+ All Categories
Home > Documents > Chamber Connection - Lompoclompoc.com/TheChamberAugust2019.pdfdiscussion and debate, the Lompoc City...

Chamber Connection - Lompoclompoc.com/TheChamberAugust2019.pdfdiscussion and debate, the Lompoc City...

Date post: 22-Oct-2020
Category:
Upload: others
View: 0 times
Download: 0 times
Share this document with a friend
12
Chamber Connection 111 south i street · lompoc, california 93436 · (805) 736-4567 · F (805) 737-0453 · [email protected] · www.lompoc.com Vol 31. No 8 aug 2019 Board of Directors Jeremy Ball, Chairman Compass Bill Hughen, Jr., CFO Walker, Wilson & Hughen Michael Carroll Union Bank Aaron Crocker Grocery Outlet Bargain Market Michelle Hodapp Excel Personnel Services Morgan Hurd Thrive Chiropracc Dena Kern Compass Rob Klug Master Repair Services Chuck Madson Family Service Agency Candace McIntosh Wounded Warriors Jason Reynolds Lone Coast Studios Barbara Saerfield Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance Chamber Staff Amber Wilson, President/CEO ext 225 · [email protected] Marlee Bedford, Program Director ext 223 · [email protected] connect with us Keep reading for info on luncheons, special events and more! /LompocValleyChamber @lompocchamberofcommerce /LompocChamber Join Us to Celebrate Our 20th Anniversary! The Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization cordially invites you to attend an evening of celebration with wine, light refreshments and great company Thursday • September 12, 2019 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Longoria Winery & Tasting Room 415 E. Chestnut Avenue in Lompoc, California Kindly RSVP by August 29th to Jennifer Salcido at [email protected] Join the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitor's Bureau for a special Chamber Mixer
Transcript
  • Chamber Connection111 south i street · lompoc, california 93436 · (805) 736-4567 · F (805) 737-0453 · [email protected] · www.lompoc.com

    Vol 31. No 8 aug 2019

    Board of DirectorsJeremy Ball, ChairmanCompass

    Bill Hughen, Jr., CFOWalker, Wilson & Hughen

    Michael CarrollUnion Bank

    Aaron CrockerGrocery Outlet Bargain Market

    Michelle HodappExcel Personnel Services

    Morgan HurdThrive Chiropractic

    Dena KernCompass

    Rob KlugMaster Repair Services

    Chuck MadsonFamily Service Agency

    Candace McIntoshWounded Warriors

    Jason ReynoldsLone Coast Studios

    Barbara SatterfieldSta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance

    Chamber StaffAmber Wilson, President/CEOext 225 · [email protected]

    Marlee Bedford, Program Directorext 223 · [email protected]

    connect with us

    Keep reading for info on luncheons, special events and more!

    /LompocValleyChamber

    @lompocchamberofcommerce

    /LompocChamber

    Join Us to CelebrateOur 20th Anniversary!

    The Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization

    cordially invites you to attend an evening of celebration with wine, light refreshments

    and great company

    Thursday • September 12, 2019from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

    Longoria Winery & Tasting Room415 E. Chestnut Avenue in Lompoc, California

    Kindly RSVP by August 29th to Jennifer Salcido at [email protected]

    Join Us to CelebrateOur 20th Anniversary!

    The Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization

    cordially invites you to attend an evening of celebration with wine, light refreshments

    and great company

    Thursday • September 12, 2019from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

    Longoria Winery & Tasting Room415 E. Chestnut Avenue in Lompoc, California

    Kindly RSVP by August 29th to Jennifer Salcido at [email protected]

    Join the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitor's Bureau for a special Chamber Mixer

  • Good Day Chamber Friends,

    The City of Lompoc is facing some seri-ous challenges. Yesterday, August 22nd, the City Council had a special meeting to discuss a potential 1% sales tax increase. There are two local sales tax ballot options, special and general. A Special Sales Tax is dedicated for one or more specific purpos-es and is subject to two-thirds voter ap-proval by local voters. Unrestricted general sales taxes are subject to majority vote approval by local voters.

