Riverside County Legislative Platform

RIVERSIDE COUNTY
2017
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
John Tavaglione, Chairman
Second District
Kevin Jeffries
Chuck Washington
First District
Third District
Vacant
Marion Ashley
Fourth District
Fifth District
Jay E. Orr
County Executive Officer
Riverside County Board of Supervisors

Board Chair
John F. Tavaglione
Second District
[email protected]
(951) 955-1020
Kevin Jeffries
First District
[email protected]
(951) 955-1010
Chuck Washington
Third District
[email protected]
(951) 955-1030
Vacant
Fourth District
[email protected]
(760) 863-8211
Marion Ashley
Fifth District
[email protected]
(951) 955-1050
Represents the cities of Corona, Norco, Jurupa Valley, and Eastvale. It also
includes approximately 1/3 of the City of Riverside, including the following city
of Riverside neighborhoods: Northside, Downtown, Wood Streets, Magnolia
Center, Grand, and the northern half of Arlanza and La Sierra Acres.
Unincorporated communities include Home Gardens, El Cerrito, Coronita,
and Highgrove
Represents the cities of Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, and most of
the city of Riverside.
Unincorporated communities include DeLuz, Gavilan Hills, Good Hope, Lake
Hills, Lake Mathews, LaCresta, Mead Valley, Meadowbrook, Spring Hills,
Temescal Valley, Tenaja, Warm Springs, and Woodcrest.
Represents constituents from Idyllwild to Anza Borrego Desert State Park,

and from Temecula to San Jacinto. Representation includes the cities of
Hemet, Murrieta, San Jacinto, and Temecula, and the communities of
Aguanga, Anza Valley, Cahuilla, East Hemet, Gilman Hot Springs, Homeland,
Idyllwild, Lake Riverside, Mountain Center, Murrieta Hot Springs, Pine Cove,
Pine Meadow, the Pinyon Communities, Poppet Flats, Rancho California,
Soboba Hot Springs, Valle Vista, and Winchester.
Represents the cities of Blythe, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot

Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and
Rancho Mirage.
Unincorporated communities include Bermuda Dunes, Chiriaco Summit,
Colorado River communities, Desert Center, Desert Edge, Eagle Mountain,
Indio Hills, Lake Tamarisk, Mecca, Mesa Verde, North Shore, Oasis, Ripley,
Sky Valley, Sun City. Palm Desert, Thermal, Thousand Palms, and Vista
Santa Rosa.
Represents the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Menifee, Perris, and
Moreno Valley, March Air Reserve Base and the easterly portion of the March
Joint Powers Authority. The district also encompasses tribal lands of the
Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla
Indians, and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians.
Unincorporated areas include the Banning Bench, Cabazon, Cherry Valley,
Desert Hot Springs, El Nido, Juniper Flats, Lakeview, Mission Lakes, Nuevo,
Romoland, North Palm Springs, Painted Hills, Quail Lake, Reche Canyon,
San Timoteo, Snow Creek, Twin Pines, West Garnet, Windy Point, and
Whitewater
Table of Contents
2017 STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 4
Behavioral Health ........................................................................................................ 10
Economic Development Agency ................................................................................ 14
Emergency Management Department........................................................................ 30
Flood Control and Water Conservation ..................................................................... 32
Parks ............................................................................................................................ 36
Public Health................................................................................................................ 39
Public Social Services................................................................................................. 43
Riverside County Information Technology................................................................ 49
Waste Resources......................................................................................................... 53
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/
Executive Summary
2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
The Executive Office prepared this document in accordance with Board Policy A-27 and with the
assistance of Board members and departments. The Board continues to support efforts from previous
platforms.
Highlights from Previous Platforms
Funding Disparities The Inland Empire continues to be harmed by state funding formulas.
The 1991 healthcare realignment significantly harmed Riverside County by failing to take into
account the Countys ability for growth. With the advent of the 2011 Realignment Riverside
County finds itself in a similar situation where its growing population and prominence is being
ignored. Failure to act now would allow cumulative disparities to grow and compound over
time, thus further harming the County in the long term.
The County continues to advocate for equity in Cap and Trade program funds. AB 32, the
Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, set forth a regulatory structure referred to as Cap &
Trade. This program is producing close to a billion dollars annually. The affordable housing
and sustainability community (AHSC) grant is one of five pools of money distributed from Cap
& Trade. In 2015, The Southern California region received 18% of allocated funds from the
program even though the region has 60% of the state population and 67% of the
disadvantaged communities in the state.
Immigration Reform Resolution Number 2013-050 was unanimously approved February 26, 2013.
The Board continues to support comprehensive immigration reform that protects public safety
and the rights of existing American citizens and includes: continued enhancement of border
security and national defense, a tough but fair pathway to citizenship, a guest worker program
for agricultural/subsistence wage workers, a special provision to ensure minor children are
treated separately, a registration program to combat visa overstays, and an improved process
for admitting future workers.
New Proposals
The Board of Supervisors Supports:
1. State legislation instructing the Legislative Analysts Office to report on state and federal
distribution formulas. The Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) is a non-partisan policy research
arm of the State Legislature. Known for its fiscal and programmatic expertise and nonpartisan
analyses of the state budget and a variety of other issues, the LAO serves as the Legislatures
"eyes and ears" to ensure that legislative policy is implemented in a cost efficient and effective
manner.
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Executive Summary

2. Pilot Programs - Innovation Grants for Government Efficiency
This diagram represents the flow of money from the federal government for social services and general
welfare programs. The Board advocates for a simplified approach.
In 2015, the Board hired KPMG, an accounting and management-consulting firm, to conduct forensic
audits and reviews of county operations. The results of the first stage of the review identified a potential
annual savings of over tens of millions of dollars by implementing a number of programmatic efficiencies
and eliminating duplicative or obsolete practices.
Executive Summary

The identified savings came from county departments that have budgets using almost exclusively
county only funds (net county costs). Further stages of audits and reviews will involve departments that
have budgets consisting of a majority of funds from state/federal programs. Riverside County strives to
operate as cost effectively and efficiently as possible across all department programs to ensure optimal,
customer focused service delivery.
In June 2016, Speaker Paul Ryan put forth a series of legislative and policy proposals with a goal of
finding inefficiencies in government programs. Speaker Ryans document identified over 80 separate
programs devoted to benefits and services for low income individuals, with over $1 trillion a year in
spending. Specifically, the proposals call for more evidence based evaluations of programs. It also
suggests a tiered funding approach in which programs are rigorously evaluated and either discarded
or provided with continued funding based on meeting objectives and goals.
The Board advocates for a pilot program whereby federal and state funding guidelines are
created to encourage costs savings through a tiered funding approach as well as the use of
other models that bring forth best practices and efficiencies. The Board proposes that the pilot
program incentivize counties and local governments to reinvest any cost savings to further enhance
local programs. The Board further request that any pilot program be allowed the maximum possible
flexibility in design and implementation. A pilot program with strict federal and state guidelines might
not have the insight of local administrative expertise and therefore have a limited use.
3. Streamline Infrastructure Projects
It is governments job to ensure that infrastructure is operating at peak efficiency. The approval process
for infrastructure projects has turned into a decades long overly complicated and litigious process that
has left our countries infrastructure in a state of inefficiency and disarray.
An analysis on the impacts and solutions to our current system by Common Good, a nonpartisan reform
organization, shows that a six-year delay on public projects costs the nation over $3.7 trillion. This
figure, which includes the costs of prolonged inefficiencies and unnecessary pollution, is more than
double the $1.7 trillion needed to modernize Americas infrastructure. Delays on projects concerning
power transmission and roads/bridges play an ever-increasing part in the total losses that come as a
result of delay.
Roads and Bridges

Over ten percent of U.S. bridges are structurally deficient. This is not even taking into account
that nearly one in seven bridges is not only structurally deficient but also functionally obsolete.
When further examined this has resulted in the additional costs of: $270 billion dollars due to the
cost of vehicle congestion on our roads, environmental losses of $6 billion, and an increase of
$151.8 billion to rebuilding costs. The total cost of a six-year delay in this case is thus $427.7
billion.
Canada and Germany

Compared to other western countries the United States is nowhere near as efficient. Looking at
Canada and Germany, (which generally grant permits for major infrastructure projects within two
years or less including an environmental review), both countries have clear lines of authority with
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Executive Summary

consolidated decision making processes. Lawsuits must be resolved in a timely matter and
jurisdictions are limited to legal violations instead of overarching policy decisions or general
quality reviews.
The Board supports legislation to begin the consolidation of decisions within a

simplified framework with deadlines, clear lines of authority, and an overarching agency
with a purpose to balance the needs created by the cross jurisdictional demands of
multiple parties.
4. Reform California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

Riverside County created the first and largest in the nation Habitat Conservation Plan in an effort to
balance environmental policy with the need for improved infrastructure. The plan was created with input
from environmental and conservation groups to ensure development occurred and that the environment
was protected.
Unfortunately, the need to improve the underlying excessive regulations contained in CEQA has not
diminished.
A variety of bi-partisan reform proposals have been suggested in the state legislature, but no wholesale
change has been enacted. Instead, there has been a number of single project CEQA exemptions
passed into law. For example, when the National Basketball Associations Sacramento Kings franchise
threatened to leave for Seattle, California enacted a law to facilitate stadium development in
Sacramento that contained an important limitation on the CEQA process.
Thus, like the law enacted to facilitate stadium development in Sacramento, the Board:
Supports legislation that will make it so that all litigation under CEQA can be entirely
resolved, including appeals, within 270 days of its filing, and further compel the states
judicial council to enact rules to guarantee this timeline.
5. Support legislation allowing electric vehicle charging stations within Caltrans Roadside Rest
Areas. Caltrans operates 86 rest stops throughout the state. The Board supports legislation to
create a public private partnership for the purpose of building EV charging stations within Caltrans
Roadside Rest Areas. The largest impediment for the expansion of EVs is the lack of charging
stations, the state should be looking at all options to expand access.
6. Board of Equalization: Sales Tax Oversight
Support legislation to ensure that counties and cities are not harmed by miscalculations
of sales tax appropriations by the Board of Equalization. For example, the state could
absorb the recent proposition 172 miscalculation in exchange for counties and cities foregoing
various state owed mandate re-imbursement claims.
7. The Board supports the Coordinated Care Initiative.
The CCI brings together many fragmented pieces of our health care system, through advanced
improvements in coordinated care, integrated physical and behavioral health services and robust
coordination of wrap around services, which means beneficiaries are served more efficiently and
are able to live more productive lives. Furthermore, the CCI program preserves the Countys In8
Executive Summary

Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Maintenance of Effort (MOE) under 1991 Realignment.
Continuation of significant items from previous platforms:
Health Care
In 2015, the Board approved consolidation of the health care departments. Mental Health, Public Health
and the County Hospital became the Riverside University Health System. The consolidation provides
efficiencies in the delivery of health care services for county residents.
The Board thus supports legislation to enhance the quality of health care and to strengthen the public
health care delivery system:
Repeal the prohibition of medical insurance coverage for inmates. When a person enters jail,
their insurance coverage is suspended and the county is responsible for the cost of care. The
county supports similar legislation like, H.R. 4201 (2015) - Restoring the Partnership for County
Health Care Costs Act by Rep. Hastings, [D-FL-20].
Oppose attempts by the federal government to limit the 340B Medicare drug purchase program.
This program reduces the cost of prescription drugs for safety net hospitals and is critical to
ensuring care to the underserved.
Support continued efforts for behavior health parity and integration. The Board supports policies
that enhance the role of behavior health in health care.
Support of state recognition of tax-deductible health savings accounts in anticipation of the
federal governments rebuilding of healthcare.
Judgeships
Support legislation to fund additional Superior Court and Appellate Court Justiceships.
Reduce the federal corporate tax rate
The U.S. has the highest corporate tax rate of all industrialized nations. There is an estimated
$2 - $3 trillion dollars held oversees by U.S. companies to avoid the high tax rate. If those monies
were brought back home, hundreds of thousands of jobs would be created.
Salton Sea
The Board supports the implementation of the Governors Salton Sea task force plan and
encourages continued action without further consternation or formal studies. Riverside County
also advocates for an appropriate share of Proposition 1A bond money for the Sea.
Transportation
The Board continues to support new funding for state and federal transportation obligations.
Vehicle License Fees
The Board continues to support the efforts of Wildomar, Menifee, Eastvale and Jurupa Valley to
obtain parity in receipt of VLF revenue through legislation.
Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health
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Behavioral Health
1991 Realignment Equity (State)

Issue: The 1991 realignment funding formula disregards population changes in the allocation of various
mental health funding streams.
Action: Seek offsets in the 1991 funding formula to correct population based funding disparities.
Background: Population in the County of Riverside has increased 94% since 1991. Yet, per capita
mental health funding has decreased 3% in the same period, thus augmenting budget pressures on
limited county and alternative resources.
2011 Realignment Equity (State)

Issue: The 2011 realignment adjusted formula for Children and Substance Abuse Medi-Cal programs.
Action: Establish an adjustment mechanism in the 2011 realignment formula to adjust for population
growth.
Background: Failure to adjust the 2011 Realignment formula for Children and Substance Abuse MediCal programs based on population growth would allow cumulative disparities to grow and compound
over time, thus augmenting budget pressures on limited county and alternative resources.
Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Funding Definitions (State)

Issue: The MHSA currently requires the County to allocate 5% for innovative projects, as defined within
the MHSA, which must be approved by the State Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability
Commission.
Action: Seek administrative or legislative change to limitations of definitions of interpretation and
implementation so that obtaining approval is made less difficult and so that there is no underutilization
of MHSA funds.
Background: Passage of Proposition 63 (now known as the Mental Health Services Act or MHSA) in
November 2004, provided one of the first opportunities in many years for the California Department of
Mental Health (DMH) to provide increased funding, personnel, and other resources to support county
mental health programs and monitor progress toward statewide goals for children, transition age youth,
adults, and older adults and families. The Act addresses a broad continuum of prevention, early
intervention, and service needs while also providing the necessary infrastructure, technology, and
training elements that would effectively support this system.
This Act imposes a 1% income tax on personal income in excess of $1 million; since that time, it has
generated approximately $8 billion.
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Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health Care and Services in Juvenile

Justice Settings (State)
Issue: Limitations on Medi-Cal reimbursement and access to care restrict behavioral health and
substance abuse treatment services available to juvenile offenders.
Action: Support legislation that encourages the removal of Medi-Cal restrictions and expanded
funding.
Background: Removal of limitations and expansion of Medi-Cal funding would allow appropriate
behavioral health and substance abuse treatment services to be available when and as needed in
juvenile justice settings. This would provide budgetary relief to the County and other resources and
would further result in reductions in severity of certain conditions and reduction of youth recidivism
rates.
Jail / Juvenile Hall Medicaid Exclusion (Federal)

Issue: Federal Medicaid reimbursement for medically necessary behavioral health care for adults and
juveniles who are incarcerated is permitted for inmates in a hospital setting but prohibited when
delivered in County jail and juvenile hall facilities.
Action: Support legislation that encourages administrative or legislative change to remove restrictions
that limit reimbursement based on the setting which care is delivered.
Background: Removal of restriction that limits reimbursement based on setting in which care is
delivered would expand reimbursement for services being delivered, relieve budgetary pressure on
County and other resources and promote higher quality and improved continuity of behavioral health
care.
Medicaid Exclusion of Institutions of Mental Disease (IMD)

Care (Federal)
Issue: Medicaid limits reimbursement of care delivered in certain IMD settings based on existing
definitions of those settings.
Action: Support legislation that seeks administrative or legislative change.
Background: Revised definition of permitted IMD settings would relieve budgetary pressure on County
and other resources and allow the County to recover costs of services being provided to Medicaid
beneficiaries.
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Behavioral Health
County DUI Providers

Issue: California Health & Safety Code: County DUI Providers
Action: Seek administrative or legislative change to clarify the needs, requirements, and conclusive
evidence that is required as per sections 9801.5, 9805, and 11837.6 of the California Health & Safety
Code.
Background: As per sections 11837.6, 9801.5, and 9805 of the Health & Safety Code:
1. Section 11837.6, amended in 2004 specifies that the Countys alcohol and drug program administrator is
responsible for assuring the programmatic and fiscal integrity of each DUI program. This section goes on to
further state technical aspects of the oversight and review that are the responsibility of the County. Riverside
County is currently in compliance with said provisions.
2. Language in Section 9801.5 indicates that the County (through the Board of Supervisors) shall facilitate the
process for a number of variables, including the oversight and review referred in section 11837.6, and shall,
at its option, review new applications for licensure of DUI providers and provide a recommendation to the
alcohol and drug program administrator.
3. Section 9805 indicates that the Board of Supervisors shall include, among other components of this
recommendation, a statement assuring that:
There is a need for a new DUI program in the County.
The establishment of an additional DUI Program will not jeopardize the fiscal integrity of existing
licensed DUI programs.
Concern with the aforementioned statutes results from the lack of clarity/direction along with the implied
market analysis needed for new DUI programs. This analysis, which requires the inclusion of subjective
determinants such as: geographic location, transportation availability, days/times of service delivery,
and other program and consumer variables, could prove to be detrimental to the County considering
the drain on limited departmental resources that would come as a result.
Additionally, as it is further implied that a financial/market size/service absorption study and forecast
must also be done of all current providers to support any conclusions that are determined by the market
analysis. Some aspects of such an analysis may be out of normal departmental purviews, especially
with the lack of concrete standards or definitions of fiscal integrity as indicated within the language of
the statutes.
A lack in clarity and direction as per these statutes make it extremely difficult for the County to comply
with the required statutes. Legislative change to clarify said statutes would allow the County to adhere
to said requirements.
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Economic Development Agency
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Goods Movement by Rail

Issue: The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the busiest port complex in the United States
and handle as much as 40% of the nations international cargo. According to a cargo forecast
developed by Mercator International and Oxford Economics, the two ports handled 15.2 million twentyfoot equivalent (TEU) containers in 2014 and are projected to have an annual cargo volume of 41.1
million TEUs by 2040. In addition, there is significant domestic goods movement in Southern California,
particularly to and from facilities in Inland Southern California, and this is also expected to grow in the
coming years. There is therefore an increasingly urgent need to improve the system of goods
movement in the region.
Action: 1) Support the development of rail transport-related infrastructure in California, including
streamlining of the entitlement process and limits on litigation against projects with significant regional
benefit; and 2) support the creation of Federal and State incentives to induce shippers to reduce
reliance upon trucking for goods movement and invest in badly needed improvements such as
intermodal facilities and rail/transfer yards.
Background: The volume of goods movement around and through Southern California is forecast to
increase significantly, which will in turn be accompanied by greater traffic congestion. As a result, there
is an increasingly urgent need to reduce road congestion associated with the Ports of Los Angeles and
Long Beach. There are a variety of mechanisms available to reduce congestion, amongst which the
enhanced use of rail is one which has the greatest potential to be effective. To accomplish this,
additional rail facilities, mainline track, and infrastructure will be required throughout Southern
California.
The entitlement process is often used as a weapon to stall or stop new projects; witness the recent
cancellation of BNSF Railways Southern California International Gateway (SCIG) project in Los
Angeles following a CEQA challenge. SCIG would have moved cargo onto rail within just a few miles
of the ports, increasing rail capacity where its urgently needed and maximizing use of the Alameda
Corridor (the primary rail route serving the ports), and was expected to reduce current and future truck
traffic within the South Coast Air Basin by approximately 1.3 million trips annually. The inability to build
new infrastructure in California limits the ability to move cargo in an environmentally friendly and
efficient way, drives up the cost of doing business, and ultimately hurts supply chain competitiveness
and the region as a whole.
Complicating matters is the cost associated with operations through the Alameda Corridor. The
Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority currently charges $47 per container for movements through
the Corridor, which likely contributes to the fact that the Corridor is operating at just 25% of its capacity.
The expense associated with rail movements, combined with the perceived speed and flexibility offered
by using trucks for the transport of goods, has reduced rails share of overall goods movement.
Benefits: Improved rail infrastructure and increased use of rail for goods movement within Southern
California would results in numerous benefits, including:
Reduced truck traffic along the regions freeways, which are heavily impacted by truck-related
congestion
Improved air quality
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Investment and job growth related to the creation of new rail/transfer yards, intermodal facilities,
and mainline track
Improved efficiency of cargo handling at the Ports, which would allow for quicker cargo container
handling and distribution to markets
Increased capacity for passenger service along key routes, including those serving Inland
Southern California (such as the San Bernardino, 91, and Riverside Lines)
Revenue Sharing on Energy/Mineral Extraction (Federal)

Issue: Federal/Local Government revenue sharing on Energy/ Mineral extraction.
Action: Riverside County supports the Salton Sea Authority in looking to bring about more development
of local resources while protecting from predation by entities that would extract resources without
compensation to the impacted communities.
Background: Revenue sharing on Energy/Mineral extraction has been a concept that has failed to
materialize in the past. In order to get clear legislation addressing this issue passed, it will take the
support of not only the Salton Sea Authority but all of the local stakeholders involved in the area.
Specifically, the Salton Sea Authority is looking for legislation that supports revenue sharing
agreements that are mutually acceptable to all concerned that warrant support, along with legislation
that will enable such arrangements. Cooperative ventures between the Federal Government and the
mineral rich counties in the Salton Sea region may offer opportunities to equitably address federal and
local priorities with new resources.
There have been bills in the past such as S. 1407 (Heller), and current bills such as H.R. 2663 (Gosar)
and S.2568 (Feinstein) that address this issue. These bills call for an environmental review process to
assess public lands and determine which renewable energy projects would be most viable in those
areas. Under the bill, the Bureau of Land Management would collect a royalty from developers that site
their projects on these public lands. From these funds, 25% would go to the state, 25% to the county,
15% to the Bureau of Land Management, and 35% would be deposited into a fund for conservation
purposes.
However, it seems unlikely that the current bills numbers will be passed this session and thus the Salton
Sea Authority will look for the reintroduction of bills containing revenue sharing provisions as called for
in the Salton Sea Authority board-adopted Guiding Principles for Legislative Action.
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Community Development Block Grant

