Besides an update on what
’s happening in Sacramento with the convoluted budgetary
process, Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, said he had two
major issues to discuss with Morgan Hill business leaders at
Friday’s Big Business Forum: the proposed library project and the
perchlorate situation.
Besides an update on what’s happening in Sacramento with the convoluted budgetary process, Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, said he had two major issues to discuss with Morgan Hill business leaders at Friday’s Big Business Forum: the proposed library project and the perchlorate situation.
Laird addressed the group of 38, which included representatives from banks, realty offices, city officials and others meeting for lunch at Le Bistro organized by the Chamber of Commerce.
“I would like to hear what your concerns are, what you want me to take back to Sacramento, but I also have two areas I would like to address specifically,” he said. “First, the library: I have been working with city staff and legislative staff to figure out how Morgan Hill can retool its application.”
He told the group he would continue to work on Morgan Hill’s bid for state funds – $13,298,260 – to build a new library.
Morgan Hill’s application for the funds was rejected by the California Public Library Construction and Renovation Board in December.
At stake was the $350 million in library construction and renovation funds from Proposition 14 approved by the voters in November 2000. Cities around the state were invited to submit grant proposals to be considered in three rounds of funding. The December decision funded $138 million in grants; a second round will fund $120 million, followed by a final $90 million.
Morgan Hill will have to resubmit its grant proposal by March 4.
Laird pledged to do what he could to facilitate the process.
Referring to another timely issue, Laird told the gathering that he was one of five of the 32 new members to be named chair of a committee: the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. According to the state assembly website, the primary jurisdictions of the committee are toxic substances and hazardous materials, hazardous waste regulation, drinking water regulation, and pesticides.
“I sat in on a Senate hearing two days ago,” Laird said Friday. “Senators pledged their efforts to assist us in this situation. We must deal with the issue of remediation.”
