[GPCA-SGA-Votes] Discuss ID 138 - Approval: Minutes, General Assembly, June 10-11, 2017
Eric Brooks
brookse32 at hotmail.com
Sun Mar 25 15:42:57 PDT 2018
NOTICE OF REVISIONS:
Dear Standing General Assembly Delegates -
The following changes have been made to the version of the June 2017 GPCA General Assembly minutes that was posted to the SGA for discussion, either due to a mix up in the original post, comments received during the SGA Discussion period and/or from additional information provided by the GA organizers, presenters and participants:
1. The date of the General Assembly SHALL BE corrected IN THE MESSAGE SUBJECT and elsewhere from June 10-11, 2017 to June 17-18, 2017.
2. For the Saturday, June 17, 2017 Item at 10:55 am<x-apple-data-detectors://5> (Proposal: Approval of Budget for FY 2017-2018), the revised proposed budget and narrative of expenses presented by Assistant Treasurer/Treasurer-elect, Ruscal Cayangyang, has been reproduced in text format at Appendix A, at the bottom of the minutes.
3. For the Saturday, June 17, 2017 Item at 1:05 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://8> (Proposal Strategic Plan), an additional link has been provided.
4. For the Sunday, June 18, 2017 Item at 10:05 - 10:35 am<x-apple-data-detectors://10> (1. Decision: Ratification of the Coordinating Committee vote to oppose SB 775), a note has been added to indicate that the revised language is not available.
5. For the Sunday, June 18, 2017 Item at 10:05 - 10:35 am<x-apple-data-detectors://12> (3. Decision: Oppose AB 469), the proposal's sponsors have been corrected from "Feinstein, CCWG" to "Feinstein, ERWG."
6. For the Sunday, June 18, 2017 Item at 1:40 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://14> (Breakout sessions for committees and working groups), the announcement about the Greens who have applied to the Fundraising Committee has been corrected to note that many of the applicants were men, where it previously indicated that many of the applicants were women.
Mimi Newton
June 2017 GA Note-taker
GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
June 2017 General Assembly - Draft Minutes
Sacramento, June 17-18, 2017
ATTENDEES:
Name County Sacramento Delegate status Present/Absent
Brett Dixon Alameda Delegate P
Greg Jan Alameda Delegate P
James McFadden Alameda Not delegate P
Jan Arnold Alameda Delegate P
Laura Wells Alameda Delegate P
Maxine Daniel Alameda Delegate P
Michael Rubin Alameda Delegate P
Pam Spevack Alameda Delegate P
Paul Rea Alameda Delegate P
Phoebe Sorgen Alameda Delegate P
Erik Rydberg Butte Delegate P
Bert Heuer Contra Costa Not delegate P
Brian Deckman Contra Costa Not delegate P
Meleiza Figueroa Contra Costa Not delegate P
Tim Laidman Contra Costa Delegate P
Megan Buckingham Fresno Delegate P
David Cobb Humboldt Delegate/Alt P
Jim Smith Humboldt Delegate P
Kelsey Reedy Humboldt Not delegate P
Kyle Dust Humboldt Delegate P
Matt Smith-Caggiano Humboldt Delegate/Alt P
Cassidy Sheppard Kern Delegate P
Penny Sheppard Kern Delegate P
Ajay Rai Los Angeles Delegate P
Andrea Houtman Los Angeles Not delegate P
Angel Orellana Los Angeles Delegate P
Angelina Saucedo Los Angeles Delegate P
Cesar Gonzalez Los Angeles Not delegate P
Christopher Cruz Los Angeles Delegate P
Daniel Mata Los Angeles Delegate P
Doug Barnett Los Angeles Delegate P
Fernando Ramirez Los Angeles Delegate P
James Lauderdale Los Angeles Not delegate P
Jimmy Rivera Los Angeles Delegate P
Kenneth Mejia Los Angeles Delegate P
Lisa Salvary Los Angeles Delegate P
Liz Solis Los Angeles Delegate P
Marla Bernstein Los Angeles Delegate P
Martin Conway Los Angeles Delegate P
Miguel Zuniga Los Angeles Delegate P
Reed Heisley-Shellaby Los Angeles Delegate P
Richard Flores Los Angeles Delegate P
Rodolfo Cortes Barragan Los Angeles Delegate P
Rohan Sabnis Los Angeles Delegate P
Rubi Mondragon Avila Los Angeles Not delegate P
Ruby Gallegos Los Angeles Delegate P
Shane Que Hee Los Angeles Not delegate P
Yuliana Miranda Mendoza Los Angeles Delegate P
Mimi Newton Marin Delegate P
Ike Heinz Mendocino Delegate P
Pam Brown Mendocino Delegate P
Ron Lippert Mendocino Not delegate P
Audra Walton Monterey Not delegate P
Dominique Wade Monterey Not delegate P
Eleanor Lambert Monterey Not delegate P
Frank Lambert Monterey Delegate P
Beth Moore Nevada Delegate P
Pamela Osgood Nevada Not delegate P
Sue Roberts Emery Nevada Delegate P
Gloria Bram Orange Delegate P
Phil Blumenfeld Orange Delegate P
Bobby Halili Riverside Delegate P
Lorraine Salas Riverside Delegate P
Christopher Carlson Sacramento Delegate P
Eric Frame Sacramento Delegate P
Farzad Qmehr Sacramento Not delegate P
James Clark Sacramento Delegate P
Jared Laiti Sacramento Delegate P
Lawrence Murray Sacramento Not delegate P
Nicole Castor Sacramento Delegate P
Randy Hicks Sacramento Not delegate P
Carol Bouldin San Bernardino Delegate P
Vickie Wilson San Bernardino Delegate P
Ann Menasche San Diego Delegate P
Nicole Montoya San Diego Delegate P
Barry Hermanson San Francisco Delegate P
Eric Brooks San Francisco Delegate P
Lance Smith San Francisco Delegate P
Mike Murphy San Francisco Delegate P
Colt Gonzales San Joaquin Delegate P
Eric Luna San Joaquin Delegate P
Jennifer Hall San Joaquin Not delegate P
Mark Miller San Joaquin Not delegate P
Gloria Purcell San Mateo Delegate P
Lee McKusick San Mateo Not delegate P
Sanda Everette San Mateo Delegate P
Brian Good Santa Clara Delegate P
Cheryl McGovern Santa Clara Delegate P
Mike Gonzales Santa Clara Delegate P
Nassim Nouri Santa Clara Delegate P
Robert Latimore Santa Clara Delegate P
Don Yost Shasta Delegate P
Lee Macey Shasta Not delegate P
Quinton Crawford Solano Not delegate P
Ruscal Cayangyang Solano Delegate P
David Pittman Sonoma Not delegate P
June Brashares Sonoma Delegate P
Susan Chunco Sonoma Delegate P
Susan Lamont Sonoma Delegate P
Tarik Kanaana Sonoma Delegate P
John Schmit Stanislaus Delegate P
Dalia Gonzalez Tulare Not delegate P
Fernando Serrano Tulare Not delegate P
Lauren Mauricio Tulare Delegate P
Carla Rodriguez Yolo Not delegate P
Connor Gorman Yolo Not delegate P
Sadie Fulton Yolo Delegate P
Walter England Yolo Delegate P
AJ Hill Alameda ALT delegate A
Bob Marsh Alameda ALT delegate A
Patti Marsh Alameda ALT delegate A
Vicente Cruz Alameda ALT delegate A
Jessica Montiel Contra Costa ALT delegate A
Paul Larudee Contra Costa Delegate A
Richard Gomez Fresno Delegate A
Ruthi Engelke Humboldt ALT delegate A
Angelica Dueñas Los Angeles Delegate A
Henoc Garcia Los Angeles Delegate A
Matthew Wheeler Los Angeles Delegate A
Mike Feinstein Los Angeles Delegate A
Hebard Olsen Monterey Delegate A
Peggy Koteen San Luis Obispo Delegate A
Mark Roest San Mateo Delegate A
Melanie Liu Santa Clara ALT delegate A
Victoria Ashley Solano Delegate A
Carolyn Epple Sonoma ALT delegate A
Donna Phillips Stanislaus Delegate A
Saturday, June 17, 2017
8:00 am<x-apple-data-detectors://17> Breakfast, registration
9:00 am<x-apple-data-detectors://18> Opening, new delegate orientation, quorum count, announcement of Standing Committee vacancies
Quorum Count - 63 delegate cards handed out; all 63 delegates were present.