Issues:
1. Increased annual appropriations for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
program to allow grantees to effectively plan, administer, and utilize funding allocations;
2. Regulatory reform of the CDBG program to ensure long-term sustainability and effectiveness;
and
3. Supplemental CDBG appropriations to encourage and expand use of CDBG for economic
development and infrastructure revitalization.
Action:
1. Support proposed FY 2017 CDBG funding and continuing resolutions in both the Senate and
House;
2. Support increased appropriations for CDBG to assist state and local governments efforts to
address chronic poverty, unemployment, and deteriorating infrastructure;
3. Support regulatory reform of the CDBG Entitlement Program to modify thresholds for grantee
entitlement status to ensure long-term viability; and
4. Support supplemental CDBG appropriations for economic and infrastructure development
activities and modify public benefit/job creation requirements and other regulatory
requirements.
Background: Stable Funding: Previous funding reductions together with stagnant funding levels in
recent years continue to leave the CDBG program at its lowest funding level, when adjusted for inflation,
since the programs beginning. It is important that the funding for CDBG remain stable and that it also
allows for increased program administrative costs to allow HUD, grantees, and sub-recipients to
appropriately and effectively plan and utilize this important resource.
Entitlement Reform: The CDBG regulations must be modified to change the formula or thresholds for
grantees to attain entitlement status. In 1984 there were 795 grantees dividing up a $3.486 billion
CDBG allocation. For FY 2017, there will be more than 1250 grantees dividing up $3 billion. The
effectiveness and viability of the CDBG program is at risk and cannot be sustained. Therefore, the
County should advocate for legislation in the best interest of the Countys CDBG program.
Economic Development and Infrastructure: Encourage special supplemental appropriations of CBDG
funds aimed at sustainable, community-based economic development, as well as infrastructure
revitalization. The funding would be used to target job creating economic development and
infrastructure improvement activities in areas with higher percentages of poverty, unemployment, and
lower-income households, and both inadequate and deteriorating infrastructure. To encourage grantee
participation, CDBG regulations pertaining to job creation (CDBG $ per job), public benefit, and other
performance issues need to be amended.
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Renewable Energy Development

Issue: Renewable Energy Development at the Salton Sea.
Action: Riverside County supports the Salton Sea Authority working with the State and local agencies
on how best to identify pathways for aggregating a power purchase of at least 250 MW of new
geothermal energy from the Salton Sea region.
Background: California has been very progressive in its policies concerning renewable energy
development. The Salton Sea Authority supports efforts to promote geothermal energy development in
the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area and is thus looking to work with the Department of
Energys (DOE) and the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). There is significant baseload
power supply nearly devoid of any GHG Greenhouse Gas that has been identified.
The Salton Sea Authority has and will continue to support the development of all renewable energy
resources at the Salton Sea in order to provide potential revenue streams to help fund revitalization
projects and activities.
State Bonds and Grants

Issue: Salton Seas need for additional revenue sources.
Action: Riverside County supports the Salton Sea Authority pursuit of legislation and budget line items
that would appropriate much needed funding in the form of bonds and grants to be used in the
development of projects that would improve the health of the ecosystem, environment, and economy
at the Salton Sea.
Background: The Salton Sea Authority continues to advocate for additional appropriation from 2014
State Water Bond (Proposition 1) for Salton Sea projects from the $475 million provision related to state
obligations in water right settlements including the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA).
As well as coordinating with the appropriate state agencies to ensure that any funds appropriated under
this provision include short-term, medium-term, and long-term financial commitments.
Recent bonds such as AB 2444 (Garcia) - California Parks, Water, Climate, and Coastal Protection and
Outdoor Access for All Act of 2016 would have authorized the issuance of $3.497 billion in State
General Obligation bonds to finance parks, water, climate adaptation, coastal protection, and outdoor
access programs.
Of note for the SSA, this bond would have specifically granted $37.5 million to the Salton Sea Authority.
Of this amount, not less than $10 million shall be available for purposes consistent with the New River
Water Quality, Public Health, and River Parkway Development Program.
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State Low Income Housing Tax Credits

Issue: Californias shortfall of affordable homes and the continued dramatic rise in rents has contributed
to Californias rising poverty rates.
Action: Urge California Lawmakers and the Governor of the State of California to support and pass AB
2817.
Background: Existing law established a low-income housing tax credit program operated by the
California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC). Existing law also limits the total annual amount
that the committee may allocate to $70 million. AB 2817 would increase the aggregate housing credit
dollar amount that the committee may allocate by $300,000,000 and potentially leverage an additional
$600 million in federal housing resources that would otherwise go unclaimed. The bill would also
increase the amount the committee may allocate to farmworker housing projects from $500,000 to
$25,000,000 per year. Increasing the amount of State credits would have a positive impact on the
overall Tax Credit program by reducing the amount of Federal credits needed for a project. Currently
for a project to be financially feasible state tax credits are combined with federal tax credits, which
typically only allow three to four projects to be funded annually in the Inland Empire. AB 2817 directly
responds to Californias shortfall of affordable homes and continued rise in rents and poverty rate by
leveraging hundreds of millions in federal and private funds to create thousands of new affordable
homes and well-paying jobs.
Low Income Housing Tax Credits

Issue: The current regulations of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program group the Inland Empire
region to include San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and Imperial County into one geographic
set-aside that accounts for 12% of the state of Californias population.
Action: Urge local and state legislators to support regulatory changes to the Low Income Housing Tax
Credit program to align the allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits with the regions population.
Background: The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTAC) has established ten geographic
regions and allocated a percentage of available low income housing tax credits to each region. The
County of Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial are grouped together to form one of the ten regions
defined as the Inland Empire Region. The California Department of Finance estimated the Inland
Empire population in 2015 at 4,627,677 residents representing 12% of the statewide population. The
Inland Empire region currently receives only 8.3% of the geographic apportionments compared to San
Diego County at 8.6% and Orange County at 7.3%. The current regulations of the Low Income Housing
Tax Credit program disproportionately allocates low-income housing tax credits by region and unjustly
places the Inland Empire region at a disadvantage.
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Farmworker Housing Assistance Tax Credit Program

Issue: The California State Treasurers Office (STO) Farmworker Housing Assistance Tax Credit
Program is underutilized due to outdated and inefficient policies. There have not been any housing
projects funded under this program since 2008. This underinvestment in farmworker housing has
created hardships for this labor force and their families.
Action: Urge California Lawmakers and the Governor of the State of California to support and pass AB
2140.
Background: The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTAC) administers two low-income
housing tax credit programs a federal program and a state program. Two types of federal tax credits
are available and are generally referred to as the nine percent and four percent credits. The nine
percent federal tax credits are highly competitive and oversubscribed, however the four percent credits
historically have been underutilized. In 1996, legislators authorized the Farmworker Housing Tax Credit
Program which is an annual set-aside of state low-income housing tax credits for farmworker housing
developments which is a set aside from the California state tax credits. This program is annually
allocated $500,000 for the entire state, which accrues and is carried forward into future years if not
awarded to farmworker housing projects. The total State Farmworker Tax Credits available in 2016
was $5,047,118.
Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018

Issue: California is experiencing an extreme housing shortage with 2.2 million extremely low income
and very low-income renter households competing for only 664,000 affordable rental homes. This
leaves more than 1.54 million of Californias lowest income households without access to affordable
housing.
Action: Urge California Lawmakers and the Governor of the State of California to support and pass SB
879 with a provision for CEQA reform.
Background: Under existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other things,
emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership for very low and lowincome households, and down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Existing law also
authorizes the issuance of bonds in specified amounts pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond
Law and requires that proceeds from the sale of these bonds be used to finance various existing
housing programs, capital outlay related to infill development, brownfield cleanup that promotes infill
development, and housing-related parks. This bill would enact the Affordable Housing Bond Act of
2018, which, if adopted, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $3,000,000,000
pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law. Proceeds from the sale of these bonds would be
used to finance various existing housing programs, as well as infill infrastructure financing and
affordable housing matching grant programs, as provided. The bill would provide for submission of the
bond act to the voters at the November 6, 2018, statewide general election in accordance with specified
law. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
20
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Federal)

Issue: Congress has slashed funding for workforce education programs by $400 million since 2010.
Action: Provide full funding for workforce and career and technical education.
Background: Riverside County has a less skilled and educated workforce than our neighboring
counties. This in turn limits economic development opportunities and impacts our residents ability to
obtain high quality jobs that provide pathways to the middle class. The Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (WIOA) helps job seekers and workers access employment, education, training, and
support services to succeed in the labor market and matches employers with the skilled workers they
need to compete in the global economy.
Congress passed WIOA, the first legislative reform of the public workforce system in more than 15
years, by a wide bipartisan majority. In doing so, Congress reaffirmed the role of the American Job
Center (AJC) system, a cornerstone of the public workforce investment system, and brought together
and enhanced several key employment, education, and training programs. Over 15,000 Riverside
County residents turn to these programs annually to obtain training and jobs.
Summer Youth Employment Program (Federal)

Issue: Youth unemployment remains at a high rate nationally and in Riverside County.
Action: Promote and fund summer employment programs targeted to low-income and disconnected
youth.
Background: The national unemployment rate has dropped significantly since the recession. Youth
unemployment remains at a high rate nationally and in Riverside County. Youth employment increases
household income for low-income families; provides opportunities for skills development and career
exploration; and increases community engagement. A re-implementation of the summer youth
employment program rooted in career and industry sector pathways would be of significant benefit to
high poverty communities and households.
21
USDA Watershed Program (Federal)

Issue: Revenue streams from the State for the Salton Sea are currently inadequate, and thus Federal
revenue streams must be procured as well.
Action: Riverside County supports the Salton Sea Authority in supporting the Senate Appropriations
Committee proposal of more than $100 million for the USDA Watershed Program in FY 17.
Background: Under the Watershed Program NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service
cooperates with States and local agencies to carry out works of improvement for soil conservation and
for other purposes including flood prevention; conservation, development, utilization and disposal of
water; and conservation and proper utilization of land.
The Salton Sea Authority has received a NRCS grant of $7.5M and is looking to expand that funding,
in order to help facilitate the need of multiple sources of revenue to revitalize the Salton Sea. Congress
has not funded the Watershed program for two or three years, but the Senate Appropriations Committee
has proposed more than $100 million for the program in FY 17. Thus, the Salton Sea Authority will
continue to watch the progress of the proposed $100 million and support in any way necessary.
Appropriations from existing WRDA Water Resources

