Greetings from Linda ...

Dear Friends,

I leave for Washington DC tomorrow to meet with our Congressional delegation.  The frugality spirit is reaching the Capitol in new ways and we hold our breath in contemplation of the cuts that could emanate from the federal budget.  While I expect that our pleas will have little effect in the long run, perhaps our efforts will have at least some impact on our representatives.  We expect to visit with all of our local reps on Tuesday--Congressmen George Miller and John Garamendi, Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.  In addition, neighboring representatives have agreed to see us including Congressemen Dan Lundgren and Mike Thompson.  On Wednesday, we will be repeating some of the visits as we will be joined by delegates from Contra Costa, Yolo, San Joaquin and Sacramento Counties to raise concerns about ensuring the preservation of the Delta in the face of legislation at both federal and state levels that could impact both the quantity and quality of the Delta water.  More when I return...
 
It's been nearly three months since we last sent an enews and I regret that this will be Roger's last issue.  He has been the leader in its publication, embracing the task since I assumed office just over two years ago.  As you will see in a story later, he will join his wife in retirement and will leave county government at the end of February.  I know that all of you have appreciated his efforts as much as I do.  I will miss him and let you know when we fill his slot.  In the meantime, Cathy will be working full time to assist with your questions and issues--so please don't hesitate to call if you need our help.
 
I also want to use this opportunity to thank those of you who came to our District 2 Open House during the holidays.  Your generous gifts of nearly 100 toys and 50 pairs of pajamas made a clear hit with the Cordelia Fire Department which collected the donations and assured their delivery to organizations that were delivering the gifts to those that needed them.  We plan a repeat next year and hope that you will all come once again.
 
On a final note, I want to encourage all of you to watch the meetings or come to a board meeting.  As you recall, one of my goals was to increase transparency in the board's processes and to encourage the public to speak on issues that are important to them.  I believe that government is best when the voice of the citizens drives the discussion and the solutions.  As it is, there is rarely much community comment--except on issues that are very near to them personally or to an organization that they represent.  If our processes are to truly work effectively, community members should observe and comment on issues as well as the way in which the board operates.  I expect to talk more about these issues in the future and invite your thoughts.
 
I intend to remember Paul McCartney's words tomorrow as I travel..."Love is all you need."  I send love to all of you and hope you pass a little along on Valentine's Day [and every day for that matter].  Until the next time...
 

Linda

Impacts of Governor's Proposed Budget

Last month, Governor Jerry Brown released his proposed 2011-12 State budget, outlining a strategy to eliminate a $25.4 billion deficit.  His proposal calls for $12.5 billion in program cuts, $12 billion in revenue increase and $1.8 billion in other solutions, while maintaining a $1 billion reserve.

The key elements of his proposal include a major State-local realignment proposal, an extension of the temporary tax hikes through the passage of a ballot measure in June, and the elimination of redevelopment agencies.

Should voters reject the taxes, the Governor intimated that further cuts would need to be made including cuts to universities, prisons, and K-12 education.

While we cannot ignore the necessity of drastic measures to restore California to fiscal health, we must also evaluate the significance of those measures on our Solano County public safety, health and social services, early childhood development, veterans and more.  These proposals are summarized below:

• Public Safety program Realignment Proposal: Proposes the transfer of prison inmates who have no current or prior violent or sex convictions to county jail facilities effective July 1, 2011 (estimated at 37,000 prisoners statewide).  Transfer of adult parole supervision responsibilities from the State to county probation departments.  Transfer of State juvenile justice programs to county probation departments
• Health and Social Services:  Significant financial reductions in the Cal WORKS program; In Home Support Services and MediCal.   Transfer of Child Welfare Services and Foster Care program responsibilities from the State to the County.
• Early Childhood Development:  Makes a $1 billion one -time reduction to the First 5 Programs statewide and redirects 50 percent of the annual statewide First 5 revenues to pay for state children services thereafter.
• Veterans Services:  Recommends a decrease of $9.9 million for county veteran's services offices and Operation Welcome Home.
• Williamson Act:  Eliminates Williamson Act funding which currently acts to help keep lands in agriculture by relieving or reducing property taxes to local farms.

Reserve Fleet / Mare Island Shipyard Update

SS Solon Turman towed from Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet off Benicia's shores

Wow!  It has finally happened.  And what a sight it was.  Mare Island is truly alive with the successful docking of its first ship for recycling, the 50-year-old freighter S.S. Solon Turman.

The newly named Mare Island Shipyard at Mare Island is the first West Coast ship recycling facility, and could become a desired drydock for other projects in the future. 

Allied Defense Recycling (ADR) has been busy preparing the facility for the arrival of Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet vessels in need of dismantling. In recent months, all test operations were completed and brought about the culmination of nearly 3 years of effort to permit, lease the facility, and become a technically qualified vendor for bidding MARAD work.

The shipyard completed the first phase of its dredging of the Strait in November.  Cooper Crane & Rigging and Duttra Construction removed a total of 151,000 cubic yards, 28 feet of silt in the drydock entrance that had accumulated since the facility was last dredged in 1995.

The West Coast operation is a great benefit, with the costs of transport down, reduced environmental impacts and generation of local jobs. Sixteen ships have been pulled from the Reserve Fleet since late 2009, all towed huge distances through the Panama Canal to recyclers in Texas or even the East Coast. Lily Smith, ADR public relations director, was cited as saying that it takes 500,000 gallons of fuel to tow a Mothball Fleet ship to the Texas and East Coast recyclers. In contrast, the Solon Turman's 6-mile journey required just 1,500 gallons of fuel. The new arrangement will save taxpayer dollars and create much needed local jobs.

News reports recently indicated that over 3,000 men and women applied for the 120 available jobs.

