Corona Chamber Focuses on Three Strategic Public Policy Initiatives   The Corona Chamber of Commerce is communicating its advocacy priorities with the business community to make sure businesses know that the Chamber represents businesses interests with government.   “We want to make sure the business community in Corona knows the Chamber is their voice at city hall and in the state capitol,” stated Cynthia Schneider, Chair of the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC).  “We have a focused effort in 2011 and our business community will benefit from our work,” continued Schneider.   The Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce 2011 Strategic Initiatives Healthcare Reform Impacts It is a long standing priority of the Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce to support responsible healthcare infrastructure and insurance policy proposals that result in increased availability of affordable healthcare coverage for employers and their employees. The recent federal healthcare reform legislation signed into law earlier this year will not improve the existing healthcare system, but, the Chamber and many other business organizations believe, would jeopardize the parts of the system that currently work.   The Chamber will track additional legislative and regulatory proposals at all levels of government and with as many businesses as possible in 2011 ensure the federal mandate does not place Corona Valley businesses at an economic disadvantage. Local, State and Federal Government Regulations and Reform The Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce will continue to support efforts towards a part-time legislature; seek ways to reform the Government structure dealing with fiscal reform; eliminate the confusion of a “fee” versus a “tax” when legislation is passed; renew our commitment to working with local legislators to minimize anti-jobs legislation and communicate our efforts with the community; and, oppose state mandated business regulations that put the Corona Valley business community at an economic disadvantage. Business Attraction and Retention The Greater Corona Valley Chamber of Commerce is committed to assisting, when possible, businesses impacted by the worst recession in our country’s history. The Chamber will support local programs and efforts to attract and retain businesses; oppose efforts to increase business fees and taxes; support programs such as Shop Corona to ensure our local economy remains strong; and, seek opportunities to secure local and state tax incentives to attract and retain businesses in Corona.

Each year, the Corona Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC) convenes in a special Planning Session to develop the Policy Platform for the following year. The public policy priorities adopted serve as the foundation for the Corona Chamber’s continuing effort to improve the business climate in Corona and its surrounding business areas.

 

“As our economy fights to rebound, the 2011 policy platform is more important than ever,” stated Bobby Spiegel, President and CEO of the Corona Chamber. “We will use the platform to formulate a plan to encourage economic activity and promote the competitiveness of our local economy,” Spiegel continued.

 

“The LAC represents the interests of Corona businesses at all levels of government,” stated Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC) Chair, Cynthia Schneider. “We will use the policy priorities as our guide when considering the intent and objectives of the Chamber’s position on local, regional, state, and federal legislative issues,” Schneider concluded.

 

The Chamber looks forward to building on a very successful 2010 and further strengthening its program of work in 2011.

 

2011 Policy Platform Priorities

 

Redevelopment / Development

Monitor development projects within the downtown and the Greater Corona Valley region.

Monitor proposed private property rights legislation that may or may not influence our region and review polices that balance private property rights with eminent domain and the impacts on our overall community.

Support responsible and quality redevelopment of blighted areas that enhance the economic vitality of the area and its surroundings with minimal disruption to homes and other places of business.

Health and Safety Code Section 33031, describes the conditions in which many people live in our community are adequate and do not require reform. The citizens living in these conditions should have the expectation of a better life in terms of the physical environment and a more robust economic base in the community.

The burdens of blight upon a community should not be a physical and economic liability for a city, with no prospect of improvement since private enterprise acting alone cannot reverse the region’s patterns of decay.

The health, safety and general welfare of an entire blighted community should receive more consideration than the private property rights of a small number of persons.

Support proposals to reduce delays in the approval process for permits.

Annexation

Monitor community development goals and policies pertaining to how existing development is going to be maintained and enhanced and how new development will occur.

Monitor land use options where lands are to be conserved and where growth will be targeted and specifies the types, densities, and design characteristics of uses to be permitted and a map depicting their distribution. (Question for LAC discussion: is this point still relevant to Corona?)

Monitor community design options that specify strategies for the visual and environmental enhancement of the region’s streetscapes and entries.

Monitor economic development strategies for business retention and attraction.

Monitor historical preservation processes for the preservation of the region’s historic buildings, sites and landscapes within the area of influence.

Transportation, Infrastructure and the Environment

Review and consider policies that address the movement of people and goods including autos, transit, bicycles, and other modes.

Review and consider policies that address the provision of public infrastructure including water, sewer, storm drainage, solid waste, electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, and solar and wind alternatives.

Review and consider policies that address the provision of services to meet resident needs including police, fire, library, schools, and health services.

Review and consider policies that address the provision of sustainable programs and green initiatives in the Corona valley region.

Support measures that improve drinking water, adequate water quality and supply, flood control, waterway and natural resource protections, water pollution and contamination controls, state and local park improvements, public access to natural resources, and water conservation efforts.

Review and consider reliable, stable, and competitively priced energy supplies for the Corona valley region and California’s businesses.

Review, consider and propose transportation improvement plans that relieve congestion on freeways, streets and roads, and ensure future mobility within the Corona valley region.

Review and consider policies that impact air quality standards and consider their effect on Corona valley’s regional business community.

Business Attraction and Retention

Encourage an adequate supply of appropriate housing to meet the needs of the Corona Valley region and monitor its impact on the Corona valley business community.

Review and consider policies that ensure the Corona valley maintains a reputation as an attractive, prosperous and cost effective location for business; to balance employment and housing needs with natural resource preservation; and to plan and construct the community infrastructure necessary to support current and future business needs.

Cost of Doing Business

Review and consider reform measures that solve the state budget’s continuing structural deficit that promotes real economic growth and job creation and its impact on the Corona valley business community.

Encourage cooperation among local/regional and state government agencies, and work to streamline and reduce unnecessary requirements of regulatory agencies.

Review and consider ways to privatize government services and public contracts while maintaining or improving standards.

Review and consider state and local tax changes and new tax categories affecting the Corona valley business community.

Support and promote when appropriate the preparation of cost/benefit analysis ensuring economic impacts are weighed before the imposition of regulatory statutes.

Ensure that regulations on business are kept to a minimum and do not put Corona valley businesses at a competitive disadvantage.

Support local/regional and state programs that secure tax credits and tax incentives for targeted programs.

Consider and review policies that promote the outsourcing of essential public services by local/regional and state government agencies.

Consider and review legislation that promotes standards of corporate governance that guide boards of directors and corporate officers in managing their corporations in a competent, ethical manner.

Review and consider measures that reform the extraordinary costs of the state’s public pension system for the sake of the state’s overall fiscal health.

Oppose legislative proposals that might cause unwarranted and frivolous lawsuits on Corona valley businesses, consumers and taxpayers.

Review the implementation of AB 32 and its effect on business retention in the Corona valley.

Education and Outreach

Continue a working relationship with local, state and federal representatives.

Provide opportunities for businesses to increase their knowledge, understanding, and involvement with local, regional and statewide legislative processes.

Workforce Issues

Support measures that reform our state’s education and vocational systems which encourage workforce preparation.

Monitor, provide recommendations and review alternatives to any proposed state minimum wage increases and any local or state living wage ordinances.

Monitor and provide recommendations to the workers’ compensation reform measures which impact costs to Corona valley businesses.

Support responsible health care policy proposals that do not put Corona valley businesses at a competitive disadvantage and result in increased availability of affordable health care coverage for employers and their employees.

Support incentives for an adequate supply of housing, housing affordability and choices of home types that meet the needs of Corona Valley businesses and their employees.
 

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