    What would a sales tax increase look like for Lompoc? Santa Maria passed a 1% general sales tax increase in 2019 (Mea-sure U), which increased the tax rate from 7.75% to 8.75%. In July, as a result of the successful passing of Measure U, the City of Santa Maria announced the filling of 57 new jobs – 36 of which are a direct result of Measure U. The majority of these positions are in public safety – 15 Police, and 13 in Fire.

    This model is a perfect example of why Lompoc voters should support a sales tax increase and invest in its own backyard – how many of you shop in Santa Maria or Santa Barbara and freely pay a higher sales tax rate without thinking twice? For reference, the ballot question used in Santa Maria is as follows:

    “To maintain/enhance essential services including neighborhood police patrols; firefighter staffing; gang suppression/enforcement; crime/graffi-ti/vandalism prevention; 911 medical response times; library, recreation, homelessness, at-risk youth programs; providing durable fiscal stability; shall the measure be approved adopting an ordinance extending Mea-sure U at the one cent rate until ended by voters, providing $18,000,000 annually, with no funds taken by Sacramento, requiring oversight, inde-pendent audits, all funds used locally?”

    This initiative passed with an overwhelming 74.18% voter approval. This is a pivotal time for Lompoc!

    president'sby Amber WilsonIn this

    IssueLVCHO mixer on Sept 12 cover

    president’s Letterplatinum partnerspg 2

    Chamber Calendarlocal News City Council Opts for Taxpg 3, 4

    chamber news Annual Awards Banquet Letter from the Chairmanpg 5, 6, 7

    Membership updates New Members Renewed Members 110% Clubpg 8, 9

    CalChamber News Summer Work Challenges CA Assembly Wildfire Billpg 10

    extras Santa Barbara County Workforce Labor Datapg 12

    2Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau August 2019

    2019 partners

  • Moving forward: Lompoc Council opts to put sales tax increase before voters Article Courtesy of Willis Jacobsen, Lompoc Record

    After nearly six months of public discussion and debate, the Lompoc City Council voted Thursday night to give Lompoc residents an op-portunity to decide — via the ballot box — if they would like to raise the local sales tax in an effort to boost the city's flagging revenue.

    The council wrapped up Thursday’s special meeting, which lasted more than two hours, by voting 5-0 to

    put a general sales tax increase of 1% on the March 2020 ballot. The move had been recommended in past budget cycles but became a prima-ry topic of discussion for much of this year as the council and city staff looked to offset budget shortfalls and address the city’s significant obli-gation to CalPERS, the state’s public employee retirement system.

    Thursday’s vote, which was followed by a round of applause from the dozens of community members who remained for the duration of the meeting, marked a change of direction for Councilmen Jim Mosby, Victor Vega and Dirk Starbuck, each of whom had previously expressed hesita-tion to the idea of using a tax increase to try to lift city revenue.

    Prior to Thursday's vote, Mayor Jenelle Osborne expressed gratitude to the councilmen for continuing the discussion.

    “Thank you all for changing your minds,” she said. “I believe you finally listened to the community. And while it’s not necessarily addressing the first need of public safety, it is absolutely addressing our outstanding debt and I think we can move forward in the future.”

    The successful motion, which was made by Vega, directed city staff to prepare a ballot measure for a 1% general sales tax increase to be voted on during the state’s primary election on March 3, 2020. By choosing to place a general tax on the ballot, instead of a special tax, the measure will need support from a simple majority of the electorate, rather than the two-thirds support a special tax would need.

    A general tax will also give the city leeway in how the money is spent, while a special tax would have required that the funds be allocated for a particular purpose.

    To proceed with the ballot measure, the council will next need to ap-prove a “fiscal emergency” ordinance at a future meeting. The exact ballot language is also slated to be reviewed at a later date. The bal-lot measure would need to be submitted to the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder by Oct. 24.

    Twenty members of the public addressed the council during a 45-minute public comment session, with almost all of the speakers expressing sup-port for putting a general sales tax increase to voters.