Our office has supported this project from the start, and we celebrate with all of Vallejo as the work begins in earnest.

Solano 360 Fairgrounds 
 

SolTrans

New Vallejo/Benicia Bus Transit System

Solano County Transit's first Board meeting was held in December 2010 in the Benicia City Council Chambers.  Solano County Transit, to be known as SolTrans, is a new joint powers authority created to consolidate the current Benicia Breeze and Vallejo Transit that are currently operated by the Cities.

The Cities of Benicia and Vallejo and the Solano Transportation Authority Board approved the formation of this new organization which follows several years of studying transit consolidation in Solano County.

A Transition Plan (download and see p. 15 of 54) has been approved that will guide the development of the new organization.  The SolTrans Board will meet monthly during the transition period.  One of the first tasks underway is the development of a Short Range Transit Plan for the Benicia/Vallejo service area.

SolTrans is to operate a consolidated transit service in Benicia and Vallejo that is financially stable and tailored to the mobility needs of the residents, students, and employees.  The public's input will be important and actively sought.  At the conclusion of the Transition period, bus service will transfer to SolTrans and is projected to occur in the summer of 2011.  SolTrans agendas and minutes can be found online.

Tech Upgrades to Save County Big Bucks
Coming soon: new personnel & payroll software

The opportunity to look at services differently is one of the upsides of a down economy.  And cost-saving uses of technology is one way in which Solano County is making changes.  The staff has identified value in the following:

• Online payments for library late fees and property taxes
• Improvements to the County website so that it is more useful and user-friendly (check out solanocounty.com/SolanoHelps)
• Online applications and reporting for Food Stamps and Medi-Cal benefits
• Interactive phone services to answer common questions on CalWORKS, Food Stamps and Medi-Cal
• Video conferencing to bring Health and Social Services staff closer to home-bound clients
• Scanning of birth and death records to improve availability and to reduce office and mailing expenses by 50%
• Currently in process: Automation of the County's payroll and personnel transactions.  (Automation of personnel transactions will bring a 300% return on investment in the first year.  Automation of payroll transactions will bring a 77% return on investment in the first year.)

Delta National Heritage Area Legislation

Last summer, with backing from the Carquinez Strait Preservation Trust and at my request, the Board of Supervisors agreed to approve in concept legislation drafted by Senator Diane Feinstein to create a Delta National Heritage Area (NHA), including the Suisun Marsh and Carquinez Strait.  Benicia and Vallejo City Councils formally voted to support the effort.  In November, Senator Feinstein and Representative Garamendi submitted companion bills to create the NHA, but both measures were dropped when the federal omnibus spending bill collapsed.

In late January, 2011, we were advised that Feinstein and Garamendi have reintroduced their respective bills, (S.29 and HR 486, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Heritage Area).  On February 1, the Board of Supervisors once again sent letters of support to Feinstein and Garamendi.  Without their support at this stage of the process, the effort could well have been doomed as the cost to undertake the preliminary work is estimated at $5 million - a sum not easily allocated for such efforts in this economy.

A NHA identifies a region such as our Delta as a special place that deserves identification, recognition and preservation, enabling programs like tourism promotion, economic development and community revitalization.  Designation of the Delta as a NHA could set aside up to $10 million over the next 10 years. The Area would be managed by the National Park Service through a local entity, and private property owners could opt out.  There are no land use restrictions resulting from the designation.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is one of the largest estuaries in the United States, second only to the Chesapeake Bay.  The estuary is significant for its remarkable aquatic landscape and habitat, its rich California history, and its inland water-based commerce and recreation.  The Carquinez Strait plays a central part in this great Delta story.  As an essential link between the Delta and the Bay, we in Solano County are as much (or more) Delta people as we are Bay Area people.

Your support is also encouraged.  Write or call Senator Feinstein.  Write or call Representative Garamendi.  If nothing else, just thank them for their work and support.

More information about National Heritage Areas. 

Saying So Long to Roger 

Roger has decided to join his wife in full retirement, and will be leaving the District 2 team at the end of February.  Both Cathy and I will miss all that he has brought to the team.  His conscientiousness about our work, his conscience about what we do, and his concerns about the people we serve have brought value to our constituents that will be hard to replace.

"I have enjoyed my work with the County," Roger says.  "I will miss the weekly rush of events and deadlines and the rich mixture of important issues to be addressed, but most of all the good people from all over Solano County I've come to know here," he said.  Roger will retire from his duties as Aide and editor of Seifert eNews at the end of February and we are in the process of identifying his replacement.

Appointments 

Getting to know your Solano County 
Welcome Solano County's new District Attorney
 

Our new Solano County District Attorney, Donald du Bain, was sworn in on January 7.  Mr. du Bain offered a number of new directions for the DA's office, including a plan for a Youth Summit next spring.  He intends to gather representatives of law enforcement along with educators and youth-oriented groups like the Boys and Girls Club along with faith-based organizations and others to work on better ensuring our youth stay away from criminal behaviors.

Other changes made internally include the announcement by Michael Johnson of his retirement in April and the appointment of Birgitta Corsello as the County's next CAO.  In addition, Leslie Caldwell was named the Public Defender [both promotions from within].  Bill Emlen replaced Interim Director Cliff Covey as the Director of Resource Management and Mike Lango has replaced Interim Director Kevin O'Rourke as Director of General Services.  Congratulations to all of these individuals.

 

Solano County 2010 Annual Report

The Solano County 2010 Annual Report highlights the activities and accomplishments of the County over the past year. A new abbreviated format resulted in significant savings to the County.  An online version provides an expanded view of the awards, recognition, infrastructure investments, job creation efforts and community services provided.