9/11<x-apple-data-detectors://19> regions present - Los Angeles & Central Coast Regions missing
Agenda approval -
Changes proposed during June 16, 2017 CC meeting are noted by Tarik Kanaana.
There is a request to switch the IT committee break out session to Saturday - the Bylaws Committee Co Coordinator agrees to switch the Bylaws Committee break-out session to Sunday.
No outstanding questions or concerns.
The revised agenda is approved by consensus. See: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aq2d92mXc9FTx8EObLUtEq0F3Jv-7zTTwx6VKh46gnc/edit?usp=sharing
Announcement of Standing Committee vacancies:
- Bylaws Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison) - currently full, no vacancies.
- Clearinghouse Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison) - currently 6 Voting Members, 2 vacancies.
- Finance Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison plus Treasurer as ex officio non-voting 9th member) - currently 7 Voting Members, 1 vacancy.
- IT Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison) - currently full, no vacancies.
- Media Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison, plus non-voting GPCA Spokespersons) - currently 1 Voting Member, 7 vacancies.
- Platform Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison) -currently 4 Voting Members, 4 vacancies.
- Fundraising Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison plus Treasurer as ex officio non-voting 9th member) - currently 3 Voting Members, 5 vacancies.
- Campaign Fund Support Committee (6 Members) - all positions are up for appointment per GPCA Bylaw 9-7.2(b).
9:40 am<x-apple-data-detectors://24> Designation of General Assembly Roles and Responsibilities:
- Saturday morning Facilitators - Beth Moore, Jared Laiti
- Notes Taker - Mimi Newton
- Time Keeper - Eric Brooks
- Vibes Watchers - Susan Chunco & Gloria Purcell
The facilitators presented a brief overview of the consensus process.
10:00 am<x-apple-data-detectors://29> Presentation: Coordinating Committee female and male candidates for FY 2017-2019 make statements -
- Sanda Everette
- Sadie Fulton
- Erik Rydberg
- Mimi Newton
- Deatra Cohen (in her absence, her statement was read)
- Mica Daniel
- Mark Miller
- Eric Brooks
- Nicole Castor
10:20 am<x-apple-data-detectors://36> Explanation of Delegations by Laura Wells - General Assembly, Standing General Assembly, GPUS Delegates and Alternate Delegates.
10:25am<x-apple-data-detectors://37> Presentation: GPUS Delegation delegate and alternate candidates for FY 2017-2018 make statements:
- Sanda Everette
- Fernando Serrano
- David Cobb
- Meleiza Figueroa
- Erik Rydberg
- Jan Arnold
- Matthew David Smith-Caggiano
- David Pittman
- Doug Barnett
- Phoebe Anne Sorgen
- Kenneth Mejia
- Carolyn Epple (in her absence, her statement was read)
- Mimi Newton
- Angelica Duenas (in her absence, her statement was read)
Sanda announced that the GPUS delegates would have a meeting at dinner on Saturday Night<x-apple-data-detectors://48>.
10:50 am<x-apple-data-detectors://49> - Announcements
- David Cobb announced that there would be a workshop for the Movement School for Revolutionaries in Richmond on June 24.<x-apple-data-detectors://50>
- The Sacramento Greens announced a raffle of various items to raise funds for their County Council.
10:55 am<x-apple-data-detectors://51> Proposal: Approval of Budget for FY 2017-2018
- Presentation from Assistant Treasurer/Treasurer-elect, Ruscal Cayangyang, who has noted some changes that are not reflected in the budget document that was posted - he presents a revised proposed budget and narrative of expenses. [Text file at Appendix A, below these minutes.]
- A discussion ensued in which numerous questions were raised to which Ruscal answered.
- Affirmation(Brashares) - the funds allocated to the Campaigns and Candidates Working Group (CCWG) is not for candidates but rather seed money. June invites people to join the CCWG to help focus on raising money for candidates.
- Affirmation (Quentin??) - agrees with Ruscal's proposal especially his ideas for fundraising.
- Additional questions were raised and numerous individuals encouraged people to join the recently established Fundraising Committee.
- It was noted by Tim Laidman (Finance Committee) that GPCA received $11K in donations this year.
- Ruscal provided responses to questions and comments. He explains that there are two options for the upcoming fiscal year and recommends adopting option A and when and if the revenues come in, shift to Option B.
- A proposal is made by Mica Daniel (Finance Committee) for the Finance Committee to come back with a 6 month update at the next GA, usually the budget undergoes only an annual review.
- Ruscal discusses the absence of funds to provide training for County Treasurers but indicates that the Finance Committee can nonetheless send out FPCC manual for County Council Treasurers and Assistant Treasurers. He advises that the filing deadline for Treasurers is at the end of July.
Test for Consensus
- Eric Brooks - has an outstanding question about when we would switch to Option B. Answer - it would not trigger for 6 months
Outstanding concerns - but willing to stand aside:
- Tim Laidman - The proposed budget Option A is already an aspirational budget insofar as it is already over $30K and in the last 5 years we haven't come close to that fundraising level on an annual basis. As for proposed budget Option B, nothing short of a miracle would make the numbers reflected on that budget a reality.
- Doug Barnett - Donations have come to a standstill because no donation request letters have been sent out for a year.
No additional questions or concerns.
Budget for FY 17-18 is approved and adopted by consensus.
11:55 am<x-apple-data-detectors://57> Announcements
12:00 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://58> Lunch, Women's Caucus meeting during lunch
1:00 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://59> Reconvene and Quorum Count
Quorum Count on Saturday afternoon<x-apple-data-detectors://60> -
80 delegate cards - handed out
Delegates Present (78): 1 - 5, 7-33, and 35-80.
Delegates Absent (2): 6, and 34.
78 delegates present
10/11<x-apple-data-detectors://61> Regions present (Central Coast Region missing)
1:05 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://62> - Proposal Strategic Plan - presentation from Laura Wells.
