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 2009 and our business community will benefit from our work,” continued Schneider.   The Chamber is increasing its efforts by committing to the following strategic initiatives in 2010:   State and Local Government Reform The Corona Chamber of Commerce will: a. Monitor proposed ballot initiatives outlining the call for a Constitutional Convention and a part-time legislature; b. Seek ways to reform the Government structure dealing with fiscal reform and eliminate the confusion of a “fee” versus a “tax” when legislation is passed; c. Renew our commitment to working with local legislators to minimize anti-jobs legislation and communicate our efforts with the community; d. Oppose state mandated business regulations that put the Corona business community at an economic disadvantage; Workforce Issues The Corona Chamber of Commerce will: a. Protect the 2004 statewide workers’ compensation reforms; b. Promote healthcare reform without placing Corona businesses and their employees at a disadvantage from securing healthcare; c. Seek opportunities to strengthen our state’s education system to support the transition of young people into the workforce. Resources For Local Business The Corona Chamber of Commerce will: a. Support local programs and efforts to attract and retain businesses; b. Oppose efforts to increase business license fees in order to retain businesses; c. Support programs such as Shop Corona to ensure our local economy remains strong; d. 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 2010 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 2009 and further strengthening its program of work in 2010.

 

2010 Policy Platform Priorities

 

Redevelopment / Development

 
Monitor development projects within the downtown and Corona region.
Monitor proposed private property rights legislation that may or may not and review polices that balance private property rights with eminent domain and its impact on the overall community.
 
Support responsible and quality redevelopment of areas that are convincingly proven and documented as blighted and suffering from environmental decay that severely lags in economic vitality compared to the surrounding community.
 
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 a City’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.
 
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.
 
Monitor community design options that specify strategies for the visual and environmental enhancement of the City's streetscapes and entries.
 
Monitor and support incentives for an adequate supply of housing, housing affordability and the choices of home types that meet the needs of the Corona business community and their employees.
 
Monitor economic development strategies for business retention and attraction.
 
Monitor historical preservation processes for the preservation of the city's historic buildings, sites and landscapes within the city.
 
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.
 
Review and consider policies that address the provision of sustainable programs and green initiatives in the City of Corona.
 
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 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 region.
 
Review and consider policies that impact air quality standards and consider their effect on Corona’s regional business community.
 
Business Attraction and Retention
 
Encourage an adequate supply of appropriate housing to meet the needs of the Corona region and monitor its impact on the Corona business community.
 
Review and consider policies that ensure Corona maintains a reputation as an attractive prosperous 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 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 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 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 businesses, consumers and taxpayers.
 
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 businesses.
 
Support responsible health care policy proposals that do not put Corona businesses at a competitive disadvantage and result in increased availability of affordable health care coverage for employers and their employees.
 

---

In its on-going mission to represent the interests and articulate the value of local businesses, the Corona Chamber of Commerce is pleased to report 2010 was an active and results-driven year.
 
“Too often, activity doesn’t translate into productivity,” remarked the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC) Chair, Cynthia Schneider. “By all accounts, the Chamber’s efforts in 2010 materially benefited local businesses. From fighting against the implementation of proposed increases in workers compensation rates to advocating on behalf of workplace flexibility to lobbying against tax increases, the Corona Chamber played a meaningful leadership role in influencing the outcome of debates that matter to its members.”
 
Schneider’s own leadership was recognized when she received the prestigious Small Business Advocate of the Year Award presented by the California Chamber of Commerce.
 
Other highlights from the Chamber’s work include:
 
Successfully defeating a paid sick leave mandate that would have forced businesses to provide paid sick leave to all employees and would have unreasonably expanded employer’s and local government agencies’ costs and liability by mandating a specific paid sick leave policy. 
 
Opposing a harmful legislative proposal that would have negatively impacted a business owner’s use of consumer credit reports during the employee hiring process. This law was not approved by the Governor.
 
Leading the local effort to urge legislative leaders to stand firm on not raising taxes in order to balance the state budget.
 
Drafting and submitting more than 40 letters to federal representatives, the Governor, local state legislators, and other stakeholders on legislation and issues that would have impacted the Corona business community.
 
Initiated a recent letter writing campaign of over 650 letters expressing support for a California High-Speed Train route and stop through Corona.
 

Home > Priorities