRINGING IT BACK
TO THE DIOCESE. YES MR V.
VALLAPUDUA THANK YOU THROUGH THE
CHAIR. UM SO THIS GOES BACK TO
THE VOTING STRUCTURE. UM THE WAY
WE VOTE AND LEGISLATOR AS A
LET'S SAY, REQUIRES THE APPROVAL
OF THE MAJORITY OF COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, NOT THE MAJORITY OF THE
QUORUM. GUARANTEES THAT THE VOTE
REFLECTS THE MAJORITY OPINION.
DOESN'T CHANGE THE VOTING
STRUCTURE TO ONLY REQUIRE THE
MAJORITY OF THE QUORUM RATHER
THAN THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS. REMOVING THE GUARANTEE
IT WOULD ALSO PROTECT TO PROVE
WITH THE VOTE THAT MAYBE REFLECT
THE OPINION. THE MAJORITY OF THE
COUNCIL SO I GUESS MY QUESTION
IS REALLY IS MORE OF A
REFLECTING OF THE OPINION, THE
MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL IS
CHANGING THAT. THANK YOU. I
THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE HAVE IS, UH, WE HAVE SEVEN
MEMBERS. SO YOU KNOW YOU NEED
FOUR TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM WE
HAVE HAD IN THE PAST A
SITUATION. IT'S RARE. BUT THERE
HAS BEEN A SITUATION WHERE
THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH RECUSALS OR
ABSENCES OR VACANCIES WHERE
THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENS IF YOU ONLY HAVE A
QUORUM. AND THEN YOU HAVE A
SPLIT VOTE IN THE QUORUM, SAY A
3 TO 1 VOTE. DOES THAT MEAN THAT
THE COUNCIL HAS NOT TAKEN ACTION
? DOES IT MEAN THAT THE COUNCIL
HAS TAKEN ACTION? DOES A PROJECT
MOVE FORWARD OR DOES A PROJECT
GET REMANDED TO THE AGENCY? AND
SO I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FOR
CLARIFICATION ON WHAT THE
LEGISLATURE INTENDED IN WHAT
CONSTITUTES A COUNCIL ACTION.
YEAH, I MEAN, BECAUSE IT'S. IT'S
ALMOST A REQUIREMENT, RIGHT IF
YOU ARE PART OF IT OF THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMITTEE
THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
SHOWING UP. IT'S ALSO THE CHAIR
REQUIREMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE SHOWING UP BECAUSE THE
OPINION MATTERS. SO IF YOU'RE
NOT HAVING A QUORUM, AND YOU
WANT TO CHANGE THIS I MEAN, I
THINK WHEN WE'RE HAVING THESE
DISCUSSIONS ACTUALLY WANT TO.
IT'S GOING TO BE CONVINCED OUR
TUNNELS, WHATEVER IT IS, THOSE
ARE THOSE THAT IS VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT TO US. IMPORTANT TO MY
COMMITTEE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO MY
CONSTITUENCY. AND I THINK THAT
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST
HAVING THREE PEOPLE MAKING A
DECISION ON HOW THE DELTA IS
GONNA LOOK. I MEAN IT. MY
CONSTITUENCY MATTERS AND THEY
HAVE THREE PEOPLE. THEY'RE GOING
TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW THAT'S
GONNA LOOK. UM I HAVE TO BRING
THIS BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE AND
EXPLAIN WHY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR THAT. IT
IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. TO ALL
OF OUR DISTRICTS. I UNDERSTAND.
THANK YOU, MR PUTIN. I WILL, UM
I KNOW I'M PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY
ONE ON THIS COMMITTEE WHO'S LOST
A BILL BEFORE COMMITTEE BECAUSE
THERE WAS A VACANCY AND I
COULDN'T GET A MAJORITY OF THE
MEMBERSHIP BECAUSE THERE WAS
WINDOW VOTE BECAUSE THE PERSON
WASN'T THERE WAS NO ONE TO FILL
THAT SLOT. UM AND SO I THINK
WE'RE ALL VERY AWARE OF WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN THEIR VACANCIES. I
ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE
KNOW THAT PEOPLE PLAY GAMES THAT
THEY CAN SEE US. LEAVE THEM OPEN
SO AS TO GET THE VOTE THAT THEY
SO DESIRE. AND SO I GUESS THE
QUESTION IS THE LEGISLATIVE
INTENT. UM I GUESS. MY
UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE THAT IT
WAS YOU NEED A MAJORITY OF THE
BODY TO VOTE THROUGH A PROJECT
AGAIN. YOU HAVE LISTED A VARIETY
OF THINGS THAT YOU APPROVE,
WHICH WE UNDERSTAND, UM DELTA IN
MAINZ BEING ON ONE END AND
FUNDING FOR RESEARCH BEING ON
THE OTHER. UM I THINK THE
PROPOSAL WOULD BE VIEWED VERY
DIFFERENTLY BY THIS COMMITTEE
AND BY MY COLLEAGUES WHO
REPRESENT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
FUNDING FOR RESEARCH, RIGHT, SO
I THINK UM, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT
THIS IS TALKING ABOUT IT TALKING
ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO,
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK
THAT WE ALL OR I WILL SPEAK FOR
MYSELF. UM, AND I KNOW PROBABLY
MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WOULD
BE VERY UNHAPPY IF WE COULD JUST
VOTE THINGS OUT WITH THE
MAJORITY OF THE QUORUM VERSUS A
MAJORITY OF THE BODY. UM SO YOU
KNOW, I GUESS IT'S A QUESTION OF
CLARIFICATION. THAT'S A VERY
DIFFERENT ONE THAN A CHANGE.
WHICH IS WHAT THIS APPEARS TO BE
TO ME, MR CHOLERA. THANK YOU,
MADAM SHARE AND YOUR YOUR LAST
COMMENT WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME
TO MIND AS FAR AS LOOKING FOR
CLARIFICATION OR ACTUALLY
TELLING THE LEGISLATURE BUT THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT WAS WHICH ARE
OBVIOUSLY TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND UM I DO UNDERSTAND THE
CHALLENGE. WELL I'M LIKE THERE.
THERE ARE SEVEN MEMBERS THAT
THAT ARE APPOINTED. HMM AND THE
CHANGE IN THIS RULE. UM I
IMAGINE A QUORUM BEING FOR
CHANGES THE VOTE FROM A 4 TO 3,
WHICH I ONE VOTE CHANGE MAY NOT
MEAN A LOT IN A LARGER BODY, BUT
IN A SEVEN PERSON BODY, YOU KNOW
THAT'S THAT'S QUITE SIGNIFICANT
, HOWEVER, TO THE CHAIR'S POINT.
NO THERE'S A VACANCY FOR
TIME. YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO
STOP THE WORK. OF THE COUNCIL,
EITHER. AND SO, UM I THINK THAT
THERE CAN BE I THINK THERE'S A
MIDDLE GROUND THERE. IN TERMS OF
IF THERE'S A VACANCY FOR X
AMOUNT OF TIME, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
THE ASSEMBLY OR SENATE IS NOT
FILLING A POSITION WHATEVER IT
MIGHT BE, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS
TO BE NARROWED SOMEWHAT AS
OPPOSED TO JUST CREATING A
BLANKET RULE THAT LESS THAN THE
MAJORITY CAN VOTE. UM. AND YOU
KNOW, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
UM I JUST CURRENTLY WORDED UM,
NO. THE GOVERNOR ALREADY HAS
FOUR APPOINTEES ON THE COMMUNITY
. I THINK IT JUST FURTHERS THE
POWER AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH,
PARTICULARLY IF THERE IS A
VACANCY OR SOMEONE FROM THE
ASSEMBLY OR SENATE APPOINTEES.
DON'T MAKE IT TO A MEETING. AND
NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, IT'S
PUTTING A LOT OF INFLUENCE IN
THOSE THAT ARE THERE. I DO THINK
THAT IF THERE IF IT'S A FULLY
FILLED COUNCIL OVER SEVEN
MEMBERS. THIS IS A PRETTY
IMPORTANT ROLE. I WOULD HOPE
THAT YOU KNOW OUR ABSENCES.
HARMAN AT THESE MEETINGS. IT
SEEMS LIKE IT, YOU KNOW, UM IT
SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AS THE
ISSUE IS. YES THANK YOU. FOR
THAT. NO ABSENCES ARE NOT COMMON
NECESSARILY. WE HAVE HAD MULTI
MONTH VACANCIES IN OUR
APPOINTMENTS, AND WE HAVE HAD
RECUSALS ON PARTICULAR COVERED
ACTIONS. AND SO THERE HAVE BEEN
INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE, YOU
KNOW, BEEN CLOSE TO THAT TIPPING
POINT OF A QUORUM. AND SO THAT
THAT IS THE CONCERN. YEAH I
WOULD, UM TO YOUR BLADDER POINT
OF THE VACANCIES I CAN
UNDERSTAND. THAT COULD BE AN
ISSUE. SO I MEAN, IN GENERAL. I
DON'T LIKE THE CHANGE THE RULE
WITH THE CAVEAT, IF THERE'S A
LONG TERM VACANCY, THEN YOU KNOW
THAT THAT'S ON THE WHATEVER.
ENTITY THAT'S NOT FEELING THAT
MAKES YOU THAT'S ON THEM, AND I
THINK AT SOME POINT THAT THEY
THAT NEEDS TO BE URGED SOMEWHAT.
YES. YEAH, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW,
WE'VE HAD, UM RECUSALS TIED TO
THE DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
BECAUSE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL BENEFIT
WITHIN FAMILIES TIED TO THE
CONVEYANCE PROJECT. AND SO
THAT'S WHERE THIS BECOMES REALLY
NEEDS CLARIFICATION AND REALLY
NEEDS TO GO BACK. I THINK
THROUGH POLICY COMMITTEES, NOT
AS PART OF A BUDGET TRAILER, WE
UNDERSTAND THE LIMITATIONS
WITHIN GOVERNMENT. UM SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT ARE ASKED FOR
ARE CONSISTENT WITH NORMAL
PRACTICES FOR OTHER AGENCIES.
BUT THIS FOR US IS REALLY
PROBLEMATIC. SUCH A BIG DECISION
WITH SUCH HUGE IMPACTS FOR A
FIVE COUNTY REGION OF 4 MILLION
PEOPLE REALLY NEEDS AN AUGUST
ROBUST BODY EVALUATING WHAT WILL
HAPPEN AND YOU KNOW, THANK YOU
FOR THAT, AND THAT THAT DOES GO
TO THE QUESTION. I THINK ON ALL
THE TRAILER ABILITIES WHY IT'S A
TRAILER ABLE AS OPPOSED TO GOING
THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS,
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A COMMON
QUESTION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. I'M
SITTING ON THREE OF THE
COMMITTEES THAT ARE HEARING
THESE THESE BUDGET TRAILER
BILLS, UH, FROM DIFFERENT
ANGLES, OF COURSE, BUT, UM, TO
THAT POINT ON, YOU KNOW, I THINK
THAT YOU KNOW IF THERE ARE
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST THAT
INTERRUPT THE ABILITY FOR THE
COUNSELOR DO HIS WORK. OBVIOUSLY
THERE COULD BE A CONFLICT HERE
THERE THAT CAN HAPPEN, BUT IF
THERE'S THAT BECOMES UM,
REPEATED ISSUE AND THAT'S THE
PURPOSE OF REDUCING THE QUORUM
REQUIREMENT. THAT'S A MUCH
DIFFERENT ISSUE TO ME THAN A
VACANCY, AND IT SPEAKS TO AN
ISSUE OF THE WHOLE. THE
APPOINTEES ARE AND WHAT THEIR
INTERESTS ARE, UM, AS OPPOSED TO
HAVING REALLY INDEPENDENT FOLKS
ARE BEING APPOINTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR, UM
, THAT THAT CAN GET THE WORK
DONE, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE HAVING
SOME IN INDIVIDUAL WITH A BUNCH
OF CONFLICTS, INTEREST THAT'S
ALSO GETTING IN THE WAY OF
GETTING WORK DONE. THAT
SHOULDN'T REQUIRE US CHANGING
THE QUORUM RULES, BUT RATHER
MAYBE CHANGING THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE BEING APPOINTED. UH AND SO I
WOULD. I WOULD LOOK AT IT VERY
DIFFERENTLY IN TERMS OF SOME
LATITUDE IN TERMS OF LONG TERM
VACANCIES VERSUS CONFLICTS. AND
SO, UM, BUT ALSO THE ULTIMATE
QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT
THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY STRONG
OPINIONS AND, UM DIFFERENT
EXPERTISE FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES
ON THE DELTA, UH, PROJECT IN
GENERAL AS TO WHY THIS IS NOT
GOING TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
VERSUS COMING IN AT THE
RELATIVELY 11TH HOUR THROUGH A
TRAILER BILL WHEN I THINK
THERE'S STILL TIME FOR US TO GET
IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, WHICH ALLOWS FOR MORE
FEEDBACK AND AGAIN RESPECTS THE
CO EQUAL NATURE OF THE
RELATIONSHIP. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. UM AND I'LL JUST ADD.
I MEAN, I DO THINK I MEAN A
VAGUE COMMENT ABOUT PEOPLE
PLAYING GAMES WITH VACANCY IS,
BUT I THINK IT'S A REAL ONE
RIGHT THAT SOMEBODY COULD CHOOSE
TO LEAVE A VACANCY OPEN FOR A
LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO GET THIS
RULE CHANGE IF WE WERE TO MAKE
IT THAT, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE
CONSIDERED AS WELL TO YOUR
POINT. THAT'S WHY THE POLICY
PROCESS IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THINGS LIKE THIS NEED TO BE
THOUGHT THROUGH IN DEPTH TO
ENSURE WE'RE NOT CREATING, UM,
THE WRONG INCENTIVES FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO PLAY GAMES WITH
OUR COMMISSIONS. UM, MISS
NGUYEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART
OF THIS, UM THIS COMMITTEE
HEARING AND TO LEARN AND HEAR
ABOUT WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED,
AND WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU KNOW, I
SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS AS MY
COLLEAGUES HERE, UH, MY DISTRICT
AND WHERE I RESIDE. ACTUALLY YOU
CAN THROW A ROCK AND YOU'RE IN
THE TOWN OF HOOD. UM AND SO I
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMING TO
THE TABLE TO DISCUSS THIS. BUT
WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THIS IS
BEING RUSHED, AND I KNOW THAT
YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS HAS
BEEN. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
CHANGES SINCE 2013 AND WE'RE NOW
IN 2023. AND THEN WE'RE COMING
TOGETHER NOW AT THE 11TH HOUR AS
SAID EARLIER TO PRESENT
SOMETHING AND WITH ANYTHING
BEING RASH COMES UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES, AND THAT IS WHAT I
FEAR. ESPECIALLY NOW IN AN
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY AS WAS MENTIONED
EARLIER OR FUNDING OR FINANCING
THAT'S GOING TO BE PUT INTO
RESEARCH. UM IN AN ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN AS WE ARE FORECASTING,
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. WE
SHOULDN'T BE INVESTING MONEY
INTO PEOPLE INTO LIVES THAT
MATTER MORE THAN ANYTHING. NOW I
APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND
BRIEFING US AND EDUCATING US ON
ALL THIS, BUT RUSHING ANYTHING
RUSHING ANY PROJECTS. BRUSHING A
CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT. COMES
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. AND I
BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE TABLE
AND DISCUSS FURTHER. I SHARE THE
SAME CONCERNS ABOUT GIVING UP
OUR OVERSIGHT AND POWER AND
AUTHORITY AND GIVING IT TO A
BODY. UM IN WHICH YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT THE CORN IS GOING TO LOOK
LIKE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO MEAN
MAKING SOME BIG DECISIONS ON
WHAT'S GOING TO BE AFFECTING
MILLIONS OF LIVES HERE. AND SO I
JUST HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE ALL
OF THESE COMMENTS BACK AND
RETHINK WHAT YOU'VE PROPOSED TO
US TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MISS NGUYEN, MR HART. UM ARE THE
MEMBERS OF THE STEWARDSHIP
COUNCIL APPOINTED TO FIXED TERMS
OR DO THEY SERVE AT THE
AUTHORITIES? PLEASURE? THANK
YOU. WE HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS ON
THE COUNCIL FOR OUR GOVERNOR'S
APPOINTEES, AND THEY SERVE FOUR
YEAR TERMS. THE LEGISLATURE ALSO
HAS TWO POSITIONS, WHICH ARE
FOUR YEAR TERMS. AND THEN THE
SEVENTH POSITION IS THE CHAIR OF
THE DELTA PROTECTION COMMISSION
, ANOTHER STATE AGENCY, AND THAT
IS A LOCAL COUNT DELTA COUNTY
SUPERVISOR AND THEY SERVE FOR A
TWO YEAR TERM. AND THEN THERE
ARE NO ALTERNATES. THERE ARE NO
ALTERNATES WAS THAT AN OPTION TO
CONSIDER? THE COASTAL COMMISSION
HAS ALTERNATES TO ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE. IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'VE
CONSIDERED, ALTHOUGH THE QUORUM
BEING ABLE TO TAKE ACTION IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE WATERBOARD,
THE AIR BOARD AND OTHER LIKE
STATUTES. SOMETHING YOU SHOULD
THINK ABOUT. LOOK AT THE WORK
WE'RE DOING HERE. THANK YOU, MR
HART. UM ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, MR
BENNETT NÓ. OF THE. OF THE
ACCELERATED ACTIONS. THIS IS
THIS. THIS ONE. THAT SEEMS TO BE
THE HAVE THE LEAST CASE BEING
MADE FOR WHY IT HAS TO HAPPEN.
BUT I SAY TO THAT, OKAY? THANK
YOU KNOW, AND I THINK I MEAN,
IT'S YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FOLKS WHO
COME TO US ALL THE TIME AND SAY
THINGS LIKE 60 DAYS ISN'T
ENOUGH. WE DID 90 DAYS TO APPEAL
AND WE MOVED LEGISLATION TO MAKE
THINGS EASIER FOR AGENCIES THAT
DO IMPORTANT WORK SUCH AS THIS,
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S UM YOU
KNOW, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAT A
LOT OF WHAT'S IN HERE ISN'T
NECESSARILY SOMETHING WE SHOULD
BE LOOKING AT AND TALKING ABOUT
IN A POLICY. UM CONVERSATION. I
THINK I AGREE WITH THE, UM WHAT
WE HEARD FROM THE DELTA
STEWARDSHIP. INDIVIDUALS ABOUT
THE QUORUM BEING THE LARGEST
ISSUE HERE. I THINK IT REALLY IS
CREATING A, UM, A SYSTEM WHEREBY
A MINORITY CAN RULE AND I DON'T
THINK THAT'S THE WAY GOVERNMENT
SHOULD WORK AND THIS ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU
KNOW DECISIONS AS IMPACTFUL AS
THE ONES THAT GO THROUGH THE
DELTA. I DON'T ABOUT THE DELTA,
BUT I REPRESENT PART OF CONTRA
COSTA COUNTY AND HAVE
CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE YOU KNOW, I
LOVE THE DELTA. IT'S A WONDERFUL
PART OF OUR BACKYARD AND, UM
IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR
ECOSYSTEM. WE ARE ALREADY SEEING
AS THE SECRETARY MENTIONED THE
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE
DELTA. ANTIOCHUS HAD TO DO A
DESALINATION PLANT TO GET WHAT
USED TO BE FRESHWATER AND
DESALINATED TO DRINK THAT SAME
WATER, AND SO WE'RE SEEING THE
IMPACTS AND THE WORK THAT HAS TO
BE DONE IN THE DELL TÌM. IS REAL
TO SUSTAIN IT FOR THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS THAT
YOU'VE MENTIONED. UM AND ALSO WE
KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF
INTEREST IN THAT WATER. IT IS
SERVICE, YOU KNOW. 20 YOU SAID
27 MILLION CALIFORNIANS. UM IT
IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HOW WE
PROVIDE ACCESS TO WATER
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, AND THE
GOAL OF THE ORIGINAL ACT WAS TO
BALANCE THOSE TWO THINGS AS WE
HEARD, AND I THINK THAT THE JOB
OF THIS BODY AND THE
ADMINISTRATION IS TO ENSURE THAT
WHATEVER WE MOVE FORWARD
CONTINUES THE BALANCE OF THE
COMMUNITIES, THE ENVIRONMENT AND
ACCESS TO WATER FOR ALL
CALIFORNIANS, AND I THINK WE'VE
HEARD SOME CONCERNS TODAY, BUT
THE CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE.
