Federal Interagency Task Force for the

Economic Development of the San Joaquin Valley

# Summary of July 8 Meeting

Workforce Development Board, Visalia

**Present:**

**Task Force Members**: Rollie Smith, Toulu Thao, HUD; Paul Page,
DOT/FTA; Paul Johnson, Energy; Janie Rocheford, Education; Tom Kelly,
Kathy Diehl, Wally , EPA; Juan Regalado, DOL; Ron Truly, SBA; Bob
Jennings, Rep. Devin Nunes; Shelly Abajian, Senator Feinstein; Margaret
Arechiga, Senator Boxer; Gabe, Rep. Cal Dooley; Cynthia Fuller,
Minotaur; Tim Lynch, RJI; Alison Quaid, SEI; Marcia Becerra, EDD;

**Tulare County**: Paul Saldana, EDC; Patty Hartman, City of Dinuba;
Mario Cifuentes, Leslie Caviglia, Tracy Myers, Steve Solomon, City of
Visalia; Natalie Haynes, Dave Britten, Kathy Johnson, Louis Huerta,
Sansei Miller, Bill Diltz, Irene Santos, TCWID; Robert Alcazar, Proteus;
Lali Moheno, TCBOS; Harroll Wiley, Tri-Counties Bank; Mary Alice
Escarga, Nantel Medeiros, CSET;

After Introductions and Updates, there was discussion of follow up to
the recommendations of the report, the state task force, and the Modesto
meeting with Great Valley Center.

Representative leaders of each Initiative gave progress reports (Tim
Lynch for RJI, Cynthia Fuller for Financial Education, and Paul Johnson
for Clean Air/Clean Energy).

Outcomes of discussion: The following decisions were made

1.  **Regional transportation planning authority**. Start the process
    towards developing a regional transportation authority with the
    invitation of a state consultant. The congressional offices will
    discuss this with state district representatives.

2.  **Regional WIB, Labor, Construction Industry Cluster meeting.** Set
    up a meeting with the Regional Director of Labor with the four WIBS,
    the Construction Trade Unions, the Construction Industry Cluster to
    discuss resources for sites for training people in the trades while
    development affordable housing and revitalizing neighborhoods.

3.  **Green Housing Action Teams.** Establish teams that include HUD,
    Rural Development, Cal HFA, HCD, SEI/DOE, EPA to consult with
    smaller cities on specific projects for affordable housing that
    incorporates green building technology.

4.  **State Government Strategy.** While awaiting Gov Shwarchenegger's
    appointment of a State Task Force, identify state agency
    counterparts and invite into Initiative Task Force and Federal Task
    Force.

5.  **New Central Valley Public Works Project.** To respond to the
    overriding need for physical infrastructure repair especially in
    regards the smaller cities public utilities districts, the Task
    Force agreed to explore the development of a campaign to fund a
    major capital works project throughout the Valley.\
    \
    The preliminary steps:

    -   Gather data on communities with inferior public utility systems,
        stakeholders and their interests, sources of revenue.

    -   At the September 9 meeting with the Great Valley Center, plan a
        working session with stakeholders.

    -   In October hold a working session to put together the outline of
        a capital works campaign for the Valley

After lunch (provided by the Tulare County Workforce Investment
Department), the following local projects were discussed:

1\. Sequoia Kings Shuttle from Visalia. Paul Page from FTA will work
with Traci Myers of the City of Visalia to explore special funds that
DOT will have for Parks shuttles.

2\. Coalition of California Airports. Mario Cifuentiz will discuss
getting special consultation of a plan for shuttle airline development
that includes the Visalia airport.\
\
3. Nutricare West. Paul Saldana is working with the USDA on developing
the westcoast hub for nutrition studies, projects, and consultation.
Rollie will discuss with USDA to see if the Task Force can assist in any
way.\
\
4. DOL North County Tulare County Agricultural Worker Pilot Project. The
TCWID has developed an unsolicited proposal to the DOL for Ag Workers in
North County that will utilize the Dinuba Center. Juan and Rollie will
tour the center and discuss the project and explore its support from the
Task Force.\
\
5. Stathmore Public Utilities District. Bob Jennings described the
problems around water in Strathmore which is only one instance of an old
and deteriorating water utilities system in the Valley. The Task Force
agreed to explore the possibility of a Valleywide campaign. See above.\
\
The next meeting will be September 9 in Modesto at the Great Valley
Center.