Development Act authorization (Federal)
Issue: Revenue streams from the State for the Salton Sea are currently inadequate, and thus Federal
revenue streams must be procured as well.
Action: Riverside County supports the Salton Sea Authority in supporting the Senate version of WRDA
2016 S.2848 provisions, throughout the conference committee proceedings.
Background: The Salton Sea Authority supports Federal funding and cooperation with the US Army
Corps of Engineers. $30 million in federal funding for Salton Sea revitalization was authorized in 2007
under the federal Water Resource Development Act (WRDA), but never appropriated.
While WRDA funding has been appropriated in the Presidents budget for annual Energy and Water
Appropriations Act budget for the Army Corps, this funding has fallen away during the years when
Continuing Resolutions wiped out such necessary adjustments. The $30 million authorization thus
remains available, subject to appropriations. Projects could be funded through the Army Corps, if the
budget is passed with provision for $200,000 for completion.
The current WRDA 2016 legislation S. 2848 (Inhofe) would not only maintain the $30 million
authorization but also specifically designate the SSA as a preferred partner for the funding agreements
to be established with the Army Corps. This legislation has passed the Senate and is going to a
conference committee to mediate between the Senate and House versions of the bill.
22
Low Income Housing Tax Credits (Federal)

Issue: The Low Income Housing Tax Credit rates are currently determined by a formula that is tied to
federal borrowing rates, which consistently change. The lower the federal borrowing rates fall, the
lower the housing credit rate becomes which reduces the equity available for individual affordable
housing developments.
Action: Urge Congress to make the minimum housing credit rates permanent.
Background: Currently, the affordable housing rates are established at a minimum 9% for new
construction and substantial rehabilitation and 4% for acquisition and moderate rehabilitation. Due to
the fact that federal rates have dropped to historic lows, there is now 15 to 20 percent less housing
credit available for any given project. Most of the projects are underwritten with other funding sources;
however, in recent years these sources have experienced a significant cut in funding. Without the
flexibility to provide increased housing credit equity many projects will be impossible to finance.
HOME Investment Partnership Act Program Funding (Federal)

Issue: Over the years Congress has significantly cut funding for the HOME Investment Partnerships
Act Program by nearly 50%.
Action: Urge Congress to increase funding to the HOME Investment Partnerships Act (HOME)
Program.
Background: The HOME program is the only federal community development block grant left at the
state and local level designed to create and preserve affordable housing that meets the specific
population needs of states, cities and counties. The County of Riverside is the 10th largest populated
county in the United States consisting of urbanized neighborhoods, suburban cities and rural
communities. Since 1994, the County of Riverside has utilized HOME funds for the construction,
acquisition, and/or rehabilitation of more than 3,323 units, provided rental assistance to more than
1,430 households, and provided down payment assistance to over 752 First Time Home Buyers.
Occupancy within these units often consists of special needs populations including individuals with
disabilities, veterans and chronically homeless.
The HOME program is also the only program left at the state and local level that is used to leverage
funds to produce the greatest number of affordable units. Newly constructed and rehabilitated units
with HOME funds are typically leveraged with private investment dollars through the tax credit program.
If the HOME program funding is reduced it will detrimentally impact new construction of needed
affordable housing. When HOME funds are utilized for the new construction or rehabilitation of
affordable units it ensures that these units will remain affordable for a minimum of 20 years. Therefore,
an increase in HOME program funding is needed to address the creation and preservation affordable
housing.
23
EB-5 Permanent Reauthorization (Federal)

Issue: EB-5 permanent reauthorization.
Action: Permanent authorization of the EB-5 Program by Congress after 23+ years of bipartisan
support and current record-breaking economic impact statistics.
Background: The interconnected world we live in today demands public policy that takes advantage
of the fact that economic opportunity, capital, and people are crossing national borders at a recordsetting, and seemingly ever-increasing, rates. Immigrant investor programs exist all around the world,
all competing for the same economic benefit of attracting entrepreneurial investors to their shores and
each with a unique purpose once the capital is attracted. The U.S. designed the EB-5 Regional Center
Program to allocate capital to regional economic development and U.S. job creation, and it is now
delivering on its promise in a major way. As of November 2016, Riverside County has over 47 local
EB-5 projects, totaling over $908 million dollars in investment and projected to create over 12,000 jobs
upon project completion. Other items to note regarding the program are as follows:
The program has attracted a total of $4.2 billion in investments and supported the creation of at
least 77,150 jobs nationally.
2. The programs regional focus provides valuable opportunities to states and localities, particularly
on civic development and infrastructure projects. The programs ability to provide long-term, lowinterest capital that can complement existing public funds presents valuable opportunities for
state and local leaders to address some of their public-spending projects, including in highly
underinvested but critical public infrastructure and affordable housing.
3. With increased security, functionality, and integrity, the program has great potential to support
regional economic development. Considering its relatively limited size, the EB-5 program alone
will not be the primary solution for the countrys most expensive and critical needs. However,
with effective reforms to increase the programs integrity, security, and functionality, the EB-5
program has the potential to provide for incremental but relatively significant opportunities for
regional economic development.
1.
Housing Choice Voucher Program for the

Chronically Homeless (Federal)
Issue: There are 750 chronically homeless individuals in Riverside County awaiting an affordable or
supportive housing unit.
Action: Replicate the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Program model to provide housing
and services to the chronically homeless through the use of targeted Section 8 vouchers.
Background: The Housing Choice Voucher program also known as Section 8 is the largest provider
of affordable housing in Riverside County. The Section 8 program leverages the existing private rental
market to provide affordable housing for low-income households. This public-private program provides
an effective means to quickly end homelessness for these individuals through the use of a voucher.
Supported services would be provided off-site through existing social service programs.
24
Support for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Federal)

Issue: Access to capital remains a top area of concern for economic developers as a reflection of a
near constant need for more readily accessible financing to start or expand small businesses.
Action: Improve access to capital for businesses by supporting the implementation of crowdfunding
regulations, streamlining federal small business financing programs, and improving access to private
loans through implementing legislation such as the Jumpstart Our Business Act of 2011, Startup Act
2.0 (H.R.5893), Small Business Lending Enhancement Act (S.2231), and the Bipartisan Tax
Simplification and Fairness Act (S. 727).
Background: It should be noted that while there might not be a credit crunch limiting the availability of
financing for entrepreneurs and small businesses this point is often debated to a great extent what
is more universally understood is that requirements and processes for obtaining financing are
cumbersome and onerous, ripe for review and corresponding reform. As new alternatives such as
crowdfunding become available, it will be critical for the federal government to review financing
opportunities through agencies such as Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of
Agriculture (USDA) for relevance and cohesion in order to efficiently and effectively leverage federal
resources.
Housing Choice Voucher Program

(Section 8) (Federal)
Issue: There are over 56,000 households registered for the Section 8 waiting list in Riverside County
and an additional 750 chronic homeless individuals awaiting an affordable or supportive housing unit.
Riverside Countys Section 8 program is at maximum capacity and cannot serve any additional
households.
Action: Urge Congress to increase funding to the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8).
Background: The Housing Choice Voucher program also known as Section 8 provides resources
essential to ensuring that vulnerable seniors, families, veterans, and people with disabilities have
access to decent, safe, and sanitary affordable housing to help stabilize and improve the quality of their
lives.
More than 5 million people in more than 2 million low-income families use vouchers to help pay for
housing that they find in the private market. About half of the households using vouchers are seniors
or people with disabilities; most of the rest are working families with children. These households have
incomes of about $16,100, on average, well below the poverty line.
Vouchers sharply reduce homelessness and other hardships, lift more than 1 million people out of
poverty, and give families an opportunity to move to safer, higher income neighborhoods. These effects,
in turn, are linked to educational, developmental, and health benefits that can improve childrens longterm prospects and reduce costs in other public programs.
25
Cantonment Area Expansion- March Air Reserve Base

Issue: March Air Reserve Base (MARB) is one of the most critical components of the Inland Southern
California regional economy. According to a December 2015 Financial Impact Analysis performed by
the Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College at the behest of the
Economic Development Agency (EDA), MARB has a direct economic impact of nearly $600 million; the
indirect amount is doubtless significantly greater but was not estimated in the study. MARB is currently
home to over 9,000 military and civilian personnel, and is one of the oldest installations in the Air Force;
the base will celebrate its centennial in 2018. For reference, a list of units, detachments, and missions
based at MARB is included at the end of this document.
A significant step in that effort would be the expansion of the cantonment area of the base (i.e. the
secured area within the base that serves as a permanent military installation), which would bring
additional units and missions to MARB and thus further enhance the bases stature within the nations
defense system. Eventually this effort could lead to MARB being designated as March Joint Reserve
Base, a broader and further reaching designation that would lessen the likelihood of downsizing or
closing the base. Pursuing a Joint Reserve Base designation would entail a prolonged process with
agreements required between various branches of service, up to and including a formal basing action
and/or a Moratorium Waiver for base expansion. The designation would also require Congressional
approval and formal environmental impact analysis documents.
Action: The cantonment area currently encompasses an area of approximately 2,100 acres, and
includes several units and missions that are critical to the bases function and help secure its place in
the nations defense structure. However, there are some additional facilities that would become a more
permanent presence on the base following cantonment expansion, potentially including the following:
U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Training Center: currently just outside the cantonment area, the center would
be moved inside the fence line and thus benefit from the additional security. Adding the center to the
cantonment area would be a major step toward facilitating the Joint base designation mentioned above.
An alternative possibility would see the Army continue to own the land; the Air Force would simply extend
the fence line as necessary to place the USAR facility inside the cantonment area. This would be a less
burdensome and expensive process, likely a federal/federal permit resulting in a zero cost lease;
however, it could lead to an incremental process that would have the same end result.
It should be noted that, in a separate action, USAR is investing in a new $25 million facility at MARB,
construction of which has already started.
Base Commissary: expanding MARBs perimeter along the Heacock Channel would provide for the
possibility of having the Base Commissary inside the fence line. This would improve security, and would
facilitate adding a new gate and base access via Heacock Street.
Base Exchange: Providing sufficient real estate to relocate the AAFES Base Exchange adjacent to the
Commissary and inside the fence line, thus improving security for those using the exchange.
American Forces Network: expansion would accommodate the possible relocation of the American
Forces Network facility to a location within the secured area.
Benefits: Many of the potential benefits of cantonment area expansion have been described above,
but to sum up, there are numerous beneficial outcomes that could result from this effort, including but
not limited to:
26
Addition of new units and missions, thus enhancing MARBs importance and status in the nations
defense facility network
Potential designation as a Joint Reserve Base
Reduced vulnerability in future rounds of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process
Improved security for those based at, and working on, MARB
Investment and job growth related to the increased number of facilities and personnel, with benefits both
on base and in nearby communities
MARB Based Units, Detachments and