    Story continued on page 4

    chambercalendarall meetings held at the chamber unless stated otherwise

    board of directors meeting Wed, Aug 28 · 7:30 am

    chamber closed for labor day Mon, Sept 2

    Military affairs committee meeting Thurs, Sept 12 · 4:00 pm

    lvcho's 20th anniversary chamber mixer at longoria tasting room Thurs, Sept 12 · 5:00 pm

    city council meeting at city hall Tues, Sept 17 · 6:30 pm

    september chamber luncheon on green business at the Hilton Garden Inn Thurs, Sept 12 · 5:00 pm

    calendar continued...

    local

    August 20193Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau

  • chambercalendarall meetings held at the chamber unless stated otherwise

    native brewhouse ribbon cutting Fri, Sept 20 · 4:00 pm

    leadership lompoc valley board of trustees meeting Tues, Sept 24 · 12:00 pm

    Board of Directors meeting Wed, Sept 25 · 7:30 am

    leadership lompoc valley class of 2019-2020 Kick-Off banquet at la purisima mission Friday, Sept 27 · 6:00 pm

    4Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau August 2019

    localMoving forward: Lompoc Council opts to put sales tax increase before voters CONTINUED...

    According to figures provided by city staff, a sales tax increase from the current rate of 7.75% to 8.75% would generate an estimated $4.9 million in additional revenue annu-ally. The cost to put the measure on the ballot is estimated to be $20,000 to $25,000.

    If the measure passes, the new tax would go into effect in July 2020 and the city would begin seeing the pro-

    jected additional revenue in October 2020, according to City Manager Jim Throop.

    How that additional money is utilized was a significant topic of discus-sion during Thursday’s meeting. Several residents expressed a desire to provide more funding to the city’s public safety departments, a senti-ment that was shared by members of the council.

    Key to those discussions, however, was the city’s $93 million obligation to CalPERS, about $43 million of which is slated to come from the gen-eral fund.

    Mike Meyer, a vice principal with NHA Advisors, opened the meeting by sharing figures and financing options on how the city can pay down that debt. He noted that the CalPERS impact this fiscal year is expected to be about $9 million, which is up from the $5 million impact in 2013 but significantly less than the $14.5 million impact anticipated at its peak in 2031.

    Some city employees, including leaders of the Lompoc police and fire unions, were among those who expressed support for the sales tax increase. They noted that while it will not go di-rectly to public safety departments, it could free up money within the city’s coffers that could in turn benefit the entire city, including public safety.

    While some speakers were critical of Mosby, Vega and Starbuck for their past resistance to the move, Mosby and Vega defended their prior actions.

    Mosby said he felt that the recent budget cutbacks, many of which he helped spearhead, will serve the city well in the event that the tax measure fails to pass, and Vega said he felt like more information — such as the figures provided Thursday — was needed before moving forward with a potential tax increase.

    “The CalPERS thing is changing monthly and daily and it’s just an ex-treme debt that everyone’s having a hard time keeping a handle on,” Vega said. “Nobody was ever against, that I know of, putting a tax on the ballot. … We were just trying to vet everything.”

    Mike Meyer reviews options for City Hall

  • August 20195Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau

    chamber'We can do better': Ramirez, Thoms-Har-rington honored as Lompoc's man, woman of the year Article Courtesy of Willis Jacobsen, Photos courtesy of Len Wood; Lompoc Record

    On a night in which Lucy Thoms-Harrington was presented with one of the Lompoc Valley’s top honors, the longtime community volunteer used her time in the spotlight to do more of what helped get her there in the first place: Advocate on behalf of the city’s youth.

    Thoms-Harrington was announced as the 2019 Lompoc Valley woman of

    the year on Wednesday night during a banquet put on by the Lompoc Valley Cham-ber of Commerce. The ceremony, held at the Dick DeWees Community and Senior Center, also included honors for Don Ramirez, who was chosen as the man of the year; Tina Mercer, who was named the Cham-ber’s volunteer of the year; and South Side Coffee Co., which was presented with the Chamber’s Small Busi-ness Excellence Award.