THANK YOU ALL. UM WITH THAT WE
WILL MOVE TO THE SECOND PROPOSAL
, WHICH IS ACCELERATING
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION, AND
WE'RE GOING TO INVITE UP THE
CHIEF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
CALTRANS, MICHAEL CHEEVER, WHO I
BELIEVE IS WITH US. THERE HE IS,
UM AND THEN, UH, BARBARA STAYING
I SAW YOU GET UP. SO THEN I GOT
CONFUSED. PRIMER STORY. THE
DELTA. OH, MR CHEEVER, WHEN
YOU'RE READY THANK YOU. CHAIR.
JUST SOME BRIEF OPENING COMMENTS
. UM SO THE LEGISLATION
ASSOCIATED WITH ACCELERATING
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION WITH
EXPEDITE CALTRANS, UH,
FULFILLMENT OF ITS ENVIRONMENTAL
MITIGATION MEASURES. SO
SECRETARY CROW FOOTE TALKED
ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT AT THE
BEGINNING. UM, IT'S IN ALIGNMENT
WITH A B 12 82. AND IT WOULD
WORK TO STREAMLINE THE
TRANSPORTATION PROJECT
PERMITTING IN PARTICULAR. THE
ADVANCED MITIGATION PROGRAM THAT
WE HAVE. IT'S NOW IN THE
EXECUTION PHASE. AND SO IN
EXECUTING THESE MITIGATION
CREDITS WERE HITTING ROADBLOCKS
IN ORDER TO INVEST IN
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION. SO
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD REDUCE
DELAYS IN TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS. AND ACCELERATE
CALTRANS FUNDING OF HABITAT
RESTORATION. SO A WIN AND A
NGUYEN I'M CURRENTLY WE HAVE 111
PROJECTS TARGETED ADVANCED
MITIGATION PROGRAM. THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD AVOID
UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURES OF
STATE FUNDS AND STAFF TIME FOR
ADDED PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADDITIONAL
TIME IT'S TAKING BECAUSE WE'RE
HITTING THESE ROADBLOCKS. AND IT
COULD REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL
MITIGATION COSTS AGAIN BECAUSE
OF TIME SAVINGS AND BY ALLOWING
THE STATE TO MORE STRATEGICALLY
PURCHASE CREDITS THROUGH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION CREDIT
MARKET. HEAD OF OUR PROJECTS.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD AUTHORIZE
CALTRANS TO PROVIDE ADVANCED
PAYMENTS FOR CREDITS FOR
MITIGATION BANKS AND
CONSERVATION BANKS TO HOLD OUR
PLACE IN LINE UNTIL OUR PROJECTS
ARE READY. AND IT WOULD
RECOGNIZE THAT TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING PROVIDES FINANCIAL
ASSURANCE FOR WILDLIFE CROSSINGS
AND STRUCTURES AND COVERED SUCH
AS MITIGATION. OR THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. AND
ENDOWMENTS THAT OFTEN ARE USED
ARE NOT NEEDED WHEN IT COMES TO
THE TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE. SO. IN SUMMARY,
WE HAVE WILLING PARTNERS WITH
THE MITIGATION CREDIT BANKS THEY
WOULD LIKE TO DO BUSINESS WITH
US OVER HITTING THESE ROADBLOCKS
, AND WE CAN'T DO THE DEAL IF
YOU WILL, AND SO BY CLEARING
THESE PROCUREMENT ROADBLOCKS. WE
HOPE TO REDUCE COSTLY PROJECT
DELAYS SO AGAIN TRYING TO MOVE
OUR PROJECTS FORWARD FASTER, AND
WE TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDS AND
GETTING BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL
OUTCOMES AND INVESTING IN
HABITAT AND WE HOPE THAT UH UM
THROUGH THESE. THIS STREAMLINING
WILL BE ABLE TO FULFILL THE
LEGISLATIVE INTENT OF A B 12 82
AND THE ADVANCED MITIGATION
PROGRAM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
MISS BERGEN PEREA. PRESIDENT
BIDEN, YOU KNOW, HAD PUT FORWARD
AN EXECUTIVE ORDER CENTERING EG
COMMUNITIES AND THEIR NEEDS IN
RESPONSE TO THE INVASION, UH,
INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. AND
AGAIN, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW
BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE
DISADVANTAGED AND BY PARK
COMMUNITY IN THE DELTA, AND THE
FACT THAT WE ARE AT GROUND ZERO
FOR WATER PROJECTS, ENERGY
PROJECTS, ROAD PROJECTS SUPPORT
EXPANSION, ALL OF THE ABOVE. THE
DELTA TUNNEL IS GOING TO REQUIRE
A NEW ROADS, BRIDGES, UH,
WIDENING PROJECTS, UM, DUE TO
THE THOUSANDS OF TRUCKS THAT
WILL BE PART OF CONSTRUCTION
OVER 15 YEARS. YET THE TUNNEL E
I R FAILS TO SUCCESSFULLY
ADDRESS AIR QUALITY IMPACTS,
ESPECIALLY FOR STOCKTON'S A B
617 COMMUNITY. NEAR THE PORTS OF
STOCKTON'S EXPEDITING
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IN
MITIGATION FOR THESE RELATED
ROAD PROJECTS WILL LEAVE THIS
SIZABLE EG COMMUNITY AT A
DISADVANTAGE TO RESPOND TO
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. PLUS
ACCELERATED MITIGATION BANKS. UM
AND DO NOT GET ME WRONG. WE ARE
REALLY IN FAVOR OF ACCELERATED
MITIGATION IN TERMS OF WETLANDS
IN THE WEST SIDE OF THE DELTA TO
DEAL WITH SEA LEVEL RISE. UM AND
WE SUPPORT RESTORATION
ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE DELTA.
BUT A LOT OF THESE BANKS, HOW
ARE THEY GOING TO EVEN BE
IMPLEMENTED WITH DELTA TUNNEL
CONSTRUCTION OVER THE COURSE OF
15 TO 20 YEARS? WHAT SPECIES?
ARE WE REALLY GOING TO LOSE BY
THEM? WE SUPPORT CLEAN
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS TO BE
EXPEDITED. WE FAVOR THAT. BUT
WHAT WILL BE LUMPED UNDER
CLIMATE CHANGE NECESSITY WITH
ROAD CONSTRUCTION, ESPECIALLY
WITH A LIST OF PROJECTS IN THE
DELTA IS QUESTIONABLE. THE OTHER
CONCERN WE HAVE IS THE IDEA OF
ACCELERATED NIPAH ON PROCESSES.
UM WE THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM
THAT'S NOT BEING ADDRESSED HERE
FOR FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES
THAT HAVE HISTORIC TIES AND TO
THE DELTA IN WHICH HAVE DIRECT
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT REGARDING
CONSULTATION. SO AGAIN, WE THINK
THIS IS ANOTHER PROCESS THAT
REALLY NEEDS TO MOVE THROUGH THE
REGULAR REGULAR LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS, NOT BUDGET TRAILERS,
AND WE JUST CAN'T LIVE WITH THE
ADDITIONAL ACCELERATED POLLUTION
IMPACTS IN THE NAME OF CLIMATE
MITIGATION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, SECRETARY CROW FOOT. THAT'S
SOMETHING TO ADD CHAIR. YOU MADE
THE POINT AND THE LAST ITEM THAT
THERE WAS IMPACT ON THE
CONVEYANCE PROJECT. AND WHILE I
HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
AROUND THE GENESIS OF THAT
PROPOSAL, I CAN TELL YOU THIS
PROPOSAL. HE'S NOT RELATED TO
THE CONVEYANCE. PROBABLY, YOU
KNOW, I YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT
TO MS BERRIGAN PEREA, I THINK
THAT ANY NEXUS BETWEEN THIS AND
THE CONVEYANCE PROJECT IS I
DON'T SEE IT. FUNDAMENTALLY I
THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE EXCITED
ABOUT IMPROVING OUR MITIGATION.
ADVANCING OUR MITIGATION. WE ARE
GOING TO SPEND TENS OF BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IMPROVING OUR
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK. AND
RIGHT NOW CALTRANS IS LIMITED
FROM OPTIMIZING MITIGATION.
WE'RE GOING TO SPEND BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ON MITIGATION. THE
QUESTION IS, IS THAT MITIGATION
CAN BE PATCHWORK RIGHT NEXT TO
THE PROJECTS, OR IS IT GOING TO
LOOK TOWARDS ADVANCED,
PRIORITIZE MITIGATION BEING MORE
FLEXIBLE TO PROTECT THE
BIODIVERSITY WE WANT TO PROTECT
. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE? ADVANCED
MITIGATION IS A KEY PART OF 30
BY 30 TO REALLY IDENTIFY WHERE
WE NEED TO ACTUALLY BUILD.
HABITAT RESTORE HABITAT. SO FROM
MY PERSPECTIVE, I REALLY DO
INVITE YOUR YOUR ANALYSIS OF THE
SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS BY
CALTRANS BECAUSE I THINK
FUNDAMENTALLY, THEY ARE FULLY
SUPPORTABLE AND IN THE INTERESTS
OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION AND
THE FISH AND WILDLIFE THAT WE'RE
WORKING TO PROTECT. AND I DO
HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE PROPOSAL. BUT I JUST WANT TO
TOUCH ON ONE THING THAT CAME UP
AND I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK
THIS IS MUCH BROADER THAN THE
DELTA TUNNELS. THERE COULD BE
TRANSPORTATION AROUND THE DENTAL
TONIGHT, SO I DON'T THINK
POTENTIALLY, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY
GOES MUCH FURTHER THAN THAT IN
IN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. UM,
THE ONE THING THAT I THINK WAS
SAID THAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME
WAS AND I AGREE WITH YOU ON
MITIGATION AND THE ABILITY TO DO
ADVANCED MITIGATION IN THE VALUE
OF THAT. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT THE ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE COMMUNITIES THAT
CALTRANS COULD BE WORKING IN
RIGHT AND ALLOWING, UM A BANK TO
THEN MITIGATE ELSEWHERE AND
LEAVE THOSE COMMUNITIES BEHIND
IS A CONCERN WITH THIS TYPE OF
FUNDING RIGHT? AND SO I JUST
WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THAT.
THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR GAIL
MILLER. I THINK THE REALLY
IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND THE
ENTIRE KIND OF OLIVE GOVERNMENT
APPROACH IS THAT CALIFORNIA WILL
EXCEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S
JUSTICE 40. AND WHAT YOU'LL
START TO SEE IN EVERY ONE OF
THESE IS THROUGH A LOT OF WHAT
THE WORK THAT CALTRANS IS DOING,
BUT WRIT LARGE. HOW THE
INVESTMENTS IN DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES WORK IN THE STATE I
THE JUSTICE 40 WAS BASED ON
CALIFORNIA OR ABILITY TO WORK IN
WITH OUR ENVIRO SCREEN AT CALI P
A. WITH THE EQUITY PIECES IN
CALIFORNIA. SO PART OF THE
MITIGATION EFFORTS WILL IN FACT
BE TO WORK WITH ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND?
WHERE WE'RE BUILDING AND HOW IT
IMPACTS IT. AND AS WE GET THE
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EQUITY
BRIDGE ON THE STATEWIDE
DASHBOARDS THAT SECRETARY TANG
IS WORKING ON THROUGH GIVE UP SO
THE STATE WILL REALLY BEGIN TO
SEE NOT ONLY THE ADVANCED
MITIGATION BUT HOW WE'RE
MITIGATING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
THESE PROJECTS AND REALLY
CONTRIBUTING TO THE
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, SO
THAT'S REALLY DELIBERATE. IT'S A
HUGE PART OF INFRASTRUCTURE WRIT
LARGE. AND CERTAINLY A BIG PART
OF THE WORK THAT CALTRANS WILL
BE DOING. SO IS THAT, UM I
APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S WHY WE
LIST. THANK YOU, UM IS THAT
BECAUSE I THINK HISTORICALLY WE
KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
OUR NATION OUR STATE HAS DONE IS
TAKE HIGHWAYS AND PUT THEM IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND DESTROY
THOSE COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? I
MEAN, LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT THAT
HISTORY AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT IN THIS BILL OR IN THIS
PROPOSAL, UM, AND SO I GUESS THE
MITIGATION BEING SORT OF FAR
AWAY IS CONCERNING GIVEN OUR
HISTORY AND WHAT WE KNOW HAS
HAPPENED AND THE FACT THAT WE
SHOULD BE BEHAVING DIFFERENTLY
AND DOING BETTER FOR THOSE
COMMUNITIES. THOSE LONG CAN BE
FUTURES. AND SO I GUESS MY
QUESTION TO FOLLOW UP. WHAT YOU
SAID IS. IS THERE REQUIREMENT
HERE? I GUESS YOU HAVE THIS
PROGRAM. IT SOUNDS GOOD. IT
DOESN'T. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A
REQUIREMENT IN THE MITIGATION
FUNDING SCHEME. MY
UNDERSTANDING. NOT BEING A
LAWYER IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE
A DIRECT LEGAL NEXUS BETWEEN THE
MITIGATION, UH OF A PROJECT AND
THE IMPACT THAT THAT PROJECT
GENERATES. SO THERE IS A LIMIT
IN TERMS OF BOTH ADVANCED
MITIGATION AND THE CONNECTION
AROUND WHAT YOUR MITIGATING YEAH
, AND THAT'S RIGHT. AND I THINK
THAT YOU COULD SEE HOW THAT
WOULD BE A SPECIES CONNECTION
WITHOUT BEING A COMMUNITY
CONNECTION. RIGHT SO I GUESS,
BUT IT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO
LOOK AT IS HIS PROPOSAL
CONTINUES TO BE DISCUSSED
BECAUSE I THINK IT IS SOMETHING
THAT A VALUE THAT WE SHARE IS
ENSURING THOSE COMMUNITIES REAP
THE BENEFIT OF THIS MITIGATION
AND NOT SEEING THAT MITIGATION
GO FAR AWAY. AND SO HOPEFULLY
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
FIGURE OUT A TIGHTER WAY TO DO
SINCE I IMAGINE IT'S SOMETHING
THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD ALSO BE
SUPPORTIVE OF IF I IF I MAY,
ALSO WITH OUR PROJECTS THROUGH
THAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS, THE
SPECIES ARE IMPORTANT. INTO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS, BUT SO IS
THE ARE THE EJ ISSUES AND THE
COMMUNITY ISSUES. AND SO
CERTAINLY WE LOOK AT THOSE AS
PART OF OUR PROJECT AND THE
OVERALL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION.
UH ON EACH OF THESE PROJECTS WE
ALSO HAVE WE'RE IMPLEMENTING AN
EQUITY INDEX TO LOOK AT WHERE
WE'RE MAKING OUR INVESTMENTS AND
SO THAT WILL HELP TO ENSURE THAT
UH, OUR INVESTMENTS HAVE THAT
OUTLOOK ON WHO IS IMPACTED BOTH
BENEFITS AND BURDENS ON OUR
PROJECTS. WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON
THIS ISSUE THAT AND I KNOW THAT
THIS GOVERNOR WOULD DO NOTHING
LESS. BUT WE WILL HAVE A NEW
GOVERNOR AND FOR YEARS AND THIS
IS LAW, SO WE GOT TO MAKE SURE
WE TIGHTEN IT UP AND ENSURE THAT
EVERY FUTURE GOVERNOR HAS TO
MAKE THOSE SAME CONSIDERATIONS.
UM WITH THAT, I DID IT AGAIN.
BUT THIS TIME, I THINK IT WAS
THE SECRETARY'S FAULT. UM I
SKIPPED EVERYONE IN THE ROOM AND
SUPPORTING OPPOSITION. SO LET'S
GO BACK TO THAT. CAN WE DO
SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION AND THEN
GO TO YOU, MR. IS THAT OKAY? I'M
JUST GOING ROGUE TODAY. KIM
DELFINO WITH DEFENDERS OF
WILDLIFE. TO BE HONEST, I DON'T
KNOW WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE WE
SUPPORT THE COMMENTS MADE BY
RESTORING THE DELTA, BUT WE ALSO
SEE SOME MERIT IN THE PROPOSAL
ITSELF. HAVING WORKED ON
ADVANCED MITIGATION, WE'VE
RAISED SPECIFIC CONCERNS IN THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ABOUT
WHAT THE LANGUAGE ACTUALLY
MEANS, PARTICULARLY AS IT
PERTAINS TO THE CHANGE TO THE,
UH, CALIFORNIA DANGEROUS SPECIES
ACT. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF
THOSE WHEN WHERE WE WOULD SAY
MORE PROCESS, MORE OVERSIGHT AND
MORE HEARINGS AND MORE
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S BEING
PROPOSED WOULD BENEFIT US
GREATLY, UM, AND WOULD URGE THAT
THAT BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO YOU
KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A POSITION.
WE HAVE CONCERNS. THANK YOU.
THAT'S A POSITION CONCERNS. ALEX
LOOMER ON BEHALF OF PACIFIC
FOREST TRUST IN THE
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FOUNDATION,
ECHOING THE COMMENTS, FORMING
OPPOSED TO THE PROCESS OF TRYING
TO RUSH THIS DECISION. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. VALENCIA WITH
RESTORE THE DELTA AS WELL. I
THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULDN'T BE RUSHED. SO WE ARE
IN OPPOSED TO IT. THANK YOU.