Missions (as of 12-27-16)
Air Force
452d Air Mobility Wing (AFRC)
4th Air Force (AFRC)
912th ARS (AD AF)
144th Fighter Wing Detachment 1
(CaANG)
163rd ANG Reconnaissance Wing
(CaANG)
701st Combat Operations Squadron
(AFRC)
922nd Civil Engineer Staff (AFRC)
Western Recruiting Squadron (AFRC)
362nd Recruiting Squadron (AD AF)
610th Air Operations Group (AFRC)
Joint Units
Total Force Honor Guard
Air/Marine Operations Center (DHS)
Navy Operational Support Center (USNR)
1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Detachment
(USMC)
304th Sustainment Brigade (USAR)
358th Civil Affairs Brigade (USAR)
250th Military Intelligence Battalion (CaARNG)
1498th Transportation Company (CaARNG)
315th Engineers, Vertical Construction
Company (CaARNG)
100th Troop Command (CaARNG)
Army Honor Guard (USAR)
12th Marine Corps Detachment, Recruiting
Station Riverside (USMC)
Full Spectrum Partners

Commissary
AAFES Exchange
United States Office of Personnel
Management
Veterans Administration
Boeing Corporation
U.S. Customs Service
American Forces Network Broadcast
Center
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
United States Selective Service
Glossary
AFRC
AD AF
CaANG
DHS
USNR
USMC
USAR
CaARNG
AAFES
27
U.S. Air Force Reserve Command

U.S. Air Force (Active Duty)
California Air National Guard
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Navy Reserve
U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Army Reserve
California Army National Guard
Army and Air Force Exchange Service
Pavement Improvements - March Air Reserve Base

Issue: There are sections of concrete pavement at March Air Reserve Base (MARB) that are in need
of repair, replacement, and/or augmentation to support future generations of United States Air Force
(USAF) aircraft. For instance, MARB has not yet been assigned the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus next
generation tanker, a versatile new aircraft currently being acquired by the USAF that will revolutionize
the capability of air mobility missions for the nations armed forces. MARB is not likely to be considered
as a KC-46 base in the absence of the improvements described below.
It should be noted that the bases pavement systems are more than adequate to support the aircraft
currently based at or utilizing MARB, including the C-17 Globemaster III, the KC-135 Stratotanker, the
C-5M Galaxy, the KC-10 Extender, the C-130 Hercules, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and other military
aircraft. MARB also routinely supports operations by a number of large commercially operated aircraft
(such as the Boeing 747 and 767) that augment the militarys airlift capacity through the Civil Reserve
Air Fleet.
Action: Encourage federal and state elected and appointed officials to invest in improvements to the
pavement systems at MARB that will facilitate assignment of future generations of aircraft to units at
MARB while continuing to accommodate current users. Areas that have already been identified as
requiring work include portions of the bases primary runway and sections of the ramp. Certain of the
improvements can be constructed in phases; however, the runway strengthening and repair project is
the highest priority of the projects that have been identified to date.
Background: The issue that brought the need for improvements to the paving systems at MARB was
the KC-46 basing decision process. The initial basing decision by the USAF was to assign the KC-46
to active duty and Air National Guard installations, a decision that was driven by the fact that the vast
majority of KC-135 aircraft and bases are assigned to those units. However, it became apparent after
the first round of KC-46 assignments was announced that MARB was unlikely to be considered in future
rounds as a result of certain structural deficiencies.
While Air Force Reserve Command bases were not considered for the initial rounds of assignments of
the KC-46, Reserve bases are being considered for future basing opportunities. Additionally, MARB
currently houses units from all three USAF components: active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force
Reserve Command. Current active duty and Air Force Reserve Command units at MARB operate KC135 Stratotanker and C-17 Globemaster missions. Additionally, while the 163rd Air Reconnaissance
Wing of the Air National Guard currently has a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) mission, the unit
previously operated KC-135 Stratotankers. The Air National Guards 144th Fighter Wing, Detachment
1 also operates ready alert F-16s from the base.
The KC-46 Pegasus was selected by the USAF to replace older KC-135 Stratotankers. The USAF is
seeking a total of 179 aircraft to replace 179 KC-135s, and Boeing is under contract to deliver 18 KC46s by 2017. The Pegasus can refuel all US, Allied, and Coalition military aircraft compatible with
international aerial refueling procedures, any time, on any mission, and can carry passengers, cargo,
and patients whenever and wherever needed. The ability to detect, avoid, defeat and survive threats
using robust defensive systems and cockpit armor protection will allow the KC-46 to operate safely in
medium-threat environments. Owing to its increased capabilities and landing gear configuration, the
weight bearing characteristics required for KC-46 operations are greater than those required by aircraft
in the current inventory.
28

Benefits: As a former Strategic Air Command base, MARB boasts the infrastructure necessary to host
the KC-46 and other next generation aircraft. Since the base already supports units of all branches of
the U.S. military (including all three USAF components), it is also functioning as a de facto Joint Base,
though it has not been given that designation formally. MARB also enjoys broad community support
not only for its mission but also for uniformed and civilian personnel and their families.
Many of the potential benefits of improving the pavement systems at MARB have been described
above, but to sum up, there are numerous beneficial outcomes that could result from this effort,
including but not limited to:
Addition of new aircraft, units, and missions, thus enhancing MARBs importance and status in
the nations defense facility network
Potential designation as a Joint Reserve Base
Reduced vulnerability in future rounds of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process
Investment and job growth related to the investment in equipment, facilities, and personnel, with
benefits both on base and in nearby communities
29
Emergency Management Department
30
Declaration of Emergency- Timely Response (State)

Issue: On September 19, 2014, Governor Brown issued Executive Order (EO) B-26-14, authorizing
the California Governors Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to provide California Disaster
Assistance Act (CDAA) funding, as deemed appropriate, for costs incurred by local governments as a
result of a disaster event. However, the executive order does not direct the Governor to act within a
specified length of time.
Action: Support legislation to establish a time period for the Governor to act on County declared
natural disaster assistance.
Background: In the month of August 2015, severe weather phenomena lead to Riverside County
calling for a state of emergency in the unincorporated community of Thermal.
On August 12, 2015, the Director of Emergency Services (County Executive Officer Jay Orr) signed a
Proclamation of Local Emergency for the Thermal incident that included a request for the California
Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA). Per protocol, the signed Proclamation and Initial Damage
Assessment was sent to the Southern Region Administrator for the California Office of Emergency
Services (Cal OES)
This was further supplemented by the ratification of the Proclamation of Local Emergency by the
Riverside County Board of Supervisors on August 18, 2015.
Preliminary damage assessments of the area were conducted by IID and other agencies. The impacted
area was approximately 14.5 square miles. Initial estimates from IID were approximately $13 million in
damages to the power poles, lines and other infrastructure.
A timeline of events is as follows:
August 20, 2015: Updated preliminary damage assessments were received from IID and totaled
$18 million.
September 2015 through January 2016: Multiple calls were made to Cal OES Southern Region
to inquire about the status of our request for a State of Emergency and CDAA and the answer
was always that the Governor had not yet made a decision.
On January 12, 2016: Riverside County Emergency Management Department received a call
from Cal OES Southern Region Administrator informing us that the Governor denied Riverside
Countys request for a State of Emergency and CDAA.
Written position received on February 24, 2016.
The amount of time that a response took to be received for emergency funds or even the status of the
application can be seen as a failure within the bureaucratic system that is meant to protect the people
of the United States and the citizens of California. In the case of a much more urgent matter a response
of this nature could put the lives of countless people at risk. Furthermore, response times of this nature
make it especially difficult for affected communities as they are thrown into a state of flux not knowing
whether they will receive funding or not and thus causing great economic strain and delays in the
rehabilitation of affected communities.
31
Flood Control and Water Conservation
32
Stormwater Funding - (State)

Issue: Local governments lack resources necessary to effectively implement federally mandated
stormwater management programs.
Action: Promote legislation that enables local governments to effectively develop stormwater utilities,
Joint Powers Authorities (JPA) and/or other innovative local and regional governance structures
necessary to develop effective programs for, pooling revenue, and reducing costs of state and federal
stormwater quality mandates.
Promote legislation that allocates state funding resources to local stormwater programs and/or provides
local governments with flexibility to develop new revenue streams where appropriate.
Promote legislation that facilitates integrated management of stormwater runoff and other water
resources. SB 485 (Hernandez), Chapter 678, Statutes of 2015 provides an example of this approach
by demonstrating how stormwater and wastewater can be jointly managed to the benefit of local
communities.
Background: For nearly two decades, the Regional Water Quality Control Boards have administered
federal Clean Water Act stormwater quality programs on behalf of the US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) through permits issued to the joint operators of municipal storm drain systems (cities
and Counties).
Municipal stormwater permits initially focused on development and iteration of education programs and
best practices to improve management of stormwater quality over time. Starting in 2010, stormwater
permits began requiring direct compliance with water quality standards. This created a multi-billion
dollar mandate for cities and counties without a commensurate infrastructure to fund, develop and
manage programs. Local governments across the state are now looking for creative and innovative
ways to refine and address these mandates.
Although local governments broadly support livable communities and healthy environments, the
method of regulation imposes a major burden on communities. Legislative actions, such as those
identified above, can facilitate compliance efforts and could ease local burdens.
33
Proposition 1 Funding
Storm Water Quality, Storm Water Conservation and Flood
Control Infrastructure Improvement Grants - (State)
Issue: Challenges arising from persistent drought and the 2016 El Nino threat highlighted flood and
water conservation project needs in Riverside County. Prop 1 guidelines focus flood control resources
upon Northern California and Central Valley. Stormwater grants come with many regulatory preconditions and overly complicated application processes that unduly reduce the value of grant funds.
Action: Riverside County needs to compete vigorously for grant funding to address present and future
local community needs. Prop 1 and future bonds should include implementation language promoting
fair share funding for grant funds. Legislation should be introduced to streamline grant application,
award and administration processes, by enabling local leaders, through Integrated Regional Water
Management programs, to prioritize local projects and secure grant funds that provide real benefit to
those communities.
Background: State and federal legislation in recent years has focused on drought relief in the Central
Valley and environmental mitigation of drought-related impacts. Discussion of the governors California
Water Fix occupies center stage. Although Prop 1 funding offers a significant funding for infrastructural
improvements, the California Water Action Plan objective to deliver a more resilient and sustainably
managed water infrastructure may not be successfully realized for flood control and stormwater
management projects in Riverside County. Requirements for ancillary plans and reports, such as
Stormwater Management Plans and Groundwater Management Plans, impede local efforts to apply for
water bond grants. Grant applications can sometimes approach $50-100,000 to prepare; creating entry
burdens for local governments and agencies, particularly in areas with disadvantaged communities.
Accountability for Operators of Subsurface

