GOOD MORNING.
UM WE HAVE A CAST OF THOUSANDS
UP HERE, UH, ON THE SUB
COMMITTEE TO, UH, ANXIOUSLY HEAR
WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. UM, BUT,
UM, THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING OF
BUDGET OF FOUR AND, UH,
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INTEREST,
AND I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE
THAT WE HAVE THE FOUR
SECRETARIES HERE, UH, TO GIVE US
AN OVERVIEW. UH AND THAT'S WHAT
WE WILL, UH, START WITH, UM AND
THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE WATER
BOARD, THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES AND THEIR BUDGET
PROPOSALS. WE HAVE FIVE ITEMS
THAT ARE PLANNED FOR DISCUSSIONS
. UH, FOR EACH OF THE ITEMS,
I'LL ASK EACH WITNESS IN THE
AGENDA TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES,
UH, BEFORE THEY BEGIN THEIR
TESTIMONY, SO IF YOU'LL HELP US
WITH THAT, AT THE END OF THE
PRESENTATION ITEMS, UH, MEMBERS
OF THE SUBCOMITTEE ALL THOUSANDS
OF US, UM MAY, UH UH, MAY ASK
QUESTIONS OR MAKE COMMENTS ON
ANY OF THE SEVEN NON PRESENTS
ITEMS. UH, DURING THIS FIRST
HEARING WILL NOT BE TAKING ANY
VOTES ON ANY ITEMS, AND AFTER
ALL, THE ITEMS ARE HEARD. WE
WILL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. UH,
FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
WISH TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT.
PLEASE LIMIT YOUR TESTIMONY TO
COMMENTS REGARDING THE WATER
BOARD FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES. IF YOU HAVE
COMMENTS ON BUDGET ISSUES NOT
RELATED TO THESE DEPARTMENTS,
PLEASE REFER TO THE DAILY FILE,
FOR WHICH SUBCOMITTEE HEARING
THE PERTINENT DEPARTMENT WILL BE
FOR YOU. EACH MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO
SPEAK. UM THERE WILL BE NÓ
REMOTE TESTIMONY AT THIS
COMMITTEE. AND WOULD YOU PLEASE
TAKE THE ROLE? BENNETT. HERE,
CONNOLLY. LARA PEACHY NORRIS
WILSON. AYE, WE HAVE, UM OUR
PANEL AND, UM YOU GUYS HAVE A
PREFERENCE? YES. ALL RIGHT.
GOOD. ALL RIGHT. SECRETARY
GARCIA. GONZALEZ. AND THEN ALL
RIGHT. 2000 ORDER. GOOD MORNING.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE
GONNA BE MORE COMFORTABLE
ROTATING UP OR ALL SITTING HERE,
BUT NUMBERS NUMBERS, RIGHT? YOU.
YOU GUYS HAVE US OUTNUMBERED IN
EVERY WAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHTY.
LEAVE LEAVE ANY ONE OF US
SITTING UP HERE ALONE. ALL
RIGHT, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
AUDIENCE. UH UH, THIS IS
SECRETARY. UH GARCIA GONZALEZ,
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY. WELCOME THANK
YOU. THANKS VERY MUCH. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
HERE THIS MORNING AND JOINED BY
MY COLLEAGUES HERE, UM, TO GET
US STARTED, AND, UM, I KNOW THAT
I KNOW THAT WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO HEARING A LOT MORE
DETAIL ON WATER AND SOME OF THE
SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT YOU MIGHT
WANT TO ADDRESS IN THAT SPACE,
BUT THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO FIRST INTRODUCE
MYSELF. YANA GARCIA AS YOU
MENTIONED SECRETARY FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AT THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY AND SHARE WITH
YOU SOME OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE
BEEN MAKING AS WELL AS SOME OF
MY PRIORITIES. SO OUR
DEPARTMENTS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND USE
THE MOST RECENT RESEARCH TO
SHAPE THE STATE'S NATION LEADING
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS IN
COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITIES.
OUR ADMINISTRATION AND OUR
LEGISLATIVE PARTNERS. OUR WORK
HAS BECOME EVER MORE URGENT AS
THE CLIMATE CONTINUES TO CHANGE.
AS I THINK YOU ARE ALL AWARE AND
YOUR AUDIENCE IS AWARE LAST YEAR
WAS THE PLANET'S HOTTEST YEAR ON
RECORD. IN CALIFORNIA, RANKED
AMONG THE STATE, THE NATION'S
TOP FIVE STATES IMPACTED BY
CLIMATE CHANGE. ACCORDING TO THE
WORLD'S LEADING CLIMATE
SCIENTISTS. WE NEED TO REDUCE
GLOBAL EMISSIONS BY HALF BY THE
END OF THIS DECADE. AND I'M
PROUD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY AND OUR
ADMINISTRATION IN RISING TO THAT
CHALLENGE. IN 2020 THREE. WE
PUSHED TO MEET OUR WORLD LEADING
CLIMATE GOALS AND ENACT
AGGRESSIVE LEGISLATION. SLASHING
POLLUTION IN OVERBURDENED
COMMUNITIES, BUILDING OUT
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF NEW
BATTERY STORAGE TO SUPPORT GRID
RELIABILITY IN CALIFORNIA'S
CLEAN ENERGY GOALS. ACHIEVING
MILESTONES AND ZERO EMISSION
VEHICLE, CAR AND TRUCK SALES,
UH, YEARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. AND
ADVANCING THE NATION'S FIRST
CLIMATE CORPS, AS WELL AS
INSPIRING OTHER STATES TO DO THE
SAME. WE'VE ALSO DEPLOYED NEW
TECHNOLOGY TO DETECT AND CONTROL
METHANE EMISSIONS AND SO MUCH
MORE. AT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET
SITUATION IS CHALLENGING. BUT
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
REFLECTS OUR CONTINUED
COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVING OUR
CLIMATE GOALS AND TO PROMOTING
PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION ACROSS THE STATE. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET SPECIFICALLY
PROTECTS 89% OR 48 POINT THREE
BILLION OF OUR ORIGINAL $54
BILLION CLIMATE BUDGET. THIS
REMAINS A HISTORICAL LEVEL OF
INVESTMENT THAT CONTINUES TO
PRIORITIZE EQUITY AND
INVESTMENTS IN UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES WHO FACE
DISPROPORTIONATE HARM FROM
POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY, ALONG WITH OUR SISTER
AGENCIES HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN 36
BILLION OF THESE INVESTMENTS OUT
THE DOOR AND INTO OUR
COMMUNITIES TO MAKE REAL CHANGE
ON THE GROUND. NOW, I'D LIKE TO
TAKE A FEW MINUTES AS I
MENTIONED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
THE GREAT PROGRESS IN FUNDING
AND OTHER STATE RESOURCES THAT
WE ARE SUPPORTING, AND TO TOUCH
ON A FEW KEY PROPOSALS BEFORE
YOU FOR CONSIDERATION IN THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET. NOW I WANNA START
BY HIGHLIGHTING ONE OF MY
HIGHEST PRIORITIES THIS YEAR,
WHICH IS PROTECTING OUR
ENVIRONMENT AND OUR HEALTH
THROUGH SUSTAINABLE PEST
MANAGEMENT. AND I'M HONORED TO
BE JOINED IN THIS WITH MY
COLLEAGUE KAREN ROSS. AND
SECURING FUNDING FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE
REGULATION MORE SPECIFICALLY TO
DO THIS CRITICAL WORK. PEST
MANAGEMENT, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS
INTEGRAL TO THE STABILITY OF
CALIFORNIA'S HEALTHY FOOD
SUPPLY. IT SUPPORTS GROWERS AND
AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY AND
PROTECTS THE HEALTH OF OUR URBAN
AND RURAL COMMUNITIES AND OUR
ENVIRONMENT. LAST YEAR, THE
DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE
REGULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE, BASED ON EXTENSIVE
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, RELEASED
A ROADMAP TO ACCELERATE A SYSTEM
WIDE TRANSITION TO SAFER,
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT. BY
2050 THAT ROAD MAPS. GOALS ARE
FOR CALIFORNIA TO REPLACE HIGH
PRIORITY RISK PESTICIDES AND
ADOPT SUSTAINABLE PEST
MANAGEMENT AS THE DE FACTO PEST
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ACROSS OUR
STATE. THE BUDGET INCLUDES 30,
THREE POINT THREE MILLION
DOLLARS, PHASED IN OVER THREE
YEARS TO SUPPORT THE
DEPARTMENT'S ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
IN THIS WORK, INCLUDING WORK TO
INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF
SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT
TOOLS AND PRACTICES. THIS
INCLUDES FUNDING TO STREAMLINE
PESTICIDE EVALUATION AND
REGISTRATION TIMELINES TO BRING
SAFER, EFFECTIVE PESTICIDES TO
MARKET FASTER AND TO GRANT
SUPPORT FOR INNOVATIVE RESEARCH
TO PROVIDE VIABLE ALTERNATIVES
FOR HIGH RISK PEST MANAGEMENT
PRODUCTS AND SUPPORT EXPANDED
ADOPTION OF THOSE ALTERNATIVES.
THIS PROPOSAL WILL PROVIDE
STABLE FUNDING FROM THE MILL
ASSESSMENT TO BETTER SUPPORT THE
DEPARTMENT'S STATUTORY AND
PROGRAMMATIC RESPONSIBILITIES TO
HELP MAINTAIN OUR HEALTHY FOOD
SUPPLY TO SUPPORT GROWERS AND
PROTECT THE HEALTH OF OUR URBAN
AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ALIKE.
NOW, THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH HAZARDS ASSESSMENT AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC
SUBSTANCES CONTROL ARE ALSO
DOING CRITICAL WORK TO SUPPORT
ALL CALIFORNIANS, ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
I'M PROUD OF THE OFFICE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS
ASSESSMENT, CONTINUED WORK TO
SPECIFICALLY ENGAGE WITH AND
LEARN FROM TRIBES THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS, INCLUDING THOSE
THAT INFORMED THE FOURTH EDITION
OF A HASS INDICATORS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE. REPORT. BUILDING ON THIS
REPORT LAST MONTH, WE HAVE HELD
A SYMPOSIUM WHICH I THINK MANY
OF YOUR YOUR STAFF MAY HAVE
JOINED THAT CONVENED DIVERSE
PERSPECTIVES, INCLUDING THOSE
FROM TRIBES TO PROMOTE
EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
TO MEET THE CLIMATE CRISIS. THE
DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES
CONTROL, ALSO RECENTLY RELEASED
THE STATE'S FIRST HAZARDOUS
WASTE MANAGEMENT REPORT. TO
ESTABLISH A BASELINE OF
UNDERSTANDING FOR HOW HAZARDOUS
WASTE IS MANAGED IN CALIFORNIA
TO GUIDE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
. AS I'M SURE YOU ARE ALL AWARE
THIS IS A CHALLENGING AREA FOR
OUR STATE AND A CHALLENGING AREA
THAT WE HAVE PRIORITIZED AT THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY. SPEAKING OF
THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY, I'D ALSO
LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE
SIGNIFICANT WORK BEING DONE AT
CALVER CYCLE. CAR RECYCLE IS
MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON
IMPLEMENTATION OF SB 1000 THREE.
180 THREE TO REDUCE METHANE
EMISSIONS SINCE 21, CALIFORNIA
HAS COMMITTED $487 MILLION TO
ORGANICS, RECYCLING AND SURPLUS
FOOD RECOVERY GRANTS AND LOANS.
75% OF JURISDICTIONS ARE NOW
REPORTING RESIDENTIAL ORGANICS
COLLECTION, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT
PROGRESS AND 100% OF
JURISDICTIONS ARE REPORTING
EXPANDED UNSOLD FOOD RECOVERY
PROGRAMS, A CRITICAL STEP
FORWARD AS ONE IN FIVE
CALIFORNIANS DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH
TO EAT. AS WE LOOK INTO THE
FUTURE, CAL RECYCLE IS ALSO FULL
STEAM AHEAD AND IMPLEMENTING S¼
B 54 ARE LANDMARK PLASTICS
POLLUTION REDUCTION LAW.
REDUCING SINGLE USE PLASTIC
PACKAGING IN THE STATE AND
INCREASING THE RECYCLABLE OF AND
RECYCLING RATES FOR PACKAGING
AND FOOD WEAR. THIS BUDGET
IMPORTANTLY, CONTINUES
INVESTMENT IN THIS WORK.
ALLOWING US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A ZERO WASTE
PLAN FOR THE STATE. NOW, IN
ADDITION TO BUILDING OUT THE
CIRCULAR ECONOMY THAT WE NEED,
WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO SUPPORT
THE TRANSITION TO A CARBON
NEUTRAL ECONOMY AND CARB, AS
ALWAYS REMAINS FULL FORCE IN
THIS EFFORT. THE AIR RESOURCES
BOARD, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR
STATE PARTNERS, IS MOVING
SWIFTLY TO MEET AND SURPASS
CALIFORNIA'S AMBITIOUS CLIMATE
GOALS. WE'VE ACHIEVED AS I
MENTIONED OUR GOAL OF 1.50
EMISSION VEHICLES SOLD IN THE
STATE IN 2023 2 YEARS AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE. AND SURPASSED OUR GOAL
OF 6% 0 EMISSION TRUCK SALES IN
22, ALSO TWO YEARS AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE. JUST LAST WEEK, THE
GOVERNOR ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT
CALIFORNIA HAS SURPASSED 100,000
PUBLIC AND SHARED PRIVATE E VÆ
CHARGERS INSTALLED STATEWIDE.
THIS IS ON TOP OF THE MORE THAN
500,000 AT HOME. CHARTERS AT
CALIFORNIANS HAVE NOW INSTALLED
FOR PERSONAL USE. THE BUDGET
CONTINUES OUR COMMITMENT IN
THESE INVESTMENTS, MAINTAINING
MOST OF THE $10 BILLION
COMMITTED TO THE STATE'S ZERO
EMISSION VEHICLE AGENDA OVER THE
PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS
FUNDING WILL SUPPORT A WIDE
RANGE OF PROGRAMS, INCLUDING
OVER 1.41 $0.8 BILLION TO
SUPPORT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
THEIR TRANSITION TO ZERO
EMISSION BUSES. $656 MILLION IN
CLEAN CARS FOR ALL AND OTHER
EQUITY, FOCUSED PROJECTS AND 945
MILLION FOR DAGE AND OTHER
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR HEAVY DUTY.
AS WELL AS 339 MILLION FOR
COMMUNITY BASED PLANS PROJECTS
AND TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITY STRATEGIES. IN
ADDITION TO OUR ZERO EMISSION
VEHICLE COMMITMENTS, THE BUDGET
PROTECTS $610 MILLION FOR THE
COMMUNITY AIR PROTECTION PROGRAM
AND INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL $250
MILLION IN BUDGET YEAR 2425 FOR
THIS PURPOSE. NOW, THESE
PROGRAMS IMPORTANTLY, AS YOU
KNOW, FOCUS ON IMPROVING PUBLIC
HEALTH AND DISADVANTAGE IN LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES, A CRITICAL
PRIORITY OF MINE AND OF THE
GOVERNORS IN BUILDING A
CALIFORNIA FOR ALL. A LAST, BUT
CERTAINLY NOT LEAST AS I KNOW
YOU'RE MOST INTERESTED IN
HEARING. I'LL TOUCH A BIT ON
WATER. THE 21 AND 22 BUDGET ACTS
COMMITTED $8.7 BILLION OVER
MULTIPLE YEARS TO SUPPORT
RESILIENCE AND RESPONSE PROGRAMS
. ADDRESSING DROUGHT AND
FLOODING, WHICH ARE BEING
EXACERBATED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE BUDGET MAINTAINS SEVEN POINT
THREE BILLION DOLLARS OR 84% OF
THESE INVESTMENTS. THIS
ENCOMPASSES CRITICAL INVESTMENTS
AT THE STATE WATER BOARD TO
SECURE CALIFORNIA'S WATER SUPPLY
AND PREPARATION FOR A HOTTER,
DRIER FUTURE, INCLUDING FUNDING
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE OUR
WATER SUPPLIES MORE RESILIENT,
TEMPORARY GROUNDWATER RECHARGE,
PERMITTING AND COMPLIANCE TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WET WEATHER
EVENTS AS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
DRINKING WATER EMERGENCY FUNDING
TO ADDRESS CRITICALLY IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES. WATER RIGHTS,
MODERNIZATION AND ENFORCEMENT
AND OTHER KEY PRIORITY OF OURS
TO ALLOW US TO MOVE MORE
PRECISELY TO MANAGE THE WATER
THAT WE HAVE. AND WE'VE ALREADY
SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW THESE
INVESTMENTS ARE PAYING OFF.
ALLOWING US TO BETTER PREPARE
FOR AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WET
YEARS. AMID UNPRECEDENTED
RAINFALL. LAST WINTER, THE STATE
WATER BOARD AUTHORIZED THE
DIVERSION OF 1.2 MILLION ACRE
FEET OF WATER FOR GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE PROJECTS FUNDED DURING
FISCAL YEAR, 2223 ALONE WILL ADD
APPROXIMATELY 165,000 ACRE FEET
PER YEAR TO THE STATE'S WATER
SUPPLIES, WHICH IS ENOUGH TO
SUSTAIN ALMOST 500,000
HOUSEHOLDS ANNUALLY.
APPROXIMATELY 161,000 ACRE FEET
OF THAT 165,000 WILL BE
GENERATED THROUGH GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE. AND AT THE SAME TIME
WE'RE WORKING TO SECURE OUR
WATER SUPPLY. THE STATE WATER
BOARD IS ALSO MAKING CRITICAL
PROGRESS IN ADVANCING THE HUMAN
RIGHT TO WATER. SINCE 2019. THE
WATER BOARD HAS USED A VARIETY
OF TOOLS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO
SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR THE MORE
THAN 2 MILLION CALIFORNIANS IN
NEED. IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR
ALONE, THE WATER BOARD HAS
DISTRIBUTED $239 MILLION TO
IMPROVE ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING
WATER AND DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES. AND SINCE 2019 IT'S
PROVIDED $785 MILLION IN GRANTS
TO DO JUST THAT. I REALLY WANNA
EMPHASIZE HERE THE WATER BOARD'S
CRUCIAL ROLE AS AN ENGINE FOR
STATE INVESTMENT IN WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL. IN JUST
THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS, THE
BOARD HAS PROVIDED AN INCREDIBLE
$4.5 BILLION FOR BOTH WATER,
RESILIENCE AND DRINKING WATER
PROJECTS. AS WE KNOW THIS
INVESTMENT NOW IS KEY TO
PREPARING THE STATE TO MANAGE
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN THE
SEVERAL YEARS TO COME. I WANNA
HIGHLIGHT AS WELL AS I END A
CRITICAL BUDGET REQUEST FROM THE
WATER BOARD THAT RELATES TO THE
TOPIC OF FORESEEABLE IMPACTS
INTO THE FUTURE, AND THAT IS FOR
WETLANDS PROTECTION.
UNFORTUNATELY AS I THINK YOU ARE
AWARE, LAST YEAR'S HISTORIC
DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT
LIMITED FEDERAL AUTHORITIES
UNDER THE CLEAN AIR AND UNDER
THE CLEAN WATER ACT, LEAVING
MANY WETLANDS NÓ LONGER
PROTECTED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
LUCKILY WETLANDS IN CALIFORNIA
ARE SOMEWHAT MORE PROTECTED THAN
THOSE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. THE
WETLANDS MAKE UP NEARLY 4
MILLION ACRES THAT ARE VITAL
ECOSYSTEMS FOR HABITAT, CLIMATE
RESILIENCY AND WATER QUALITY.
LEAVING THEM IN ANY WAY
UNPROTECTED, COULD HAVE GRAVE
CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR
ENVIRONMENT. CALIFORNIA IS
PREPARING TO STEP UP TO PROTECT
THESE WATERS USING INDEPENDENT
STATE LAW AND HAS DESIGNATED
$6.1 MILLION IN THE BUDGET TO
PROTECT STATE WETLANDS,
INCLUDING FUNDS FOR WATER
QUALITY PERMITTING AND
ENFORCEMENT WORK THAT IS
HISTORICALLY BEEN CONDUCTED BY
OUR FEDERAL COUNTERPARTS. WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES ON THIS AND OTHER
BUDGET PROPOSALS IN THE COMING
MONTHS, SPECIFICALLY THOSE THAT
PERTAIN TO WATER BUT ALSO THOSE
IN CLIMATE. I DO WANT TO NOTE
THAT I THINK WE HAVE A HEALTHY
LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY IN TERMS OF
OUR APPROACH WITH THE LAOS
REPORT. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
ONGOING COLLABORATION AND TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
HAVE. I'M JOINED BY NOT ONLY MY
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE
ADMINISTRATION, BUT ALSO SOME OF
OUR TECHNICAL STAFF FROM THE
WATER BOARD AND FROM THE AIR
RESOURCES BOARD, SO LOOK FORWARD
TO TALKING TO YOU MORE AND WITH
THAT I WILL INTRODUCE AND KICK
IT OVER TO MY PARTNER IN
TACKLING MANY OF THESE ISSUES.
SECRETARY OF THE CALIFORNIA
NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY WADE
CROWFOOT. BEFORE YOU KICK IT
OVER. I KNOW TRADITIONALLY, WE
WOULD HEAR FROM EVERYBODY BUT
WHEN YOU HAVE SIX OF YOU, I
THINK IT'S BETTER FOR ME. I JUST
WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE QUICK
COMMENTS. I HAVE OTHER
QUESTIONS. THAT'LL COME. COME
AFTER THAT. UH BUT, UM, THE UH,
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD
ALL BE PROUD OF. WHAT THE
STATEMENT YOU SAID. YOU KNOW,
CALIFORNIA A NATION. UH, YOU
KNOW, ONE OF THE NATION'S
LEADING, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL
STATES OUT THERE. THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT I. I KNOW. I KNOW
MANY OF US TAKE PRIDE IN, BUT
IT'S EVEN MORE CHALLENGING AS
YOU TRY TO CUT THE BUDGET TO BE
ABLE TO HOLD ON TO THAT AND MAKE
SURE THAT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE
HAVE SO ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST
LIKE TO EMPHASIZE NOT JUST FOR
EPA, BUT, UH BUT FOR ALL OF US,
IT'S JUST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
OUR PROGRAMS. WE HAVE TO REALLY
MAKE SURE AS MUCH OF A BANG FOR
A BUCK AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. WE
WANNA COMPLIMENT YOU FOR THE
PEST MANAGEMENT. THAT'S SORT OF
A SMALL, YOU KNOW, SLIVER OUT
THERE, BUT IT IT COULD HAVE LONG
TERM YOU KNOW REAL POTENTIAL
BENEFITS FOR US ENVIRONMENTALLY.
UM I HAD THE PLEASURE OF
SPENDING SOME TIME WITH SOME OF
THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED ON THAT
PLAN. UM AND, UH, THEY THEY ARE
CERTAINLY A AN ENTHUSIASTIC AND
ENERGETIC GROUP. I DO HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF METHANE CAPTURE
AND THAT WOULD BE FOR BOTH YOU
AND SECRETARY ROSS. JUST OVERALL
. UH, I HEAR REPORTS THAT ARE
METHANE CAPTURE IS NOT AS
EFFECTIVE AS SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE
. SO I'D LOVE TO HAVE US HAVE
MORE. UH UH, YOU KNOW, BETTER
UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT. UM
AND, UM RECYCLING IS, UH, MY
IMPRESSION IS IT'S PATCHED
TOGETHER AND IT'S IT DOESN'T
HAVE A STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE
BECAUSE IT'S PATCHED TOGETHER.
IT'S NOBODY'S FAULT, BUT IT'S
JUST KIND OF EVOLVED WITH, UH,
THIS BILL AND THAT BILL AND THEN
THAT, UM AND, UH IT DOESN'T FEEL
LIKE THE HEALTHIEST WAY FOR US
TO HANDLE THE MAJOR QUESTION OF
RECYCLING. AND WHEN I TRAVELED
TO OTHER COUNTRIES, IT JUST
FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE IT TOGETHER
. BETTER ON RECYCLING, UH THAN
OUR PATCHWORK KIND OF A APPROACH
. SO UM ONE OR TWO TO LEAVE YOU
WITH THOSE QUICK THINGS. UH, AND
TURN IT OVER NOW TO YOU,
SECRETARY CHRIS, IF I COULD JUST
SAY VERY BRIEFLY ON THE ZERO ON
THE LAST POINT AND ON METHANE
CAPTURE, HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU ON EMISSION REDUCTIONS MORE
SPECIFICALLY, AND I THINK MAYBE
EVEN OUR COLLEAGUES FROM CARP
CAN DO THAT. BUT I DON'T JUST
MEAN EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS, BUT
THE ACTUAL EFFECTIVE HOW MUCH
HOW? HOW MUCH IS ESCAPING, YOU
KNOW, RELATIVE TO WHAT WE
THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE ESCAPING
AS HAPPY TO FOLLOW. BUT MORE
THERE, AND I APPRECIATE THE
COMMENTS ON RECYCLING. I THINK
THIS IS BEEN A CHALLENGE THAT
WE'VE FRANKLY BEEN STRUGGLING
WITH FOR SEVERAL DECADES AND AN
EMERGING AREA OF LAW AND
REGULATORY IMPLEMENTATION. I
THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PROMISE
IN IMPLEMENTING EXTENDED
PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY
REGULATIONS NOW WHICH TAKE A
VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH THAN
WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, AND
I VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO
SHARING MORE PROGRESS WITH YOU
AS WE DO THAT, AND, UH, WANTED
TO FLAG AS WELL. WE HAVE A ZERO
WASTE PLAN THAT WILL BE UPCOMING
FROM CALVER CYCLE. WHICH REALLY
EXAMINES THE TYPES OF
INVESTMENTS WE NEED TO SEE IN
LOCAL BUSINESSES AND REGIONAL
ECONOMIES TO MAKE A TRULY
CIRCULAR USE ECONOMY POSSIBLE
FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SECRETARY
CROW. WELL THANK YOU. CHAIR FOR
YOUR ONGOING STEWARDSHIP OF OUR
AGENCY BUDGETS FOR CARRYING THE
TORCH ONCE AGAIN INTO THIS
BUDGET PROCESS AND BIG THANKS TO
YOUR TEAM. UH, FOR ALL THE WORK
THEY DO, UH, THE OVERSIGHT IS
IMPORTANT AND IT FEELS LIKE A
PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'RE ALL
MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION. I
ALSO WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK THE WOMEN AND MEN
BEHIND ME, MANY OF WHICH WHO
WORK AT OUR DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE
PUTTING TOGETHER THESE BUDGETS,
AND WE'LL ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS
HERE TODAY AND THEN THE VARIOUS
STAKEHOLDERS WHO YOU WE HEAR
FROM I, TOO AM PROUD THAT
CALIFORNIA IS A LEADER ACROSS
THE WORLD ON ALL THINGS
ENVIRONMENTAL, AND THAT'S OF
COURSE, AS A RESULT OF STATE
LEADERSHIP, OUR LEGISLATURE, OUR
GOVERNOR, BUT ALSO THE GROUPS
AND LEADERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA,
UH, URGING US TO DO EVEN MORE.
THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO
TAKE STOCK OF WHERE WE STAND ON
ALL OF THESE CRITICAL PRIORITIES
ACROSS OUR AGENCIES AND MAKE NÓ
MISTAKE. THIS IS A CHALLENGING
BUDGET, AND THERE WERE DIFFICULT
DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE FOR THE
GOVERNOR'S JANUARY 10TH PROPOSAL
, AND THERE WILL REMAIN
DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT YOU ALL
MAKE AS YOU OVERSEE AND ADJUST
THAT BUDGET, BUT I THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE
COLLECTIVELY OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS, ALMOST $50 BILLION OF
FUND GOING TO ATTACK CLIMATE
CHANGE ACROSS CALIFORNIA. THIS
HAS GAINED NOTICE ACROSS THE
WORLD, AND THIS BUDGET IS
ACTUALLY LARGER THAN MOST OTHER
COUNTRIES TO COMBAT CLIMATE
CHANGE AND PROTECT PEOPLE AND
NATURE FROM FROM CLIMATE, SO
I'LL TALK ABOUT OUR THE STATE OF
OUR BUDGET AND THE STATE OF THE
BUDGET PROPOSAL, AND I'LL ALSO
MARK OUR PROGRESS, WHICH IS MUCH
AS MUCH, UH, YOUR SUCCESS AND
ACROSS THE LEGISLATURE LEADING
THESE BUDGETS AND THIS POLICY AS
IT IS THE GOVERNORS I'LL START
WITH FORESTS AND WILDFIRE. WE
KNOW THAT THIS IS A NEAR
EXISTENTIAL CRISIS ACROSS THE
AMERICAN WEST. WE HAVE
EXPERIENCED CATASTROPHIC
WILDFIRE ALMOST OVER 7% OF OUR
STATE LANDS OVER THE LAST FIVE
YEARS. UM, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS
A COMBINATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE
AND DECADES OF UNDER INVESTMENT
IN LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT. THE
GOOD NEWS IS THAT OUR RECENT
BUDGETS HAVE COMMITTED ALMOST
THREE BILLION DOLLARS $2.8
BILLION TO UPFRONT PROACTIVE
ACTIONS TO IMPROVE LANDSCAPE
HEALTH AND GET IN FRONT OF THESE
CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE RISKS.
THAT $2.8 BILLION IS IN ADDITION
TO ALMOST DOUBLING COW FIRES
BUDGET FOR RESPONSE ONCE THESE
FIRES START THIS PROPOSED BUDGET
MAINTAINS 95% OF THAT 2.8 SO
$2.7 BILLION OF INVESTMENTS OVER
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, INCLUDING
THAT CONTINUED 200 MILLION OF
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUNDS.
THE PROGRESS THAT THIS FUNDING
HAS ENABLED IS ALMOST MIND
BENDING. WE HAVE OVER 1000
RESILIENCE PROJECTS AT WORK
ACROSS THE STATE, WHETHER
THEY'RE FUEL BREAKS AROUND
COMMUNITIES, LARGE LANDSCAPE
LEVEL PROJECTS, TRIBAL
PARTNERSHIPS TO INTRODUCE
CULTURAL AND PRESCRIBED FIRE.
THESE PROJECTS ARE WORKING. WE
HAVE EXPERIENCED MODERATE
WILDFIRE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS AND NÓ DOUBT SOME OF THAT
IS TO THANK MOTHER NATURE FOR,
UH WHICH WE DON'T CONTROL. BUT
WE KNOW THE INVESTMENTS IN CAL
FIRE'S RESPONSE BUDGET AND THESE
UPFRONT INVESTMENTS IN WILDFIRE
RESILIENCE ARE PAYING OFF. SO
THIS BUDGET CONTINUES THAT
INVESTMENT AND ACTUALLY ALSO
MAKES FURTHER INVESTMENTS IN
INFRASTRUCTURE AT CAL FIRE TO
IMPROVE THE FIRE PRODUCTION
CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS TO FIRE
STATIONS, TRAINING FACILITIES,
AIR ATTACK BASES. SO LET'S TALK
ABOUT PROGRESS. WE HAVE A NEW
STATEWIDE TRACKER OF PROJECTS TO
REALLY GET OUR ARMS AROUND. HOW
MUCH PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING, AND
THAT TOOK A LOT BECAUSE WE HAVE
ALMOST 20 AGENCIES ACROSS THE
STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
THAT DO THIS WORK. BUT WHAT THIS
SHOWS IS THAT WE ACHIEVED ALMOST
THREE 180,000 ACRES OF
TREATMENTS IN 2022, AND WE'RE
GOING TO RECEIVE THIS SPRING. AN
UPDATE ON 2020 THREE CAL FIRE
HAS COMPLETED MORE THAN 250 TO
250,000 DEFENSIBLE. SPACE
INSPECTIONS AND PRESCRIBED FIRE,
WHICH IS LOW LEVEL CONTROLLED
FIRE, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE MOST
EFFECTIVE. UH, PROACTIVE ACTIONS
WE CAN TAKE TO REDUCE
CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE HAS
INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY. WE
COMPLETED AT LEAST 126,000 ACRES
OF PRESCRIBED FIRE IN 2020.
