CEAC POLICY & LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 2011-2012
Transportation
1. Gas Tax. Support full funding of local gas taxes in FY 2011-12 and FY 2012-13 and protect against deferrals beyond a single fiscal year and outright raids of these funds. Preserve existing, and increased funding levels, for local streets and roads should the need for potential replacement revenues arise. (Staff and Transportation Committee)
SUPPORT AND WORK WITH COALITIONS TO ACCOMPLISH
Transportation
1. SAFETEA-LU Reauthorization. Advocate on behalf of California’s transportation needs consistent with CSAC adopted policy, especially the needs of the county road system during the new authorization of the federal surface transportation funding act including retaining the highway bridge program as an individual and separate federal program, increased funding for safety infrastructure projects on the existing transportation system and especially rural road safety, and protect previous and future investments via maintenance and preservation. Additionally, work with NACE to advocate to Congress specific proposals for environmental and project delivery streamlining which is another main objective for CEAC in authorization efforts. (Staff and Transportation Committee)
2. Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment. See to completion the first biennial update to the report and engage in education and advocacy to support the results of the statewide comprehensive assessment. (Staff, Transportation Committee, Nichols Consulting)
3. Bridge Assessment. Work with the California Transportation Commission (CTC) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to undertake a statewide study to estimate bridge needs both state and local. (Staff and Transportation Committee)
4. Public Contract Code. Develop a coalition of local government and private sector representatives to discuss and resolve public contract code issues, such as working cooperatively to negotiate a compromise to AB 1409 (Perez). (Staff and Transportation Committee)
5. Off Set Impacts from Federal Lands. Support continued federal funding to off set impacts to counties from federal lands such as the Secure Rural Schools program.
Solid Waste
1. Illegal Disposal of Waste. Continue to support legislation that would address problems surrounding the illegal disposal of waste. (Staff and Solid Waste Management Committee)
2. Manufacturer Responsibility. Support legislation that would require manufacturer responsibility and product stewardship, and point-of-sale surcharge for universal, special, and hazardous wastes. (Staff and Solid Waste Management Committee)
Flood Control
1. Clean Water Act. Support amendments to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to define maintenance of flood control channels or facilities as a non-prohibited activity thereby exempting maintenance from requiring Section 404 permits. (Staff, Flood Control Committee, Orange County)
2. Wetlands. Support changes to the State Water Resources Control Board’s proposed Wetland and Riparian Protection Policy that results in a reasonable requirement that will have the least impact on the development, operation, and maintenance of essential public works projects and facilities. (Staff and Flood Control Committee)
3. Vegetation Management. Support modification to the Army Corp of Engineers policy on vegetation management of Corps built flood control facilities to be consistent with congressional direction in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996. (Staff and Flood Control Committee)
Surveyor
1. Surveyor Monument Preservation. Support legislation that would simplify the collection of the Monument Preservation Fund Fee. .
Land Use
1. CEQA Streamlining – Infill. Support CEQA streamlining for infill projects including the infrastructure necessary to support that development. (Staff and Land Use Committee)
2. Fund Infill Infrastructure. Support funding sources for infrastructure related to infill projects that fall under applicable streamlining. (Staff and Land Use Committee)
Oversight
1. Climate Change Strategies. Identify climate change strategies and funding the reduce GHG emissions related to public works. (Staff and Oversight Committee)