Partnership board moves forward on high-speed rail

The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors agreed on the elements of a working position on high-speed rail following a special meeting convened by the Partnership on Aug. 9 in Hanford. The meeting featured presentations by California’s High-Speed Rail Authority, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, and Congressman Jim Costa.

At its Aug. 10 meeting, the board adopted the following working position:

• High-speed rail needs to serve the entire San Joaquin Valley (Bakersfield to Sacramento), and the region must stay together as it works toward implementation of the initiative;
• $15.5 million must stay in the 2007-08 budget as a minimum funding level;
• The high-speed rail ballot measure must stay on the 2008 ballot;
• The federal government needs to contribute to the high-speed rail project. Congress should seriously consider the establishment of a federal high-speed rail authority with powers similar to California’s authority;
• Passenger rail also is a priority for the Valley and is meeting immediate demand, while the high-speed rail initiative will address mid- and long-term demand;
• Land use patterns are a critical success factor for high-speed rail. The Blueprint regional planning process needs to be tightly connected to the efforts to implement high-speed rail in the Valley; and
• The route between the San Joaquin Valley and the Bay Area will have a significant impact on the Valley being served as an entire region.

Proposed next steps on the high-speed rail initiative include requesting that California’s High-Speed Rail Authority schedule an additional hearing on the Central Valley-Bay Area corridor in Stockton in September, submitting a letter to Congressman Costa supporting a Federal High-Speed Rail Authority, and supporting Lt. Gov. Garamendi’s efforts to secure additional funding from Proposition 1B.

Meeting participants included representatives from the (1) Partnership board and executive committee, (2) Partnership conveners and consultants from the Air Quality, Transportation, and Land Use/Ag/Housing work groups, (3), San Joaquin Valley councils of government, (4) High-Speed Rail Authority, (5) California Transportation Commission, (6) CalTrans, (7) Blueprint Regional Advisory Committee and county roundtables, (8) San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee, and (9) Merced High-Speed Rail Committee.

Partnership board approves clean energy organization

The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors on Aug. 10 established the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization (SJVCEO), a 23-member organization designed to lead a regional effort to develop, plan and implement energy efficiencies and clean energy. According to bylaws approved by the board, the purposes of the organization are to:

• Develop a regional clean energy plan;
• Establish/support a partner network to boost clean energy project; development
• Develop/serve as a resource for information and expertise on clean energy;
• Ensure that the Valley is maximizing value received from federal, state, local and utility programs;
• Demonstrate how the Valley can use clean energy to achieve emissions reduction, economic development, and workforce development goals; and
• Provide technical assistance to implement clean energy projects.

The SJVCEO’s board includes representatives from Partnership work groups, educational institutions, community-based organizations, and people with specialized expertise. The board is scheduled to hold its first meeting in September.

The Kings River Conservation District received a $125,000 Seed Grant from the Partnership to help establish the SJVCEO.

Board passes resolution supporting comprehensive water plan

The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors on Aug. 10 approved a resolution strongly supporting a comprehensive water plan that includes water storage, a comprehensive Delta solution (including improved conveyance and environmental protection) and water use efficiency.

In addition, the resolution urges the Legislature to work with the Schwarzenegger Administration to pass a comprehensive water package that addresses the needs in their entirety this year and put that package before voters in 2008.

The resolution also noted that Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed comprehensive water plan as part of his Strategic Growth Plan for California "presents an historic opportunity to provide needed water investments."

Governor appoints three to Partnership board

Governor Schwarzenegger has appointed three new members to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors. All three members attended their first board meeting in Hanford on Aug. 10.

Meet our new appointees:

James Aleru, 60, of Fresno, has owned and served as proprietor of James A. Aleru CPA CVA since 2001. Previously, Aleru served as an account clerk and auditor-appraiser for the county of Fresno from 1976 to 2001. He is a member of the California State Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. Aleru is also an associate member of the American Society of Appraisers and an audit committee member of the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission.