BRENDA BASS WITH CALIFORNIA CAME
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WE'RE IN
SUPPORT OF THE PACKAGE, AND WE
THINK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR
BRINGING IT FORWARD. GOOD
MORNING, ERIN ORDERED ON BEHALF
OF THE ALMOND ALLIANCE. ALSO IN
STRONG SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING ANALLY AKIN ON BEHALF OF
THE FAMILY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CLARA
VALLEY WATER AGENCY AND SEE AND
GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND WOOLY ON BEHALF
OF SIERRA CLUB, CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT OF THE COMMENTS MADE BY
BARBARA BERGEN PREAH ALSO
REQUESTING THAT THIS MOVE
THROUGH THE REGULAR POLICY BILL
PROCESS AND NOT BE RUSHED
THROUGH THE TRAILER BILLS. THANK
YOU. REALLY ON BEHALF OF STATE
BUILDING TRADES AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. ALEX TORRES, BARRY,
COUNSEL AND SUPPORT. MICHAEL
TURNER WITH THE LOS ANGELES
COUNTY METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, AND WE
SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S
INITIATIVE TO EXPEDITE PROJECTS
, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET READY TO
HOST THE 2026 WORLD CUP AND THE
2028 OLYMPICS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. MANY LEON CALIFORNIA
ALLIANCE FOR JOBS THAT SUPPORTS
THIS EFFORT. THIS ITEM MADAM
CHAIR CHRIS MAKELELE ON BEHALF
OF THE LOS ANGELES AREA CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE, ALSO IN SUPPORT OF
THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING MEMBERS. ROB
SPIEGEL, SENIOR POLICY DIRECTOR
FOR THE CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURER
IN TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION, AND
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL IN THE STREAMLINING
EFFORTS THEREOF. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. DON'T LET ME DON'T
KNOW WHAT THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC
LAND IN CONCERNED WITH THE
PROCESS. THANK YOU. SUSAN
JORDAN, DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL PROTECTION
NETWORK. UH SUPPORT CHANGING THE
ADMINISTRATION'S, UH, PROPOSAL
AND PUTTING THIS THROUGH
COMMITTEE, I THINK, AND I ALSO
WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR
THIS FORMAT AND THE BACK AND
FORTH AND THE TESTIMONY BECAUSE
IT'S REALLY FLESHING OUT HOW
COMPLICATED THIS IS AND HOW IT
REALLY DESERVES TO BE DONE IN
POLICY COMMITTEE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. I GAVE YOU MORE TIME
TO WORK THINKING US. SAMANTHA
SAMUELSON FOR AUDUBON,
CALIFORNIA AND OPPOSITION TO THE
PROCESS. GOOD MORNING, CHIANA
VALENTINE ON BEHALF OF
TRANSPORTATION, CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR'S
PACKAGE. THANK YOU, UM GREAT.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. NEXT TIME
YOU'RE GONNA BE ON TIME, MR
BENNETT. JUST AS WITH THE LAST
COMMENT MADE ABOUT THE DELTA
REFORM ACT IN TERMS OF SENSE OF
URGENCY, UH, HAVE A GREATER
SENSE OF URGENCY ON ACCELERATING
MITIGATION, ETCETERA, UM, IN
TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD, UH,
THINK THAT WE KEEP FIGHTING
OURSELVES STUCK IN A LOOP. THINK
ABOUT TRYING TO REMOVE MATTILA
HOT, AND WE HAD TO DO MITIGATION
ON MITIGATION. AND IT WAS
STARTING TO GO. WE WERE WE WERE
SO THEIR THEIR DEATH DEATH. WE
DO DEFINITELY DO BENEFIT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. I THINK
ABOUT, UH, THE WILDLIFE
CORRIDORS, THE PASSAGE OVER THE
FREEWAYS, ETCETERA. UM, THAT TO
THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN
ACCELERATE THOSE. I THINK IT'S
UH IT'S REALLY HELPFUL, BUT
THERE ARE LOTS OF POLICIES. BUT
THERE ARE LOTS OF POLICY ISSUES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY THEN
I HAVE TWO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
UM, SO ONE IS THAT UM, THE
PROPOSAL ESTABLISHES A
PRESUMPTION THAT FUNDING
IDENTIFIED IN THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM
MANAGEMENT PLAN IS ADEQUATE FOR
THE MAINTENANCE OF THE WILDLIFE
CORRIDORS. THE CALTRANS WILDLIFE
QUARTERS. CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN
THAT TO ME? I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY THEY WOULD EVER BE A
PRESUMPTION THAT FUNDING IS
ADEQUATE WHEN IT ALMOST NEVER
IS. THANK YOU. I THINK IN
PARTICULAR THIS IS REFERRING TO
THINGS LIKE THE WILDLIFE
CROSSINGS. AND SO WHAT? WE'RE UM
THE INTENT OF THIS LEGISLATION
IS TO SAY WE DON'T NEED
ENDOWMENT. TO MAINTAIN A BRIDGE
OVER THE HIGHWAY THAT IS A
WILDLIFE CROSSING. WE HAVE THE
FUNDING TO MAINTAIN OUR 13,000
OTHER BRIDGES. WE CAN MAINTAIN
THESE AS WELL. HOWEVER WE DO
NEED AN ENDOWMENT FOR THE
HABITAT ITSELF. THAT'S NOT OUR
EXPERTISE, AND SO WHAT WE'D LIKE
TO DO IS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE
CAN INVEST OUR PROJECT FUNDS AS
MITIGATION AND AN ENDOWMENT TO
THOSE THAT ARE BETTER SUITED TO
THE HABITAT AND LET US DO WHAT
WE DO BEST, WHICH IS WE WILL
MAINTAIN THE BRIDGE. AS PART OF
OUR NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS
THROUGH THE FUNDS THAT WE
RECEIVED OR TRANSPORTATION. GOT
IT ARE THE UM AND APOLOGIES THAT
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS,
BUT, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, PROP
ONE FUNDS RIGHT THAT HELP
MAINTAIN OUR BRIDGES. ARE THOSE
FUNDS ELIGIBLE FOR WILDLIFE
CROSSINGS IN THE SAME WAY? IN
PARTICULAR THE WITH THE FEDERAL
BILL, SO THERE'S SOMETHING
CALLED STB G FUNDS, BUT
PARTICULAR FUNDS THAT WE HAVE
THAT, FOR INSTANCE, ON THE I 15
WILDLIFE CROSSINGS, WE HAVE
RESERVED THOSE FUNDS TO COMPLETE
THAT DEAL, AND SO WE DO HAVE
FUNDS. WE HAVE A VARIETY OF
FUNDS WITH VARIETY OF STRINGS,
BUT WE DO HAVE FUNDS THAT ARE
ELIGIBLE TO PUT TOWARD THIS, AND
THAT'S ONGOING FUNDING THAT YOU
HAVE INTELLIGIBLE GOT IT, AND I
WOULD SIMPLY ADD THE LEGISLATIVE
INTENT OF THIS IS TO FACILITATE
MORE WILDLIFE CROSSINGS, AND I'M
REALLY THANKFUL TO CALTRANS
DIRECTOR TO VARS FOR LEANING IN
AND SO AGGRESSIVELY TO BUILD
MORE WILDLIFE CROSSINGS, SO THIS
SURGICAL CHANGE ESSENTIALLY
ENSURES THAT WHEN STATE FUNDING
IS APPROVED FOR MITIGATION THAT
INCLUDES AN ENDOWMENT FOR THE
HABITAT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
WILDLIFE CROSSING OVER THE
WILDLIFE CROSSING, BUT IT ALSO
CONFIRMS THAT THE STATE'S
EXISTING WAY TO ESSENTIALLY
ENABLE OR ALLOW FOR AN ENDOWMENT
FOR THE BRIDGE. THE ACTUAL YOU
KNOW, ENGINEERING STRUCTURE IS
COVERED. UM AND ESSENTIALLY, IF
WE CAN GET THIS CLARIFICATION,
AS I UNDERSTAND IT WILL
FACILITATE CALTRANS BEING ABLE
TO CONSTRUCT MORE WILDLIFE
CROSSINGS AS MITIGATION. GOT IT.
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR
THE CLARIFICATION. UM. OH YES,
PLEASE, MR BENNETT, SINCE WE'RE
ON THE TOPIC BEFORE WE GET
READY, I WE RAN INTO THAT
PROBLEM WITH A NUMBER OF REALLY
GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS THAT
WE HAD IN IN VENTURA COUNTY OF
LIKE, MATTILA. ETCETERA. WHERE?
WHERE? WE WERE THERE WAS ANOTHER
LAWSUIT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE
LEGAL CHALLENGE WAS WERE. YOU
HAVEN'T PROVEN THAT YOU HAVE THE
MONEY 20 YEARS FROM NOW TO BE
ABLE TO DO THIS, AND AT SOME
POINT TIME YOU'RE CHASING YOUR
TAIL, UM, TRYING TO PROVE AND
PROVEN PROVE, AND IT WAS. IT WAS
DONE BY PEOPLE TRYING TO HOLD UP
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT, YOU
KNOW, GOING FORWARD AND STUFF,
SO I REALLY SEE THE MERITS OF
THIS IS PARTICULARLY FOR THE
WILDLIFE CROSSINGS GOING OVER
ITS. I THINK IT JUST MAKES
COMMON SENSE. YOU DRIVE THE 101
FREEWAY RIGHT NOW OUTSIDE OF LOS
ANGELES. THERE IS A HUGE BRIDGE
GOING IN. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
THINKS WELL, THAT BRIDGE IS NOT
GOING TO BE MAINTAINED. BUT ALL
THE OTHER BRIDGES THAT YOU DRIVE
UNDER, SO I THINK A REAL COMMON
SENSE PROPOSAL FROM ESTIMATE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM AND
THEN MY OTHER QUESTION WAS, UM
YOU KNOW, I SHARE THE THOUGHTS
OF SOME OF OUR ENVIRONMENTALISTS
THAT ADVANCED MITIGATION CAN BE
A REALLY POSITIVE THING, RIGHT?
I MEAN, I THINK IT IS. WE SEE
PATCHWORK, NOT NECESSARILY BEING
AS EFFECTIVE FOR THE THINGS
WE'RE TRYING TO MITIGATE FOR IN
CALIFORNIA IS THE ABILITY TO
SPEND, YOU KNOW, CONCENTRATED
FUNDS ON MITIGATION. BUT WE ALSO
KNOW THAT SOME OF THE THEIR
BACKLOGS IN MITIGATION BANK
MONEY THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE
GOING OUT NOW AND SO THE IDEA
THAT WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE DOWN
ON MITIGATION FUNDING THROUGH
MITIGATION BANKS WHEN WE'RE NOT
ABLE TO GET THOSE DOLLARS OUT
THE DOOR TO DO MITIGATION TODAY
IS A BIT CONCERNING, SO I WANTED
TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS THAT. THANK YOU CHAIR
AND IT SOON WILL BE JOINED BY
CHUCK BONHAM, WHO IS THE
DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF
CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT OF FISH
AND WILDLIFE, AND IT'S THAT
DEPARTMENT THAT ACTUALLY
FACILITATES AND OVERSEES THE
MITIGATION BANKS. SO IF POSSIBLE
, I THINK IT'S HE MIGHT MOST
EFFECTIVELY ANSWERED THAT
QUESTION, OKAY? WE'LL TURN TO
YOU, DIRECTOR BONHAM TO EXPLAIN
HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS
MONEY OUT THE DOOR TO ACTUALLY
DO THE MITIGATION WORK WE WANT
TO DO. UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
ON THIS PROPOSAL, SEEING NONE
THAN IS MR BONHAM COMING UP ON
THE NEXT ONE? NO HE'S COMING UP
ON FOUR. SO WE'LL COME BACK TO
YOU, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
PROPOSAL THREE, WHICH IS THE
PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD
AUTHORITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES. UM TED CRADDOCK
FROM DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES GOING TO COME UP AND
JOIN. THE SECRETARY. DO I HAVE
KEPT IN THE HOT SEAT AND I
APOLOGIZE. UM AND, UM, WE HAVE
NO PRINCIPAL OPPOSITION ON THIS
ONE. WHEN YOU'RE READY. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR AND
MEMBERS REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU
ALL TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS PART
OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL. SO
I'LL USE THE WRS AN EXAMPLE. UM,
AT ANY GIVEN TIME WE HAVE 300
PROJECTS UNDERWAY TO ENSURE THE
RELIABILITY OF THE STATE'S FLOOD
CONTROL SYSTEM, THE STATE'S
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND ALSO THE
IMPORTANT RESTORATION WORK WE'RE
DOING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS
PART OF THOSE PROGRAMS.
ADDITIONALLY UM CALTRANS, WHO
WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS PROPOSAL
HAS NUMEROUS PROJECTS AS WELL.
BUT I'LL BE SPEAKING, OF COURSE
, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
UM THAT THE ABILITY FOR US TO
GET THESE PROJECTS COMPLETED AND
OUT THE DOOR IS VERY CRITICAL
BECAUSE OUR WATER SYSTEM AND THE
FLOODING CROSS SYSTEM IS AGING.
UM SO WE HAVE NEEDED WORK TO GET
DONE AND THEN, ADDITIONALLY WE
HAVE THE ADDED CLIMATE STRESSORS
THAT THE SECRETARY YOU KNOW,
TALKED ABOUT EARLIER AND IT'S
OPENING REMARKS. PROGRESSIVE
DESIGN BUILD. HAS ANOTHER TOOL
THAT WE CAN HAVE IN OUR TOOLBOX
TO GET PROJECTS OUT THE DOORS,
PROJECTS COME AND ALSO SORTS OF
SHAPES AND SIZES, DIFFERENT
LESBOS OF COMPLEXITY. AND SO
IT'S IMPORTANT. WE HAVE
DIFFERENT TOOLS TO REALLY
PROCURE AND DELIVER PROJECTS
THAT BEST FIT THE TYPES OF
PROJECTS WE HAVE. AND SO
PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD IS JUST
ANOTHER TOOL THAT WILL REALLY
HELP US COMPLETE THE WORK WE
NEED TO DO FOR WATER SUPPLY,
RELIABILITY AND FOR THE SAFETY
OF FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM. HERE'S
JUST AN EXAMPLE FOR THE STATE
WATER PROJECT. UM WE HAVE A
PROGRAM RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE
MODERNIZING THE RESERVOIRS AND
DAMS THAT ARE PART OF THE STATE
WATER PROJECT SYSTEM. UM THESE
ARE COMPLEX PROJECTS BECAUSE WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE
FACILITIES. SOMETIMES THE WORK
IS UNDERWATER, AND THERE'S
UNKNOWN SITE CONDITIONS. SO WITH
PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD, WE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UM, PARTNER
WITH THE DESIGN, BUILD ENTITY
AND COLLABORATE, UM, THE
PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND THEN
AFTER THAT OCCURS, AWARDED THE
CONTRACT FOR DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION, SO IT ALLOWS US
THE ABILITY TO REALLY
COLLABORATE AND PICK THE BEST
PROJECT ON THESE COMPLEX
PROJECTS SO WE CAN DO THINGS AND
YOU KNOW MORE TIMELY. COST
EFFECTIVE AND PICK THE BEST
PROJECT FOR THESE, YOU KNOW,
UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES. UM AND SO
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S AN
OVERALL SUMMARY OF UM YOU KNOW
WHAT? WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
ACCOMPLISH. I THINK THE BOTTOM
LINE IS THAT PROGRESSIVE DESIGN
BUILD WILL ALLOW US TO GET THIS
WORK OUT THE DOOR MORE QUICKLY.
TYPICALLY IT'LL SAVE YOU KNOW,
ON THE ORDER OF A YEAR ON MOST
PROJECTS. UM IT GIVES US A
BETTER PROJECT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE
WITH THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR
AND THEN MORE CERTAINTY ON THE
FINAL PRODUCT THAT, UH, IT'S
ULTIMATELY DELIVERED IN AND SO
WITH THAT I'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR
ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, AND WE
HAVE NO PRINCIPLE, WITNESSES AND
OPPOSITION SO WE WILL INVITE ALL
THE SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION UP TO
SHARE. THE SHIN NAME AND
ORGANIZATION AT THIS TIME.
BRENDA VAST CALIFORNIA CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ADAM KENYANS
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER
AGENCIES AND SUPPORT. VERY
NELSON GOLDEN STATE SALMON
ASSOCIATION IN OPPOSITION, BOTH
TO THE SUBSTANCE AND THE
PROCESS. YOU FINALLY AWAKEN
FAMILY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA AND SANTA CLARA
VALLEY WATER AGENCY AND TÌM
GABRIEL VALUE, MUNICIPAL WATER
DISTRICT AND SUPPORT GOOD
MORNING AGAIN HERE IN NORWAY ON
BEHALF OF THE ALMOND ALLIANCE
AND TRUNK SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING MEMBERS. ROB
SPIEGEL, CALIFORNIA
MANUFACTURERS AND TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT. CHIANA
VALENTINE ON BEHALF OF
TRANSPORTATION, CALIFORNIA IN
SUPPORT. ALEX TORRES, BARRY,
COUNSEL AND SUPPORT. ERIN
WILLEY, SIERRA CLUB, CALIFORNIA
AND OPPOSITION TO THIS MOVING AS
A TRAILER BILL AND ALSO WOULD
URGE LEGISLATURE TO ADHERE TO
THE SB 626 REQUIREMENTS
REGARDING DESIGN BUILD. BEVERLY
YOU ON BEHALF OF STATE BUILDING
TRADES. WE ARE REQUESTING
AMENDMENTS ON THE PROGRESSIVE
DESIGN BUILD SPECIFICALLY WOULD
LIKE TO POINT TO THE WORTH THE
LEGISLATURE HAS DONE IN 2016 18
25 51 2022 SB 991 AND WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE STRONG
LABOR PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING.
ALEX LOOM. ARAMBULA PACIFIC
FOREST TRUST THE MEMBER LAW
FOUNDATION IN OPPOSED TO THE
PROCESS. THANK YOU. VALENCIA
WITH RESTORE THE DELTA AND
OPPOSITION TO THE PROCESS. MANY
LEON CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR
JOBS AND SUPPORT. OCEAN RESERVE
WITH LOCAL AGENCIES OF THE NORTH
DELTA IN OPPOSITION, AND AT THE
VERY LEAST, THE SB 626 PROVISION
SHOULD EXCLUDE THE TUNNEL FROM
THIS. THANKS. ASHLEY OVER HOUSE
, THE DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE AND
OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATION, THE
BAY INSTITUTE, AND I ECHO OUR
OPPOSITION TO THE PROCESS AND
URGE YOU TO ADD TO THE A B 626
REQUIREMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, UM CAN I TAKE ONE? WHICH I
THINK MR COLLAR WILL APPRECIATE.
BEVERLY DO YOU MIND COMING UP?
NOT GONNA PUT YOU ON THE HOT
SPOT, BUT, UM, I'D BE CURIOUS TO
HEAR UM, THE LABOR PROTECTIONS
IF YOU COULD, MADAM CHAIR IF I
MAY OBVIOUSLY BEEN WORKING A LOT
WITH ALL OF OUR LABOR PARTNERS
WOULD INVITE ALL OF THEM TO COME
UP. THESE ARE ALL PUBLIC WORKS
PROJECTS THAT ARE PROTECTED BY
PREVAILING WAGE AND LABOR
STANDARDS. WE HAVE, UM LOTS OF
CONVERSATIONS. UM, SURPRISED.
WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THE BUILDING
TRADE FROM THE BUILDING TRADES
AND COMMITTEE SINCE WE'VE HAD SO
MANY CONVERSATIONS, BUT THE SAME
LABOR PROTECTIONS THAT EXIST IN
EVERY SINGLE PUBLIC WORKS
PROJECT IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. WHEREVER EXIST IN
THESE PROPOSALS, SO. THANKS SO
MUCH. UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T GET
AS MUCH ENGAGEMENT ON THIS ISSUE
. UM BUT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU KNOW,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE IN
PREVIOUS BILLS IN 2016, A B 2551
, AUTHORED BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
GALLAGHER AT FIRST PROVIDED
LOCAL AGENCIES THE ABILITY TO
USE PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD FOR
SPECIFIC WATER PROJECTS. UM THIS
BILL PROHIBITED A CONTRACTING
ENTITY FROM BEING PREQUALIFIED
UNLESS IT PROVIDED AN
ENFORCEABLE COMMITMENT TO THE
LOCAL AGENCY THAT THE ENTITY AND
SUBCONTRACTORS WILL USE A
SKILLED AND TRAINED WORKFORCE.
UM IN 2022. SB 991, AUTHORED BY
CENTER NEWMAN BUILT OFF THIS
PROGRESS EXPANDED THE USE OF
PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD AND THE
RELATED REALLY STRONG LABOR
STANDARDS AND THE
PREQUALIFICATION PROCESS. UM TWO
MORE WATER PROJECTS AS WELL. SO
YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO
MAKE SURE THIS LANGUAGE IS
REFLECTED IN THE PROGRESSIVE
DESIGN BUILD PROPOSAL. UM AND
MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, UH IS
PROPOSALS. UH INCLUDE THESE
PROVISIONS THAT ARE ALREADY IN
STATUTE AND THE ONLY OTHER THING
I'D ADD MADAM CHAIR IS THAT THE
LOCAL HIGHER REQUIREMENT OF
FEDERAL LAW DOESN'T ALWAYS WE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE ENOUGH FOLKS TO DO ALL
THESE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT WE
CAN HEAR FROM CALTRANS AND
COLSTON THIS AS WELL. SO CLEARLY
A LITTLE BIT OF MISUNDERSTANDING
OF FEDERAL AS WELL HERE. UM YES
. WHAT? THAT'S WHAT THE POLICY
PROCESS WOULD ALLOW US TO.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED MISS. COME
BACK UP BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE HERE. UM I
NOTICED A VALUE OF MANY OF US IN
THIS LEGISLATURE THAT OUR PUBLIC
DOLLARS GO TO HELP SUPPORT THE
GOOD LIVING WAGES OF UM, THE
CALIFORNIA WORKERS THAT ARE
SUPPORTED THROUGH THE BUILDING
TRADES. SO WITH THAT, MR CHOLERA
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND AS I
MENTIONED IN THE TRANSLATION
COMMITTEE, I'M ACTUALLY IT
GENERALLY A BIG FAN OF DESIGN
BUILD. I'VE SEEN UM, A LOT OF
ISSUES WITH DESIGN BID BUILD,
ESPECIALLY ON LARGER PROJECTS
WITH DESIGN DEFECTS THAT END UP
COSTING WAY MORE AND ACTUALLY
TAKE A LOT LONGER, BECAUSE YOU
KNOW IT'S A IT'S A LONGER STEP
BY STEP PROCESS. UM BUT WE'VE
SEEN WITH THE SOUNDS AIRPORT OR
EVEN RIGHT NOW, WITH THE BART
OVER $9 BILLION PROJECT TO
EXTEND IT, UH, IN THE SAN JOSE
IS USING DESIGN, BUILD A
PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD PROCESS
. AND SO I'M NOT. I'M CERTAINLY
IN GENERAL, PRINCIPALLY IN FAVOR
OF DESIGN BUILD PROJECTS,
HOWEVER. UM. AS AS WAS JUST
MENTIONED THE CONVERSATION RIGHT
NOW, AS WELL AS WHAT I MENTIONED
YESTERDAY IN TERMS OF LABOR
PROTECTIONS, BECAUSE DESIGN
BUILD DOES MOVE AT A CERTAIN
PACE AS WELL AS OFTENTIMES
REQUIRES A LOT MORE
SUBCONTRACTING EARLIER ON IN THE
PROCESS BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF
THESE PROJECTS, AND SO TO THE
POINT OF MYSTERY REGARDING
PREQUALIFICATION AND ENSURING
THAT NOT JUST STRONG LABOR
PROTECTIONS BUT ALSO, UM IN
TERMS OF ENSURING THAT THE THOSE
CONTRACTORS AND AS YOU GET
DEEPER INTO THE SUBCONTRACTORS,
UM DON'T HAVE WAGE CLAIMS
AGAINST THEM DON'T HAVE FOR WORK
STANDARDS IN THEIR HISTORY. AS
WE HAVE SEEN THAT THAT'S ONE OF
THE ONE OF THE AREAS THAT CAN
SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS WITH
DESIGN BUILD IS THAT YOU GET YOU
KNOW, AS YOU GO DEEPER INTO IT,
YOU GET SOME NEFARIOUS
CONTRACTORS. THEY GET THEIR
HANDS ON SOME OF THESE BEDS AND
THAT CAN ALSO SLOW DOWN THE
PROCESS COST TAXPAYER MONEY AND
ULTIMATELY HAVE A POOR WORKING
CONDITIONS FOR THE WORKERS,
WHICH NONE OF US WANT. AND SO
I'LL JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE TO
ADD ON. TO UM, THE CONVERSATION
REGARDING STRONG LABOR
PROTECTIONS. UM AND THEN AGAIN,
YOU KNOW, THESE CONVERSATIONS
ARE VERY HELPFUL GOING THROUGH
THE PROCESS AND THE QUESTION UH
, GOES BACK AGAIN TO WHY IT
NEEDS TO BE IN A TRIP. BUT
TRAILER BRO VERSUS A LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS WHERE I THINK THE
LEGISLATURE HAS SHOWN TIME AND
AGAIN TO BE FAVORABLE OF DESIGN
BUILD. ONE HAS BEEN BROUGHT
BEFORE US. I DON'T THINK THIS
WOULD BE AN EXCEPTION
NECESSARILY. BUT THE FACT THAT
IT'S MUCH BROADER, UM, I THINK
WOULD ALLOW FOR THIS
CONVERSATION AND THIS KIND OF
DELIBERATION TO OCCUR. UM YOU
KNOW FROM ALL OUR COLLEAGUES IN
A WAY THAT ALLOWS SOME OF THESE
QUESTIONS TO BE WORKED ON AND
CONCERNS WE WORKED ON DURING THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS SO EVERYONE
CAN FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, MR KOROMA,
SHIVA. COULD YOU? UM JUST TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE
PREQUALIFICATION PROCESS AND WHY
IT'S BARRED IN THIS SITUATION.