Copies of the plan were posted at: http://www.cagreens.org/ga/2017-06/strategic-plan
See also: http://cagreens.org/committees/coordinating/subcomm/strategy/workplans
- A discussion ensued in which a number of questions about the plan were raised and answered.
- A friendly amendment is offered (Carlson) to add the deadline for GPUS delegate applications to the Plan (April 23rd<x-apple-data-detectors://65> is listed as the deadline for candidates for the CC). Friendly amendment accepted (Wells).
- Are there any outstanding concerns?
- Outstanding concern, but willing to stand aside:
- Randy Hicks (Sacramento) - Prefers that this be a fluid document as opposed to a static document.
- No other questions or concerns.
- Approved and adopted by consensus.
2:05 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://67> Break
2:10 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://68> Discussion: Report from counties on "What are the counties doing?"
(2:15 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://69> - Delegate #6 checked in.)
3:10 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://70> Presentation and discussion: Gayle McLaughlin and Juan Reardon of the Richmond Progressive Alliance: The Story and experiences of the RPA.
4:30 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://71> Confirmation of the appointment of Jared Laiti as the GPCA Liaison to the Secretary of State.
Affirmations - (Rai, Brooks, Lee, Hicks).
4:20 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://72> Breakout sessions for committees and working groups (CCWG, Platform, ERWG, IT)
5:20 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://73> Confirmation: Standing Committee and Working Group Co-Coordinators
No new appointments, no new confirmations.
5:25<x-apple-data-detectors://74> Announcements
Reminder for delegates to "deregister" by returning their delegate cards if they are not planning to return tomorrow.
5:30pm<x-apple-data-detectors://76> Dinner Break.
7:30pm<x-apple-data-detectors://77> Evening Social Gathering.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
8:00 am<x-apple-data-detectors://79> Breakfast, registration
9:00 am<x-apple-data-detectors://80> Convene and Quorum Count
9:05 am<x-apple-data-detectors://81> Breakout sessions for committees and working groups (Media, Green Issues, Bylaws)
10:05 am<x-apple-data-detectors://82> Reconvene
Quorum Count
63 delegate cards handed out
62 delegates present: #3 de-registered (absent) and 1, 2, and 4-63 present."
9/11<x-apple-data-detectors://83> Regions present with Central Coast and San Diego/Imperial Regions missing
10:05 - 10:35 am<x-apple-data-detectors://84>
Decision Items:
1. Decision: Ratification of the Coordinating Committee vote to oppose SB 775 (Wiekowski - Cap & Trade) (Coordinating Committee).
2. Decision: Ratification of the Coordinating Committee vote to oppose Jordan Cove LNG Export Station (Coordinating Committee)
3. Decision: Oppose AB 469 (Feinstein, ERWG).
4. Decision: Oppose Anti-Community Choice Energy Legislation (Brooks, Platform, ERWG).
1. On the item regarding SB 775 -
Currently, there is a statement in the GPCA Platform California Clean Air at http://www.cagreens.org/platform/clean-air.
"End the Air Pollution Credit ("Offset") System of the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The current air pollution credit system allows large corporations to distribute their air pollution over many emission sites. This causes local high air concentration emissions to offset the planned turnarounds or maintenance of their individual industrial plants. Air pollution thresholds should apply to each individual industrial plant to safeguard local communities who live near the emission source. The current air pollution credit system also allows large corporations to purchase air pollution credits from other corporations that are in compliance. Such inter-corporation purchase of credits must also end as it undercuts prevention of environmental pollution. Hybrid systems of "trading emissions" may be supported as interim measures if there are definite upper thresholds for individual emission sources and a plan to lower overall emissions relative to the previous 5 years for high polluters." [Revised language not available. Please refer questions to the Platform Committee.]
We oppose cap and trade unless certain circumstances are met. That platform does not state anything on carbon taxes but the GPCA Transportation platform at http://www.cagreens.org/platform/transportation states:
"Substantially increase the taxes on gasoline, but allow some compensation for low-income drivers. [see Creating the Right Incentives plank.]
Legislate a "gas guzzler" tax on new vehicles that get a lower mpg than the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and offer "gas sipper" rebates for vehicles that get a higher mpg."
and
The GPCA Fair Taxation plank calls for " * A system of carbon taxes on all fossil fuels to begin to reflect the real environmental cost of their extraction and use." http://www.cagreens.org/platform/fair-taxation.
- Questions? None.
- Affirmations and Concerns -
- (Hicks) - supports cap and trade measure because it opened the door for polluters but this bill is more than that - we need to look at the bigger picture - this gives people another door not to do anything - not perfect by its something.
- A discussion ensued in which a friendly amendment was made to oppose cap and trade but include recommendations about what should be done instead, I.e., direct imposition of pollution controls on the utilities themselves.
Friendly amendment accepted (Brooks).
- Outstanding concerns, but willing to stand aside:
- (Bram) She had heard the bill would extend cap and trade. She wants to know if the current law is expiring and thinks, if so, this is a good reason not to oppose this bill.
- (Hicks) Supports cap and trade measure, because if you rescind cap and trade, you open the door for more pollution - its been around for years and is better than nothing and it would take too long to impose something to replace it.
- No other outstanding questions or concerns.
- Approved by consensus
2. Re: Ratification of the Coordinating Committee vote to oppose Jordan Cove LNG Export Station (Coordinating Committee):
The resolution of GPCA is:
Green Party of California Resolution to Oppose Jordan Cove LNG Export Terminal and Pipeline
WHEREAS, there is currently a proposed build of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Coos Bay, Oregon and a 230 mile pacific connector pipeline by Jordan Cove LNG and their parent company Veresen out of Canada;
WHEREAS, use of LNG results in methane emissions. Methane traps heat in the atmosphere at a rate 86 times greater than Carbon Dioxide;
WHEREAS, these projects will increase the amount of exported fossil fuel to the Asian markets from the United States and Canada, thus increasing our commitment to fossil fuel energy for decades and perpetuating the production of non-renewable energy at the expense of developing & investing in local renewable energy sources;
WHEREAS, the proposed project would conflict with efforts to promote increased use of renewable energy;
WHEREAS, the Green Party is recognized as an international leader among governments in supporting the reduction of greenhouse gases, combating global warming and investing in renewable energy;
WHEREAS, the Green Party of California's reputation as environmental leaders in sustainability would be adversely impacted by the approval of the proposed LNG and pipeline projects;
WHEREAS, the proposed pipelines would cross hundreds streams, rivers and wetlands. This represents a major threat to riparian habitats critical for threatened fish, songbirds, amphibians and many other species in Northern California and Southern Oregon;
WHERE AS, a pipeline placed underneath Native American watersheds such as the Klamath River, Rogue River and Coos Bay would conflict with the efforts of the indigenous Tribes of Northern California and Southern Oregon who have been working to recover and protect these resources. These Tribes include the Yurok, Hoopa, Karuk, Modoc and Klamath;
WHERE AS, less than 1/3 of the 3,500 temporary jobs associated with the construction of the pipeline will be given to citizens of California or Oregon and none of the projected 200 permanent jobs are required to be given to citizens of California or Oregon;
WHERE AS, Veresen the Canadian parent company of Jordan Cove LNG stands to make the majority of profit from the export station and pipeline. Secondary profit holders come from Companies based out of Texas that produce fracked gas in Utah, Wisconsin, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and California;
WHERE AS, rejection of the Jordan Cove LNG Export Terminal would halt the export of fracked gas out of Canada, Wisconsin, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and California, protecting the vital water ways of California and Oregon and decreasing the production of fracked gas throughout the country;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Green Party of California expresses its opposition to the proposed Jordan Cove LNG terminal and associated pipeline; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Green Party of California encourages the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC), California Governor Jerry Brown, Oregon Governor Kate Brown and the agencies of their State Governments to do everything in their power not to allow the proposed Jordan Cove LNG terminal and pipeline in Northern California and Southern Oregon.