    Perhaps no recipient was as emotional as Thoms-Har-rington, who fought back tears after her name was called and struggled at times to keep her voice from cracking as she thanked the many “heroes” whom she said make Lompoc the community it is. Still, it didn’t take long for her to turn her attention to the ballroom’s packed audience and issue a challenge of her own.

    “If you’re happy for Lompoc, I am, too, but I think we can do better for our youth and I think we can do better for our town,” she said.

    “If you like what you see and you think we can do bet-ter,” she added, “it’s up to all of us to call [the mayor and City Council members] and tell them … ‘We can do better. We need to do better. And we will do bet-ter. Put the revenue in the right spot, value safety and give our youth a positive trajectory in our communi-ty.’”

    Thoms-Harrington, who was also a nominee for the 2018 Valley of Flowers Peace Prize, received a rous-ing round of applause for her call to action during an event that featured standing ovations for each of the honorees.

    Thoms-Harrington, Ramirez, Mercer and Stacy Lowthorp, a co-owner of South Side Coffee Co., were each presented with certif-icates from Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne and Congressman Salud Carbajal, who attended the event after partic-ipating in a veterans

    breakfast Wednesday morning at the Lompoc Veter-ans Memorial Building. They were each also presented with recognitions from representatives of Assembly-man Jordan Cunningham and County Supervisor Peter Adam.

    The Man of the Year Award marked the near-end of a long day for Ramirez, who helped organize the aforementioned veterans breakfast and was lauded for his many contributions to the community. Among Ramirez's highlighted efforts was his volunteer work with the American Legion and the city’s Fallen War-riors and Vietnam memorials, his service on various veterans committees and projects, and his exhaustive volunteer work to help renovate the Vets Building, which recently had its kitchen dedicated in Ramirez’s honor.

    Ramirez, who was introduced by longtime friend and 1997 Lompoc Valley woman of the year, Alice Milligan, said he was proud to do his part.

    Story continued on page 6

    Ann McCarty, 2018 WoY presents the 2019 WoY to Lucy Thoms-Harrington

    Tina Mercer (left) fistpumps in celebration of win-ning the Volunteer of the Year award, presented by

    Amber Wilson (right) of the Lompoc Valley Chamber

    The night was full of standing ovations for the award winners

    Don Ramirez (left) accepts congratulations from Con-gressman Carbajal (center) for 2019 Man of the Year.

    Lowthorp (left), co-owner of South Side Coffee Co. smiles as Ball (right) presents the Small

    Business Excellence Award

  • 6Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau August 2019

    chamber

    Yoga. Pilates. Zumba. Kung Fu. And more.

    WELLNESSLOMPOC FAMILY YMCA

    201 West College Avenue, Lompoc, CA 93436805.736.3483 • ciymca.org/lompoc

    'We can do better': CONTINUED...“I’ve enjoyed it,” he said.

    City of Lompoc to explore formation of nonprofit, remove anonymity for some complainants

    City of Lompoc to explore formation of nonprofit, remove anonymity for some complainants

    The Lompoc City Council agreed Tuesday to have staff explore the formation of a nonprofit organization to help fund city projects, and the governing body also approved a change to the city’s code-enforcement complaint process that will strip away anonymity for certain complainants.

    He then made a pitch for the community to utilize the new-look Vets Building, which he described as one of the most beautiful county buildings in the area.

    “If you have a function, please keep us in mind,” he said. “Come see us and see what we can do for you.”

    Thoms-Harrington, who was introduced by 2018 woman of the year, Ann McCarty, was recognized for her decades of involvement with various organiza-tions, including the Lompoc Family YMCA, the Lom-

    poc High School STARS Academy, the local chapter of the American Association of University Women, the Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down event, the United Boys and Girls Club, the Lompoc Com-munity Education Foundation, and the North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center.

    McCarty said that multiple nomination letters com-pared Thoms-Harrington's energy level to that of the Energizer Bunny, and McCarty concluded her intro-duction by reading a brief passage from a nomina-tion letter that she said she felt perfectly described Thoms-Harrington.

    “She is an incredible champion for youth and families in the Lompoc community,” McCarty said.