Installations - (State)
Issue: Subsurface Utility operator accountability. There is a lack of competent record keeping and
responsiveness to municipal agencies with franchise authority over these underground facilities.
Action: Legislation that imposes significant consequences on subsurface operators for noncompliance with existing One Call laws and franchise agreements allowing use of the public right of
way is necessary. Increased civil penalties and stronger regulatory language would be of immense
public benefit.
Background: Subsurface operators, particularly telecommunications companies, have facilities that
interfere with critical new municipal infrastructure, e.g., water, sewer, storm drain, street improvements,
etc. These operators often refuse to comply with the terms of the franchise agreements under which
they operate. This creates enormous cost increases and delay and public inconvenience when
undisclosed interfering subsurface facilities are discovered during project construction.
34
Water Resource and Environmental Regulation

(Exemptions for Emergency Activities) - (Federal)
Issue: Clean Water Act Section 404 Regulations protecting Waters of the United States are too vague.
Interpretations of exemptions are drawn too narrowly by regulators. This prevents necessary actions to
ensure the resilience of flood facilities to future flood events and provide intended and expected public
health and safety benefits.
Action: The list of exemptions in Section 404(f) of the federal Clean Water Act should be expanded to
include clear exemptions for preventative maintenance activities to improve resilience of structures and
restore intended design function either in advance of or following flood events.
Background: There is a list of activities exempt from regulation in the federal Clean Water Act, Section
404(f). Section 404(f) implementation by federal agencies does allow for emergency in-kind restoration
work, but precludes preventative work, or post-damage improvements, to ensure resiliency.
35
Parks
Parks
36
Parks
Safe Neighborhood Parks, Rivers, and Coastal Protection (State)

Issue: The County of Riverside, partnering with Special Districts and City Park and Recreation
Departments, needs to be well positioned to receive a fair share of funding.
Action: Support bills like SB 317 (15/16) which emphasizes: How Californians value parks and the
natural lands of the state. How demand for local parks has exceeded available funding by a factor of
eight to one, with particularly high demand in urban, disadvantaged communities. How many
Californians across the state lack access to safe parks and recreation areas, which limits their ability to
experience the outdoors, improve their physical and emotional health. How investments to create and
improve parks and recreation areas will help ensure all Californians have access to safe places to
exercise and recreate. Investments to protect and restore the states rivers, lakes, streams, and coastal
waters and their related watersheds will improve water quality and reliability, enhance fish and wildlife
habitats, and provide recreational, economic, and public health benefits to Californians.
Background: In prior voter approved park bond acts, Riverside County has not fared as well as
Northern California, primarily due to failure in supporting the Bonds as they work their way through the
legislative process.
As in previous platforms, the Board supports federal appropriations for the Countys two multi species
habitat plans. Funding is crucial to ensure the viability of the plans which are designed for the protection
of endangered species while development of housing and infrastructure continues in defined areas.
Both RCA and CVAG, who administer the Western Riverside MSHCP and the Coachella Valley
MSHCP respectively, are members of the California Habitat Conservation Plan Coalition. The Coalition
is advocating for $100 million for implementation of NCCPs and HCPs, and an additional $300 million
for watershed protection and habitat conservation in a legislative park bond, both to be administered
by the Wildlife Conservation Board.
It is recommended that Riverside County actively support bill/s of this nature and encourage local state
representatives to engage in discussions in order to ensure that additional line items within such bills
specifically benefit Riverside County.
37
Parks
Santa Ana River Trail (Federal)

Issue: In order to construct a vital segment of the Multi-County Santa Ana River Trail, two dikes must
be completed by the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE).
Action: Support funding for the USACE to complete the project.
Background: The Santa Ana River Trail is a 100-mile multi-use trail that begins in San Bernardino
County and terminates at the Pacific Ocean in Orange County, traversing through Riverside County in
the middle. Funding for the trail has been secured for several years and planning and construction
documents are complete. Two critical segments of the trail are planned within USACE lands and
permanent dikes must be constructed on these lands in order to place the permanent trail. These dikes
(Auxiliary, Alcoa) are planned in future years; however, expediting their placement will protect secured
grants to construct the trail. Current estimates to complete the two dikes are $5 Million (Auxiliary) and
$25 Million (Alcoa).
38
Public Health
Public Health
39
Public Health
Health Realignment (State)

Issue: Health Realignment is not keeping up with County population growth.
Action: Support or sponsor legislation that ensures sufficient resources for Counties to meet their
obligations.
Background: Realignment of health funding in 1991 aimed to provide a steady stream of growth by
funding it through sales tax and vehicle license fees, two revenue sources that usually have annual
growth. However, growth in health and mental health realignment is, in fact, not occurring to any
significant degree, and is not keeping up with either inflation or population. Due to the realignment
formulas, Riverside County is receiving almost the same amount of funding now as in 2003, despite
significant increases in population, and in sales tax and VLF.
Further, a significant change to Health Realignment occurred in 2013. As a result of this legislation (AB
85), funds are diverted from Health Realignment to CalWORKS. With this new legislation, uncertainty
exists whether the amount of Health Realignment funds retained by counties will be sufficient to meet
its obligations.
Health Screening for H-1B Visa Applicants - (Federal)

Issue: There is a lack of health screening for H-1B work visa applicants, and their families, some of
which are already in the United States. This presents a potential health risk due to communicable
diseases.
Action: Support legislation that requires that individuals entering the U.S. on H-1B visas, from countries
that are endemic for TB and other diseases of public health significance, have health screening by
overseas panel physicians. The health screening should be completed by civil surgeons for individuals
already in the United States. The cost of the screening should be covered by the sponsoring employer.
Background: It is estimated that immigration reform will increase the number of H-1B work visas from
the current 65,000 to approximately 180,000 annually. These individuals come from countries with high
prevalence of TB and drug resistant TB. Screening of the applicants and their families for TB and other
communicable diseases of public health significance is an important prevention strategy to reduce
potential disease transmission and ensure appropriate treatment and follow-up of infected individuals.
40
Public Health
Transportation Funding for Complete Streets - (Federal)

Issue: Complete Streets are designed to be used by everyone: cars, buses, bicyclists and walkers.
Complete Streets help create better/healthier communities for people to live, play, work and shop.
Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users of all ages and abilities are able to
safely move along and across a complete street.
Action: Support state and federal funding for Complete Streets which encourages transportation
planners and engineers to routinely design and operate the entire right of way to enable safe access
for all users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation.
Background: Often, we do not consider pedestrians or bicyclists when we build our streets making
walking or bicycling challenging. Complete streets allow walkers and bicyclists to be active users of
roads.
Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization

Funding - (State and Federal)
Issue: Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization
Action: Support Child Nutrition & WIC Reauthorization to provide full funding which is adequate to
maintain current and anticipated Women Infant & Children (WIC) participation levels and assure
adequate Nutrition Services and Administration (NSA) funding to maintain clinic costs, education and
cost of living increases should the economic recovery take longer than anticipated. Child Nutrition also
includes SNAP education for families.
Background: The Inland Empire continues to suffer from the economic recovery in which families
utilize these programs to ensure access to healthy and nutritious foods where they live, play and learn.
Since fiscal years 2006, more families in Riverside County have turned to WIC. These circumstances
have forced WIC to utilize contingency funds to assure that mothers and young children were not turned
away. WIC urges Congress and the Administration to carefully monitor WIC participation, food cost
inflation, and Nutrition Services Administration (NSA). Funding to assure that the budget request
responds to economic conditions. Child nutrition and WIC programs strive to combat childhood obesity
and chronic disease prevention and has been part of the Presidents budget proposals to Eat Healthier,
Live Better, and end poverty.
41
Public Health
Community Economic Opportunity Act of 2015 - (Federal)

Issue: Community Services Block Grant Act revision and reauthorization through FY 2023 was
introduced as H.R. 1655 on 03/26/2015.
Action: Support Community Economic Opportunity Act of 2015 to provide full funding which is
adequate to maintain current and anticipated Community Services Block Grant activities and continue
to support public eligible entities through adoption of amendment language of legislation which supports
public Community Action Agencies.
Background: Community Action Partnership of Riverside County is Riverside Countys designated
anti-poverty agency, established in 1979, a public agency and a division of the County of Riverside,
Department of Public Health. Community Action Partnership is a member of a national network of
1,100 community action agencies (CAAs) created through the 1964 War on Poverty legislation to end
poverty. Community Action Partnership is guided by federal regulations and national standards, policies
and best practices.
Community Action Partnership receives funding from public and private sources. Its primary funding
source is the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) that is funded through the United States
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and administered through the State of California
Department of Community Services and Development (CSD).
The agency has embraced the national community action promise that Community Action changes
peoples lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place
to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves
and each other.
Results from Community Action Partnerships 2015 community needs assessment and community
dialogues indicate that there was not a significant change from the 2013 ranking of challenges faced
by low-income residents. Riverside County is still facing issues that affect its current economic
conditions. Of the 2,292,507 population in Riverside County, 20% of the residents have no high school
diploma; 10.3% of residents are unemployed; 8.86% are veterans; 16.2% of the people live below
poverty and over 3,000 adults and children are homeless. Approximately one (1) out of every six (6)
Riverside County residents lives in poverty.
42
Public Social Services
43
Human Trafficking of at Risk Adults

Issue: Enhance penalties to unlicensed Room and Board facilities operating as Board and Care
facilities who are abusing at Risk Adults (Elderly and Dependent)
Action: Introduce and support legislation adding felony trafficking and racketeering charges against
organized multi-level financial predators of at Risk Adults
Background: Every day, approximately 10,000 persons in America turn 65, many if not most receive
retirement, social security, or other income.
State, Federal and Local law enforcement have observed a predatory growth industry in residential
room and board facilities that prey on vulnerable elders and dependent adults. In particular, these
organizations seek persons who have serious health issues. The non-ambulatory with limited or no
family ties are the most highly desirable targets, as they are unable to escape and do not have persons
who may be looking for them. These predatory organizations have their own networks of doctors,
medical supply businesses, hospices, pharmacies, transportation services and other entities that assist
in falsifying information to generate increased revenue for the organization.
With false promises of adequate Board and Care, residents of these facilities are frequently in dire
straits, held prisoner by incapacity and isolation. When Adult Protective Services receives a credible
report of elder abuse, these predatory facilities will deny that the individual is there and refuse to allow
the social worker entry. The social worker will leave to obtain legal assistance to gain entry. By the time
they return, the predatory organization has moved the elder to another one of their facilities. Residents
of these facilities are routinely subjected to horrific circumstances with health outcomes including
amputations and death.
Interested parties who have participated in meetings seeking to solve the problem include:
California Department of Justice
Riverside District Attorneys Office
Code Enforcement
Community Care Licensing
Adult Protective Services
C.A.R.E
California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, San Bernardino
Riverside Superior Court
Hemet Valley Medical Center
Inland Regional Center
44
Successor Guardians for Foster Youth