- Questions and affirmations:
- (Nouri, Nassim) - affirmation.
- (Gonzales) - proposes a friendly amendment to strike the words "the Green Party of" from one of the Whereas clauses and otherwise correct the grammar due to the stricken language so that it reads:
"WHEREAS, California's reputation as an environmental leader in sustainability would be adversely impacted by the approval of the proposed LNG and pipeline projects;"
- Friendly amendment accepted (Brooks).
- Outstanding concern, but willing to stand aside:
- (Barnett) - This issue is a HUGE concern and this proposal doesn't address the problem. The US currently has 2 export ports for LNG nationally, 1 in Alaska and one in Oregon. The Trump administration has just approved 13 more new export ports, and approved 5 in Brownsville, Texas alone. America is moving to a new approach in which we frack and sell to other countries. This has not happened until now.
- No other outstanding questions or concerns.
- Approved by consensus.
3. Decision: Oppose AB 469 (ERWG, presentation by Cobb, in Feinstein's absence)
C.T. Weber of Peace and Freedom Party's June 16, 2017 message:
Friends,
The Assembly passed AB 469 (Cooper) and sent it to the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee. The bill will be heard on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. I will be speaking in opposition to the bill. AB 469 will make it even more difficult for candidates with little or no money to qualify for the primary ballot. I understand that the Green Party will be meeting in Sacramento this coning weekend. I would like to stop by and make a short presentation on why the Green Party should join with Peace and Freedom Party in opposing AB 469. I will bring a letter of opposition from the Green Party. Of course, you can rewrite it but I hope to deliver it to the author and members of the Senate Election Committee on Monday. Attached please find the letter of opposition. That way you can put it on letterhead, make any changes you want and sign a copy for me to pick up and deliver to the Capitol, if the Green Party votes to oppose. Thank you.
C. T. Weber
Peace and Freedom Party of California
Legislative Committee Chairperson
Text of proposed letter:
The Honorable Jim Cooper
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 6025
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 469 (Cooper) Oppose
Dear Assembly Member Cooper:
The Green Party of California is a ballot qualified party in California. Before the passage of Proposition 14, candidates seeking the nomination of the Green Party had to collect a maximum of 150 signatures in lieu of filing fees. Since the passage of Proposition 14 when partisan primaries were eliminated, and its implementing legislation which made it more difficult for Green Party candidates to qualify for the primary, the number of candidates we have been able to qualify for the primary ballot dropped by 85%.
Instead of 150 signatures in lieu of filing fees, current law requires our candidates to collect 10,000 signatures in lieu of filing fees to run for a statewide office, 3,000 signatures to run for U.S. House of Representatives and State Senate, and 1,500 signatures for State Assembly. Now AB 469 (Cooper)would reduce the number of days that candidates have to get their signatures in lieu of filing fees and supplemental signatures in lieu of filing fees by 42.8% (70 days to 40 days).
It was pointed out that to the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee that this reduction in the number of day to collect the signatures in lieu of filing fees made a bad system worse. As a result, the Assembly Elections Committee reduced the number of signatures in lieu to 7,000 for a statewide candidate (a 30% reduction), 2,000 for a U.S. House or State Senate candidate (a 33.3% reduction), 1,000 for State Assembly (a 33.3% reduction) and Board of Equalization by 25%. However, even with these reductions, if AB 469 is signed into law, our candidates would still need to gather more signatures in lieu per day than the current law.
Signatures in lieu of filing fees were supposed to be a reasonable alternative to filing fees. They are nota reasonable alternative and instead of making it more difficult, they should be drastically reduced. Therefore, the Green Party of California stands opposed to AB 469 and ask for you to vote in the negative on this bill.
cc: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee
- No outstanding questions or concerns.
- Approved by consensus.
4. Decision: Oppose Anti-Community Choice Energy Legislation (Brooks, Platform ERWG)
- The proposal as presented by Platform and ERWG:
- The Green Party of California will take a "support" position on legislation that supports Community Choice aggregation (also known as community choice energy programs) with the goals to increase local clean renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gases, and provide local environmental and economic community benefits and resiliency. The GPCA will take an "oppose" position to legislation that undercuts Community Choice energy programs with impacts such as: unfairly increasing costs on Community Choice customers, overly burdening Community Choice programs and putting them at a disadvantage in relation to the monopoly investor owned utilities or otherwise impacting the ability of Community Choice programs to meet the Community Choice goals described above. Some indicators that a bill may create problems for Community Choice programs include bill sponsorship by: the monopoly IOUs, electrical trade associations or their agents, or Senator Bradford. Any position taken will be copied to the GPCA Legislative Committee which is a legislative watch committee that has the authority to rescind the position. This proposal is only in effect during the current legislative session.
- Outstanding concerns, but willing to stand aside:
- (Rubin) - Labor councils are concerned about community choice aggregation because of the loss of jobs that may accrue and while this is not a basis for opposing the position being recommended, our party needs to take these issues into consideration.
- (Sorgen) - Proposes a friendly amendment to remove the word "aggregation," so people will be compensated instead of just giving back the power to the utilities.
- (Hicks) - The PUC is nowhere in this document and, if you think you can regulate energy without the PUC, as the regulators need to be involved, you are mistaken. The PUC needs to come into play and needs to be addressed in these documents. Because you can't do any of this without them.
- (Bram) - concern about process because we are giving time for concerns to be expressed when affirmations are not being expressed. (Facilitator's reply: we are out of time).
- A brief discussion was had about the friendly amendment being proffered. Because of the time constraints, the proposers are not accepting the friendly amendment or entertaining additional amendments at this time.
- No outstanding questions or concerns.
- The proposal is approved by consensus.
10:45 am<x-apple-data-detectors://92> - Workshops focused on Skills Building and/or Training (CCWG)
- Workshop I: Running a Campaign that Grows the Party facilitated by Barry Hermanson
- Workshop II: Using Social Media facilitated by Mel Figueroa and Sadie Fulton
- Workshop III: Movement School for Revolutionaries facilitated by David Cobb
12:00 pm - Lunch<x-apple-data-detectors://93>
1:00 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://94> - Reconvene and Quorum Count
Quorum Count on Sunday afternoon<x-apple-data-detectors://95> - 54 delegates present -
- All delegates between 1 and 64 (last card handed out) were here except the following:
3 - deregistered
21 - absent
35 - deregistered
39 - deregistered
45 - deregistered
46 - deregistered
47 - deregistered
48 - deregistered
49 - deregistered
57 - deregistered
- Regions: 9/11<x-apple-data-detectors://96> Regions Present. (Central Coast and San Diego/Imperial Regions missing)
- We have quorum.