THREE UH AND WE'RE GOING TO MORE
THAN DOUBLE THAT IN THE NEXT
COUPLE FEW YEARS. I'M REALLY
PROUD THAT CAL FIRE FOR THE
FIRST TIME AWARDED $19 MILLION
OF FUNDING TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS
FOR TRIBALLY LED WILDFIRE
RESILIENCE. WE THINK THIS IS A
CRITICAL STEP FORWARD IN
SUPPORTING TRIBAL LEADERSHIP TO
TAKE CARE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT,
WHICH OF COURSE, TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES HAVE FOR THOUSANDS
OF YEARS. SO WHEN WE SEE THE
PROGRESS BEING MADE, WE KNOW WE
NEED TO MAINTAIN PROGRESS, AND
WE BELIEVE THIS BUDGET DOES
THAT. NEXT I'LL TALK ABOUT
WATER, AND THAT'S OF COURSE, UH,
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE SHARE
WITH Kò EPA AND SECRETARY
GARCIA'S TEAM. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW
THE CHALLENGE. UH LAST WINTER,
WE WERE WE WERE WENT INTO LAST
WINTER WITH 6 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS UNDERWATER
RATIONING AND WE WERE PREPARING
FOR A 20 MILLION CALIFORNIANS TO
BE UNDERWATER RATIONING HALF OF
THE STATE. UH JUST A COUPLE OF
MONTHS LATER, WE EXPERIENCED
WHAT COULD BE THE WETTEST THREE
WEEK PERIOD IN THE STATE'S
HISTORY WITH THOSE NINE
ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS IN JANUARY.
SO THIS WEATHER WHIPLASH IS MORE
INTENSE THAN EVER AND GETTING
MORE INTENSE NOW, AS SECRETARY,
GARCIA SAID. THE LEGISLATURE.
THE GOVERNOR CAME TOGETHER TO
ALLOCATE $8.7 BILLION OF FUNDING
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. THAT'S
MORE THAN OUR 2014 WATER BOND
ACROSS THE STATE. AND THIS
PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, PROPOSES TO
MAINTAIN 84% OR SEVEN POINT
THREE BILLION DOLLARS OF FUNDING
. IMPORTANTLY OUR PROPOSED
BUDGET, UH, PROPOSES ALMOST $100
MILLION 93.9 MILLION DOLLARS IN
NEW FUNDING TO SUPPORT FLOOD
SAFETY PROJECTS. I'M REALLY
PROUD OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE
GOVERNOR FOR CONTINUING TO
INVEST IN FLOOD PROTECTION, EVEN
IT'S THE DROUGHT THAT MARKED
THOSE YEARS FROM 2019 TO 2022 IF
YOU ADD UP THE FLOOD INVESTMENTS
SINCE 2019 $1.6 BILLION OF FLOOD
PROTECTION INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE
PAID OFF LAST WINTER AND THIS
WINTER, SO WHAT IS PROGRESS LOOK
LIKE IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S
STRATEGY FOR A WATER SUPPLY
STRATEGY FOR A HOTTER, DRIER
FUTURE IN THIS WATER RESILIENCE
PORTFOLIO LAST WINTER, THANKS TO
THE WATER BOARD AND OUR
COLLEAGUES AT Dð, WR AND OUR
LOCAL WATER AGENCIES, THREE 0.8.
MILLION ACRE FEET OF WATER WAS
RECHARGED, DIVERTING FLOOD FLOWS
UNDERGROUND. THAT'S MORE WATER
THAN OUR LARGEST STATE MANAGED
RESERVOIR AT LAKE OROVILLE. SO
WE ARE UNDERSTANDING. WE HAVE TO
SEIZE THESE WET YEARS AND GET
WATER UNDERGROUND. WE KNOW THAT
GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES 60% OF OUR
WATER SUPPLIES DURING THESE
DROUGHTS, SO WE NEED TO PLUS UP
THAT SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR THE
DROP PERIODS TO COME. CHAIR I
KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT
IMPLEMENTATION OF GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT, SUSTAINABLE
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AND
THANKS TO OUR DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES, $340 MILLION OF
INVESTMENT, UH TO LOCAL
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AGENCIES,
LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO BRING THEIR
GROUNDWATER BASINS IN UNDER
SUSTAINABLE USE. WE ARE NOW AT
THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SIGMA
, UH, THAT PASSED IN 2014 AND
PROGRESS IS BEING MADE WITH WITH
MORE WORK AHEAD. I PARTICULARLY
PROUD OF THE COLLECTIVE WORK,
UH, TO ADVANCE THE LARGEST RIVER
RESTORATION PROJECT IN AMERICAN
HISTORY. TRIBALLY LED A EFFORT
OVER A COUPLE OF DECADES TO TAKE
OUT FOUR SUBOPTIMAL DAMS IN THE
KLAMATH RIVER BASIN RESTORE OVER
400 MILES OF SALMON HABITAT AND
LET THAT RIVER RUN AGAIN. THAT'S
HAPPENING THANKS TO YOUR
INVESTMENTS, OUR INVESTMENTS AND
THEN LASTLY, THE INVESTMENTS
THAT YOU HAVE ENABLED OVER THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE
ALLOWED US TO APPLY THE WORLD'S
BEST TECHNOLOGY AND STORM
FORECASTING AND MODELING. WE
HAVE A STATE CLIMATOLOGIST AT Dð
WR T
EMERGENCY SERVICES AND ACTUALLY
HELPS IDENTIFY TO WHERE TO
PREPOSITION EQUIPMENT AND PEOPLE
USING STATE OF THE ART, FEDERAL
AND STATE SCIENCE, SO THERE IS
JUST TREMENDOUS WORK HAPPENING.
I WANNA DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO
ONE CRITICAL PRIORITY FOR US,
AND THAT IS CONTINUED
IMPROVEMENT TO ADDRESS THE
CRISIS AT THE SALTON SEA. NOW
THERE ARE THOSE AREAS OR TOPICS
IN THE STATE THAT SOMETIMES
THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT
STATEWIDE, BUT THEY REQUIRE OUR
RESPONSIBILITY AND STEADFASTNESS
. AND THAT IS THE SALTON SEA. WE
KNOW THAT THE SALTON SEA IS
SHRINKING IN THE IMPERIAL AND
RIVERSIDE COUNTIES. WE KNOW
THAT'S A RESULT OF REDUCED WATER
USAGE IN THOSE AREAS AND MORE
CONSERVATION, WHICH IS A GOOD
THING, BUT WE CAN'T LEAVE AS THE
BY PRODUCT OF WATER CONSERVATION
IN THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN, AND
THAT PART OF CALIFORNIA THIS
SHRINKING LAKE THAT NOT ONLY
IMPACTS HABITAT AND THAT PACIFIC
FLYWAY THAT YOU DEPENDS ON THAT
FOR THEIR ANNUAL MIGRATIONS. BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE
COMMUNITIES AROUND THERE THAT
HAVE REALLY CHALLENGING AIR
QUALITY FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS
IN WHICH THIS SHRINKING SALTON
SEA EXACERBATES. SO I'M PROUD OF
OUR PROGRESS YOUR INVESTMENTS IN
RECENT YEARS TO GET WORK DONE AT
THE SALTON SEA. OUR AGENCY
ADMINISTERS A SALT AND SEA
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO DO JUST
THAT. WE'RE UNDER ORDER FROM OUR
STATE WATER BOARD TO RESTORE
ALMOST 30,000 ACRES OF EXPOSED
PLYO OR LAKE BED THERE. AND
WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. FOR THE
FIRST TIME. WE ACTUALLY HAVE
SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL, UH,
COMMITMENT AND INVESTMENT INTO
THAT SALT AND SEA RESTORATION.
WE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT LAST YEAR
, ULTIMATELY DELIVERING $250
MILLION OF FEDERAL INVESTMENT TO
THESE PROJECTS IF WE MAINTAIN
PROGRESS, SO THIS BUDGET HAS $65
MILLION OF FUNDING TO CONTINUE
THAT THAT CRITICAL WORK AND
SIMPLY PUT WE THIS WE CANNOT,
UM, STOP THE PROGRESS OF THE
SALTON SEA. THERE'S BEEN DECADES
OF UNFULFILLED PROMISES.
COMMUNITIES THERE. THIS CAN'T BE
A SACRIFICE ZONE AND WE'RE NOT
GOING TO LET IT SO THESE FUNDING
THIS FUNDING IS CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT. I WANT TO NEXT STEP
TO COASTAL RESILIENCE. OF COURSE
. ANOTHER BIG CHALLENGE, UH, SEA
LEVEL RISE FOR THOSE WHO THINK
THAT THIS IS A CHALLENGE DECADES
AWAY. I THINK SECRETARY OMAR
SHAIN WOULD BE ABLE TO POINT OUT
THAT OUR CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION
TRAIN, UH, CORRIDOR BETWEEN LOS
ANGELES AND SAN DIEGO IS
IMPACTED BECAUSE OF SEA LEVEL
RISE AND COASTAL EROSION SO
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THE 2122
BUDGET COMMITTED ONE POINT THREE
BILLION DOLLARS OF FUNDING TO
THIS, UH, THIS PRIORITY. THIS
PROPOSED BUDGET MAINTAINS $660
MILLION OF INVESTMENT. PROGRESS
IS BEING MADE 370 MILLION
ALREADY PUT TO WORK $230 MILLION
FOR PROJECTS. THOSE ARE PROJECTS
LIKE WETLAND RESTORATION, UH,
MAKING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
RESILIENT TO SEA LEVEL RISE.
WE'RE ALSO REALLY EXCITED TO
LAUNCH A $70 MILLION PROGRAM TO
SUPPORT LOCAL COASTAL
COMMUNITIES, MANY OF WHICH YOU
AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER CONNOLLY
REPRESENT TO PREPARE AND TO PLAN
FOR SEA LEVEL RISE CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AND THANKS
TO YOUR INVESTMENTS AND THIS
PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY
WILL UM AND THEN SIGNIFICANT $50
MILLION IN RESEARCH MONITORING
RESTORATION SPECIFICALLY FOCUS
ON THE BIODIVERSITY OF OUR COAST
, WHICH IS WORLD WORLD CLASS. UM
AND THEN MORE THAN $20 MILLION
OF THIS COASTAL BUDGET INVESTED
IN THE SUPPORTING TRIBAL
PARTNERSHIPS. EXTREME HEAT. UH
WHICH IS WE TALK ABOUT, UH, FIVE
MAJOR CLIMATE IN, UH, THREATS TO
CALIFORNIA DROUGHT, UH, FLOOD,
WILDFIRE, SEA LEVEL RISE AND
EXTREME HEAT THE FIFTH AND SO
THIS BUDGET MAINTAINS $364
MILLION FOR, UH, TO COMBAT
EXTREME HEAT. THAT'S A
RESPONSIBILITY SHARED ACROSS
SEVERAL AGENCIES, SOME OF WHICH
AREN'T HERE TODAY, LIKE OUR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH, WHICH IS DOING A
LOT OF WORK IN THE MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, AS WELL
AS OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
SERVICES ON NOTICING THESE HEAT
WAVES, BUT I'M PROUD OF OUR
WITHIN THE AGENCY, INCLUDING
$121 MILLION TO GREEN 100 AND 80
SCHOOL YARDS IN THE MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES TO HEAT
BECAUSE WE KNOW YOUNG, WE KNOW
KIDS AND SENIORS MOST VULNERABLE
TO HEAT. KIDS ARE SPENDING ALL
DAY AT SCHOOL. SOMETIMES IN
THESE CONCRETE LADEN, UH,
PLAYGROUNDS. WE'RE WORKING TO
CHANGE THAT $121 MILLION OF
SCHOOL YARDS $30 MILLION SOON TO
BE AWARDED TO DAYCARE FACILITIES
TO GET SHADE AT DAYCARE
FACILITIES AND GREEN THOSE
SURFACES. NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS
. I KNOW YOU'RE VERY PASSIONATE
ABOUT THAT. BUT ASSEMBLY IS
PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT BASICALLY,
PROJECTS THAT HELP US COMBAT
CLIMATE CHANGE BUFFER CLIMATE
IMPACTS WHILE IMPROVING THE
ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS PROBABLY
FOR ME. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
EXCITING TRENDS ACROSS THE WORLD
IS RECOGNIZING THE ROLE NATURE
PLAYS IN COMBATING CLIMATE
CHANGE, CONSERVING FORESTED
WATERSHEDS THAT ARE THE
HEADWATERS OF OUR OF OUR WATER
SYSTEMS, RESTORING WETLANDS TO
BUFFER, FLOOD IMPACTS AND STORE
CARBON. PARKS AND OPEN SPACE AND
COMMUNITIES TO GET THE STORM
WATER UNDERGROUND. UH AND
IMPROVE LIVES. OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS. YOU GOVERNOR,
UH, HAVE COMMITTED $1.6 BILLION
OF FUNDING TO NATURE BASED
SOLUTIONS. 1.4 MILLION OF THESE
INVESTMENTS REMAIN, UH, PROPOSED
IN OUR BUDGET 86% OF THAT
INITIAL INVESTMENT, INCLUDING
VERY IMPORTANTLY, $100 MILLION
PROGRAM CALLED OUR TRIBAL NATURE
BASED SOLUTIONS PROGRAM TO
TRANSFER FUNDING TO TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITIES TO
GET THIS WORK DONE AGAIN,
LISTENING AND LEARNING FROM
TRIBES THAT HAVE BEEN PRACTICING
, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT SINCE TIME
IMMEMORIAL. ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS WE NEED TO DO.
AND WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. LAST
YEAR WE ANNOUNCED OVER 1000
SQUARE MILES OF ADDITIONAL
CONSERVED LANDS IN THE FIRST
YEAR OF WORKING TOWARDS OUR 30
BY 30 TARGET RESP OR LAW TO
CONSERVE 30% OF CALIFORNIA'S
WATER, UH OF LANDS AND COASTAL
WATERS BY 20, 3600 AND 31,000
ACRES. UM $36 MILLION TO FUND
PROJECTS IN THE DELTA TO ET THE
DELTA WHERE IT'S APPROPRIATE, UH
, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR NOT
ONLY HABITAT BUT FOR, UH, CARBON
EMISSIONS, GIVEN THE OXIDATION
AND THE SUBSIDENCE IN THE DELTA.
TRIBALLY UH, TRIBAL YOUTH NATURE
BASED SOLUTIONS CONSERVATION
CORPS. $10 MILLION.11 MILLION
DOLLARS TRANSFERRED TO TRIBES
FOR OVER 12,000 ACRES OF
ANCESTRAL LAND RETURN AND THEN
WE'RE WE'RE EXCITED THIS YEAR TO
CUT THE RIBBON ON OUR NEWEST
STATE PARK AT Dð Ó S¼ RIOS IN
STANISLAW COUNTY AT THE
CONFLUENCE OF THE TUOLUMNE AND
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER. IT'S GONNA BE
IMPORTANT, UH, CLIMATE,
RESILIENT WORK AND A FLOOD PLAIN
BUT ALSO PROVIDE A CRITICAL
STATE PARK WHERE IT'S GETTING
HOTTER. WHERE COMMUNITIES NEED
CLIMATE REFUGE SO VERY, VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT. LAST POINT
I'LL MAKE WE'VE I TALKED MOST OF
MY, UH, TIME HERE ABOUT
PROTECTING CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIANS IN OUR NATURE FROM
THE THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
LET ME TALK ABOUT ENERGY. ENERGY
IS SHARED OVER MANY OF OUR
AGENCIES. WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT
THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
WITHIN OUR AGENCY. SO I NEED TO
KNOW JUST HOW PROUD WE ARE OF
THE COLLECTIVE PROGRESS. WE'VE
MADE TRANSITIONING OUR ENERGY
SYSTEM TO AN ENTIRELY CLEAN,
RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE AND SAFE
ENERGY SYSTEM. A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO, STATE LEADERS ALLOCATED
ALMOST $8 BILLION OF ENERGY
INVESTMENT. UM WE'RE PROPOSING
6.6 BILLION OF THAT 80 3% OF
THAT MAINTAIN IN IN THIS BUDGET,
UH, INCLUDING A BILLION DOLLARS
FOR CLEAN ENERGY RELIABILITY
INVESTMENT PLAN, SO TO MAKE THIS
TRANSITION IN A WAY, THAT'S
THAT'S RELIABLE FOR OUR
CONSUMERS. INCREDIBLE PROGRESS
BEING MADE LAST YEAR. 59% OF THE
ELECTRONS THAT POWERED THE FIFTH
LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD IN
CALIFORNIA WERE CLEAN. ELECTRONS
DID INVOLVE FOSSIL FUEL AND WERE
MAKING MORE PROGRESS IN JUST THE
LAST FOUR YEARS ALONE. 13,000
MEGAWATTS OF ENERGY ADDED TO OUR
SYSTEM FOR SOME CONTACTS. THAT'S
ABOUT 20% OF OUR OVERALL ENERGY
GENERATION. CLEAN ENERGY
GENERATION ADDED IN THE LAST
FOUR YEARS AND THEN PAIRED WITH
THAT IN CRITICAL TO MOVING OFF
OUR FOSSIL. GENERATION IS ENERGY
STORAGE. CALIFORNIA HAS EMERGED
AS A WORLD LEADER, EXPANDING
ENERGY STORAGE AND REDUCING THE
COST OF THAT STORAGE THAT ALLOWS
US TO BALANCE INTERMITTENT SOLAR
AND WIND INTO OUR SYSTEM. 1000%
INCREASE FROM STATEWIDE STORAGE
LEVELS ONLY FOUR YEARS AGO. SO
WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR
PROGRESS. AS YOU CAN TELL, UH,
WE'RE FOCUSED, UH, AS WE
NAVIGATE THIS TOUGH BUDGET ON
FEDERAL INVESTMENTS, AND I WANT
TO POINT OUT THAT CALIFORNIA
TODAY TO SECURED $15.5 BILLION
OF FEDERAL INVESTMENTS INTO THE
PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT HERE TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE THAT FOCUS. A LOT OF
OUR TIME ACRO SECRETARIES IS
SPENT IN WASHINGTON. Dð èC. I
WAS JUST THERE LAST WEEK, MAKING
THE CASE TO BRING IN FEDERAL
FUNDING TO SUPPLANT THESE CUTS.
UM, SO PROUD TO DO THIS. WORK SO
PROUD TO LEARN AND PARTNER WITH
OTHERS, UH, IN THE
ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING OUR
AGRICULTURAL SECRETARY, KAREN
ROSS, WHO I'D BE GLAD TO TURN IT
OVER TO CHAIR IF YOU DON'T HAVE
QUESTIONS. OK?
UH, MILD ON THE QUESTIONS, JUST
A FEW COMMENTS. IT JUST FEELS
MORE APPROPRIATE TO DO THIS
WHILE RIGHT RIGHT AFTER YOU.
YOU, UH, HAVE A COMMENT, UH,
NUMBER ONE. WANT TO EMPHASIZE
THAT THE ASSEMBLY WITH 80 OF US,
YOU KNOW, TRYING TO IDENTIFY
WHAT ARE OUR GOALS AND
PRIORITIES AND CLIMATE AND ET
CETERA. CERTAINLY WILDFIRE FIRE
DROUGHT ARE ARE TWO OF WHAT I
WOULD SAY THE TOP THREE IN THE
THIRD IS GRID RESILIENCE OUT
THERE AND SO YOU YOU KNOW, YOUR
DEPARTMENT CERTAINLY HAS A HUGE
FOCUS ON UH, ON A LOT OF THAT. I
THINK THE èC èC IS PROBABLY
GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT DEPARTMENTS IN, UM IN
CALIFORNIA FOR THE NEXT 15 OR 20
YEARS. AS WE MAKE THIS THIS
TRANSITION, YOU HUGE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR US TO BE ABLE
TO TRY TO GET THIS, RIGHT. UM
CLIMATE CHANGE. EVERYBODY KEEPS
TALKING ABOUT THE RISK IS GOING
UP. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU KNOW
THE FLOODS ARE GONNA BE WORSE.
THE DROUGHTS ARE GONNA BE WORSE.
THE WILDFIRES ARE GOING TO BE
WORSE. AND I WAS JUST AT THE
EMERGENCY. UM YOU KNOW, RESPONSE
COMMITTEE HEARING YESTERDAY AND
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, WELL, WHERE
ARE WE GONNA COME UP WITH THE
MONEY TO TRY TO ADDRESS ALL THE
DISASTERS AND I THINK THAT'S
JUST IT'S WITH THE LIMITED
RESOURCES THAT ANYBODY HAS AND
THE INCREASING RISK THAT'S OUT
THERE. THE INVESTMENT HAS TO BE
THE OTHER SIDE. IT'S THE
PREVENTION. SO AS YOU AS YOU
TALKED ABOUT THE PREVENTION, BUT
WE HAVE TO FIND THOSE CREATIVE
SOLUTIONS THAT DECREASE THE
IMPACTS OF THIS GROWING. UH
VARIABILITY. YOU KNOW THAT. YOU
KNOW THAT THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE
UM, THE, UH SALTON SEA. YOU KNOW
IF WE'RE GONNA BE DOWN THERE
MINING THE LITHIUM WE HAVE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL GREAT,
UH, COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH
EVERYBODY, SO I THINK IT'S
REALLY WISE FOR US TO HAVE THAT
AND EXTREME HEAT IS JUST SORT OF
. IT'S KIND OF ON THE RADAR
SCREEN, BUT NOT ON THE RADAR
SCREEN. I THINK ALL OF US DON'T
KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO WITH
THAT. BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST
DISADVANTAGED THAT THEY'RE GOING
TO BE SUFFERING AND WE'VE SEEN
IN SOME OTHER PLACES WHEN THEY
WHEN THEY'RE NOT PAYING
ATTENTION. SO, UM, APPRECIATE,
UH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND I. I
DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION.
UM ONE FINAL COMMENT IS THAT OUR
DOLLAR INVESTMENTS? ARE
SIGNIFICANT, AND AS YOU SAID
MORE THAN SOME OTHER COUNTRIES,
ET CETERA. IT IS STILL A
QUESTION IN MY MIND WHETHER OUR
POLICY MATCH THE QUALITY OF OUR
DO YOU KNOW THE WITH THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY WE'RE PUTTING IN IF WE
HAVE THE RIGHT POLICY
EFFECTIVENESS, WE REALLY COULD
BE GETTING A LOT OF BANG FOR THE
BUCK. AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE
FOR US AS TO SECRETARY ROSS.
WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR COMPUTER? OK
THANK YOU. AND IF YOU GUYS WOULD
LIKE TO SWITCH SEATS SO WE CAN
EACH OTHER SO THAT WE CAN.
THAT'S A GREAT I THINK THAT IS
PART OF WHAT I HAD IN MIND WHEN
I SUGGESTED THAT, BUT, YEAH. UH,
ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. WELL,
I'M INSPIRED BY MY TWO
PREDECESSORS THAT JUST SPOKE.
IT'S A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW, BUT
I'LL DO MY BEST. I'M KAREN ROSS
AND I'M SECRETARY OF THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD
AND AGRICULTURE. OUR DEPARTMENT
WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1919. I'M NOT
THAT OLD, BUT I'M PRETTY OLD. UM
WE WERE CREATED SPECIFICALLY TO
DO SEVERAL THINGS FOR ONE OF OUR
EARLIEST ECONOMIES, WHICH WAS
AGRICULTURAL. AND IT WAS ABOUT
ENSURING THE QUALITY AND THE
SAFETY OF THE AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS THAT WE PUT BEFORE THE
PUBLIC AND ALL OF THE STREAMS OF
CON OF COMMERCE. IT WAS ABOUT
PROTECTING THE STATE. EVEN AT
THAT TIME, WE RECOGNIZED THE
IMPACT OF INVASIVE SPECIES BOTH
FOR PLANTS AND FOR ANIMALS, AND
THAT'S A CORE FUNCTION OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE TO PROTECT OUR
NATURAL AND AGRICULTURAL
RESOURCES FROM THOSE INVASIVE
SPECIES AND TO PROMOTE UM AND
ENSURE THERE'S ACCESS TO THE
QUALITY PRODUCTS. WE DO GROW
BOTH DOMESTICALLY AS WELL AS AN
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, I WILL
SAY IN THE LAST DECADE WE HAVE
ALSO REALLY BRANCHED OUT IN THE
CORE WORK THAT WE DO AS PART OF
THE SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE AND
BEING IN A POSITION TO REALLY
HELP MAKE THE CONNECTIONS IN
LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOR ACCESS FOR
THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT
HISTORICALLY HAD ACCESS TO THE
FOOD AND THE HEALTHY FOOD THAT
WE GROW IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. WE'RE VERY BLESSED
THAT WE HAVE HAD THE CLIMATE,
THE MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE THAT
WE HAVE. IT ALLOWS US IN
CALIFORNIA TO DO WHAT FEW OTHER
PLACES ON EARTH CAN DO, AND THAT
IS TO PLANT AND TO HARVEST CROPS
ALMOST EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR IN
SOME PART OF THE STATE THAT'S
ALLOWED US TO GROW 400 DIFFERENT
COMMODITIES A THIRD OF THE
NATION'S VEGETABLES, TWO THIRDS
OF OUR TREE NUTS AND OUR FRUITS
AND STILL BE THE PRODUCER OF 20%
OF THE MILK, SO I WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT METHANE IN A IN A
MINUTE OR TWO. IN THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS. UM ACTUALLY, A
DECADE AGO, WE ESTABLISHED THE
OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FARMING
AND STEWARDSHIP. INNOVATION UM,
THAT WAS ABOUT RECOGNIZING HOW
MUCH AGRICULTURE IS ALREADY
IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. IN
MANY WAYS, WE'RE AT THE TIP OF
THE SPEAR. WHEN I THINK ABOUT
HEAT DAYS WHEN I THINK ABOUT
WARMER NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES,
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR PEST
INFESTATIONS, THE SPREAD OF
DISEASE, DROUGHT AND THEN FLOOD,
AND SO WE ESTABLISHED THAT
OFFICE. AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
ESTABLISH CLIMATE SMART
AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS WITH THE
INVESTMENT THAT THE LEGISLATURE
AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO MAKE WE ALSO THROUGH
LEGISLATION, UM, ESTABLISHED THE
OFFICE OF FARM TO FORK. WHICH IS
REALLY ABOUT WE HAVE THE AG AND
THE FOOD IN OUR NAME BEING ABLE
TO CONNECT TO NUTRITION PROGRAMS
AND REALLY DO SOME MATCHMAKING
AT THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND
I'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
RECENT INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE
BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IN THOSE
NUTRITION PROGRAMS. I WANT TO
START WITH THE INVESTMENT THAT
HAS BEEN MADE TO DATE, UM OVER
THE LAST THREE YEARS, IN
PARTICULAR, ALMOST A BILLION
DOLLARS HAS BEEN INVESTED IN
CLIMATE, SMART AGRICULTURAL
PROGRAMS AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS.
UM AND I WILL HIGHLIGHT JUST A
FEW, BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT OVER
THREE 1000 PROJECTS HAVE BEEN
FUNDED, COVERING THREE 100,000
ACRES AND A TOTAL OF 26.5
MILLION. METRIC 10 CO. TWO
EQUIVALENT REDUCTIONS IN
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
AGRICULTURE IS VERY MUCH A PART
OF OUR STRATEGY FOR NATURAL
WORKING LANDS, OUR ABILITY TO
DRAW DOWN CARBON AND STORE IT IN
OUR SOILS IS A VERY IMPORTANT
SOLUTION, ALONG WITH OUR NATURE
BASED SOLUTIONS AS WELL. UM THE
REDUCTION IN GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF
TAKING 5.9 MILLION CARS OFF OF
OUR HIGHWAYS, AND I THINK THAT'S
PRETTY REMARKABLE. WE'RE GROWING
ALL THAT GREAT FOOD AND WE'RE
BEING ABLE TO DO YES. YOU HAD
BREAKFAST TODAY, RIGHT? YES. UM
SO LET ME JUST RUN THROUGH, UH,
SEVERAL OF OUR PROGRAMS. ONE
THAT HAS BECOME ONE OF MY
FAVORITES IS OUR HEALTHY SOILS
PROGRAM. UM UNTIL THE U S¼ Dð A
HAD A NEW FUNDING STREAMS THANKS
TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT'S
MADE INCREDIBLE INVESTMENTS AND
THESE THINGS WE HAD ONE OF THE
LARGEST HEALTHY SOILS PROGRAMS
IN THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE JUST IN
THE LAST THREE YEARS, 100 AND
$55 MILLION IN OUR HEALTHY SOILS
PROGRAM. UM, THERE. TREMENDOUSLY
OVERSUBSCRIBED. BUT ONE OF THE
COMMENTS I WANT TO MAKE ABOUT
HOW WE THINK ABOUT THESE
PROGRAMS. THESE ARE ALL FUNDED
WITH ONE TIME DOLLARS. WE HAVE
BEEN VERY DELIBERATE AROUND
SEVERAL THINGS. ONE IS INVESTING
IN TECHNICAL CAPACITY AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. WE WANNA
MAKE SURE THAT EVERY FARMER CAN
HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION
AND THE LANGUAGE THAT SUITS THEM
SO THAT NÓ ONE IS LEFT BEHIND IN
BEING ABLE TO MAKE THESE
TRANSITIONS TO CARBON NEUTRALITY
OVER $38 MILLION HAS GONE TO
FUNDING COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, RESOURCE
CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND U èC
. COOPER EXTENSION AGENTS TO
MAKE SURE WE'RE WE'RE BUILDING
OUT AND A KNOWLEDGE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE SURE THE
PRACTICES WILL CONTINUE, EVEN IF
GRANT DOLLARS MAY NOT ALWAYS BE
AVAILABLE AT THE SAME LEVEL.
BLESS YOU. I'M HAVING THE SAME
ALLERGY PROBLEM TODAY. MY VOICE
IS REALLY SHOWING IT. UM SO THE
ADOPTION OF NEW TECHNIQUES HAS
ALSO BEEN A RESULT OF EARLY ON
BEFORE THERE WAS QUITE THE
MOMENTUM THAT WE'VE CREATED. WE
ARE FUNDING DEMONSTRATION
PROJECTS IS ONE WAY OF SHOWING
FARMERS BENEFIT OF MAKING THESE
TRANSITIONS BECAUSE THERE'S
ALWAYS A RISK OF THINKING ABOUT
CHANGING MY PRACTICES AND WHAT
THAT'S GOING TO MEAN. UM WE HAVE
OUR ON FARM WATER USE EFFICIENCY
PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN FUNDED IN
THE LAST THREE YEARS AT 100 AND
$20 MILLION. IT'S BEEN CRUCIAL.
