2003-03-17 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

WORK STUDY SESSION WS.A. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Jill Arthur, Executive Director, External Affairs introduced the City of Santa Ana lobbyist advocates Bruce Young of U.S. Advocacy, William Ferguson, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and Kareem Murphy, Senior Associate of The Ferguson Group. Mr. Young founded U. S. Advocacy following his decade of service in the California State Legislature. Mr. Ferguson specializes in public works, transportation, land use and economic development. Kareem Murphy specializes in labor, job training, health care, education, housing, FEMA, and homeland security issues. Ms. Arthur noted that on the Federal level, the city will be advocating the following projects: Bristol Street/Centerline; Homeland Security; Empowerment Zone; Water project, and job training. On the state level our priorities for the upcoming year will include Proposition 40 funds, OCTA reorganization bill, Enterprise Zone and 4th District Court of Appeals. Bill Ferguson noted that this will be a very confusing and unusual year due to events on the international front. These events will have an immense impact on the congressional and appropriations processes. Appropriation requests for many of the priority projects have been put forward to the responsible committees. Additionally the City's lobbyists have been working with OCTA relative to the Bristol Street and Centerline projects. Additional upgrades will be requested for the West Pump Grade facility; a request for $700,000 has been made for a one-stop job center for youth. Mr. Ferguson reported that it is unclear how everything will work this year due to a massive federal deficit to deal with; however, even though it will be a difficult year, he believed that the projects of interest to Santa Ana have a good chance of being funded. Bruce Young reported that with respect to the state budget deficit, the first phase is dealing with the Fiscal Year 01-02 deficit. He noted that the legislature passed the budget special session bills containing current year budget cuts totaling approximately $3.5 Billion. The budget bill does not include cuts for redevelopment agencies, transportation projects o r VLF backfill. I t i s anticipated t hat t he V LF trigger w ill g o off i n M ay after t he April tax receipts are noted. Mr. Young noted that this action will likely be challenged. He further noted that the State's current plan is to borrow between $8-12 billion. He also stated that the state does have the authority to borrow, however a line item must be placed in the next budget to pay it back. He emphasized that it is critical for local governments to get through this year's budget crisis. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 113 MARCH 17, 2003