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<br />ß. A ,5 <br /> <br />STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS from page 1 ............................. <br /> <br /> <br />League President Pat Eklund visits <br />with Governor Schwarzenegger after <br />his address Wednesday. <br /> <br />League <br />President and <br />City of Novato <br />Council <br />Member Pat <br />Eklund was an <br />invited guest, <br />observing the <br />speech from <br />the Assembly <br />Gallery. <br /> <br />Stating, "We don't have a revenue problem, we <br />have a spending problemft, the governor outlined <br />four areas of reforms that he will sponsor to close <br />the ongoing gap between state revenues and <br />expenditures. These are: <br /> <br />. Reforming the budget system by capping <br />the growth in spending. <br /> <br />. State pension reforms - requiring both state <br />and local agencies to offer new employees a <br />defined contribution plan, instead of the current <br />defined benefit plan. (See ioint Leaaue-CSAC <br />statement on this proposaL) <br /> <br />. Reforming elections, by giving the task of <br />drawing new legislative and congressional dis- <br />tricts to a panel of retired judges, rather than <br />continuing to allow legislators to draw political <br />redistricting lines. <br /> <br />. Strengthening education, by tying teachers' <br />pay to performance, rather than length of employ- <br />ment. <br /> <br />Other Reforms <br />The governor also proposed reforms in other <br />areas of state government, including several that <br />relate to city services and programs. These are: <br /> <br />Affordable Housing: the governor will pro- <br />pose legislation to eliminate regulatory and legal <br />hurdles that delay construction and increase the <br /> <br />costs of new housing. He will -call on local juris- <br />dictions to recognize and plan for their own natural <br />population increase and workforce issues, making <br />the most efficient land use patterns possible while <br />minimizing impacts on valuable habitat and <br />productive farmland. ft <br /> <br />Transportation: the govemor will issue <br />proposals that will curt:> the state's ability to borrow <br />funds designated by Proposition 42 to transporta: <br />tion purposes, as well as from other special funds. <br /> <br />California Performance Review Proposals: <br />among other proposals, the govemor proposes to <br />reform or eliminate a number of boards and <br />commissions to eliminate duplications, overlap <br />and bureaucracy in the delivery of state services. <br />(See "Governor Unveils Plan to "Blow Up the <br />Boxesft.) <br /> <br />Details to follow: These and other proposals <br />will presumably be outlined in greater detail in the <br />governor's budget, set for release on January 14. <br />The League will carefully review these proposals <br />and provide more information on how they will <br />impact city services and programs. <br /> <br />2005 ANNUAL CONFERENCE: <br />OCTOBER 6-8, <br />MOSCONE CONVENTION CENTER, <br />SAN FRANCISCO <br /> <br />Plan now to attend the 2005 Annual <br />Conference this Fall- the first time it has been <br />in San Francisco since 1997. Suggestions for <br />topics to include on the agenda are welcome <br />by February 28; send them to <br />education<f!>.cacities.ora. <br /> <br />The conference announcement will be out <br />by ear1y June, and the League's reduced rate <br />housing block at six neart:>y hotels will open <br />June 1 on the League web page. (Reserva- <br />tions made before then will not be in the block <br />or get the discounted room rate.) <br /> <br />Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org <br /> <br />PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 5 <br />