The Barbed Wire - October 25, 2024

CalRecycle Extends Comment Period for Revised SB 54 Single Use Packaging Regulations

CalRecycle has extended the public comment period for the revisions to the SB 54 Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act regulations. The current 15-day comment period began on October 14, 2024, when CalRecycle released its much-anticipated revisions. The revised regulation text can be found here.

RCRC has been extensively engaged, submitting comments to CalRecycle on the initial draft of the SB 54 regulations. CalRecycle incorporated several changes suggested by RCRC, while rejecting others. For details, and to read about RCRC’s concerns about the proposed revision, see here.

Comments on the revised draft regulations are now due on November 3 and can be submitted electronically here.  RCRC will be submitting comments and will work with other local governments and associations in providing feedback to CalRecycle.

For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy.

EPA Announces $276 Million for Water Infrastructure in California for FY 2025

On October 23rd, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that California will receive $276 million for Fiscal Year 2025 to help communities make essential water infrastructure upgrades to safely manage wastewater, protect local freshwater resources, and deliver safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses.

These funds, provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs to address key challenges in financing water infrastructure. This announcement includes allotments for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds for California ($177,966,000), Clean Water Emerging Contaminants funds ($15,362,000), and $82,428,000 under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminants Fund.

For additional information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate Sidd Nag.
 

Caltrans to Receive Over $200 Million for Highway Improvements in Bay Area and Central Valley

On October 17, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) announced that the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will receive over $203 million for two highway infrastructure projects in Redwood City and Tulare, California. The federal investments will fund critical infrastructure upgrades for the State Route (SR) 84-U.S. 101 interchange and support roadway improvements for SR 99 and the Paige Avenue multimodal interchange. The grants come from the Department of Transportation’s Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) grant program, which received a substantial funding increase through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

$105 million will go to the SR 84-U.S. 101 Interchange Reimagined Project to help alleviate traffic and roadway safety issues along the interchange, which led to 195 collisions between 2018 and 2022. Details of the project are available here.

$98 million will improve Tulare’s SR 99 Corridor and Paige Avenue multimodal interchange. Along SR 99, the project will convert approximately 5.4 miles of four-lane freeway into a six-lane freeway, with one lane constructed in each direction. The project will also reconstruct four ramps into a consolidated multimodal interchange with sequential roundabouts at the ramp termini and adjacent local street intersections. In addition, the funding will support the construction of 10-foot-wide shared-use paths along both sides of Paige Avenue to create an east-west multimodal corridor.

For additional information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate Sidd Nag.
 

BULLETIN BOARD

Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.

CARB Upcoming Webinar on Advanced Clean Fleets Exemptions and Extensions

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will hold a virtual webinar covering Exemptions and Extensions for the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation on Friday, November 1st from 1:30-3:30pm. Register here. The ACF regulation applies to fleets performing drayage operations, high priority fleets, and those owned by state, local, and federal government agencies. The regulation affects medium- and heavy-duty on-road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 pounds, off-road yard tractors, and light-duty mail and package delivery vehicles. Given the large number of participants and questions, CARB encourages questions to be submitted in advance here by Tuesday, October 22nd. For more information, see here. 

Upcoming CARB Regional Listening Sessions on Zero-Emission Space and Water Heaters

The California Air Resources Board is developing statewide standards for new space and water heaters sold in the state and announced listening sessions to be held in September and October to solicit feedback. At these regional listening sessions, CARB staff wish to share information and seek public input regarding 1) needs in rural areas, especially those experiencing extreme temperatures; 2) potential housing impacts from a transition to zero-emission space and water heating, and ways to minimize risks to tenants of increased rental cost or displacement; 3) energy cost implications and strategies for maintaining energy affordability; and 4) access to knowledgeable contractors and high-quality jobs.  For more information, see here. 

Remaining Listening Sessions

Central California
Date: October 28
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Virtual only. Register

Northern California
Date: October 29
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Virtual only. Register

Employment Opportunities

Mendocino County

• County Health Officer - Salary Range: $185,224.00 - $225,139.20 Annually. Position is open until filled. For more information or to apply, see here.
  Under the direction of the Health Services Director, the County Health Officer ensures enforcement of California statutes, regulations, and local ordinances pertaining to the protection of public health; oversees public health programs as pre-scribed by the California Department of Public Health; advises the Board of Supervisors and Health Services Director concerning community health issues; assesses and reports on the County’s health status; and, provides leadership in developing health policy for the County and the community.

