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FEATURED STORIES
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OCBC Urges Comprehensive Water Compromise
OCBC’s Lucy Dunn Testifies Before California State Senate on Behalf of 10 Regional So. Cal. Organizations
OCBC President and CEO Lucy Dunn testified before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water on Monday to commend the Governor and the Legislature for their leadership on the water bond proposals. In particular, Dunn urged legislators to bridge party lines and compromise on a comprehensive bond package, promising regional business support.
Dunn testified on behalf of the "Dream Team" of Southern California economic development organizations including San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, LA Area Chamber of Commerce, San Fernando Valley Industry & Commerce Association, Inland Action, Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Business Council, and United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley, Central City Association, and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership, in addition to OCBC.
OCBC encourages a comprehensive water package, addressing longstanding issues regarding water storage and solutions to the state's most urgent needs. Among these are restoration to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, investing in local water supply projects throughout the state, and Delta conveyance.
OCBC views the unsustainable water supply infrastructure in the Delta as the single most important obstacle to maintaining a reliable, high-quality and environmentally sustainable water supply.
Republicans and Democrats’ independent proposals each include surface storage for fresh water, and improvements to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a critical water source for the entire state. With 60 percent of California's population in the southern half of the state, it is critical that adequate infrastructure is in place to transport water from north to south, and that the storage facilities for this critical resource are adequate and equipped to deal with a growing population.
To highlight the dire need for improvements to the state's water infrastructure, the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) has launched a new website, www.calwatercrisis.org as part of a statewide public education effort surrounding this effort.
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OCBC to Welcome George Will at 2008 Annual Dinner
Special Honoree - Chris Anderson, long time CEO and Publisher of the OC Register - SAVE THE DATE!
OCBC is honored to welcome nationally syndicated columnist George Will as the keynote guest for its 2008 Annual Dinner, set for January 29, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. The theme of this year’s Dinner is “The Road Ahead.” The evening program will examine not only the road ahead for OCBC, as the organization welcomes incoming Chairman Steve Lenzi, Senior Vice President, Automobile Club of Southern California, but will also draw on Will’s significant expertise and perspective on the ‘Road to the White House’ in 2008. As the Annual Dinner takes place just days ahead of the 2008 California Presidential Primary election, this event promises a fascinating and timely look into a still wide open race for the presidency.
The evening will conclude with a special tribute to Chris Anderson, outgoing President and CEO of the Orange County Register, and special appearance by David Hiller, Publisher of the LA Times.
Save the Date!
OCBC 2008 Annual Dinner
Hyatt Regency Irvine
January 29, 2008
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Cocktail Reception and Dinner
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Governor's Special Session Yields
Working Document on Healthcare Reform
Last week OCBC staff participated in a conference call with members of Governor Schwarzenegger's staff to receive an update on healthcare discussions currently underway during the special legislative session. That session has produced draft language, that the Governor and legislative leaders are using as their working document as talks continue on reforming California's healthcare delivery system. This document does not contain the financing elements for the policy framework being discussed; it is anticipated that a financing proposal will be submitted to the voters in the form of a ballot initiative in November 2008. Recent discussions have indicated that state lottery funds will play a role in the final financing package.
Please click on "Full Story" for OCBC's analysis of the provisions included in the document.
[FULL STORY]
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Coastal Commission Vote on the
241 Toll Road Extension Postponed
The 241 toll road federal consistency approval has been taken off the Coastal Commission calendar for the meeting scheduled this Thursday, October 11th. The hearing for the 241 item will be rescheduled for the Coastal Commission's next Southern California meeting, either in November or February.
Transportation Corridor Agencies stated the reason for the delay is primarily to allow Commissioners more time to properly digest the 300 page staff report opposed to the project, and the recent TCA offer of $100M offer to improve state parks and fund an extension of the lease for San Onofre State Beach Park as part of environmental mitigation efforts.
OCBC staunchly supports completion of the 241 as a critical expansion of Orange County’s infrastructure. The 241 represents the only viable relief for the I-5 corridor, and this project has completed 20 years of environmental reviews. For additional information contact Barbara Daly or Richard Harris with the Transportation Corridor Agencies at (916) 442-8888.
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OCBC Supports Irvine’s Challenge to Housing Mandate
OCBC President and CEO Lucy Dunn will speak to the Irvine City Council tonight in support of the city’s efforts to challenge the recent mandate for the city to plan for and produce almost 36,000 new housing units in the next six years. The directive, issued by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), would effectively require Irvine to take on almost 44% of all of Orange County’s growth with only 8% of Orange County’s land area, carrying more than its fair share of population growth and jobs generation for OC while unfairly taking other OC cities “off the hook” for their own housing responsibilities.
