The Barbed Wire - September 23, 2016

September 23, 2016
RCRC’s 2016 Annual Meeting – See You in Squaw!!!
Annual Meeting Preview: Rebuilding the American Dream – The Changing Focus of Housing Needs
Water Resources Bill to Be Considered in the House Next Week
Congress Works on Remaining Priorities Ahead of the November Election
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BULLETIN BOARD
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC’s 2016 Annual Meeting – See You in Squaw!!!

RCRC’s 2016 Annual Meeting will be held next week at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Placer County.  The complete program, as well as all logistical information, can be accessed here.  We look forward to seeing you in Squaw!

Annual Meeting Preview: Rebuilding the American Dream – The Changing Focus of Housing Needs

Rising home prices, dwindling affordable housing inventory, and an ever-increasing population have Californians rethinking the “McMansion” boom experienced over the past several decades. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, millennials become the most populous generation, and the middle class continues to shrink, it is critical that policymakers take the lead in developing innovative housing solutions to address the affordable housing shortage and serve California’s rapidly changing demographic needs. Join industry experts and trendsetting entrepreneurs as they discuss the potential obstacles to helping rural California tackle the housing crisis in affordable, creative, and ecofriendly ways.

  • Dave Cogdill, President & CEO, California Building Industry Association
  • Lisa Bates, Deputy Director, Division of Housing Policy Development, California Department of Housing & Community Development
  • Daniel Fitzpatrick, President, Pacific Pathways, LLC and California Chapter Leader, American Tiny House Association

Water Resources Bill to Be Considered in the House Next Week

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced the House will consider the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), H.R. 5303, on the floor next week.  Since the Senate passed a version last week of WRDA, S. 2848, questions have lingered on if the House would take up the House or Senate version of WRDA before Congress went into recess until after the election.  

There are significant differences between the House and Senate WRDA bills.  The Senate bill ($10.6 billion) is much larger than the House bill ($5 billion).  The Senate bill includes $4.9 billion for Environmental Protection Agency drinking water infrastructure programs and most notably, $220 million in loans and grants to provide assistance to Flint, Michigan.  It is unclear if House leadership will try to amend the House bill next week to add funding for Flint, Michigan.  If the House is able to pass H.R. 5303 next week, a WRDA bill could be signed into law before the end of the year.

Congress Works on Remaining Priorities Ahead of the November Election

Congress has recently focused on three major priorities prior to the November Election: 1) a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded beyond September 30th; 2) a Water Resources Development bill that could provide up to $10 billion in water infrastructure funds; and 3) an energy policy reform bill that contains western drought relief and forest management provisions.  It is likely that only the CR will be completed before Members of Congress adjourn to campaign.  The other priorities are likely to be the subject of an intense lame duck session at the end of November/early December.  

Furthermore, the CR would be slated to expire in early December, thus the fiscal situation of the federal government will remain on the agenda. 

While California is impacted by all three policy initiatives, the energy policy reform bill is especially impactful to California.  The House and Senate may address two critical issues for California in the energy bill.  Legislators negotiating the energy bill are particularly interested to find a permanent solution to the wildfire fire budget issue that results in the U.S. Forest Service use of non-fire suppression funds for fire suppression, which decreases Forest Service funding for wildfire response.  House and Senate negotiators also hope to find agreement on streamlining forest management.  As negotiations continue, House and Senate leaders are also close to a deal on drought relief to allow real-time management of water resources and authorize billions of dollars in long-term water supply, conservation, and desalination projects.  Congress could consider a final energy bill in December after Congress returns from the November elections.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Water and Energy

Aside from air, nothing is more important to our existence than clean, reliable drinking water.  California and the United States appears to be coming to a precipice, and without action in the near-future, many people may be at risk, and nowhere is this more evident than in California.  As we approach our sixth year of drought, which a disturbing report released from the University of California at Los Angeles warns may be the new norm rather than the exception, California cannot afford to wait for an external solution, as much of the country is experiencing similar hardship.  The sheer magnitude of the funding gap requires innovative approaches and probably a new mindset to begin addressing this challenge.  Governments, utilities and ratepayers alike must find common ground and work transparently and fairly to develop new ways to fund water infrastructure, while recognizing the inherent nexus between energy and water.