1:05<x-apple-data-detectors://97> Announcements, including announcement of Standing Committee vacancies
1:10 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://98> Proposal: Approval Next General Assembly Meeting Date and Place (Coordinating Committee)
- Ventura County proposes to host the next General Assembly during either the weekend before or after the November elections.
- Outstanding Concerns, but willing to stand aside:
- (Brooks) - has a concern regarding scheduling a GA for one of the November weekends before or after elections. San Francisco has a Green fest, and they will be busy both ramping up for elections, and ramping down afterwards.
- (Rydberg) There are plans for a Green New Deal Conference in Eureka the weekend after the election.
- A show of hands/poll is taken about whether attendees prefer to schedule the GA for the weekend of Nov. 4-5th<x-apple-data-detectors://99> or 11-12th - per the Facilitators, it seems like more hands were raised for the weekend of Nov. 11-12th.<x-apple-data-detectors://100>
- Outstanding Concerns, but willing to stand aside:
- (Salas) - both of the dates offered by Ventura County appear to have conflicts with a number of different events.
- No other outstanding questions or concerns.
- Approved by consensus.
1:40 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://101> Breakout sessions for committees and working groups (Finance, GROW, Clearinghouse)
Announcement by Eric Brooks after Finance Committee Breakout session: 7 people may apply to Fundraising Committee (to be appointed by the CC) but most are men and many are named "Eric" or "Erik"! We need more women to volunteer for this committee (are there any Erica's out there?)
2:55<x-apple-data-detectors://102> Confirmation: Standing Committee and Working Group Co-Coordinators (for any committees or working groups not confirmed in morning session)
[None]
3:00 pm<x-apple-data-detectors://103> Presentation: Single Payer Healthcare and SB562 (Green Party of Sacramento). Keith McCallum -
4:15pm<x-apple-data-detectors://105> Closing session
Adjourned!
** ** **
APPENDIX A
FY 2017-2018 Budget - Revenues and Expense Narratives
The GPCA annual budget process is governed by Article V Annual Budget of the party's Fiscal Policy, which specifies that the Draft Budget shall:
5-4.1 Incorporate budget requests and income projections from standing committees and working groups as described in 5-2 and the prioritization of expenses as described in 7-2;
The Budget Committee is in the process of integrating income and expense projections from standing committees and working groups, based upon these Work Plans.
5-4.2 Contain an attached Income Narrative to explain the income categories and line item projections of the budget, and provide a plan for raising that income, corresponding to the income projections; The Income Narrative will follow below.
5-4.3 Contain an attached Expense Narrative to explain expense categories and line item projections, that identifies legal and contractual obligations as provided in Section 7-2, provides job descriptions where they exist for GPCA staff and Independent Contractors, and provides a plan to fund a Reserve Fund as specified in 6-2.1(b). The Expense Narrative follows below. It contains job descriptions where applicable.
5-4.4 Contain any budget approval resolutions necessary to award contacts, hire staff or independent contractors or other discretionary choices.
Funds budgeted for the independent contractor positions of Field Organizer and Media Secretary as independent contractors have been recommended by the Grassroots Organizing Working Group and Media Committee, respectively and hiring will be through the recommendations of those groups or committees to the Personnel Committee, as provided for in the GPCA Personnel Policy.
With passage of the budget, funds budgeted for hosting of cagreens.org<http://cagreens.org/> shall be considered authorized to contract with WiredTree.
With passage of the budget, funds for hosting of the Green Party voter registration data base shall be considered authorized to contract with Nationbuilder.
5-4.5 Contain an attached balance sheet and statement of revenue and expenditure from the most recently completed fiscal year and a statement of the year-to-date and a projected year-end total of the current fiscal year.
END OF PAGE 1 OF 6
- - - -
Revenues Narrative, GPCA FY2017-2018 Budget Proposal A (realistic)
State Acct 9070 Unrestricted Revenues
Responsibility: Clearinghouse Committee:
Clearinghouse sales: $2000
Platform sales: $0
Sale of Publications, Literature: $0
Total $2000
Merchandise will be priced to make a profit. Recovery of cost will be sought for sales of platforms and brochures to county parties and other Greens.
Responsibility: Finance Committee and Fundraising From Resolicitation mailings $14,000
>From Prospect mailings 0
>From Registration Drive 0
>From fundraising $2,500 From Personal Solicitations $0 From Sustainer $0
>From PayPal $2300
Other donations: $10,000 Total $28,500
Responsibility: Coordinating Committee and GA
>From Events Registration $0
>From House Parties $0
>From Voter Registration Tabling $0 GA Registration $4000
GA Travel Donations $0
CA Gathering Registration $1300 Other Events income $0
Total $5,300
Total Unrestricted Revenues: $36100
Fed Acct 4039 Restricted Revenues: $0
Total Restricted Revenues: $0 from Fed GPUS
Total All Unrestricted + Restricted Revenues $36,100
END OF PAGE 2 OF 6
- - - -
Expense Narrative, GPCA FY2017-2018 Budget Proposal A State Acct 9070 Unrestricted Expenses
Coordinating Committee
Office Supplies
CC retreat food costs $400
CC gathering site food costs $300
Operating Expenses
Liability insurance costs $910
CC gathering site rental costs $1000
General Assemblies
Meeting food, CC Friday food $2300 GA Meeting site rental $2000
Travel costs $500
Other GA $100
Restricted Expenses: $0 Total $7510
Finance Committee Office Supplies $0
Operating Expenses
Treasurer contract: $150/month= $1,800 + Treasurer expenses: $120 = $1920 Global Payment Process fees $1,500
Pay Pal fees $360
One United Bank Fees $50
Statecraft fees $1500
Secretary of State, FPPC fees $50 FPPC fines $500
Resolicitation mailings $6000
PO Box $200
Postage $60
Other $25
Restricted Expenses: $0 Total $12080
END OF PAGE 3 OF 6
- - - -
Bylaws Committee
Office Supplies $0 Operating Expenses $0 Restricted Expenses: $0 Total $0
Campaigns and Candidates Working Group CCWG
Office Supplies $0
Operating Expenses
Candidate Support $350
Restricted Expenses: $0 Total $350
Clearinghouse Committee Office Supplies
Merchandise: $1,000
Operating Expenses
Telephone: $100
Postage: $100
Printing (brochures): $300
Restricted Expenses: $0 Total: $1500
Green Issues Working Group GIWG
Office Supplies $0 Operating Expenses $0 Restricted Expenses: $0 Total $0
END OF PAGE 4 OF 6
- - - -
Grassroots Organizing Working Group
Office Supplies $100
Operating Expenses
Independent Contracts, Field Organizer, $300 Travel Costs $100
Campus Greens $0
Restricted Expenses: $0
Total $500
Information Technology Committee
Office Supplies $0
Operating Expenses
Server Hosting costs $1080 Nationbuilder costs $4100
Restricted Expenses: $0 Total $5180
Media Committee
Office Supplies $100