THAT WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST
CLIMATE SMART AD PROGRAMS. IT
WAS BEGUN IN THE IN THE 2014
DROUGHT. WE'VE MADE INCREDIBLE
ADVANCES IN WATER CONSERVATION
WITH ON FARM WATER USE
EFFICIENCY, IT NOT ONLY IS
REDUCING WATER USE, IT'S
REDUCING ENERGY USE, WHICH
REDUCES GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
. BUT I ALSO HAVE TO POINT OUT
IT HAS THE ADDED BENEFIT OF ALSO
IMPROVING NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
AND AVOIDING NITRATE IMPACTS TO
OUR GROUNDWATER AQUIFERS. UM WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE OUR
WATER USE THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS
BY 1.5 MILLION ACRE FEET A YEAR,
SO I THINK THAT'S PRETTY
ASTOUNDING. INVESTMENT. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET IS PROPOSING
TO SHIFT THE REMAINING
UNENCUMBERED FUNDS IN THIS
PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WAS MULTIYEAR
FUNDING. IT'S APPROXIMATELY
$20.6 MILLION TO THE CURRENT
YEAR'S FUNDING FOR GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSION REDUCTION FUND AND
WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT
FOR THAT, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE
A GAP IN FUNDING THIS PROGRAM. I
ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE
HAVE A PRIORITY FOR FUNDING
HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED, UM AND
UNDER RESOURCED FARMERS AND
WE'RE VERY PRO. OF OUR MINIMUM
OF 25 TO 35% OF OUR FUNDS GOING
OUT THAT WAY IN OUR LAST ROUND
OF FUNDING THAT WE PUT OUT
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN INVESTING IN
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WE HAD OVER
500 APPLICATIONS FOR THIS $20
MILLION IN THE 1ST 48 HOURS, SO
I THINK IT'S PROOF THAT WE'RE
REACHING THE PEOPLE WE REALLY
WANT TO REACH TO MAKE THIS
PROGRAMS WORK. WE ALSO HAVE BEEN
NOT JUST A NATIONAL LEADER, BUT
A GLOBAL LEADER IN LIVESTOCK
METHANE REDUCTION THROUGH THE
INVESTMENT THAT THE LEGISLATURE
HAS MADE WITH THE GOVERNOR IN
OUR DAIRY DIGESTIVE PROGRAM,
WHICH CERTAINLY HAS ITS SHARE OF
CONTROVERSY, BUT IT ISN'T IT. IT
IS, IN FACT, ONE OF THE MOST
COST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF REDUCING
METHANE, AND I THINK THAT THE
PARTICIPATION IN THE MATCHING
DOLLARS THAT ARE DAIRY FAMILIES
HAVE BROUGHT TO THIS PROJECT
REALLY SHOWS THAT THIS IS
PROBABLY ONE OF OUR BEST
EXAMPLES OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY
TAKING THAT DAIRY WASTE AS AS
BIO METHANE AND DAIRY DIGESTERS
FOR EITHER RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY
GENERATION OR RENEWABLE NATURAL
GAS GENERATION. CAN DECREASING
OUR RELIANCE ON PETROLEUM
PRODUCTS. BUT I ALSO WANNA SAY
THAT YESTERDAY ONE OF OUR DAIRY
FAMILIES TESTIFIED AT OUR STATE
BOARD OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE.
THEY ARE THE FIRST DAIRY THAT WE
KNOW OF IN THIS COUNTRY AND
MAYBE ONE OF THE FEW IN THE
WORLD WHERE THEY ARE. DAIRY
METHANE GOES TO ELECTRICITY
GENERATION AND A FUEL CELL
TECHNOLOGY. THEY ARE NOW
PRODUCING HYDROGEN, AND WE
BELIEVE THAT BIO METHANE IS ONE
VERY IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.
TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN ACCELERATE.
OUR MOVE TO HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
IN THE STATE AND TERRY FILM ARE
VERY EAGER TO BE A PART OF THAT
SOLUTION. UM AND OUR CURRENT
YEAR FUNDING WE'VE HAD $80
MILLION. WE RESERVE $24 MILLION,
WHICH THE GOVERNOR PROPOSES
SHIFTING TO THE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSION REDUCTION FUND. WE
RESERVE THAT BECAUSE OUR FEDERAL
DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR
DAIRY RESEARCH FOUNDATION. HAS
BEEN ABLE TO DRAW DOWN MULTIYEAR
FUNDING FOR $75 MILLION, BUT IT
REQUIRES A STATE MATCH AND SO WE
RESERVE THAT $24 MILLION SO THAT
WE CAN BE A PART OF DRAWING DOWN
THAT THAT ADDITIONAL FEDERAL
FUNDING AND IT'S CALLED DAIRY
PLUS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ABOUT
INVESTING IN THE NEW LATEST
TECHNOLOGIES TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE NOT JUST LOCKED INTO WHAT
WE HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST,
BUT WE'RE CREATING INCENTIVES
FOR THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP
US REDUCE METHANE. UM I CAN GO
INTO THE NUMBERS FROM IN JUST A
MOMENT, AND I WILL AND I PROMISE
WE ALSO THANKS TO THE
LEGISLATURE HAD INVESTMENT THAT
WAS MADE FOR RESEARCH PRODUCT
PROJECTS. THE METHANE REDUCTION
FROM MANURE IS ONLY ONE PART OF
WHAT WE NEED TO DO ON THE
METHANE. WE ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS
ENTERIC FERMENTATION, WHICH IS
FEED ADDITIVES OR OTHER DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS TO REDUCE ENTERIC
FERMENTATION. IT'S HUGELY
CHALLENGING. THE BIOLOGY OF THE
COW IS THE HEALTH OF THE COW
THAT'S MAKING SURE THAT THERE
ARE NÓ UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
FOR THE PRODUCTS THAT COME FROM
THE COW. AND SO WE ARE STILL
AWAITING, UH, APPROVAL BY THE
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION OF
ONE OF THE FIRST PRODUCTS TO BE
AVAILABLE. WE HAVE BEEN PROMISED
FOR MONTHS NOW THAT IT'S GOING
TO BE OUT ANY DAY, BUT WE DO
KNOW IT. IT SHOULD BE APPROVED
YET THIS YEAR AND WE HAD A TOTAL
OF $10 MILLION THAT WE PUT INTO
THIS TYPE OF RESEARCH WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE RUN TRIALS AND
DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS TO
COLLECT THE DATA TO PROVE OUT
WHAT WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE ONE OF
MANY SOLUTIONS TO ENTERIC
FERMENTATION. I WANNA SHIFT VERY
QUICKLY TO NUTRITION. IT'S A
PASSION OF MINE. I WANNA MAKE
SURE THAT EVERY CALIFORNIAN HAS
ACCESS TO THE HEALTHY, BOUNTIFUL
FOOD THAT WE GROW IN THIS STATE.
AND THANKS TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP
OF OUR FIRST PARTNER, I'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH HER OVER THE LAST
THREE YEARS ON FARM TO SCHOOL,
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF WE
REALLY FULLY FUNDED THE ACCESS
OF OUR LOCAL FARMERS TO BEING
ABLE TO HAVE THE PROCUREMENT THE
POWER OF PROCUREMENT OF OUR
SCHOOL INSTITUTION. LIKE THAT'S
THE BIGGEST RESTAURANT WE RUN IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ON A
DAILY BASIS, BUT BEING ABLE TO
HAVE ACCESS TO THAT LOCAL FOOD
SUPPORTING THOSE LOCAL, MANY OF
THEM ARE SMALL FARMERS
HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED FARMERS
KEEPING THOSE DOLLARS WORKING
LOCALLY IN THE ECONOMY.
IMPROVING THE NUTRITIONAL
OFFERING BECAUSE THIS
LEGISLATURE APPROVES SIGNIFICANT
FUNDS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR
KITCHEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND
CULINARY ARTS FOR NUTRITION
SERVICE STAFF TO REALLY MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE OFFERING
CHILDREN WHAT'S TASTY AND
FLAVORFUL AND AS ATTRACTIVE TO
THEM IF WE INVESTED IN THAT, IN
A MORE ROBUST WAY, I THINK WE
WOULD AVOID CHRONIC DISEASES AND
THAT AND THAT EXTRAORDINARY COST
OF HEALTH CARE AT THE END OF
LIFE, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE ON
MY AND I CAN SEE IT FROM HERE.
SO UM, I'M VERY PROUD OF THE $90
MILLION THAT'S BEEN INVESTED $60
MILLION IS WHAT IS BEING
PROTECTED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE ARE REACHING 100 AND 63
SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT INCLUDES
FIVE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND 1.5 MILLION
SCHOOL STUDENTS. JUST LAST WEEK,
I REPRESENTED THE FIRST PARTNER
AT THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE WHITE
HOUSE CHALLENGE ON HUNGER AND
NUTRITION. OUR GOAL IS TO REACH
80% OF OUR SCHOOL STUDENTS BY
THE YEAR 2030 AS PART OF THAT
CHALLENGE, SO WE'LL KEEP WORKING
ON THAT. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE
PROGRAMS THAT, UM, DO NOT HAVE
FUNDING PROPOSED IN THIS YEAR
BUDGET. I KNOW IT'LL BE A ROBUST
DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST
20 M $21 MILLION FOR A
CALIFORNIA NUTRITIONIST
INCENTIVE PROGRAM. THIS HAS BEEN
DRYING DOWN FEDERAL DOLLARS, SO
THAT OUR CAL FRESH RECIPIENTS
CAN QUALIFY BY REDEEMING THEIR
CARDS AND GET DOUBLE. AMOUNT OF
FRESH FRUIT AND PRODUCE AT
FARMERS MARKETS AS WELL AS
VEGETABLES AND TREE NUTS. AND SO
IT'S BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM. WE'RE
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
RECIPIENTS OF THOSE FUNDS TO SEE
HOW WE CAN EXTEND THE USE OF
THOSE FUNDS OVER THIS NEXT YEAR.
WHILE THERE MIGHT WHERE THERE
MAY BE A GAP IN FUNDING SO THAT
WE CAN BE POSITIONED TO QUALIFY
FOR A FEDERAL PROGRAM A YEAR
FROM NOW, SO WE'RE WE WANNA MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO AVOID ANY SIGNIFICANT
GAP IN THE ACCESS. EVEN THOUGH
IT MIGHT BE AT A REDUCED AMOUNT
SO WE CAN EXTEND THOSE DOLLARS
LONGER. THE OTHER PROGRAM I
WANTED TO TOUCH UPON IS OUR
HEALTHY REFRIGERATION PROGRAM.
THIS IS PART OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE OF MAKING SURE
THAT SMALL FARMS HAVE THE
EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO BE PART
OF THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM,
AS WELL AS IMPROVING ACCESS OF
HEALTHY FOOD IN CORNER STORES OR
IN FOOD DESERTS. WE'VE HAD $11.5
MILLION IN THAT PROGRAM
TREMENDOUSLY OVERSUBSCRIBED. UM
BUT WE DO HAVE A FEDERAL GRANT
RIGHT NOW. WE JUST CLOSED THAT
GRANT LAST WEEK ON LOCAL
RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS. U S¼ Dð
A PROVIDED $30 MILLION TO èC Dð
FA. I HAVE TO GIVE YOU
ASTOUNDING NUMBERS ON THIS TO
SHOW HOW MUCH INTEREST THERE IS
IN REALLY BUILDING OUT THIS
INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE $30
MILLION AVAILABLE. WE HAD THREE
100 APPLICATIONS TOTALING OVER.
THREE $100 MILLION, SO THE
INTEREST IS THERE TO REALLY
INVEST IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOL
SYSTEMS TO INVEST IN RESILIENT
FOOD SYSTEM. FOOD BANKS ARE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THAT, UM AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU AS WE MAKE THESE HARD
DECISIONS, BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF
WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH TODAY. AND I THINK
THAT THE DATA WE'RE COLLECTING
FROM THESE PROGRAMS, WHICH STILL
HAVE TWO YEARS LEFT IN THEM WILL
BE INFORMATIVE FOR FUTURE
DECISIONS AS OTHER BUDGETS AND
BUDGET SCENARIOS PRESENT
THEMSELVES. SO I THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. I'M
SORRY IT WENT ON SO LONG. YOU
CAN TELL. I REALLY LOVE WHAT I
DO. EVEN WHEN I HAVE A GRAVELLY
VOICE, THANKS TO THE TREES AND
THE ALLERGIES. THAT'S RIGHT.
YEAH THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S ME.
THAT'S AG. REALLY, REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION. AND UM,
SHARING THE ALLERGY. UM, UH,
ISSUES WITH YOU, UH, THE, UM I.
I THINK IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US
TO OVERESTIMATE HOW MUCH IMPACT
WE COULD BE HAVING ON THE DIETS
OF YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE REST OF
THEIR LIVES WITH THE, UH, FOOD
TO SCHOOL PROGRAM. I'VE JUST
I'VE SEEN CHILD AFTER CHILD.
SUDDENLY THEY STARTED EATING
FOODS THAT THEY HADN'T BEEN
EATING, UH, AND THE SAME THING
AS SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FROM THE
ABILITY TO GO TO FARMERS MARKET
AND BUY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
SO I APPLAUD THAT. AND WHILE YOU
KNOW AGRICULTURE IS A, YOU KNOW,
ONE NARROW SLICE OF, UH,
CALIFORNIA ECONOMY. IT HAS A BIG
IMPACT ON EVERYBODY. IF YOU LOOK
AT THAT AT THOSE TWO PROGRAMS,
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, UM,
SECRETARY SO SECRETARY SIN, UH,
AND THE TRANSPORTATION AGENCY
THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBER
CONNOLLY. GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.
UH, IT'S WE'RE GOING THROUGH
TRYING TIMES, AS MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE DISCUSSED VERY VERY WELL,
UH, I'LL SAY THAT AS I LISTEN TO
THEM I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF
WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION OR THE
NEWSOM ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT?
MY COLLEAGUES WHAT THEY'RE DOING
WHAT THEY'RE LEADING, UM, AS WE
NOT ONLY BATTLE THROUGH CLIMATE
RELATED CHALLENGES, BUT ALSO THE
BUDGET AND AS YOU AND I BRIEFLY
DISCUSSED ON THE WAY IN OUR
PRUDENCE. NOW MORE THAN EVER IS
IMPORTANT. I THINK WE'VE ALWAYS
DONE THAT, OR AT LEAST AS OF
RECENT AS A STATE. BUT EVEN MORE
NOW THAN EVER, THAT PRUDENCE IS
GONNA BE IT'S GONNA BE REQUIRED
SO PROUD TO BE STANDING OR
SITTING WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM
THE VARIOUS AGENCIES ACROSS THE
STATE. SO I WANNA SHARE BRIEFLY,
UH, THE ADMINISTRATION'S CLIMATE
FOCUSED BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR
TRANSPORTATION. AS YOU HAVE
HEARD, WE ARE FACING SOME DARK
FINANCIAL STORM CLOUDS. BUT IT'S
ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE
SILVER LININGS. AND WHEN IT
COMES TO TRANSPORTATION I
BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY. NOTABLY
WHILE THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR
TRANSPORTATION CONTAINS
SIGNIFICANT FUNDING SHIFTS AND
DELAYS. WE'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN
99% 99% OF FUNDING. AND THE
GOVERNOR'S HISTORIC CLEAN
TRANSPORTATION. INFRASTRUCTURE
PACKAGE. SECONDLY, WE ARE
CONTINUING TO PRIORITIZE OUR
MOST IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION
INVESTMENTS. PUTTING PEOPLE
FIRST. AND FOCUS ON OUR CORE
FOUR PRIORITIES OF SAFETY.
EQUITY. CLIMATE ACTION. AN
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. THESE
INVESTMENTS ARE ALREADY
BENEFITING COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. FOR
EXAMPLE. JUST IN 2020 THREE,
CALIFORNIA AWARDED MORE THAN
THREE BILLION DOLLARS FOR A
PUBLIC TRANSIT PROJECTS. IT'S
ALSO WORTH NOTING. CALIFORNIA
HAS RECEIVED NEARLY $38 BILLION
IN FEDERAL FUNDING AND A LITTLE
MORE THAN TWO YEARS FOR IIJ, OR
BILL, THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW. OF THAT 38
BILLION. ALMOST 28 BILLION HAS
GONE SPECIFICALLY TO
TRANSPORTATION. AND THAT 28
BILLION INCLUDES A THREE $0.1
BILLION INVESTMENT IN HIGH SPEED
RAIL. THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN
ANNOUNCED JUST LATE LAST YEAR IN
NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR. SO
KEEPING ALL THAT IN MIND. THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL
INCLUDES THREE $0.7 BILLION IN
DELAYS. █791 MILLION IN FUN
SHIFTS. AND █200 MILLION IN
GENERAL FUND. REDUCTIONS.
IMPORTANTLY THE SOLUTIONS WILL
HAVE NÓ IMPACT. ON OVERALL
FUNDING AMOUNT. OF PREVIOUSLY
AWARDED TO PREVIOUSLY AWARDED
PROJECTS, SO PROJECTS THAT HAVE
ALREADY BEEN AWARDED ARE SAFE.
THE DELAYS. THAT I MENTIONED
WHICH SPREAD OUT THE FUNDING FOR
THE Tð, R, èC P PROGRAM OR
TRANSIT AND IN INTERCITY RAIL
CAPITAL PROGRAM. OUR ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. HOW
STABLE ALL OF OUR PROGRAM. TO
ALIGN THE BUDGET WITH PROJECT
EXPEND EXPENDITURE SCHEDULES.
THESE SHOULD NOT SHOULD NOT.
IMPACT THESE PROGRAMS. THE FUN
SHIFT IS ESSENTIAL, ESSENTIALLY
SWAPPING OUT SOME GENERAL FUND
IN Tð R èC P WITH CAP AND TRADE
DOLLARS WITH NÓ CHANGE IN THE
OVERALL FUNDING AMOUNT. LASTLY,
THE BUDGET PROPOSALS A REDUCTION
OF $200 MILLION FOR ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION. EVEN WITH THIS
REDUCTION WE STILL INTEND TO
FUND A FULL $1.05 BILLION OF
PROJECTS ORIGINALLY AWARDED BY
THE èC Tð èC. AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER. GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S CLEAN
TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE IS
ALREADY BENEFITING COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. FROM
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO HIGH
SPEED RAIL TO ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION AND MAINTAINING
THIS LEVEL OF FUNDING WILL ALLOW
US TO CONTINUE. SO MODERNIZE OUR
VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE. AS I'VE
SAID BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT
AGAIN HERE TODAY. AS THE LARGEST
CONTRIBUTOR OF PLANET WARMING
POLLUTION IN CALIFORNIA.
TRANSPORTATION HAS TO BE PART OF
THE SOLUTION. AND WE'RE NOT
BACKING DOWN OR NOT CLIMATE
COMMITMENT. AND THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET. IS FURTHER PROOF OF
THAT. WE ALSO CONTINUE TO MAKE
PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE CT.
THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO
INVEST BILLIONS OF DISCRETIONARY
TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS. ANNUALLY
TO AGGRESSIVELY COMBAT AND ADAPT
TO CLIMATE CHANGE. WHILE
SUPPORTING PUBLIC HEALTH. SAFETY
AND EQUITY. IN JANUARY, CTA THE
AGENCY. RELEASED ITS SECOND
ANNUAL REPORT DETAILING THE
STATE'S PROGRESS UNDER CAPT.
FINDING THAT CALIFORNIA HAS
COMPLETED NEARLY ALL THE ACTIONS
TO ALIGN THE STATE'S
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROGRAMS
WITH ITS CLIMATE GOALS, WELL
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. ALONG WITH
OTHER NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
ADDITIONALLY KER IS COMMITTING
TO A PUBLIC PROCESS THIS SPRING
TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS IN
MEETING THE STATE'S AMBITIOUS
TARGETS TO REDUCE VEHICLE MILES
TRAVELED. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST
UPDATE TO CTI SINCE KS. HOW THEY
ADOPTED THE PLAN. IN JULY OF
2021. SO IN CLOSING THERE ARE
DARK CLOUDS AHEAD. AND I DON'T
WANT TO MINIMIZE THAT. AS I SAID
EARLIER WHEN IT COMES TO
TRANSPORTATION. THERE ARE QUITE
A FEW SILVER LININGS. AND I WANT
TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN THAT WE'RE
MAINTAINING NEARLY ALL OUR CLEAN
TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
COMMITMENTS. WHICH WILL CONTINUE
TO POSITION CALIFORNIA FOR
INCREASED FEDERAL INVESTMENTS
AND ACCELERATE OUR TRANSITION TO
A SAFE, SUSTAINABLE EQUITABLE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT
CONTINUES TO POWER OUR ECONOMY.
AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.
THAT MR CHAIRMAN AND MEMBER
CONNOLLY UH, GLAD TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. FROM YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE ALSO AND JOINING
YOUR COLLEAGUES. UH, THIS IS A
GREAT OVERVIEW EACH YEAR WHEN WE
HAVE THE FOUR OF YOU, UH, COME,
UH AND GET A SENSE IN TERMS OF
WHERE WE ARE WITH THE WITH THE
CLIMATE PACKAGE. I JUST HAVE A
FEW THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, I
THINK TO MAKE SURE WE SURFACE
FROM AN OVERVIEW STANDPOINT.
TRANSIT IS A BIG CONCERN FOR ME.
UH AND I, I THINK, UH, FOR THE
ASSEMBLY. UH, WENT IN, AND IT
DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE ALL OF
THE SAME MIND. BUT I THINK WE
ARE ALL CONCERNED THAT IT IS
GOING TO REQUIRE RAPIDLY
EVOLVING. TECHNOLOGY RAPIDLY
EVOLVING INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW
YOU, UH, KEEP UP WITH THAT, AND
PUBLIC AGENCIES ARE NOT
GENERALLY KNOWN FOR, YOU KNOW,
BEING ABLE TO MOVE FAST AND
IMPLEMENT NEW TECHNOLOGY,
ETCETERA. IF WE DON'T HAVE NEW
THINKING ABOUT TRANSIT WERE
PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE LOTS OF
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AS WE'VE
ALREADY HAD THAT WITH RIDERSHIP
DROPPING, ETCETERA, AND SO, UM,
SOME PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS THAT,
UH, IT'S A MANAGEMENT ISSUE AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL. SOME PEOPLE
HAVE CONCERNS THAT WE'RE NOT
INVESTING ENOUGH. SOME PEOPLE,
THE CONCERNS ARE ALL OVER THE
MAP, SO IT'S NOT ALL JUST HEY,
WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR TRANSIT.
IT'S WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPEND
THE MONEY FOR TRANSIT IN A WAY
THAT GIVES THE STATE CONFIDENCE
WHEN TRANSIT WAS BEING FUNDED AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL. UH, WITH A
LITTLE SUPPLEMENT FROM THE STATE
. THAT WAS ONE THING, BUT IF THE
IF THE STATE'S GOING TO PLAY ANY
SIGNIFICANT, ONGOING ROLE, AND
IT'S THE STATE'S GONNA HAVE TO
HAVE A GREATER CONFIDENCE THAT
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOLUTIONS
AND ADDRESS, UH, THE CHALLENGES
THAT ARE OUT THERE SO THAT IT
JUST DOESN'T BECOME A BIGGER AND
BIGGER, UH BUDGET ITEM FOR US
WITHOUT ANY SENSE OF
ACCOUNTABILITY, SO JUST THAT'S A
HUGE ISSUE. UM I THINK FOR LOTS
OF DIFFERENT ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
AGAIN WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF
OPINIONS ABOUT THAT, UM, THE
OTHER THING I WANTED TO GET ON
THE RADAR SCREEN. WE'RE MAKING A
HUGE INVESTMENT IN, UH, CHARGING
STATIONS OUT THERE. JUST
TREMENDOUS. UH UH. INVESTMENT.
UM WHEN YOU SEE A FRONT PAGE
STORY IN THE L A TIMES ABOUT THE
CHARGING STATIONS NOT BEING
MAINTAINED PROPERLY, ETCETERA,
UH I'LL BE CURIOUS AND NOT ASK A
SPECIFIC QUESTION NOW, BUT I'LL
BE CURIOUS. WHAT ARE ALL THE
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE PRIVATE
MAINTENANCE OF THESE BECAUSE
MANY OF THESE ARE WHERE WE
FUNDED SOMETHING, BUT SOMEBODY?
THE PRIVATE ALSO DID THAT THAT
WE'RE ACTUALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE THAT INVESTMENT THAT WE GET
THAT, UH UH, THAT STEADY
MAINTENANCE OF THOSE CHARGING
STATIONS SO THAT THE PUBLIC
CAUSE WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE
SOME PEOPLE LOSE THEIR
CONFIDENCE IN GOING TO E VÆ
INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE I MEAN
GOING TO AN E VÆ VEHICLE,
BECAUSE, UH, OF STORIES ABOUT
THAT AND STUFF. WE NEED MORE
PEOPLE TO GO THAT DIRECTION. SO
THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS I
WANTED TO GET ON THE RADAR
SCREEN. IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS
ABOUT EITHER ONE OF THOSE GREAT,
BUT YEAH, JUST JUST JUST
BRIEFLY. CHAIRMAN. SO ON YOUR
FIRST NOTE ABOUT ABOUT TRANSIT
AND ITS IMPORTANCE ON MANY
FRONTS. COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU
MORE. UH THANKFUL FOR YOU, UM
AND THE OTHER MEMBERS AND OF
COURSE, THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR
FOR ALLOWING THE, UH UH $5.1
BILLION TO FINALLY TO MOVE
FORWARD TO INVEST IN TRANSIT. SO
THERE IS NÓ DOUBT A CHALLENGE
WITH HOW TRANSIT AGENCIES IN THE
PAST HAVE MANAGED THEIR THEIR
OPERATIONS. THERE'S A THERE'S A
CHALLENGE THERE. UH, MANY HAVE
DONE A VERY GOOD JOB. BUT THERE
THERE'S SOME. THERE'S SOME SOME
SPOTS IF YOU WILL, OR
IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE. BUT
WHEN YOU HAVE THE PANDEMIC THAT
WE HAD UM, THAT COMPLETELY.
DETONATED RIDERSHIP. SOME
RIDERSHIP WAS DOWN BY, UH, IN
SOME AREAS. IT WAS DOWN BY 96%
PLUS IN MANY CASES, THEY ARE
COMING BACK. THE RIDERSHIP IS
BACK. UM, I THINK WE'RE ON THE
RIGHT PATH, AND THE GOVERNOR
ALLOWED ME JUST LAST MONTH TO
ANNOUNCE A TRANSIT
TRANSFORMATION TASK FORCE, UH,
THAT WERE OF APPOINTED LEADERS
FROM ACROSS THE STATE DIFFERENT
POCKETS OF THE STATE MORE THAN
20 LEADERS TO HELP GUIDE THE
VISION AND THE FUTURE FOR
TRANSIT. UH, IN THE STATES, SO
SOME ARE PROBABLY FROM YOUR
DISTRICT. I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU TO CONFIRM CONFIRM THAT BUT
I THINK WE'RE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT
PATH, BUT I COULDN'T AGREE WITH
YOU MORE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
TRANSIT FOR US TO SUCCEED FROM
AN EQUITY STANDPOINT, SAFETY AND
NÓ DOUBT CLIMATE SO WE HAVE TO
KEEP GOING DOWN THE PATH THAT
WE'RE GOING BY THE WAY, THERE'S
ALWAYS A HEALTHY COMPETITION
BETWEEN US SECRETARIES.
SECRETARY ROSS ASKED ME. WHAT
DID I EAT BREAKFAST? I WANT TO
ASK HER. HOW DID SHE GET HERE
TODAY? I DIDN'T WALK, OK, I
DIDN'T WALK. OK TRANSPORTATION
SOMEHOW GOT YOU HERE. I PROMISE.
UM SH SHOW, UH AND AGAIN
TRANSITS A KEY PART OF THAT TO
YOUR POINT ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE
AND CHARGING, UH UH, ZEV,
CHARGING AS SECRETARY GARCIA
MENTIONED GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED
HUGE MILESTONE JUST LAST WAS IT
LAST WEEK. JUST LAST WEEK.
10,000 CHARGES THAT MAINTENANCE
ISSUE ON OUR SIDE THE PUBLIC
CHARGING WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR
PART, BUT IN THE CASES WHERE WE
FUNDED PRIVATE, UM UH, PRIVATE
ENTITIES TO MANAGE THAT THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT I DON'T KNOW IF
SECRETARY GARCIA WOULD HAVE ANY
COMMENTS OR NOT ON THAT, BUT
IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO CHECK
INTO, ESPECIALLY IF WE FUNDED
PRIVATE ENTITIES TO INSTALL
CHARGERS. HOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE
SURE THAT THEY MAINTAIN THOSE
CHARGES OVER TIME, NOT JUST GIVE
THEM THE FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT
AND WALK AWAY, BUT IF THEY
PRIVATELY INSTALL THEM WITH
THEIR OWN MONEY, THAT'S THEIR
UM, THAT'S THEIR OBLIGATION.
THAT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO
MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S DONE. UH,
BUT IN THAT PLACE AS WELL, I
THINK WE'RE LEADING THE NATION
IN MANY CASES WHERE LEADING THE
WORLD NOT ONLY WITH THE VEHICLES
, UH, BUT, UH, THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL. COULD I
ADD? BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A NOTE
THAT, UM, JUST A WEEK AND A HALF
AGO, OUR DIVISION OF WEIGHTS AND
MEASURES HAS BEEN A PART OF
MAKING SURE THAT THE CHARGING
STATIONS ARE METERING OUT WHAT
YOU SAY YOU'RE GETTING AND
WORKING WITH TESLA SINCE THE
FIRST OF THE YEAR, WE THEY HAVE
OPENED UP THEIR NETWORK TO OTHER
CAR MANUFACTURERS. THIS IS A
REALLY, REALLY HUGE DEAL. THEY
HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE
FAST CHARGERS AND WE WERE ABLE
TO WORK WITH THEM TO NOT ONLY
THAT ADAPTATION BUT ALSO TO BE
ABLE TO USE YOUR PHONE THE WAY
SOME NATURES FUNCTIONS ARE MORE
THAN 100 YEARS OLD. AND IF
EVERYBODY THINKS OF IT AS
SOMETHING VERY PHYSICAL AND
BEING ABLE TO REALLY MAKE SURE
THAT WE ADVANCE WITH TECHNOLOGY
TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT, I THINK
IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ADDITION
TO THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE
DOING THERE. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. UM I HAVE SOME, UH, SOME
OVERVIEW QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY,
I. I WOULD LIKE TO SWAP OUT BUT
NOT YET. I WANNA SEE IF, UM
MEMBER. CONLEY HAS ANY QUESTIONS
FOR EITHER OF THESE TWO
SECRETARIES WHILE WE HAVE THEM
UP HERE, AND THEN WE'LL SWITCH
TO SECRETARY GARCIA AND
SECRETARY YEAH. NÓ APPRECIATE
THAT. AND UM, MAYBE TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW UP ON A
TRANSPORTATION QUESTION, AND YOU
MAY HAVE ADDRESSED IT, BUT UM,
AS WAS NOTED, I THINK WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT A $2.8 BILLION IN
GENERAL FIND REVERSIONS FOR
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT
HAVE ALREADY BEEN AWARDED
FUNDING. UM. DO WE HAVE A SENSE?
I MEAN, IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT
PROJECTS ON THE GROUND LOCALLY
IN COMMUNITIES? UM IS THERE A
CONCERN ABOUT JEOPARDIZING THE
OVERALL COMPLETION OF PROJECTS?
