The Barbed Wire - January 24, 2020

RCRC Installs 2020 Officers and Presents Rural Leadership Awards

Last week, the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) installed its 2020 Officers and presented its Rural Leadership Awards.  Merced County Supervisor Daron McDaniel was installed as Chair, Mono County Supervisor Stacy Corless was installed as First Vice Chair, and Nevada County Supervisor Dan Miller was installed as Second Vice Chair.  Inyo County Supervisor Matt Kingsley remains an Officer as Immediate Past Chair.  Assembly Member Adam Gray (D-Merced) administered the official Oath of Officers, and Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) and Assembly Member Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) were recognized with the 2019 Rural Leadership Awards.  Read More…

RCRC Affiliate Sponsors National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy’s Western Region Meeting

On Wednesday, RCRC affiliate Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) sponsored a reception during the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy’s Western Region Meeting in Sacramento.  The following day, with Paradise Lake as his backdrop, Supervisor Doug Teeter (Butte County) provided an overview of the 2018 Camp Fire, highlighting challenges and successes, and discussing lessons learned.  

During her presentation at the reception, RCRC Chief Economic Development Officer Barbara Hayes discussed the current state of crisis in California’s forests, and how GSNR was formed to address the issue.  GSNR is a public benefit corporation established to provide an innovative solution to the wildfire crisis in California.  GSNR will serve as a steward of the environment, protecting and enhancing the quality of life for all Californians.

RCRC Supports California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Rulemaking to Allocate Revenues to County Fairs

Following years of inadequate funding, many rural fairs and fairgrounds were on the brink of elimination and in need of a long-term revenue stream.  In 2017, RCRC supported Assembly Bill 1499 by Assembly Member Adam Gray (D-Merced) to dedicate a portion of the state’s share of sales and use tax collected from transactions at fairgrounds to support the network of qualifying fairs.  To date, over $18.6 million has been collected under this legislation, but no proceeds have yet to be dispersed.  

On November 29, 2019, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) initiated rulemaking on how to allocate these revenues to qualified fairs and fairgrounds, but still has not provided any insight on how much money fairs can ultimately expect to be distributed for operational support or other projects.  For example, there is no proposed funding formula or maximum grant caps proposed.  RCRC seeks to ensure that CDFA expedite this much needed funding and fulfill the intent of AB 1499 to fund the operation needs of fairs and fairgrounds to service the various needs of the communities they serve.

RCRC’s comment letter can be accessed here.  Additional details on the rulemaking can be accessed here.  RCRC’s support letter for AB 1499 of 2017 can be accessed here.

EPA Announces Final WOTUS Navigable Waters Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the final Navigable Waters Protection Rule to define “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS).  This rule has been an ongoing effort to reverse the previous WOTUS rule adopted in 2012, which RCRC opposed as a jurisdictional overreach, and inappropriate expansion of federal authority over bodies of water not previously controlled by the federal government.  

The expansion of federal authority over these waters could have resulted in delays in important local public works projects such as maintenance of flood conveyances that could ultimately endanger public safety.

The new rule provides clear guidance on what is and is not a navigable water of the United States, and excludes such things as ditches and wastewater treatment systems—waterways that were vaguely included in the previous WOTUS rule.  Thursday’s announcement helps ensure that local governments will be able to continue providing public health and safety services such as maintaining vital flood conveyances and storm drainage systems without an extra layer of bureaucracy that ultimately does little to protect the nation’s waterways.

The pre-publication version of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule can be accessed here. 

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Sent to President Trump

On Wednesday, the president pro tempore of the Senate, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), officially sending the implementation bill to President Trump for his signature.  President Trump is expected to sign the USMCA shortly.  

However, once the agreement becomes law in the U.S., the overall processes is not over.  Canada must still approve the agreement when its House of Commons reconvenes in late January, and Mexico still needs to fully implement labor reforms that ensure workers have access to organize and participate in independent unions.

China Increases Import of Hemp from United States

As part of phase-one of the U.S.-China trade agreement, which was agreed to and signed last week, China will now be required to import significantly more hemp from the United States.  The crop is one of more than 200 agricultural products that China agreed to import on a larger scale over the next two years.  

