For the GCVCC, all policy is local. 

Sacramento, CA: How exactly does the chamber help the local business community when it comes to legislation?  And more importantly, do you really make a difference?

One of the key things the chamber does is analyze policy at all levels of government to understand how it impacts our valley, and that is the key, our Coachella Valley business community.  On the City Council level, the effort is straight forward.  Working with our local Board of Directors, we set policy guidelines for each city and then apply and communicate those positions to elected leaders as needed.  If a local city is considering a new sign ordinance, we study it within the context of the current policy platform for that city and take a position. If a business impacting policy falls outside of the platform, we consult with the local board on the position they want to take. Actions at the city level tend to be, though not always, less contentious for the local business community.  When friction does arise, it most often arises between the residents (HOA’s, Community Groups, etc.) and the business community.

At the state level, it tends to be more complicated because the policy application is broader and the impacted business verticals more diverse when we apply the policy across the entire valley.  That local application is key because ultimately, all policy is local.  If our only interest was business advocacy without restricted geographic context, we could leave all policy decisions to CalChamber and the U.S. Chamber and call it a day.  It sometimes surprises people to learn that we occasionally go against both CalChamber and the U.S. Chamber when it comes to policy, it shouldn’t.  Our organizations do not work for the same exact constituency.

As part of the GCVCC advocacy efforts, I was in Sacramento last week to attend the California Air Resources Board (CARB) meeting and participate in the Public Hearing to consider the proposed Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation being pursued.  The business community (led by CalChamber) has several concerns with the proposal, from the direct cost to the truck fleet operators, to the inevitable pass-through cost to businesses served by those fleets – basically everyone.  The rising cost of doing business in California is real, and it’s a big problem.

The environmental groups of course have a different concern, protecting the environment and quality of life as they see it.  While business advocacy groups at the state level often have a contentious relationship with environmental groups, locally I have found it beneficial to listen and consider their opinions for several reasons.  The desert has strong ties financially to environmentally friendly industries and causes – alternative energy, water conservation, eco-tourism, and more.  Beyond that, one of our major industries is conservation dependent, the natural beauty and pristine condition of our desert that draws millions of tourists to our valley annually.  From east valley farming to Palm Springs tourism, in our valley protecting the environment matters for business.

Which is why our advocacy team analyzes carefully, and objectively.  For this CARB meeting we received a 100+ page report on the need for emissions reduction in California.  The main topic for this meeting was new reporting requirements for truck fleets (fleets larger than 100) in California. Basically, the State is trying to gather additional information from these fleets – to include manufacturers and large fleet operators – to measure environmental impacts and eventually accelerate the deployment of clean air trucks and buses (something our own Sunline Transit fleet has proudly led on). This reporting is detailed and would require significant resources, both financial and human, to implement.  Failure to implement would precipitate fines, so enactment would be mandated.

What does the GCVCC have to consider when taking a position?

• What is the short and long-term impact of these reporting requirements locally?
• How many truck or bus fleets of this size operate within the valley?
• How many of our local businesses rely on and/or do business with fleets that operate outside of the area that would be impacted?
• What benefits would this reporting potentially have for our local business community?

We took all of this into account, and more.  We considered how the cost of goods delivery could increase for retailers.  We considered the cost impact to our farmers export operations. We considered the amount of commercial activity that passes through our valley everyday on I-10, decreasing our local air quality while in many cases having no direct economic impact to our valley (just passing though).  We must consider a lot.

Ultimately, the GCVCC asked CARB to bifurcate the reporting requirements for manufacturers and large entity reporting.  Our goal was to slow the implementation of the large entity (fleet business) to give that industry more time to offer feedback and prepare for change – the new rules were only proposed two months ago.  Manufacturers are already well prepared for and acclimated to this type of reporting, fleets are not.  Forcing a quick implementation of policy would be costly, and in the grand scheme of things could cause more harm than good.  We would rather CARB take a few extra months, allow fleet businesses to offer input at town halls and study sessions, and formulate a roll out that helps mitigate implementation cost.  As a major transportation corridor for the ports, we understand the long term need to manage air pollution, our valley is among the highest recipients of non-local commerce emissions.  But rushing through further regulation that increases business cost in California is not the best solution.

We were the only Coachella Valley business advocacy organization present to advocate on behalf of our business community impacted by these changes, and we were proud to do it.

There is much to consider with these issues, requiring ongoing engagement that is both thoughtful and diligent in defending our local economy at the Statehouse.  It requires a lot of work, because as with most things in Sacramento, it’s complicated.

Joshua Bonner is President and CEO of the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce.  He can be reached at 760.347.0676.