In This Issue:

• CEQA GUIDELINES AND GREENHOUSE GASSES

• THE STATE OF THE STATE IS…

• STATE PAYMENTS DELAYED

• CBPA NEW LEGISLATOR LUNCHEON & BOARD MEETING

• ICSC 2009 OAKLAND ALLIANCE PROGRAM: MEET THE “BAY BRIDGE” MAYORS

• CBPA 2009 CALENDAR

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 will be holding two workshops to present the amendments and obtain input from the public. The workshops will include a presentation by OPR and the Resources Agency staff, an overview of the Preliminary Draft CEQA Guideline amendments, and the process for adopting the regulations by 2010.

Workshops will be held on January 22, 2009 in Los Angeles and on January 26, 2009 in Sacramento.

Click here to view the workshop agenda.
Click here to view the Preliminary Draft CEQA Guideline Amendments.

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.

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.

THE STATE OF THE STATE IS…

Governor Schwarzenegger gave a short and somber “State of the State” speech yesterday. The speech which had been delayed in hopes of some good news surfacing lacked a sunny outlook. "The $42 billion dollar deficit is a rock upon our chest and we cannot breathe until we get it off…. It doesn't make any sense to talk about education, infrastructure, water, health care reform and all these things when we have this huge budget deficit. I will talk about my vision for all of these things -- and more -- as soon as we get the budget done." Uplifting. Capitol Weekly has the whole story here.
 

STATE PAYMENTS DELAYED

State Controller John Chiang has announced that the state's cash-flow, or lack thereof, will only allow him to make school, college and some welfare payments this month, but he will be unable to issue checks for $3-plus billion in other payments, including those for state income tax refunds and many health and welfare programs.
 

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. We expect a very good showing of legislators to the luncheon. Contact Melissa Martinez, 916-443-4676 or mmartinez@cbpa.com, for more information or to RSVP.
 

ICSC 2009 OAKLAND ALLIANCE PROGRAM: MEET THE “BAY BRIDGE” MAYORS

Set in the newly renovated historic Fox Theatre in downtown Oakland, this is an opportunity to listen in and interact with the Honorable Mayors of Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville and Alameda as they speak about retail development/redevelopment in their respective cities.

California Transportation Commission Commissioner Phil Tagami will steer this esteemed panel as they wind-down the path of retail development/redevelopment opportunities, city services, strategic planning, economic impact and the big box store controversy as well as other intriguing retail real estate issues.

The Alliance Program is a special ICSC initiative which provides forums for the public and private sectors to network, share ideas, discuss industry issues and explore retail development opportunities.

For more information and to register for the program please click here.
 

CBPA 2009 CALENDAR

February 18, 2009 (note date change)
CBPA Board Meeting and New Legislator Luncheon
Sacramento, CA (Hyatt)

March TBD (late March), 2009
CBPA Legislative Committee Meeting
Place TBD (Southern California)

June 9-10, 2009
CBPA Board Meeting and
California Commercial Real Estate Summit (CCRES)
Sacramento, CA

November 5-6, 2009
CBPA Board Meeting and
Real Estate Industry Strategic Issues Conference
Napa, CA (Meritage)