Board Legislative Committee Meeting Minutes
Friday, June 22, 2007

Directors: Doug Siden (Chair), Ted Radke
Staff: Ro Aguilar, Dave Collins, Carol Victor, Jim Townsend
Consultants: Doug Houston – The Houston Group; Dr. George Manross - SRI
Public: Hulet Hornbeck

1. STATE LEGISLATION/ISSUES UPDATE

1. NEW
   Proposed Legislation
   The Committee recommended a SUPPORT position on the following:

   • AB 534 (Smyth) Bicycle Transportation Account: funding. (6/1/07)
     Existing law requires the sum of $416,667 to be transferred monthly to the Bicycle Transportation Account from the Highway Users Tax Account. Existing law continuously appropriates the money in the Bicycle Transportation Account. This bill would instead require a monthly transfer of $1,000,000 to the Bicycle Transportation Account from the Highway Users Tax Account, until January 31, 2012, and would thereafter reduce the monthly transfer to $416,667. This bill would increase the amount of revenue in the Bicycle Transportation Account and would provide cities and counties with funding to match District funds for non-motorized transportation corridors.
     (Senate Floor)

   • SB 584 (Corbett) San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program. (4/30/07)
     The San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program, administered by the State Coastal Conservancy, was established to address resource and recreational goals of the San Francisco Bay area in a coordinated, comprehensive, and effective way. This bill would require the State Coastal Conservancy to establish a program, as part of the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program, to restore the salt ponds in the south San Francisco Bay and to create trails and visitor facilities for public use in that area. The program would be implemented to the extent funds are appropriated for these purposes. This funding would facilitate the District’s goal to develop public access facilities, particularly trails, in this area.
     (Assembly – Appropriations – Suspense File)

   • SB 669 (Torlakson) Continuous Regional Recreation Corridors: funding. (5/08/07)
     The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, an initiative statute approved by the voters at the November 7, 2006, statewide general election makes $90,000,000 in bond funds available for planning grants and planning incentives to encourage the development of regional and local land use plans that are designed to promote water conservation, reduce automobile use and fuel consumption, encourage greater infill and compact development, protect natural resources and agricultural lands, and revitalize urban and community centers. This bill would provide that continuous regional recreation corridors are eligible for planning grants and planning incentives pursuant to that provision in the initiative. This bill clarifies that regional facilities, such as the California Delta Trail, are eligible for funding.
     (Assembly – Water, Parks & Wildlife)

2. UPDATE
   Advocate Houston reviewed the status of bills on which the Board had taken a position as well as several bills on the District’s Watch List. He commented that AB 490 had recently been amended to provide potentially favorable conditions for Board member compensation. The Committee expressed interest in possibly being amended into the bill if favorable. Staff stated they will review the new amendments and report back at the next meeting. Chair Siden requested a verbal update at each Legislative Committee meeting on the status of bills on which the Board has taken a position.

2. FEDERAL LEGISLATION/ISSUES

1. NEW
   The Committee recommended a SUPPORT position on the following:

   • S.992- Public Buildings Cost Reduction Act of 2007 (Boxer-CA)
     This bill would require the General Services Administration to establish a program to speed the use of energy-efficient technologies and practices and to install highly-efficient lighting in its buildings.

     This bill creates a $20 million per year EPA grant program for five years to help local governments make their buildings more cost-effective and energy efficient. The grant program will require a 40 percent match from the local government and will require grantees to show they will cut energy bills by 40 percent through adoption of highly efficient technologies and practices. EPA will have to verify the efficiency and savings for the program. If passed, the District may be eligible to apply for local grant funding.
     (Senate Floor)

2. UPDATE
   Staff updated the Committee on the status of the Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriations. Staff reported that House Interior Appropriations is recommending $50 million, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee $30 million, and the Administration zero. None of the proposals contain funding for the Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery (UPARR) Program. Staff advised that the House and Senate versions will go to each respective floor for a vote and then to a Conference committee to reconcile differences.

3. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Director Radke requested that the Legislative Committee agenda include a standing item on the extension of Measure AA.

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