Issue: Inability to provide a successor guardian for foster youth whose legal guardian is not a relative.
Action: Introduce and support legislation to allow a guardian who is not a relative of a foster youth to
identify a proposed successor guardian with a formal plan (such as a Will or Trust) in place should the
Legal Guardian or proposed Legal Guardian die or become incapacitated.
Background: With the passage of Public Law 113-183, the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and
Strengthening Families Act of 2014, states were encouraged to name a successor guardian for relatives
seeking legal guardianship to provide for the continuity of care and permanency for the foster youth.
A child/youth placed into any permanent home should have the peace of mind knowing that his or her
care has been planned out prior to the termination of his/her dependency case. This provision should
apply for all legal guardianships (relative and non-relative).
Safety of Foster Children Placements

Issue: Inability of Child Welfare Agencies to share Child Abuse History
Action: Support legislation to allow County Child Welfare Agencies to share previous child
abuse/neglect history with Foster Family Agencies (FFAs).
Background: The ability of County Child Welfare Agencies to share with Foster Family Agencies
previous child abuse/neglect history as found in the Child Welfare System/Case Management System
(CWS/CMS) will allow for a more complete background check that will help ensure a safe placement
for the foster child.
45
Juvenile Court Dispositional Orders

Issue: Lack of Statutory Guidance for Custodial and Non-Custodial Parents (NCP).
Action: Support legislation to amend Welfare and Institutions Code to resolve what orders to make in
reference to a NCP who does not desire custody and what orders to make for a noncustodial parent
who desires custody.
Background: When a juvenile court removes a child from a parent's custody, it does so only after
finding by clear and convincing evidence that the child would be at risk of harm in that parent's custody.
When a court orders removal of a child, the court shall first determine whether there is a parent, with
whom the child was not residing, who desires to assume custody of the child. If that parent requests
custody, the court shall place with the parent unless it finds that placement would be detrimental to the
safety of the child.
Among situations that need clarification includes situation where families have multiple NCPs.
Currently, if NCP 1 were to notify Child Welfare Services (CWS) that he or she has/would like to have
custody of the child and a second NCP 2 has no interest in custody, CWS staff would be required to
follow the same processes for both NCPs although the outcome is already known.
By eliminating unproductive activities, the child will be placed more quickly with a parent who wants
them, and allows County staff more time to assist the child and family with needed services.
Child Care for Foster Children

Issue: Childcare payments are frequently higher than the foster care payment received by foster
parents for a child.
Action: Support legislation that provides a sliding scale of childcare co-payments to support the foster
parent or non-needy relatives employment.
Background: One of the biggest impediments to recruiting and retaining foster parents is the
inadequacy of the foster care rate. This is particularly true for foster parents whose employment
requires that foster children in their care receive day care. The cost of day care typically exceeds the
entirety of the foster care payment received by foster parents for a child. Failure to subsidize the cost
of care limits the pool of available foster parents to households in which at least one foster parent is
unemployed or where the households independent income is sufficient to cover the costs of day care.
46
Email Court Reports

Issue: Facilitate the successful delivery of court reports to parties who lack a permanent address or
who move frequently.
Action: Support legislation to amend Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) to allow court reports to be
sent electronically, at County and customer option.
Background: Although a majority of people now communicate regularly by electronic mail, there is no
provision within the WIC to allow court reports to be sent electronically. AB 879 allowed for sending
legal notices electronically. The same principal can be adopted for sending court reports. Sending court
reports through regular mail is both time-consuming and costly, and it does not always result in the
court report being provided to the intended recipient. In a case where the party lacks a permanent
address, the court report may be retrieved by someone who is not a party to the proceeding.
The provisions can be drafted to make it a voluntary program for Counties and to allow a notice recipient
to participate in an "opt in" program to receive court reports electronically through a designated e-mail
address.
For those parties that decline to accept electronic court reports, all current court report provisions would
be required to be met.
CalWORKs Temporary Homeless Assistance (THA) Daily

Payment Rate
Issue: Inadequate Temporary Homeless Assistance (THA) Housing Vouchers
Action: Support legislation to increase the current daily homeless vouchers from $65 to $85 a day for
families of 4 or fewer and provide an increase in the CalWORKs Single Allocation to fund the new rate.
Additional members of the family will remain eligible to receive the current rate of fifteen dollars ($15)
per day, up to a daily maximum of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125).
Background: Under the CalWORKs program, homeless CalWORKs families are eligible for up to a
16-day stay in a motel or hotel. This temporary assistance is intended to be a safety net while the family
seeks stable permanent housing. The current daily rate for a motel stay was established 10 years ago
and unfortunately the number of motels that will accept the current rate are becoming few and far
between.
Many CalWORKs families have limited or non-existent means of transporting their families from motel
to motel seeking a facility that will accept the current voucher rate. In addition, homelessness of families
with small children are usually accompanied with additional problems such as food insecurity and add
to the difficulty of a parent to seek and/or maintain employment.
47
Streamlined Processing of CalFresh Applications

Issue: Existing regulations inadvertently prevent advances in technology from being used to efficiently
and expeditiously process applications for federally funded CalFresh benefits.
Action: Support legislation to accommodate changes in law and procedures that will increase efficiency
and expedite the timely processing of CalFresh applications.
Background: Recent examples include;
Current CalFresh regulations permit a household to apply for assistance by providing a name,
address, and signature. With the increasing use of technology in County operations, this
minimum threshold has created unexpected difficulties with processing the application when the
applicant has the same name as an existing customer, but it is not clear if this is the same
customer or a different person. If customers were encouraged to provide their Social Security
Number (if available) and the Date of Birth as part of their initial application requirements, it
would enable the application to be more easily and quickly processed
Currently, Medi-Cal applications may be taken by DPSS staff for county jail inmates so that
upon release, their Medi-Cal eligibility can be easily and quickly activated. Similar provisions do
not exist for CalFresh in California statute; however, the technology is available now to allow
individual eligibility to remain in suspense pending activation. With a legislative change, DPSS
staff could process CalFresh applications from inmates and hold them in suspense pending their
release, thereby allowing individuals to easily access these benefits in the future. In addition, it
would increase efficiencies if DPSS were able to take CalFresh and Medi-Cal applications at
the same time.
CalFresh benefits are 100% federally funded.
48
RCIT
Riverside County Information Technology
49
RCIT
Video Storage
Issue: Current law requires video to be recorded and retained for 1 full year.
Action: Seek administrative or legislative change to the current law to lower the requirement to 30 days
instead of the current one year.
Background: While digital surveillance systems now offer an enormous amount of versatility compared
to analog counterparts, thoughtful planning is still required in their design and implementation to ensure
cost effectiveness. As we move to centralize video management after events such as the San
Bernardino shooting, more cameras are needed and required; however, storage is cost prohibitive for
the volume and type of cameras required. For security related video, 30 days should be more than
adequate to pull off required video for law enforcement purposes. Requiring the storage of video for a
minimum of a full year will prevent the wide scale deployment of cameras at government facilities.
Trusted Systems
Issue: State requirement that all data be stored on WORM-like storage.
Action: Seek administrative or legislative change specifying the types of documents that should be
stored within these systems as compared to the current policy of all data.
Background: In computer storage media, WORM (write once, read many) is a data storage
technology that allows information to be written to a disc a single time and prevents the drive from
erasing or modifying the data. Current state policy requires that all data be stored on Worm-like storage.
This practice, which most government agencies do not comply with, because of limited vendors and its
cost prohibitive nature, is outdated. In an analysis of current policy, it can be noted that this requirement
fails to specify the type of data which should be stored within these types of systems. As a result, as
the amount of storage necessary to retain all data continues to increase, the cost associated with the
increasing amount of storage will place an increasing burden on local governments with limited
resources.
50
RCIT
AB 1564
Issue: Emergency Services: Wireless 911 Calls.
Action: Seek administrative or legislative change to allow a provider of commercial mobile radio service
to issue a reasonable usage charge for any 911 call placed from a commercial mobile radio service
telecommunications device to a local emergency telephone system to provide for upgrades to said local
emergency telephone systems.
Background: As per AB 1564, signed into law by the Governor on August 30, 2016, the bill prohibits
a provider of commercial mobile radio service from charging any airtime, access, or similar usage
charge for any 911 call placed from a commercial mobile radio service telecommunications device to
a local emergency telephone system.
Californias 9-1-1 system. The OES PSCD is tasked with administering the 9-1-1 emergency
telephone response system in the state, including reviewing PSAP equipment and operations. PSCD
is responsible for design, installation, maintenance and repair of the statewide microwave network and
public safety radio communications systems used by the States public safety agencies first responders
on a 24 hours/7 days a week/365 days a year basis; along with administration and oversight of the
State Emergency Telephone Number Account (SETNA) used to fund 9-1-1 in California, and for the
design development of the statewide network that supports delivery of 9-1-1 calls to the States 452
PSAPs, with over 400 that are non-CHP.
Growth of wireless telephone use. When the 9-1-1 system was first established in the 1970s, the
majority of emergency calls were made from landlines. The emergency response system receives a
call that is routed to a PSAP and the dispatcher dispatched emergency services to the location. With
the advent of mobile phones, 9-1-1 calls from mobile phones were routed to a CHP. However, as mobile
phone use has grown and devices have become smaller, more 9-1-1 calls are coming from locations
that are not necessarily near the CHP patrolled freeways and roadways. Yet, the current dispatch
system still largely relies on the CHP to dispatch the call, potentially delaying on-the-ground emergency
response times. Based on 2013 numbers, there were over 25 million 9-1-1 calls placed with about 75
percent coming from wireless phones.
Provisions within the bill eliminate the opportunity to raise new funds which could be used to implement
upgrades to PSAPs and other emergency communication services. As SETNA has been in a structural
deficit for years, with annual surcharge revenue declining from about $133 million in 2005-06 to
projected total revenue of $108 million for 2014-15. It would seem that it would be extremely difficult
not only to keep current services operating but also to upgrade current systems. This is especially the
case when Cal OES estimated the upgrades in 2013 to be an estimated $375 million over five years
on top of the $510 million to operate the existing system over that same period of time.
51
RCIT
Website Inventory Systems