IS THERE A REASON IT NEEDS TO BE
? DOES IT HAVE ANYTHING? I MEAN
, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULDN'T BE
A BARRIER TO FEDERAL FUNDING,
BUT THE PRE QUALIFICATION FOR
DESIGN BUILD, SO I THINK, UM, I
WONDER IF MR KEEPERS OR MR
TOLLEFSON WANT TO COME UP AND
SPEAK TO THE PRE QUALIFICATION
PROCESS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I
THINK IT ACTUALLY ANSWERS SOME
OF MR CALL WAYS. COLORIST
QUESTIONS AS WELL AS THEY RELATE
TO ALL OF THE STANDARDS THAT
HAVE TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE. BUT
IS YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY TO
THE SPEED AT WHICH DESIGN BUILD
ALLOWS US AND WHY THAT'S
CONNECTED TO FEDERAL FUNDING AND
THE URGENCY FOR CONSTRUCTION IN
GENERAL, OR HOW LIKE DOES IT
MEAN THAT YOU CAN'T DO
PREQUALIFICATION LIKE IS THERE
SOME REASON THAT YOU CANNOT OR
IT COULD BE WORKED INTO THE
SYSTEM UNDER EXISTING WHILE YOU
MEAN UNDER WHAT YOUR PROPOSAL.
SO WITH THIS PROPOSAL, THERE
WOULD BE A PREQUALIFICATION. SO
YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT, UM THE
TYPES OF PROJECTS WOULD BE. I AM
BE PART OF WHERE YOU WOULD SEE.
WHERE DO I WANT TO PROGRESSIVE
DESIGN BUILD AND THEN TO
ASSEMBLY MEMBER COLORADO'S POINT
WE DO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THEIR
SAFETY RECORD THEIR THEIR THEIR
LABOR COMPLIANCE RECORD. WE'RE
LOOKING FOR WHO WHO DO WE WANT
TO PARTNER WITH ON THIS TYPE OF
A PROJECT, AND SO IT'S DIFFERENT
THAN A DESIGN BID BUILD.
COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS. AND
SO IS THERE. SO THEN. DOES IT
SOUND LIKE YOU'RE OPEN TO THE
LANGUAGE THAT THE BUILDING
TRADES ARE PROPOSING THEN
BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE
DOING THAT OR CAN'T DO THAT. I
THINK THE ISSUE WITH WITH ALL
PUBLIC WORKS IS HOW THE SPEED AT
WHICH WE CAN BUILD WITH THE
WORKERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, SO
IT'S IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT. AND
I THINK IF THE LABORERS ARE
HERE, THEY CAN SPEAK TO SOME OF
THE WAYS IN WHICH WE NEED TO
BUILD WITH THE LACK RETTY AND
WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE SOME OF
THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT
HAVE NEVER BEEN PART OF THE
PUBLIC WORKS PROCESS. AND SO IN
ORDER TO BUILD WITH THE KIND OF
ALACRITY WE'RE LOOKING LIKE IN
THE NEXT 2 TO 3 YEARS, I DO
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE
PUBLIC WORKS PROCESS SO WE NEED
TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THESE
PUBLIC WORKS AND THE PRIVATE
PIECES OF THIS THESE BILLS. AND
SO IN THE PUBLIC WORKS, WE HAVE
MAINTAINED WHAT IS WORKED REALLY
? FOR DECADES IN CALIFORNIA,
WHICH OUR MODERATOR, YOU NEED TO
MUTE. THANK YOU. SORRY I WAS
LIKE AM I HEARING THINGS ALREADY
? BUT SO IN ORDER TO CONTINUE
THOSE PUBLIC WORKS, WE THINK
THAT WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF
SUCCESS. OBVIOUSLY THE ABILITY
FOR CALTRANS AND OTHERS TOO. TO
BUILD THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER AND
OVER IN DWR THAT THE WAY LABOR
STANDARDS ARE WRITTEN WITHIN OUR
PUBLIC WORKS PROCESS HAS ALLOWED
US TO SUCCESSFULLY BUILD WILD,
MAINTAINING LIVING WAGES AND THE
PREVAILING WAGE REQUIREMENT AND
OTHER LABOR REQUIREMENTS AS A
MATTER YEAH, I'LL JUST SAID THE
PROPOSAL DOES INCLUDE SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE REQUIRING COMPETENCY
EXPERIENCE VARIOUS STANDARDS
THAT BOTH THE DEPARTMENT AND
CALTRANS WOULD GO THROUGH AS
PART OF OUR QUALIFICATION REVIEW
OF THE QUALIFICATION PACKAGE. I
MISS YOU AND I'LL JUST JUST FOR
ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION. THE
CALTRANS PIECE WAS HEARD IN
TRANSPORTATION, SO WE'RE
FOCUSING ON THE WATER PIECE JUST
FOR PURPOSES OF JURISDICTION.
MIKE ISSUE HERE. THE LANGUAGE
WAS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR
WOOD MIRROR. WHAT'S IN PUBLIC
CONTRACT CODE SPECIFICALLY WHEN
IT COMES TO COMPLYING WITH THE
PRE QUALIFICATION OR THEIR SHORT
LISTING PRODUCT PROCESS IN
SECTION 10 208 OF THE CHAPTER?
SO IF THERE'S A PRE
QUALIFICATION PROCESS, AND I
HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, YOUR
CONCERN IS IF WE CAN'T GET TO
ALL THE WORKERS THAT WE NEED
THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE NEED
FLEXIBILITY TO GO BEYOND THAT.
IS THERE RESTRICTION IN THIS?
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT CODE
. UM THAT MEANS THAT YOU CAN'T
GO. YOU CAN'T GO BEYOND TO GET
MORE WORKERS IF YOU NEED THEM OR
IF YOU'VE EXHAUSTED KIND OF THE
PRE QUALIFICATION PROCESS. UM
AND GOTTEN AS MANY AS YOU AS
MANY AS MANY WORKERS AS YOU CAN
GET. CAN YOU GO BEYOND THAT?
YEAH ALL I HAD ON DWR
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. NO, WE
LOOK TO THE CONTRACTOR OR
WHETHER IT'S A DESIGN, BUILD
ENTITY OR PURE CONSTRUCTION
CONTRACTOR TO MEET VARIOUS STATE
AND FEDERAL LAWS WITH PREVAILING
PREVAILING WAGE REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO THERE'S CERTAIN
REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU KNOW THEY
HAVE TO MEET A MINIMUM STANDARD
IN TERMS OF THE USE OF THE LABOR
WORKFORCE ON CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS. SO IT'S REALLY THE
CONTRACTOR HAS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY CAN SECURE THE LABOR THAT'S
NEEDED FOR THOSE CONTRACTOR AND
THE ENTITIES SO EITHER IN THIS
TRANSFER DWR BECAUSE FIRST YOU
HAVE TO MEET ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS. OKAY? AND THEN
OBVIOUSLY, THE DESIGN BILL
PROCESSES IS LIMITED TO A
CERTAIN NUMBER OF PROJECTS AS
WELL TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE
SAFEGUARDS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING
HERE OR TAKING CARE OF SO IT'S
NOT ACROSS THE BOARD. OKAY I
MEAN, I WOULD. I WOULD JUST I
WOULD ECHO THE CONCERNS AND WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PREQUALIFICATION
. WE ALL WANT TO ENSURE THAT
WE'RE, UM YOU KNOW, REWARDING
THOSE CONTRACTORS AND THOSE
WORKERS, UM, THAT HAVE GOOD JOBS
AND CONTRACTORS WHO ENSURE THAT
THAT HAPPENS AND NOT WORKING
WITH. UM YOU KNOW, THE
CONTRACTORS WHO ARE RIPPING
WORKERS OFF, BASICALLY RIGHT,
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE IN THE
BUSINESS OF DOING. UM AND SO IF
THERE CAN. HOPEFULLY THERE CAN
BE CONTINUED CONVERSATION HERE
AND COMING TOGETHER, UM, BETWEEN
THE TRADES BECAUSE I THINK THAT
PROBABLY EVERYONE WANTS TO BE ON
THE SAME PAGE AROUND THIS. THANK
YOU. AND I WILL ADD TO YOUR
POINT. THERE IS A LIMIT TO THE
NUMBER OF PROJECTS A IN THE
PROPOSAL, HOWEVER, NO, THERE'S A
MINIMUM THAT THEY HAVE TO BE.
THERE WAS NO MAXIMUM SO WE COULD
BE TALKING ABOUT A $16 BILLION
CONVEYANCE PROJECT. SO OBVIOUSLY
A PROJECT WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT
THE WORKFORCE. MR HART. TO THAT
POINT, THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT
PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
AUTHORIZED THROUGH THIS PROCESS
THAT IS DEPARTMENT KNOW WHAT
EIGHT PROJECTS WE'RE LOOKING AT.
OR DO YOU HAVE A SHORT LIST THAT
COULD YOU CAN SHARE WITH THE
COMMITTEE SO WE'D HAVE A
UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCOPE AND
BREADTH OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO
DO, SO WE DO HAVE A LIST OF THE
TYPES OF PROJECTS WE'RE LOOKING
AT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE
DOING IS ESTABLISHING, UH, A
SELECTION PROCESS. WE CURRENTLY
HAVE THAT IN PLACE FOR OUR
EXISTING DESIGN BUILD AUTHORITY
. UM AND ALSO OUR CONSTRUCTION
MANAGER, GENERAL CONTRACTOR
AUTHORITY AS WELL SO THAT WE'RE
PICKING THE RIGHT PROCESS FOR
THE RIGHT PROJECTS AND THE SORT
OF THINGS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT
THOSE WE HAVE A MODERNIZATION
PROJECT AT PYRAMID LAKE THAT HAS
SOME VERY TECHNICALLY COMPLEX
WORK ON THE OUTLET SYSTEM FOR
PYRAMID LAKE. WE ALSO HAVE
SPILLWAY RETROFITS ACROSS THE
STATE WATER PROJECT SYSTEM. UM
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE REPAIRS TO
THE CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT IN THE
AREAS THAT HAVE SUBSIDENCE. THAT
WOULD BE A GOOD CANDIDATES. AND
THEN, UM, WE DO HAVE RESTORATION
PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING AS
PART OF BOTH WITH STATE WATER
PROJECT AND STATE FLOOD CONTROL
SYSTEM. MIDDLE OF THE TYPE OF
PROJECTS THAT WILL REALLY
BENEFIT BY HAVING UM, YOU KNOW,
CONSTRUCTION PARTNER. EMBEDDED
WITH US TO HELP DESIGN THE
PROJECT. SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW,
GET THE BEST SORT OF RESTORATION
PROJECT COMPLETED AS WELL. SO
THOSE ARE THE SORT OF THINGS
THAT ARE ON OUR SHORT LIST.
RIGHT NOW. I APPRECIATE THAT
LIST WOULD BE BETTER TO REFINE
IT MORE SPECIFICALLY, I MEAN,
YOU'RE MAKING THE CASE THAT
THERE IS AN URGENCY HERE THAT WE
NEED TO GET THIS FEDERAL MONEY.
YOU MUST HAVE A REALLY SHORT
TIGHT LIST TO BE WITHIN THAT
TIME FRAME, AND I THINK IT WOULD
REDUCE THE STRESS AND TENSION OF
THE CONVERSATION IF IT WAS LESS
ABSTRACT AND MORE PRECISE. SAME
THING WITH THE TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS. AND OBVIOUSLY THE
DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT IS
GOING TO BE THE ELEPHANT IN THE
ROOM. BUT WHAT ARE THE OTHER
SEVEN PROJECTS? RIGHT WELL,
DON'T PRESUME THAT THE DELTA
CONVEYED BECAUSE MY QUESTION WAS
GOING TO BE YOU KNOW, PRIOR
LEGISLATION HAS EXEMPTED OUT
DELTA ADVANCE FROM THIS PROCESS.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I FIND IT A
LITTLE BIT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT
WE HAVE RESTORATION PROJECTS ON
THE LIST. THE RESTORATION
PROJECT TYPICALLY 25 MILLION.
THAT SEEMS HIGH FOR RESTORATION
PROJECT AND THIS WOULDN'T APPLY
UNLESS IT HIT THAT 25 MILLION
THRESHOLDS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. SO YOU
WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
MAYBE YOU DIDN'T HEAR MY
QUESTION. SO YOU HAD MENTIONED
RESTORATION PROJECTS DO THOSE
USUALLY HIT THAT 25 MILLION
THRESHOLD IN THE PROPOSAL? IT
SEEMS HIGH HAVE A FEW VERY LARGE
PROJECTS THAT DO HIT THAT
THRESHOLD. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE
LOOKOUT SLEW, WHICH IS CURRENTLY
UNDERWAY AND THE YOLO BYPASS
FISH PASSAGE PROJECT THAT'S
UNDERWAY AS WELL, OKAY. UM SO
THEN I GUESS JUMPING ONTO WHAT
MR HEARD ASKED. YOU KNOW, PRIOR
LEGISLATION HAS EXEMPTED OUT THE
CONVEYANCE PROJECT. UM THIS DOES
NOT SO IT COULD BE ONE OF THE
EIGHT. THERE'S NOTHING TO STOP
IT FROM BEING IN HERE. IS THAT
SOMETHING? THE ADMINISTRATION IS
OPEN TO YOU SINCE I THINK IT'S
MORE THAN AN ELEPHANT IN THE
ROOM. I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE
CONCERNS AND MY CONCERNS. I
CARRIED ONE OF THE BILLS THAT
ALLOWED FOR DESIGN BELT SO I AM
A FAN. I THINK IT IS A GOOD USE
OF STATE DOLLARS. WE SEE THE
SAVINGS, THEIR IMPRESSIVE
CALTRANS. I THINK IT'S BEEN AN
EXAMPLE OF SHOWING THOSE SAVINGS
OVER TIME. UH BUT I ALSO AM
CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT
WHEN YOU DO DESIGN BUILD WE
DON'T HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF THE
OVERALL COST UNTIL FURTHER DOWN
THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT
WORKS AND WITH A $16 BILLION
YES. SH PROJECT. 25 THING. TENS
OF BILLIONS IS ANOTHER RIGHT SO
. I GUESS I WOULD ASK WHAT YOUR
THOUGHTS ON OUR OF CONVEYANCE
BEING ONE OF THESE PROJECTS.
YEAH I THINK, UM, JUST IN
GENERAL DELTA CONVENIENCE COULD
BE ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT
COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS PROPOSAL
. ONE YOU KNOW, DISTINCTION IS
THAT PROJECT WILL BE DESIGNED
AND CONSTRUCTED BY THE DELTA
CONVINCE AUTHORITY. WHICH IS,
YOU KNOW, SEPARATE FROM DWR SO
THAT THAT'S SOMETHING TO POINT
OUT THE COMMITTEE, ALTHOUGH THEY
ARE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF THEIR
CONNECTION TO WR AS I UNDERSTAND
IT. IS THAT RIGHT UNDER THIS
PROPOSAL I THINK THIS PROPOSAL
IS FOCUSED ON DWR AND CALTRANS,
BUT I'LL NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON
THAT CHAIR. RIGHT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S, I WOULD SAY,
WELL, YOU'RE YOU'VE ASKED A
POINTED QUESTION, WHICH IS DOES
WOULD CONVEYANCE WITH THE
CONVEYANCE PROJECT BE ELIGIBLE.
WE CAN GET BACK TO THAT
SPECIFICALLY AND THEN TAKING
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S HEART HEARTS.
UM SUGGESTION AROUND REFINING
THE LIST TO BE MORE SPECIFIC
ABOUT THE PROJECTS, OKAY. AND SO
I MEAN, IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING.
JUST SO THAT WE CAN SAY THAT THE
JOINT EXERCISE AUTHORITY BETWEEN
DWR AND THE DELTA UM, ALLOWS FOR
THIS TO APPLY TO DELTA
CONVEYANCE. SO IF THAT'S NOT THE
CASE, WE WOULD LIKE THAT TO BE
CLARIFIED BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE
THAT TO BE THE CASE IN THE
PROPOSAL. UM AND I THINK THAT
CONCLUDES MY QUESTIONS. ANYBODY
ELSE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MISS. YOU ALREADY PUT YOU ON THE
HOT SEAT. UM AND WE WILL NOW
TURN TO THE LAST PROPOSAL
DISCUSSED HERE, ALTHOUGH
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A SUBSET OF
THE TOTAL PROPOSALS, WHICH IS
THE FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES
RECLASSIFICATION DIRECTOR BONHAM
IS GOING TO BE JOINING US AND
MIKE LINES FROM AUDUBON,
CALIFORNIA AND MRS DELFINO FROM
EARTH ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF
DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE. THERE HE
IS. THANK YOU ACTUALLY DIDN'T
SEE HIM. SWITCH OUT. I
APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT
, SECRETARY, UM. YEAH AND I
DON'T KNOW IF DIRECTOR DO YOU
MIND DIRECTOR BON. IF WE
ACTUALLY START WITH OUR PREVIOUS
QUESTION BEFORE WE THANK YOU.
YES IF YOU WOULD ALSO INDULGE ME
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT AN EARLIER
PART OF TODAY. I WANT TO THANK
NAOMI. FOR HER ADVOCACY ON
BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH
AND WILDLIFE. FOR BATS IN
CALIFORNIA. AND THAT IS
INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP FROM THE
NEXT GENERATION THAT'S GOING TO
STEP INTO SHOES HELD BY SOME OF
US NOW. SHE WAS AMAZING SUCH A
PRIVILEGE TO HAVE HER HERE.