Critical Funding Opportunity Available to Expand Behavioral Health Services

On July 16, DHCS released the Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) Round 1: Launch Ready Request for Applications (RFA). Eligible organizations can apply for funding to construct, acquire, and rehabilitate properties for behavioral health services for Medi-Cal members. DHCS will award up to $3.3 billion in grants to projects that expand community-based behavioral health facilities and services.

This funding aims to address significant treatment gaps by improving access to behavioral health care. Interested parties can find application instructions on the BHCIP website and submit applications by December 13, 2024. This initiative, part of Proposition 1, seeks to transform California’s mental health and substance use disorder systems, providing more comprehensive care for the state’s most vulnerable populations. For more information, contact DHCS at BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov. To speak to RCRC about this opportunity, contact RCRC's Policy and Local Assistance Manager, Eric Will.

NCWA Call for Nominations

The Northern California Water Association (NCWA) Board of Directors is calling for nominations in preparation for the next NorCal Water Leaders Program coming in 2025, Please nominate a future water leader from your area by November 15, 2024.

Cultivating strong and knowledgeable leadership in the Sacramento Valley is critical to safeguard Norther California water rights and supplies, and to sustainably manage water supplies for future generations. The program is dependent upon the nomination of individuals who care about the Sacramento Valley and are interested in learning more about our precious water resources. The program aims to inspire and cultivate the next generation of water leaders in the Sacramento Valley with a deeper understanding of the region. the NorCal Water Leaders Program of 2025 will be a seven-month program with half-day seminars at various locations throughout the Valley. each seminar will focus on important water issues affecting Northern California water supplies and water quality.

Details

• Nominations due no later than November 15, 2024
• First seminar held in January 2025
• Meets monthly through July 2025
• Program will include tours

For additional details and the full call for nominations, see here. Send nominations by email to Danyella Ochoa. Include the nominee's name, address, phone number, email address, and any background information about why you have nominated the individual.

Access the State Grants Portal for a Multitude of Funding Opportunities

Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities delivered straight to your inbox

KEEPING UP

Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.

Haley Lanham, of San Luis Obispo, has been appointed Assistant Deputy Director of Communications at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Lanham has been Brand and Marketing Manager at REACH since 2021. She was a Project Manager at Vibrant Agency from 2020 to 2021. Lanham was a Marketing Coordinator at Visit SLO CAL from 2019 to 2020. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $105,000. Lanham is a Republican.  

Clair Whitmer, of Vallejo, has been appointed Deputy Director at the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. Whitmer has served as Assistant Deputy Director of Regional Economic Engagement at the California Office of the Small Business Advocate since 2023 and as Northern California Regional Advisor at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development since 2021. She was CEO of UpBay Express from 2019 to 2023. Whitmer was an Executive Fellow for the City of Fresno Economic Development Department from 2019 to 2021. She was Head of Consumer Experience for Maker Media from 2014 to 2019 and Senior Director of Media Operations for Slashdot Media for Dice Holdings from 2011 to 2014. She was Director of Voter Outreach for the Overseas Vote Foundation from 2009 to 2010. Whitmer was News Editor/Director of Content Services for CNET Networks from 1996 to 2000. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $152,772. Whitmer is a Democrat. 

WEEKLY NEWS CLIPS

RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications.

Rural Broadband Rollout Is Slow but Needed – Wall Street Journal

Alpine County Supervisor and Vice Chair of RCRC’s affiliate Golden State Connect Authority, David Griffith, recently penned a letter to the Wall Street Journal emphasizing the crucial importance of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program for connecting rural counties.

California prioritizes ag regions for broadband funding – but will they get service? – Agri-Pulse

Much of the central valley – but especially Kern, Tulare, Fresno and Merced – showed dense pockets of underserved or unserved areas based on Federal Communications Commission data.

Ninth Circuit Squashes RICO Lawsuit Seeking Federal Remedy For Abusive and Extortionate CEQA Litigation – Miller Starr Regalia

A recent decision by the Ninth Circuit highlights the challenges of addressing abuse of CEQA through the federal courts, and amplifies the need for legislative reform. 

Workers turn to van life amid Eastern Sierra housing crunch – Los Angeles Times

In the Eastern Sierra, where long-term housing is scarce and competitive bidding keeps available spaces out of reach for even the most industrious working people, many essential workers are living in their vehicles.