Issue: Removal of State requirement for a website inventory system.
Action: Seek administrative or legislative change in regards to SB 272 and its requirement for website
inventory systems.
Background: SB 272 set out a requirement in 2015 (effective July 2016) that all local governments
(except schools) publish a listing of enterprise systems in use within their respective jurisdiction.
Riverside County meets this requirement.
Systems Inventory Link:
https://data.countyofriverside.us/Administrative-and-Fiscal-Services/System-Of-Record-Inventory-SB272Published-List/qu7i-8h8t
Challenges posed to local governments by SB 272 come in the form of costs for required upkeep and
the overall value of publishing said information.
To date, there has been no requests from constituents, interest groups, or other entities outside the
county for the information provided within the inventory. Furthermore, as the information provided within
the inventory is just a list of software and users, it provides no real access to the data that can be found
within the listed systems.
An example of such data that can be seen as follows:
Product: For the Vendor: For
Purpose: Public
Record
the Record
Meeting Recordings
Systems
Primary
Custodian:
WRCRCA (RCA)
Frequency
Collected: As
needed
General Description of
Categories or Types of Data:
Public Meeting Recordings
Frequency
Updated: As
needed
In further consideration, it must also be taken into account that systems put in place by SB 272 are not
only duplicative but far less comprehensive compared to open data tools such as the countys websites
and Open Budget and Open Checkbook applications. These open data tools provide authoritative
information on the countys budgeted and actual revenues and expenditures down to the individual
vendor payment. The County currently has more than 4 million transactions posted online from FY
2015-16 and is working to expand this dataset to the current fiscal year and four years of historical data
which would thus total more than 20 million transactions available for public viewing, analysis, and
download. Compared to such tools this system provides no real substantial information to analyze and
could further be implemented on a case-by-case basis through generic open records requests without
the current cost of upkeep that is required of this system.
Open Data Tools Link:
https://data.countyofriverside.us/
52
Waste Resources
Waste Resources
53
Waste Resources
Local Solid Waste Diversion Mandate

Issue: California has adopted a Statewide 75% waste recycling goal for the year 2020 (AB 341). AB
341 included language saying the State shall not establish or enforce a diversion rate on a City or
County that is greater than the 50 percent diversion rate established pursuant to Section 41780 (from
Section 41780.01 (b) of the Public Resources Code). Local jurisdictions are concerned that the 75%
statewide recycling goal might one day be a mandate for them before they are capable of complying
with it or that additional fees may be imposed.
Action: Support legislation that keeps the local diversion mandate of 50% in place until the recycling
and composting infrastructure is more developed, additional tools are available to local governments
to increase diversion, including recycling options (i.e. compost facilities, material recovery facilities,
anaerobic digestion facilities, etc.), and the additional markets necessary to utilize the reclaimed
resources are in place. Oppose any increase in State fees that do not directly fund local infrastructure
projects on a dollar for dollar basis.
Background: Local jurisdictions in California are currently mandated to divert 50% of all solid waste
from disposal in landfills. The language in Section 41780.01 (a) of the PRC regarding the 75% recycling
goal reads as follows: The Legislature hereby declares that it is the policy goal of the state that not
less than 75 percent of solid waste generated be source reduced, recycled, or composted by the year
2020, and annually thereafter." It is believed that forcing the diversion of solid waste that is source
reduced, recycled or composted by an arbitrary deadline does not allow time for sustainable solutions
to be developed. Additionally, foreclosing on the utilization of any diversion opportunities that might
develop elsewhere, such as with conversion technologies, is shortsighted. Diverse strategies are
needed to create additional tools for increased diversion and market development.
The local diversion mandate of 50% should remain in place until the recycling and composting
infrastructure is more developed, additional tools are available to local governments to increase
diversion, including recycling options (i.e. conversion technologies), and the additional markets
necessary to utilize the reclaimed resources are in place.
54
Waste Resources
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Issue: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Requires producers of goods that contain materials
requiring special handling (i.e. mercury, etc.), and are harmful to the environment, to be accountable
for products during their lifespan (from cradle to the grave).
Action: Support legislation that places responsibility for product design, distribution for sale, and
collection for recycling or disposal on the producer of said product and, thereby, relieves local
jurisdictions from having to bear the cost of product collection for recycling and disposal programs.
Background: The California law that banned the landfill disposal of items commonly referred to as
Universal Wastes that are considered harmful to the environment went into effect on February 8, 2006
(CCR, Title22, Division 4.5, Chapter 23). Universal Wastes include household batteries, fluorescent
light bulbs and tubes, thermostats and other items that contain mercury, and electronic devices such
as videocassette recorders, microwave ovens, cellular and cordless phones, printers, computers and
radios. Since that time, Sharps (needles) have also been banned from landfill disposal.
As a result of these unfunded mandates, local governments have had to develop new programs to
handle the disposition of such wastes. The County of Riverside Department of Waste Resources
collects and processes these waste items through its hazardous waste collection and landfill load check
programs. The two programs cover the entire County and are funded with a combination of landfill fees
and grant monies. The use of public monies for the final disposition of these hard-to-handle products
equates to subsidies in favor of the producers.
Extended Producer Responsibility makes the final handling of such products a cost of doing business
for the producer, which more accurately reflects the true cost of the product. The costs are then
incorporated into the purchase price and only borne by the user of the product rather than by all
ratepayers. Local governments (and the ratepayer) will no longer have to fund costly programs for this
purpose. By placing the life cycle burden on producers, better products are designed, which will reduce
the toxicity of products, lessen the amount of packaging, and better plans for final disposition of the
product (whether it be recycling or disposal).
The concept of extended producer responsibility has also been applied to products that do not
necessarily fall into the categories above. For instance, the Governor signed bills from the 2010
legislative session into law that involved Extended Producer Responsibility for paint and carpet. The
paint program is already saving the County $300,000 per year and has increased re-use of paint.
55
Waste Resources
Development of Conversion Technologies

Issue: Conversion Technologies Those technologies that process through thermal (without
combustion), chemical or biological means the organic portion of municipal solid waste, that remains
after recycling, into useable products such as electricity and fuel, and as a result decrease the amount
of solid waste disposed in landfills.
Action: Support legislation that encourages the development of conversion technologies by removing
legislative/regulatory barriers to them and by granting diversion credit on behalf of those jurisdictions
that make use of them.
Background: The statewide level of diversion is estimated to be 65% and recycling 50% (CalRecycle
AB 341 Report). Materials suitable for composting, mulch, anaerobic digestion, or other organics
recovery strategies account for about 40% of Californias disposed waste stream. This includes food,
vegetative materials, clean wood materials, and compostable paper (CalRecycle 2014 Characterization
Study). This material could be feedstock for a number of different technologies commonly known as
conversion technologies: gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, hydrolysis, distillation, plasma
arc, and fermentation. Such facilities provide additional opportunities to keep recoverable materials out
of the landfill.
There have been no conversion facilities developed in the United States. Part of the problem has been
government regulations.
In California, pyrolysis and distillation are considered forms of
Transformation (which is considered disposal) and are limited in terms of how much of the processed
material can count toward a jurisdictions diversion total. Feedstock sent to a transformation facility can
count for no more than 10% of a jurisdictions 50% requirement. Conversion Technologies are
expensive to develop and local governments will need a number of positive factors in their favor to
justify their development. Generous credit toward a jurisdictions State mandated diversion requirement
is one important factor. Conversion technologies do not incinerate the feedstock so they should not be
considered transformation facilities.
It is widely accepted by stakeholders that jurisdictions should send feedstock to a conversion facility
only after the waste stream has been subjected to recycling and other diversion programs (i.e. curbside
recycling, Material Recovery Facility (MRF) processing, and commercial recycling, etc.). Though
conversion facilities produce worthwhile products, including some technologies producing energy, the
existing infrastructure is seen as getting recyclable materials to higher and more beneficial uses.
Conversion technologies can make good use of solid waste materials that are not appropriate for these
other diversion programs.
Numerous conversion technology facilities are in operation in Europe and Japan. There should be more
than enough cases to review in making sure the technologies can meet Californias stringent
environmental regulations.
56
Waste Resources
Development of Compost Facilities

Issue: Compost The product resulting from the controlled biological decomposition of organic
material (i.e. grasses, paper, food, etc.), which can enhance soils and decrease the amount of solid
waste disposed in landfills.
Action: Support legislation that encourages the development of, and/or removes barriers to, compost
facilities so jurisdictions have additional outlets (other than disposal) for organic materials and have an
additional tool to increase their diversion rate.
Background: A 2010 California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
assessment of the States Compost and Mulch-Producing infrastructure estimated that 9.3 million tons
of compostable materials were processed into an estimated 13 million cubic yards of products in 2008.
Even so, it is believed that about 40% of all materials disposed of annually in California landfills can be
processed into compost or mulch.
Composting as an industry, and a waste management process, is not using more of the compostable
material available because of the difficulty in establishing markets and the sometimes constraining
impact of government regulations. In terms of marketing, the industrys rates have to be competitive
with landfill rates in order to capture more feedstock. Products also have to meet the requirements of
potential users and convince them that the application of compost will be of benefit to their soils (and
crops), and that they are an adequate replacement for chemical fertilizers. Additional end markets
benefit from the soils and at the same time allow facilities to move product so more organic materials
can be accepted for processing.
Regulations can impair the use of additional compostable material at processing facilities. For instance,
current regulations call for green material to have no more than 1.0% contaminants by weight. Material
collected in curbside collection programs often times have a higher level of contaminants when
delivered to facilities. Regulations can be changed to increase the level of contamination permissible
in green waste received at processing sites and add a maximum contamination level for material leaving
compost sites. The contaminant level for material leaving a facility would have to be consistent with
standards for determining when it can be used, where it can be used, or when it is to be disposed.
Another regulation related issue is that rules of multiple agencies can be redundant and/or inconsistent
and cause uncertainty on the part of prospective operators. Efforts to clear up conflicting requirements
among regulatory agencies can assist in the development of compost facilities and the industry.
Composting is very important to local communities. It is beneficial to the environment because it
replenishes soils with needed nutrients. The amount of compostable material still available for
processing underscores the importance of the industry in helping jurisdictions meet, and maintain, the
required diversion level of 50%. Legislation that helps develop compost markets, eliminates
barriers/obstacles to the industry, and enhances jurisdictions ability to achieve/maintain a 50%
diversion level must be supported by Riverside County.
57

Riverside County Legislative Platform

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Riverside County Legislative Platform

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RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Riverside County Board of Supervisors

Represents constituents from Idyllwild to Anza Borrego Desert State Park,

Represents the cities of Blythe, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot

2017 STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

Roads and Bridges

Canada and Germany

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

The Board supports legislation to begin the consolidation of decisions within a

4. Reform California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

1991 Realignment Equity (State)

2011 Realignment Equity (State)

Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Funding Definitions (State)

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

Behavioral Health Care and Services in Juvenile

Jail / Juvenile Hall Medicaid Exclusion (Federal)

Medicaid Exclusion of Institutions of Mental Disease (IMD)

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

County DUI Providers

There is a need for a new DUI program in the County.

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

Economic Development Agency

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

Economic Development Agency

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

Economic Development Agency

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

Goods Movement by Rail

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

Economic Development Agency

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

Revenue Sharing on Energy/Mineral Extraction (Federal)

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

Economic Development Agency

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

Community Development Block Grant

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/

Economic Development Agency

2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM

Renewable Energy Development

State Bonds and Grants

COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE http://www.countyofriverside.us/