September 2009 Meeting Summary

City Selection Committee:

• Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission: 2 appointments:
• Central County (Santa Clara, Milpitas) – Re-appointed Jamie McLeod, Santa Clara, from Member-at-Large seat to Central County seat.  Term expires July 2011. (Jamie volunteered to transfer seats in order to allow other cities to consider having the Member-at-Large seat.)
• Member-at-Large – Appointed Curtis Wright, Monte Sereno.  Term expires January 2011.

Board of directors:

• Kris Wang reminded board members to forward the Green Building Collaborative Phase II recommendations to their individual cities for adoption.  The recommendations can be found on the SCCCA website at http://www.sccca.gov/Presentations/Presentation%20Downloads.htm.
• Dan Furtado presented an update on ABAG housing allotment and discussed the effects of SB 375 (Steinburg) on the development of RHNA numbers if passed.  The bill was heavily worked on by the League of CA Cities to make it more acceptable and doable by cities.  The RHNA number will be governed by its ability to assist SB 375 and the reduction of green house gas emissions from automobiles. 
• David Knapp and Clinton Brownley presented the new universal solar permit for Santa Clara County.  Through a process of verification and feedback with the CMA, the Cities Association, the County, and the Building Managers, a universal solar panel permit was developed so that all cities within Santa Clara County can complete one form when applying for permission to build solar panels.  It is the responsibility of the City Managers to ensure that the permit is used by sending it out to all cities and requesting that all cities use the same form.  The permit can be found on the website at http://www.sccca.gov/Packet/Board.htm
• Rod Diridon, California High-Speed Rail Authority discussed the High-Speed Rail Project and the concern that the status of the project on the Peninsula (San Jose to San Francisco) is in jeopardy.  The corridor of San Jose to San Francisco has a good flow chart schedule of all the corridors in the state; however it may not be developed if unable to attain the ARRA funds ($8 billion).  Legal petitions are slowing down progress of the project.  He asked the Cities Association to encourage ongoing study so that the contract deadline can be met by September 2012.  He pointed out that this project is also a large source of employment for construction workers and it would have devastating effects on the current 11% unemployment rate.

• Dave Anderson (City Manager, Saratoga) and Dan Rich (City Manager, Campbell) of the Santa Clara County Cities Managers Association (SCCCMA or CMA) presented a joint policy statement agreed upon by Santa Clara County CMA and San Mateo County CMA.  The statement addresses the issue of pension reform and rising retirement costs and recommends that all cities work together to reduce pension costs by adopting a two-tier system.  The board unanimously adopted the policy statement.  The CMA agreed to return with more information for the following items:

§ Two cities in San Mateo County have already adopted the two-tier system: Brisbane and San Carlos.  The board would like to hear about their progress and experiences with implementation. 

§ The possibility of all cities collectively negotiating with the labor unions.

§  The CMA will develop separate talking points for three audiences: employees, the community, and union leadership. Melinda Hamilton and Chuck Page agreed to collaborate with the CMA in developing these talking points. 

With the board’s approval, SCCCMA plans to go to the League of Cities Peninsula Division with the same proposal.  The policy statement is available on the website at http://www.sccca.gov/Packet/Board.htm

• Dan Furtado, Campbell, Legislative Action Chair, reported on four bills that could have significant impact on our cities: ACA 9, SCA 6, SB 406, and SB 279.
• The Nominating Committee 2009 includes Kris Wang, Dave Casas, and Kathleen King.  If anyone from the board is interested in serving on the Executive Board, email Kris Wang.  Recommendations will be presented for approval in November.
• CSC Report: Jamie McLeod, Santa Clara, City Selection Committee Appointee and Chair of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission, reported on the district’s final recommendations for banning single use plastic bags.  The recommendations include:
• A ban on single use plastic bags for all retailers
• A fee for use of plastic bags for all retailers
• Exemption applies to non-profit and re-use organizations, e.g. Goodwill, Salvation Army
• Enactment date: November 1, 2009 to be effective April 21, 2010, which is Earth Day.
• Sam Liccardo (San Jose) reported that Council Members Chu, Chirco, Campos, and he have proposed to ban both plastic and paper bags for all retailers; an exemption is made for high-recycle content paper.  Seven Council Members supported the ban in committee.  It will go to full council on October 22^nd at 1:30 pm.  The staff and policy recommendation memos are available on the website at  http://www.sccca.gov/Packet/Board.htm
• David Knapp, Cupertino City Manager, reported the managers discussed the pension policy statement, Ambulance RFP, removing the cap of $4.5 million dollars as an amount that can be recovered by cities, and Next Generation Programs to encourage people to get into city government, e.g. speed coaching.

• Betsy Shotwell, San Jose, updated the Board by providing the League of CA Cities Newsletter because it had significant information regarding how the Legislature is trying to structure the borrowing of the Prop 1A money.  There will be more bills to report on at the next meeting because many bills are on the floor right now and legislative session is coming to a close.

Joys and Challenges:

• Number of new businesses opening: Melinda Hamilton reported Target in Sunnyvale, and Kris Wang reported TGIF in Cupertino.
• Melinda Hamilton reported the downtown pit went into foreclosure last week.
• Chuck Page reported that Saratoga Council passed a new electronics communications policy about texting and emailing during council meetings.  Personal emails can no longer be subpoenaed in Saratoga. 
• David Casas reported Los Altos Council recently formed a Grants Committee and the Packard Foundation has volunteered to train the three newly hired members. 
• Cities are hosting upcoming fall events and Board members invited all to attend.