Frank Gornick, Ph.D., 60, of Lemoore, who has had a career spanning over 35 years in higher education. Gornick has served as chancellor for the West Hills Community College District since 2001 and previously was superintendent and president from 1994 to 2001. He served as dean of student services for Bakersfield College from 1984 to 1993. Prior to that, Gornick held several positions at the Belleville Area College in Illinois from 1975 to 1984 and also at the Richland College in Dallas, Texas from 1972 to 1975. He started his career as a counselor and instructor at Howard County Community College in Columbia, Maryland in 1971. Gornick currently serves as president of Californians for Higher Education and the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium. Additionally, he serves as a director of the Fresno Area Workforce Investment Board.

Paul Saldana, 43, of Exeter, has served as president and chief executive officer for the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation since 2001. From 1998 to 2001, Saldana was director of community and economic development for the city of Atascadero. Previously, he was managing director for the Shafter Community Development Agency from 1992 to 1998. Saldana also served as deputy director and economic development consultant for the Office of Economic Development in Placer County from 1991 to 1992. He currently serves as chair of the California Association for Local Economic Development and also is a member of the board of directors. Saldana is past president of the California Central Valley Economic Development Council.

Annual Partnership Summit set for Visalia in October

The Annual Summit for the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 4, in Visalia. The event is designed as a way to report to the community at large on the work, progress, and accomplishments of this unprecedented regional collaborative effort. It will be a chance to educate and engage regional residents in the ongoing work of the Partnership, and to introduce new ideas that will support and expand the efforts and products of its multiple collaborative projects that are being undertaken throughout the eight counties.

The summit also will highlight the release of the first Partnership Annual Report. Registration information for the Summit will be available soon at www.greatvalley.org.

The summit will be held in conjunction and coordination with two related and compatible events also being held in Visalia that same week by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (Oct. 3-4) and BizTalk ’07 (Oct. 4-5). (Source: Great Valley Center)

Partnership briefs EPA administrator on Valley air issues

Representatives of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley’s Air Quality Work Group provided a full briefing on Valley air issues to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Steve Johnson at a meeting in Fresno on Aug. 7.

The meeting, arranged by Congressman George Radanovich, provided the Partnership with an opportunity to discuss the unique air quality challenges of the Valley and enlist the Administrator’s support for solutions. At the meeting, Administrator Johnson offered to co-host a technology forum to identify innovative solutions to the Valley’s air pollution problem.

In addition to representatives from the Partnership, other attendees at the meeting included Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, California Air Resources Board Mary Nichols, and officials from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, the National Parks Conservation Association and Operation Clean Air, a nonprofit group dedicated to voluntary pollution reduction.

Presentations were made at the meeting by Pete Weber of the Air Quality Work Group and EPA regional officials.

Meet the Board:
Crookham sowing seeds for ‘better place for all’

Kathleen Crookham is a ranch girl. Though born in Merced, she was raised on a ranch east of Planada, which she still co-owns and operates. Appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger in January 2007 to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, her top priorities are transportation, air quality and water quality, supply and availability.

"I am excited about the work of the Partnership so far," Crookham said. "It’s stimulating, and I believe we are putting our efforts into all the right places."

Crookham’s other top priority is health care. As a volunteer at Mercy Medical Center Merced and a member of Mercy Hospital Foundation, she has seen firsthand how health care falls short in the San Joaquin Valley.

"We have the least number of medical facilities, doctors and caregivers of any place in California," she said. "We definitely have to do something about that."

Crookham has been a teacher and school administrator. She was in the classroom for seven years, served as an assistant principal for three years and then as a school principal for 21 years. In her "old career," as she calls it, she is most proud of leading Hoover Middle School to the California Distinguished School Designation, three times.

In her new career, Crookham is on the Merced County Board of Supervisors serving district two. She was elected in 1996 and re-elected both in 2000 and 2004. She had the opportunity, she said, to help make UC Merced a reality serving as board supervisor liaison for the commitment.