IN THAT SCENARIO? I THINK YOU
ALSO MENTIONED THERE MIGHT BE
SOME BACKFILL. BUT HOW IS THAT
GONNA PLAY OUT? YEAH SO GOOD
QUESTION. REMEMBER CONNOLLY, SO
THE ACTUAL NUMBER? UH, JUST TO
BE, YOU KNOW, A ACCURATE ON THIS
IS THREE $0.7 BILLION. IS IN
DELAYS. UH ACROSS AGAIN, UH,
MULTIPLE PROGRAMS. 7 $791
MILLION IN FRONT SHIFTS. UH $296
MILLION OR OR, UH, IN IN
REDUCTIONS, SO REALLY, THE ONLY
PROGRAM THAT IS FACING A
REDUCTION IS THE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM. UM,
WHERE WE THE FUNDING THAT WE
USED TO BUILD? UH UH, WALKING
AND BIKING PATHS ACROSS THE
STATE, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT
PROGRAM CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
PROGRAM. A BILLION DOLLARS HAS
ALREADY BEEN SORT OF PROGRAMMED
FOR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION THAT
MONEY WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. UM
AND SO WHAT'S THE, UH, DECREASE
IN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION FOR
FUTURE FUTURE PROJECTS? FUTURE
PROJECTS? UM UH, IN IN ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION. SO UM, WHAT
WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN PROGRAMMED
WON'T WON'T BE AFFECTED AND THE
SAME THING WITH ALL THE REST OF
THE MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT. HERE IT'S EITHER SHIFTS
OR DELAYS THAT WE'RE REFERENCING
SO ANYTHING THAT'S BEEN AWARDED
AND FUNDED ALREADY WILL NOT BE
IMPACTED. AND MOST OF THAT AGAIN
IS COMING FROM THE Tð R èC P UH
Tð R èC P PROGRAM. SO I THINK,
AND I APPRECIATE THAT, SO I
THINK IN LIGHT OF THAT THE
CONCERN WAS STILL BE, WHAT ARE
THE ACTUAL IMPACTS OF DELAYS
GOING TO BE KIND OF ON PROJECTS
THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE FOR
LOCAL COMMUNITIES? DO WE HAVE A
WAY OF GET OUR ARMS AROUND THAT
TRACKING IT. FOLLOW I. I CAN GET
YOU SPECIFIC DETAILS ON THAT.
BUT THE WAY OUR TEAM LOOKS AT
THIS. IT'S A BIT OF A CASH
MANAGEMENT APPROACH THAT THEY
USE WHEN THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING,
AS YOU WELL KNOW WHEN YOU'RE
CONSTRUCTING OR A BUILDING
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THEY
HAPPEN IN PHASES. SO YOU RARELY
EVER NEED THE ENTIRE 100% OF THE
FUNDING UP FRONT. IT'S YOU KNOW,
THROUGH MULTIPLE PHASES, AND SO
WE HAVE A, YOU KNOW, RELATIVELY
GOOD SENSE OF WHEN FUNDING IS
GOING TO BE NEEDED FOR EACH ONE
OF THOSE PHASES, AND SO THE
MONEY HAS BEEN DELAYED. OR
SHIFTED BASED ON THOSE PHASES
FOR IMPLEMENTATION. BUT I CAN
GET YOU. UH, OF COURSE. A MEMBER
CALMLY I CAN GET YOU SOME
SPECIFICS ON POTENTIAL IMPACTS.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, A CASH
MANAGEMENT APPROACH IS WHAT WHAT
WE'VE USED YEAH, NÓ THAT WOULD
BE HELP ON IT AND APPRECIATE THE
ONGOING DIALOGUE THAT WE'LL HAVE
ON THAT. UM IT'S COME TO MY
ATTENTION. I THINK WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT IN TERMS OF ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM CUTS
GOING OR IN THE FUTURE, AS
NOTED. BUT $200 MILLION, SO THAT
IS SIGNIFICANT. AND, UM
CERTAINLY, UM WE WANNA CONTINUE
TO PRIORITIZE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION AS WELL. UM UH,
JAMES MOORE WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE. I JUST WANTED TO
REITERATE WHAT THE SECRETARY
SAID. UH WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT
KINDS OF DELAYS. UM, ONE IS WITH
THE FORMULA. Tð I èC P PROGRAM.
WE ARE ACTUALLY TAKING A BILLION
DOLLARS THAT WOULD HAVE COME OUT
, UM AND GONE INTO LOCAL COFFERS
IN THE BUDGET YEAR AND ACTUALLY
DELAYING THAT A YEAR. THE OTHER
2.7 THAT, UM, SOMEONE MENTIONED
EARLIER. THAT REALLY IS THE CASH
FLOWING STRATEGIES IN THAT
INSTANCE WERE REALLY ALIGNING
THE BUDGET WITH THE PROJECT
EXPENDITURE SCHEDULES, AND SO,
UH, LIKE THE SECRETARY SAID,
THERE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE ANY
PROGRAM DELAY. THEY'RE PLANNING
TO SPEND IT IN A GIVEN YEAR AND
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY
HAVE THE MONEY IN THAT YEAR. UM
THAT REALLY SHOULD HAVE NÓ
PROGRAMMATIC DELAY. THE $1
BILLION WILL RESULT IN THE
LOCALS GETTING SOME OF THAT
MONEY. A YEAR LATER, SO I JUST
WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT
DISTINCTION IS APPRECIATE THAT
THEN I HAVE SOME OVERALL AS
WELL. SO WHENEVER WE GET BACK
INTO THAT, UH, THANK YOU. LET'S
HEAR FROM L A Ó. AND THEN WE'LL
ASK YOU TWO TO COME BACK UP. AND
THEN WE'LL GET YOU OUT OF HERE
BECAUSE I GOT A NEW DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE FIRST OR OH, I'M
SORRY, YES, DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. ALL RIGHT, STEVEN BENZ
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
YOU WANT TO SWITCH OVER THERE,
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO CR YOUR
NECK ALSO AROUND RIGHT? I'M
GONNA ASK HIM TO REMOVE THIS
THING. YEAH. THANK YOU. GOOD
MORNING CHAIR AND, UH, MEMBER
CONNOLLY, UH, STEVEN BENSON WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. UM
I'LL TRY AND KEEP MY COMMENTS
BRIEF. THE SECRETARY SHOULD HAVE
GONE BEFORE US DID A GREAT JOB
OF COVERING REMARKABLE PROGRESS
AND THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE FUNDING,
SO I'LL TRY AND FOCUS PRIMARILY
ON THE OVERALL BUDGET AND SORT
OF STRATEGIES FOR HOW WE'VE COME
UP WITH SOME OF THE DECISIONS WE
MADE. SO UH, AS I THINK FOLKS
ARE AWARE THE ADMINISTRATION
PROJECTS A $37.9 BILLION BUDGET
SHORTFALL. UM AND WE'RE YOU
KNOW, HAVE THE CHALLENGE OF
TRYING TO BALANCE UH,
BACKFILLING THAT, ALONG WITH
TRYING TO MAINTAIN AS MANY OF
THE PROMISES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE
, UM AND MAINTAIN FINANCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY, AND SO IN DOING
THAT, UM WE? WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE
MANAGED TO BE ABLE TO, UM LESSEN
THAT CHALLENGE, I GUESS TO A
CERTAIN EXTENT BECAUSE OF THE
FORESIGHT OVER THE LAST YEAR IN
TERMS OF HOW RESERVES WERE BUILT
UP. THAT CERTAINLY HELPED A
GREAT DEAL. UM AND THEN WE'VE
HAD TO PRIORITIZE WHERE TO
MAINTAIN FUNDING AND WHERE TO
MAKE SOME CUTS SO AS PREVIOUSLY
MENTIONED, THE 21 AND 22 BUDGET
ACTS ALLOCATED APPROXIMATELY $54
BILLION OVER FIVE YEARS FOR THE
CLIMATE AGENDA. THE BUDGET
MAINTAINS 48.3 BILLION OF THAT
SO ABOUT 89% UM, AND THAT'S OVER
A SEVEN YEAR PERIOD. SO IT'S IT
SPREADS IT OUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT
MAINTAINS I SAID 89% OF THE
FUNDING COMMITMENTS THERE. UM WE
MENTIONED. I THINK IT HAS BEEN
MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY THAT PART
OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND
TRYING TO PRIORITIZE. UM, BUDGET
IS PRIORITIZING EQUITY
INVESTMENTS AND POPULATIONS
FACING DISPROPORTIONATE HARM
FROM POLLUTANTS AND OTHER
CLIMATE IMPACTS. AND WE'VE ALSO
IN IN TRYING TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM. UM WE'RE CONTINUING TO
LEVERAGE AND PURSUE AS MUCH
FEDERAL FUNDING AS WE CAN. SO AS
OF THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR,
APPROXIMATELY 15.5 BILLION, UM,
HAS BEEN SECURED IN CALIFORNIA
FROM THE, UH, INFLATION
REDUCTION ACT AND THE
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND
JOBS ACT. UM AND I THINK,
ACTUALLY, UH, SECRETARY OF
TRANSPORTATION, TALKED ABOUT
SOME ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING
THAT'S OUTSIDE. OF THOSE TWO
ACTS THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN COMING
IN TO HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION.
SO THE 15.5 MILLION SORT OF ONLY
CAPTURES, UM ONE PORTION OF WHAT
FEDERAL FUNDING WE'RE TRYING TO
SECURE IS WITHIN THE CLIMATE
SPACE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT 6.7
BILLION OF THE GENERAL FUND
SOLUTIONS ARE CLIMATE RELATED,
AND WE'RE ACHIEVING THAT IN A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS. UM 2.9
BILLION OF IT IS THROUGH
REDUCTIONS. 1.9 BILLION IS FROM
DELI IS ATTRIBUTED TO DELAYS AND
THEN 1.8 BILLION IS ATTRIBUTED
TO FUND SHIFTS, WHICH IS
PRIMARILY TO THE GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTION FUND. SO I JUST WANTED
TO EMPHASIZE THAT, UM, IN
SOLVING 37 POINT 9 BILLION ONLY
2.9 BILLION IS REDUCTIONS IN THE
CLIMATE AGENDA, AND THAT'S PART
OF THAT. 85 89. MAINTAINING THE
FUNDING. UM, THE BUDGET ALSO
INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 565
MILLION ADDITIONAL NON CLIMATE
RELATED SOLUTIONS IN THE NATURAL
RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AREA. UM, THAT
INCLUDES THREE $150 MILLION OF
REVENUE BORROWING. 175 MILLION
IN DELAYS AND $39.9 MILLION OF
REDUCTIONS. SO AGAIN JUST FROM A
CONTEXT STANDPOINT, UH, WANTED
TO JUST EMPHASIZE THAT UM WHAT
THIS REPRESENTS. REALLY IS A
CHEWING UP OF OUR RECONCILIATION
OF ONE TIME EXPENDITURE LEVELS
TO RECONCILE WITH OR CORRECTED
REVENUE PROJECTIONS. UM AND I. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT AS A PART OF THAT THERE
AREN'T BASE BUDGET REDUCTIONS IN
THIS BUDGET. UM, IF YOU COMPARE
THE BASE BUDGET FOR MOST OF
THESE DEPARTMENTS IN 1920 TO THE
BASE BUDGETS FOR 2425. THERE'S
ACTUALLY GROWTH IN BASE BUDGETS.
ALL OF THIS IS BEING DONE
THROUGH CORRECTING ONE TIME
INVESTMENTS. YOU MEAN 2020 YOU
SAID 1920. UH, YEAH, THE 1920
FISCAL YEAR. YOU COULD USE THE
2021 FISCAL YEAR, BUT THAT'S
SORT OF WHEN WE STARTED DOING
THE ONE TIME INVESTMENT, SO I
WHEN I WAS PICKING WHAT YOU MADE
1920 OR 2020 2019. YES THANK YOU
. 2 2019 2020 THAT'S BASING US
AT A VERY INTERESTING SPOT.
SORRY IF WE'RE REALLY GOING WAY
BACK, UH, OF COURSE THERE'S
GROWTH OF THE LAST. ALL RIGHT.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR THE
CORRECTION. UH, CLARIFICATION.
UM BUT I JUST THINK THAT IT'S
IMPORTANT TO SORT OF NOTE THAT
BASE BUDGET, CONSISTENCY AND
ACTUAL GROWTH OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS AS WELL AND BEING
ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS WITH WITHIN
ONE TIME EXPENDITURES. UM, OUR
FRAMEWORK FOR, UH, SORT OF
VIEWING THIS AND ADDRESSING THE
CHALLENGES IS FIRST WE WANTED TO
IDENTIFY PROGRAMS WHERE THERE IS
AVAILABLE FUNDING STILL LEFT, UM
TO ADDRESS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE
KEY THINGS WE LOOKED AT IS
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING OVER
MULTIPLE FISCAL YEARS. UM THE
POTENTIAL AVAILABILITY TO SHIFT
TO OTHER FUNDING. SO AS WE KNOW
THERE'S SEVERAL SHIFTS TO
GREENHOUSE GAS PRODUCTION FUNDS,
SO WE LOOKED AT THAT AS A WAY
OF, UH, PRIORITIZING GENERAL
FUND SOLUTIONS. UM CONSIDERING
PREVIOUS REDUCTIONS IN THE
OVERALL FUNDING MAINTAINED FOR
EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS
IT IMPORTANT FACTOR AS I
MENTIONED PRIORITIZING EQUITY
AND INVESTMENTS FOR PRIORITY
POPULATIONS, UH, IMPORTANT PART
OF THE FRAMEWORK PROTECTING
FUNDING FOR THE MOST IMMEDIATE
CLIMATE RISK, SUCH AS WATER AND
WILDFIRE. EXTREME HEAT THOSE
TYPES OF THINGS. UM YOU KNOW WAS
WAS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES WE
USE, AND THEN THE POTENTIAL
AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS AS
WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE
IMPORTANT FACTOR IN TRYING TO
DECIDE HOW TO DO THAT. UM THE
SECRETARY DID A REMARKABLE JOB
OF TALKING ABOUT EACH OF THE
PACKAGES. SO I'M NOT GONNA GO
THROUGH ALL OF THAT AGAIN, UH,
FOR YOU, BUT IF THERE'S ANY OF
THE PACKAGES THAT YOU, YOU KNOW,
NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN
TERMS OF FUNDING LEVEL PROVIDED,
UH, AMOUNTS MAINTAINED THAT KIND
OF STUFF. WE HAVE ALL THAT
AVAILABLE TO SORT OF REMIND
FOLKS OF IT. I THINK MOST OF
THOSE WERE HIT ON BY THE
SECRETARIES. I THINK THE ONLY
ONE THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T IT IS.
IN THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, UH,
CATEGORY. THE 2122 BUDGETS
COMMITTED TO 1.9 BILLION FOR
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE,
INVESTMENTS, AND THE BUDGET
MAINTAINS 1.2 BILLION OF THAT,
OR 67. UM SO THE BUDGET REFLECTS
89.8 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND
REDUCTIONS ACROSS PROGRAMS IN
THAT AREA, BUT I THINK ALL OF
THE OTHER CLIMATE CATEGORIES
HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, SO I WILL
END MY COMMENTS THERE AND WE
WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AS UH, AS NEEDED.
GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PARDON OUR TRYING TO MAKE SURE
OUR SCHEDULES WORK HERE, GIVEN
THE TIME, UM HAVE ONE QUESTION
FOR YOU AND, UM COULD YOU HELP
US, YOU KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE. WELL WE KNOW
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS
THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE PROBABLY
GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT
ADJUSTMENTS AGAIN NEXT YEAR. AND
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF
PROGRAMMING SPENDING A COUPLE OF
YEARS OUT. UM, IF WE YOU KNOW
WHY NOT JUST WAIT AND SEE RATHER
THAN HAVE SOME PEOPLE. FEEL LIKE
THIS FUNDING IS COMING. UH AND
THEN WE HAVE TO CUT THAT FUNDING
. UM COULD YOU COULD YOU HELP US
WITH WHAT ARE WHAT ARE THE
BENEFITS? WHAT AM I MISSING?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DOING
THAT IS SORT OF. I'M NOT TRYING
TO BE CRITICAL OF IT. I'M TRYING
TO BE. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THE BENEFITS OF THAT BECAUSE I
SEE SOME SOME CHALLENGES WITH
IT, PARTICULARLY AS WE HAVE
DEFICITS. YEAH SO I THINK YOU
KNOW THERE, UH, AS REFLECTED IN
IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THERE'S
A LOT OF WAYS TO GO ABOUT
ADDRESSING BALANCING BUDGETS.
AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROJECTED A
SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALLS IN THE
NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. UH, BUT I
THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND PART
OF WHAT WE'RE CORRECTING FOR
THIS YEAR IS THAT THERE'S A LOT
OF VOLATILITY IN TERMS OF, UH,
CALIFORNIA'S, UH, REVENUES AND
SO SOME OF THESE DELAYS WAS
BENEFIT WE SAW IS WE'RE TRYING
TO BEGIN TO SORT OF MAINTAIN AND
PRIORITIZE CERTAIN CRITICAL
AREAS. UM AND I THINK MAINTAIN A
CERTAIN LEVEL OF OPTIMISM THAT
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE CONTINUE
TO DELIVER ON SOME OF THESE, UM
SO I THINK THAT REALLY WAS WAS
THE PRIMARY BENEFIT IS WE'RE,
YOU KNOW, SORT OF VIEWING THE
VOLATILITY AND THE NEED THAT
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DISCUSS
AND CORRECT EACH YEAR ANYWAY. UM
BUT TRY AND, YOU KNOW, MAINTAIN
AS MUCH PRIORITIES AND PROMISES
AS WE COULD. OPTIMISM IS NOT A
BAD UH, YEAH, NOT NOT A BAD GOAL
. RIGHT STUFF. ALRIGHTY. HEY,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, UM
MISS. UM AND, UH OUR LEGISLATIVE
ANALYST, UH IS GOOD MORNING,
RACHEL EHLERS WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE. I'M
GONNA SPEAK FROM THIS HANDOUT,
BUT I'M GONNA GO AT THE WARP
SPEED VERSION OF THE
PRESENTATION. IF THAT'S OK IN
THE INTEREST OF TIME BECAUSE YOU
AND I HAVE BEEN OVER THIS TWICE
WE HAVE AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE MANY OTHER HEARINGS
GOING IN IN DETAIL, BUT, UM, UH,
THE HANDOUT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON
OUR WEBSITE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T
HAVE IT. SO JUST, UH, JUST TO
START WITH OVERALL BUDGET
CONTEXT, I THINK WE ALL KNOW
WE'RE FACING A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
OUR OFFICE ESTIMATES YOU ARE
FACING A 70 THREE. MILLION
DOLLAR PROBLEM TO ADDRESS WITH
THIS BUDGET. UH, EVEN UNDER THE
GOVERNOR'S REVENUE FORECAST,
WHICH IS MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN
OUR OFFICES, EVEN IF YOU ADOPTED
EVERY PROPOSAL UNDER THE
GOVERNOR'S, UH, BUDGET, THE
ADMINISTRATION IS ESTIMATING 30
TO $40 BILLION SHORTFALLS IN
EACH OF THE THREE SUBSEQUENT
FISCAL YEARS AFTER THIS BUDGET,
SO IT REALLY IS A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM FACING YOU.
WE DO THINK THAT, LOOKING AT
REDUCING ONE TIME IN TEMPORARY
SPENDING IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
TOOL FOR YOU BECAUSE IT IT, UH,
ALLOWS YOU TO SAVE SOME OF YOUR
OTHER TOOLS LIKE RESERVES FOR
FUTURE YEARS. UH, AND ALSO IT IS
KIND OF THE ESSENCE THAT YOU
THINK ABOUT THIS IN A MORE
TIMELY FASHION BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
REALLY GET OUT A FEW YEARS FROM
NOW AND SAY, OH, I WISH THAT WE
REDUCE THAT ONE TIME SPENDING A
FEW YEARS AGO, SO IT IS A KEY
TOOL TO THINK ABOUT AND IT IS
IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT IT, UH,
IN THE NEAR TERM, SO WE AS YOUR
BUDGET ADVISORS, TAKE OUR PRETTY
SERIOUSLY AT HELP AS HELPING YOU
ADDRESS YOUR POLICY GOALS, BUT
ALSO HELPING YOU ADDRESS YOUR
CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION TO
BUILD A BALANCED BUDGET. SO
THAT'S REALLY THE CONTEXT OF OUR
SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE REALLY WANT TO GIVE YOU
OPTIONS BECAUSE YOU HAVE OPTIONS
YOU DON'T HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL IS NOT THE ONLY PATH
YOU CAN TAKE. SO IN OUR REPORT
THAT WE PUT OUT A COUPLE OF
WEEKS AGO, WE TRY TO IDENTIFY
ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT HAS NOT
YET BEEN SPENT WITHOUT PREJUDICE
TO THE PROGRAM. REALLY, TO GIVE
YOU THE TOOLS THAT YOU NEED TO
TRY AND BALANCE ALL OF THESE
GOALS. SO TURNING TO THE SECOND
PAGE OF THE HANDOUT. THIS JUST
PROVIDES YOU AN ILLUSTRATION OF
REALLY THE UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL
OF GENERAL FUND INVESTMENT FOR
THESE PROGRAMS IN RECENT YEARS.
THIS FIGURE, UH REFLECTS THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL. SO EVEN
WITH THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS, IT
REALLY HAS BEEN QUITE A BIT OF
FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS THAT
HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN SUPPORTED
BY BOND FUNDS OR SPECIAL FUNDS.
THAT'S BOTH TRUE FOR THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS AS WELL
AS THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS.
SO EVEN WITH THE PROPOSED
DIFFICULT PROPOSED REDUCTION AND
DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT FACE YOU,
UH, AS SECRETARY, CROW NOTED,
YOU REALLY WILL HAVE SUSTAINED
SOME PRETTY UNPRECEDENTED, UH,
INVESTMENTS IN THESE TYPES OF
ACTIVITIES. TURNING TO PAGE
THREE. THIS JUST, UH SUMMARIZES
WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD
TODAY. THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL
FOCUSES ON THREE DIFFERENT
STRATEGIES, REDUCTIONS, DELAYS
AND FUN SHIFTS. UH, IT SAVES
$4.1 BILLION FROM THE CLIMATE
AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
ACROSS THE BUDGET WINDOW, BUT
THAT SAVINGS DO END UP BEING
LESS ACROSS THE LONGER PERIOD.
BECAUSE ONCE YOU DO THAT DELAYS
AND THEY COME BACK IN THAT
ERODES SOME OF THOSE SAVINGS, SO
WE ESTIMATE 3.6 BILLION ACROSS
THE MULTIYEAR PERIOD. PAGE FOUR
PROVIDES AN ILLUSTRATION OF
THESE PROPOSALS. UH, IT'S NICER
IN OUR REPORT IN COLOR COMPARED
TO THE GRAY SCALE, BUT I THINK
SOME OF THE KEY TAKEAWAYS ARE
MOST OF THE FUNDING IS RETAINED.
UH, BUT ALSO THERE ARE SOME
DIFFERENT CHOICES ACROSS THE
DIFFERENT THEMATIC AREAS, FOR
EXAMPLE, IN THE UM ZERO EMISSION
VEHICLE PACKAGE, THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL WOULD SUSTAIN PRETTY
MUCH ALL OF THE FUNDING 100% OF
THE FUNDING, WHEREAS IN
COMPARISON IN COASTAL RESILIENCE
, ONLY ABOUT HALF SO THERE'S
SOME POLICY CHOICES HERE AGAIN
BACK TO THE THEME OF YOU. HAVE
OPTIONS. TURNING TO THE NEXT
PAGE FOR TRANSPORTATION AS WE'VE
ALREADY DISCUSSED, IT'S THOSE
SAME THREE STRATEGIES OF DELAYS,
FUN SHIFTS AND REDUCTIONS BUT A
MUCH LOWER AMOUNT OF REDUCTIONS
AND THEN ALSO THESE KIND OF CASH
FLOW ADJUSTMENTS. AS AS ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CONNOLLY MENTIONED, UM
WHERE IT IS A DELAY, BUT BECAUSE
THOSE ARE REALLY LOCKED INTO
SPECIFIC PROJECTS ALREADY YOU
HAVE A LITTLE LESS FLEXIBILITY
ABOUT CHOOSING NOT TO PROVIDE
THAT FUNDING IF YOU WANNA AVOID
DISRUPTIONS. UH, WE ALSO PROVIDE
ON PAGE SIX OF THE SIMILAR
ILLUSTRATION OF THAT FUNDING,
AND YOU CAN SEE A MUCH SMALLER
AMOUNT OF REDUCTIONS SO GETTING
TO OUR OVERARCHING
RECOMMENDATIONS. WE THINK THERE
ARE SEVERAL MERITS. I'M ON PAGE
SEVEN. IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING ON
THE HANDOUT, UM SEVERAL MERITS
TO THE OVERALL ARCHITECTURE OF
THE GOVERNOR'S, UH, APPROACH TO
FOCUS ON THESE ONE TIME FUNDING.
UH, PROPOSALS. TO LOOK AT KIND
OF FUNDING THAT HASN'T YET BEEN
COMMITTED YET THAT THAT'S A GOOD
PLACE TO REDUCE. UH, TO AVOID
REDUCTIONS AS EXCUSE ME AVOID
DISRUPTION AS COMPARED TO
LOOKING AT BASE ONGOING PROGRAM,
WHICH WOULD BE QUITE A BIT MORE
DISRUPTIVE, UH, LOOKING AT THE
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND OR
OTHER FUNDS TO SUSTAIN SOME OF
YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES. WE DO
HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SOME
LEVEL OF SOME COMPONENTS OF
THESE PROPOSALS, PARTICULARLY AS
YOU WERE MENTIONING MR CHAIR.
SOME OF THESE DELAYS THAT SHIFT
FUNDING INTO FUTURE YEARS. WE
HAVE CONCERNS THAT THOSE MIGHT
NOT BE AFFORDABLE GIVEN YOUR, UH
OUT YOUR BUDGET DEFICITS THAT
YOU'RE LOOKING AT. AND SO WHAT
KINDS OF EXPECTATIONS? ARE YOU
SETTING UP FOR THE FIELD, BUT
ALSO WHAT KINDS OF DECISIONS ARE
YOU SETTING UP FOR YOURSELVES IN
A FEW YEARS, WHEN OR OR EVEN
NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT BACK
HERE? UH, UNLESS WE FACE. UM OF
UNEXPECTED REVENUE, UH, RECOVERY
WHICH WE COULD, BUT IT IT REALLY
IS DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT
YOUR BASELINE TO BE. SIMILARLY
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF RELIANCE
ON OUT YOUR GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTION FUND IN THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL THAT WE THINK, UH,
GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH
THOSE CAP AND TRADE REVENUES AND
ALSO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN YOUR
LARGER BUDGET PRIORITIES. UH,
THAT MAINTAINING SOME OF YOUR
FLEXIBILITY MIGHT MAKE SENSE.
YOU DO HAVE OTHER OPTIONS?
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF, UM
UNSPENT FUNDING THAT HAS ALREADY
BEEN APPROPRIATED. WE ESTIMATE
OVER A BILLION DOLLARS. SO THOSE
ARE OPTIONS YOU COULD LOOK AT
THAT THE GOVERNOR SUSTAINS. IF
YOU WANT ALTERNATIVES OR
ADDITIONS, YOU COULD USE GGRF
FOR DIFFERENT POLICY PRIORITIES.
SOME OF THIS MIGHT REQUIRE EARLY
ACTION IF YOU WANT TO KIND OF
STOP AND PAUSE FUNDING, UH, TO
CAPTURE SOME OF THESE SAVINGS,
SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO
THINK ABOUT, TOO. UH WE DID KNOW
AS WE LOOKED ACROSS THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS THAT
PERHAPS UNSURPRISINGLY, THE
ADMINISTRATION REALLY
PRIORITIZED THE ADMINISTRATION'S
PRIORITY PROGRAMS IN WHAT THEY
SUSTAINED AND WHAT THEY, UH
BECAUSE COMPARED TO WHAT THEY
REDUCED, SO AS YOU'RE PUTTING
YOUR PACKAGE TOGETHER, OF COURSE
, WE'D SUGGEST THAT YOU MAY WANT
TO FOCUS ON LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES AS PART OF THAT
BALANCING SO TURNING TO THE
PENULTIMATE PAGE PAGE EIGHT.
THERE'S A PIE CHART OF SOME OF
THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED THAT IS COMING TO THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA AGAIN. NICER
IN COLOR IN OUR REPORT IF YOU
WANT TO LOOK THERE SO FEDERAL
PROGRAMS ARE NOT USUALLY A
DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR MATCH WITH
STATE PROGRAMS. THEY MAY HAVE
DIFFERENT MATCHING REQUIREMENTS,
DIFFERENT PROGRAMMATIC
ALLOWANCES FOR WHAT THE FUNDS
CAN BE USED FOR, BUT AT LEAST IN
THESE BROAD CATEGORIES, IT GIVES
YOU A SENSE AS YOU'RE LOOKING
ACROSS WHERE YOU MAY NEED TO
MAKE CHANGES IN STATE FUNDS TO
KNOW WHAT OTHER RESOURCES MAY BE
AVAILABLE TO ACHIEVE THE BROAD
CATEGORIES OF THESE GOALS. AND
THEN FINALLY, TO THE LAST PAGE
ON OUR OVERARCHING
RECOMMENDATIONS, WE DO THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO
MAXIMIZE GENERAL FUND SAVINGS
FROM ONE TIME FUNDS TO THE
DEGREE YOU CAN TO AGAIN PRESERVE
YOUR FLEXIBILITY AROUND FUTURE
BUDGET DECISIONS. UH, AND TRYING
TO PROTECT YOUR CORE BASED
PROGRAMS THINKING ABOUT
ALTERNATIVE OR ADD ADDITIONAL
SOLUTIONS THINKING ABOUT EARLY
ACTION WHEN YOU MAY NEED IT,
USING ALTERNATIVE FUNDING
SOURCES TO SUSTAIN YOUR HIGHER
HIGHEST PRIORITIES, MINIMIZING
THOSE OUT YOUR COMMITMENTS AND
ALSO THINKING ABOUT AS AS YOU
MENTIONED, MR CHAIR. WHAT DO WE
KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S EFFECTIVE AND
IS THERE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MAY WE WANT TO COLLECT TO HELP
INFORM THOSE DECISIONS? THANK
YOU FOR BEING BRIEF. APPRECIATE
IT. UM AND, UM LIKE WE'VE HAD
GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M
GONNA ASK THE TWO OF YOU TO STEP
DOWN AND ASK THE FOUR
SECRETARIES TO COME BACK UP. AND
UH, WE'LL TRY TO KEEP THESE
QUESTIONS VERY BRIEF. AND, UM
THEN G Ó FOR L A Ó GO AHEAD.
SURE. SORRY. UM NAMELY ON THE,
UH, THE STAFF ANALYSIS IS
INDICATING THERE'S A
APPROXIMATELY BILLION DOLLARS IN
UNSPENT FINES. SO WONDERING IF
YOU TWO CAN PROVIDE
CLARIFICATION IN REGARDS TO
THESE FUNDS, ARE THEY MOSTLY
HELD UP IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS OR
DEPARTMENTS? ARE THERE ANY
ISSUES WITH GETTING FUNDING OUT
THE DOOR IN A TIMELY MANNER? UH,
THEY REALLY SPAN ACROSS MULTIPLE
DEPARTMENTS AND MULTIPLE
PROGRAMS AGAIN. WE DID IDENTIFY
THE ADMINISTRATION'S BEEN VERY
FORTHCOMING WITH THE WITH THE
INFORMATION. SOME OF IT IS
BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS BRAND
NEW, AND IT JUST TAKES TIME TO
GET OUT THE DOOR. SOME OF IT MAY
BE BECAUSE THERE IS KIND OF MORE
LIMITED DEMAND. I THINK I THINK
IT REALLY DOES VARY, UH, IN SOME
OF THESE CASES, THEY MAY BE
REALLY HIGH PRIORITIES FOR YOU.