SECONDLY CHAIR YOU ASK, AND FOR
THE RECORD, MY NAME IS CHUCK
BONHAM AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE. MY THOUGHTS
ON QUESTIONS RAISED DURING THE
ADVANCED MITIGATION DISCUSSION
EARLIER. LET ME THANK YOU FOR
THIS COMMITTEE'S FOCUS ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE QUESTION
RELATED TO ADVANCE MITIGATION,
JUST SPEAKING PERSONALLY. FOR
OUR DEPARTMENT AND ME AS A
CITIZEN IN CALIFORNIA. ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT MAKES ME THE
MOST PLEASED WORKING IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS IT'S A YES AND
DYNAMIC. IT'S NOT AN EITHER, OR
I THINK ACROSS OUR
ADMINISTRATION WE'RE PUSHING THE
ENVELOPE TO DO RESTORATION AND
SPECIES MITIGATION WHILE ALSO
ENSURING THAT DOESN'T DISCOUNT,
DIMINISH OR DISTRACT OUR
COMMITMENT ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE FRONT. SO OUR DEPARTMENT
IS ACTIVE IN THE ADVANCED
MITIGATION SPACE. WE'D HAVE
CONCERN IF ANY SUCH PROPOSAL
MEANT DIMINISHMENT AROUND A
COMMITMENT ON ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE. I KNOW THEIR DETAILS TO
BE WORKED OUT. BUT I THANK YOU
FOR RAISING THAT. AS TO THE
FUNDING DYNAMIC. THERE ARE THREE
THINGS OUR DEPARTMENT IS DOING
RIGHT NOW TO DEAL WITH THE
WORKLOAD. ASPECT AROUND
MITIGATION BANKS, WHICH OFTEN
FALLS IN OUR PURVIEW. FOR REVIEW
PROCESSING AND APPROVAL IN
CONJUNCTION WITH OUR FEDERAL
AGENCY PARTNERS. FIRST JUST KNOW
THAT. CURRENTLY THE DEPARTMENT
HAS ABOUT THREE POSITIONS FOR
MITIGATION BANKS BECAUSE THEY
ARE FUNDED THROUGH FEES. AND
INCREASING CAPACITY STRICTLY
THROUGH FEE INCREASE ITSELF. IS
OFTEN A POLICY CHALLENGE.
SIMULTANEOUSLY THERE IS RIGHT
NOW A BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL
GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS. FOR
FISCAL YEAR, 23 AND 24, WHICH
CREATES THE DEPARTMENT. GIVES
THE DEPARTMENT MORE FLEXIBILITY
FOR FUND REALIGNMENT. AND DOING
SOME INTERNAL WORK. WE'VE
ALREADY STARTED. KIND OF RE
PRIORITIZE EYES POSITIONS TO
MOVE BASED IN AN AS NEEDED WAY
TO THE HIGHEST AREA BACK LOADS
ACROSS THE STATE ON THE BANKS.
SO THERE'S A BUDGET CHANGE
PROPOSAL IN PROCESS FOR SOME
REALIGNMENT BENEFIT. WE'RE DOING
INTERNAL WORK ALREADY ON HOW TO
REPOSITION PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH
THE BANKING DYNAMIC. AND THEN
LASTLY, I'D NOTE IT'S RELATED UM
, THERE IS ANOTHER BUDGET CHANGE
PROPOSAL UNDERWAY, WHICH IS AN
ADDITIVE 40 POSITIONS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT TO DO A LOT OF THE
PERMITTING WORK AROUND ENERGY
AND WATER PROJECTS. THEY
WOULDN'T BE DIRECTLY WORKING ON
SOME OF THE REAL ESTATE
TRANSACTIONS AROUND BANKING. BUT
THEY WOULD BE ANCILLARY AND
COMPLEMENTARY TO SO IT'S ANOTHER
CAPACITY STRATEGY. WE'RE ENGAGED
IN RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. AND YOU
DIDN'T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE YOUR PITCH FOR YOUR BUDGET
CHANGE PROPOSAL, WHICH I
RESPECT, DIRECTOR BONHAM. UM
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE
QUESTION, AND WITH THAT, WE'LL
TURN IT OVER TO THE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES. THREE
CLASSIFICATION PROPOSAL. IF YOU
DON'T MIND OPENING ON THAT I
DON'T SO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT ON ONE
ELEMENT. OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S
PACKAGE. WHICH RELATES. TO
SOMETHING PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED
AS FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES. THIS
SHOWS UP IN THE FISHING GAME
CODE IN FOUR PRIMARY CODES,
SECTIONS. FOR MAMMALS, FISH,
AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES AND BIRDS.
I WANT TO START WITH A DIFFERENT
APPROACH. THIS PROPOSAL IS
SIMPLE. IT IS CONSISTENT WITH
THE WIDELY HELD GOOD GOVERNMENT
PRACTICE. OF REVIEWING AND
UPDATING POLICIES AND LAW. THIS
PROPOSAL IS ALSO NOT NOVEL. IT'S
NOT NEW. MANY EXPERTS OVER THE
YEARS HAVE RAISED THE VERY NEED
TO MODERNIZE THE FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES STATUTES. AND RECONCILE
THEM WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. LAW
REVIEWS SAY THAT IN FACT, JUST
LAST YEAR THIS COMMITTEE
ANALYZED A DIFFERENT BILL.
SENATE BILL 945. ABOUT PEREGRINE
FALCONS, WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS
OPERATING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES. BUT THE
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS ON THAT BILL
LAST YEAR, SAID QUOTE THIS
COMMITTEE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER
STUDYING OPTIONS FOR FUTURE
LEGISLATION. TO ELIMINATE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES DESIGNATIONS
WHILE CREATING A PROCESS TO
ENSURE THAT ANY SPECIES THAT
STILL NEED PROTECTION. ARE
CONSIDERED FOR LISTING UNDER
CISA IF THEY ARE NOT ALREADY WHY
WE HAVE A HISTORICAL ARTIFACT.
IN THE 19 SIXTIES, THE
LEGISLATURE. AS BEST WE CAN TELL
WITHOUT ANY SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS.
ANY ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD. PUT
37 SPECIES ONTO THIS DESIGNATED
LIST AND LABELED THEM FULLY
PROTECTED. THIS WAS BEFORE. THE
FEDERAL ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.
IT WAS BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. SO IF
YOU FAST FORWARD TO TODAY'S
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS ON PAGE 15.
TODAY'S ANALYSIS ILLUSTRATES
THAT ARTIFACT QUOTE. ENDANGERED
SPECIES LIST ARE INTENDED TO BE
MAINTAINED, ACCORDING TO BEST
AVAILABLE SCIENTIFIC
INFORMATION. WHEREAS FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES LIST WERE
CODIFIED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND
HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED THE
SCIENTIFIC STATUS OF MOST FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES ARE NOT KNOWN.
I WOULD ARGUE, WEREN'T KNOWN
BACK THEN IN THE SIXTIES. WHAT
IS THE SITUATION? WE SEE IN THE
FIELD. YOU HAVE 37 SPECIES.
DESIGNATED IN THE SIXTIES OVER
HALF OF THE CENTURY AGO. THERE
IS NO ABILITY TO ISSUE ANY
PERMIT. FOR ANY PROJECT. THAT
MAY IMPACT US SPECIES. EXCEPT
FOR A FEW LIMITED EXCEPTIONS.
SINCE THE SIXTIES. EIGHT OF
THOSE SPECIES HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN
PUT ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES
ACT IN THIS STATE AND THEN
ENLISTED AS THREATENED SINCE THE
SIXTIES 19 OF THOSE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES HAVE BEEN
LISTED UNDER CISA AS ENDANGERED.
THREE OF THEM. WERE SUBSEQUENTLY
DELISTED BY THE CONSTITUTIONALLY
CREATED FISH AND GAME
COMMISSION. THE REMAINING SEVEN
TO DO THE MATH. HAVE BEEN FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES BUT HAVE NEVER
BEEN LISTED UNDER CISA. SO IT'S
CONFUSING. IT CAUSES PEOPLE TO
SCRATCH THEIR HEAD. IT'S A SET
OF LIST WHICH DON'T FACILITATE
GOOD OUTCOMES ALL THE TIME. IT'S
AN UNTENABLE SITUATION. HERE'S
WHAT'S UNTENABLE ABOUT IT.
SIGNIFICANT AND UNNECESSARY
RISKS EXIST FOR EVERY PROJECT
PROPONENT. ENERGY HOUSING ROADS.
BECAUSE OF A DESIGNATION 50
YEARS AGO WITHOUT ANY SCIENTIFIC
ANALYSIS BEFORE CISA, AND IT
RESULTS IN NO MITIGATION OR
CONSERVATION AID TO THESE
SPECIES IN RECOVERY. THIS IS
BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT HAS NO
ABILITY TO PERMIT THE PROJECT.
AND REQUIRE MITIGATION. SO THIS
PROPOSAL DEALS WITH THAT
HISTORICAL ARTIFACT. THIS
PROPOSAL DEALS WITH THAT
UNTENABLE SITUATION. IT. TAKES.
THE FOUR CODE SECTIONS IN THE
FISHING GAME CODE THAT DESIGNATE
THE FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES AND
IT REPLACES IT. BY RECLASSIFYING
ALL OF THE 37. AS EXISTING
ENTIRELY WITHIN THE CAESAR
CONSTRUCT. NOT ONE OR THE OTHER
OR BOTH. JUST UNDER CISA. WHICH
MEANS THAT EIGHT THAT ARE
ALREADY DESIGNATED LISTED AS
THREATENED, STAY THREATENED. THE
19 THAT ARE ALREADY LISTED AS
ENDANGERED. STAY IN DANGER. THE
SEVEN THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN
LISTED. GET LISTED AS
THREATENED. AND THE SECOND THING
OUR PROPOSAL DOES IS CONFIRMED.
THAT THE FISH AND GAME
COMMISSION PROCESS IS AVAILABLE.
APPLICABLE TO ALL OF THOSE 30
FOR UNDER EXISTING LAW UNDER THE
CALIFORNIAN DANGER SPECIES ACT.
FURTHER THE PROPOSAL CONFIRMS
PRIOR PROJECT SPECIFIC APPROVALS
AROUND FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES
ARE STILL APPLICABLE. AND
LASTLY, PROPOSES A SEQUEL
EXEMPTION. FOUR COMMISSION
ACTION, WHICH WOULD PRIMARILY BE
RELATED TO IF THE COMMISSION
DECIDED TO DELIST ANY ONE OF
THOSE 34. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN
THERE WOULD BE ZERO PUBLIC
PROCESS BECAUSE INSTEAD OF JUST
REPEALING, FULLY PROTECTED AND
DOING NOTHING IT MOVES ALL THE
SPECIES UNDER CISA. WHICH MEANS
. YOU HAVE NOTICE AND COMMENT.
YOU HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE
PROCEDURE. ACT RULEMAKING. YOU
HAVE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE
LAW DUE PROCESS RULEMAKING
REQUIREMENTS. AND YOU HAVE
SEVERAL. PUBLIC HEARING
OPPORTUNITIES IN FRONT OF THE
COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC PROCESS
ABOUT ANY DECISION THAT MIGHT
MAKE IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S THE
PROPOSAL. THIS PROPOSAL ACTUALLY
GUARANTEES A BETTER CONSERVATION
OUTCOME. THE REASON IS. THE
DEPARTMENT HAS ZERO ABILITY TO
STOP ANY PROJECT RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE OF FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES. THE LAW GIVES US NO
AUTHORITY. IT PUTS THE BURDEN ON
THE PROPONENTS TO AVOID THE RISK
. THEY'RE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL
LIABILITY IF THEY CAUSE IMPACT.
WHEREAS IF YOU MOVE THESE
SPECIES UNDER CISA AS A MATTER
OF LAW, WE CAN REQUIRE A PROJECT
TO AVOID AN IMPACT. AS A MATTER
OF LAW, WE CAN REQUIRE PROJECT
TO MINIMIZE AN IMPACT. AND AS A
MATTER OF LAW WE CAN ACQUIRE
PROJECT. TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT.
TWO LAST THINGS CHAIRING, THEN
I'LL I'LL STEP ASIDE. I KNOW
THAT MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
CONSERVATION WORLD AND YOU
BELIEVE VERY MUCH IN BROADER
LANDSCAPE SCALE PLANNING. THAT'S
WHY WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE
NATURAL COMMUNITY CONSERVATION
PLANNING ACT. IN 2015. THERE WAS
A LEGISLATIVE EFFORT TO DEAL
WITH THIS CONUNDRUM WE HAVE WITH
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES. AND WE
AMENDED THAT OTHER LAW TO SAY
THAT. IF A PARTY DEVELOPS ONE OF
THESE BROADER LANDSCAPE PLANS,
THEY CAN INCLUDE IN THAT PLAN.
THE ABILITY TO GET TAKE
COVERAGE. IF IT'S A FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES. SINCE 2015.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN A NOTABLE
INCREASE. KHN CCPS. AND I'M NOT
AWARE OF ANY N CCP BEING DONE.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF GETTING TAKE
COVERAGE FOR FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES. AND IF YOU WANTED TO DO
THAT TODAY, THEY'RE NOT DONE
OVERNIGHT IN CCPS. THEY TAKE
MANY YEARS. WHICH SPEAKS TO THE
URGENCY DYNAMIC. HERE ARE THREE
EXAMPLES. RELATED TO URGENCY.
FOR THIS PROPOSAL. EVERY ONE OF
THESE EXAMPLES. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
GOES TO ONE CORE POINT. WHETHER
IT'S HOUSING WHETHER IT'S
TRANSPORTATION. WHETHER IT'S
PUBLIC WORKS. WHETHER IT'S
CRITICAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE,
WHETHER IT'S RENEWABLE ENERGY,
ALMOST ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO
RUN THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT. FOR
SOME PERMITTING PURPOSE. EVERY
DAY WE DELAY IN PERMITTING
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS. IS
CALM, POUNDING ACHIEVING OUR
GOALS. WE'VE LOOKED ACROSS THE
STATE FOR YEARS THAT THIS ISSUE
IF YOU GO TO CALTRANS YOU KNOW
THAT THEY NEED TO DO A MASSIVE
UPGRADE OF OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY REASONS SINCE
2015 IN THE AMENDMENT TO THE CCP
ACT, YOU KNOW WHAT WE'VE SEEN
THE MOST OF CARVE OUTS FROM THE
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES STATUTE
FOR INDIVIDUAL ROAD PROJECTS.
TAKE A LOOK AT ENERGY. NOW I'M
NOT ENDORSING THIS NUMBER. BUT
FOR SENSE OF SCALE. IF YOU
LISTEN TO THE LARGE SCALE SOLAR
ASSOCIATION THEY PROJECT MY
DEPARTMENT BY 2030. WE'LL BE
DEALING WITH 2800 RENEWABLE
ENERGY PROJECT PERMIT PACKAGES
PER YEAR. EVEN IF YOU CONSIDER
THAT TO BE GROSSLY INFLATED, AND
YOU TOOK HALF OF THAT, 1400 YOU
TOOK HALF OF 1400 THAT'S 700
PERMITS A YEAR JUST IN THE SOLAR
SPACE, MANY OF WHICH CONNECT TO
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES AS AN
UNREASONABLE RISK ASSUMPTION FOR
THE PROJECT PROPONENTS LASTLY
WATER JUST AT DWR IN THE SAN
JOAQUIN FIELD DIVISION. THERE
ARE 24 MILES OF THE CALIFORNIA
AQUEDUCT THAT SUFFERING FROM
NEEDED REPAIRS IN THE RIGHT AWAY
BECAUSE OF ASSISTANCE. THAT IS
THE SAME PLACE WHERE THERE ARE
BLUNT NODE. LEOPARD LIZARD.
WHICH ARE ON THE FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES STATUTE. PUMPING
STATIONS, SUBSIDENCE REPAIRS
AND, FRANKLY, RIGHT NOW, LEVEE
MAINTENANCE COMING OUT OF
CATASTROPHIC FLOODING. THOSE ARE
THREE EXAMPLES OF URGENCY ALL
ABOUT GETTING PROJECTS DONE.
IT'S NOT A REPEAL OF FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES WITHOUT ANY
CONSERVATION GAIN. IT IS A
CONSERVATION UPLIFT BY
TRANSPORTING ALL OF THIS AND
MODERNIZING OURSELVES UNDER
CISA. THANK YOU. CHAIR I
APPRECIATE YOU ALL, OF COURSE.
UM WE LOVE HER BUS CONVERSATIONS
. APPRECIATE YOU LAYING IT OUT.
UM MR LINES AND DELFINO. WHOEVER
WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST. DIRECTOR
I'M NOT ON AND NOW HE'S A FULL
SERVICE SECRETARY VERY MUCH.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MIKE
LYONS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC POLICY FOR AUDUBON,
CALIFORNIA, THE STATE OFFICE OF
THE NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY AND
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK TO THESE ISSUES TODAY. OUT
OF ONE SUPPORTS MODERNIZING
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS TO MAKE THEM
WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY PROVIDED
THE ENHANCED, NOT DIMINISHED
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS. SUCH
REFORMS INVOLVE COMPLEX ISSUES
THAT WARRANT EXTENSIVE
STAKEHOLDER INPUT. AND SHOULD
NOT BE RUSHED TO THE TRAILER
BILL STATE OR ITS TRAILER BILL
PROCESS. WE'VE ENGAGED FOR
DECADES ON ISSUES RELATED TO
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES. AH SUCH
AS THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR, THE
SANDHILL CRANE, THE GOLDEN EAGLE
. THESE AND OTHER SPECIES REMAIN
IN PERIL IN CALIFORNIA, AS
CALIFORNIA'S BIODIVERSITY
CONTINUES TO DECLINE. AND AS
THESE SPECIES AND OTHERS FACE
CHALLENGES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT MANY OF THEM
ARE BEING DROUGHT DRIVEN CLOSER
TO EXTINCTION. AS DIRECTOR
BOTTOM INDICATED THE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES STATUTES ARE
OLD AND A BIT OF AN ARTIFACT.
AND THEY ARE ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S
OLDEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS
, BUT THEY PROVIDE A CLEAR
PROHIBITION ON THE TAKE OF THE
ENUMERATED SPECIES. BUT THERE IS
A WAY THAT ALLOWS FOR THEIR TAKE
THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF A
NATURAL COMMUNITIES AND
CONSERVATION PLAN IN MORE
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, WHERE
DEVELOPERS CAN GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO OR THEY CAN BE
ALLOWED TO TAKE THESE SPECIES
PROVIDED THAT THEY ENSURE
MEASURES THAT PROVIDE A NET
CONSERVATION BENEFIT. OR
CONTRIBUTE TO SPECIES RECOVERY,
AND I THINK THAT THIS
DISTINCTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL
WILL REPEAL ALL OF THAT AND
TRANSFER THE SPECIES OF THREE TO
THE CALIFORNIA ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT. MOST OF THIS, MOST
OF THE SPECIES ARE ALREADY
LISTED UNDER CISA, AS THE
DIRECTOR INDICATED, AND ALMOST
ALL OF THEM CONTINUE TO BE IN
DECLINE. THESE ARE SPECIES THAT
ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO MANY
COMMUNITIES TO CONSERVATIONISTS
TO TRIBES AND OTHERS, MANY OF
WHOM HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO
REALLY ROBUSTLY PARTICIPATE IN
THIS PART OF THIS DISCUSSION YET
WE ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE CISA
SETS A LOWER STANDARD FOR
PROTECTION OF SPECIES THAN THE
FOLLY PROTECTED SPECIES STATUTES
DO ALLOWS FOR TAKE PROVIDED IT
IS FULLY MITIGATED AND DOES NOT
JEOPARDIZE THE CONTINUED
EXISTENCE OF THE SPECIES. THAT
IS A LOWER BAR THAN TO TAKE
ALLOWED UNDER AN NCP, WHICH IS,
I SAID, REQUIRES A NET
CONSERVATION BENEFIT SPECIES
RECOVERY IN OTHER WORDS, AND IN
PRACTICE, CAESAR IS ABOUT
MINIMIZING LOSSES TO ACCEPTABLE
LEVELS. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN ITS
IMPLEMENTATION IS THAT IT'S
ALWAYS ABOUT ACCEPTING
ADDITIONAL LOSSES TO VULNERABLE
SPECIES OVER TIME THAT MOSTLY
HAVE CONTINUED TO DECLINE. THE
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES STATUTES
ARE ABOUT PRESERVING THE SPECIES
AND MOVING TOWARDS RECOVERY
THROUGH AN N CCP IF TAKE MUST
OCCUR. SECOND, THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL. AH
REDUCES THE SECRET REQUIREMENT
FOR DELISTING FORMALLY FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES, INCLUDING
SPECIES LIKE THE SANDHILL CRANE
, A SPECIES OF GREAT CONCERN IN
THE DEBATE AROUND THE DELTA.
