In This Issue:

• GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNS GRAFFITI VANDALISM LEGISLATION

• ABANDONED COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

• CBPA SUBMITS COMMENTS TO AIR RESOURCES BOARD ON AB 32 SCOPING PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

• SOLAR FINANCING EXPANSION SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

• BUILDING PERMIT STREAMLINE BILL SIGNED

• LAWSUIT ATTACKS RETAIL DEVELOPMENT

• EXPECT ELECTRIC RATES TO “SOAR” IN 2009

• STATE BUDGET UPDATE: SPEAKER BASS PREDICTS BUDGET BY AUGUST 15

• HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES? @$!+%

• CBPA 2008 CALENDAR

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER SIGNS GRAFFITI VANDALISM LEGISLATION

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed anti-graffiti and vandalism legislation. AB 1767 (Ma; D San Francisco) sponsored by CBPA, mandates community service for a person who has committed a criminal act of graffiti vandalism, and AB 2609 (Davis; D-Los Angeles) requires defendants convicted of graffiti vandalism to clean up or repair the defaced or damaged property. Click here to read the Governor’s press release.
 

ABANDONED COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

AB 2025 (Silva; R-Huntington Beach) revises the process by which abandoned property left behind in a commercial setting is disposed of, has been signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. BOMA California proposed the change in law to Assemblymember Jim Silva who immediately understood the issue and agreed to carry a bill to reform this area of law.

Current law provides a process for a building owner to hold a public auction to dispose of abandoned property deemed to be worth more than $300 and treats residential personal property in the same manner as non-residential commercial property, even though the residential setting is very different from the business setting and has very different scenarios under which property is left behind. Once this new law becomes effective in January 2009, the threshold to trigger a public auction in the commercial setting will be $750 or one dollar per square foot of the leased space.

CBPA SUBMITS COMMENTS TO AIR RESOURCES BOARD ON AB 32 SCOPING PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

CBPA submitted comments on behalf of the industry to the California Air Resources Board.
Click here to read the CBPA’s comments.
 

SOLAR FINANCING EXPANSION SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

Governor Schwarzenegger has signed AB 811 (Levine; D-Van Nuys) which authorizes all cities and counties in California to designate areas within which city officials and willing property owners may enter into contractual assessments to finance the installation of distributed generated renewable energy sources and energy efficiency improvements. This measure will provide another funding option for cities to offer property owners who need help with the large upfront costs of solar investments.
 

BUILDING PERMIT STREAMLINE BILL SIGNED

Governor Schwarzenegger has signed AB 2335 (Nakanishi; R-Lodi) which combines three separate statutory provisions concerning forms, declarations, and notice to property owners relating to the issuance of building permits into a single provision that combines and modifies the existing forms, declarations, and notices. Sponsored by California Building Officials and the Contractor State
License Board, the law streamlines a process that is unnecessarily duplicative and confusing to the property owner, and issuing jurisdiction alike.
 

LAWSUIT ATTACKS RETAIL DEVELOPMENT

The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has filed suit to force Wal-Mart to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement measures to reduce the carbon footprint of the new Supercenter in the town of Yucca Valley.

The CBD has filed numerous similar suits around the state and was one of the parties that sued the county of San Bernardino last year all through the California Environmental Quality Act.

The CBD alleges that "Business-as-usual big-box sprawl is devastating to our local environment and communities," and that "Forty-three percent of U.S. greenhouse pollution is tied to buildings, but the good news is that with today's technology green buildings can be a major part of solving the climate crisis."

Wal-Mart and other retailers have been leaders in voluntarily expanding energy savings and reducing their carbon footprint. CBPA continues to work with the California Air Resources Board (ARB) in the implementation process of AB 32 and the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) in the implementation of AB 32 guidelines with CEQA.

“These kinds of lawsuits do nothing to reduce green house gases and add only more hot air to the debate instead of meaningful thoughtful dialogue and resolution,” said Rex Hime, President and CEO of California Business Properties Association.
 

EXPECT ELECTRIC RATES TO “SOAR” IN 2009

For 2009 budget planning, Members should expect substantial increases in electric rates due to recent increases in natural gas prices. Since California power generation is highly dependent on natural gas, the California electric utilities will be increasing 2009 electric rates to recover the increased cost of power. While the extent of the increases are not yet known, the utilities are expected to file estimates with the CPUC in the next few weeks. We are closely monitoring these developments, and will produce estimates of changes to all rate schedules for commercial buildings as soon as information is provided by the utilities.  Read a more detailed news story by clicking here, and stay tuned…
 

STATE BUDGET UPDATE: SPEAKER BASS PREDICTS BUDGET BY AUGUST 15

State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass says the budget is likely to be passed by August 15, 2008. Now this should be interesting. Click here to read the full story.
 

HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES? @$!+%

On behalf of the commercial, industrial, and retail real estate industry, CBPA is a founding member of a new education coalition, Californians Against Higher Property Taxes (CAHPT). The coalition is working to inform Californians about the negative impacts of increased property taxes. Through the release of studies and through forums and press events, CAHPT will disseminate information in hopes that policymakers will fully understand that property taxes are not the answer to the state’s chronic budget problems. Click here to read all about it in an article penned by Joel Fox, President, Small Business Action Committee and Allan Zaremberg, President, California Chamber of Commerce.
 

CBPA 2008 CALENDAR

October 23, 2008

CBPA Board Meeting
The Irvine Company, Newport Beach

CBPA's 2008 Industry Awards Dinner
Island Hotel, Newport Beach