September 2008 Meeting Summaries
City Selection Committee:
- Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission: Appointed Peter Drekmeier, Palo Alto, as the Representative of the SMaRT Station Cities to fill a term expiring June, 2010.
Board of directors:
- Received an informational report from Chris Wilder, Executive Director of the Valley Medical Center Foundation on Measure A on the November ballot. Measure A seeks voter approval for $790 million dollars to rebuild VMC’s seismically non-compliant buildings, as well as to provide $50 million for new medical facilities in downtown San Jose to replace the closed San Jose Hospital facility. Measure A requires a 2/3rds majority vote for approval.
- Received an informational report from Carl Guardino, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, on Measure B on the November ballot. Measure B provides funds needed to operate and maintain the future 16.1-mile BART extension into Santa Clara County. Measure B requires a 2/3rds majority vote for approval. Carl also reminded the Board to sign up to participate in the 2008 Silicon Valley Turkey Trot and Mayors’ Challenge and he distributed the SVLG Clean and Green Report.
- Received an informational report from Rod Diridon, Sr., Executive Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute on Proposition 1A on the November ballot. Proposition 1A asks voters to approve the issuance of $9.95 billion of general obligation bonds for California’s High Speed Rail from Los Angeles to San Francisco. This proposition requires a majority vote for approval. Rod asked city councils to endorse the proposition and a sample resolution was circulated as part of the packet to the Board.
- Received a presentation by Dr. Amor Santiago, Director of Healthy Living Initiative at The Health Trust, on our community’s health status, the relationship between public health and the built environment and trends and best practices in creating healthy cities. Dr. Santiago asked cities to consider including strong health language as they update their General Plans. He also asked elected officials to attend a Leadership Summit, co-sponsored by Supervisors Liz Kniss and Ken Yeager on Oct. 2 from 11:30-1:30. The event is Invitation Only and all elected officials should be receiving an invitation.
- Betsy Shotwell, San Jose, distributed the League of California’s Priority Focus newsletter and gave a brief update on the state budget stalemate and the proposal to take money from redevelopment agencies.
- Tom Haglund, Gilroy City Administrator and the SCCCA’s County/Cities Managers’ Association Liaison reported the City Managers received a presentation from Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network on a Regional Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Center at Moffett Field. The managers also received an update on the county’s interoperability project.
- Policy Priorities for 2008 - Solar: Bob Hines of SVLG and Greg Seller, SolarTech gave a presentation on Solar Permit Challenges and Need for Standardization. They asked the Cities Association to consider adopting a Resolution at the October Board Meeting encouraging the SCCCA and member cities to participate in the Solar Permitting Working Group to develop standards in the solar panel permitting and inspection process.
- Dan Furtado gave the City Selection Appointee report on ABAG. Dan stated the Joint Policy Committee (JPC) comprised of MTC, ABAG, and the BAAQMD, will be adding BCDC to its membership. The JPC is focusing on a Priority Development Area program, which is an incentive-based effort to encourage more housing to improve communities adjacent to transit. There were four applications submitted from Santa Clara County. The Regional Housing Allotment Process is going through the final review process. Santa Clara County is responsible for 60,000 new housing units.
- Appointment of the Nominating Committee for 2009 SCCCA Officers: Kris Wang, Sam Liccardo, and Joe Pirzynski volunteered to be on the committee. Anyone interested in serving as an officer should let one of the committee members know. The Nominating Committee will make their recommendation at the October Board Meeting and the Board will vote at the November Board Meeting.
- Appointment of Executive Director: President Pinheiro announced Gilroy’s City Administrator has volunteered the City’s HR person to do reference checks on the three top candidates for the position. The Board will be asked to make an appointment at the October Board meeting.
- Announcements:
- President Pinheiro reminded Board members to ask their city councils to support the Santa Clara County Cities Association’s efforts to bring forward a regional proposal for single use plastic bags.
- Betsy Shotwell asked Board Members to support the 11th Annual Walk to End Domestic Violence on Friday, October 17 at 11 a.m. at the San Jose City Hall. The Cities Association has supported this walk in the past.
- President Pinheiro reminded Board Members to mark their calendars for this year’s Holiday Party on Thursday, December 4.