A Message from Chamber President Dennis Goldstrand:

Council provides powerful

tool for members

AUGUST 2008  -  As I stated in my initial article in the July issue, each month I will feature one of the outstanding committees or programs of your Chamber. It is also my intention to attend as many of the committee meetings as possible, along with various other meetings outside the Chamber that may deal with or have an impact on the business community. The committees and programs are designed to not only support the business community, but also enhance the lives of all our citizens.

I have served as co-chair of the Government Relations Council with past president Dan Schroeder. The role and purpose of the Government Relations Council (GRC) is to increase the Chamber’s influence on behalf of membership with various legislative agencies and their staff in specific and measurable terms. Past activities have included identifying key issues and developing policy statements with membership input, communicating and advocating positions to appropriate parties, publishing voting records of elected officials and conducting forums on important issues with all interested parties. We also take positions on bond issues and state propositions that have an impact on the business environment and communicate to you our position and the reasons for it. However, your local Chamber does not endorse candidates for office.

The two main areas of concern I consistently hear from members is excessive regulation and the permit process. It is not just the layers of multiple governmental agencies that they have to deal with, often it is when businesses attempt to comply that they are impeded by confusing and conflicting guidance from regulatory agencies. Being involved in and having input in proposed legislation and ordinances is valuable in avoiding excessive or poorly drafted legislation and ordinances. Often, regulation that may appear to accomplish public good has the long term consequences of depressing the business environment and increasing the costs for the ultimate payer of regulation — the families that live in our community.

We value our relationships with our elected representatives and their staff. One important purpose of GRC is to meet regularly with our mayor, city council members, board of supervisors, state and national representatives and key staff members. In these meetings, they give us a report and we ask questions and address issues important to our members. This open dialogue is valuable.

The Permit Center and permitting process continues to be an issue for our members and for many other citizens. The Chamber, through the GRC, will continue to pursue this problem until it is permanently resolved. It not only affects business development for our members, but impedes the attraction of new businesses to our area.

The Government Relations Council regular meeting schedule is the second and fourth Friday of each month from 7:30-9:00 a.m. in the Chamber conference room. All Chamber members are invited to attend the open session portion of the meeting but only the 15 members of the GRC are allowed during any closed session.

Closed sessions are necessary to allow our guests to talk candidly about issues and during times we have issues to discuss and consider taking a position. The GRC then recommends to the full board an action. It does have the power to take action on behalf of the Chamber when there is not enough time to react. Not until the board considers the position and possibly takes action is it communicated to the members, the interested parties and the public. Meeting dates can change so please confirm with staff when the next meeting is and to be sure it is not a closed session.

Also, if you have any issues that you want this committee to consider, please let us know. Frank Ferral, Program & Public Policy Director, is our key staff person in charge of the GRC. I am pleased that Dan Schroeder is continuing as co-chair. Dan, Frank and the entire committee bring diverse backgrounds and knowledge of government relations. I thank them for their time and commitment to this important role.