• Development Review Committee
• Education Committee
• Health Care Committee
• Infrastructure Committee
• Tax and Regulatory Committee

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs:

Gerry De Young, President, Ruth & Going, Inc.
Tony Mirenda, President, TBI Construction and Construction Management, Inc.

Staff:

Pat Sausedo, VP for Public Policy & Communications

The Development Review Committee is the Chamber’s eyes and ears for issues relating to building and developing in the City of San Jose and Silicon Valley. The committee is charged with the responsibility of making policy recommendations to the Chamber’s Board of Directors on Chamber positions regarding proposed ordinances, regulations and policies under consideration as they relate to building and developing in San Jose. The committee also works closely with the staff of the San Jose’s Planning, Building & Code Enforcement as well as Public Works Departments on creating more cost-effective, business-friendly development/permit review process and improved service delivery.

In 2007, a subcommittee drafted a comprehensive set of recommendations for improving and streamlining the permitting process for development. A Phase II of Streamlining was initiated in 2008 which addressed additional planning and building reforms, and work will continue on Phase III in 2009. There is also a Public Works Focus group that meets quarterly.

Committee Meeting Times: The committee generally convenes four times throughout the year at the SJSV Chamber of Commerce from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Upcoming meetings for 2009: August 20 and October 22. Meetings are open to members. Recommend members contact the SJSV Chamber to confirm meeting times.


EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs:

Charlene Ashton, Associate Regional Dean, National University
Lisa Gonzales, Vice President of Membership - ACSA Region 8, Santa Clara County Office of Education

Staff:

Pat Sausedo, VP for Public Policy & Communications

We believe...

* Those who work in the valley and consider relocating here for work deserve the basic “quality of life” and a high quality education for their children.

* Good schools correlate to higher property values and quality of life for the community.

* 21st century skills are needed throughout K-12 education with a specific focus on creativity and innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, technology skills, and life/career skills.

* To support public education also means to honor and recognize teachers and administrators for the work they do.


Policy

* Education at all levels (Pre K - 16) needs a consistent, predictable and adequate source of funding that provides the resources necessary to create a well-educated workforce.

* Nothing is more critical to long-term, sustained economic growth than a local, well-educated workforce.


Partnerships

* Private/public partnerships are effective and essential in improving student performances, effecting educational change, and exposing students to a range of post-secondary options.


Programs

* Quality preschool is needed, particularly for those children most in need, such as underrepresented minority groups.

* Employment in the Silicon Valley depends on strong foundational skills in the areas of STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

* Balanced educational programs benefit all students, and include programs such as science, social studies, physical education/athletics, health, and electives.

* The arts are an integral part of the education of all students and play a major role in the community's economic, social, and cultural health.

* Career tech programs provide rapid response to regional workforce and industry needs, which will be critical with emerging technologies in the Silicon Valley, such as “green growth.” Career tech also provides equitable access for employment to all students, improves graduation and attendance rates, reduces the dropout rate, and helps close the “achievement gap” for all students.

More Information

Committee Meeting Times: The committee generally convenes once a month on the second Tuesday of each month at the SJSV Chamber of Commerce from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Meetings are open to members. Recommend members contact the Chamber to confirm meeting times.


HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE
Chair:

William Updyke, D.C., Director, LifeConnections Health Center (Cisco)

Staff:

Pat Sausedo, VP for Public Policy & Communications

The Chamber’s Health Care Committee serves as the Chamber’s voice on health care policy on the local, state, and federal level. The committee analyzes issues from the business perspective and makes recommendations on policy positions to the Board of Directors on a wide array of legislation ranging from the seismic retrofitting of hospitals to universal health care legislation being proposed. A key goal of the Health Care Committee is to provide information to Chamber members and the business community about trends for promoting wellness and controlling employer health care costs through the GoWell! Summit, an annual health care forum.

The Health Care Committee is actively engaged in advocating for state health care reform and has worked directly with Governor Schwarzenegger’s staff to support reform that promotes shared responsibility for funding, universal care for all Californians, guaranteed coverage, preventive and wellness benefits, and individual mandate.

Committee Meeting Times: The committee generally convenes once a month on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the SJSV Chamber of Commerce from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Meetings are open to members. Recommend members contact the Chamber to confirm meeting times.


INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs:

ArLyne Diamond, Consultant, Diamond Associates
Frank Jesse, Real Estate, Facilities and Construction Management Consulting

Staff:

Pat Sausedo, VP for Public Policy & Communications

The Infrastructure Committee develops policy recommendations for the Board of Director’s consideration on transportation projects and funding, energy development and supply, housing, water quality and supply, telecommunications, broadband access and other public infrastructure needs. The Committee is also responsible for advising the Board on any proposed changes or problems with expansion and modernization of the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport and construction for the BART extension to San Jose. The committee successfully advocated for California High Speed Rail alignment via Pacheco Pass into San Jose, rather than an East Bay route.

Committee Meeting Times: The committee generally convenes once a month on the third Thursday of each month at the SJSV Chamber of Commerce from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Meetings are open to members. Recommend members contact the Chamber to confirm meeting times.


TAX AND REGULATORY COMMITTEE
Chair:

Brian Baer, Audit Partner in Charge, Deloitte

Staff:

Pat Sausedo, VP for Public Policy & Communications

Businesses face a constant barrage of new taxes, new fees, and new regulations that hurt businesses of all sizes and curb job creation. The Tax and Regulatory Committee monitors business tax issues and unnecessary and burdensome regulations for the Chamber. Some principles that guide the Tax and Regulatory Committee include:

• Increases in taxes and fees on business generally hurt business expansion, and often inhibit employers from creating more jobs.
• Economic development is a legitimate, and needed, component of state and local tax policy.
• Equity and fairness are essential characteristics of good tax policy.
• During economic downturns, tax increases are “anti-stimulus” in nature, and will delay and impede economic recovery.
• Industry-specific taxes, like those often discussed on alcoholic beverages, are largely inequitable.
• Oversight of government expenditures should occur in order to assure that such spending is efficient, effective, and produces a good return on the investment of such resources.

By following these principles, the Tax and Regulatory Committee often makes recommendations to the Chamber’s full Board of Directors on policies as wide ranging as the tax credits for manufacturers who invest in California to parcel taxes proposed by local school districts to workers’ compensation reform measures to state budget reform issues. The committee also serves as a clearinghouse to ascertain the economic impact for business of positions brought forward from other public policy committees.

Committee Meeting Times: The committee generally convenes on an as-needed basis at the SJSV Chamber of Commerce. Meetings are open to members. Recommend members contact the Chamber to confirm meeting times.

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For more information on committees, including meeting times and locations, contact Pat Sausedo, 408-291-5262 or pats@sjchamber.com.