Crookham is a mom, and she is the most proud of her three children who have given her five grandchildren.

"I went home from Friday’s [Aug. 10] board meeting and talked with my family about air and transportation issues," she said. "The bottom line is that I want the Valley to be a better place for all of us."

Seed Grant helps to encourage college-going culture in San Joaquin Valley

With funding assistance from the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium (CVHEC) has launched The College Place, a college access and "coaching" center that will be a critical part of an ongoing effort to create a college-going culture in the Valley. The center, the first of its kind in the region, is located at the Manchester Educational Resource Center in Manchester Mall, Fresno.

The College Place will collaborate with higher education institutions – including community colleges, University of California and California State University schools, and independents – to provide students and parents with college advising in an atmosphere that is welcoming and accessible. It will provide citywide open access to anyone interested in assistance, while targeting students who are the first in their families to go to college, without restriction on neighborhood, income, ethnicity or other factors.

CVHEC received $200,000 in funding from the Partnership’s Seed Grant Program to establish the community-based College Access Center program. Using seed grant funding, CVHEC also plans to open centers in Madera and Merced counties over the course of the next year. (Source: Central Valley Higher Education Consortium)

Valley school leaders use Seed Grant to launch English Learners Academy

School leaders from throughout the Valley convened Thursday, Aug. 9, in Visalia for the launch of the English Learner Academy for Superintendent’s Leadership Teams.

Funded through the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Seed Grant Program, the group’s goal is to 1) gather research identifying effective English learner instruction, curriculum and intervention strategies; 2) identify organizational and support structures proven to improve student learning and increase college acceptance rates; 3) identify “Best Practices” that can be taught to school leaders; and 4) support school districts through mentoring at the site level via a coaching network.

The education level of San Joaquin Valley students is consistently below the state average. Similarly, the percentage of students living in poverty and the percentage of students with a primary language other than English are among the highest in the state.

In an address to Academy participants, Dr. Tony Monreal, assistant superintendent, California Department of Education, said, "I have come to believe that a quality education is the most important of civil rights. I believe this academy will be a tremendous asset for all children, but especially for those who are language learners. Congratulations to all who have the courage to lead and participate in this very necessary work." (Source: Fresno County Office of Education)

Seed grant helps ‘Tune In-Tune Up’ for clean air

A $250,000 Seed Grant from the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley is helping The Maddy Institute at California State University, Fresno, launch a pilot program aimed at increasing the level of awareness of air quality improvement programs in three Valley communities – Arvin, Parlier and Avenal. The communities are geographically diverse, suffer from the worst air quality, have high unemployment and low median incomes, and have populations between 1,000 and 25,000 residents.

As part of the Air Quality in Environmental Justice Areas program, the Institute recently completed work, in conjunction with Valley Clean Air Now ("Valley CAN"), on a "Tune In-Tune Up" event in Arvin. The event was held in August and aimed at repairing gross polluting vehicles, a major source of air pollution in our Valley. Arvin, with a population of about 12,000, had 360 vehicles tested. Of those, 280 cars failed the smog test, and 250 residents made appointments for repairs (and will be provided with up to $500 worth of repairs at no cost).

The event was an overwhelming success – as evidenced by the fact that despite a much smaller population, the Arvin event had the second highest number of vehicles tested at an event in the history of the program and enjoyed even greater participation than other "Tune In-Tune Up" events held in the Valley's largest cites including Fresno, Merced, Stockton and Visalia.

Future "Tune In-Tune Up" events are planned for Parlier and Avenal in 2008. (Source: The Maddy Institute)

Health Policy Institute studies impact of proposed health reforms on the Valley

In a policy brief released by the Central Valley Health Policy Institute at California State University, Fresno, researchers said specific improvements must be made for proposed state health reforms to meet the needs of San Joaquin Valley residents.