Operating Expenses
Independent Contracts, Field Organizer, $100 Restricted Expenses: $0
Total $200
Platform Committee
Office Supplies $100 Operating Expenses $100 Restricted Expenses: $0
Total $200
END OF PAGE 5 OF 6
- - - -
All County Parties
Alameda-Yuba 58 counties $5800
Total $5800
Total Unrestricted Expenses $33,320 Fed Acct 4039 Restricted Expenses
Office Supplies $0 Operating Expenses GPUS Delegation $2,750
Total Restricted Expenses $2,750
Unrestricted Beginning Balance $21978 Actual as of Jun 30, 2016 Restricted Beginning Balance $773.02 Actual as of Jun 30, 2016 Total Unrestricted Revenues: $36100
Total Restricted Revenues: $0 from Fed GPUS
Total Unrestricted Expenses $33,320
Total Restricted Expenses $2,750
Ending Unrestricted Balance $24758.32
Ending Restricted Balance -$1976.98
Ending Unrestricted + Restricted Balance $22781.34
END OF PAGE 6 OF 6
- - - -
On Feb 14, 2018, at 7:49 AM, GPCA Votes <gpca.votes at gmail.com<mailto:gpca.votes at gmail.com>> wrote:
Please send your discussion comments to gpca-votes at sfgreens.org<mailto:gpca-votes at sfgreens.org>
Discussion has begun for the following GPCA SGA ranked choice vote
Ranked Choice Vote ID #138
Ranked Choice Vote Approval: Minutes, General Assembly, June 10-11, 2017
Ranked Choice Vote Administrators: Victoria Ashley, Brian Good, Laura Wells, Eric Brooks, Mike Goldbeck
Discussion 02/12/2018 - 03/25/2018
Voting 03/26/2018 - 04/01/2018
Voting ends at Midnight Pacific Time
Background
GPCA Bylaws 7-5.6 Minutes state that "Minutes shall include the date, time, location and list of delegates in attendance, the subject/title, sponsor(s) and presenter(s) of all agenda items heard, the decisions-taken (including whether by consensus or by roll-call vote) and the text of all proposals, including amendments." (http://www.cagreens.org/bylaws/2016-07-03#Section_7-5_Meetings)
The following minutes from the General Assembly, June, 2017 in Sacramento are presented below, with links from this page to the text of each proposal in question: http://cagreens.org/ga/2017-11/minutes.
Proposal
That the following minutes be approved as presented in draft form here on the web here http://cagreens.org/ga/2017-011/minutes, and in draft text form below:
GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
June 2017 General Assembly - Draft Minutes
Sacramento, June 17-18, 2017
ATTENDEES:
Name County Sacramento Delegate status Present/Absent
Brett Dixon Alameda Delegate P
Greg Jan Alameda Delegate P
James McFadden Alameda Not delegate P
Jan Arnold Alameda Delegate P
Laura Wells Alameda Delegate P
Maxine Daniel Alameda Delegate P
Michael Rubin Alameda Delegate P
Pam Spevack Alameda Delegate P
Paul Rea Alameda Delegate P
Phoebe Sorgen Alameda Delegate P
Erik Rydberg Butte Delegate P
Bert Heuer Contra Costa Not delegate P
Brian Deckman Contra Costa Not delegate P
Meleiza Figueroa Contra Costa Not delegate P
Tim Laidman Contra Costa Delegate P
Megan Buckingham Fresno Delegate P
David Cobb Humboldt Delegate/Alt P
Jim Smith Humboldt Delegate P
Kelsey Reedy Humboldt Not delegate P
Kyle Dust Humboldt Delegate P
Matt Smith-Caggiano Humboldt Delegate/Alt P
Cassidy Sheppard Kern Delegate P
Penny Sheppard Kern Delegate P
Ajay Rai Los Angeles Delegate P
Andrea Houtman Los Angeles Not delegate P
Angel Orellana Los Angeles Delegate P
Angelina Saucedo Los Angeles Delegate P
Cesar Gonzalez Los Angeles Not delegate P
Christopher Cruz Los Angeles Delegate P
Daniel Mata Los Angeles Delegate P
Doug Barnett Los Angeles Delegate P
Fernando Ramirez Los Angeles Delegate P
James Lauderdale Los Angeles Not delegate P
Jimmy Rivera Los Angeles Delegate P
Kenneth Mejia Los Angeles Delegate P
Lisa Salvary Los Angeles Delegate P
Liz Solis Los Angeles Delegate P
Marla Bernstein Los Angeles Delegate P
Martin Conway Los Angeles Delegate P
Miguel Zuniga Los Angeles Delegate P
Reed Heisley-Shellaby Los Angeles Delegate P
Richard Flores Los Angeles Delegate P
Rodolfo Cortes Barragan Los Angeles Delegate P
Rohan Sabnis Los Angeles Delegate P
Rubi Mondragon Avila Los Angeles Not delegate P
Ruby Gallegos Los Angeles Delegate P
Shane Que Hee Los Angeles Not delegate P
Yuliana Miranda Mendoza Los Angeles Delegate P
Mimi Newton Marin Delegate P
Ike Heinz Mendocino Delegate P
Pam Brown Mendocino Delegate P
Ron Lippert Mendocino Not delegate P
Audra Walton Monterey Not delegate P
Dominique Wade Monterey Not delegate P
Eleanor Lambert Monterey Not delegate P
Frank Lambert Monterey Delegate P
Beth Moore Nevada Delegate P
Pamela Osgood Nevada Not delegate P
Sue Roberts Emery Nevada Delegate P
Gloria Bram Orange Delegate P
Phil Blumenfeld Orange Delegate P
Bobby Halili Riverside Delegate P
Lorraine Salas Riverside Delegate P
Christopher Carlson Sacramento Delegate P
Eric Frame Sacramento Delegate P
Farzad Qmehr Sacramento Not delegate P
James Clark Sacramento Delegate P
Jared Laiti Sacramento Delegate P
Lawrence Murray Sacramento Not delegate P
Nicole Castor Sacramento Delegate P
Randy Hicks Sacramento Not delegate P
Carol Bouldin San Bernardino Delegate P
Vickie Wilson San Bernardino Delegate P
Ann Menasche San Diego Delegate P
Nicole Montoya San Diego Delegate P
Barry Hermanson San Francisco Delegate P
Eric Brooks San Francisco Delegate P
Lance Smith San Francisco Delegate P
Mike Murphy San Francisco Delegate P
Colt Gonzales San Joaquin Delegate P
Eric Luna San Joaquin Delegate P
Jennifer Hall San Joaquin Not delegate P
Mark Miller San Joaquin Not delegate P
Gloria Purcell San Mateo Delegate P
Lee McKusick San Mateo Not delegate P
Sanda Everette San Mateo Delegate P
Brian Good Santa Clara Delegate P
Cheryl McGovern Santa Clara Delegate P
Mike Gonzales Santa Clara Delegate P
Nassim Nouri Santa Clara Delegate P
Robert Latimore Santa Clara Delegate P
Don Yost Shasta Delegate P
Lee Macey Shasta Not delegate P
Quinton Crawford Solano Not delegate P
Ruscal Cayangyang Solano Delegate P
David Pittman Sonoma Not delegate P
June Brashares Sonoma Delegate P
Susan Chunco Sonoma Delegate P
Susan Lamont Sonoma Delegate P
Tarik Kanaana Sonoma Delegate P
John Schmit Stanislaus Delegate P
Dalia Gonzalez Tulare Not delegate P
Fernando Serrano Tulare Not delegate P
Lauren Mauricio Tulare Delegate P
Carla Rodriguez Yolo Not delegate P
Connor Gorman Yolo Not delegate P
Sadie Fulton Yolo Delegate P
Walter England Yolo Delegate P
AJ Hill Alameda ALT delegate A
Bob Marsh Alameda ALT delegate A
Patti Marsh Alameda ALT delegate A
Vicente Cruz Alameda ALT delegate A
Jessica Montiel Contra Costa ALT delegate A
Paul Larudee Contra Costa Delegate A
Richard Gomez Fresno Delegate A
Ruthi Engelke Humboldt ALT delegate A
Angelica Dueñas Los Angeles Delegate A
Henoc Garcia Los Angeles Delegate A
Matthew Wheeler Los Angeles Delegate A
Mike Feinstein Los Angeles Delegate A
Hebard Olsen Monterey Delegate A
Peggy Koteen San Luis Obispo Delegate A
Mark Roest San Mateo Delegate A
Melanie Liu Santa Clara ALT delegate A
Victoria Ashley Solano Delegate A
Carolyn Epple Sonoma ALT delegate A
Donna Phillips Stanislaus Delegate A
Saturday, June 17
8:00 am Breakfast, registration
9:00 am Opening, new delegate orientation, quorum count, announcement of Standing Committee vacancies
Quorum Count - 63 delegate cards handed out; all 63 delegates were present.
