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Plans for the conference grew out of monthly meetings held by the mayors of the seven citres in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County and the League's Channel Counties Grassroots Regional Representative. The meetings provide an opportunity to share information about each city's issues and to gain perspective on what's going on in Sacramento and other divisions. The agenda typically addresses the League's legislative priorities and what types of action the Mayors can take to participate in and support those priorities. Several months ago the focus of the meetings turned toward housing. San Luis Obispo County is now the fifth most expensive county in the country to purchase a home, and the cities and county have taken issue with the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) developed by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The group decided to hold three housing conferences in partnership with SLOCOG, with the first focusing on issues and con- cerns with the methods used by HCD to develop Housing Elements that cities and counties must adopt as part of their General Plans. Future conferences will address private sector barriers to the creation of new housing and smart growth solutions to the area's housing needs. Over 150 community leaders from throughout the county attended the meeting, including three county supervisors, bankers, builders, planning commissioners, and housing advocates. League housing lobbyist Dan Carrigg was among the panelists. Ongoing efforts by the Regional Representative to establish media interest in the state budget and other League priority issues, as well as strong local interest in the housing issue, helped produce extensive local media coverage of the conference. Two major television stations covered the event, using statements by local elected officials for the evening and following morning news: The county's major newspaper ran front-page coverage. The conference was also filmed in its entirety and will be shown on four different cable access channels. The conference adds to the growing list of projects that League members and Grassroota Regional Representatives are developing to highlight League priorities in a manner tailored to regional needs. Some other examples include: Production ofeducational radio and television ads on the state budget crisis developed and aired by the Monterey Division, in conjunction with earned media through a major press conference; A conference on economic development issues in the Peninsula Division, hosted in conjunction with local business organizations and the counties; Targeted outreach to labor groups in the Inland Empire, Sacramento Valley, Los Angeles and other divisions; and Extensive coalition-building efforts with chambers of commerce and other business groups throughout the state, The League Regional Representatives maintain reguiar contact and routinely share ideas with one another about activities in their areas. The Representatives are often ~nvited to observe, assist or participate when appropriate in pro- grams or activities developed in other divisions. This cross-fertilization fosters a sharing of ideas, while still ensuring that each division can carry out activities appropriate to their area, STATE WATER BOARD REQUESTS COMMENTS ON STORM WATER PERMIT PROGRAM C/ties Under 100,000 Population Added The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is requesting comments on its Draft General Permit for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Phase II storm water permit program. According to the criteria, 107 California commu- nities will be subject to compliance with the General Permit. The SWRCB is on a tight timeline to adopt a General Permit by December 9, 2002 so that the impacted communities have time to respond to the SWRC8 by the March 10, 2003 implemen- ration deadline with a "Notice of Intent" to comply. Continued on Page 3 PAGE 2/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org