"There really are contrasting visions as to what health care should be like," explained Dr. John Capitman, executive director of the institute and co-author of the report. Dr. Capitman also is a consultant to the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley’s Health and Human Services Work Group.

The policy brief, "Health Reform 2007 Impact on the Valley," is the first comprehensive report in the region to analyze the varied health care reform proposals together and to outline potential effects that each could have on this region if implemented.

Capitman and Deborah Riordan, lead author of the report and senior health policy analyst for the Institute, developed the brief after multiple meetings and events in the Valley that focused on developing a long-term plan to address health care coverage for all residents.

The brief is intended to provide stakeholders and policymakers with a comprehensive picture of the Valley’s health and health care challenges so they can advocate for long-term, comprehensive solutions.

This brief was funded by a grant from The California Endowment. (Source: Fresno State News)

Free Wi-Fi access available at Highway 99 rest areas

Wireless Internet access (Wi-Fi) is now available at Highway 99 rest areas in Stanislaus and Tulare counties, the California Department of Transportation has announced.

As part of a pilot program, Caltrans is providing the service free until mid-July 2008 at the Phillip Raine rest area north of Tipton in Tulare County and at the Enoch Christofferson rest area south of Turlock in Stanislaus County.

Through a Web portal known as Road Connect, users of the service can explore Internet sites and information about California transportation, tourism and parks. For example, the public can find the latest highway conditions and real-time traffic accident information and tap into transit links, Amtrak California, weather reports and online maps.

The free Wi-Fi service is available through a pilot program resulting from the “21st Century Rest Stop” concept initiated by Caltrans and the Great Valley Center. During the one-year pilot, the service will be evaluated to address traveler/user requirements, public-private partnership alternative business models, and to develop technical specifications for a statewide deployment plan. (Source: Caltrans)

Legislative Update

STATE LEGISLATION ENDORSED BY CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP FOR THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

AB 27 (Parra) – Establish Partnership in Statute
A bill to authorize the Partnership through 2020. Efforts will be made in the next few months to discuss the language of this bill and any proposed changes in advance of next year’s legislative calendar.

• Status: Held in Assembly Jobs Committee as a two-year bill.

AB 575 (Arambula) - Prop 1B AQ Mitigation Criteria/Funding
A bill to require that $1 billion to mitigate air pollution from goods movement, approved by voters under the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 1B), be appropriated to the highest priority projects according to a set of region-neutral criteria. This bill is consistent with the actions and objectives of the Partnership, as set forth in its Strategic Action Proposal, by providing the incentive funding needed to "implement incentive mechanisms to accelerate adoption of air quality mitigation technologies."

Related, the Air Quality Work Group has sent letters in support of Prop 1B funding and criteria for allocation of funds as efforts transition in the legislature.

• Status: Held in Assembly Appropriations Committee. Meanwhile, the Legislature has allocated $250 million of these funds in the 2007-08 Budget. The spending will be subject to criteria set forth in separate legislation (i.e. AB 995 or SB 19).

AB 1223 (Arambula) - Net Energy Metering
A bill to permit an agricultural customer who uses solar or wind generation to offset the customer's own electrical needs to aggregate the electricity use of properties adjacent or contiguous to the generator that are under the same ownership to its full electricity usage over a 12-month cycle at the retail rate. This bill is consistent with the actions and objectives of the Partnership, as set forth in its Strategic Action Proposal, by advancing an important mission of the Partnership to "promote energy use efficiencies and adoption of clean, renewable energy technologies to ensure a reliable supply, grow the economy, and improve air quality." Specifically, this legislation directly addresses the Air Quality Work Group’s objective of "implementing a net metering program within [the] same agricultural operation or water district," and the Energy Work Group’s objective to "work with state agencies to explore and demonstrate innovative approaches to increase use of renewable energy, including trading of net metering credits, streamlining requirements for interconnection to grid, and structuring incentives for renewable energy production."

Partnership Board and Executive Committee have sent letters in support of the bill.