9/11 regions present - Los Angeles & Central Coast Regions missing
Agenda approval -
Changes proposed during June 16, 2017 CC meeting are noted by Tarik Kanaana.
There is a request to switch the IT committee break out session to Saturday - the Bylaws Committee Co Coordinator agrees to switch the Bylaws Committee break-out session to Sunday.
No outstanding questions or concerns.
The revised agenda is approved by consensus. See: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aq2d92mXc9FTx8EObLUtEq0F3Jv-7zTTwx6VKh46gnc/edit?usp=sharing
Announcement of Standing Committee vacancies:
- Bylaws Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison) - currently full, no vacancies.
- Clearinghouse Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison) - currently 6 Voting Members, 2 vacancies.
- Finance Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison plus Treasurer as ex officio non-voting 9th member) - currently 7 Voting Members, 1 vacancy.
- IT Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison) - currently full, no vacancies.
- Media Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison, plus non-voting GPCA Spokespersons) - currently 1 Voting Member, 7 vacancies.
- Platform Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison) -currently 4 Voting Members, 4 vacancies.
- Fundraising Committee (8 Voting Members, including CC liaison plus Treasurer as ex officio non-voting 9th member) - currently 3 Voting Members, 5 vacancies.
- Campaign Fund Support Committee (6 Members) - all positions are up for appointment per GPCA Bylaw 9-7.2(b).
9;40 am Designation of General Assembly Roles and Responsibilities:
- Saturday morning Facilitators - Beth Moore, Jared Laiti
- Notes Taker - Mimi Newton
- Time Keeper - Eric Brooks
- Vibes Watchers - Susan Chunco & Gloria Purcell
The facilitators presented a brief overview of the consensus process.
10:00 am Presentation: Coordinating Committee female and male candidates for FY 2017-2019 make statements -
- Sanda Everette
- Sadie Fulton
- Erik Rydberg
- Mimi Newton
- Deatra Cohen (in her absence, her statement was read)
- Mica Daniel
- Mark Miller
- Eric Brooks
- Nicole Castor
10:20 am Explanation of Delegations by Laura Wells - General Assembly, Standing General Assembly, GPUS Delegates and Alternate Delegates.
10:25am Presentation: GPUS Delegation delegate and alternate candidates for FY 2017-2018 make statements:
- Sanda Everette
- Fernando Serrano
- David Cobb
- Meleiza Figueroa
- Erik Rydberg
- Jan Arnold
- Matthew David Smith-Caggiano
- David Pittman
- Doug Barnett
- Phoebe Anne Sorgen
- Kenneth Mejia
- Carolyn Epple (in her absence, her statement was read)
- Mimi Newton
- Angelica Duenas (in her absence, her statement was read)
Sanda announced that the GPUS delegates would have a meeting at dinner on Saturday Night.
10:50 am - Announcements
- David Cobb announced that there would be a workshop for the Movement School for Revolutionaries in Richmond on June 24.
- The Sacramento Greens announced a raffle of various items to raise funds for their County Council.
10:55 am Proposal: Approval of Budget for FY 2017-2018
- Presentation from Assistant Treasurer/Treasurer-elect, Ruscal Cayangyang, who has noted some changes that are not reflected in the budget document that was posted - he presents a revised proposed budget and narrative of expenses. [PDF File available on request to the Note taker at mimi.newton at gmail.com<mailto:mimi.newton at gmail.com>. Text will be inserted before Discussion Period begins.]
- A discussion ensued in which numerous questions were raised to which Ruscal answered.
- Affirmation(Brashares) - the funds allocated to the Campaigns and Candidates Working Group (CCWG) is not for candidates but rather seed money. June invites people to join the CCWG to help focus on raising money for candidates.
- Affirmation (Quentin??) - agrees with Ruscal's proposal especially his ideas for fundraising.
- Additional questions were raised and numerous individuals encouraged people to join the recently established Fundraising Committee.
- It was noted by Tim Laidman (Finance Committee) that GPCA received $11K in donations this year.
- Ruscal provided responses to questions and comments. He explains that there are two options for the upcoming fiscal year and recommends adopting option A and when and if the revenues come in, shift to Option B.
- A proposal is made by Mica Daniel (Finance Committee) for the Finance Committee to come back with a 6 month update at the next GA, usually the budget undergoes only an annual review.
- Ruscal discusses the absence of funds to provide training for County Treasurers but indicates that the Finance Committee can nonetheless send out FPCC manual for County Council Treasurers and Assistant Treasurers. He advises that the filing deadline for Treasurers is at the end of July.
Test for Consensus
- Eric Brooks - has an outstanding question about when we would switch to Option B. Answer - it would not trigger for 6 months
Outstanding concerns - but willing to stand aside:
- Tim Laidman - The proposed budget Option A is already an aspirational budget insofar as it is already over $30K and in the last 5 years we haven't come close to that fundraising level on an annual basis. As for proposed budget Option B, nothing short of a miracle would make the numbers reflected on that budget a reality.
- Doug Barnett - Donations have come to a standstill because no donation request letters have been sent out for a year.
No additional questions or concerns.
Budget for FY 17-18 is approved and adopted by consensus.
11:55 am Announcements
12:00 pm Lunch, Women's Caucus meeting during lunch
1:00 pm Reconvene and Quorum Count
Quorum Count on Saturday afternoon -
80 delegate cards - handed out
Delegates Present (78): 1 - 5, 7-33, and 35-80.
Delegates Absent (2): 6, and 34.
78 delegates present
10/11 Regions present (Central Coast Region missing)
1:05 pm - Proposal Strategic Plan - presentation from Laura Wells.
