STRATEGIC ISSUES CONFERENCE ROOM RESERVATION DEADLINE

Monday is the room reservation deadline for November’s Strategic Issues Conference 2007; Global Warming and the Business of Real Estate. We have negotiated an additional $50 off the room reservation so they are going quickly. Reserve your $199 room rate today – click here for the registration form (if you have previously RSVP’s you will automatically get the new rate).

The Strategic Issues Conference 2007; Global Warming and the Business of Real Estate is co-hosted by the California Building Industry Association (CBIA), California Business Properties Association (CBPA), and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA). The focus of this conference is policy issues related to global warming policies in California and their impacts on commercial real estate.

Confirmed speakers include Secretary of Cal-EPA Linda Adams, the Director of OPR Cynthia Bryant, Governor Schwarzenegger’s lead legislative staff member on green building issues Curt Augustine, respected political columnist Daniel Weintraub, and several others. We have also invited Attorney General Jerry Brown to be our closing speaker. Our two panels, “Building Green/Green Buildings” and “AB 32/CEQA” are shaping-up to have a very good mix of policy and opinion leaders from the state as well as several noted attorneys and green building experts from private industry.

Rooms are filling-up fast and the deadline for the new reduced room rate is this Monday. RSVP now! For more information about the conference or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.cbpa.com/conference.htm or call/email Tracy Fujii at 916-443-4673 / tfujii@cbpa.com.

GREEN BUILDING MANDATES ON “VETO WISH LIST”

As we reported last week, BOMA California is part of a large coalition requesting that the Governor veto three bills mandating green building standards on public and private entities: AB 35 (Ruskin; D-Redwood City) - Mandates LEED Gold for State Buildings; AB 888 (Lieu; D-Torrance) - Mandates LEED Gold for Commercial Buildings; AB 1058 (Laird; D-Santa Cruz) - Mandates LEED for Homes. As the list of entities opposing these well-meaning but ill-conceived measures continues to grow the San Diego Union Tribune has added the bills to its list of bills they hope the Governor rejects. Click here to read the editorial.

WATER DEBATE FLUID; THREE PLANS FLOATING AROUND

With two competing water plans already on the table, Assembly Democrats have weighed-in with their own package of bills to “fix” the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and increase water supplies. The bills introduced by John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) reaffirm the reluctance of Assembly Democrats to increase water storage in the state. The Governor's proposal, carried by Sen. Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto), would authorize the state to pay for as much as half the cost of three off-stream storage facilities. The targeted sites include one east of Fresno, another in Colusa County and expansion of an existing dam in Contra Costa County.

Click below to read more detail about the three different plans:

* Governor’s Plan introduced by Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto)
* Senate Democrat Plan introduced by Senate pro tem Don Perata (D-Berkeley)
* Assembly Democrat Plan introduced by Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz)

The Senate Natural Resources Committee has announced an October 4 hearing in the Capitol that will focus on water bond expenditures. This will be the first, of what is expected to be many, hearings on the topic. CBPA is directly involved with negotiations and we will keep you posted as the issue moves forward.

SENATORS HEAR IDEAS FOR REDUCING BAY AREA TRAFFIC CONGESTION

With Bay Area traffic already the second-worst in the nation, major growth in jobs and population coming, and ambitious state goals to reduce greenhouse gases, “it's time to get serious about luring people out of their cars,” opined several panels of experts to Senators Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) and Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch). The solutions, of course, won’t be cheap, and involve even more state funds flowing to the area. Click here to read more about the hearing.

HOME SALES PLUMMET TO 7-YEAR LOW

Sales of new homes tumbled in August to the lowest level in seven years, a stark sign that the credit crunch is aggravating a painful housing slump. The home sales report came on the same day that the government reported a relatively brisk business growth rate in revised figures for the second quarter. Click here to read the full story.

STRATEGIC ISSUES CONFERENCE 2007: GLOBAL WARMING AND THE BUSINESS OF REAL ESTATE

**This is the few days to reserve a hotel room at the Meritage under the rate of $199 per night plus applicable taxes and fees – please contact Tracy Fujii at tfujii@cbpa.com

Four major industry groups are combining forces to sponsor a high level discussion regarding the impacts of “global warming” policy on our industry. From AB 32 greenhouse gas regulations to the legislative focus on “green building” mandates, this conference promises to deliver the most up to date thinking about the politics driving these policies and will offer strategic discussion to set the course on how we can proactively be at the table and positively influence policy.

Click here to see the Strategic Issues Conference Website.

Joint sponsors for this event include: California Business Properties Association (CBPA), California Building Industry Association (CBIA), Building Owners and Managers Association of California (BOMA California), and Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA),

The event will be held November 1-2, 2007, at the Meritage Resort in Napa Valley. A stellar line-up of policy and decision-makers from Industry, the Schwarzenegger Administration and Legislature, as well as a respected member of the political press corps, is coalescing for the conference. Until we can announce confirmed names of speakers, here is the framework agenda:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2007
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Kick-off Reception in the Wine Caves
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Dinner with Special Guest Speaker

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2007
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast with Special Guest Speaker
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Panel Presentations
* Building Green/Green Building Policies
* CEQA / AB 32
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Luncheon with Special Guest Speaker

For early-bird registration information and special room rates, please contact Tracy Fujii at CBPA, 916-443-4676, or tfujii@cbpa.com.

Don’t just react – be a leader – participate in this conference and shape important issues that will affect your businesses.

BOMA CALENDAR 2007/2008

November 1 & 2 – BOMA Cal/CBIA/CBPA Fall Joint Legislative Conference
BOMA Cal Annual Meeting
Napa Valley (Meritage Resort)

January 15 – BOMA Cal Board Meeting
Los Angeles
In conjunction with IREM/BOMA GLA Forecast Breakfast

March/April (date TBD) – BOMA Cal Board Meeting
Location TBD

June 10-11 – CA Commercial Real Estate Summit – BOMA Cal Board Meeting
Sacramento (Hyatt Regency)

October/November (date TBD) - BOMA Cal Annual Meeting/20th Anniversary Event
Location TBD