THIS CREATES AN ODD DUAL
STANDARD WHERE OTHER SPECIES
THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE CSL LIST
ARE SUBJECT TO SEEK REVIEW IF
THEY'RE TO BE DELISTED, BUT
THESE FORMALLY FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES ARE NOT SO IT'S A VERY
IT'S AN ODD DOUBLE STANDARD. I
AGREE THAT THERE IS STILL A
ROBUST PROCESS THROUGH, UH, THE
TWO CAESAR. BUT SECRET DOES ADD
ANOTHER LAYER OF PROTECTION THAT
IS BEING PEELED AWAY. FINALLY
NOTHING IN IT, THE SECRETARY HAS
SAID, OR THE DIRECTOR SAID, HAS
REALLY DEMONSTRATED THE URGENCY
NEEDED TO PUSH THIS FORWARD.
DIRECTOR BONHAM MENTIONED IN
SEVERAL CASES. WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES FOR
YEARS. WHY DOES IT NEED TO GET
PUSHED THROUGH IN A TRAILER BILL
PROCESS? UM I WILL SEE YOU ON
AUTOBAHNS PART WE ARE COMMITTED
TO WORKING TO MODERNIZING AND
REFORMING THE FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES STATUTES AND CISA AND
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AS THEY
APPLY, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE UNDERSTAND. MAKE SURE THAT IN
DOING SO THERE ARE NET
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS THE
BENEFIT COMMUNITIES, WILDLIFE
AND NATIVE PLANTS AND ACCESS TO
NATURE. I'LL JUST SAY THIS TO
WRAP UP, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S A
LOT MORE TO TALK AND DEBATE
ABOUT AND CHUCK AND I CERTAINLY
HAVE. BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON
BIRDS FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, AND
EVERY DAY I GET UP. AND THERE
ARE LESS BIRDS AND I KNOW BETTER
THAN ANYBODY WHAT WE NEED TO DO
FOR RENEWABLE PROJECTS. FOR
DURABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
GOOD TRANSPORTATION. BUT AS WE
MODERNIZE AND MAKE THESE STEPS
FORWARD, WE MUST ALSO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE
SPECIES THAT ARE LEFT. AND THAT
WE ARE ADDING TWO SPECIES
RECOVERY RATHER THAN PUSHING
THEM ASIDE AGAIN. IN THE NAME OF
PROGRESS. SO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COME. THANK YOU,
MR FINO. THANK YOU, UM AND
CHECK. IS IT STILL MORNING?
ALMOST GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE
REPRESENTING DEFENDERS OF
WILDLIFE, KIM DELFINO AND
DEFENDERS AS A NATIONAL
CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION
DEDICATED TO PROTECTING ALL WILD
ANIMALS AND PLANTS IN THEIR
NATURAL COMMUNITIES AND
DEFENDERS HAS NEARLY 2.2 MILLION
MEMBERS NATIONWIDE, MORE THAN
300,000 OF WHICH LIVE IN CALIF.
LIVE IN CALIFORNIA. I'M GONNA
BUILD OFF THE TESTIMONY GIVEN BY
MR LINES ALREADY IN WHICH HE
EXPLAINED ABOUT THE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES LAWS. THE
FIRST LET ME THANK THE COMMITTEE
FOR HOLDING AN INFORMATIONAL
HEARING TODAY. I WOULD NOTE THAT
THIS IS ONLY ONE HEARING. UM AND
THAT YOU'RE ONLY HEARING FROM
TWO ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
AND NOT REPRESENTED. HERE ARE
OTHER ENTITIES WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN THE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES LAWS. I WOULD
NOTE THAT MANY OF THE SPECIES ON
THE FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES LIST
HOLD GREAT CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
TO TRIBES. AND THE ABSENT FROM
THIS CONVERSATION IS THE TRIBAL
PERSPECTIVE. TO BEGIN WITH, AS
NOTED BY MR LYONS THAT THE
TRAILER BELL'S PROPOSAL WOULD
RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTION IN THE LEVEL OF
PROTECTION AFFORDED TO THE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES. I DID ACCOUNT
, UM OF THE SPECIES THAT ARE ON
THE LIST OF WHO ARE STILL
DECLINING, AT LEAST 28 OF WHICH
ARE IN VERY POOR SHAPE, UH AND
HIGHLY IMPERIL CALIFORNIA CONDOR
BEING BEING ONE OF THEM. UM
SANDHILL CRANE. GOLDEN EAGLES
CONTINUE TO DECLINE DESPITE
BEING PROTECTED BY MANY FISH AND
GAME CODE PROVISIONS. BIGHORN
SHEEP, PENINSULAR BIGHORN SHEEP
AND THE WOLVERINE, WHICH YOU
KNOW PEOPLE GET PRETTY EXCITED
WHEN THERE'S A SIGHTING EVERY
NOW AND THEN IN SIERRA. THESE
ARE ALL SPECIES THAT HAVE BEEN
PROTECTED UNDER THE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES LAWS. AND FOR
GOOD REASON. PREVIOUSLY THE
LEGISLATURE HAS ALLOWED TO TAKE
OR KILLING OF THESE SPECIES ONLY
WHEN IT RELATES TO RECOVERY OR
WHEN THEY'RE WITHIN A NATURAL
COMMUNITIES CONSERVATION PLAN OR
IN THE LEGISLATIVE EXEMPTIONS
THAT HAVE PROVIDED FOR A NET
CONSERVATION BENEFIT OR IN A AN
ADDITIONAL UPLIFT TO THE SPECIES
AS IF THEY WERE GOING TO SAY IN
THE REMOVAL OF THE KLAMATH DAMS.
OR REINTRODUCING CONDORS UP IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IN ORDER TO
EXPAND THE RANGE. THOSE HAVE
BEEN THE LEGISLATIVELY APPROVED
EXEMPTIONS, AND THEY'VE ALWAYS
BEEN SOMETHING MORE THAN FULLY
MITIGATED, AND I THINK THAT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE SO SIMPLY
SHIFTING SPECIES OVER TO THE
ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST. DOES
NOT PROVIDE THAT KIND OF UPLIFT
THAT PREVIOUSLY THE LEGISLATURE
HAS PROVIDED FOR FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES. SO I JUST WANT. I THINK
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT TO
MAKE. UM THE REASON WHY
ADVOCATES HAVE RESISTED SHIFTING
ALL OF THE FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES OVER TO SESSA HAS BEEN
BECAUSE SISA WHILE A VERY
IMPORTANT LAW HAS DEFICIENCIES.
ONE OF THEM IS THAT
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN A SPECIES
GOES ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES
LIST WE HAVE NOT BUILT ARE
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT IN A WAY
THAT PROMOTES RECOVERY. WE DON'T
FUND RECOVERY. WE DON'T DO
RECOVERY PLANS AND SO SPECIES
ARE ON THIS LIST, AND THEY TEND
TO STAY ON THE LIST. AND YOU
KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
MODERNIZATION OF THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT ITSELF. UM WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE CHANGES TO HOW YOU
DEFINE THE TAKE OF HABITAT WE
CURRENTLY IT'S VERY UNDEFINED,
WHETHER OR NOT HABITAT
ALTERATION RISES TO THE LEVEL OF
TAKE, SO THERE ARE REAL ISSUES
THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
ADDRESSED. UH IN AROUND THE
ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT IT'S
WISE TO BE MOVING THE ENTIRE
FULLY PROTECTED LIST OVER TO THE
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.
UNFORTUNATELY WITH THIS TRAILER
BILL PROPOSAL, WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT HOW WE PROTECT
BIODIVERSITY IN CALIFORNIA.
INSTEAD WE'RE DISCUSSING A
PROPOSAL THAT REDUCES
PROTECTIONS FOR IMPERILED
SPECIES AND LOWERS STANDARDS OR
IMPERILED SPECIES, INCLUDING, AS
MR LYONS ALREADY NOTED, SETTING
UP A DUAL DUAL LISTING DELISTING
STANDARD. SO IF YOU ARE AN
ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT WASN'T A
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES, YOU GET
TO HAVE THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE
DELISTING PROPOSED DELISTING
PROCESS, INCLUDING SEQUEL
EVALUATION, BUT IF YOU HAPPEN TO
BE A FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES
THAT WAS ALSO IN DANGER LISTED
AS ENDANGERED SOMEHOW YOU DON'T
GET THAT SEQUA ALTERNATIVES
ANALYSIS. UH THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN
TO EVERY OTHER ENDANGERED
SPECIES. THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
NOT DESCRIBED WHY WE WOULD NEED
TO MAKE THIS POLICY DECISION IN
THE IN THE FORM OF A TRAILER
BILL THAT'S BEING PURPORTED AS
PUSHING FORWARD INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHY MAKE THAT POLICY DECISION
THAT HAS NOT BEEN EXPLAINED? AND
SO THAT KIND OF GETS TO THE
OTHER POINT HERE, WHICH IS WHAT
IS THE URGENCY FOR MOVING THIS
PARTICULAR POLICY PROPOSAL IN
THE IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE
PACKAGE? THERE ARE PROPOSALS IN
THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACK SHOULD
PACKAGE THAT, I THINK WOULD MOVE
PROJECTS FORWARD QUICKLY. THE
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES PROPOSAL
IS NOT ONE OF THEM THAT NEEDS TO
BE ENACTED BY THE END OF JULY OR
EVEN THE END OF AUGUST IN ORDER
FOR PROJECTS TO BE MOVING
FORWARD. FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES
ACTS HAVE BEEN ON THE BOOKS
SINCE THE LATE 19 SIXTIES. WE'VE
MOVED FORWARD WITH A LOT OF
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA SINCE THAT TIME, AND
THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN OBSTACLE TO
THAT, AND I CAN SAY FOR THE
PERSPECTIVE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
PROJECTS, OF WHICH DEFENDERS OF
WILDLIFE HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVELY
ENGAGED IN THAT IN PROCESS IN
THE PROCESS OF SIGHTING. AND
PERMITTING OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
PROJECTS, NOT A SINGLE RENEWABLE
ENERGY PROJECT HAS BEEN STOPPED
BECAUSE OF THE FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES LAWS, SO WE DON'T THINK
THAT THIS WHILE WE WOULD LIKE TO
ENGAGE IN A CONVERSATION AROUND
THIS ISSUE, WE DO NOT THINK THAT
THIS TYPE OF POLICY DISCUSSION
WARRANTS MOVING IT THROUGH THE
TRAILER BILL PROCESS. UM AND I
THINK I THINK I JUST CONCLUDE
THERE AND OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR FINO AND ANYONE ELSE IN THE
ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADD
THEIR SUPPORTER, OPPOSITION NAME
AND ORGANIZATION. PLEASE JOIN US
AT THE MIC. MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS
, JOE CRUZ ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE COUNCIL OF
LABORERS. WE JUST WANT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN OUR
SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL, INCLUDING THE
RECLASSIFICATION OF ENDANGERED
SPECIES, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO
COMMENT AND I WASN'T HERE BEFORE
. SO IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME JUST
FOR A MINUTE, MADAM CHAIR ON A
COUPLE OTHER PROVISIONS, THE
LABOR SUPPORT. UM MANY OF THESE
ACCELERATED PROVISIONS TO MOVE
PROJECTS OFF THE PLANNING TABLE
WITHOUT COMPROMISING OR
ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY SEQUEL
WAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE PROJECTS
WHEN IT COMES TO ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSIDERATION IS NOT STOPPED
PROJECTS YESTERDAY. CALISTA
DIRECTOR OAK TOAST ALMOST. I
CONSIDER IT TOOK 10 YEARS TO
BUILD OUT A PROJECT NOT HEARING
THE SEQUEL PROPOSALS IN THIS
COMMITTEE, SO I'M JUST IF THAT'S
WHAT YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT
JUST PREVIOUS, UH I ALSO WANTED
TO SAY THAT MOST OF THESE
PROJECTS AND DESIGN BILL WAS $25
MILLION OR MORE EIGHT PROJECTS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING HERE
FOR THAT. BUT 95% OF THE
PROJECTS BUILT IN CALIFORNIA ARE
BEING BUILT BY UNION
CONSTRUCTION, LABOR, SKILLED AND
TRAINED WORKFORCE UNION
WORKFORCE, THOSE LARGE SCALE
WATER AND TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS ARE BEING BUILT ALREADY
WITH WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO
WERE REPRESENTED, SO THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. WHEN
HE MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS, P.
ANTHONY THOMAS, REPRESENTING
CALIFORNIA BUILDING INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION, C B, A IN FULL
SUPPORT AND THE GOVERNOR'S
ENTIRE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE,
INCLUDING VOLUNTEER TODAY. THANK
YOU. GOOD MORNING. BRENDA BASS,
CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AGAIN IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. VERY NELSON,
REPRESENTING GOLDEN STATE SEMIN
ASSOCIATION AND INDUSTRY THAT'S
ENTIRELY SHUT DOWN THIS YEAR
BECAUSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGRADATION. UM DEEP CONCERNS
ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE OPPOSED TO
THE PROCESS. THANK YOU. ALREADY
VALENCIA WITH RESTORED DELTA AND
OPPOSITION OF THIS BILL. THANK
YOU. ADAM KENYANS ON BEHALF OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
WATER AGENCIES AND STRONG
SUPPORT. DEANNA VALENTINE ON
BEHALF OF TRANSPORTATION,
CALIFORNIA AND SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. OCEAN RESERVE OF LOCAL
AGENCIES OVER THE NORTH DELTA IN
OPPOSITION. THIS WOULD BE A BILL
OF ATTAINDER FOR OUR DELTA,
SANDHILL CRANES AND OTHER FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES THAT WOULD BE
HARMED BY THE TUNNEL. THANK YOU.
SUSAN JORDAN, DIRECTOR OF THE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL PROTECTION
NETWORK. ANOTHER REASON I AM AN
OPPOSITION BASED ON SUBSTANCE
AND PROCESS. THANK YOU. ALEX
LOOMER ON BEHALF OF PACIFIC
FOREST TRUST, THE ENVIRONMENTAL
LAW FOUNDATION IN OPPOSITION.
FINALLY A CAN. ON BEHALF OF THE
FAMILY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF
CALIFORNIA, SANTA CLARITA VALLEY
WATER AGENCY IN SAN GABRIEL
VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS ROB
SPIEGEL, CALIFORNIA
MANUFACTURERS AND TECHNOLOGY
ASSOCIATION AND STRONG SUPPORT.
THANKS. ADAM CHAIR CHRIS MCKAY
LI ON BEHALF OF THE LOS ANGELES
AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND
SUPPORT OF THIS PROVISION AS
WELL. THANK YOU, DONNA, WITH THE
TRUST REPUBLIC LANDING CONCERNED
WITH THIS PROPOSAL, THANK YOU.
MANUALLY IN CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE
FOR JOBS AND SUPPORT OF THIS
ITEM. ERIN WOOLY ON BEHALF OF
SIERRA CLUB, CALIFORNIA AND
OPPOSITION. YEAH MELISSA ROMERO
, CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
VOTERS AND OPPOSITION. ASHLEY
OVER HOUSE WITH DEFENDERS OF
WILDLIFE ON BEHALF OF THE BAY
INSTITUTE IN OPPOSITION. ALEX
TORRES, BARRY, COUNSEL AND
SUPPORT THANK YOU. MY QUEST
STATE BUILDING TRADES AND
SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
UM GREAT BRINGING IT BACK TO THE
DIESS. MR CONRAD. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. THIS IS. ANOTHER
ONE THAT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE
FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY. UM, AND
YET YOU KNOW THERE, I GUESS IF
EVERYTHING IS DEEMED URGENT, AND
IT KIND OF RENDERS URGENCY
SOMEWHAT MEANINGLESS AT SOME
POINT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT
THAT THERE'S AN INDICATION THAT
THERE HAVE BEEN CARVE OUTS WHEN
NECESSARY WHEN DEEMED
APPROPRIATE. UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I
DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY A
BAD THING THAT WE HAVE STRONGER
PROTECTIONS IN CALIFORNIA THAT
STILL ALLOW A PROCESS THAT JUST
ALLOWS FOR MEANINGFUL
MITIGATION. UM, HAVING THAT THAT
THE NET YOU KNOW, CONSERVATION
BENEFIT. UM. I, YOU KNOW, I. I
GUESS I'M JUST NOT SEEING ON
THIS ONE, AS WAS MENTIONED BY
SOME OTHER FOLKS SPEAKING TODAY
IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT IT. TRAILER BILLS
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
WHAT HAVE YOU UM, THIS ONE
PROBABLY PUZZLES ME MORE THAN
MOST AS TO WHY IT'S ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE IT'S A POLICY THAT'S
BEEN IN PLACE. FOUR SOLD FOR SO
MANY DECADES. UM AND YOU KNOW
WHY SHOULDN'T GO THROUGH A
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. UM RATHER
THAN YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY
BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE FACT THAT
WE DON'T KNOW NATURALLY, THE
SCIENTIFIC STATUS OF MANY OF
THESE PROTECTIVE SPECIES AND YOU
KNOW PUSHING, PUSHING JUST THE
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OR AS THE
MECHANISM SOMETIMES ONCE A
SPECIES GETS INTO THAT LIST,
IT'S TOO LATE, LIKE LIKE THINGS
CAN'T BE DONE TO MITIGATE IT AND
MITIGATE THAT MOMENTUM TOWARDS
EXTINCTION, OR AT LEAST A
PERMANENT STATUS UNDER THE
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. AND SO I
THINK ARE FULLY PROTECTED.
POLICY IS A GOOD ONE. I AM OPEN
. CERTAINLY GIVEN SO I'M
CERTAINLY OPEN TO HEARING WAYS
IT COULD BE DONE IN A MORE
EFFECTIVE OR EFFICIENT MANNER,
BUT I THINK THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS ALLOWS FOR THAT DIALOGUE
TO GET US TO THAT POINT, NOT
THROUGH A TRAILER BILL PROCESS.
THANKS. ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S I
MIGHT. UM IS THAT, OKAY? ALL
RIGHT, SAYS IT'S OKAY WITH HIM.
IT'S OK WITH ME. GO AHEAD, MR
WRONG. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE
BIODIVERSITY SPACE. I KNOW.
ALONG WITH SECRETARY CROW FOOTE,
OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE
CHAIR. YOU'VE BEEN PRESIDENT IN
MONTREAL AND ACROSS THE GLOBE
ADVOCATING FOR OUR BIODIVERSITY
LEADERSHIP. I ALSO WANT TO THANK
, UM THE OTHER WITNESSES. MIKE
AND KIM. WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER
20 YEARS. WE WORK TOGETHER. AND
SOMETIMES WE HAVE DIFFERENCES OF
OPINIONS. OKAY, IT'S CIVIL WE'RE
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. BUT. I
DISAGREE WITH THE PREMISE. THAT
CART BLANCH FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES CREATES SOME HIGHER
STANDARDS. FOR THREE REASONS.
IT'S NOT THAT FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES IS HIGHER. IT'S JUST
THAT IN THIS SITUATION CEASES
BETTER. SO THERE'S NOTHING TO
INDICATE THE LEGISLATURE MEANT
TO SET A HIGHER STANDARD. YOU
JUST DID IT BEFORE THERE WAS
CISA. SECOND. THE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES BENEFIT. MAYBE
ILLUSORY. HERE'S WHY TAKE BUT
KNOWS LEOPARD LIZARD. IT'S A
SPECIES THAT IS OFTEN IN THE WAY
OF A PROJECT. IT LIVES THE
MAJORITY OF ITS LIFE
UNDERGROUND. DISTURBANCE MAY
CAUSE IT'S MORTALITY, BUT THE
MORTALITY TYPICALLY HAPPENS
UNDERGROUND IN BURROWS. THE ONLY
THING FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES
DOES IN THE IN RUN. THIS CREATE
A CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR A
PROJECT PROPONENT. IF YOU CAN
PROVE TAKE TO PROVE TAKE YOU
NEED THE LIZARD AND A PROOF OF
MORTALITY. THERE'S NO ABILITY TO
DO ANYTHING ELSE. THAN THAT.
WHEREAS THIRD CEASES BETTER. IF
ALL THESE SPECIES ARE STILL IN
DECLINE, WHICH MANY ARE ISN'T IT
BETTER TO AT LEAST PURSUE
MITIGATION? AS A CONSERVATION
BENEFIT FOR THE SPECIES. ISN'T
IT BETTER TO HAVE THEM UNDER A
STATUTORY REGIME? THAT ALLOWS
RESEARCH PROMOTES CONSERVATION
PROMOTES RECOVERY, NONE OF WHICH
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES DOES.
