June 2008 Meeting Summaries

City Selection Committee:

• ABAG Alternate Representatives to the Executive Board: Appointed Ronit Bryant, Mountain View, as an Alternate Representative to a two-year term expiring June 30, 2010. 

Board of directors:

• Received a report from Jack Morton, the Cities Association’s Representative to the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC). Jack, along with ALUC staff Mark Connolly discussed what authority the ALUC has in planning and the commission’s current work on updating the Comprehensive Land Use Plans for the area surrounding the Palo Alto and South County/San Martin Airports.
• Phil Yost, Vice President, Strategic Communications for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, asked the Cities Association to help make the Thanksgiving Day Applied Materials “Silicon Valley Turkey Trot” more fun than ever by participating in the Akeena Solar Mayor’s Cup Challenge which includes mayors, council members, and staff. The Board voted unanimously to pass a resolution in support of the challenge.
• Ron Evans, Director – Local Marketing & Technology, explained how cities can utilize the nonprofit Web site Artsopolis to create and maintain a city’s calendar for arts and cultural events.  The site can include online tickets. The Artsopolis main web site is http://www.artsopolis.com.
• Norm Kline, representing Common Cause, League of Women’s Voters, and AARP, informed the Board on the California Voters First Redistricting Initiative. The measure would create a 14-Person Redistricting Commission that would reconfigure California State Senate, California State Assembly and California Board of Equalization districts, using strict constitutional criteria. Norm asked the Board to consider passing a resolution of support and also for each city to agendize and pass a city resolution in support. The Board voted unanimously to pass a resolution in support of the initiative that will be on the Nov. 2008 ballot. The presentation to the Board will be available on the Cities Association’s website at www.sccca.gov.
• Betsy Shotwell, San Jose, updated the Board on legislation of concern to cities moving through the legislature. Betsy distributed the League of California’s Priority Focus newsletter which can be found at http://www.cacities.org/resource_files/26887.june6.pdf.
• President Al Piheiro introduced Tom Haglund, the new Gilroy City Administrator, who will be serving as the County/Cities Managers’ Association Liaison.
• Policy Priorities for 2008:  Two priorities of the three priorities for 2008 are ABAG Housing Allocations and Solar Permitting/Fees. Larry Klein is chairing the ABAG focus group and Sam Liccardo is chairing the Solar focus group.  Both will be reporting on progress at the Sept. 11 Board Meeting.
• Sam Liccardo introduced Jo Zientek, San Jose staff, who shared information on reducing single-use carryout plastic bags. Jo discussed the impact of these bags both locally and statewide. It was suggested that the Cities Association take a lead in a solution that involves a regional approach. The Board voted unanimously to ask each city to agendize a discussion of reducing single use carryout bags on an upcoming agenda, endorse a regional solution that will be brought to the Cities Association in early 2009, and to put out a press release that the Cities Association is working on a regional solution to reduce or cease the impact of the plastic bags on the environment. The presentation to the Board will be available on the Cities Association’s website at www.sccca.gov.
• Announcements:
• League of CA Peninsula Division Dinner, Thurs. June 19 @ 6pm, Foster City
• Save the Date: Cities Association Holiday Party – Thurs. Dec. 4 @ 6pm
• SVLG Residential High Rise Tour – Aug. 1
• Dan Furtado encouraged cities to participate in the Great American Litter Pickup in the fall, 2008