As alternative energy generation and storage continues to be discussed by policymakers and the legislature, new technologies are being tested throughout the world.  An Australian company has announced plans to convert an abandoned gold mine into a pumped hydroelectric energy storage system.  In Hawaii, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Navy are currently testing the U.S.’s first wave-produced electric generation.  The DOE estimates the U.S. could get 20-28 percent of its electricity through waves

High-speed Internet and Rural California’s Economy

In order to realize its full economic potential and experience the income and employment gains the Silicon Valley has recently experienced, rural California needs access to high-speed, ubiquitous and reliable internet access, and broadband equity is critical to the future of these communities.  As efforts to increase internet access continue through commercially deployable technologies throughout rural California, some companies and research institutions are working to develop new technologies.

Google and One|Web LLC are in a race to develop and deploy aeronautic technology that would provide internet access in even the most remote regions of the globe.  Google’s Project Loon proposes using helium-filled balloons equipped with solar powered electronic and telecommunications apparatus to send internet signals back to Earth from an altitude of approximately 20 kilometers which is nearly twice the altitude commercial airliners fly.  Currently, two dozen balloons are floating in the southern hemisphere.  California’s Central Valley was one of the first test locations for this project.  One|Web LLC and Airbus Defense and Space want to mass produce satellites and deploy in Low Earth Orbit to bring low-latency, broadband Internet to the entire world.  Although many challenges are present, One|Web LLC is shooting to bring this service online by 2019.

BULLETIN BOARD

CDFA Announces Funding for the 2016 “CalAgPlate” Grant Program

Click here

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

RCRC members are encouraged to share letters addressed to state and federal representatives and regulatory bodies with RCRC’s Government Affairs staff.  Click “Read More” to access information related to the current status of legislation impacting California’s rural counties.  

AB 587 (Chau): Mobilehomes Fees/Tax Amnesty Program.  Assembly Bill 587 provides a tax amnesty program for mobilehome owners who face outstanding state and/or county tax and registration obligations.  Status:  Signed into law by the Governor.  RCRC Position: Oppose Unless Amended

AB 1419 (Eggman): Hazardous Waste: Cathode Ray Tube Glass.  Assembly Bill 1419 specifies that broken cathode ray tube panel glass and processed CRT panel glass are not subject to regulation if that panel glass meets specified requirements.  Status: Signed into law by the Governor.  RCRC Position: Support

AB 1549 (Wood) State Highways/Broadband Deployment:  Assembly Bill 1549 requires the California Department of Transportation to maintain an inventory of broadband conduits that house fiber-optic communications located on state highway rights-of-way.  Status:  AB 1549 was signed into law by the Governor.   RCRC Position:  Support

AB 1853 (Cooper) County Employees Retirement Systems:  Assembly Bill 1853 would have authorized a county retirement system under “the 37 Act” to elect to be independent districts by a simple vote of the Board of Retirement and assume specified responsibilities related to county employees.  Status:  AB 1853 was vetoed by the Governor.  RCRC Position:  Oppose

AB 1952 (Gordon): Property Tax Postponement.  Assembly Bill 1952 would have made a number of needed improvements to the state’s Senior Citizen’s Property Tax Postponement Program.  Status: Vetoed by the Governor.  RCRC Position: Support

AB 2636 (Linder) Marriage and Birth Certificates: Electronic Application:  Assembly Bill 2636 allows local jurisdictions to provide consumers with the option to complete an online request for vital records.  Status:  AB 2636 was signed into law by the Governor.  RCRC Position:  Support

AB 2812 (Gordon) Solid Waste: Recycling: State Agencies and Large State Facilities:  Assembly Bill 2812 attempts to ensure recycling opportunities are made available and staffed throughout state facilities.  Status:  AB 2812 was signed into law by the Governor.  RCRC Position:  Support

SB 1302 (McGuire) Basic Property Insurance: California FAIR Plan:  Senate Bill 1302 addresses a number of aspects to the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan.  This effort attempts to address an avenue to access basic homeowner’s insurance for those property owners who have virtually no other means of achieving an insurance policy.  Status:  SB 1302 was signed into law by the Governor.  RCRC Position:  Support