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE BACK
FUNDING AND IN OTHER CASES, UM
EVEN IF THEIR PRIORITIES THEY
MAY NOT BE AS HIGH AS SOME OF
THE OTHER PROGRAMS YOU WANT TO
MAINTAIN SO AGAIN, OUR OUR OUR
OBJECTIVE HERE WAS REALLY TO
IDENTIFY THEM FOR YOU SO THAT
YOU HAVE THEM AS OPTIONS. BUT I
THINK IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION
ABOUT WHY, UH, THE STORY VARIES
BECAUSE THEY SPAN SO MANY
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. I'LL JUST
ADD THAT AGREE WITH A LOT OF
THAT CHARACTERIZATION. A LOT OF
THAT IS FUNDING. THAT WAS, UH,
IN THE PROCESS OF BEING
COMMITTED THROUGH PUBLIC
PROCESSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT,
SO IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SPENT AT
THE POINT IN TIME THAT THE DATA
WAS COLLECTED. BUT, YOU KNOW,
BOARDS HAVE BEEN TAKING ACTIONS
AND, YOU KNOW GRANTS ARE BEING
MADE. SO SOME OF THAT FUNDING IS
SORT OF IN THE PROCESS OF BEING
ENCUMBERED AND SPENT, YOU KNOW,
SINCE THE RELEASE OF THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND OVER THE
NEXT FEW MONTHS, AND SO THAT'S A
LOT OF IT IS JUST SORT OF WHERE
IT IS IN THE PIPELINE. UM, BUT
SOME OF ITS PRIORITIZATION, DO
WE HAVE AN OVERALL ESTIMATE OF
THE LEVEL OF UNCOMMITTED FUNDS
AT THIS POINT? SO THAT ONE THE
1.1 ROUGHLY BILLION THAT WE
IDENTIFIED IS BASED ON THE
INFORMATION FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION. KIND OF WHAT WE
WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNCOMMITTED
BY KIND OF THE END OF MARCH. WE
DIDN'T INCLUDE FUNDING THAT WAS
GOING TO BE KIND OF GOING OUT
THE DOOR IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
UM SO SORT OF ROUGHLY THAT TIME
PERIOD. WE THINK AS OF ROUGHLY
BEGINNING OF APRIL, THERE'S
ABOUT 1.1 BILLION UNCOMMITTED SO
AGAIN IF YOU WANTED TO TRY AND
CAPTURE SOME OF THAT SAVINGS YOU
MIGHT NEED TO TAKE THE ACTION
BECAUSE BY THE TIME YOU GET TO
JUNE 30TH, THAT NUMBER LIKELY
WOULD BE LOWER. ANYTHING ELSE?
GREAT. GOOD IF YOU GUYS COULD
SWITCH OUT, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
SO THE ÁP APPRECIATE HAVING ALL
FOUR OF YOU HERE. WE? WE GET
LOTS OF QUESTIONS. WE DIDN'T GET
THESE QUESTIONS WHEN WE HAD $100
BILLION SURPLUS, BUT WE, UM
WE'RE NOW GETTING THESE
QUESTIONS. WHY DID THEY MAKE
THIS CUT? WHY DID THEY MAKE THAT
CUT? UM AND WE WOULD IN AND
SINCE THIS IS THE AREA AND THE
BUDGET THAT HAD THE MOST CUTS,
IT'S APPROPRIATE, I THINK FOR,
UM ME TO SORT OF CARRY THOSE
QUESTIONS TO YOU. I DON'T THINK
THERE'S AN EASY ANSWER. I MEAN,
I WISH THERE WAS WHAT YOU KNOW
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS
PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW. IS IT IS IT
BECAUSE THIS IS BACKFILLED? IS
IT BECAUSE AND EACH ONE OF THOSE
IS DIFFERENT? I? I RECOGNIZE
THAT BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT.
YOU. ILLUMINATE US SOME ON WHAT
GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND. WHAT'S
IMPORTANT IN EACH OF YOUR FOUR
AREAS, AND I KNOW YOU'VE MADE
REFERENCES TO EQUITY AND MADE
REFERENCES TO, YOU KNOW, TO
VARIOUS THINGS, BUT SPECIFICALLY
ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BUDGET THAT,
UH, YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, HAVE
THE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS BECOME
BETTER, YOU KNOW, MORE INFORMED
ABOUT ABOUT THAT. SO, UM
PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU A
HEADS UP ABOUT THAT QUESTION,
BUT, UH I WOULD MAKE AN
OVERARCHING POINT FIRST, WHICH
IS YOU KNOW THE GOVERNOR THE
LEGISLATURE WHEN WE DID HAVE
THOSE HISTORIC SURPLUSES WERE
VERY CAREFULLY TO SPEND IT IN A
PRUDENT MANNER AND FOCUS. MOST
OF THOSE, UH MAJOR SPENDING
INCREASES ON ONE TIME SPENDING,
OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE LESSONS WERE
LEARNED OVER A COUPLE OF DECADES
AGO ABOUT, UH, PUTTING THOSE ONE
TIME SURPLUSES TO ONGOING COST,
SO OUR BUDGET EXPERIENCED
HISTORIC EXPANSION. I MEAN, I
WOULD HAVE NEVER CONCEIVED OF
OUR PROGRAMS HAVING THE AMOUNT
OF FUNDING THAT THEY DID AS A
RESULT OF THAT FOCUS ON ONE TIME
FUNDING. SO OBVIOUSLY THEN WHEN
THERE IS A YOU KNOW, A BUDGET
CHALLENGE LIKE WE'RE
ENCOUNTERING. UM WE'RE SEEING
THOSE THOSE PROGRAMS. THOSE SORT
OF YOU KNOW THAT ONE TIME
FUNDING ACTUALLY BE THE AREA FOR
REDUCTION. SO TO ME, IT SEEMS
LOGICAL FROM A FISCAL
STANDPOINT. I THINK IN IN IN MY
WORLD AT THE NATURAL RESOURCES
AGENCY, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED,
YOU KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST IN
PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM CLIMATE
IMPACTS, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE
SEEING SO MUCH OF THE WILDFIRE
BUDGET AND THE WATER BUDGET. UH,
YOU KNOW, BE RETAINED
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE
WILDFIRES WE'VE EXPERIENCED AS
WELL AS THE INTENSE DROUGHT, THE
IMPACT IT'S HAD AND FLOODING,
BUT AS YOU POINT OUT CHAIR THESE
ARE NOT EASY DECISIONS, AND WE
ALSO WORK TO MAINTAIN BALANCE.
SO IN EVERY SINGLE AREA. EVEN
THOSE AREAS THAT HAD A LARGER
PERCENTAGE DECREASE WERE
MAINTAINING WHAT IS A HISTORIC
EXPANSION IN THOSE PROGRAMS.
I'LL JUST ADD, UM, PROTECTING
OUR BASE PROGRAMS. WHAT'S MOST
IMPORTANT BECAUSE I'VE LIVED
THROUGH HAVING TO CUT THOSE
PROGRAMS AND IT'S VERY HARD TO
RECOVER FROM WHAT'S REALLY CORE
TO OUR FUNCTIONS. BUT THAT DOES
NOT DIMINISH ANYTHING THAT WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO. UM I WANNA
REINFORCE THAT AS WE HAVE THESE
ONE TIME FUNDS, THERE WAS A
CONSTANT THOUGHT ABOUT THE
LONGER TERM STRATEGY. WE MIGHT
NOT HAVE THOSE NEXT YEAR. THEY
MIGHT NOT GET BUILT INTO OUR
BUDGET. WHERE WILL THERE BE
FEDERAL DOLLARS AND SO OUR
INVESTMENT IN TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING
HAS BEEN HUGE, AND THE
LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN A POWERFUL
PARTNER IN THAT I WILL RECALL A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THE
REINVESTMENT IN U èC. COOPER
EXTENSION THAT IS HUGE. MAKING
SURE THAT EVERY FARMER AND EVERY
CORNER OF THE STATE BUT ALSO
WHAT THEY DO ON NUTRITION
PROGRAMS AND ALL THE OTHER
THINGS THAT MARY THIS ALTOGETHER
. THAT WAS ONE WAY FOR US TO BE
ABLE TO GIVE LIFE AND KNOWLEDGE
BEYOND ONE TIME DOLLARS AND
COLLECT THE DATA OF WHAT WE'RE
DOING AS EVIDENCE FOR FUTURE
INVESTMENT, WHETHER IT'S COMING
FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR FROM
STATE GOVERNMENT, AND SO THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WENT
THROUGH MY HEAD. THANK YOU. IT'S
THE ONLY THING THAT THAT I WOULD
ADD AND FULLY, UH, SUPPORT. WHAT
MY TWO COLLEAGUES JUST MENTIONED
IS YOU KNOW, STATE INVESTMENTS
ARE PART OF THE EQUATION FOR HOW
WE GET TO WHERE WE WANT TO GO
AND IN PARTICULAR, WITH RESPECT
TO OUR CLIMATE GOALS, YOU KNOW,
WE HAVE UNPRECEDENTED FEDERAL
INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE SEEING,
INCLUDING OVER 15 BILLION THAT
WE'VE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN
FLUXED INTO THE STATE. AND SO I
THINK THAT WAS ALSO A CRITICAL
DRIVING FORCE IN TERMS OF
IDENTIFYING PROGRAMS WHERE WE
COULD POTENTIALLY LEVERAGE THAT
FUNDING AND CUT BACK FOR FISCAL
ON OUR SIDE, AND THE OTHER THING
IS, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM A FROM
A REGULATORY AGENCY. THERE IS
NOTHING LIKE REGULATIONS TO
INCENT. MORE INVESTMENT. UM, AND
I KNOW THAT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS
MAKE ME THE MOST POPULAR PERSON
HERE. BUT UM, I, I THINK WE HAVE
SUCH A DRIVING FORCE,
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
AIR RESOURCES BOARD AND HOW WE
HAVE REALLY MOVED THE NEEDLE ON
AGGRESSIVE ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE
DEPLOYMENT AND MAKING THAT
MARKET SIGNAL A REALITY ACROSS
OUR STATE AND, OF COURSE, I
DON'T. I DON'T WANNA, UM,
UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF SOME
OF THE ISSUES THAT THAT YOU
RAISED CHAIR WITH RESPECT TO OUR
CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE. AND
CERTAINLY SECRETARY CFO AND I
HAVE THAT AS A HIGH PRIORITY TO
ENSURE THAT OUR PUBLIC PRIVATE
INVESTMENTS REALLY ENSURE THAT
WE'RE ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT
ON THAT CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE
ACROSS THE STATE, BUT WE'RE
REALLY MOVING THE NEEDLE IN
OTHER WAYS. UM THROUGH
LEVERAGING FEDERAL DOLLARS AND
ALSO THROUGH OUR BREAD AND
BUTTER REGULATORY WORK,
PARTICULARLY AT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
ZERO MR CHAIRMAN TO WHAT MY
FELLOW SECRETARIES HAVE HAVE
SAID HERE. LOOK, I'LL SAY FOR US
TRANSPOSITION IS A LITTLE UNIQUE
IN THAT A MAJORITY OF THE
FUNDING COMES FROM, YOU KNOW THE
GAS TAX AND NOT FROM A GENERAL
FUND. SO AGAIN, THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE'RE FACING. WE'RE WE'RE
SEEING DELAYS, SHIFTS AND A VERY
SMALL REDUCTION. $200 MILLION
OUT OF A YOU KNOW, MULTIBILLION
DOLLAR PROGRAM IF YOU WILL, SO
IT'S A LITTLE UNIQUE AND
DIFFERENT FOR TRANSPORTATION.
THE UH SOME OF THE DELAYS AND
SHIFTS THAT I MENTIONED ARE
MOSTLY IN THE TRANSIT SPACE, BUT
THERE'S A CLEAR RECOGNITION FROM
US AS AN ADMINISTRATION THAT
TRANSIT ITS CRITICAL TO HELP US
ACHIEVE ALL THE GOALS, WHETHER
IT BE EQUITY, SAFETY AND CLIMATE
THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING. EXCUSE
ME. AND MY FINAL QUESTION. HOW
MUCH DATA DO YOU GET? IN TERMS
OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
PROGRAMS BECAUSE MY IMPRESSION
IS WE DON'T GET TOO MUCH WHICH
IT III I AND THIS ISN'T A
CRITICISM. IT'S JUST THE FACT OF
LIFE WITH THE BIG BUREAUCRACIES.
LOTS OF MONEY BEING SPENT. WHEN
I'VE GONE TO ASK FOR WELL,
WHAT'S WHAT'S THE DATA SHOW US.
IT'S LIKE, OH, AND PEOPLE AREN'T
YOU KNOW AGENCIES AREN'T VERY
ANXIOUS TO SHOW US DATA ON
PERFORMANCE AND STUFF ALSO, BUT
SO COULD YOU, COULD YOU THAT'D
BE THE FINAL QUICK AND JUST A
QUICK RESPONSE. IF YOU COULD.
WELL I'LL SAY I THINK WE ALL
AGREE. WE WORK FOR A GOVERNOR
WHO IS PASSIONATE. I WON'T SAY
OBSESSED WITH OUTCOMES. UH AND
SO WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON
DELIVERING RESULTS OF THAT
MONEY, SO I'LL TELL YOU
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN
RECENT YEARS WITH YOUR WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT IS HELPING
YOU ALL UNDERSTAND HOW QUICKLY
THE MONEY IS GETTING OUT THE
DOOR BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, BUT THEN
THE NEXT STEP IS OBVIOUSLY
UNDERSTANDING THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF THAT FUNDING. SO AT A
DIFFERENT TIME, WE WOULD LOVE TO
I. I IMAGINE MOST WE WOULD LOVE
TO SHARE WITH YOU, UM, HOW WE'RE
MEASURING THAT EFFECTIVENESS.
WHETHER IT'S ON, YOU KNOW
WILDFIRE CARBON ABSORPTION IN
THE SOILS, UH, PESTICIDE
REDUCTION OR VEHICLE MILES
TRAVELED. UM WE ARE NOW CHARGED
WITH, UH, IDENTIFYING, YOU KNOW,
KIND OF METRICS TO DETERMINE OUR
EFFECTIVENESS. SO I THINK IF WE
HAD MORE TIME, WE'D BE LOVE TO
GO INTO THOSE WEEDS. I THINK
I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. AND I THINK
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT FOLLOW
UP SOMETIME. RIGHT THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE TIME THAT YOU'VE SPENT HERE.
UM UM AND THANK YOU TO YOU ALL.
UM, THIS MAY BE TIED UP,
PARTICULARLY FOR SECRETARY CROW
FOOT, BUT OTHERS FEEL FREE TO
WEIGH IN AS WELL. UM IN RECENT
BUDGETS, AS WE KNOW, CLIMATE
PACKAGE INVESTMENTS WERE SPREAD
ACROSS MULTIPLE YEARS OF THE
BUDGET. UM, AS A STRATEGY BUT
WITH THE CURRENT DEFICIT, THESE
INVESTMENTS ARE NOW BEING CLAWED
BACK. UM HOW CAN THE LEGISLATURE
MAINTAIN CONFIDENCE THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION WILL DELIVER ON
DELAYED INVESTMENTS IN OUT YOUR
BUDGET, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE
OUTLOOK AS WE KNOW IS UNCERTAIN
AND EVEN GETTING WORSE? WHAT IS
THE PURPOSE OF INCLUDING FUTURE
BUDGET YOUR EARMARKS, GIVEN THE
UNCERTAINTY OF THE BUDGET
OUTLOOK? YEAH THANKS SO MUCH.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. WE RECOGNIZING
THOSE HISTORIC GENERAL FUND
SURPLUSES. WE WANNA DO A AVOID A
SITUATION WHERE ALL OF THE MONEY
GETS SPENT IN, YOU KNOW, RIGHT
AWAY, WHICH FIRST OF ALL IS VERY
DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT THEN,
SECONDLY DOESN'T MAINTAIN
CONTINUITY. AND SO THANKS TO THE
LEGISLATURE, WE WERE, WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO SPREAD OUT THE
INCUMBRANCE AND ALLOCATION
PERIODS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE
MORE OF A PIPELINE OF SUSTAINED
FUNDING. YOU KNOW, I MEAN THAT
IT'S TRUE THAT, UH, A LOT OF
THIS FUNDING IS ONE TIME, BUT
WHEN WE SPREAD IT OUT, WE'RE
ABLE TO MAINTAIN PIPELINES. SO
AS AN EXAMPLE FOR WILDFIRE, IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT
ONLY INVEST IN WILDFIRE
RESILIENCE PROJECTS AROUND
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, BUT THEN
MAINTAIN THAT WORK SO THAT
FUNDING IS SPREADING OUT. SO
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ACTUALLY
SPREADING OUT IN THE INVESTMENTS
AND IN SOMETIMES DELAYING THE
INVESTMENTS, IF WE HAVE, YOU
KNOW, WE ALREADY HAVE MONEY ON
THE DOOR IS A HELPFUL THING,
PARTICULARLY IN THE NATURAL
RESOURCES SPACE, WHICH HAS BEEN
RELY ON HISTORICALLY ON ON BONDS
AND ONE TIME FUNDING WORKING TO
SPREAD THAT OUT, CREATES THAT
SORT OF ONGOING FUNDING. WE'RE
GONNA NEED TO MAINTAIN THE YOU
KNOW OUR WORK. THIS IS A FOLLOW
UP. I THINK THE CHAIR PUT IT
WELL, BUT MAYBE, UH, A FINER
POINT HERE. AND SOMETHING WE'RE
CONCERNED ABOUT IT. IT'S NAMELY
THAT, UM WITH KIND OF THE RISK
OF ARMOR OVER PROMISING AND GOOD
BUDGET YEARS. THE CURRENT FISCAL
UNCERTAINTY HAS FORCED THE STATE
TO ELIMINATE OR PAUSE, UH,
FUNDING FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS
AND, AS A STAFF REPORT NOTED,
QUOTE WITHOUT CERTAINTY THE
RISKS THAT THE FUNDING FOR THESE
PROJECTS MAY VANISH WILL REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF PARTNERS THE STATE
HAS AND SLOW PROGRESS TOWARDS
THE STATE'S CLIMATE GOES
UNQUOTE. OUR END QUOTE. DOES
ANYONE ON THE PANEL HAVE
THOUGHTS ON WHAT CAN THE STATE
DO NOW OR MOVING FORWARD WITH
FUTURE BUDGETS TO AVOID THIS
KIND OF SITUATION WHERE THE
UNCERTAINTY IS KIND OF HAVING
THOSE REVERBERATIONS OUT THERE?
SO I THINK FOR AN EGG, BECAUSE
PART OF IT IS SOCIAL
MODIFICATION, YOU KNOW, SO YOU
DON'T SEE IMMEDIATE RESULTS, BUT
OVER TIME, THEY'RE VERY REAL.
AND SO I THINK THE INVESTMENT
WE'VE PUT OUT THERE, COMBINED
WITH THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS
PROVING THE BUSINESS CASE FOR A
FARMER TO ADOPT SOME OF THESE
PRACTICES, AND WE REALLY WORKED
HARD ON THAT AND THEN CONNECTING
THAT TO BUILDING DEMAND FOR
SUPPORT FOR LOCAL CLIMATE, SMART
FOOD PRODUCTS THROUGH PUBLIC
PROCUREMENT, AND THAT IS
PROCUREMENT. WILL HAPPEN. JUST
AS PART OF BASELINE BUDGETS, AND
SO WE'RE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT
STRATEGICALLY. HOW DO WE INVEST
IN DOING WHAT WE CAN TO ADDRESS
CLIMATE CHANGE SO THAT WE CAN
SUSTAIN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
PRODUCTION AND CHANGING CLIMATE
BUT CONNECTED TO WHERE
PROCUREMENT CAN BE. WE ARE
SEEING MOMENTUM BECAUSE OF FARM
TO SCHOOL. UM AND THE
INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE IN IN
FOOD BANKS AS HUBS, UM, THAT
THERE'S MORE HEALTH CARE,
INTEREST AND HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS THAT ARE INVESTING IN
PRESCRIPTION FOOD BOXES, SO I
THINK IT'S LIKE THE SIGNALS TO
THE MARKETPLACE, BUT ALSO MAKING
BUSINESS CASES. AND I THINK THE
INVESTMENT IN NUTRITION THAT
TIES BACK TO SUPPORTING LOCAL
FARMERS WHO ARE GROWING PRODUCTS
IN A WAY THAT WE'VE SET. THESE
ARE THE TYPES OF PRACTICES THAT
WILL SUSTAIN YOU IS ONE HELPFUL
WAY OF REALLY BRINGING EVEN MORE
ATTENTION TO THAT. I WOULD. I
WOULD ONLY ADD. JUST UM AND I
THINK CONSISTENT WITH WITH SOME
OF THE CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS AND
CONSIDERATIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ALIGN OUR SHARED
GOALS AROUND EXPENDITURES FROM
THE Dð GRF, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR
THOSE DISCRETIONARY POTS, I
THINK THERE IN LIES A REAL
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'VE SEEN WORK
SUCCESSFULLY OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS AND THAT WE CAN ALSO SEE
CONTINUE TO WORK SUCCESSFULLY
INTO THE FUTURE, I THINK, IN
PARTICULAR, LEVERAGING THE
VARIOUS BENEFITS THAT CAN COME
FROM EACH DOLLAR SPENT IN THAT
PROGRAM. REALLY ALLOWS US TO
LEVERAGE EMISSION REDUCTIONS BUT
COMMUNITY BENEFITS THE SAME AND
A TARGETED INVESTMENT IN OUR
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND
COMMUNITIES MOST IN NEED. MEMBER
KELLY, I. I'LL JUST BRIEFLY. UH
UH. UH, YOU KNOW, THIS
ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE IN MY
OPINION, OBVIOUSLY BIASED AND
AMAZING JOB. AT LOOKING INTO THE
FUTURE AND WHAT FUTURE NEEDS
WILL BE AND ADJUSTING TO
PROBLEMS THAT EXIST AS CURRENTLY
AS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY
CHALLENGED WITH AN EXAMPLE OF
THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT THE
GOVERNOR ESTABLISHED ROUGHLY
THREE YEARS AGO CALLED THE COURT
TRADE AND INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS PF. BUT
$1.2 BILLION INTO A PROGRAM TO
HELP US SUPPORT PORTS ACROSS THE
STATE. IT IS AN ENGAGEMENT THAT
WE AS A TRANSPORTATION, UH,
ENTITY ACROSS THE STATE THAT WE
WERE NEVER ENGAGED IN BEFORE WE
NEVER INVESTED IN THE STATES.
PORTS BUT WHAT BROUGHT IT TO
LIGHT WAS THE SUPPLY CHAIN
CRISIS THAT HAPPENED THAT ALL OF
US WERE. I KNOW. SECRETARY ROSS
IS HEAVILY CHALLENGED WITH THIS
BECAUSE OF MOVING AG, UH, MOVING
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ACROSS THE
STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO
WE HAD TO STEP UP AND NOT SIT
BACK AND SAY, OH, WE DON'T HAVE,
YOU KNOW, DEDICATED FUNDING TO
HELP PORTS. WE HAD TO COME UP
WITH FUNDING, UH, THROUGH THE
GENERAL FUND TO DO TO DO, UM TO
DO EX EX EXACTLY THAT. BUT TO
YOUR A LITTLE BIT TO YOUR
QUESTION. UM I YOU KNOW OUTSIDE
OF SOME. SOME OF THE COMMENTS
THAT WERE MADE, INCLUDING WHAT
SECRETARY GARCIA JUST SAID. YOU
KNOW, COMING UP WITH REOCCURRING
FUNDING THROUGH UH, THROUGH OUR
EXISTING PROGRAMS BY, YOU KNOW,
INCREASING FEES AND TAXES, ET
CETERA. BEYOND THAT, UM, I'M NOT
SO SURE HOW YOU UH, HOW YOU YOU
KNOW, PREPARE FOR THOSE
CHALLENGES THAT COME IN THE
FUTURE OR THAT HITS YOU PRETTY
IMMEDIATELY LIKE A SUPPLY CHAIN
CRISIS. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T SIT
BACK AND NOT ADDRESS CHALLENGES
LIKE THAT. FIND A QUESTION. UM
AND ONE. WE'RE ALL GRAPPLING
WITH. WHAT ROLE CAN THE CLIENT?
UH, POTENTIAL CLIMATE BOND? UH,
PLAN, REDUCING THE NEGATIVE
IMPACT OF THE CURRENT FISCAL
SITUATION ON CLIMATE PROGRAMS IN
THE STATE'S CLIMATE GOALS. WELL,
I THINK WE'D PUT THE QUESTION
BACK TO YOU, UM SO YOU KNOW, AS
AS THE GOVERNOR HAS EXPLAINED,
THAT'S REALLY THE DECISION
AROUND, UH, BONDS AND WHAT GETS
PUT ON THE BALLOT IS A DECISION
BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE
LEGISLATURE. AND SO WE'RE
OBVIOUSLY STANDING BY TO PROVIDE
ANY TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AS WELL AS THE
LEGISLATURE, AND I THINK WE WAIT
. UM, WE'LL WE'LL WAIT PATIENTLY
, LIKE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM,
UM, WITH, UH, WHATEVER THE
GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
DECIDE. NÓ I JUST WANNA SAY THAT
WE'RE ALL VERY MINDFUL THAT THE
COST OF BORROWING WHICH THIS IS
MORE THAN IT HAS BEEN, SO WE
HAVE TO BE MINDFUL WE ARE
STEWARDS FOR TODAY, BUT WE ALSO
OWE IT TO THE FUTURE FOR THAT,
BUT WE ARE VERY EAGER TO ENGAGE
IN THE CONVERSATION, PROVIDE OUR
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND TO HEAR
FROM YOU THE PRIORITIES THAT
MAKE THE LONG TERM STRATEGIC
SENSE FOR HOW WOULD WE USE A
BOND AND INVESTMENT IN THE
FUTURE AND NOT THINK OF IT AS A
BACKFILL FOR CURRENT PAINS, EVEN
THOUGH IT'S VERY TO THINK ABOUT
THAT. THANK YOU. DID DID IT?
DITTO AND DITTO. THEY ANSWERED
IT VERY WELL. GREAT UM, VERY
GENEROUS WITH YOUR TIME THIS
MORNING. THIS TWO HOURS. WE
DON'T VERY OFTEN GET TO HAVE THE
FOUR OF YOU, UH, HERE FOR THESE
BUDGET HEARINGS REALLY
APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE THE
LEADERSHIP. HOPE YOU, UH, FEEL
THE HAND OF PARTNERSHIP. UH UH,
REACHING OUT, UH, TO TRY TO FIND
SOLUTIONS IN THE BEST
EXPENDITURES OF OUR DOLLARS AND
NOT A, UH, NOT ANYTHING MORE
THAN THAT. THERE'S NÓ OTHER NÓ
OTHER COLON STUFF. SO, UH,
YOU'RE BLESSED. GET TO DO THE
WORK. YOU DO? UM AND, UM TO, YOU
KNOW IF WE'RE ALL YOU KNOW,
BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON
THESE CHALLENGES, SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. REALLY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UM AS WE
START TO BRING UP THE NEXT
PANEL, UM WE? AS I MENTIONED, WE
DON'T OFTEN GET THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE, UM, THE FOUR
SECRETARIES WITH US, SO WE
PROBABLY STRETCHED MORE THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK EVERYBODY TO
BE, UH UH, AS CONCISE AS THEY
CAN, WITH THEIR PRESENTATIONS.
UM WE'RE GOING TO, UH, DO
DROUGHT, WATER. RESILIENCE UH,
AND, UH, THAT PANEL WE MAY WILL
HAVE THE PRESENTATION WITH THE
PANEL. AFTER THAT ON THE SALT
AND SEA. WE'LL PROBABLY JUST DO
OUR BUT NOT DO THE ACTUAL
PRESENTATION. UM JUST SO YOU
KNOW, UH, AND THEN WE'LL GET
BACK. WE'LL SEE WHERE WE ARE
TIME WISE WITH WITH THE OTHERS.
SO IF THE PANEL COULD COME UP,
PLEASE, FOR DROUGHT AND WATER.
RESILIENCE. UH, UH, HERE. YEAH.
IN THE. OURS CAN BE HERE. OF
YOUR. ALL RIGHT. UM, SO, UM IF
WHO'S EVER FIRST IF YOU'LL
INTRODUCE YOURSELF THE AGENCY
YOU'RE WITH, AND, UH, GO FROM
THERE, AND WE'LL LET YOU GUYS TO
SIGN THE ORDER. UH, GOOD MORNING
. MEGAN LARSON. DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. UH, THE 2021 AND 2022
BUDGET ACTS COMMITTED 8.7
BILLION OVER MULTIPLE YEARS TO
SUPPORT DROUGHT, RESILIENCE AND
RESPONSE PROGRAMS TO HELP
COMMUNITIES AND FISH AND
WILDLIFE AVOID IMMEDIATE IMPACTS
. AND, UH SORRY, IMMEDIATE
IMPACTS FROM EXTREME DROUGHT
WHILE ADVANCING PROJECTS AND
PROGRAMS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE
STATE'S RESILIENCE TO FUTURE
DROUGHTS AND FLOODS. THE BUDGET
MAINTAINS SEVEN POINT THREE
BILLION DOLLARS OR 84% OF THESE
INVESTMENTS OVER MULTIPLE YEARS
IN PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS TO THE
CAPACITY OF COMMUNITIES AND
ECOSYSTEMS TO ENDURE DROUGHTS
AND FLOODS. IN THE AREA OF WATER
AND DROUGHT. THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES HAS THREE
SOLUTIONS. THE FIRST IS A
REDUCTION IN THE FORECAST.
INFORMED RESERVOIR OPERATION,
IMPROVING RUNOFF FORECASTING AND
SNOW PROGRAM BY 6.75 MILLION IN
BUDGET YEAR AND ONGOING THIS
PROGRAM WAS ALLOCATED 16.75
MILLION ONGOING ACROSS THE 21
AND 22 BUDGET ACTS. UM SO THE
GENERAL FUND SOLUTION WOULD
MAINTAIN 10 MILLION IN BASELINE
SUPPORT, WHICH WOULD PROTECT
FUNDING FOR IMMEDIATE CLIMATE
RISKS AND MINIMIZE DISRUPTIONS
TO THIS PROGRAM. THE DAM SAFETY
PROGRAM WAS ALLOCATED 100
MILLION ACROSS THE 21 AND 22
CLIMATE BUDGETS. THIS GENERAL
FUND SOLUTION WOULD RESULT IN A
50 MILLION REDUCTION OF FUNDING
RETAINING 50. WHILE DAM SAFETY
IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM, THE
STATE IS NOT LEGALLY OBLIGATED
TO FUND THESE COSTS FOR DAM
OWNERS, THE ADMINISTRATION HAD
TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET, BUT STILL
PROPOSES HALF OF THE ORIGINAL
FUNDING. THE REMAINING 50
MILLION APPROPRIATED IN 20 THREE
24 WILL STILL ENABLE THE
DEPARTMENT TO ADVANCE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LOCAL
ASSISTANCE DAM SAFETY PROGRAM.