    All of the speakers at the reception professed their af-fections for the Lompoc Valley, with Lowthorp stating outright: “I love Lompoc.”

    New Lompoc Chamber Chair Jeremy Ball, who took the reins from outgoing Chair Michael Carroll to start the ceremony, encouraged everyone in attendance to do their part to try to limit negativity toward the city.

    “Instead of us getting used to saying Lompoc can’t … let’s celebrate the things we have,” he said.

  • August 20197Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau

    chamber

    HOst A RIBBON CUTTING!Get the Chamber community into YOUR business!

    RIBBON CUTTINGS CAN BE HELD FOR A VARIETY OF OCCASIONS; REMODELS, BUSINESS MILESTONES, OPENINGS AND RE-OPENINGS AND MORE!

    Contact us today at (805) 736-4567 or [email protected]

    From the Chairman of the Board to the City Council of LompocA Letter by Jeremy Ball, Board Chair for the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce

    Dear Lompoc City Council,

    I am writing this letter on behalf of the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce where I have recently taken the role as Chairperson for our board. I am unfor-tunately unable to be with you in person to express these thoughts. Nonetheless, I am hopeful that a few of these elements will be discussed as you decide what direction Lompoc will take as it considers an increase in revenue and specifically a tax.

    As many of you know, the Lompoc Chamber of Com-merce distributed a survey with 725 unique respons-es. Overwhelmingly, 76% of responders support the idea of a tax in some form. Within that 76%, respond-ers by almost a 3 to 1 margin (60% vs. 21%) support a general 1% sales tax vs. a special tax.

    So, from this data, I extrapolate a few simple things:

    1. The business community in Lompoc is prioritizing a “general fund” tax. 2. Public safety is paramount. 3. Our business community is concerned about unin-tended consequences.

    The first two items are pretty self-explanatory so I'll elaborate a bit on #3.

    Let's talk about unintended consequences from the Chamber's perspective. Specifically, let's be honest about the special tax. While in theory it sounds like a measure of accountability, we must convey that a spe-cial tax (both optically and functionally) places greater importance on funding our retirement liability OVER stabilizing and strengthening public safety.

    Our public safety sector is depleted. Any notion to the contrary just isn't accurate. On top of this, look at some of our recent crime statistics including homi-cides, burglaries and assaults. The numbers are not good and are headed in the wrong direction. These things don't just happen. There is always a cause. There is always an effect.

    So, what do these unintended consequences mean for us at the Chamber and why should we care so much about public safety? It comes down to the cumulative impacts. For example, why would a business choose to come to or even stay in Lompoc if, after a quick google search, they discover a majority of headlines focused on crime and constant budget woes? If there is a neg-ative perception of this community, it makes it next to impossible to attract a business looking for a great place to open. We can have the prettiest brochures or the best websites but if we don't take a fundamental look at how we balance our town's image (both within and outside of our community), none of those things will matter.

    Let's talk Vandenberg and the 20,000+ people that it supports. While I'm sure that they are interested in us

    paying our Calpers liability, they are also interested in feeling safe when they go to the park. Have we done everything we can to make them feel safe? If not, how can we expect them to spend their dollars at our local businesses? Most likely, they will head towards Santa Maria—once again adding to the that city's sales tax coffers.

    I could mention several more scenarios of unintend-ed consequence that negatively impacts areas like tourism, hospitality, the wine industry, or the overall quality of life. The bigger point here is that all of those sectors will fail to thrive IF we don't place the empha-sis on the need for fully staffed public safety.

    In closing, our members have spoken and our board has unanimously voted in favor of supporting a gen-eral sales tax. We fully believe that this method is the only substantial approach to addressing these issues head on before our resources run out.

    We urge discussion and consideration of a general sales tax. The business community and the majori-ty citizens have urged this approach. If the council chooses another approach, we hope that, in terms of perception, that it places the greatest emphasis on public safety.

    Thank you for your consideration.

  • Diani Companies

    *Del Norte Mobile Home Park*

    Double L Services Inc.

