AgdaPkt 2008-02-25 - Laserfiche WebLink

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8A Page 9 'Leagae Board Meeting' Continued from Page 1... Strategic Priorities The board learned that its first priori#y of °protecting funding for vital community services" was advanced when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget did not contain a recommendation fo borrow property taxes from focal governments through Proposition 1A ar Prop. 42lProp. 1A transportation fiunds. League President Jim Madaffer reported on a number of ineetings thaf he attended with the Governor in recent months to discuss the impact of the budget on cities as weli as how to increase infrastructure inves#ment to help jump-start the economy. Cities will be affected directly and indirectly by the Governor's �roposed across the board reductions in funding for state services, including the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, as well as the early release of non-violent prisaners. The hoard learned that its priority to "support green and sustainable cities" is being advanced in a signi�cant way through the fnstitute for Lacal Governmenf (ILG�. Board members received a copy of "Climate Action Netwark Best Praciices Framework," d�veloped by 11.G, This document includes a set of valuntary best practices cities and counties can take to address climate change. The document is available on ILG's Web site at www.ca-ilq.orqlciimatepractices. The board also reviewed and approved new League Ctimate Change Principles. These policies were developed by the Climate Change Working Group and approved by the EQ, HCED, and TCPW policy committees when they met in Sacramento in January. The League's Climate Change Policies are now on the environmental. quality page of the League's Web site at www, cacities. o rqlea. The board was advised that its third priority, "expand infrastructure investment," will be addressed this legislative session by continued efforts to commit the 20a6 infrastructure bonds. 1"hese efforts include p{ans for the Department of Finance allocation of the Prop. 1 B local street and road funds, the iu!! funding of Prop. 42 fior �Y 2008-09, proposals for use of the spillover funding for the Public Transportation Account, and the Gavernor's propased $771 miElion in Prop. 1 C funding for FY 2008-09. The Governar has also propose@ issuing new bonds and other initiatives under his Sfrafegic Growfh Plan. Finally, the board was briefed on the status of its effnrts to "enact honest and responsible eminent domain teform." This included reports on the qualification of Prop. 98 (League opposed) and Prop. 99 (League supported) for the June 2008 ballot. The board learned that Eminent Domain Reform Now, the coalition supporting Prop. 99, the hiomeowners Protection Act and opposing Prop. 98, is growing dramaticaEfy. Groups are joining forces to support responsible eminent damain reform and oppose Prop. 98 with its hidden agendes to eliminate rent control, put critical water projects in jeopardy, destray local land use pfanning and gut environmen#al protections. The board was urged to get involved with the campaign on their own personal time. SB 375 The board spent a considerable amount of time on SB 375 {Steinberg), a bill which would require that green house gas (GHG) emissions, from cars and iight trucks, be addressed through the regional transportation planning process. The board has kept an open mind on how to approach the issues involved wi#h AB 32 (2006) and emissions from cars and light trucks, but last year it opposed SB 375 unfess it became a twayear bill. In the interim, the League has worked with other laca! government groups, planners, and the author and sponsor of SB 375 to identify and attempt to address some of the League's major concerns. The board also welcomed representatives of the California Building Indus#ry Association (CB1A), who discussed thei� ideas for an alternative to SB 375 ta address GHG reduction through 2