THE WATERSHED CLIMATE RESILIENCE
PROGRAM WAS ALLOCATED 494
MILLION ACROSS THE 21 AND 22
CLIMATE BUDGETS BUDGETS BETWEEN
THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER
RESOURCES AND THE WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION BOARD. THIS GENERAL
FUND SOLUTION WOULD RESULT IN A
TOTAL OF 438.4 MILLION REDUCTION
, WHICH MAINTAINS 56 MILLION OF
THE TOTAL ORIGINAL ALLOCATION,
WHICH AT THIS POINT HAS ALL BEEN
SPENT OR ENCUMBERED. THIS
INCLUDES 100 AND 26 MILLION
REDUCTION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES, MAINTAINING 22%
OF THE ORIGINAL FUNDING. THIS
WILL NOT IMPACT Dð WR S¼ NEAR
TERM PROGRAM EFFORTS. THIS ALSO
MAINTAINS 21 MILLION AT THE
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD FOR
THE CASCADES AND HIGH SIERRA
UPPER WATERSHEDS. AND THEN I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE TO
ADDRESS THE WATER BOARD. GOOD
MORNING, VIET LONG WING
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. UH, FOR
THE WATER BOARD. THERE ARE TWO
SOLUTIONS. FIRST UM P FAST
SUPPORT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED $200
MILLION ACROSS THE 2021 AND 2022
CLIMATE BUDGETS. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET PROPOSES A REDUCTION OF
$101.6 MILLION. THIS MAINTAINS
50 THREE MILLION DOLLARS
PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED OR 27% OF
THE 21 AND 22 CLIMATE PACKAGE.
THIS SOLUTION WAS CHOSEN USING A
GENERAL FRAMEWORK OUTLINED
EARLIER ASKED SUPPORT FOR PFAS
COULD BE SHIFTED TO FEDERAL
FUNDS DELIVERED THROUGH THE
DRINKING WATER AND CLEAN WATER
STAYED REVOLVING FUNDS. AND THE
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.
FOR WATER RECYCLING AND
GROUNDWATER CLEAN UP THE 2021
AND 2022 CLIMATE BUDGETS.
ALLOCATED $800 MILLION. THE
PROPOSED SOLUTION IS IN THAT
REVERSION OF $174.4 MILLION
GENERAL FUND AND A DELAY OF $100
MILLION TO 2025 26 FOR A WATER
RECYCLING PROJECTS. THE SOLUTION
MAINTAINS THREE $148 MILLION, OR
40, 3% PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED 2021
AND 2022. THE SOLUTION WAS
CHOSEN USING THE GENERAL
FRAMEWORK OUTLINED EARLIER
BECAUSE LARGE MUNICIPALITIES
PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTING WATER
RECYCLING PROJECTS GENERALLY
HAVE THE TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL
CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT THESE
PROJECTS THROUGH LOW INTEREST
LOAN FINANCING THROUGH THE CLEAN
WATER AND DRINKING WATER STAYED
REVOLVING FUNDS. THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET, BOTH REDUCES AND
PARTIALLY SHIFTS FUNDING FOR
WATER RECYCLING. IT'S AN
IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE
ADMINISTRATION'S WATER SUPPLY
STRATEGY. SO THIS IS WHY, UH, WE
ARE MAINTAINING THE $100 MILLION
IN 2025 26. IT IS REALLY
HELPFUL. TO HAVE THAT BRIEF
EXPLANATION AS TO WHY YOU CHOSE
THAT. WHY WHY DO YOU JUSTIFY
THAT CUT WE DIDN'T USE TO GET
THE LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE
THAT, UH, BUT THAT HELPS A LOT.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
YOUR YOUR RESPONSE THERE. NEXT.
CRIED THE BARBER. OH, I CAN CAN
BEGIN HERE. I'VE JUST INTRODUCED
MYSELF. MY NAME IS JOAQUIN
ESQUIVEL. I'M CHAIR OF THE STATE
WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD
HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON
ULTIMATELY, A GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE PERMITTING UNIT THAT
WE'VE ARE ASKING FOR WITHIN THIS
BUDGET CHANGE, AND IT'S A FIVE
POSITIONS. UM, THE REALITY AND
AS AS SECRETARY GARCIA COVERED,
UH, GROUNDWATER RECHARGE,
ESPECIALLY IN THESE WET UH,
YEARS IS REALLY CRITICAL.
OBVIOUSLY TO THE ADMINISTRATION
AND TO THE WATER BOARD. UM, THE
WATER BOARDS ACTUALLY BACK IN
20. BEGAN CREATING STREAMLINED
PERMITTING, UH, FOR THE WATER
BOARDS. UM UH, FOR GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE. UH, WE REALLY SAW. I
MEAN IN 2017 AND THEN CONSEQUENT
YEARS GIVEN HOW DRY THINGS WERE,
THOSE PERMITS WEREN'T REALLY
USED. WE REALLY SAW CERTAINLY
LAST YEAR AND THEN PREVIOUS
YEARS, AN UPTICK IN THE AMOUNT
OF INTERESTED PARTIES AND
TEMPORARY, UH, GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE PERMITS. SO THIS UNIT
IS REALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME US
BEING ABLE TO REQUEST THESE
RESOURCES KNOWING HOW VITAL THEY
ARE NOT JUST IN DROUGHT OR TIMES
OR IN FLOOD TIMES ARE REALLY
HAVING A CONSISTENT UNIT HERE TO
BE ABLE TO ADDRESS GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE ISSUES. THANK YOU, AND
WE'RE GOING TO BE COVERING THAT
DURING, UH, ISSUE FOUR.
APOLOGIES. I THINK I JUMPED
AHEAD. GOOD MORNING. UH PAUL
GOSLIN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT Dð WR
OF SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT.
UM AND I'LL BE HERE TO ADDRESS
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CLIMATE
CHANGE RESILIENCY PROGRAM. AND
LAURA HOLLANDER WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES,
ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR FLOOD
MANAGEMENT AND DAM SAFETY AND
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON OUR
DAM SAFETY PROGRAM. UH AND THE
FORECAST INFORMED RESERVOIR
OPERATIONS AND SNOW SURVEYS
ITEM. OK? GREAT. RIGHT, L A Ó.
GOOD MORNING, MR CHAIR, MR.
CONNOLLY. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU
ABOUT LAOS COMMENTS SO HEADS UP,
OK, I'M SONIA PD WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OFFICE. UM
AND JUST KEEPING IN MIND WHAT MY
COLLEAGUE NOTED EARLIER. UM
THESE COMMENTS THAT I'M ABOUT TO
MAKE ARE NÓ REFLECTION ON ON THE
MERITS OF ANY OF THE PROGRAMS.
WE'RE SIMPLY TRYING TO IDENTIFY
ALL OF THE GENERAL FUND THAT
THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO YOU
TO PULL BACK. UM, IF NEED BE IF
YOU HAD DIFFERENT PRIORITIES
THAN YOU THAN THE
ADMINISTRATION, OR IF YOU NEEDED
TO MAKE ADDITIONAL CUTS BEYOND
WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY
PROPOSED, SO WE'VE I IF I HAD,
UM, THERE ARE TWO PLANNED
AUGMENTATIONS TOTALING $700
MILLION THAT YOU COULD CONSIDER,
UM THIS FUNDING HAS NOT YET BEEN
APPROPRIATED. IT'S ONLY PLANNED,
SO THIS INCLUDES 500 MILLION FOR
WATER STORAGE PROJECTS PLANNED
FOR THE 2526 BUDGET. WE'D NOTE
THAT VERY FEW DETAILS HAVE BEEN
PROVIDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION
ABOUT HOW THIS FUNDING WOULD BE
USED OTHER THAN IT WOULD BUILD
ON, UM, THE 2.7 BILLION PROVIDED
BY PROPOSITION ONE FOR WATER
STORAGE PROJECTS. THERE IS ALSO
200 MILLION FOR DRINKING WATER
AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS PLANNED
FOR THE BUDGET YEAR. 24 25 50 OF
THIS IS FOR DRINKING WATER 150
FOR WASTE WATER PROJECTS. UM, WE
WOULD NOTE THAT THERE IS SOME
FEDERAL FUNDING AVAILABLE RIGHT
NOW FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
PROVIDED THROUGH THE STATE
REVOLVING FUND. UM ALSO, WE
WOULD NOTE THAT THE STATE HAS AN
ANNUAL APPROPRIATION THROUGH
2030 OF $130 MILLION FROM THE
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND
FOR DRINKING WATER ACTIVITIES.
AND PROJECTS. WE WOULD NOTE THE
FEDERAL FUNDING AND THE ANNUAL
STATE FUNDING AGAIN DOES NOT
PROVIDE A ONE FOR ONE BACKFILL
OF THE GENERAL FUND THAT'S
PROPOSED FOR REDUCTION, BUT WE
WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF OTHER
FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES.
WE ALSO WANTED TO NOTE THERE IS
FUNDING PROPOSED TO BE DELAYED
AS UM, MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE POINTED
OUT. THERE'S 100 MILLION FOR
WATER RECYCLING THAT'S PROPOSED
TO BE DELAYED UNTIL 2526. YOU
COULD INSTEAD CONSIDER MAKING
THIS A REDUCTION AND SHOULD
BUDGET CONDITIONS IMPROVE. IN
LATER YEARS, YOU COULD ALWAYS
COME BACK AND DECIDE TO PROVIDE
AN AUGMENTATION FOR WATER
RECYCLING. AND THEN THIRD. WE
TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT FUNDING
THAT'S ALREADY BEEN
APPROPRIATED, BUT NOT YET SPENT
OR COMMITTED. AND IN THE WATER
IN DROUGHT RESILIENCE PACKAGE WE
WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ROUGHLY
775 MILLION OF UNSPENT OR
UNCOMMITTED FUNDS, AND I'LL JUST
HIGHLIGHT THREE OF THE LARGER
ONES. THERE'S 300 MILLION FOR
DRINKING WATER AND WASTE WATER
PROJECTS THROUGH THE STATE WATER
BOARD. UM, THE WATER BOARD DID,
UH, UH, INDICATE TO OUR OFFICE
THAT IT IT WILL BE COMMITTING A
LOT OF THIS FUNDING BETWEEN
APRIL AND JUNE. SO TO THE EXTENT
THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID WANT TO
PULL BACK SOME OF THAT FUNDING.
IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO ACT
QUICKLY, UM, BEFORE THE MONEY
GOES OUT THE DOOR. THERE IS ALSO
228 MILLION FOR WATER RESILIENCE
PROJECTS, UM, ADMINISTERED BY
THE NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY. UM
SIMILARLY, WE HEARD THAT A LOT
OF THIS FUNDING WILL BE AWARDED
IN THE SORT OF MARCH APRIL TIME
FRAME. SO IF YOU WANTED TO PULL
BACK ANY OF THAT FUNDING, YOU'D
HAVE TO ACT PRETTY QUICKLY. AND
THEN FINALLY, UM AS, UH, MY
COLLEAGUE FROM DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE NOTED THE DAM SAFETY
PROGRAM HAD RECEIVED $100
MILLION. THE GOVERNOR IS
PROPOSING TO PULL BACK 50
MILLION THE LEGISLATURE COULD
CONSIDER PULLING BACK THE OTHER
50 MILLION, WHICH WOULD
ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATE THAT PILOT
PROGRAM. SO COULD YOU RESPOND?
UM DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE ANY
ANYBODY ABOUT? UM THE
POSSIBILITIES? UM AND, UH UH,
YOU KNOW, JUST RESPOND TO L. A
Ó S¼ COMMENTS. UH, WHY WOULD WE
NOT CHOOSE TO GO AHEAD AND DO
REDUCTIONS? THE $500 MILLION FOR
WATER STORAGE PROJECTS? THAT'S A
LITTLE BIT BIG. SURE. GOOD
MORNING. THIS IS ANDREW HO WITH
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. UM THE
500 MILLION FOR WATER STORAGE
WAS PART OF A MULTIYEAR
COMMITMENT FROM A FEW YEARS AGO.
WE HAVEN'T PROPOSED DELAYING IT
OR ANY CHANGES TO IT AT ALL. UM
SO I THINK IT SORT OF FITS WITH
THE FRAMEWORK THAT MY COLLEAGUE
STEPHEN BENSON, AND OTHERS HAVE
MENTIONED EARLIER THAT, UM YOU
KNOW, IN SOME SENSE, IT'S UM
OPTIMISM, BUT IT'S ALSO
IMPORTANT PRIORITIES FOR THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE
ADMINISTRATION. I THINK MORE
DETAILED PLANS WOULD BE
AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR WHEN THIS IS
ACTUALLY PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET.
IN THE DRINKING WATER. UH, SO
THERE WAS THERE WAS SORT OF A
GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR, UM, THE
WATER BOARDS. UM UM, ADJUSTMENTS
AND YOU KNOW I CAN TURN IT OVER
FOR MORE DETAIL, BUT WE HAD
THREE PROGRAMS THERE. UM PFOS
BEING ONE OF THEM. THAT WAS A
PROGRAM THAT THERE'S A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FEDERAL
FUNDING THAT'S COMING TO THE
WATER BOARD. SO THAT LOOKED LIKE
AN AREA THAT WE COULD BACKFILL.
UM WATER RECYCLING. IT IS A
SHARED PRIORITY. UM YOU KNOW,
THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY
THERE WAS A PROPOSED REVERSION
BUT ALSO MONEY BEING SHIFTED
INTO THE OUT YEARS. UM AND THAT
SORT OF FITS IN WITH THE
DRINKING WATER AND WASTEWATER
INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE UM, IT'S
THE NOTED THERE ARE ONGOING
FEDERAL FUNDS THROUGH THE STATE
REVOLVING FUNDS. HOWEVER THIS
THIS PARTICULAR POT OF GRANT
FUNDING IS SORT OF BRIDGING A
GAP THERE, WHERE, UM, A LOT OF
THIS WOULD BE FINANCED THROUGH
LOW INTEREST LOANS. THERE'S MANY
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THAT
THE WATER BOARD IS TARGETING.
WITH THAT FUNDING, UM, WHO WOULD
NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO QUALIFY
? UM, AND IT ALSO HELPS TO KEEP
WATER RATES LOWER. I APPRECIATE
THAT, ANDREW. AND IF I CAN ADD
AS WELL, UH, THE STATE REVOLVING
FUND PROGRAMS, UM, YOU KNOW
AGAIN, AS ANDREW SAID THEY THEY
REQUIRE AN ABILITY TO REPAY
LOANS. THEY ALSO COME WITH A LOT
OF REQUIREMENTS. AND I THINK
THAT WHAT WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN
IS THE STATE GENERAL FUND.
DOLLARS ARE ONES THAT WE CAN
MORE FLEXIBLY. MAKE SURE TO
QUICKLY GET OUT TO COMMUNITIES
AND EAT THEM MOST. WHERE UH, THE
FEDERAL PROGRAM, THE STATE
REVOLVING FUND, EVEN TO BE ABLE
TO, UM, QUALIFY FOR PRINCIPAL
FORGIVENESS. YOU HAVE TO ABIDE
BY ALL THE FEDERAL CROSS CUTTERS
AND THE BUILD AMERICA BUY
AMERICAN PROVISIONS AND THINGS
THAT, UH, EVEN FOR LARGER, MORE
SOPHISTICATED WATER AGENCIES
REALLY GIVE THEM A HARD TIME. UH
SO IT'S HARD TO REPLACE 1 TO 1.
YOU KNOW THE BIPARTISAN
INFRASTRUCTURE LAW INVESTMENTS
THE STATE REVOLVING FUND DOLLARS
THAT ARE COMING THROUGH FOR, UH,
THESE REALLY CRITICAL FLEXIBLE
STATE DOLLARS. THANK YOU. UM HØI
YEAH, THANK YOU. UM SO DID WANT
TO TALK ABOUT DAM SAFETY A
LITTLE BIT. UM NAMELY, UM,
OBVIOUSLY ONGOING CONCERNS, UM,
ON A SAFETY BASIS WITH
STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. UM STAFF
POINT OUT THAT THE STATE AUDITOR
HAS REPEATEDLY IDENTIFIED 89
HAZARD DAMS IN THE STATE. AH SO
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE ADMINISTRATION'S CHOICE TO
CUT DOWN DAM SAFETY INVESTMENTS?
UH, BY $50 MILLION UM WERE THESE
CATS AFFECT ANY OF THE 89 HAZARD
DAMS IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE
AUDITOR? SURE. AND HALL
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AGAIN. UM
I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION TOOK A HOLISTIC
APPROACH TO YOU KNOW ALL THE
FUNDING THIS YEAR, INCLUDING THE
FUNDING FOR A DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES. UM YOU KNOW, AS
AN EXAMPLE FOR LATER ON IN THE
AGENDA, WE'RE STILL PROPOSING
NEW FUNDING FOR PRIORITY FLOOD
PROJECTS FOR Dð WR THAT LEVERAGE
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING AND
PRIORITIZED, UM, PROJECTS FOR
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND
REALLY FOCUS ON AREAS OF STATE
RESPONSIBILITY. UM, WE DID HAVE
TO MAKE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS
IN IN WHICH PROGRAMS WOULD BE
REDUCED. AND WHILE DAM SAFETY IS
ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM WE
WOULD JUST NOTE THAT THE STATE
IS NOT LEGALLY LIABLE TO PAY FOR
THE COST FOR DAM OWNERS, AND UM
AND THESE OTHER FLOOD PROJECTS.
THIS IS AN AREA OF STATE
RESPONSIBILITY. AND SO WHILE WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT
IT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES
AND THIS WAS AN AREA THAT WE
SHIFTED FUNDING. LAURA HOLLANDER
. I WOULD ALSO ADD THIS PROGRAM
IS A IS A NEW PROGRAM. UH, IT'S
THE FIRST TIME WE WILL BE
FUNDING DAM DEFICIENCIES, SO WE
ARE PUTTING TOGETHER GUIDELINES
RIGHT NOW. AND THIS 1ST 50
MILLION IS REALLY GOING TO BE A
PILOT TO SORT OF SEE WHAT WHAT
IS WORKING WITH THE PROGRAM WHAT
WE MIGHT NEED TO TWEAK FOR THE
NEXT ROUNDS OF FUNDING, SO WE
WILL BE ABLE TO DO SEVERAL
PROJECTS WITH THIS FUNDING.
YEAH, AND I JUST KNOW, UM OF THE
$50 MILLION. A LOT OF IT IS
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, SO
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
TALK ABOUT THAT. UM STAFF IS
KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED THE LEVEL OF
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR DRINKING
WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECT
GRANTS RIGHT NOW, CALLING IT
UNPRECEDENTED, WHICH IS GREAT.
CAN. THE PANELISTS ELABORATE ON
HOW THE STATE HAS TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF THESE FEDERAL FINES
? HOW MUCH FUNDING WE'LL BE ABLE
TO SECURE AND IS IT ENOUGH TO
COVER THE CUTS PROPOSED IN THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL AROUND
DRINKING WATER? I CAN TAKE THAT.
UM AND WHAT WE WERE VERY
FORTUNATE FOR IS, UH, BOTH THE
PASSAGE OF THE SAFE AND
AFFORDABLE FUND IN 2019.
CERTAINLY THE UM UH, AUTHORITIES
LIKE MANDATORY CONSOLIDATION AND
OTHER TOOLS THAT THE STATE BOARD
HAS BEEN ABLE TO BRING TO BEAR
ON WHAT HAS BEEN A GENERATIONAL
CHALLENGE WITHIN THE STATE AND
ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER. THE
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW
COMES CAME ALONG AND HAS BEEN
ABLE TO HELP US ACCELERATE AND
EXPAND. UH, THE WORK THAT HAS
ALREADY WAS ALREADY STARTING IN
THE STATE. UM, DISCUSSIONS LIKE
JUSTICE 40 HERE CENTERING.
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
EXPERIENCED INEQUITIES FOR
DECADES HAS ALLOWED US TO REALLY
BE ABLE TO ALIGN WITH THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW. I
KNOW JUST THIS YEAR IT WAS
ANNOUNCED $1.6 BILLION WILL HAVE
BEEN COMING TO THE STATE HERE
OVER THE COURSE OF NOW, UM, THIS
NOW THIRD YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE
LAW. UM WHAT WE, UH HAVE IS, UH,
AN INTENDED USE PLAN, WHICH IS A
YEARLY, UH, EXERCISE THAT WE GO
THROUGH TO IDENTIFY WHERE
DOLLARS FROM THE STATE REVOLVING
FUND ARE GOING. UM BUT
IMPORTANTLY, WE ALSO HAVE WITH
THE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE FUND, A
YEARLY EXPENDITURE PLAN THAT
ALSO LAYS OUT ESPECIALLY FOR
SMALL, DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES
WHERE OUR INVESTMENTS ARE GOING,
SO WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THIS DOLLARS ARE GOING OUT. UM,
THE REALITY IS OF THE ONE POINT
THREE BILLION THAT WE RECEIVED,
UH, FOR THE STATE DOLLARS. UM WE
AND THEN 200 MILLION AS WE KNOW,
UH, DELAYED TO THIS YEAR. UH,
WE'RE ONLY GONNA HAVE AFTER THIS
YEAR ABOUT 100 AND $38 MILLION
OF THE STATE COFFERS OF THE
FEDERAL FUNDS. UM WE CAN I CAN
HEAR DIG IN, AND WE CAN, UM,
BEGIN TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO GET OUT THE DOOR. UM BUT
IT IS, UM, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT AT THIS POINT. UM AND
IMPORTANTLY, UH, IT'S COMING AT
A TIME WHERE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HERE HAS P FS AS A
MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LIMIT.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE FINALIZING.
WE'RE HERE THIS SPRING. UM AND
SO THE NEED AND DEPENDENCY FOR
THESE DOLLARS NOT JUST FOR
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, BUT
FOR ALL OF OUR WATER SYSTEMS TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT AND KEEP
AFFORDABLE AS WE ADDRESS NEW
CONTAMINANTS, UM THE RATES OF
THAT CONSUMERS PAY FOR WATER IS
JUST REALLY CRITICAL. AND THEN
FINALLY WANTED TO TOUCH ON WATER
RECYCLING. AS AS WE ALL KNOW, A
KEY ASPECT OF OUR, UM ACHIEVING
OUR WATER SUPPLY GOALS. UM SO
THE QUESTION IS, UM, HOW WILL
CUTS TO WATER RECYCLING IMPACT
OUR ABILITY TO REACH THOSE WATER
SUPPLY GOALS AS OUTLINED IN THE
ADMINISTRATION'S WATER SUPPLY
STRATEGY? UM, TO WHOEVER WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE THAT SO THE CUTS
THAT ARE ARE ARE BEING TAKEN
HERE ARE GRANTS IMPORTANTLY,
THERE ARE STILL RESOURCES WITH
THE STATE REVOLVING FUND FOR
LOANS THERE THIS YEAR ALONE. WE
HAVE 11 PROJECTS THAT WILL BE
RECEIVING FUNDING. UM FROM THE
IUP. I KNOW THAT THAT JOINS WITH
1.2 BILLION AT LEAST WITHIN THE
LAST TWO YEARS THAT THE STATE
BOARD HAS INVESTED IN WATER
RECYCLING PROJECTS. UM SO
THERE'S A LOT OF MOMENTUM ON OUR
GOALS FOR WATER RECYCLING. THE
WATER SUPPLY STRATEGY. ALSO HAD
THE STATE BOARD CREATE, UH, A
STRIKE TEAM. TO IDENTIFY ALL
POTENTIAL WATER RECYCLING
PROJECTS OUT THERE, ALONG WITH
STREAMLINING RECOMMENDATIONS, SO
THAT WORK IS ONGOING AND SHOWS
WHAT A PRIORITY TRULY, UH,
RECYCLING IS AS A TOOL AS WE
COMBAT DROUGHT. WE REDUCE THE
AMOUNT OF NUTRIENTS THAT WE PUT
INTO OUR OUR WATERWAYS AND OUR
BAYS BY RECYCLING AND REUSING.
WHAT UH, WE PAY A LOT TO MOVE
AROUND THE STATE AND USE UM SO
I'M I. I KNOW THERE IS CONCERN
CERTAINLY WHEN WE'RE REDUCING
GRANTS BECAUSE THAT REALLY HELPS
AS BEST WITH AFFORDABILITY FOR
ESPECIALLY THESE LARGE RECYCLING
PROJECTS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE
DOLLARS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW,
UH BECAUSE OF OUR ABILITY TO
EVEN DO PRI PRINCIPAL
FORGIVENESS WITH LOANS. UM I'M
I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN STILL
CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON
WHAT ARE, UH, INCREDIBLE,
IMPORTANT GOALS AS WE ALL KNOW
TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE. BUT
ALSO, AS I SAID, REDUCE
NUTRIENTS. UM, YOU KNOW, NOT
JUST CREATE A NEW SUPPLY. BUT
REALLY THINK SMARTER ABOUT THE
WAY WE'RE MANAGING OUR WATER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM I THINK
THAT, UH THEY WANT TO MAKE ONE
COMMENT. I KNOW Dð WR AND STATE
WATER BOARD. YOU'VE GOT SOME, UM
, MASSIVE CHALLENGES AHEAD OF
YOU TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE GET
OUR GROUNDWATER BASINS STUDIED
UNDER CONTROL. UM LOT OF GOOD
PEOPLE TRYING TO DO DO GOOD WORK
THERE, BUT IT'S A NEW TASK FOR
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND SO
AT LEAST I'M SENSITIVE TO SORT
OF MAKING SURE YOU HAVE THE
BUDGET AND THE RESOURCES THAT
YOU NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE. UM
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
STUFF. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. UM SALT
AND SEA IF THE PANEL WOULD COME
UP, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT
TO THE QUESTIONS FOR THE SALT
AND SEA PANEL.
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED QUESTIONS FOR
YOU IN ADVANCE, AND, UM I THINK
THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE ONES
THAT WERE PRETTY INTERESTED IN.
SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'VE HAD THEM
IN ADVANCE. UH AND SO I JUST
WANNA GET RIGHT AFTER IT'S ALL
RIGHT WITH, UH, MR CONLEY. I'M
GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE
QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE SUPPLIED
THEM IN ADVANCE. ALL RIGHT, UM
AND, UH, 2023 BUDGET REDUCED
FUNDING FOR THE SALTON SEA BY
100 AND 19 MILLION, UM, GOVERNOR
PROPOSED CUTTING IT BY 100 AND
69 MILLION, THE ASSEMBLY PUSHED
BACK. WHAT'S THE RATIONALE NOW
FOR MAKING REDUCTIONS IN 2023?
AND THEN REQUESTING ADDITIONAL
FUNDING IN 2425. THANKS SO MUCH.
I'M SAMANTHA ARTHUR, ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR SALTON SEA POLICY
WITH THE CALIFORNIA NATURAL
RESOURCES AGENCY. GLAD TO BE
HERE. UM THE 2020 THREE 24
BUDGET INCLUDED GENERAL FUND
REDUCTIONS LIKE YOU OUTLINED IN
THE SALTON SEA MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM THAT WAS IN LIGHT OF
AVAILABLE FEDERAL PROP 68 AND
GENERAL FUND MONIES IN 2020,
THREE 24 THAT WERE BEING
UTILIZED AT THE TIME TO CARRY
OUT VEGETATION ENHANCEMENT
PROJECTS AND OUR LARGE SCALE
SPECIES CONSERVATION HABITAT
PROJECT WITH OUR EXISTING A
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS NEEDED IN
BUDGET YEAR 2024 25 AS EXISTING
PROJECTS COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION
IN THE NEXT SET OF PROJECTS IN
OUR PIPELINE NEED TO PROGRESS IN
TERMS OF DESIGN, PERMITTING LAND
ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION
STEPS. SO THIS FUNDING IS
CRITICAL, UM, TO CONTINUE TO
MEET OUR STATE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS
UNDER THE STATE WATER BOARD,
ORDER AND ASSOCIATED WITH
COLORADO RIVER MANAGEMENT. JUST
BECAUSE WE HAD SOME OTHER
OPTIONS. RIGHT GREAT. AND THEN,
UH, HOW CLOSE IS, UH, IS THE
STATE TO COLLECTING THE LITHIUM
EXTRACTION TAXES? WE'VE GOT ONE
OF OUR DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
COLLEAGUES COMING UP FOR THAT.
HØI ERIN CARSON DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. ON THE LITHIUM
EXTRACTION TAXES. UM, COULD YOU
BRING THAT MICROPHONE DOWN A
LITTLE BIT? THERE YOU GO. THANK
YOU. BASED ON PUBLIC STATEMENTS,
UM BY COMPANIES PLANNING LITHIUM
EXTRACTION PROJECTS IN
CALIFORNIA. YOU YOU WHEN YOU
WHEN YOU GO TO LOOK DOWN, THEN
WHEN WE'RE NOT, YEAH. HOW ABOUT
YOU? CAN YOU GUYS HEAR HER BACK
THERE? ALL RIGHT. GOOD. YOU'RE
ON NOW. SO BASED ON PUBLIC
STATEMENTS BY COMPANIES PLANNING
LITHIUM EXTRACTION PROJECTS IN
CALIFORNIA, WE'RE EXPECTING THAT
COLLECTIONS WILL BEGIN IN THE
NEXT FEW YEARS, AND THERE WILL
BE SUFFICIENT REVENUE BY 2627 TO
SUPPORT. UM THE POSITIONS
REQUESTED IN THE B èC P,
HOWEVER, UH, WE WOULD JUST NOTE
THAT, UM, GEOTHERMAL EXTRACTION
IS EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND
EXPECTED OPERATIONAL TIMELINES
HAVE BEEN PUSHED BACK IN RECENT
YEARS, WHICH CREATES SOME
UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE
REVENUE FOR SO FOR THIS REASON,
THE P èC P PROPOSES TO PHASE IN
RESOURCES, UH, TO COVER POSITION
COSTS IN THE OUT YEARS,
BEGINNING 2627. UM WHICH WILL
ALLOW THE ADMINISTRATION TO RE
EVALUATE. UM NEW FUND SOURCES,
UM, SHOULD THE LITHIUM
EXTRACTION TAX REVENUES NOT
MATERIALIZED, AS CURRENTLY
ESTIMATED. GREAT. THANK YOU. UM
THE WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL
RAMIFICATIONS OF MISSING THE
2028 REQUIREMENT TO HAVE
COMPLETED 29,800 ACRES? IF WE
DON'T GET THAT DONE, LET'S I'M
SORRY. I ACTUALLY COULDN'T FULLY
HEAR YOU. MAYBE YOUR MICROPHONE
NEEDS TO BE LOWERED. THANK YOU.
UM, THANKS. THERE WE GO. WHAT UM
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL
RAMIFICATIONS OF MISSING THE
2028 REQUIREMENT TO HAVE
COMPLETED 29,800 ACRES? SO IF
THE UH, NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY
MISSES THE 2028 REQUIREMENT TO
COMPLETE OUR, UM 29,800 ACRES.
THIS IS A REQUIREMENT UNDER A
STATE WATER BOARD ORDER, THE
WATER BOARD COULD UTILIZE ITS
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES
CONTAINED IN WATERS CODE
SECTIONS. 1825 TO 1851, BUT MORE
BROADLY, UM, THE NEWSOM
ADMINISTRATION IS ADVANCING
THESE PROJECTS AT THE SALTON SEA
TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND
PROVIDE CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL
HABITAT. SO THAT IS AT AS WELL.
