AgdaPkt 2007-01-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

8A PUBLIC PENSIONS from page 1 . .. .. '"' .. .." FLOOD BILLS from page 1 ............. .. .. .. " Page 3 A February 2006 Legislative Analyst Report (LAO) estimated that the state's unfunded liability for retiree health care benefits and their depen- dents is between $40 billion and $70 billion. LAO is recommending that $6 billion per year be set aside to retire the unfunded liability. Additionally. the unfunded liability for local government and school retiree health benefits is expected to be in the billions. The League participated in a conference call with members of the Governor's staff and other public employers, which revealed the details of the commission. The Governor's staff on the call included Brenda Quintana, director of loca! govern- ment and community relations for the Governor's office; Susan Kennedy, chief of staff; and Cynthia Bryant, deputy chief of staff. The commission will include six appointees from the Governor's office, three by the Speaker of the Assembly and three appointed by the Senate President Pro Tem. The Governor will select one member as chairperson. The commission will hold hearings/meetings throughout the state and deliver their conclusions/report on January 1, 2008. Once the report has been submitted, the commission will disband. It is still unknown when the actual work will begin, but the League has expressed its desire to be a part of the process. To view the Governor's press release on the formation of the commission, visit www.gov.ca.gov and search for the release entitled "Schwarzenegger Establishes Commis- sion Addressing Public Employee Pensions, Retiree Health Care Obligations." For more information on this and other League issues, visit www ;cadties.org. AS 5 (Wolk). Central Valley Flood Protec- tion. This bill is a different approach to Assemblymember Walk's "show me the flood protection" legislation from last year. AB 70 (Jones). Flood Liability. Subjects a city or county to joint liability, whether or not the city or county directly participates in the operation or maintenance of a flood control project, for property damage sustained in a flood by approving a new development in an undeveloped area that is protected by a levee where the flood levels are anticipated to exceed three feet for a 200-year flood. Note: The League opposed similar legislation in 2006 and will oppose AB 70 as well. SB 5 (Machado). Flood Management. Proposes a system to develop a comprehensive integrated flood policy and flood management program. Suggests clarification of the roles and responsibilities for state, regional and local agen- cies and specifies various criteria related to imple- mentation of the flood bond adopted by the voters in 2006. SB 6 (Oropeza). Flood Control. Requires consideration of changes in ocean levels as a result of climate change as it relates to approval of subdivision maps and designation of flood hazard zones in flood maps. SB 17 (Florez). Flood Protection. State Reclamation Board. This legislation is similar to Sen. Florez's bill in 2006 that restructures the State Reclamation Board, including composition of the board, and role and responsibilities of the Board. The League will review each bill and be en- gaged in the legislative discussions, based upon the Flood Control Principles adopted by the League last year, and modified in 2007 as needed to address new legislative topics. City officials are encouraged to review the bills and send their comments to the authors and the League. A copy of the League's Flood Control Principles is available at www.cacities.org/ea. Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 3 January 5, 2007 . Issue #1