While the deal did not specify just how much more hemp China will be importing, the agreement states that the country must spend at least $12.5 billion more than it did in 2017 on agricultural commodities, including the cannabis plant, for calendar year 2020.  The following year, it must spend at least $19.5 billion more.

Infrastructure Update

Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) reiterated the House Democrats’ plan to roll out an infrastructure plan by the end of January.  She noted how the Democrats have exhausted the prospect of working with the White House on any sort of infrastructure framework and have instead chosen to go forward without the Trump Administration’s support.  This move by House Democrats comes against the backdrop of President Trump’s frequent calls for infrastructure legislation during his 2016 campaign.

As part of the rollout of the House Democrats’ infrastructure proposal, the issue of broadband internet access will likely be reignited as provisions aimed at closing the digital divide are expected to make their way into the legislation.  The all-Democrat Rural Broadband Task Force, which was formed in 2019 and led by Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina), has been working closely with the House Energy and Commerce Committee to develop and introduce broadband legislation into the broader infrastructure package.  There is wide consensus amongst Democrats that significant investment in broadband infrastructure is necessary, but it remains unclear what support they will get from Republicans or the White House, who backed away from the 2018 infrastructure bill following significant negotiations. 

Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 19 (Waldron) – Forestry and Fire Protection Grant program

Last week, RCRC-sponsored Assembly Bill 19, authored by Assembly Member Marie Waldron (R-Escondido), was heard in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee (Committee).  RCRC Senior Regulatory Affairs Advocate Staci Heaton testified before the Committee in support of AB 19, which allocates funds to local agencies specifically for purchasing equipment to clear brush and other fire-prone materials from around local roads. 

AB 19 provides vital community protection capacity to local agencies such as counties to help purchase equipment to perform additional vegetation clearance around local roads.  Many rural counties, where vegetation is most dense, are socioeconomically disadvantaged.  AB 19 enables communities to enhance vegetation treatment programs to prevent wildfires from originating around local roads.

RCRC’s support letter can be accessed here.  For more information please contact Ms. Heaton at (916) 447-4806 or sheaton@rcrcnet.org.

BULLETIN BOARD

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

Western Interstate Region Conference Coming to California

Join RCRC, Mariposa County, and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) for the 2020 National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite!  Mariposa County Supervisor Kevin Cann serves as WIR President, and is looking forward to hosting his colleagues from the 15 western states in Mariposa County.

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Central Sierra Broadband Conference

The Central Sierra Broadband Conference will bring together a coalition of state partners, county leadership, businesses and broadband stakeholders from five-counties to discuss the absolute necessity of last mile investment in our rural region.  The conference will be an opportunity to expand on Broadband for All and hear from leaders in the Central Sierra on how we deal with the realities of being a rural, mountainous community with difficult terrain for broadband expansion.

Prior to the keynote luncheon, Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa County Supervisors, CAOs, and Economic Development Directors will meet to develop Broadband General Plan Amendments, Dig Once Policies and Minimum Standards to provide a consistent and desired path our Central Sierra region requests from providers.  The remainder of the conference will be dedicated to creating action by holding breakout sessions, a panel on alternative approaches, a presentation on minimum standards concepts and the future of 5G in rural regions.

The Central Sierra Broadband Conference will show the support in our county for expanding broadband access to the last mile and move the needle closer to additional investments into our region.

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USDA Rural Development Home Repair Loan and Grant Pilot Program

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CalRecycle Issues List of Low Volume Recyclers Eligible for Temporary Assistance

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NOFA: CalEPA Accepting Applications for Environmental Justice Grants

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NOFA: 2019-20 Community Development Block Grant

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Tehama County Seeks Building Official

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KEEPING UP

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

RCRC Announces Internal Promotions

Greg Norton, President and CEO, announced three RCRC organizational promotions during his President’s Report at the RCRC Board of Directors meeting in Sacramento last week:

• Lisa McCargar, Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer
• Craig Ferguson, Senior Vice President
• Paul A. Smith, Senior Vice President Governmental Affairs

Mr. Norton stated that the promotions will better align the organization's core operating functions, and provide for ongoing cross-sector understanding and communication to best serve RCRC and its affiliate organizations.

LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY 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 and regulations impacting California’s rural counties.  

Assembly Bill 315 (Garcia): Local Government: Lobbying Associations: Public Funds: Assembly Bill 315 prohibits an association of local agencies or districts from expending moneys for any purpose other than specified activities and educational activities, with respect to moneys paid to or otherwise received by an association from a local agency or district member of the association. Requires the association to publicly disclose the amount of those moneys expended. Status: AB 315 was not heard in the Assembly Local Government Committee. RCRC Status: Oppose

Assembly Bill 352 (Garcia): Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water.  Assembly Bill 352 enacts the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $3,920,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a wildlife prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection program. Status: AB 352 awaits consideration in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 464 (Garcia): State Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Assembly Bill 464 Defines district under the State Global Warming Solutions Act to mean an air pollution control or an air quality management district. Specifies that the definition of contribution of natural sources under the Act includes contribution from catastrophic wildfires. Status: AB 464 awaits consideration on the Assembly Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1080 (Gonzalez)/Senate Bill 54 (Allen): Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction. Assembly Bill 1080/SB 54 requires the state to reduce the waste associated with single use packaging and products 75 percent by 2030, requires the state to set standards for what is considered recyclable and compostable, and promotes the development of in-state manufacturing that uses recycled materials. Status: AB 1080 and SB 54 awaits consideration in the Senate and on Assembly Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Assembly Bill 1356 (Ting): Cannabis: Local Jurisdictions: Commercial Cannabis. Assembly Bill 1356 provides that if more than 50 percent of the voters of a local jurisdiction voted in favor of Proposition 64, these local jurisdictions must issue a minimum number of licenses authorizing retail cannabis activity within that jurisdiction. Status: AB 1356 awaits action in the Assembly. RCRC Status: Oppose

Assembly Bill 1509 (Mullin): Solid Waste: Lithium Ion Batteries: Assembly Bill 1509 establishes the Lithium Ion Battery Recycling Program in the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. Requires a covered entity to provide a list of covered products that it sells or offers for sale in the state to the department and the total number of each covered product it sold in the state during the prior year, and to update those lists annually. Status: AB 1509 awaits consideration in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. RCRC Status: Support in Concept

Assembly Bill 1840 (Ting): Recycling: Reports: Assembly Bill 1840 requires the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to make recommendations to the Legislature on how to improve the California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act to increase recycling of beverage container materials within the state and increase consumer redemption convenience. Status: AB 1840 awaits consideration from the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1841 (Salas): District Agricultural Associations: Fiscal Audits. Assembly Bill 1841 would require district agricultural associations to annually report the salary information of their employees and requires the chief executive officer and each director of a district agricultural association to attend ethics and conflict-of-interest training classes each year. Status: AB 1841 was recently introduced and awaits committee assignment. RCRC Position: Watch

Assembly Bill 1847 (Levine): Electrical Corporations: Public Administrator: Assembly Bill 1847 authorizes the Public Utilities Commission, if the commission adopts a decision that includes findings that an electrical corporation is not complying with state law or rules, regulations, or other directives from the commission, to appoint a public administrator to the electrical corporation up to 180 days. Vests the public administrator with oversight authority over the electrical corporation's activities that impact public safety. Status: AB 1847 awaits consideration from the Assembly. RCRC Status: Watch