AND THIS PROPOSED FUNDING IS
NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD
RESTORATION PROJECTS TO FOLLOW
THROUGH ON OUR STATE COMMITMENT,
UM UNDER THE STATE WATER BOARD
ORDER, BUT ALSO COMMITMENTS TO
COLORADO RIVER MANAGEMENT. UM
AND DELAYS IN THAT FUNDING. UH,
YOU KNOW, RISK DESTABILIZING
THOSE INTERSTATE AGREEMENTS
AROUND COLORADO RIVER
MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU THE LONG
TERM PLAN FOR COMPLETING THE
PROPOSED PROJECTS. SO FOR THESE,
UH SIX PROJECTS THAT ARE, UH,
IDENTIFIED IN BUDGET YEAR 2425.
THESE ARE THEIR NEXT SET OF
PROJECTS THAT ARE IN OUR
PIPELINE AND OUR LONG TERM PLAN
FOR HALF OF THEM. THE FUNDS THAT
WE'VE IDENTIFIED FOR 2425. WE'LL
BE ABLE TO CARRY THROUGH TWO
CONSTRUCTION, UM, TO BUILD THE
HABITAT BENEFITS AND THE DEATHS
OF PROTEST AND BENEFITS THAT ARE
CRITICALLY NEEDED AT THE SALTON
SEA. THE OTHER HALF OF THOSE
PROJECTS. UH, WE WILL ADVANCE
PLANNING, PERMITTING AND DESIGN
AND, UM WE'LL REQUEST ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES TO COMPLETE
CONSTRUCTION OF THESE PROJECTS
IN FUTURE BUDGET ASKS REQUEST
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR
FROM THE STATE BUDGET. WE FOR
THE FEDERAL MONEY, SO I'M GLAD
YOU BROUGHT UP FEDERAL FUNDING.
UM WE HAVE RECEIVED $70 MILLION
IN FEDERAL FUNDING IN DECEMBER
OF 2023. THAT FUNDING IS
UNPRECEDENTED. IT'S THE FIRST
COMMITMENT FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, UM, OF THAT SCALE AT
THE SALTON SEA, BUT IT'S
IDENTIFIED FOR, UM, ADDRESSING
ACCELERATED IMPACTS. ACCELERATED
LAKE BED EXPOSURE, UM, FROM NEW
CONSERVATION ACTIONS IN THE
SHORT TERM FROM 2020 THREE TO
2026. SO THESE PROJECTS IN OUR
PIPELINE THAT ARE IDENTIFIED ARE
STATE RESPONSIBILITY. AND SO
STATE STATE ASKS, THANK YOU. SE
MEMBER CONLY ANYTHING ELSE?
GREAT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
AND, UM SORRY YOU DIDN'T GET TO
MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT I
HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND, RIGHT. ALL
RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA GO ON TO, UH,
ISSUE FOUR. THAT PANEL WOULD
COME UP, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT, WHICHEVER ONE OF YOU
WANTS TO GO FIRST. IF YOU'LL
INTRODUCE YOURSELF WHO YOU'RE
WITH, AND TAKE IT AWAY. SURE UH,
JAMES NEWCOMB, NEWLY ASSIGNED
UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AT
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. DID
YOU WANT US TO GO OVER OUR OUR
ITEMS AS WELL? OR DID WE WANNA
DO INTRODUCTIONS FIRST? UH, HAVE
PEOPLE INTRODUCE THEMSELVES WHEN
THEY START TO èC. SO SO I'M
HERE TO REPRESENT OUR REQUEST
FOR THE 31 POINT THREE MILLION
DOLLARS FOR THE CENTRAL VALLEY
SYSTEM WIDE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION
FUNDS. UH, THESE FUNDS LARGELY
ARE TO SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT ARE
ALREADY UNDERWAY THROUGH VARIOUS
FUND SOURCES. UM THESE THESE
PROJECTS ALSO REPRESENT SORT OF
A NEW WATER STRATEGY IF YOU WILL
, IN TERMS OF CROSSING MULTIPLE
SECTORS, UM, FOR INSTANCE, THEY,
UH, SET BACK RIVER LEVEES TO
ALLOW FOR INCREASED FLOOD
CONTROL, REACTIVATE THE
FLOODPLAINS TO DELIVER. BETTER
HABITAT FOR NATIVE SPECIES AND
THEN ALSO ALLOW FOR RECHARGING
OF THE GROUND BASIN. UM, THESE
ARE PROJECTS THAT OCCUR IN IN
DISADVANTAGED AREAS, AND SO, UM,
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THESE PROJECTS AND
MOVING THEM FORWARD. AND I'LL
PROBABLY KEEP IT BRIEF AND STOP
THERE. LEAVE ROOM FOR QUESTIONS.
X èC. I THINK IT'S URBAN LOOKS
LIKE DID YOU TOUCH URBAN AGAIN?
LAURA HOLLANDER, DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES, ACTING DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF FLOOD MANAGEMENT AND
DAM SAFETY, AND I'M HERE TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THE 33
MILLION IN THE BUDGET CURRENTLY
FOR ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
FLOOD RISK PRODUCTION PROJECTS
AGAIN, THIS MONEY WOULD LARGELY
BE OUR STATE COST SHARE FOR
NUMEROUS PROJECTS IN THE CENTRAL
VALLEY THAT REDUCE RISK TO
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
AND ALSO TO ADDRESS ANY
QUESTIONS ON FUNDING FOR STORM
DAMAGE TO STATE PLANET FLOOD
CONTROL OF FACILITIES AS A
RESULT OF LAST YEAR'S WINTER
STORMS.
INFORMATION. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YAN CHAIR JOAQUIN ESQUIVEL,
CHAIR OF THE STATE WATER
SERVICES CONTROL BOARD HERE NOW,
APPROPRIATELY ON MY GROUNDWATER
PERMITTING ITEM. THIS IS A
REQUEST AGAIN FOR FIVE PERMANENT
POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A
GROUNDWATER PERMITTING UNIT
WITHIN THE STATE WATER RESOURCES
CONTROL BOARD AND AGAIN. THIS IS
AN INCREDIBLE PRIORITY,
OBVIOUSLY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION
AND THE BOARD AND HERE BRINGS
PERMANENT, UH, POSITIONS AND
RESOURCES TO SOMETHING THAT IS
NOT JUST A WET YEAR NEED, BUT
EVEN A DRY YEAR NEED IN SO FAR
AS SHARING, EVALUATING,
DISCUSSING AND ENSURING THAT
WE'RE PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOU LIKE
THIS. ANYBODY ELSE? LEO. THANK
YOU, SONIA PADWICK WITH THE LAO.
UM WE WOULD JUST NOTE THAT
WITHIN THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AREAS
THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO
PROPOSALS FOR NEW GENERAL FUND
SPENDING, UM IN THE UPCOMING
BUDGET, AND ONE WAS FOR SALTON
SEA PROJECTS AND ONE IS IN THE
AREA OF FLOOD MANAGEMENT. UM IN
LIGHT OF THE BUDGET CONDITION
AND THE FACT THAT IT'S LIKELY
GETTING WORSE. UM WE THINK THAT
THE LEGISLATURE WILL WANT TO BE
VERY SELECTIVE IN WHAT IT
APPROVES FOR A NEW GENERAL FUND
SPENDING AND APPLY A HIGH BAR,
UM, TO WHAT IT TO WHAT? IT, UH
APPROVES SO WITHIN THAT CONTEXT,
UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPONENTS
TO THE FLOOD MANAGEMENT
PROPOSALS AS AS MY COLLEAGUES
FROM THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE
NOTED AND LET ME START WITH, UM
THE TWO THAT ARE THE THREE THAT
OUR OFFICE WOULD RECOMMEND THE
LEGISLATURE CONSIDER APPROVING.
WE THINK THESE MEET THE HIGHER
THE HIGHER BAR FOR APPROVAL, SO
ONE HAS TO DO WITH THE EARLY
ACTION FUNDED FUNDING REQUESTED
TO DEAL WITH FLOOD REPAIRS. UH
AS A RESULT OF THE 2023 STORMS.
UM THIS IS I BELIEVE $29.6
MILLION IN BOTH THE Dð WR BUDGET
AS WELL AS THE FISH AND WILDLIFE
BUDGET. UM WE RECOMMEND
APPROVING THIS BECAUSE THE
STATE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING
THESE REPAIRS, UM THREE MILLION
OF THE FUNDING WOULD BE THE
STATE COST SHARE TO DRAW DOWN
FEDERAL SUPPORT TO MAKE THESE
REPAIRS AND APPROVING THE
FUNDING EARLY WOULD REALLY ALLOW
THE REPAIRS TO BEGIN AHEAD OF
THE NEXT RAINY SEASON, SO WE
THINK IT CENTS FOR THE FOR THE
FOR THOSE REASONS. SECONDLY WE
WOULD RECOMMEND THE LEGISLATURE
CONSIDER APPROVING THE FUNDING
THE 30 THREE MILLION DOLLARS FOR
URBAN FLOOD RISK REDUCTION
PROJECTS, WHICH ARE CONDUCTED IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE U S¼ ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS. UM WE NOTE
THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE REALLY A
CORE STATE RESPONSIBILITY. THEY
ARE IN THE STATE PLAN OF FLOOD
CONTROL IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.
THE STATE HAS RESPONSIBILITY AND
LIABILITY, UM, FOR THE STATE
PLAN OF FLOOD CONTROL. THEY
PROVIDE CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH
AND SAFETY BENEFITS IN URBAN
AREA. BECAUSE THEY ALSO LEVERAGE
THE SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL FUNDING
FROM THE U S¼ ARMY CORPS.
PAUSING THESE PROJECTS MIDSTREAM
WOULD CAUSE WE THINK SIGNIFICANT
DISRUPTIONS AND COULD RESULT IN
HIGHER COSTS DOWN THE ROAD. UM,
IN ADDITION, UH, IT'S OUR
UNDERSTANDING FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION THAT PAUSING A
PROJECT THAT HAS ARMY CORPS
FUNDING WOULD CAUSE THE ARMY
CORPS TO THEN DIVERT THE FUNDS
TO OTHER STATES FOR THEIR
PROJECTS AND IT AND IT WOULD BE
VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THAT, UH,
FUNDING BACK FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. SO WE THINK THOSE
ARE COMPELLING REASONS TO
APPROVE THAT FUNDING. UM, IN
TERMS OF THE WATER BOARD'S
PROPOSAL. WE THINK THAT PROPOSAL
IS WELL JUSTIFIED AND MAKES A
LOT OF SENSE. NOT ONLY WOULD
THOSE NEW POSITIONS UM
POTENTIALLY EXPEDITE, UM
PERMITTING, BUT GROUNDWATER
RECHARGE IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR
FLOOD PROTECTION, BUT ALSO FOR
INCREASING STATE WATER SUPPLY
AND IMPROVING CONDITIONS IN THE
GROUNDWATER BASINS. IN ADDITION,
THAT FUNDING IS FROM THE WATER
RIGHTS FUND SO IT WOULD NOT
WORSEN THE GENERAL FUNG
CONDITION THIS YEAR. AND THEN
FINALLY, UH REGARDING THE SYSTEM
WIDE MULTI BENEFIT PROJECTS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPELLING
REASONS TO PROCEED WITH THESE
PROJECTS. UM NOT ONLY DO THEY
PROVIDE SUPPORT IN DISADVANTAGED
AREAS, UM IN AREAS THAT, UH, THE
COMMUNITIES MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
AFFORD FUNDING THESE PROJECTS
THEMSELVES. A LOT OF THESE
PROJECTS ARE IN THE FINAL
STAGES. ONE OF AT LEAST ONE OF
THEM REDUCES FLOOD RISK IN THE
DELTA. UM THEY ALSO PROVIDE
NOTABLE HABITAT AND ECOSYSTEM
BENEFITS IN TO FLOOD PROTECTION.
BUT WE THINK THE GENERAL FUND
CONDITION SORT OF COMPLICATES
THIS DECISION. AND WE THINK THE
LEGISLATURE WILL JUST HAVE TO
WEIGH, UM THIS PRIORITY WITH
OTHER PRIORITIES AS IT CONSIDERS
WHAT TO APPROVE FOR GENERAL FUND
SPENDING. ANY OTHER RESPONSES BY
ANY OF THE PANELISTS BEFORE WE
GO TO QUESTIONS. NÓ. I WOULD
JUST I WOULD SAY WHAT THE L? A
Ó SAID, WAS, UH OR SOME GOOD
POINTS IN THERE, AND WE WOULD
JUST NOTE THAT THESE PROJECTS,
ESPECIALLY THE FLOOD PROJECTS.
UM OR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED ON
AN ANNUAL BASIS BASED ON
CHANGING CONDITIONS, THEY REALLY
ARE CORE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
FOR, UH Dð WR. UM THEY LEVERAGE
FEDERAL FUNDS AND AS THE L A Ó
NOTED, IF YOU IF YOU STOP A
PROJECT MIDSTREAM, IT'S VERY
LIKELY THAT, UM THE FEDERAL
FUNDING WILL BE LOST, AND
THEY'LL MOVE ON TO OTHER STATES
OR OTHER PROJECTS. SO WE HAVE A
QUESTION THERE AND, UH IT IS.
ALONG THE WHAT WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT. WE RECHARGE THE
BASIN IN VENTURA COUNTY. WE
DIDN'T BUT A WATER DISTRICT. WE
CHARGED BASES IN VENTURA COUNTY
REALLY PROUD OF THEMSELVES, AND
THEN FOUND OUT THE WATER WASN'T
THERE WHEN THEY WENT TO GO GET
IT? UH, HOW WHAT KIND OF
EVALUATION? ARE WE DOING TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE
RECHARGE THAT WE THINK WE'RE
GETTING WHEN WE RECHARGE THE
BASINS. THINK PAUL'S GOING TO
ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR US.
PAUL GOSLIN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT.
WELL, MR VERY GOOD QUESTION.
THERE'S A LOT OF DATA AND TOOLS
THAT WERE BEEN COMPILING OVER
OVER THE YEARS. ONE IS THE, UM A
MAGNETIC METHOD. THAT'S THE
HELICOPTER THAT'S DOING, UH, THE
GEOPHYSICAL MAPPING OF THE, UM,
ARCHITECTURE OF THE GEOLOGY AS
WELL AS OTHER WORK WE'RE DOING
ON BASE AND CHARACTERIZATION,
WHICH IS THE LEGISLATURE GAVE US
FUNDING LAST YEAR THAT WE
PROPOSED TO DO SO WE'RE GONNA BE
GOING OUT, UH, PULLING ALL THAT
DATA THAT WE'VE BEEN COMPILING
OVER THE YEARS INCREASING
MONITORING, SO WHEN PROJECTS
COME FORWARD, THERE WILL BE A
HIGHER LEVEL OF CERTAINTY THAT
THE WATER GETS INTO THE GROUND
KNOWING WHERE IT'S GONNA GO, SO
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO DO A
LOT. UM PILOTING ADAPTATION, SO
IT'S GONNA PLACE A HIGHER LEVEL
ON CERTAINTY FOR THOSE PUBLIC
DOLLARS THAT ARE GONNA ACTUALLY
GET, UH, PUT TO USE. IS THERE A
REQUIREMENT THAT, UM THEY
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE WATER HAS
MADE IT YOU KNOW, A YEAR AFTER
THE PROJECT OR WHATEVER IS THERE
A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO
OF SHOW SOME IMPACT, TYPICALLY,
DEPENDING UPON WHAT THEIR
PURPOSE IS. THERE'S GONNA BE U.
USUALLY THEY WOULD SET UP SOME
MONITORING COMPONENT OR THEY'RE
TRYING TO ADDRESS. LET'S SAY
SOME AREA WHERE LET'S SAY
GRANDMA LEVELS ARE GOING DOWN.
THEY'RE GONNA BE TRACKING THAT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER
PROBLEM THEY WERE TRYING TO
MITIGATE IS ACTUALLY SOLVED, SO
IT'S BUILT INTO THE ENTIRE, UM,
PROJECT DESIGN THAT THEY'RE
GONNA HAVE THAT POSITIVE OUTCOME
FOR THOSE DOLLARS THAT THEY'LL
BE INVESTING IN. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM YEAH.
AND IF I CAN ADD A CHAIR AS WELL
, UH UH, AS PAUL SAID, THE DATA
COMPONENT IS A REALLY BIG PART
OF IT. IT'S BEING ABLE TO JUST
HAVE A BETTER ABILITY TO ASSESS
THE IMPACT OF PROJECTS ACROSS
WHAT OUR WAS IT A BIG STATE AND
A LOT OF LANDSCAPES.
ADDITIONALLY WITH THE 1.2
MILLION ACRE FEET OF RECHARGE AT
THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THERE ARE
PART OF THE WATER RIGHTS PROCESS
. FOLLOW UP THAT, UM YOU
VERIFIES AND ALLOWS US TO GO
BACK AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT
ACTUALLY WAS RECHARGED AND SO
THAT REPORTING THAT INFORMATION
MAKE SURE AS WE WORK WITH DWR
AND ALL OF US HERE TOGETHER,
GETS BACK OUT TO THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU. MR CONNOLLY. ALL
RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GO TO ISSUE
FIVE.
SO WHOEVER WANTS TO START ON
THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CHAIR, JOAQUIN ESCO AGAIN HERE,
CHAIR OF THE STATE WATER
RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD. I HAVE
WITH ME HERE. KAREN MOGUS, WHO
IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION
OF WATER QUALITY AT THE STATE
WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD,
UM AND CAN HELP FILL IN, UH, ON
WHAT IS AAA REALLY IMPORTANT.
ASK HERE. AS WE KNOW, UH, WELL
AS SOME MAY KNOW, THE CLEAN
WATER ACT TURNED 50 YEARS AGO,
UH, TURNED 50 YEARS OLD, UH, TWO
YEARS AGO, AND HERE CELEBRATING,
UH, THE CLEAN WATER ACT AFTER 50
YEARS AND HAVING SO SOON
THEREAFTER, THE SUPREME COURT
MAKE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT DECISION
, WHICH RETREATED THE FEDERAL
ROLE IN NEXUS, UM, ON PROTECTING
CLEAN WATER. UH, IS UNFORTUNATE.
THE REALITY IS THAT ACTUALLY
PORTER COLOGNE, THE LAW THAT
THAT CREATED THE STATE RESOURCES
CONTROL BOARD WAS THE MODEL FOR
THE CLEAN WATER ACT, WHICH WAS,
UH, THOSE AMENDMENTS WERE PASSED
SEVERAL YEARS LATER. SO THE
STATE HAS, AS WAS MENTIONED AT
THE TOP OF THE HEARING. A STRONG
HISTORY HERE, UM OF LEADERSHIP,
AND ESPECIALLY ON THE REGULATORY
SIDE. SO WHEN THE SUPREME COURT
DECISION CAME DOWN LAST YEAR,
UH, WE QUICKLY. UH OBVIOUSLY, WE
WE'RE WE'RE TRACKING WHAT WE'RE,
UM EXPANSIONS AND RETRACTIONS OF
THAT OF THE FEDERAL SCOPE OF
CLEAN WATER ACT, WHICH IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE. UM IS A
SUBSET OF WHAT ARE OUR STATE
WATERS. SO THE BOARD'S
AUTHORITIES PORT OF COLON ARE
ARE, UM, ENCOMPASSED FULLY THE
STATE'S WATERS AND THE CLEAN
WATER ACT WE HAVE COME TO DEPEND
UPON FOR DECADES HAS BEEN AN
IMPORTANT UM, UH, PROGRAM THAT
WE'VE WE'VE FACILITATED A LOT OF
A LOT OF THAT WORK. BUT
IMPORTANTLY, IT'S A IT'S A
BUBBLE WITHIN THAT STATE. UM UH,
REGULATORY PROGRAM, SO OUR
REQUEST FOR 38 POSITIONS OVER
TWO UM, IS TO BE ABLE TO REALLY
FILL THE HOLE THAT THE FEDERAL
RESOURCES UM WERE WERE WERE
OTHERWISE? UM UH AT WORK THERE,
THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DOES
, UH, WETLANDS DELINEATIONS, AND
IN THE IN THE A MOMENT WHEN
WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT WETLANDS
, AS AS SUCH A CRITICAL FEATURE
IN OUR STATE TO PROTECT AGAINST
CLIMATE CHANGE TO CLEAN OUR
WATERS TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE
FLOODPLAINS AND RECONNECT AND
RECONNECT A SYSTEM THAT WE'VE
HIGHLY ALTERED, UH, CHALLENGE OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ROLE.
UH REGRESSING AND RETREATING IS
GONNA BE SIGNIFICANT IN THE 38
POSITIONS WILL HELP TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY REGRESS
ON THESE HUGE, UH, GOALS THAT WE
HAVE. BUT WE ACTUALLY CONTINUE
TO EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF WETLANDS
WE HAVE IN PROTECT THOSE THAT
ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. UM JUST
QUICKLY. THE SUPREME COURT
DECISION, UM, WAS REALLY BASED
OFF OF THE NEXUS OF WHAT ARE A
LOT OF FEATURES IN THE WEST. UH,
WETLANDS, INTERMITTENT STREAM.
UM RIVERS THAT DON'T FLOW. UH,
ALL, UH, TIMES OF THE YEAR. UM
AND SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ALONE
IN THE STATE BUT AT LEAST WITH
PORTER COLONNE AND WITH
AUTHORITIES AND REGULATORY, UH,
PROGRAMS IN PLACE, WE CAN AT
LEAST TRY TO EXPAND TO FILL. UH,
WHAT IS AGAIN AAA HARM TO
OVERALL THE STATE'S GOALS. WHEN
WE LOOK AT THE EXPANSION OF
WETLANDS AND NOT A RETREAT FROM
IT? NEXT. ANYBODY ELSE? HELLO.
OK SONIA FERE WITH THE L A Ó
AGAIN. UM WE FOUND THE
ADMINISTRATION'S OR THE WATER
BOARD'S PROPOSAL TO BE WELL
REASONED. IT MAKES A LOT OF
SENSE. THIS IS GOING TO BE AN
VERY IMPORTANT ROLE FOR THE
STATE, UM TO PLAY AS THE SCOPE
OF THE FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
UM, WHEN THE COUPLE ISSUES THAT
WE WOULD RAISE FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION IS, UM ONE IS IT
PERHAPS PREMATURE TO APPROVE
ONGOING FUNDING AND POSITION
AUTHORITY WHEN THERE ARE STILL
SO MANY UNKNOWNS ABOUT THE FULL
IMPACT THAT THIS DECISION IS
GOING TO HAVE ON WATER BOARD
WORKLOAD? AND IN ADDITION, THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS IDENTIFIED A
NUMBER OF SORT OF WEAKNESSES IN
CURRENT STATE STATUTE WHEN IT
COMES TO TRYING TO APPLY STATE
PRO PROCESSES TO THINGS THAT
WERE FORMALLY DONE UNDER FEDERAL
JURISDICTION. AND SO ONE OF THE
ISSUES, UM UH, SO I JUST
ACTUALLY WANTED TO GIVE AN
EXAMPLE UM THE ADMINISTRATION
NOTED THAT STATE ENFORCEMENT
OPTIONS ARE MORE REACTIVE THAN
FEDERAL OPTIONS, WHICH, UM, ALSO
ALLOW FOR SOME PROACTIVE OPTIONS
. UM IN ADDITION, STATE PENALTY
AMOUNTS ARE LOWER THAN FEDERAL
PENALTY AMOUNTS. UM, THE WATER
BOARD INDICATES THAT IT WILL BE
REVIEWING STATE STATUTE AND TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT CHANGES
MIGHT BE NEEDED. BUT WE DON'T
KNOW YET, UM, SORT OF HOW THAT
WILL HAPPEN AND HOW THEY'LL COME
FORWARD WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS AND
SO CONSEQUENTLY WE'RE WONDERING
IF CURRENT PROPOSAL FOR ONGOING
FUNDING AND POSITIONS MIGHT NOT
ACCURATELY REFLECT, UM THE WATER
BOARD'S INCREASED WORKLOAD. ONCE
STATE POLICIES ARE SORT OF
BETTER ALIGNED WITH THE PROGRAM
NEEDS. SO UH, WHAT WE WOULD
RECOMMEND, UM, THE LEGISLATURE
CONSIDER IT COULD IF IT WANTED
POTENTIALLY SCALE BACK THE
CURRENT PROPOSAL, FOR EXAMPLE,
IT COULD PROVIDE, UM, JUST THE
FIRST YEAR OF FUNDING AND
POSITIONS AND THEN REQUIRE THE
WATER BOARD TO COME BACK NEXT
JANUARY, PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON
SORT OF WHAT IT'S LEARNED. AND,
UM UH, ASK FOR ADDITIONAL AT
THAT TIME, THE LEGISLATURE COULD
ALSO PROVIDE LIMITED TERM
FUNDING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS
UNTIL WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE
FULL IMPACT, BUT REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE APPROVES
THE PROPOSAL AS AS WRITTEN OR IF
IT PRO, UM APPROVES SORT OF A
MODIFIED VERSION OF THAT WE
WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE
LEGISLATURE REQUIRE THE
ADMINISTRATION TO COME BACK NEXT
JANUARY AND POTENTIALLY EVEN IN
SUBSEQUENT YEARS TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT IT'S LEARNED SINCE THE MAY
2, THE US SUPREME COURT DECISION
HAPPENED IN MAY 2023 SO IT'LL BE
IMPORTANT TO SORT OF LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE IMPACTS. UM, SINCE
THAT TIME AND THEN WE ALSO THINK
THAT THAT REPORTING COULD
INCLUDE PRELIMINARY SUGGESTIONS
FOR HOW STATUTE COULD BE
CHANGED. UM AND THIS INFORMATION
WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE HELPFUL, UM,
TO THE LEGISLATURE TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT LEVEL OF RESOURCES ARE
NEEDED BY THE WATER BOARD ON AN
ONGOING BASIS, AND THEN WE'D
NOTE JUST A MINOR A MINOR. PART
OF THE PROPOSAL IS A 1.1 MILLION
REQUEST FOR PLANNING AND, UM,
DESIGN OF AN I Tð SYSTEM THAT
WOULD REPLACE A LARGELY PAPER
BASED PROCESS AND WE THINK THAT
THAT REQUEST IS WELL JUSTIFIED
AND WOULD RECOMMEND APPROVING
THAT COMPONENT. THANK YOU. IF I
MAY RESPOND, III I SHARE AND
AGREE THAT THERE IS UNCERTAINTY
AS TO HOW WE WILL FULLY RESPOND
TO THIS RETRACTION OF FEDERAL
JURISDICTION. BUT IMPORTANTLY,
I, I THINK THE SUPREME COURT
DECISION MEANT PENCILS DOWN
RIGHT AWAY FOR THE ARMY CORPS
AND FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES. SO THE
WHOLE IF YOU WILL, THAT THAT
DECISION HAS LEFT IS ALREADY
WITH US. AND MY CONCERN IS, YOU
KNOW IF WE DELAY WHAT I KNOW WE
TOOK HERE, YOU KNOW, NOT A AN
EXPANSIVE VIEW OF WHAT THE
RESOURCES WE MIGHT NEED ARE, UM
AND IMPORTANTLY, YOU KNOW, THERE
ARE WAYS THAT THE WE'VE SO
RELIED ON THE FEDERAL PROGRAM
AND THE EFFICIENCIES THERE THAT
WE JUST HAVEN'T USED PORT OF
COLOGNE IN OUR AUTHORITIES WASTE
DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS AS
THEY'RE KNOWN TO BE ABLE TO DO
THIS WORK SO THERE THERE IS MORE
THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS, BUT
THIS REQUEST IS A CONSERVATIVE
REQUEST. UH, BASED OFF OF JUST
WHAT WE KNOW THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WAS DOING AROUND
WETLANDS DELINEATION. UM AND
IMPORTANTLY, UM, MY CONCERN IS,
IF WE DELAY ANY RESOURCES COMING
TO US IT IT STARTS TO PUSH US
EVEN FURTHER OUT FROM BEING ABLE
TO RESPOND TO WHAT IS ALREADY A
IMMEDIATE RE. UM, UH, IMPACT
FROM THIS. INCREDIBLY
REGRETTABLE, UH, SUPREME COURT
DECISION THAT FLIES IN THE FACE
OF SCIENCE AND PULLS US BACK.
UNFORTUNATELY. UM I DON'T KNOW.
IF KAREN YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD
ANYTHING ON JUST WHAT WE'RE
SEEING ALREADY. UM, AND WHY IT
GIVES US COMFORT IN OUR REQUEST.
YEAH. THANK YOU. KAREN MOGUS
STATE WATER BOARD. UM I'LL SAY
I'LL ADD TO JOAQUIN'S COMMENTS
REGARDING THE PROPOSAL THAT WE
HAVE BEFORE YOU OUR ESTIMATES
WHEN WE WROTE THE B èC P BACK
IN THE FALL WERE THAT OF THE
AVERAGE 1500 PROJECTS
APPLICATIONS THAT WE RECEIVE
EVERY YEAR. UH, UP TO 65% OF
THOSE WILL NOW BE ONLY UNDER
STATE JURISDICTION. UH WE
ESTIMATED THE RESOURCE NEEDS TO
COVER 25% INCREASE. SO YES,
THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY,
BUT WE THINK WE'RE PRETTY
CONSERVATIVE IN OUR REQUEST FOR
RESOURCES. UH, AND IT COULD BE
MUCH MORE, UH, NEED AND I
ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL COME BACK
WITH, UH UH MORE REQUESTS IN THE
FUTURE AS WE UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACTS OF THIS DECISION MORE
FULLY. UM I WILL ALSO SAY THAT
WE'RE ALREADY SEEING IMPACTS. IN
TERMS OF APPLICANTS, CITING THE
SECOND DECISION AS A REASON NOT
TO APPLY FOR PERMITS FOR
PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO
IMPACT WATERS. AND SO THAT MAKES
IT ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT FOR US
TO HAVE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND
DOING INSPECTIONS, DOING THE
POLICING OF OUR WATERSHEDS SO
THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY WHERE THESE
PROJECTS ARE HAPPENING, AND, UH,
PROTECT THE WATERS. UM SO UM,
THAT'S ALL WHAT I'LL ADD.