OCBC strongly supports increased housing production to meet the predictable jobs and population growth of the County. However, Irvine is already one of the strongest contributors to housing Orange County's workforce as found in OCBC’s 2007 Workforce Housing Scorecard. As such, OCBC and other community partners, including the Orange County Association of Realtors, firmly support Irvine in its objection to this mandate. Dunn will reiterate this position to the council, and on behalf of OCBC urge SCAG to revaluate its directive.
Finally, OCBC is particularly troubled by SCAG’s lack of transparency and outright refusal to share its methodology in determining its regional housing need allocation. Further action is being contemplated in this regard.
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Happy Birthday Anaheim: 150 Years Young
Congratulations to the City of Anaheim, celebrating its Sesquicentennial anniversary. On October 5, 2007, the city officially turned 150 with a celebration focused on the Anaheim community, rich history, and prosperous future. At right, Mayor Curt Pringle helps Councilmember Lucille Kring cut the city's birthday cake.
The party doesn’t end here for the oldest city in Orange County; Anaheim has plenty of events highlighting its anniversary throughout the remainder of the year. To learn more about the Anaheim 150 celebration, please visit www.anaheim.net.
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Infrastructure
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OCMoves to Host Congressman John Mica
OCMoves--a collaboration of business and government organizations dedicated to effective infrastructure improvements--is pleased to host a dinner honoring U.S. Representative John Mica (R-FL) on Sunday, October 14 at Pinot Province in Costa Mesa.
Congressman Mica is the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and will lead, together with Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN), the next transportation reauthorization bill, to be drafted by Congress early next year. As part of the OCMoves leadership program, collaborating with the county’s public and private transportation stakeholders, this is an ideal opportunity to meet with Congressman Mica early in the process to advocate for Orange County’s federal priorities. Space is limited so please reply as soon as possible. RSVP to Kris Murray, OCBC Vice President of Government Affairs at 949-794-7210.
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"H2O" Conference Addressing Coastal and Marine Issues Set for October 23-25
The 2007 Headwaters to Ocean "H2O" Conference is being organized by the California Shore and Beach Preservation Association, California Coastal Coalition, the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project and the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) - Western Chapter.
The conference will be held October 23-25 at the Westin Long Beach. Presentations will cover a wide spectrum of coast and ocean issues, including shoreline preservation, water quality, wetland restoration, watershed management, and marine debris.
State Water Board Chair Tam Doduc and Long Beach City Council Member Dr. Suja Lowenthal are luncheon keynote speakers. The conference program is available online.
Sponsors include OCBC, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District; NMFS, Minerals Management Service, the CA Resources Agency, State Water Resources Control Board, State Coastal Conservancy, Department of Boating & Waterways, County of Orange, County of San Diego, County of Santa Barbara, the Port of Long Beach, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, CA Sea Grant and USC Sea Grant.
Sponsor and exhibitor information is also posted online, and the deadline for early registration is October 10, so register now!
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OCBC’s Wallace Walrod Examines
Economic Outlook for Orange County
OCBC’s own Dr. Wallace Walrod spoke on Wednesday, September 26, to the Consulting Engineering and Land Surveyors of California (CELSOC), presenting his research on economic and industry cluster trends in Orange County and their potential influence on CELSOC members. Dr. Walrod appeared together with Peter Buffa, member of the Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors, who also discussed economic trends in the area.
Dr. Walrod presented the newly released 2007 Workforce Indicators report as a guide for his remarks. This new publication, researched by OCBC for the benefit of the Orange County Workforce Investment Board examines the state of Orange County’s workforce, and whether the community is hitting the necessary ‘targets’ for educational attainment and job growth.
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Workforce Development
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OCBC to Tour High School Inc. Facilities
OCBC’s Workforce Development Committee will tour the newly opened High School Inc. facilities on October 17th. Located at Valley High School in Santa Ana, High School Inc. is the product of a partnership between OCBC, the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Ana Unified School District. The program launched on August 30, featuring six specialized academies including Global Business, Health Care, Automotive Transportation, New Media, Engineering Construction and Manufacturing.
High School, Inc. combines hard and soft-skills learning into critical thinking that connects new technologies with practical applications that offer its graduates the choice to seek employment, more education, entrepreneurship, or all of the above. Graduates will be fit for hire, ready for success in advanced studies and possess the self-confidence to risk the uncertainty and promise of a start-up business. For more information, contact Alicia Berhow, OCBC VP of Workforce Development at 949.794.7215.
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