• Status: Passed Assembly and currently awaiting hearing in Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications.

AB 1129 (Arambula) - Housing Trust Fund
A bill to establish the San Joaquin Valley Rural Regional Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

• Status: Held in Assembly Housing Committee as a two-year bill. Funding for housing trusts is still on the table and Valley advocates continue to work with trust fund advocates from across the state. SB 586 seems to be the vehicle to watch.

AB 1403 (Arambula) – Education
A bill to establish an innovative, five-year Central Valley School District Improvement Pilot Program. This legislation is consistent with the goals and objectives of the outward implementation of “a school and school district support system through the County Offices of Education.” Specifically, this bill would allow two county superintendents (Fresno and Tulare) to opt to assume additional responsibility for ensuring the academic success of those struggling school districts within their jurisdiction that are both identified for program improvement or corrective action under the federal No Child Left Behind and have 50 percent or more of their schools ranked in deciles 1 and 2 of the state Academic Performance Index.

Partnership Board and Executive Committee have sent letters in support of the bill.

• Status: Passed Assembly and the Senate Education Committee. Next hearing will be held in the Senate Appropriations Committee; Assemblymember Arambula’s office is seeking advocates to send letters to the committee members as well as meet with staff in Sacramento.

AB 1455 (Arambula, Villines) – Air Quality Zones
The bill as most recently amended would authorize the State Air Resources Board to designate "California Air Quality Zones" for the purpose of providing incentives for owners of mobile and stationary sources of air pollution to invest in air pollution control equipment that produce surplus emission reductions, and for owners of stationary sources of air pollution to invest in the production and utilization of renewable energy technologies. Areas eligible include those that: 1) have been in non-attainment for PM 2.5 and in serious, severe, or extreme non-attainment for ozone using the 8-hour rule, and 2) have countywide unemployment rate at least 50% higher than the statewide average for at least two of the last three years.

The bill’s goal is to improve air quality in the state’s dirtiest air basins and generate jobs in the most disadvantaged communities.

• Status: Passed Assembly and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. Next hearing will be in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

ACTION TAKEN BY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SB 23 (Cogdill) – Vehicle Replacement

On July 26, the Executive Committee agreed to offer support for SB 23 as introduced. The bill, as introduced, would require the Air District, in consultation with the Air Resources Board, to develop and administer a vehicle exchange program to replace high polluting vehicles with donated, smog-compliant vehicles according to specified conditions.

• Status: Passed Senate and the Assembly Transportation Committee. Awaits further action in Senate Appropriations on the suspense file.

Dates to know

August 17

Economic Development Work Group meeting
9 to 10:45 a.m.
Alliance Free Enterprise Center
1020 10th Street
Modesto
For more information, contact Jennifer Faughn, cacentralvalley@aol.com

AUGUST 24

Air Quality Work Group meeting
10 a.m. to noon
Council of Fresno County Governments (Sequoia Room)
235 Tulare Street, Suite 201
Fresno
For more information, contact Mark Keppler, mkeppler@csufresno.edu

AUGUST 28

Energy Work Group meeting
1 to 3 p.m.
Great Valley Center
201 Needham St.
Modesto
For more information, contact Paul Johnson, pkjohnson49@comcast.net

AUGUST 31

City of Fresno Economic Development Department
Business Matchmaking & Networking Event
Fresno Convention Center
Exhibit Hall
For more information, contact Brandon Erickson, (559) 621-8367, Brandon.Erickson@fresno.gov

SEPTEMBER 7

Methamphetamine Recovery Project Advisory Council
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
UC Center
550 E. Shaw Ave.
Fresno
For more information, contact Juanita Fiorello, jfiorello@csufresno.edu

SEPTEMBER 10

Work Group Consultants meeting
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Location to be determined
For more information, contact Allysunn Williams, awilliams@csufresno.edu

OCTOBER 4

Annual Summit for the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley
Noon to 5 p.m.
Visalia
For more information, visit www.greatvalley.org.