CSAC Medical Marijuana Working Group Meeting 

The CSAC Medical Marijuana Working Group will meet during the CSAC Annual meeting in Long Beach, CA on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 from 3:00- 4:30 pm. A copy of the agenda is available on the CSAC website. This meeting will provide an update on the most recent legislative efforts and court rulings related to medical marijuana issues as well as give counties an opportunity to network and communicate with other jurisdictions that are facing similar challenges and provide an opportunity for dialogue and information sharing.

Agenda Highlights include:

• Update & Overview of Recent Legislative Efforts & Court Rulings
• The Environmental Impacts of Unregulated Marijuana Cultivation
• Roundtable Discussion

Delta Workshop

Although conflict receives the most attention, there are many areas of agreement in both current efforts to implement the 2009 Delta Reform Act and past efforts to improve the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Local governments and non-profit organizations have partnered with the state and federal government to achieve successful outcomes, including habitat restoration and levee improvements. The lessons learned from these partnerships can provide a road map for addressing some of the remaining unresolved issues that divide water users and other stakeholders in Northern and Southern California. Come and listen to a lively discussion featuring a number of water experts on Wednesday, November 28th from 2:00- 4:00 pm during the CSAC Annual meeting.

Moderator: Jonas Minton, Water Policy Advisor, Planning and Conservation League

• Supervisor Mike McGowan, CSAC President and Yolo County Board of Supervisors
• Supervisor Larry Ruhstaller, San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors
• John Cain, Director of Conservation for California Flood Management, American Rivers 
• Dennis Cushman, Assistant General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority
• Charles Gardiner, Executive Director, Delta Vision Foundation
• Roger Patterson, Assistant General Manager Strategic Water Initiatives, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
• Tom Zuckerman, Special Projects Manager, Central Delta Water Agency

Top Five Reasons to attend the CSAC ANR Policy Committee Meeting…

Number Five: Does watching the coverage of Hurricane Sandy make you think about the possibility of flooding in your own community? Come and hear from the County Engineers and the Department of Water Resources on their report, “California’s Flood Future: Recommendations for Managing the State’s Flood Risk” which provides a comprehensive outline of the flooding risks in California.

Number Four: Does your county own a landfill? Are you shipping your waste to another jurisdiction? Do you think there ought to be a more efficient way of dealing with our waste stream? The future of waste management is upon us. Come listen to a presentation by Los Angeles and Santa Barbara County, jurisdictions that have begun the move toward the use of solid waste conversion technologies, those technologies which are capable of converting residual solid waste into renewable energy, biofuels, and other useful products. 

Number Three: Has your county been inundated with permit requests for solar photovoltaic installations? Or, would you like to see more of these permit requests in your area? The County Planning Directors will present on their model solar ordinance as well as the State’s Solar Permit Streamlining Guide to provide tips on how to improve the permit review and approval process for solar photovoltaic systems. 

Number Two: It has been twelve years since the Legislature enacted the law that requires the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt regulations or standards for the operation of on-site wastewater treatment systems rule (septic tanks). After numerous drafts, meetings and workshops, the Water Board adopted the final policy on June 19, 2012. Come hear an overview and update from the County Environmental Health Directors on the septic tank policy, including how it will impact your county and constituents. 

Number One: Have you heard about the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s (OEHHA) California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen Tool)? Are you curious what this tool might be used for and how it could impact counties? Come hear from OEHHA staff about their CalEnviroScreen Tool and how it might affect the local land use approval process and the distribution of Cap and Trade funds. 

The CSAC Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy Committee will meet on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Long Beach Convention Center, during the CSAC Annual Conference. Hope to see you there!