ISN'T IT BETTER TO AVAIL
OURSELVES OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF
CECIL, WHICH IS FIVE YEAR STATUS
REVIEWS RECOVERY PLANS,
COORDINATION WITH THE FEDERAL
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, THE
FEDERAL NATIONAL MARINE
FISHERIES SERVICE. THE ABILITY
TO GET FEDERAL GRANTS UNDER
FEDERAL SECTION SIX TO DO
LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION FOR THE
VERY LISTED SPECIES. SO I
UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT THAT IT
CREATES A COMPLETE PROHIBITION.
BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED IT MEANS
CARTE BLANCHE. IT'S A HIGHER
STANDARD. THE DISCUSSIONS. IS
THERE A BETTER APPROACH? AND
THAT'S WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION
PROPOSAL SEEKS TO DO. EVEN IF
THERE'S DIFFERENCES OF BILLIONS
, AND I RESPECT THAT, BUT I
THINK THAT THAT JUST YOUR
RESPONSE, WHICH I THINK, UM IS
AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE. ITSELF
LENDS IT LENDS ITSELF TO THE
FACT THAT THIS REQUIRES FURTHER
DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION.
BECAUSE YOU VERY WELL MAY BE
RIGHT. AND YOU'RE 100% RIGHT
THAT FOLKS THAT HAVE THE SAME
INTENTIONS CAN HAVE DIFFERENCE
OF OPINION AS TO HOW TO ACHIEVE
THAT, BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S
PART OF THE DELIBERATIVE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS UNDERSTOOD.
COULD YOU MR RESPOND? SO, UM I
APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS BY
SIMILAR MEMBER CHOLERA AND ALSO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN
BIODIVERSITY AND CARRYING THE 30
BY 30 BILL ORIGINALLY REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT. UM I
WOULD SAY THAT, UM, I DO
RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH MR
BONE, UM, IN THE SENSE OF FULL
EVERY TIME THE LEGISLATURE HAS
ACTED TO ALLOW FOR TAKE OF A
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES IT HAS
DONE SO WITH A HIGHER STANDARD.
THAT WAS MY POINT. WHEN IT
ALLOWED FOR THE TAKE A FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES IN SP 6 18. IT
WAS THROUGH AN N C. C. P WHEN IT
HAS CARVED OUT SPECIFIC
EXCEPTIONS, IT HAS BEEN WITH A
NET CONSERVATION BENEFITS OR
BECAUSE THEY TAKE ASSOCIATED WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECOVERY
ACTION OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD
EXPAND THE RANGE OF THE SPECIES.
SO THE POINT HERE IS THAT, UM,
WE WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE IN THE
CONVERSATION AROUND MODERNIZING
OUR ENDANGERED SPECIES AND
BIODIVERSITY LAWS. BUT WE THINK
IT'S A MUCH DEEPER DISCUSSION
THAN SIMPLY TAKING THE 30. WELL,
I GUESS 34 SPECIES AND DUMPING
THEM INTO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES
CATEGORY OR LIST. UM AND WE
WOULD, BUT I THINK THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE AGAIN IN A POLICY
SETTING. IF THE ADMINISTRATION
COULD APPROACH A MEMBER ASKED
THEM TO CARRY A BILL. WE GO
THROUGH THE POLICY SETTING AND
HAVE THE DISCUSSION. I THINK WE
COULD END UP IN A REAL
POTENTIALLY IN A REALLY GOOD
PLACE, BUT TO SIMPLY BRING IT UP
A MONTH BEFORE THE END OF THE
FISCAL DEADLINE IN A PROPOSAL
THAT NO ONE HAD SEEN, I MEAN, AT
LEAST NO ONE I KNOW. UM I DON'T
THINK THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE
KIND OF CONVERSATION WE'D BE
HAVING. AND DOES IT DISSERVICE,
FRANKLY. TO ALL OF THOSE SPECIES
ON THAT LIST. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. MAY I JUST ADD ONE POINT
YES. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BRING
IT BACK TO MY COLLEAGUES. SO THE
ONE THING YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR
BONHAM MENTIONED BLUNT NOSED
LEOPARD LIZARD, WHICH IS LISTED
UNDER CISA AND THE FEDERAL
ENDANGERED AND I, HOW FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES HAVE
FUNCTIONED IN THE WAY THAT
ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE'S CECIL
LISTED ALREADY IS? THERE HAS
BEEN SORT OF AN UNDERSTANDING IF
YOU COMPLY WITH THOSE PERMIT.
THE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS OF, SAY,
SEA SURFACE THAN YOU KNOW, THE
STATE'S NOT GOING TO COME AFTER
YOU PROTECTED, SO THERE'S
ALREADY BEEN A FUNCTIONAL
EXPECTATION FOR THOSE SPECIES,
MANY OF THE ON THE FULLY
PROTECTED THAT ARE ALREADY ON
THE CC LIST. BUT LET ME GIVE AN
EXAMPLE OF A SPECIES THAT IS NOT
A LIST AND THAT'S THE GOLDEN
EAGLE. SO UM, YOU KNOW, THAT
DOESN'T HAVE SPECIAL CSR FEES OF
PROTECTION. THAT SPECIES HAS
BEEN KILLED FOR DECADES. THE
ULTIMATE PASS FOR WINTER BYNES
HAVING FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES
HAS BEEN ONE OF THE NECESSARY
THINGS TO HELP THAT SPECIES HAVE
EXTRA PROTECTION THERE. AND THE
ULTIMATE, UM AND MY CONCERN IS
IT COULD BE PUT ONTO THE CC
LIST. AND THEN DELISTED WITHOUT
THE SECRET OF YOU UNDER THIS
PROCESS BECAUSE IT MAY NOT MEET
THE SCIENTIFIC STANDARD OF
CAESAR AND THEN IN A COUPLE OF
YEARS THAT GOLDEN EAGLE HAS NO
PARTICULAR PROTECTIONS AS SOME
OTHER FISHING GOAT GAME GO
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE NEVER
ENFORCED TO MY KNOWLEDGE. BUT
IT'S LOSING THAT FULLY PROTECTED
LAYER AND POTENTIALLY THEN LOSES
THE SEASON LAYER. SO THAT'S A
VERY FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME.
DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. VIDEO.
YEAH THIS SHOULD BE VALLAPUDUA
THROUGH THE CHAIR AND I JUST
WANT TO THANK BOTH SIDES TODAY.
GOOD DISCUSSION. UM BUT I THINK
WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY
WERE WALKING. AND I THINK THAT
THERE'S A LOT THAT WERE SAID. IN
HERE A LOT. WHAT WAS SAID, UM TO
UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES,
ESPECIALLY HEARING THAT MAYBE
CECIL HAS SOME DEFICIENCIES. UM
LOWERING THE PROTECTION OF
THESE, UH AT RISK, UH, SPECIES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
HAVING THE DISCUSSION. THANK
YOU, MR. ME, VALLAPUDUA ANYBODY
ELSE? I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS
. UM AND. I APPRECIATE IT.
DIRECTOR BONHAM QUOTING OUR
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT WHO HAD
WRITTEN THOSE MANY THINGS ABOUT
SESSA AND HAD ACTUALLY BROUGHT
THIS UP TO ME AS A POLICY
QUESTION. UM AND ONE WE WERE
GOING TO LOOK AT IN THE POLICY
PROCESS, AND HERE WE ARE, SO I
ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE THE
COMMENTS ABOUT HOW THIS NEEDS TO
BE FULLY VETTED BECAUSE IT DOES
HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS. MY
FIRST QUESTION IS YOUR PROPOSAL
SAYS THAT WE SHOULD PUT THEM ALL
INTO SISA AND LIST THEM IS
THREATENED RIGHT, WHICH IS NOT
THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROTECTION
UNDERSEA SET. UM WITH NO AS I
CAN SEE A JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT
PARTICULAR LISTENING FOR THESE
SPECIES, SO I WOULD INVITE YOU
IF YOU HAVE ONE TO GIVE IT TO
US. I DO. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION CHAIR. UM, THAT'S NOT
COMPLETELY ACCURATE BECAUSE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SET OF 34
. OKAY WELL, SO TO CLARIFY MY
QUESTION. YES, SOME HAVE BEEN
LISTED UNDER C SAID DIFFERENT,
BUT THE ONES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
LISTED UNDER CAESAR WILL ALSO
ALL BE DROPPED UNDER THREATENED
WITH NO PARTICULAR
CONSIDERATION. IT APPEARS GIVEN
TO EACH OF THE SPECIES SO SEVEN
WOULD MOVE OVER HIS THREATENED
AND THE RATIONALE FOR THREATENED
RATHER THAN ENDANGERED IS
ORIGINALLY THERE WAS NO
SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS WE KNOW OF
TO PUT HIM ON THE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES STATUTE.
THREATENED PRACTICALLY IS THE
SAME AS ENDANGERED FOR PURPOSES
OF PERMITTING AVOIDANCE,
MINIMIZATION MITIGATION.
DEPARTMENT SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
STATUS REVIEW. THERE'S NO
PRACTICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THREATENED AND ENDANGERED AND
THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL
CREATES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
ANYTHING THAT CAME OVER AS
THREATENED IN THE INITIAL MOMENT
TO BE UP LISTED, CONSISTENT WITH
THE PROCESS IN FRONT OF THE
FISHING GAME COMMISSION ÁP A
HEARING YOU KNOW, ANALYSIS,
RECOMMENDATION OR PETITION. SO
WE STARTED IT THREATENED RATHER
THAN ENDANGERED, WHICH, OF
COURSE, OBVIOUSLY WOULD CREATE
THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE
TO SUGGEST IT BECOME THREATENED.
GOT IT. AND I WILL KNOW ONE
THING WHICH YOU SAID, WHICH WAS,
YOU KNOW. THESE WERE THERE
BECAUSE WE PASSED FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES STATUTE PRIOR
TO CISA. I WILL NOTE THE
LEGISLATURE KNEW THE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES STATUTE
EXISTED AT THE TIME THAT HAS
PASSED AND CHOSE NOT TO. GET RID
OF THE FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES
STATUTE, THEN UNTIL NOW, WHICH
WAS A CHOICE OF THE LEGISLATURE
, SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT
OF A MISNOMER TO SAY IT WAS JUST
AN ARTIFACT, RIGHT? WE MAKE
LEGISLATIVE DECISIONS AND POLICY
DECISIONS EVERY DAY. AND I
IMAGINE, ALTHOUGH I WASN'T HERE
AT THE TIME THAT WHEN CAESAR HAS
PASSED, SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP
FULLY PROTECTED SPECIES, I WOULD
BE SHOCKED IF THEY DIDN'T UM SO,
UH, I ALSO WANTED TO TOUCH ON
THE QUESTION, UM, ABOUT N CCPS.
UM I LIKE THEM. ME TOO. SO DO
YOU AGREE ON THAT? UM YOU KNOW,
ONE OF THE THINGS IN
CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD ACTUALLY
, DIRECTOR BONHAM IS THE VALUE
OF THEM AND WE KEEP TAKING AWAY
THE REASONS FOR PEOPLE TO FOR
COMMUNITIES TO DO THEM RIGHT.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A
COUPLE IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP A
COUPLE OF TIMES. SO MY TWO
QUESTIONS ARE, YOU KNOW HOW DO
WE CONTINUE TO PUSH COMMUNITIES
TO DO THESE REALLY IMPORTANT
PLANS? BUT MY SECOND QUESTION IS
ALSO WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE
OPPOSITION IS FOR THESE SPECIES.
THEY SEE THE BENEFIT BEING WE
GET MORE THAN FULLY MITIGATED,
RIGHT? WE GET THIS NET BENEFIT.
IS IT SOMETHING THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS CONSIDERED
INSTEAD OF JUST DUMPING THEM
INTO SISA AND MAKING THEM
THREATENED TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE
UNDER THE CEASE UMBRELLA? A
SEPARATE DESIGNATION FOR THE
SPECIES THAT WOULD PROVIDE THAT
NET BENEFIT STANDARD? I TOO,
WISH WE HAD MORE EN CCPS. THE
CORE OF THAT ACT IS VOLUNTARY.
AS YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENT, THE
STATE UNDER THAT ACT CAN'T
COMPEL PARTIES TO PRODUCE THOSE
PLANS. BUT CHAIRS SEVERAL THINGS
WE'RE DOING TO FURTHER
INCENTIVIZE. IS THROUGH OUR
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD
THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT WITH YOUR
BUDGET LEADERSHIP AND THE
GOVERNOR'S SUPPORT. WE'VE
ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY. TO PROVIDE
OUT TOO. THOSE TO DEVELOP THOSE
PLANS. SO THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF
TRYING TO GET TO AN OUTCOME OF
MORE OF THE PLANS. BUT IN THE
CONTEXT OF WHY NO ONE HAS COME
FORWARD TO DO THEM FOR FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES, I CAN'T
REQUIRE THEM TO DO THAT. YOUR
NEXT QUESTION, BUT WE ARE
INCENTIVIZING THEM TO UNDER THE
FULLY PROTECTED SPEECH. YOUR
NEXT QUESTION. UM AH! YOUR THIRD
QUESTION AND I'LL GIVE ME A
CHANCE TO BENEFIT WAS THE
SECOND. OKAY, JUST, UH WHEN ONE
LOOKS AT THE SIX PLUS CARVE OUTS
THAT MS DELFINO HAS MENTIONED.
IT'S ACTUALLY MORE CORRECT TO
SAY ABOUT HALF OF THEM APPEARED
TO HAVE CARRIED OVER A LEGAL
PHRASE OF NET CONSERVATION
BENEFIT OR ILLEGAL PHRASE OF
CONSERVE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW IS
MORE ABOUT RECOVERY. THE OTHER
HALF DON'T CARRY THAT LANGUAGE.
UM AND THEN I WOULD ASK TIME TO
CONFER WITH THE SECRETARY. I
THINK WE HEAR YOUR POINT. HAVE
YOU THOUGHT ABOUT SOME SORT OF
NET CONSERVATION BENEFIT
DYNAMIC, WHICH MR LYONS ACTUALLY
ISN'T IN THE N C. C P A. THAT'S
ONLY FOUND IN THE SAFE HARBOR
PROVISIONS OF THE ENDANGERED
SPECIES ACT. BUT WE HEAR YOU AND
I APPRECIATE THAT INPUT.
APPRECIATE THAT. NEVER WANT
ANYONE TO ANSWER QUESTION. THEY
DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO CAN. I
JUST ADD ON JUST BRIEFLY, AND SO
FIRST OF ALL, GOING TO THE LAST
PART, UH, DIRECTOR BONHAM IS
CORRECT THAT HALF DON'T
SPECIFICALLY SAY NET
CONSERVATION BENEFIT, BUT THOSE
HAVE WERE FOR EITHER ACTIONS
THAT DAM REMOVAL OR EXPANSION OF
A SPECIES RANGE LIKE WITH
CONDOR. OR SAID FULLY MITIGATED
AND THEN ADDED ADDITIONAL
CONDITIONS. SO I JUST WANT TO BE
CLEAR ABOUT ITS. WE STILL
REGARDED ALL OF THOSE EXCEPTIONS
AS AS UPLIFTS BEYOND A FULL
MITIGATION STANDARD. ON THE N C
C P I, YOU KNOW, I JUST THIS IS
NOT GOING TO COME AS ANY
SURPRISE TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
I HAVE. ACTUALLY I APPRECIATE
THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE, BUT
I HAVE BEEN A BIT FRUSTRATED
WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. UM WITH
RESPECT TO NCC PS. I DO THINK
THAT MORE COULD BE DONE TO
INCENTIVIZE AND PROMOTE THE USE
OF NCC PS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.
UH WAY BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THE
DESERT RENEWABLE ENERGY
CONSERVATION PLAN WAS ORIGINALLY
CONCEIVED. IT WAS CONCEIVED AS
BOTH A FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT
PLAN AND AN N CCP. THE FEDERAL
LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN WAS ABLE TO
MOVE FORWARD. BUT THE NCC P
PIECE WAS DROPPED AND NEVER
PICKED BACK UP AGAIN. AND THAT
WAS THE CHOICE OF THE
ADMINISTRATION, NOT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL FOLKS THAT WE'RE
WORKING ON THAT DAIRY CP. WHY
WHY DIDN'T WE MOVE FORWARD WITH
AN N? C C P AS PART OF THE DAIRY
CP, AND THEN WITH RESPECT TO
FUNDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S OWN
PROPOSAL THAT MOVE FORWARD THIS
YEAR CUT 6 MILLION OF THE $36
MILLION TO THE WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION BOARD FOR N CCPS
CCPS WERE SO IMPORTANT, WHY NOT
COME UP WITH THE ADDITIONAL $6
MILLION? IT'S NOT THAT MUCH
MONEY IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF
THINGS. WHY MAKE SUCH A PUNITIVE
CUT TO THAT PROGRAM? SO I THINK
THERE'S A LOT MORE WE COULD BE
DOING TO PROMOTE AND CCPS ACROSS
THE STATE. AND SO I WOULD JUST
PUT THAT OUT. THERE IS JUST AS A
SLIGHT REBUTTAL. THANK YOU. MY
LAST QUESTION. YOU KNEW I HAD
ANOTHER ONE DIRECTOR BONA, BUT I
ACTUALLY DON'T ASK TO STAY AS
LONG AS YOU SAID THIRD. I'M
LIKE, I THINK I ONLY ASK YOU,
UM, BUT THE SEQUA EXEMPTION. UM
OR FOR DELISTING. UM. YOU KNEW
REMARKS THAT THREE OF THESE HAVE
BEEN DELISTED. I'LL NOTE THAT
ONE HAS BEEN DELISTED BECAUSE IT
WENT EXTINCT. SO IT'S IMPORTANT
TO NOTE THAT THEY DIDN'T ALL GET
DELISTED BECAUSE THEY HAVE
THRIVED. UM SO AH! IF YOU COULD
TALK ABOUT THAT, AND WHAT THE
PURPOSE OF THAT EXEMPTION IS
TAKE THE WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING
IT MIGHT HAVE GONE HAD BEEN
EXTRA PATED, WHICH IS NOT FOUND
IN CALIFORNIA. I CAN'T REMEMBER
EXTINCT GLOBALLY. BUT SO HERE
WAS THE THINKING AND AYE. THIS
IS ALSO A QUESTION I'D LIKE TO
REFLECT ON MORE WITH SECRETARY
CROW FOOT. I UNDERSTAND, UH KIND
OF DOUBLE STANDARD COMMENT FROM
EARLIER I THINK THE DEPARTMENT
IN GOOD FAITH HAS BEEN LOOKING
AT THE CHALLENGE AND CONUNDRUM
RELATED TO FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES. AS HAS MOST OF THE
PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM FOR QUITE
SOME TIME. THINKING AND LOOKING
AT IT FROM THAT LENSES. UM. WE
ARE PROPOSING TO RECLASSIFY
THOSE. SEVEN REMEMBER. THERE ARE
EIGHT ALREADY DESIGNATED AS.
THREATENED AND 19 IS ENDANGERED.
THEY HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED. FOR
QUITE SOME TIME. LISTED UNDER
THE ACT, AND NOBODY HAS
PETITIONED TO DELIST ANY OF
THOSE. SORRY PERSONALLY, YOU
KNOW, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THE
SPACE, WHICH DRIVES A LEGITIMATE
CONCERN. WE'RE HEARING EXPRESS
IT MAY BE. THE CONCERN IS MORE
ABOUT THE SEVEN THAT HAVEN'T YET
BEEN LISTED UNDER CAESAR. SO IF
THOSE COME OVER. WE PROPOSE A
SEQUEL WAIVER. IF THE COMMISSION
WERE INCLINED TO DELIST THEM.
THE COMMISSION RIGHT NOW HAS A
CERTIFIED REGULATORY PROGRAM FOR
ALL OF ITS LISTING DECISIONS.
THAT ADDS A SPECIES OR IT
UPGRADES A SPECIES. IT DOESN'T
DO INDIVIDUAL ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT REPORTS. IT DOES ANALYSIS
AND THEN IT COMBINES WITH THAT.
THE A P A PROCESS NOTICE AND
COMMENT. RULEMAKING OFFICE OF
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW. SO ARE WHAT
WE WERE THINKING ABOUT WAS THE
APPROPRIATENESS OF NOT HAVING
ANY IR A SEQUEL DOCUMENT DONE.
