John’s Soapbox
Greetings!
This morning, I had the pleasure of hearing Supervisor James Gore speak at the Alliance breakfast about “getting things done”. Gore spoke to the business leaders in the audience and recognized them for “caring enough to be involved” in making Sonoma County a better place. He correctly noticed that some business leaders and owners get involved, while others just keep working, and the collective power of both is what is needed. Those businesses that want to just keep working and allow others to attend the meetings and shape the rules and regulations are just as vital and necessary as those firms that show up at every event and take a lot of time to engage in local issues. Both are necessary. The ECA exists and thrives based on both company descriptions.
Who has the time to write a position paper on how to fund our county road repairs? The ECA does and is doing that.
What firm has the resources to send someone to the Groundwater Management Committee meetings for 4 hours to forge the rules and regulations of managing our underground water aquifers? The ECA does and is doing that.
What company had the ability and passion to attend a 4-County collaboration on finding a solution to the Highway 37 traffic mess? The ECA does and did do this.
Involvement. Ever had this thought? Whenever I stick our heads up and make a comment, we somehow involve myself and I don’t have enough time to do one more thing half assed.
If that thought sounds familiar to you, then involve yourself on this level-support the ECA so I can keep you involved at the levels that will affect progress in our communities. Become a sustaining sponsor (click on this link to sign up for this!). Call Mary and sponsor the Installation Dinner event (or click here). Talk to some of your subcontractors that depend on you for work, and explain to them that the ECA is the one “at the table” promoting and supporting their firms on a local level so there is more work for them to bid on so they should join the ECA click here for sign up information). Finally-the ECA has political clout-who has the time to research each City election candidate and find out where they stand on issues that are important to your firm? The ECA does and needs a “war-chest” so that candidates can get support that need support. The ECA can and does wield more influence than individual firms. Please-Write a check to our PAC in order that the ECA has the ability to be a player on the local electoral scene.
So if you are “too damn busy to do damn good work”, support the ECA so we can free up some of your time. “Progress = Better”. Help us promote and effect progress on all issues of local importance to your business and community! And remember – BUY LOCAL!
That’s All Folks!
John
Too Damn Busy To Do Damn Good Work-
Happiness is often the result of being too busy to be miserable.
– Anonymous
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up.
The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
– Thomas A. Edison
Instead of worrying about what people say of you, why not spend time trying to accomplish something they will admire
. – Dale Carnegie
There’s never enough time to do it right, but there’s always enough time to do it over.”
– Jack Bergman
Infrastructure News:
*Does all this rain allow us to stop conserving? click here
*I have been asked to track down where all of the road impact fees go at the County level. The ECA will be tracking this down and reporting it in the future
*I have been working on writing a position paper on “Pavement Preservation Bond” ways to help finance Sonoma County roads for the future. Gore alluded to that in his speech this morning at Alliance breakfast. If you have ideas on this, please contact me.
*City of Santa Rosa is going to propose water fees that will allow issuing of permits for new construction during drought times. This is smart, and the ECA supports this as it heads off the “moratorium” argument by some people that say “why build any new housing when we do not have enough water for we existing users?”
*The ECA is working on providing you some information on whether storm drainage issues are putting a damper on planned construction of housing in Rohnert Park. More to come—
*Is Petaluma going to propose a sales tax measure to fund road repair? I will connect with Petaluma Council members and have this discussion by next newsletter issuance.
PRMD News:
*BoDean study group at Santa Rosa City Council shows how confused City Staff and rules and regulations have become. click here
*I will be meeting with Tennis Wick to discuss changes and progress taking place at Sonoma County PRMD and how it is likely to affect your businesses.
*I will be speaking with and meeting with Brian Crawford at Marin Community Development to discuss how the ECA can better collaborate with Marin permit and planning and construction compliance issues that will enable your business to operate more efficiently in Marin projects you might be involved with.
Transportation California Legislative Update Board of Directors Meeting Mark Watts
See the PowerPoint here.
