INDUSTRY DEFENSE FUNDS PROVIDED TO BOMA CALIFORNIA

BOMA California has been awarded two major grants from the BOMA International Industry Defense Funds to further positive policy initiatives of the past few years. Both grants allow BOMA California to partner with BOMA International on issues unfolding in California that will eventually impact members across the nation. All local associations are working with members to assure that the grant funds can be matched locally, and BOMA California staff is already moving forward to engage on the issues.

The first grant will help technical engagement and representation on climate change policy issues as part of the AB 32 process in front of the California Regulatory Agencies – Air Resources Board, Energy Commission, Public Utilities Commission, Integrated Waste Management Board, and Office of Planning and Research; and to fund an Existing Building Energy Efficiencies Strategies study to provide objective data to regulators about the most cost-effective and technologically feasible measures to reduce the carbon footprint of existing buildings.

The second IDF request is to continue funding for electrical rate case advocacy at the California Public Utilities Commission. Funds will be used to represent the interests of BOMA members throughout California in negotiations before the CPUC, which governs electricity rate-setting for each of the three Investor Owned Utilities presently operating in the state. Funds will supplement local BOMA and BOMA California funding for BOMA’s lobbying on “Rate Parity” – our attempt to rectify the economic burden borne by our industry that results from a rate-setting scheme, which fails to fairly approximate utility pricing for our members with the cost to service them, vs. the service costs and rates of other customer classes. Past work in this area has generated tens of millions of dollars in savings for large commercial customers.
 

THANK YOU BOMA INTERNATIONAL!

Although we said it last week, we can’t thank BOMA International enough for their support of these activities through the IDF grant. Such funding opportunities from BOMA International are extremely important to assuring that important state level work can be done for the benefit of all members. We appreciate the opportunity to compete for IDF monies and thank BOMA members from throughout the nation for funding this innovative program. Keep your fingers crossed that we are successful in our request!
 

STATE BUDGET?

Ask ten people in the State Capitol when a budget will be signed and you will get ten answers. However, we think the fact that the state is almost out of cash, the leaders have not been attacking one another, and some of the republicans are not blowing up at the mention of taxes, a deal is near and by Feb. 1 we venture to guess something solid can be reported.
 

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES NAMED FOR 2009

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass announced the full membership of all the policy and fiscal committees of the California State Assembly. Click here to see if your favorite legislator got any good committee assignments.
 

CEQA GUIDELINES AND GREENHOUSE GASSES

The Governor’s Office of Planning & Research (OPR) has drafted amendments to the CEQA Guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions as required by Senate Bill 97 (SB 97). OPR held one workshop earlier this week in Los Angeles and will hold a second workshop next week in Sacramento.

It is extremely important that our industry engage in this process. Your company/firm is highly encouraged to analyze the proposals, attend the workshops, and submit comments. This proceeding will change the template for the environment review process and must be informed by those with practical knowledge on the topic.
 

AB 32 & CEQA: LETTER ON THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE

CBPA has led an effort to draft comments and assemble a large coalition of business and industry groups to help provide guidance to the ARB. Click here to read the industry comments CEQA thresholds.

As the letter notes, AB 32 mandates a statewide goal of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reductions and charges the Air Resources Board (CARB) to achieve the target in a technologically feasible and cost effective manner. As currently recommended, CARB’s proposed thresholds of significance include both a numeric limit on GHG emissions for different categories of development, as well as performance standards. We argue that the thresholds of significance utilize performance standards alone, because the application of arbitrary numeric limits may be inconsistently applied, encourage lead agencies to adopt their own numeric limits defeating the purpose of a statewide standard, are not based on objective science and do not properly focus reductions on the most cost effective approaches.
 

NO CASH IS FLOWING TO IMPORTANT PROJECTS

Many contractors received a “Dear Proposition 1B Recipient” letter in the last few weeks. The terrible news this letter brings is that the cash-flow from the voter approved bonds is being suspended. Written by Cal-Trans Director Will Kempton, the letter states that due the Pooled Money Investment Board (PMIB) suspending disbursements of bond funds, “I have had to suspend awards of State-advertised bond-funded construction contracts.” He goes on to state that he is “hopeful that the Legislature will move quickly to resolve the underlying budget issues that are affecting our bond programs.”

We also reported last week that State Controller John Chiang will only make school, college and some welfare payments. $3-plus billion in other payments, including those for state income tax refunds, property leases, and many health and welfare programs are not being made.
 

CRAFTING A GREEN TAX POLICY

Michelle Steele over at Fox & Hound talks taxes and green: “It’s the most fundamental principle of the modern environmental movement. But, for all the big talk from green politicians, government continues to block individuals from taking the small steps that will ultimately save the planet. Nowhere is this problem better demonstrated than in the state’s tax regulations of bio-fueled vehicles.” Click here to read the full essay.
 

CBPA NEW LEGISLATOR LUNCHEON & BOARD MEETING

If you have not already done so, please RSVP for the bi-annual CBPA New Legislator Luncheon on February 18 in Sacramento. This is your opportunity to meet with new Assemblymembers and Senators in a relaxed atmosphere to discuss issues of importance to the commercial, industrial, and retail real estate sector. The luncheon follows the first meeting of 2009 for the CBPA Board of Directors. As an affiliate member of CBPA, BOMA California holds three seats on its board and members are welcome to attend. We expect a very good showing of legislators to the luncheon. Contact Melissa Martinez, 916-443-4676, for more information or to RSVP.
 

BOMA CALIFORNIA 2009 CALENDAR

FEBRUARY 2009

February 18— [note date change]
CBPA NEW LEGISLATOR LUNCHEON
Sacramento (Hyatt)

 

MARCH 2009

March TBD (Late March)—
BOMA/INDUSTRYWIDE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
TBD (in Southern California)

March 23-24—
BOMA INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL ISSUES CONFERENCE
Washington D.C.

 

APRIL 2009

April 3—
BOMA CA BOARD MEETING/LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
San Diego (exact location TBD)
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.