    *KCOY TV 12*

    *Kendall-Shepard Eye Center*

    *Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization*

    Kingsway Financial Advisors

    DenMat Holdings, LLC

    *Lompoc Valley Festival Association*

    Lompoc Literacy Program (Central Coast Literacy Council)

    *Lompoc Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery*

    *Kita Wines*

    Montemar Wines

    Kalawashaq' Wine Cellars DBA Camins 2 Dreams

    313 North F St, Lompoc, CA www.camins2dreams.com

    Calvary Baptist Church 3355 Constellation Rd., Lompoc, CA

    www.calvarylompoc.com

    Native Brewhouse & Wine 116 North F. St., Lompoc, CA

    www.chumashcasino.com

    Island Mix's Food Truck & Catering 877-214-5727

    www.islandmixs.com

    membershiprenewed*110%club

    get an asterisk * byyour business name!

    That's because these fantastic businesses are part of the Chamber of Commerce's 110% Club!

    When you receive your membership investment renewal notice, consider becoming a 110% Club

    member.

    The voluntary 10% extra contribution allows us to sponsor such programs as our adult and youth leadership programs and the various community

    events we produce, all of which improve the qual-ity of life in the Lompoc Valley. Plus, you will be

    recognized in the Chamber newsletter.

    8Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau August 2019

    New

  • Membership

    Independent • Locally Owned

    John Puscheck, CFP® Managing Principal 217 W. Central Ave., Suite C Lompoc, CA 93436 805- 735-8348 www.KingswayFinancialAdvisors.com

    Look For Us at a New Location on November 01, 2019 Markets fluctuate. Relationships shouldn’t.

    Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), member SIPC.

    Kingsway Financial Advisors is a separate entity from WFAFN. (c)2012 Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved 0719-02441.

    9Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau August 2019

  • Keep Your Workplace Running Smoothly During Summer VacationsHotter temperatures and no school for the kids means many employees are using up their vacation time. In fact, nearly six in 10 workers (58 percent) save their vacation time for June, July and August, according to a recent Ac-countemps survey. Respondents plan to take an average of 10 days off during these summer months.

    With its great summer weather and variety of outdoor activities, California cities top the list for summer vaca-tions days. Employees in San Francisco plan to take the most vacation days, with an average of 13 days away from work this summer. Los Angeles is the top vaca-tion-time-saving U.S. city with 74 percent of workers preserving time off for summer. In contrast, Phoenix, where the average daily summer temperature is over 100 degrees, had the fewest workers (44 percent) saving time for a summer vacation.

    These employee absences can result in potential pro-ductivity gaps if not planned for accordingly. Employ-ers might not be able to grant specific vacation dates requested, especially if employees request the same vacation days. Production schedules and coverage needs may conflict with dates that employees need.

    Employers can set policies regarding when vacations can be taken and for how long. For instance, if an employer knows that August is a busy month for completing and shipping products, the employer’s vacation policy could state that vacation requests will not be approved for August, absent extenuating circumstances.

    You can also require advance notice of vacation and supervisory approval of any vacation requests.

    “Summer vacations can impact a company’s operations and productivity, but anticipating and planning for staff absences — including bringing in temporary support — can help minimize disruptions,” said Michael Steinitz, senior executive director of Accountemps, in a press release.

    Manage work expectations by assessing your business needs ahead and identifying the required number of shifts and employees needed to cover the projected business during the summer. Once you determine your needs, inform your employees in advance of the need for coverage during the summer, critical dates that are im-portant to meeting company goals and the days (if any) that the company will be closed or will close early.

    While it may be too late for this summer, consider dis-cussing vacation absences in advance of summer 2020.

    cal newsNewsom’s sweeping wildfire plan is on brink of passage California lawmakers are on the cusp of approving a landmark bill to shield the state’s major electric compa-nies from future wildfire costs and reshape key aspects of how those utilities are regulated, a sweeping en-deavor that could become law by Friday after less than a week of public debate in the Legislature. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office spearheaded the bill, AB1054, which aims to create a new fund of at least $21 billion to com-pensate victims of wildfires caused by power lines, re-quire utilities to get annual safety certifications and shift the standard regulators follow when deciding whether an electric company can make its customers pay for fire costs.