Assembly Bill 1907 (Santiago): California Environmental Quality Act: Shelters: Assembly Bill 1907 Exempts from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act certain activities approved by or carried out by a public agency in furtherance of providing emergency shelters, supportive housing, or affordable housing. Status: AB 1907 awaits committee assignment. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1915 (Chu): Electrical Corporations: Deenergization Events: Assembly Bill 1915 requires the PUC to establish rules under which PSPS events can be undertaken and to do a post-event review of the duration and geographic range of an event.  If the utility failed to comply with the rules and customers incurred losses, the PUC shall order the utility to pay claims for losses. Status: AB 1915 awaits consideration from the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Assembly Bill 1916 (Chu): Deenergization Events: Notification: Languages:  Assembly Bill 1916 requires utilities to provide PSPS notifications in various languages, to survey customers to determine language preference and determine medical needs that require accommodation during a PSPS event, and to mitigate PSPS impacts for customers who rely on medical equipment or who have a medical condition that puts them at greater risk during a PSPS event. Status: AB 1916 awaits consideration from the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 45 (Allen): Wildfire, Drought, and Flood Protection Bond Act 2020. Senate Bill 45 enacts the Wildfire, Drought, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which, if approved by voters, authorizes the issuance of bonds to finance projects to restore fire damaged areas, reduce wildfire risk, create healthy forests and watersheds, reduce climate impacts on urban areas and vulnerable populations, protect water supply and water quality, protect rivers, lakes and streams, reduce flood risk, protect fish and wildlife from climate impacts, and protect coastal lands and resources. Status: SB 45 awaits consideration in the Senate Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 372 (Wieckowski): Beverage Container Recycling Act of 2020: Senate Bill 372 replaces the existing beverage container recycling program with a similar program run by beverage manufacturers. Status: SB 372 awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.  RCRC Status: Watch

Senate Bill 431 (McGuire): Mobile Telephony Service Base Transceiver Station Tower:  Senate Bill 431 requires the commission, in consultation with the Office of Emergency Services, to develop and implement performance reliability standards, as specified, for all mobile telephony service base transceiver station towers, commonly known as "cell towers," located within a commission-designated Tier 2 or Tier 3 High Fire Threat District. Status: SB 431 awaits consideration in the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 559 (Hurtado): California Water Commission: Grant: Friant-kern Canal. Senate Bill 559 requires the grant to be part of a comprehensive solution to groundwater sustainability and subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley and would require the joint powers authority to demonstrate a funding match of at least 35 percent from user fees, local sources, federal funding, or a combination of these sources. Status: SB 559 failed passaged in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. RCRC Position: Support

Senate Bill 596 (Stern): In-home Supportive Services: Senate Bill 596 requires a county human services agency to inform each applicant for benefits under the IHSS program that the applicant may be eligible to receive that higher energy allowance and any advanced notifications that may be provided by a utility in an emergency. Status: SB 596 awaits consideration on the Senate Floor. RCRC Status: Support

Senate Bill 753 (Stern): Public Social Services: Emergency Notification: Senate Bill 753 permits elderly or disabled clients telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to be disclosed to the first responder and would specifically identify a public safety power shut-off as a public safety emergency. Status: SB 753 awaits consideration in the Senate (Third Reading File). RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 799 (Dodd): Local Agency Services: Contracts: Napa & San Bernardino: Senate Bill 799 deletes the repeal date with regard to the pilot program under the Cortese Knox Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act in the Counties of Napa and San Bernardino. Status: SB 799 awaits consideration from the Senate Governance and Finance Committee.  RCRC Status: Watch

Senate Bill 801 (Glazer): Electrical Corporations: Wildfire Mitigation Plans: Senate Bill 801 Requires an electrical corporation to deploy backup electrical resources or provide financial assistance for backup electrical resources to a customer receiving a medical baseline allowance, if the customer meets specified conditions. Status: SB 801 awaits consideration from the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. RCRC Status: Watch

Senate Bill 862 (Dodd): Planned Power Outage: Public Safety: Senate Bill 862 clarifies that public safety power shutoffs are included in the California Emergency Services Act and expands the universe of medically sensitive individuals for whom electrical corporations must mitigate public safety power shutoff event impacts. Status: SB 862 was recently introduced and awaits committee assignment. RCRC Status: Pending

Senate Bill 884 (Dodd): Education Finance: Emergencies: Power Shutoffs: Senate Bill 884 provides schools with funding to make up instructional days lost as a result of emergencies or other extraordinary conditions. Status: SB 884 was recently introduced and awaits committee assignment. RCRC Status: Pending