MAY 2009 Board of Directors’ Meeting Summary

Board of directors:

• Received a presentation from Art Jensen, CEO and GM of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA). This agency provides water for San Francisco, San Mateo County, Southern Alameda County and Northern Santa Clara County. Art reported that for his agency, the majority of water is used to meet residential needs. Water supplies are limited, and conservation and water recycling are important. Art reported the Bay Area is more water efficient than most areas of the state. However, the challenge is to continue to conserve more in order to meet future needs. Art stated a point worth remembering is to ensure policies and programs are designed to produce measurable results.
• Received a presentation from ABAG’s Executive Director, Henry Gardner, and Research Director, Paul Fassinger. They explained the elaborate process and extensive outreach involved in ABAG’s forecast, Projections 2009. ABAG established performance targets and then studied how land use decisions could meet the performance targets. Information on projections of total jobs, households, and populations for each city was distributed
• Received a report on MTC from Dean Chu, City Selection Committee appointee. Dean covered federal stimulus funds for transportation coming to the Bay Area and Santa Clara County and how the funds are being distributed.
• City Managers Report: Clinton Brownley, Cupertino intern for Dave Knapp, informed the Board that the Managers had discussed a standard solar installation permit. The city managers are next discussing a common permit with city building officials for input. Joint Venture requested funds from each city for ongoing work being performed and informed the managers that its organization will also be looking at California governance and reform. The managers continued the discussion of pensions from a previous meeting and the county discussed the phasing out of county general fund subsidy of CDBG administration.
• Betsy Shotwell updated the Board on state finances and the budget. She distributed the two budget scenarios released by the Governor earlier in the day. One scenario is if the propositions on the May ballot pass and the second scenario is if the propositions do not pass. Betsy also distributed a list of current bills the City of San Jose has taken positions on.
• Adopted the SCCCA FY 2009-2010 budget.
• Joys and Challenges: Many exciting city events were shared. Several Board members expressed concern regarding the impact of increasing benefit and pension costs on cities. Consensus was to agendize a discussion on these increasing costs and possible solutions at a Board Meeting in the near future.