THANKS. THANK YOU AND IT IT FOR
THOSE THAT ARE PERHAPS LISTENING
AND MAY BEAR REMINDING THAT, UH,
JUST BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT
DECISION REDUCED THE FEDERAL
JURISDICTION. IT DID NOT REDUCE
THE STATE'S JURISDICTION AND
WE'RE WE'RE STILL HERE SO THANK
YOU ANYBODY ELSE? I WOULD JUST
NOTE QUICKLY THAT I'M YOU KNOW,
WE DID REVIEW THE RESOURCE LEVEL
FOR THE WATER BOARD. AND WE ALSO
AGREE THAT THIS IS, YOU KNOW A
MODEST REQUEST TO GIVE THE
FEDERAL CHANGE. UM AND I
APPRECIATE THE, UH LAO'S
COMMENTS ABOUT GETTING A REPORT
BACK, UH, NEXT NEXT YEAR IN
TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE AND HOW
THESE POSITIONS ARE GOING, BUT,
UH WHAT? WHAT WILL YOU DO TO
COVER THE COST OF THESE
POSITIONS? SO YOU'RE GONNA BE A
FEE INCREASE. HOW MUCH AND WHAT
FEE AND ALL IT WOULD BE A FEE
INCREASE. UM AND HERE. UM IT IT
WOULD I LOOK TO MY COLLEAGUES,
UM KAREN, WHO HAS, UM, PROBABLY
BETTER FAMILIARITY, BUT I THINK
THE ESTIMATE WAS IT WAS A IF IT
WERE APPLIED GENERALLY TO, UH UM
, THE WATER QUALITY FUND. UH, IT
WAS LIKE A 34% INCREASE. BUT I
THINK IMPORTANTLY, IT IS NOT
GONNA BE GENERALLY APPLIED TO
EVERYONE WITHIN THE WATER
QUALITY PROGRAMS. IT WILL BE A
SUBSET OF THEM AND KAREN CAN
PROBABLY. I PROVIDE BETTER
DETAIL THERE SURE TO CLARIFY IF
WE APPLY THE FEE INCREASE TO THE
ENTIRE WASTE DISCHARGE PERMIT
FUND, WHICH IS THE FUND THAT
WILL, UH, SEE THE INCREASE, IT
WOULD BE A 5% INCREASE FOR THE
FUND OVERALL, BUT FOR APPLICANTS
WITHIN THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM,
THE 401 WATER QUALITY
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. THE
INCREASE WILL BE ON THE ORDER OF
34% TO COVER THE COST OF THIS
REQUEST. COULD YOU SAY IT WOULD
BE HOW MUCH 34% INCREASE. THANK
YOU. UM ALL RIGHTY. AND FIXED
TERM VERSUS UH, TEMPORARY, JUST
YOU'VE YOU'VE RESPONDED ALREADY.
YOU JUST FEEL THERE'S PLENTY OF
WORK TO DO. YEAH YES, AND JUST
CANDIDLY. THE CHALLENGE,
SOMETIMES WITH LIMITED TERM IS
BEING ABLE TO GET FOLKS INTO THE
ROLES. UM, IT REALLY IT REALLY
IS HARD. UM RIGHT? ALL RIGHTY.
UM OK, TURN THE STAFF ANYTHING
THAT, UH, STAFF WANTS TO MAKE
SURE GETS HANDLED. ALL RIGHT. S¼
THERE. UM THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
THINK WE'RE SET THERE. WE'RE
GONNA OPEN THIS UP TO PUBLIC
COMMENT, NOW ONE MINUTE TO
PUBLIC COMMENT AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. MR CHAIRMAN
MEMBERS, UH ORIO GONZALEZ ON
BEHALF OF THE SALTON SEA
AUTHORITY. WE ARE A JOINT POWERS
AUTHORITY CONSISTING OF THE
COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT,
THE IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT
, THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, THE
COUNTY OF IMPERIAL AND THE TOURS
. MARTINEZ DESERT CO. A TRIBAL
PEOPLE THAT HAVE INHABITED THE
SALTON SEA REGION SINCE BEFORE
CALIFORNIA WAS A STATE FOR THE
UNITED STATES WAS A COUNTRY WE
ARE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED INVESTMENT.
UM UH, THESE DOLLARS WILL NOT
ONLY HELP SCALE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE S¼ S¼ MP, BUT THEY WILL
ALSO PROVIDE DESPERATELY NEEDED
RESOURCES FOR WHEN I'M A
PROJECTS SO THAT ONCE THEY ARE
COMPLETED, THEY CAN BE
MAINTAINED IN PERPETUITY. UM
THIS IS THE THIS IS GONNA BE UP
TO $60 MILLION A YEAR EXPENSE
ACCORDING TO THE STATE'S OWN
INVESTMENTS. ONCE THE 10 YEAR
PLAN IS REALIZED, UM SO WE ARE
CERTAINLY, UM, GRATEFUL FOR THIS
INITIAL INVESTMENT NOW, UM, WE
WOULD ALSO BE REMISS IF WE
DIDN'T POINT OUT THAT THE
PROPOSED INVESTMENT ALSO
INCLUDES $3 MILLION FOR THE ARMY
CORP. SALTON SEA IMPERIAL
STREAMS FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHICH
IS A LONG RANGE PLANNING EFFORT
THAT'S GOING TO IDENTIFY
PROJECTS FOR THE LONG TERM
RESTORATION OF THE SEA THAT WILL
BE ELIGIBLE FOR 65% FEDERAL
FUNDING. A POTENTIAL HUGE
SAVINGS FOR THE STATE. THANK
YOU, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MAYBE A CHAIR BENNETT
AND STAFF ISABELLA GONZALEZ,
PARTNER WITH THE NATURE
CONSERVANCY HERE TODAY ON A
COUPLE DIFFERENT ITEMS FIRST,
STARTING ON ISSUE, 10. WE
APPRECIATE THE STAFF
RECOMMENDATION, AS WAS JUST
BEING DISCUSSED TO PROVE THE
WATER BOARD'S B èC P FOR TWO
PERMANENT POSITIONS TO SUPPORT
ESTABLISHING AND IMPLEMENTING
LONG TERM IN STREAM FLOW
OBJECTIVES IN THE SCAT AND SHO
RIVER WATERSHEDS. WE ALSO URGE
THE LEGISLATURE TO APPROVE THE
WATER BOARD B èC P FOR ONGOING
FUNDING AND PERMANENT POSITIONS
TO CONNECT ESSENTIAL WATERCOLOR,
WATER QUALITY PERMITTING AND
ENFORCEMENT WORK THAT FALL TO
THE STATE DUE TO THE U S¼
SUPREME COURT'S DECISION.
ADDITIONALLY WE URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO REJECT THE L A Ó
S¼ PROPOSAL TO REVERT UNSPENT
FUNDING FROM THE WATER. UH W èC
B STRING FLOW ENHANCEMENT
PROGRAM, WHICH SUPPORTS CRITICAL
HABITAT RESTORATION AND STREAM
FLOW PROJECTS, AND THEN FINALLY,
JUST GIVEN THE SIZABLE BUDGET
DEFICIT. WE CONTINUE TO URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO PASS A STRONG
CLIMATE BOND AND LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU AND THE OTHER
MEMBERS ON THAT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR
BEN AND STAFF ALEX LOOMER,
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL
LAW FOUNDATION, AND SPEAKING
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE KARU
TRIBE IN SUPPORT OF STATE WATER
BOARDS BUDGET CHAIN PROPOSAL FOR
ONGOING FUNDING FOR PERMANENT
POSITIONS TO SUPPORT
RE-ESTABLISH OR ESTABLISHING AND
IMPLEMENTING LONG TERM IN STREAM
FLOW OBJECTIVES FOR SCOTT CHESS
TO RIVER WATERSHEDS. THE GROUP
TRIBE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR
MANY YEARS TO RESTORE AND
PROTECT WATER QUALITY AND
QUANTITY. IN THE KLAMATH BASIN
IN 2021, THE TRIBE FILED A
FORMAL PETITION TO THE WATER
BOARD REQUESTING THAT IT USE ITS
EMERGENCY POWERS TO CURTAIL
WATER USE IN SCOTT SHASTA RIVERS
PREVENT THE EXTINCTION OF THE
FEDERALLY LISTED CO. AND CHOOK
SALMON, WHICH THEY STILL HARVEST
FOR SUBSTANCE PURPOSES. THE
WATER BOARD ACTED ON THE
PETITION CREATED IN STREAM FLOW
REQUIREMENT THAT VARIES BY MONTH
. WHEN THE RIVER FLOWS BELOW
THESE MINIMUMS, THE BOARD CAN
CURTAIL WATER RIGHTS HOLDERS TO
PROTECT THE FLOWS, THE FISH AND
THE PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON THESE
FLOWS IN 2022, THE BOARD DID
ISSUE CURTAILMENT ORDERS TO
WATER RIGHTS HOLDERS FROM BOTH
BASINS. HOWEVER THE AUTHORITY TO
ISSUE SUCH CURTAILMENTS ARE
RELATED TO THE EMERGENCY DROUGHT
DECLARATION THAT WE EXPECT TO
EXPIRE THIS YEAR. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR CHAIR.
I'M ERIN EVANS ON BEHALF OF THE
SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER
DISTRICT, ALSO KNOWN AS VALLEY
WATER HERE TO HIGHLIGHT TWO
IMPORTANT ISSUES ON THE COASTAL
RESILIENCY PACKAGE, THE SOUTH
SAN FRANCISCO BAY SHORELINE
PROJECT IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS
FUNDED. UM AND THIS IS A THREE
PHASE PROJECT ONLY PARTIALLY
STATE FUNDED, UM AND IS
CURRENTLY UM, UH, CHALLENGED
WITH FUNDING SHORTFALLS. SO THIS
LIFE SAFETY PROJECT PROTECTS THE
REGIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT.
PLAN FOR 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE. A
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY OF VISO,
THE COMMUNITIES OF PALO ALTO
MOUNTAIN VIEW, UM CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE JOB CREATING
BUSINESSES, NASA'S AMES
LABORATORY AND MAJOR HIGHWAYS.
SO WE WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT
THE COASTAL RESILIENCY PROGRAM
PROTECTS MUCH MORE THAN JUST,
UM, COASTAL HOMES AND FOR THAT
REASON, URGE MAINTAINING THIS
PROGRAM. UM, SECONDLY, REGARDING
THE DAM SAFETY PROGRAM, UH, WE
URGE YOU TO REJECT, UH, THE
REJECT OR REDUCE THE
ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED COSTS.
THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING
REDUCING THIS PROGRAM BY $50
MILLION AS YOU HEARD, LEAVING 50
MILLION ADDITIONAL PROGRAM.
ADDITIONAL FUNDS. UM WE STRONGLY
URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN THOSE FUNDS
. UM, THE ANDERSON DOWN SEISMIC
RETROFIT SAFETY PROJECT IS
CRITICAL TO LIFE SAFETY. AND TO
THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE ENTIRE
SILICON VALLEY REGION. THE
STATE'S CONTRIBUTION TO THIS TWO
POINT THREE BILLION DOLLARS
PROJECT. THANK. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR BENNETT ALFREDO MEDINA
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE IMPERIAL
IRRIGATION DISTRICT, WHO
STRONGLY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S
$65.2 MILLION INCLUDED IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. PROPOSAL AND
TO URGE THAT THE ASSEMBLY ADOPT
THAT AS PART OF THE PRIORITIES
LEADING UP TO THE FINAL
NEGOTIATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING BRIEF.
GOOD MORNING, MISTER. CHAIR BETH
OLA ON BEHALF OF WATER REUSE
CALIFORNIA, UM, HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE REVERSION OF THE WATER
RECYCLING FUNDING. I THINK IT'S
ONE OF THE ONLY PROGRAMS THAT IS
GONNA BE TAKING FUNDS AWAY THAT
HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED TO
PROJECTS INCLUDING ONE IN YOUR
DISTRICT. UM WE FIND THAT REALLY
CONCERNING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE
FUNDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN
COMMITTED AND WERE COMMITTED AT
THE END OF LAST YEAR. UM, AND
THEY'RE GETTING TAKEN AWAY. UM
WE'RE PROPOSING TO ONLY PUT BACK
ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER THOSE
PROJECTS. OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD
LIKE A LOT MORE, BUT WE
UNDERSTAND. THE BUDGET
SITUATION. UM WE REALLY DO THINK
THAT, UM, THE PROJECTS THAT HAD
ALREADY PLANNED TO GO FORWARD
AND WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS
CONSTRUCTION. AND NOW WE'RE
GETTING $10 MILLION TAKEN AWAY
IS, UM IT'S A POOR LOOK ON THE
STATE. SO UM, REALLY URGE YOUR
SUPPORT OF INCLUDING ABOUT 100
AND $15 MILLION FOR WATER
RECYCLING BACK TO THE STATE
BOARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. HELLO, PILAR TO
QUINTANA HERE, BOTH FOR IRVINE
WATER DISTRICT AND UVA WATER
AGENCY FOR PURPOSES OF IRVINE
RANCH. I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND
WHAT WAS JUST SAID BY WATER RES,
UM, FOR PURPOSES OF BOTH IRVINE
RANCH AND UBA WATER AGENCY. UM,
WE ARE PART OF THE DAM SAFETY
FUNDING COALITION. WE WOULD URGE
YOU TO, UM EITHER REJECT OR
MINIMIZE ANY CUTS TO THE DAM
SAFETY PROGRAM, UM FOR THIS YEAR
AND THEN REJECT THE OPTION OF
REVERTING THE FUNDS FROM LAST
YEAR. THIS IS A CRITICAL
PROGRAM, A COUPLE RELEVANT
TIDBITS AT YOU, UM, JUST FOR
YOUR INFORMATION. UH, THE MEDIAN
AGE OF A DAM IN CALIFORNIA IS
OVER 70 YEARS OLD. YOU CAN
IMAGINE THAT MANY OF THEM ARE
ILL EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THE
EXTREMES OF CLIMATE CHANGE. UM,
ALSO, THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE
OF SAFETY. IT'S ALSO AN ISSUE OF
SUPPLY BECAUSE CALIFORNIA HAS
MANY SIGNIFICANT DAMS THROUGHOUT
THE STATE THAT ARE RESTRICTED IN
THEIR CAPACITY. AND THERE HAVE
BEEN, UH, PRETTY SIGNIFICANT,
UH, LOSS. UH OPPORTUNITIES FOR
STORAGE IN THESE RECENT YEARS
WHEN YOU GOT, UM, DAMS THAT
CAN'T, UH, BE UTILIZED TO THEIR
FULLEST CAPACITY. AND JUST, UH,
FINALLY, YOU KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE
A FUN RELEVANT READ ON THE TOPIC
. THIS IS ACTUALLY GOTTEN
NATIONAL ATTENTION. UH, LAST
YEAR, THE NEW YORK TIMES
MAGAZINE, UH, PUT OUT AN ARTICLE
VERY LENGTHY, VERY INFORMATIVE.
UH, THE TRILLION DOLLAR
QUESTION. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN
CALIFORNIA DAMS FAIL? SO AGAIN?
WE UM URGE ANY, UH, MINIMIZATION
OF REDUCTIONS TO THIS PROGRAM?
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON,
ROBERT GORE FROM THE GUOCO GROUP
ON BEHALF OF CCA, THE SACRAMENTO
AREA FLOOD CONTROL AGENCY AND
KINGS RIVER. UH WE SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYSTS HIGH BAR ON
ON DAM, UM, FUNDING AND ALSO,
UM, ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER AGAIN.
THE PATERNO DECISION, WHICH
INFORMS LIABILITY AND HAS
BILLIONS IN COSTS FOR ANY SORT
OF LEVY OR OR DAM FAILURE.
THAT'S ISSUES FOR A AND FOUR B
ISSUES, FOUR Dð AND FIVE ON
BEHALF OF KINGS RIVER, MODESTO.
CURRENT COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
IN THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
WINE GRAPE GROWERS. WE ENDORSE
THE LAO'S RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE SACKET B èC P, AT BEST ONLY
BE PARTIALLY FUNDED ON BOTH B
èC P S¼. THE RIGHT PAIRS
SHOULDN'T CARRY THE FULL BOAT.
UM AND SHARE YOUR WELL FAMILIAR
WITH THIS SORT OF ISSUE. THERE
IS A GENERAL FUND COMPONENT IN
THIS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED,
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE
BUDGET CONDITION, PERHAPS THE
WATER BOARD CAN REPRIORITIZE UH,
WE HAVE THREE WORKSHOPS YOUR
YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIRMAN
BENNETT, PAUL MASON WITH PACIFIC
FOREST TRUST. I WANT TO SPEAK TO
THE WATERSHED RESILIENCE, UH,
PORTION OF THE REDUCTIONS IN
THAT DROUGHT PACKAGE THE
WATERSHED RESTORATION PIECES AT
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
AND THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
BOARD. THAT'S MORE THAN HALF OF
THE REDUCTIONS IN THAT WHOLE
PACKAGE. $440 MILLION AND I FIND
IT REALLY UNFORTUNATE. UM I MEAN
, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF
UNFORTUNATE CHOICES TO BE MADE,
BUT ENSURING THAT OUR WATERSHEDS
ARE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE
CONDITION TO DEAL WITH THE WATER
WHIPLASH THAT WE'RE INCREASINGLY
LOOKING AT. I JUST THIS YEAR
LOOK AT HOW SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
HAS BEEN WALLED BY GIANT STORMS
AND MAKING SURE THAT I MEAN
THOSE ARE LITERALLY THE FUNDS
THAT ARE BEING CUT THAT WOULD BE
MAKING THOSE WATERSHEDS BETTER
PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THOSE SORT
OF EXTREME EVENTS. SAME WITH THE
SIERRA CASCADE PORTION. THERE'S
SEVERAL $100 MILLION CUT FROM
THERE AS WELL AND THE PLANNING
PROGRAMS OVER THE DEPARTMENT OF
WATER RESOURCES. SO THESE ARE
THE PROGRAMS THAT HELP US GET
READY FOR THE IMPACTS. THEY'RE
GONNA HIT US, REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER WE REDUCE EMISSIONS.
THESE IMPACTS ARE COMING, AND
THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE
SPENDING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
ACTUALLY READY FOR THOSE
IMPACTS. SO WE URGE YOU TO BOTH
RECONSIDER THOSE CUTS AND LOOK
TO FUNDING THOSE TO CLIMATE
BOND. TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'RE
NOT ABLE TO FULLY RESTORE THOSE
CUTS IN THE BUDGET. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. I CAN'T SEE THAT
THING. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, KI¾M
DELFINO, REPRESENTING THE POWER
OF NATURE COALITION, AS AS WELL
AS DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE.
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY,
SONOMA LAND TRUST, MOJAVE DESERT
LAND TRUST AND AUDUBON,
CALIFORNIA. WE WOULD JUST, UH,
LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE
CONVERSATION THAT HAPPENED WITH
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CONNOLLY ABOUT
HOW DO WE ENSURE LONG TERM
FUNDING FOR OUR CLIMATE GOALS?
AND, FRANKLY, THE CLIMATE A
CLIMATE BOND IS PROBABLY THE
ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE
TO DO THAT. WE WOULD ENCOURAGE
THE ASSEMBLY TO TRY TO
PRIORITIZE THAT TURNING TO ISSUE
THREE ON BEHALF OF AUDUBON,
CALIFORNIA WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
THE SALTON SEA. B èC P. UH, WE
WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT THE FUNDING
BE LONGER THAN ONE YEAR. UM AND
OH, ACTUALLY, THAT'S FOR ISSUE
FIVE. THE IMPORTANCE OF
CONTINUING TO, UH, FUND AT THE
FULL AMOUNT IS IMPORTANT AS A
STATEWIDE ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE
COMMITMENTS WE'VE MADE ON THE
COLORADO RIVER. IT IS ALSO
IMPORTANT TO SECURE THE FULL
AMOUNT OF THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT
WE'RE WE'RE PROMISED IF THE
STATE WERE TO DELIVER ITS FULL
AMOUNT OF ITS COMMITMENTS ON
ISSUE FIVE ON BEHALF OF AUDUBON
AND DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE. WOULD
SUPPORT THE S¼ DECISION AND
INCUR OR THE FUNDING THERE AND
ENCOURAGE A LONG TERM. MONEY
BEYOND THREE YEARS, SO YOU CAN
ACTUALLY HIRE PEOPLE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR
CHAIR. ADAM IS ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA WATER
AGENCIES JUST WANT TO QUICKLY
REITERATE WHAT WE STATED IN OUR
LETTER. UH, CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE
THE BUDGET DEFICIT THAT'S FACING
THE STATE. BUT WE JUST URGE THE
LEGISLATURE AND ADMINISTRATION
TO CONSIDER MAINTAINING AS AS
MUCH WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
FUNDING AS POSSIBLE.
SPECIFICALLY THE, UH RECYCLED
WATER FUNDING DAM SAFETY FUNDING
PFAS REMEDIATION FUNDING. AND
THE WATERSHED RESILIENCE
FUNDING. PARTICULARLY WHERE, AS
WE STATED PREVIOUSLY WHERE
FUNDING HAS ALREADY BEEN
COMMITTED, OR IS OUT FOR
SOLICITATION CURRENTLY UM AND
THEN TO ADD TO THAT WE STRONGLY
SUPPORT A CLIMATE RESILIENCE
BOND FOR THE NOVEMBER BALLOT
WITH A FOCUS ON WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE. AS YOU ARE VERY
AWARE OF THE NEED, UM, THAT IS
REMAINING FOR ISSUES LIKE
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AND
RECYCLED WATER. DAM SAFETY IS
STILL IMMENSE. AND SO WE LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE
LEGISLATURE AND ADMINISTRATION
TO GET A BOND ON THE BALLOT IN
NOVEMBER AND GET IT PASSED.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
UH, DENNIS O'CONNOR WITH THE
MONO LAKE COMMITTEE REGARDING,
UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE. WE FULLY
SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S B èC P
AND, UH, WOULD RECOMMEND YOU NOT
FOLLOWING THE L A Ó S¼
SUGGESTION TO PER PERHAPS, UH,
REDUCE THE FUNDING AND WE HAVE
NÓ OPINION ON THE L A Ó S¼
OTHER TWO RECOMMENDATIONS ON
THAT ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PHOEBE SEATON
WITH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR
JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FIRST
OFF, WE APPRECIATE THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO RESTORE
$200 MILLION FOR DRINKING WATER
AND WASTE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
FUNDING. THE MAJORITY OF THAT
MONEY WOULD GO TO ADDRESS SEVERE
AND PERVASIVE, UM SANITATION
ISSUES AND DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES. AND WE CAN'T
SUPPORT WE CAN. THERE AREN'T
WORDS STRONG ENOUGH TO, UH, TO
REINFORCE HOW MUCH WE SUPPORT
THAT. WE ALSO SUPPORT
INVESTMENTS IN THE SALT SEA AND
THE SALTON SEA REGION TO ADDRESS
THE RESILIENCE NOT JUST OF THE
SEA, BUT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF
THE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING THE
SEA. AND FINALLY, WE, UM, ALIGN
WITH A OVER 100 AND 50
ORGANIZATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE PUT
FORWARD A BUDGET PROPOSAL ON A
BOND, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO
ADDRESSING BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
RESILIENCE NEEDS IN OUR STATE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, AARON WOOLLEY ON
BEHALF OF SIERRA CLUB,
CALIFORNIA IN SUPPORT OF THE
STATE WATER BOARD'S REQUEST FOR
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT
CAPACITY RELA RELATED TO THE
RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION,
UM AND ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE
PROPOSAL TO RESTORE CRITICALLY
NEEDED FUNDING FOR THE SALT SEA
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. UM THAT
FUNDING IS ESSENTIAL TO HELP THE
STATE DELIVER ON BOTH THE GOALS
AND OBLIGATIONS TO CONDUCT
HABITAT AND DUST SUPPRESSION
ACTIVITIES AT THE SALTON SEA BY
2028 AND THE PRIOR COMMENTER
NOTED, UM, TO ADDRESS THE URGENT
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN THE
REGION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR BENNETT
MCKENNA JENKINS WITH NEXT IN
CALIFORNIA. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK
THAT YOU REJECT THE PROPOSED
CUTS, UM TO THE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM AND TO
FUND THIS VITAL, OVERSUBSCRIBED
AND HIGHLY COST EFFECTIVE
PROGRAM OUT OF THE STATE HIGHWAY
FUND OR OTHER WELL FUNDED,
FLEXIBLE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
SOURCES. THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS
ACCELERATING, CAUSING DEADLIER
AND COSTLIER DISASTERS EVERY
YEAR AND IN TIGHT BUDGET YEARS,
IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
THAT CALIFORNIA BUDGET
PROACTIVELY FOR RESILIENCE AND
DEMONSTRATE THAT CREATIVE SHIP
ON CLIMATE IS NOT A LUXURY THAT
WE ONLY PURSUE WHEN THERE'S A
LARGE SURPLUS, THE ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM AND OTHER
VITAL TRANSPORTATION EQUITY
PROGRAMS SHOULD BE LOST IN LINE
FOR CUTS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE
THERE'S AMPLE FUNDING THAT
EXISTS AT THE TRANSPORTATION
AGENCIES AND ALSO THANKS TO THE
BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW
NEXT IN CALIFORNIA, THINKS YOU
CONSIDERATION OF THIS REQUEST.
THANK YOU. AFTERNOON CHAIR
BENNETT CODY PHILLIPS OF
CALIFORNIA COAST KEEPER ALLIANCE
WANTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
THE SACK, OR YEAH, THE S¼ VÆ èC
P. THIS IS, UM MANY DISCHARGES.
SINCE THAT DECISION CAME DOWN,
HAVE ALL DECIDED THAT THEY NÓ
LONGER DISCHARGED TO A LOTUS AND
FOR THE WATER BOARD. THEY NOW
HAVE TO DECIDE FOR THE ONES THAT
ARE CORRECT. THAT'S A LOT OF
WORK AND FOR THE ONES THAT ARE
INCORRECT. THAT'S ALSO A LOT OF
WORK. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING
TO MAKE SURE OUR WATER QUALITY
IS PROTECTED FOR THE LONG TERM
PROTECTIONS IN THE SCOTT AND THE
SHASTA. THIS IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT AS WELL. CALIFORNIA
HAS BEEN MOVING TOWARD PROACTIVE
MANAGEMENT OF ITS WATER SUPPLY.
IN SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS, BUT
THIS AND THIS, WE STILL DO
REACTIVE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS
THAT EXPIRE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO START DOING
MORE PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT IN
THESE IMPORTANT WATERSHEDS.
THANK YOU. VERY, THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON CHAIR BENNETT MARK
FENSTERMAKER HERE FOR THE
COACHELLA VALLEY CONSERVATION
COMMISSION ON ITEM THREE. WE ARE
IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING
TO THE SALTON SEA. UH, THE èC B
èC èC WAS FORMED TO IMPLEMENT
THE COACHELLA VALLEY MULTI
MULTIPLE SPECIES HABITAT
CONSERVATION PLAN, WHICH IS A
SHARED REGIONAL VISION FOR
BALANCED GROWTH TO RESERVE
CONSERVE COACHELLA VALLEY'S
NATURAL RESOURCES, WHILE ALSO
BUILDING A STRONG ECONOMY VITAL
TO THE FUTURE. AND FOR THE
REASONS STATED EARLIER, THE
BALANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COUPLED
WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH, WE REALLY
THINK THIS FUNDING IS NECESSARY
TO MAKE SURE WE STAY ON TRACK
WITH OUR OBLIGATIONS FOR THE
SOLVENCY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR, UM MELISSA
SPARKS KRANZ WITH THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES, UM, HERE
TODAY, JUST TO RECOGNIZE THE
CHALLENGING SITUATION THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION AND THE
LEGISLATURE ARE IN, UH, WITH THE
BUDGET DEFICIT, BUT WE'RE HERE
TODAY TO MORE GENERALLY MAKE A
COMMENT REGARDING THE CLIMATE
FUND, WHICH WAS A QUESTION THAT
WAS ASKED TODAY. UM EARLIER IN
THE DISCUSSION. WE DO URGE THE
LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE THE
DISCUSSIONS ON A CLIMATE BOND
FOR CITIES. WE SUPPORT A
COMPREHENSIVE BOND THAT SUPPORTS
CLIMATE INVESTMENTS IN ORGANIC
WASTE, D¯ÚI. TO REDUCE METHANE
EMISSIONS, WATER CONSERVATION
RECYCLING, UM ABOVE AND BELOW
GROUND STORAGE AND ENERGY
EFFICIENCY, INFRASTRUCTURE,
RETROFITS AND CLEAN. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT. MR CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE LOUIS BROWN HERE TODAY
ON BEHALF OF A VARIETY OF
ORGANIZATIONS. UH, ONE OF THE
ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT
LEFT OFF THE TABLE AND WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT CLIMATE, SMART
FUNDING FOR AGRICULTURE IS THE
FARMER PROGRAM. UH, SINCE THAT
MONEY HAS BEEN IN PLACE WE'VE
REPLACED OVER 12,000 PIECES OF
EQUIPMENT THAT SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, REDUCE
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND
OTHER TOXIC AIR CONTAMINANTS.
WE'RE ALSO VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT
OF THE INTERIOR COMMISSION.
FUNDING THAT WAS LEFT IN THE
BUDGET WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT
RESTORED. I THINK THAT IS THE
MOST EFFICIENT WAY FOR US TO
ACCOMPLISH OUR SB 1000 THREE 183
GOALS IN REDUCING METHANE FROM
THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. AND THEN
FINALLY, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY
THE U S¼ Dð. A CENSUS DATA JUST
CAME OUT. UM FOR THE YEARS 2017
TO 2022. CALIFORNIA HAS LOST
7000 FARMS. UH, NÓ DOUBT SOME OF
THIS IS RELATED TO COMMODITY
PRICES, BUT ALSO A SIGNIFICANT
FACTOR IN THAT IT ARE THE
REGULATORY COSTS IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. THAT BRINGS US TO
OPPOSING ANY INCREASES IN FEES
THAT ARE GONNA BE BROUGHT.
FORWARD THIS YEAR. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR
BENNETT. I'M ANNALISE WITH
CALIFORNIA TROUT AND ON BEHALF
OF TROUT LIMITED AND E Dð F. WE
ARE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
SACK AT B èC P AS GROUPS THAT
DO A LOT OF ON THE GROUND WORK.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT
WE HAVE, UM, HAVE THE STAFF IN
PLACE TO RUN THESE PERMITTING
PROCESSES IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AND I THINK THE WATER BOARD
REALLY NEEDS THE HELP. UM
ADDITIONALLY, ON BEHALF OF CAL
AND TROUT UNLIMITED, I'D LIKE TO
OFFER STRONG SUPPORT ON THE
GALLA Tð M Dð LB èC P, WHICH IS
REQUIRED FOR THE STATE
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT TO ADDRESS
A SIGNIFICANT SETTLEMENT
IMPAIRMENT ISSUES AND IMPORTANT
WATERSHED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR BENNETT.
I'M NATALIE BROWN WITH PLENTY
AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE URGING
YOUR SUPPORT OF THE WATER
BOARD'S BUDGET CHAIN PROPOSALS
RELATED TO THE SACKET SUPREME
COURT DECISION AND THE SCOTT AND
SHASTA IN STREAM FLOWS. I'M ALSO
VOICING SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF
FRIENDS OF THE RIVER, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
INFORMATION CENTER AND THE
COMMITTEE TO COMPLETE THE REFUGE
, AND I ALSO WANT TO ECHO
PREVIOUS SUPPORT FOR ROBUST AND
EQUITABLE CLIMATE BOND IN LIGHT
OF THE SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CUTS
BEING PROPOSED THIS YEAR. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BENNETT. THIS IS
CAM BEDECK WITH CALIFORNIA TROUT
AND I'M HERE TO STATE OUR STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THESE GOTTEN SHASTA
B èC P, AS WELL AS SUPPORT ON
BEHALF OF TROT LIMITED AND THE
CALIFORNIA SPORT FISHING
PROTECTION ALLIANCE. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MICHAEL JARRETT ON BEHALF OF THE
COMMUNITY ALLIANCE, FAMILY
FARMERS, THE CALIFORNIA
INSTITUTE FOR BIODIVERSITY AND
CLIMATE RESOLVE, JOINING WITH
THE OTHER OVER 100 AND 50 GROUPS
ASKING FOR A CLIMATE FUND PUT ON
THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. WE THINK
IT'LL HELP CREATE DEDICATED LONG
TERM FUNDING THAT CAN BE USED
EFFECTIVELY. THANKS. THANK YOU.
THERE ARE NÓ OTHER SPEAKERS. WE
WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING.