Action Meeting – Aug 3, 2015

Come join us to discuss actions our League has taken or proposes to take Monday, August 3, 7:00-9:00 pm in the League office.  We’ll also review our two-year action vision and plan for our end-of-August action planning meeting.

Agenda – Aug 3, 2015

Build a strongly non-partisan, credible, balanced portfolio of actions, rooted in LWV positions, and based on quality information and data.  Craft a two-year plan of action which uses our talents and resources strategically.

Proposed Topics include:

Significant Community Benefits beyond those already required for very tall buildings in downtown Berkeley.  LWVBAE drafted a letter to City Council, with a copy to Zoning Adjustments Board, urging benefits be legally enforceable, proportional to monetary value of the project, with long term oversight and penalties for non-compliance.

Emeryville Update.  Emeryville recently approved a significant increase to their local minimum wage.  Here what else is before the Emeryville City Council.

Community Choice Energy [Aggregation] for Alameda County.  A grant has been awarded by the City of Berkeley to the Ecology Center and the CCE subgroup of the Climate Action Coalition for an informational forum.  Also, the County of Alameda is funding a feasibility study for CCE in the county.

The Climate Change Team.   Our League successfully lobbied LWVC to support SB 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act) and SB 350 (Golden State Standards for Energy).  Both bills are now in the state legislature. The Team is also following actions by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the CPUC.

Crude Oil by Rail.  As more and more trains are carrying crude oil through California, Leagues are looking for ways to take effective action.  Although railroads are governed by national legislation, LWVC policies on hazardous materials may cover some situations and local planning bodies can control expansion of some facilities.

Healthcare. Beyond the Affordable Care Act, the Healthcare Team has focused on building a statewide network of organizations supporting single payer for California, and explored extending healthcare to all immigrants in California.

Clarification on SCA 5, the proposed state constitutional amendment that would close the commercial property tax “loopholes” in Proposition 13.

Rank Choice Voting for At-large Elections could alter the way City Council elections are held in Albany and Emeryville and School Board elections in Berkeley.  League Member Preston Jordan will share his research and proposal followed by a discussion.