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LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

  RECORD OF ACTION FOR
February 6, 2023


 
Supervisor Ken Carlson, Chair
Supervisor Diane Burgis, Vice Chair
Present: Ken Carlson, Chair  
  Diane Burgis, Vice Chair  
Staff Present: Lara DeLaney, Senior Deputy County Administrator, staff to Committee; Maura Connell, Policy and Planning Division, EHSD; Demian Hardman-Saldana, Senior Planner, DCD; Colleen Awad, Senior District Rep., D. 4; Teresa Gerringer, Chief of Staff, District III; John Kopchik, Director, Department of Conservation & Development; Monica Nino, County Administrator; Ryan Hernandez, Contra Costa Water Agency director; Jennifer Quallick, Deputy Chief of Staff, District II; Peter Myers, Communications, D. 3; Lisa Chow, Chief of Staff, District IV
Attendees: Dr. William Walker, Joseph Greaves, Paul Schlesinger, Susan Hurl, Michelle Rubalcava & Geoff Neill, Call_in_user_1
             
1. Introductions
  Chair Carlson convened the meeting at 3:02 p.m., introducing himself and inviting introductions. Vice Chair Burgis introduced herself and noted staff and attendees would introduce themselves.
             
2. Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes).
  No public comment was made to the Committee.
             
3. ACCEPT the report on the State Budget and state bills of interest to Contra Costa County and provide direction and/or input to staff and the County's state lobbyists on priorities and goals for the Committee for 2023.
  Committee staff and the state lobbyists provided a brief oral report to accompany the written staff report, noting that approximately 600 bills had been introduced in the State's legislative session thus far with a bill introduction deadline of Feb. 17, 2023. The lobbyists noted they were making advances with the County's sponsored bill proposals, although the bill related to GHG emission inventories by CARB was meeting resistance in terms of cost.  Asm. Wilson had agreed to carry the County's illegal dumping bill, allowing pilot counties to regulate non-franchise hauling. The bill was expected to be in print soon. Director Kopchik, DCD, noted he would be a point-of-contact for the bill. Supervisor Burgis noted an interdepartmental think-tank on illegal dumping was operating and could provide input on the bill, as could a Board of Supervisors Ad Hoc Committee on Illegal Dumping. There was no public comment offered on this item.
 
AYE: Chair Ken Carlson
  Vice Chair Diane Burgis
             
4. ACCEPT the report and provide direction to staff and the County's federal lobbyists on the goals and priorities of the Committee for 2023.
  The County's federal lobbyist, Paul Schlesinger, provided a brief oral report to accompany the written staff report, noting the impacts the 2020 redistricting had on Contra Costa County's federal congressional delegation, reducing the number of representatives to three and changing some of the delegation members (adding Representatives Garamendi and Harder, losing Representatives Thompson and Swalwell). Mr. Schlesinger also discussed the political landscape of the House and the Senate, post mid-term elections in 2022, and anticipated changes in November 2024. He discussed the return of the federal "earmark" process, noting the new chair of the House Appropriations Committee indicated there would be process improvements, but no details had been shared. Mr. Schlesinger also discussed the upcoming NACo Legislative Conference and arrangements being made for County Supervisors to meet with congressional members/staffs. County Administrator Nino inquired about a requested FEMA meeting and whether it had been arranged; the response was that it had not. Vice Chair Burgis noted that Rep. Garamendi had attended the Board's Reorganization meeting in January, noting he sits on a Committee that has oversight of FEMA and could be helpful with regard to our FEMA claims. A caller noted they were offended by the discussion.
 
AYE: Chair Ken Carlson
  Vice Chair Diane Burgis
             
5. DISCUSS and PROVIDE DIRECTION to staff on agenda items for the 2023 Legislation Committee.
  Chair Carlson indicated he had requested this item for the agenda in order to be pro-active as a committee. Vice Chair Burgis noted that previous Legislation Committees had been both pro-active and re-active:  the development of the Legislative Platforms and County-sponsored bills was being pro-active, while monitoring and taking action on specific bills and ballot measures was being responsive to current needs. The state lobbyist indicated they were at the service of the County. A caller expressed that the County should not be "collaborating to undermine" the political process and should address local needs like park maintenance for the benefit of all residents.
             
6. The next meeting is currently scheduled for Monday, March 13, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. The Legislation Committee meetings will be held on the second Mondays of each month from 1:00 to 2:30, unless the meeting is rescheduled or canceled.
  No changes to the meeting schedule were proposed.
             
7. Adjourn
  The meeting was adjourned at 3:39 p.m.
 

For Additional Information Contact:

Lara DeLaney, Committee Staff
Phone (925) 335-1097, Fax (925) 646-1353
lara.delaney@cao.cccounty.us

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