GOVERNOR TAKES ACTION ON DROUGHT

To combat California’s third consecutive year of drought, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a state of emergency and ordered immediate action to manage the crisis. In the proclamation, the Governor uses his authority to direct all state government agencies to utilize their resources, implement a state emergency plan and provide assistance for people, communities and businesses impacted by the drought.

The Governor’s order directs various state departments to engage in activity to provide assistance to people and communities impacted by the drought. The proclamation:

• Requests that all urban water users immediately increase their water conservation activities in an effort to reduce their individual water use by 20 percent
• Directs the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to expedite water transfers and related efforts by water users and suppliers
• Directs DWR to offer technical assistance to agricultural water suppliers and agricultural water users, including information on managing water supplies to minimize economic impacts and implementing efficient water management practices
• Directs DWR to implement short-term efforts to protect water quality or water supply, such as the installation of temporary barriers in the Delta or temporary water supply connections
• Directs the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to assist the labor market, including job training and financial assistance
• Directs DWR to join with other appropriate agencies to launch a statewide water conservation campaign calling for all Californians to immediately decrease their water use
• Directs state agencies to immediately implement a water use reduction plan and take immediate water conservation actions and requests that federal and local agencies also implement water use reduction plans for facilities within their control

The drought conditions and water restrictions are causing additional devastating economic and business losses. Agricultural revenue losses exceed $300 million to date and could exceed $2 billion in the coming season, with a total economic loss of nearly $3 billion in 2009. Click here to read the full text of the proclamation.

WATER BOND INTRODUCED

With California in the midst of a historic drought, Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) has introduced SB 371, legislation to ensure California has a safe and reliable water supply. The comprehensive proposal calls for issuing $9.98 billion in general obligation bonds to invest in the state’s aging water infrastructure. Key elements of the proposal:

• Building California’s Water Supply and Storage: $3 billion dedicated to the development of additional storage for statewide benefit. An additional $1.5 billion dedicated to regional water supply reliability.
• Delta Sustainability: $2.4 billion to help implement a sustainable resource management plan for the Delta and local and regional conveyance projects.
• Encouraging Water Conservation and Water Use Efficiency: $520 million to increase conservation and water use efficiency programs.
• Water Quality Improvement: $950 million for efforts to reduce the contamination of groundwater and treatment of wastewater and stormwater.
• Water Resources Stewardship: $1 billion to implement river restoration projects.
• Other Critical Water Projects: $610 million for other projects including restoration of watersheds devastated by forest fires, removal of fish barriers, and ocean projection.

Rex Hime, President & CEO of the California Business Properties Association issued the following statement: “The commercial, industrial, and retail real estate industry applauds the action taken by Senator Cogdill in making sure that the Legislature does not overlook the most important issue facing the future of California - our water supply. The measure again calls for a comprehensive approach to fix our state's water woes. It is essential that we move forward with a water measure that provides for all Californians, their jobs, their environment, their economy, their agriculture and their future. It is imperative that we continue the work that was begun last year and see it to completion.”

BILL INTRODUCTION DEADLINE TODAY

Since the budget crisis has been “fixed” its “business as usual” once again for the Legislature. Today is a major milestone in the legislative process known as Bill Introduction Deadline for the first half of the 2009-2010 Legislative Session. By the end of the day a couple thousand new bills will be in the breach and aimed your way. CBPA staff is in the process of reading every single bill to identify those that will have an impact on our industry. We have already many identified bills that if passed will make it harder for you to build in this state, increase your taxes and fees, force you to become a mini-utility, and completely change the way the state writes building codes . We will keep you posted with a full summary of bills in the coming weeks.
 

EAST COAST MEDIA TURNS CRITICAL EYE ON CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

As the Obama Administration takes more steps to move the U.S. towards an AB 32-style greenhouse gas regulatory scheme, East Coast Media outlets have taken a harder look at what is happening in our state. Here are two recent articles that examine issues related to our policies that don’t simply cheerlead for unchecked “green” policies regardless of their cost and impact:

Newsweek: Death of the Dream; California Has Come Back Before But ‘Hysterical Greens’ aren’t helping.

New York Times: Economic Crisis Complicates California Goals on Climate.

BOMA CALIFORNIA 2009 CALENDAR

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.

 

JUNE 2009

June 9-10—
CALIFORNIA COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SUMMIT
Sacramento

June 10—
BOMA CALIFORNIA BOARD MEETING
Hyatt Regency, Sacramento
2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

June 28-30—
BOMA INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Philadelphia, PA