ON THE DELISTING DYNAMIC. THAT
WAS OUR RATIONALE. I UNDERSTAND
THE QUESTION I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE
TO THINK ABOUT IT AND REFLECT
WITH SECRETARY I APPRECIATE
THAT, UM YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK
IF SOMETHING'S BEING DELISTED,
ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE
PROTECTIONS IN PLACE IS
IMPORTANT. SO I WOULD INVITE,
YOU KNOW FURTHER CONVERSATION ON
THAT. BUT THE SECRETARY WANTED
TO ADD SOMETHING, I THINK. YEAH,
I'M GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I
DO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING
FOR ME BACK AT THE NEW WHAT
HAPPENED? WANTED TO HONOR YOUR
REQUEST TO STAY AT THE TABLE.
AND IF I COULD, I'D JUST LIKE TO
MAKE A FINAL COMMENT. I'M
PLEASE. YEAH. UM SO FIRST OF
ALL, YOU KNOW OUR SINCERE THANKS
FOR HOLDING THIS HEARING. I
THINK THE LAST THREE HOURS HAVE
BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO
IDENTIFYING, UM, WHERE THERE IS
MIGHT BE GENERAL ACCEPTANCE TO
CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THESE
PROPOSALS WHERE THERE ARE
SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS AND WHERE
THERE ARE CONCERNS, AND I THINK
THAT'S BEEN REALLY CONSTRUCTIVE
AND WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. AND REPORT
BACK SO VERY HELPFUL. I DO THINK
THE TIME IS NOW TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS. I WILL SAY WE ARE
WORKING. URGENTLY INTENTLY, UH,
WON'T SAY DESPERATELY TO GET
PROJECTS IN PLACE. FLOOD SAFETY
PROJECTS, DROUGHT, RESILIENCE,
PROJECTS, HABITAT CONNECTIVITY
AND RESTORATION PROJECTS, CLEAN
ENERGY TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
AND I'LL LEAVE IT TO THE
POLICYMAKERS, THE GOVERNMENT
LEGISLATURE TO DEFINE NOW, BUT
THESE WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT
DOESN'T WORK TO MEET THE TARGETS
THAT WE NEED TO MEET AND TO AND
TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES AS WE
NEED TO PROTECT THEM, AND I
WORRY IF WE DELAY SIX MONTHS, 12
MONTHS, TWO YEARS, UM WE
SHOULDN'T BE UNDER ANY ILLUSION
THAT WE'RE TAKING THE ACTIONS
THAT WE NEED TO TAKE. AND SO
THAT'S JUST REALLY THAT CANDID
COME MESSAGE I WANT TO BRING IS
WE APPRECIATE TAKING THESE
QUESTIONS ARE TAKING THESE
PROPOSALS ON SUBSTANTIVELY TODAY
BECAUSE WE DO THINK NOW IS THE
TIME TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS
TO MODERNIZE OUR PROCESS FOR
ACTUALLY GETTING THESE PROJECTS
DONE QUICKLY AND GETTING THE
NUMBERS RIGHT? SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND I KNOW THREE
HOURS OF YOUR TIME IS A LOT. SO
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT.
AND I KNOW THESE ARE ALL ISSUES
THAT ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR
HEART. SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE TO ANSWER OUR TOUGH
QUESTIONS AND SECRETARY KO FOOT
. UH HE'S GOING TO KEEP YOU IN
THE HOT SEAT. NOW KEEP YOUR TINY
BIT LONGER ONLY BECAUSE I WAS
GETTING I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU
FOR A CLOSE AND I WAS GOING TO
ASK YOU FOR A CLOSE BASED
SPECIFICALLY ON HOW YOU CLOSE,
BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE YOU TO
HEAR THIS AS YOU'RE WALKING OUT
THE DOOR BECAUSE IT'S CONSISTENT
WITH THAT. AND THAT IS I THINK
THAT I'VE HEARD TODAY. UM STRONG
SUPPORT FOR MODERNIZATION OF,
FOR EXAMPLE, UM, UH, THE LISTING
OF THE SPECIES, BUT YOU KNOW,
BUT MANY THINGS GOING FORWARD,
UM AND BUT IT'S SO EASY. I THINK
FOR US TO SAY, OKAY, THIS SHOULD
BE DONE BY POLICY. AND THAT IS A
VERY LEGITIMATE DEBATE. AND I
RESPECT HOW YOU SAID, YOU KNOW,
THE DEFINITION OF NOW IS, BUT I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT
LOSE THE SIGHT LOSE SIGHT OF THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE A CLIMATE
EMERGENCY COMING. AND WE ARE NOT
MOVING FAST ENOUGH. AND SO, BUT
I, IT'S SO EASY TO FALL BACK
INTO WELL THE POLICY DEBATE AND
THEN THE POLICY DEBATE BECAUSE
THERE IS BUILT IN AND ER SHA IN
OUR PROCESS TO ALWAYS SAY, WELL,
IT'S HARD. LET'S DO IT LATER.
IT'S HARD. LET'S DO IT LATER,
AND I JUST I WANTED TO ASK THE
THREE OF YOU, TOO. SUMMARIZE FOR
US AGAIN BECAUSE YOU YOU YOU ARE
AT THE POINT OF THE SPEAR HERE
IN TERMS OF URGENCY. YOU GUYS
ARE THE ONES THAT DEVELOP THIS
PACKAGE. YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S
SAYING WE HAVE TO HAVE URGENCY.
UM, AND I THINK YOU HEAR OF
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF IT'S
ALMOST ALWAYS EASIER TO SAY WITH
MORE TIME WE CAN DO IT BETTER,
BUT WAS TOO MUCH MORE TIME AND
WE HAVE A PROBLEM. SO IF YOU
COULD SUMMARIZE THE URGENCY THAT
THE NOW A LITTLE BIT THE URGENCY
OF NOW WHATEVER NOW IS WITH HOW
THAT'S DEFINED BY, YOU KNOW,
DEFINITIONS. I'D LOVE TO HAVE
THAT. I THINK YOU DID A GREAT
JOB, SO I'M NOT ASKING TO DO IT.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO HEAR ME SAY
THAT BEFORE YOU WALK DOWN THE
ROOM, ACTUALLY THINK SO. YOUR
CLOTHES IS PERFECT NOW FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION IS A PART OF THIS
BUDGET IN THE FISCAL YEAR THAT
BEGINS JULY 1ST FOR EVERYTHING
YOU JUST SAID THE WHETHER
WHIPLASH THE SECRETARY SPOKE TO
AT THE BEGINNING, THE FEDERAL
FUNDING THE NEED. WE HAVE NOT
JUST FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE FROM
THE FEDERAL FUNDING, BUT TO
BUILD HOUSING TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH ROOM IN
CALIFORNIA TO CONTINUE TO GROW.
MR BOTTOM WILL TELL YOU WE'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ACT FOR
15 YEARS, SO ABSOLUTELY, I THINK
IF THEY ARE VERY ALSO WERE HERE,
HE'D SAY, DON'T MAKE THE PERFECT
ENEMY OF THE GOOD. I DO THINK WE
DEFINED NOW AS PART OF THIS
BUDGET PACKAGE FOR ALL THE
REASONS WE'VE STATED, AND WE
CONTINUE TO GET YOU INFORMATION
ON WHAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PUTS AT RISK IF WE DON'T ACT
IMMEDIATELY, AND IF WE DON'T ACT
AS THE EXAMPLE TO THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY, AND YOUR YOUR
ARGUMENT TO ACT IMMEDIATELY WAS
IN MY SUMMARY WAS BASED MOSTLY
ON BEING ABLE TO CONVINCE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT LOOK,
WE'RE TAKING ACTION TO SORT OF
PROVE WE'RE GOING TO MOVE AS
FAST AS OTHER STATES THAT THEY
MIGHT INVEST THE MONEY IN. UM IF
YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ARGUMENT,
BESIDES, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL
TO DO. I THINK THAT'S THAT'S
ABSOLUTELY PART OF IT. THE
SECOND PART IS THAT THE STATE
HAS NOT CREATED THE
INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN. WE NEED TO
CREATE THE SUPPORTS FOR
CRITICALLY NEEDED HOUSING ALL
OVER THE STATE. THERE. THE
GOVERNOR PUT $250 MILLION IN THE
BUDGET JUST TO TRY AND GET
ENOUGH HOUSING BUILT IN FRESNO
THIS YEAR, JUST BECAUSE OF THE
HUGE DEMAND, SO WHAT YOU'LL HEAR
IS THAT THIS PACKAGE IS ABOUT
MAXIMIZING FEDERAL FUNDING TO
MAXIMIZE NOT JUST STREETS AND
ROADS AND CLEAN ENERGY AND CHIPS
MANUFACTURING. UM WHILE
PROTECTING AND KEEPING IN PLACE
ALL OF THE SEQUIN MITIGATION IN
PUBLIC PROCESS, BUT ALSO SO WE
CAN BUILD THE HOUSING THAT WE
NEED AND THE REST OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE THINK IS
NECESSARY IN THE STATE. YOU
HEARD MY COMMENT EARLIER, WHERE
I WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO RANK
SOME OF THESE IN TERMS OF WHICH
ONES ARE, YOU KNOW, FIT MORE
UNDER THAT THAT SENSE OF URGENCY
OR NOT, SO I'D WELCOME KNOWING.
WHICH ONES ARE TRULY THERE
BECAUSE YOU CAN MAKE A CASE THAT
THE ACTUAL WRITING OF THIS
LEGISLATION IS. IT IS
CHALLENGING TO GET DONE RIGHT
AND FOR US TO SEE IT ON SUCH
SHORT NOTICE, AND THEN TO TRY TO
SAY, HEY, THIS IS THE RIGHT
LANGUAGE. IT'S VERY LEGITIMATE
FOR PEOPLE TO SAY. HEY WE NEED
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TIME TO VET
THIS. I'M TRYING TO. I'M TRYING
TO BALANCE THAT. WHAT'S THE
TIME? WE NEED TO VET GOOD
LANGUAGE. AND WHAT IS WHAT DO WE
NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T
LOSE THE MOMENTUM THAT WE HAVE
TO START BUILDING AND WE JUST
HAVE HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY
BUILDING HERE IN THE STATE.
FINAL THING THAT SO, UM THAT'S
THAT'S I'M STILL UP IN THE AIR
IN TERMS OF ALL OF THAT STUFF
AND WOULD WELCOME THE FINAL
THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT WAS
WAS DIRECTOR BONHAM IN
PARTICULAR THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AN
EXTREMELY ARTICULATE
SPOKESPERSON FOR, UM TRYING TO
MODERNIZE WHETHER IT WAS WHEN WE
WERE HAVING THE JOSHUA TREE
CONVERSATIONS, ETCETERA, THE
VALUE OF MODERNIZING AND I JUST
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO BETTER
. WE CAN DO BETTER FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT IF WE DON'T JUST
STAND PAT, I THINK AFTER 50
YEARS WE'VE LEARNED THAT WE CAN
DO BETTER AND I HAVE SIGNIFICANT
CONFIDENCE IN YOU AND YOUR
DEPARTMENT. JUST BECAUSE OF THE
WAY YOU HAVE HANDLED YOURSELVES
, UM, THAT YOU WILL MAKE IT
BETTER IF WE MAKE CHANGE. THE
QUESTION IS, WHAT'S THE RIGHT
PROCESS TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES? I
THINK WE HAD TWO WITNESSES TODAY
JUST ON THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT
THAT YOU KNOW, BROUGHT UP SOME
GOOD POINTS ABOUT THE GOLDEN
EAGLE AND YOU KNOW GOOD POINTS
ABOUT TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD. I
WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CAPTURE WE CAN'T LOSE THE SENSE
OF URGENCY WHILE WE TRY TO TRY
TO DO THAT WE DO HAVE TO MAKE
CHANGE IF WE REALLY WANT TO
REACH THOSE GOALS BECAUSE THE
ULTIMATE ENVIRONMENTAL GOAL IS
TO NOT COOK OURSELVES TO DEATH.
THANK YOU AND I WANT TO RESPECT
THE SECRETARY'S TIME. SO THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE. PLEASE DON'T
STAY. FOR US. UM BUT, UH
DIRECTOR BONHAM YOU'RE NOT OFF
THE HOT SEAT. I DON'T THINK UH
HUH. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ON THIS FINAL PROPOSAL
THING? NONE OKAY, GREAT. WELL
THEN I TAKE IT BACK. DIRECTOR
ON. UM, UM WELL, THANK YOU ALL
WE WILL, UM, BE GOING TO THE
PHONE LINES FOR SUPPORTING
OPPOSITION. NOT ALL OF THESE
BEFORE WE DO SO IF YOU WANT TO
CALL IN NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY.
WE WILL, UM BRING THE BILL
HEARING BACK FROM RECESS SO THAT
WE CAN CALL THE ROLL FROM HIS
PELLERIN ON THE BILLS, PHONES.
THANK YOU. AND I SEE THE
ADMINISTRATION FOLKS LEAVING
WHICH I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. I
WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
BEING HERE. NO NO, NO, THAT WAS
NOT MY POINT. SORRY, MISS
MILLER. BUT I JUST WANTED BEFORE
YOU LEFT. I WANTED TO THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ENGAGING
SO ROBUSTLY WITH US. I KNOW. UM
IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
PROCESS, AND WE DO APPRECIATE
IT. I THINK THAT MY TAKEAWAYS
FROM TODAY THAT I HOPE YOU KNOW
YOU HEARD WERE CONCERNS ABOUT
THE PROCESS AND HOW WE CAN GET
THE LANGUAGE RIGHT, GIVEN WHAT
IS BEING ASKED OF US AS A
LEGISLATURE AND THEN OBVIOUSLY A
SLEW OF CONCERNS ON THE POLICY
THEMSELVES. SO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. OH, SHE'S READY SO
WE WILL CALL THE ROLL ON. SB
668. OKAY 668 MOTION IS DUE PASS
TO APPROPRIATIONS. PELLERIN.
TOLERANT, AYE. THAT BILL HAS 14
0 AND IT WAS IT IS OUT. UM SO I
WILL ADJOURN THE BILL HEARING,
BUT WE WILL REMAIN IN FOR THE
INFORMATIONAL HEARING AND WE
WILL GO TO THE PHONE LINES
MODERATOR. THANK YOU. LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
TESTIFY AND SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION TO TODAY'S IN FROM
INFORMATIONAL HEARING, PLEASE
PRESS ONE, FOLLOWED BY ZERO WILL
BEGIN WITH LINE SEVEN. UM HI. MY
NAME IS STEPHEN KING. I'M WITH
ENVIRONMENT. CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENT. CALIFORNIA SUPPORTS
THE ACCELERATING ENVIRONMENTAL
MEDICATION TRAILER BILL AND WE
OPPOSE THE DELTA REFORM ACT
STREAMLINING BILL AND WE ALSO
OPPOSED THE FULLY PROTECTED
SPECIES FOR CLASSIFICATION,
BILL. THANK YOU. NEXT. WE GOT A
LINE 28. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS
STEPHANIE ESTRADA FROM CRUZ
STRATEGIES ON BEHALF OF THE
CALIFORNIA BUSINESS PROPERTIES
ASSOCIATION IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
GOVERNOR NEWSOM PLAN TO
STREAMLINE CRITICAL INPUTS TO
EXTRACT PROJECT WE URGED THE
LEGISLATURE TO WORK WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION TO ADOPT THESE
PROPOSALS AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S
STATE BUDGET. THANK YOU. PLEASE
GO AHEAD LINE 36. GOOD
AFTERNOON. TAYLOR ROSHAN ON
BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA, CITRUS
MUTUAL. CALIFORNIA WALNUT
FARMERS LEAGUE FOR WITH
EQUIPMENT DEALERS, CALIFORNIA
FRESH FRUIT AND THE CALIFORNIA
GROCERS ASSOCIATION IN SPORTS.
THANK YOU. YOU ARE OPEN LINE,
33. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY
NAME IS KATE POOL. I'M A SENIOR
DIRECTOR, THE NATURAL RESOURCES
DEFENSE COUNCIL IN GENERAL
ENERGY. èC OPPOSES PASSING
THESE TRAILER BILLS AS PART OF
THE BUDGET RATHER THAN THROUGH
REGULAR ORDER, BECAUSE AS YOU'VE
HEARD, MANY OF THEM PROPOSED
SIGNIFICANT AND IN SOME CASES,
SEEMINGLY UNJUSTIFIED POLICY
CHANGES WITHOUT FOLK PUBLIC
INPUT AND LEGISLATIVE VETTING.
WE UNDERSTAND AND ARE
SYMPATHETIC TO THE NEED TO DEAL
URGENTLY WITH THE CLIMATE AND
BIODIVERSITY TAKING NAME
POSITION, AN ORGANIZATION AT
THIS TIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU
. SEE, OPPOSES. THANK YOU.
PLEASE GO AHEAD LINE. 22 THIS IS
KYLE GRIFFITH, SPEAKING ON THE
CALIFORNIANS FOR WATER SECURITY
IN SUPPORT OF THE PACKAGE. THANK
YOU. 9 13, YOU ARE OPEN. 13 OR
YOU MUTED. 9 13. I BELIEVE THAT
IS THAT ME? YES. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS NICK
JENSEN AND I REPRESENT THE
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
IN OPPOSITION. PLEASE GO AHEAD
LINE 39. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS
GAIL DELAHANTY WITH WESTERN
GROWERS ASSOCIATION AND WE ARE
IN SUPPORT OF THE FULL PACKAGE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 38 YOU ARE
OPEN. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS CHRIS WILSON WITH THE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY BUSINESS
FEDERATION NOTICE THIS FIT AND
SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR'S
INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE. THANK
YOU. PLEASE GO AHEAD. 9 32.
HELLO PETER DIRECT MEYER, POLICY
DIRECTOR FOR THE 12 RIVER TRUST
, EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO THE
TRAILER BILLS. 9 40, PLEASE GO
AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIRMAN MEMBERS TRICIA
GEHRINGER WITH AGRICULTURAL
COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR'S
INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE. THANK
YOU. 41 YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
AFTERNOON JAMIE MINOR ON BEHALF
OF SANTA MARGHERITA WATER
DISTRICT IN EASTERN MUNICIPAL
WATER DISTRICT IN SUPPORT AND
ECHOED THE COMMENTS FROM OUR
COLLEAGUES FROM AQUA. THANK YOU.
LINE. 15, PLEASE GO AHEAD. LINE
15. I THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE SAID
45 TO ITS LINE 15. OH, HI, ARMY.
YEAH, THAT'S YOU. PLEASE GO
AHEAD. SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY
THANK YOU. HI MY NAME IS JULIA
DOWELL. I'M WITH SAN FRANCISCO
BAY KEEPER. UM WE STRONGLY
OPPOSED THE PROCESS OF PUSHING
POLICY CHANGES THROUGH THE
BUDGET TRAILER BILL PROCESS. WE
ALSO IN PARTICULAR, STRONGLY
OPPOSED THE DELTA REFORM ACT
TRAILER BILL AND THE FULLY
PROTECTED SPECIES TRAILER BILL.
THANK YOU. WE'LL GIVE ANOTHER
REMINDER. PLEASE TRUST ONE,
FOLLOWED BY ZERO IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON
TODAY'S INFAMOUS INFORMATIONAL
HEARING IN 42, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
UM, LET'S JUST DEIRDRE RIGHT
DOWN. WITH CLIMATE ACTING
CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE NETWORK OF
CLIMATE CÁC GROUPS AND
CALIFORNIA WIRE RESEARCH. UM. WE
DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THESE BILLS
ACTUALLY ADVANCE. UH CLIMATE
MEDICATION. WHERE CONCERNED THAT
THERE GREAT WITH REGARD TO
BUILDING ROADS WERE CONCERNED
ABOUT THE DELTA TUNNEL PROJECT.
UM THANK YOU WERE TAKING NAMES,
ORGANIZATION AND POSITION AT
THIS TIME. OKAY OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU POSED BOTH ON PROCESS
AND SUBSTANCE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. 9 37, PLEASE GO AHEAD. GOOD
AFTERNOON COOL CLIENT ON BEHALF
OF CALIFORNIA FOR ACTION FUND
AND FULL SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. I AM MADAM
CHAIR. WE HAVE CLEARED THE CUE.
THANK YOU, BUT THAT WE'RE
ADJOURNED.