    Despite its complexity and long-term consequences, the bill has sailed through the Legislature. It was approved by the Assembly’s Utilities and Energy Committee on a 10-1 vote Wednesday — two days after it passed through the Senate. The bill heads next to the full As-sembly floor, after which only Newsom’s signature would be required for it to take effect immediately.

    Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, cast the lone vote against the bill on Wednesday, citing concern that one component could make it harder for cities to take over utility power lines — a step San Francisco is actively considering. Some Assembly members wondered wheth-er they needed more time. But one of the bill’s authors, Assemblyman Chad Mayes, R-Yucca Valley (San Ber-nardino County), stressed that it built on work the Legis-lature conducted last year as lawmakers prepared to pass another wildfire bill.

    “When folks say this thing is being rushed, I do take a bit of issue with it,” Mayes told his colleagues.

    Lawmakers need a two-thirds majority to ultimately approve the bill. Patrick McCallum, a lobbyist for wildfire victims who supports AB1054, said earlier Wednesday that he was confident backers could get enough support to see the bill through.

    “We’re working hand in hand with the governor’s office, and the governor is actively engaged,” he said. “It’s all hands on deck.”

    The new law would be pivotal to the fortunes of Pa-cific Gas and Electric Co., which is currently in bank-ruptcy protection largely because of fires started by its equipment, and Southern California’s two major inves-tor-owned utilities, which face potential credit rating downgrades if lawmakers don’t act fast enough to curb the companies’ wildfire risks.

    10Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau August 2019Full Article with CalChamber News Full Article with The San Francisco Chronicle

  • CELEBRATING

    Cottage Health provides residents of the California Central Coast with exemplary health care, continuous enhancements in advanced medicine and a commitment to our communities.

    Cottage Health provides inpatient care and 24-hour emergency services at its hospitals in Goleta, Santa Barbara, and the Santa Ynez Valley. Our specialties include the Cottage Children’s Medical Center, Level I Trauma Center, Santa Barbara Neuroscience Institute, Heart & Vascular Center, Center for Orthopedics, and the Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital.

    SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL

    • Cottage Heart and Vascular Center TAVR Program

    • Santa Barbara Neuroscience Institute iMRI Program

    • Level I Trauma Center

    • Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

    • Women’s Health

    • Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine

    GOLETA VALLEY COTTAGE HOSPITAL

    • 24/7 Emergency Care

    • Cottage Center for Orthopedics

    • Ridley-Tree Center for Wound Management

    • Breast Imaging Center

    SANTA YNEZ VALLEY COTTAGE HOSPITAL

    • 24/7 Emergency Care• Cardiac/Pulmonary

    Rehabilitation• Surgical Services• Imaging• Outpatient Infusion Services

    For a list of all services, visit cottagehealth.org

    C O T T A G E H E A L T H

    our region’s choice for advanced health care

    11Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau August 2019

  • 12Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau August 2019

    Extras

    To schedule an appointment(805) 737-8786

    LompocHealth.com

    Urgent Care1225 North H St

    www.snaponsmile.comAsk your dentist today!

    Before After Before

    After

    www.snaponsmile.com

    Change your life with Snap-On Smile!

    Chamber Newsletter Advertising Rates

    Deadline: 15th of the month prior to the month you wish your ad inserted.

    Please call the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce at 805-736-4567 to place an ad or if you have any questions.

    Size

    Business Card - Color Double Business Card - Color Half Page - Color Full Page - Color

    Monthly

    $ 10 $ 15 $ 30 $ 55

    3 Month $ 25 $ 40 $ 85 $150

    6 Month $ 48 $ 78 $160 $270

    1 Year $ 90

    $144 $290 $480

    Ads must be camera ready in pdf, jpg or png format

    Ads must be paid in advance

    Business Card Size is 2 x 3.5 inches

    Double Business Card is a 1/4 page ad - 4 x 3.5 inches

    Half page is 7.5 x 5 inches

    Full page is 7.5 x 10 inches


Recommended