Copies of the plan were posted at: http://www.cagreens.org/ga/2017-06/strategic-plan
- A discussion ensued in which a number of questions about the plan were raised and answered.
- A friendly amendment is offered (Carlson) to add the deadline for GPUS delegate applications to the Plan (April 23rd is listed as the deadline for candidates for the CC). Friendly amendment accepted (Wells).
- Are there any outstanding concerns?
- Outstanding concern, but willing to stand aside:
- Randy Hicks (Sacramento) - Prefers that this be a fluid document as opposed to a static document.
- No other questions or concerns.
- Approved and adopted by consensus.
2:05 pm Break
2:10 pm Discussion: Report from counties on "What are the counties doing?"
(2:15 pm - Delegate #6 checked in.)
3:10 pm Presentation and discussion: Gayle McLaughlin and Juan Reardon of the Richmond Progressive Alliance: The Story and experiences of the RPA.
4:30 pm Confirmation of the appointment of Jared Laiti as the GPCA Liaison to the Secretary of State.
Affirmations - (Rai, Brooks, Lee, Hicks).
4:20 pm Breakout sessions for committees and working groups (CCWG, Platform, ERWG, IT)
5:20 pm Confirmation: Standing Committee and Working Group Co-Coordinators
No new appointments, no new confirmations.
5:25 Announcements
Reminder for delegates to "deregister" by returning their delegate cards if they are not planning to return tomorrow.
5:30pm Dinner Break.
7:30pm Evening Social Gathering.
Sunday, June 18
8:00 am Breakfast, registration
9:00 am Convene and Quorum Count
9:05 am Breakout sessions for committees and working groups (Media, Green Issues, Bylaws)
10:05 am Reconvene
Quorum Count
63 delegate cards handed out
62 delegates present: #3 de-registered (absent) and 1, 2, and 4-63 present."
9/11 Regions present with Central Coast and San Diego/Imperial Regions missing
10:05 - 10:35 am
Decision Items:
1. Decision: Ratification of the Coordinating Committee vote to oppose SB 775 (Wiekowski - Cap & Trade) (Coordinating Committee).
2. Decision: Ratification of the Coordinating Committee vote to oppose Jordan Cove LNG Export Station(Coordinating Committee)
3. Decision: Oppose AB 469 (Feinstein, CCWG).
4. Decision: Oppose Anti-Community Choice Energy Legislation (Brooks, Platform, ERWG).
On the item regarding SB 775 -
Currently, there is a statement in the GPCA Platform California Clean Air at http://www.cagreens.org/platform/clean-air.
"End the Air Pollution Credit ("Offset") System of the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The current air pollution credit system allows large corporations to distribute their air pollution over many emission sites. This causes local high air concentration emissions to offset the planned turnarounds or maintenance of their individual industrial plants. Air pollution thresholds should apply to each individual industrial plant to safeguard local communities who live near the emission source. The current air pollution credit system also allows large corporations to purchase air pollution credits from other corporations that are in compliance. Such inter-corporation purchase of credits must also end as it undercuts prevention of environmental pollution. Hybrid systems of "trading emissions" may be supported as interim measures if there are definite upper thresholds for individual emission sources and a plan to lower overall emissions relative to the previous 5 years for high polluters. " [PROPOSED REVISION NEEDED]
We oppose cap and trade unless certain circumstances are met. That platform does not state anything on carbon taxes but the GPCA Transportation platform at http://www.cagreens.org/platform/transportation states:
"Substantially increase the taxes on gasoline, but allow some compensation for low-income drivers. [see Creating the Right Incentives plank.]
Legislate a "gas guzzler" tax on new vehicles that get a lower mpg than the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and offer "gas sipper" rebates for vehicles that get a higher mpg."
and
The GPCA Fair Taxation plank calls for " * A system of carbon taxes on all fossil fuels to begin to reflect the real environmental cost of their extraction and use." http://www.cagreens.org/platform/fair-taxation.
- Questions? None.
- Affirmations and Concerns -
- (Hicks) - supports cap and trade measure because it opened the door for polluters but this bill is more than that - we need to look at the bigger picture - this gives people another door not to do anything - not perfect by its something.
- A discussion ensued in which a friendly amendment was made to oppose cap and trade but include recommendations about what should be done instead, I.e., direct imposition of pollution controls on the utilities themselves.
Friendly amendment accepted (Brooks).
- Outstanding concerns, but willing to stand aside:
- (Bram) She had heard the bill would extend cap and trade. She wants to know if the current law is expiring and thinks, if so, this is a good reason not to oppose this bill.
- (Hicks) Supports cap and trade measure, because if you rescind cap and trade, you open the door for more pollution - its been around for years and is better than nothing and it would take too long to impose something to replace it.
- No other outstanding questions or concerns.
- Approved by consensus
Re: Ratification of the Coordinating Committee vote to oppose Jordan Cove LNG Export Station (Coordinating Committee):
The resolution of GPCA is:
Green Party of California Resolution to Oppose Jordan Cove LNG Export Terminal and Pipeline
WHEREAS, there is currently a proposed build of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Coos Bay, Oregon and a 230 mile pacific connector pipeline by Jordan Cove LNG and their parent company Veresen out of Canada;
WHEREAS, use of LNG results in methane emissions. Methane traps heat in the atmosphere at a rate 86 times greater than Carbon Dioxide;
WHEREAS, these projects will increase the amount of exported fossil fuel to the Asian markets from the United States and Canada, thus increasing our commitment to fossil fuel energy for decades and perpetuating the production of non-renewable energy at the expense of developing & investing in local renewable energy sources;
WHEREAS, the proposed project would conflict with efforts to promote increased use of renewable energy;
WHEREAS, the Green Party is recognized as an international leader among governments in supporting the reduction of greenhouse gases, combating global warming and investing in renewable energy;
WHEREAS, the Green Party of California's reputation as environmental leaders in sustainability would be adversely impacted by the approval of the proposed LNG and pipeline projects;
WHEREAS, the proposed pipelines would cross hundreds streams, rivers and wetlands. This represents a major threat to riparian habitats critical for threatened fish, songbirds, amphibians and many other species in Northern California and Southern Oregon;
WHERE AS, a pipeline placed underneath Native American watersheds such as the Klamath River, Rogue River and Coos Bay would conflict with the efforts of the indigenous Tribes of Northern California and Southern Oregon who have been working to recover and protect these resources. These Tribes include the Yurok, Hoopa, Karuk, Modoc and Klamath;
WHERE AS, less than 1/3 of the 3,500 temporary jobs associated with the construction of the pipeline will be given to citizens of California or Oregon and none of the projected 200 permanent jobs are required to be given to citizens of California or Oregon;
WHERE AS, Veresen the Canadian parent company of Jordan Cove LNG stands to make the majority of profit from the export station and pipeline. Secondary profit holders come from Companies based out of Texas that produce fracked gas in Utah, Wisconsin, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and California;
WHERE AS, rejection of the Jordan Cove LNG Export Terminal would halt the export of fracked gas out of Canada, Wisconsin, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Oregon and California, protecting the vital water ways of California and Oregon and decreasing the production of fracked gas throughout the country;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Green Party of California expresses its opposition to the proposed Jordan Cove LNG terminal and associated pipeline; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Green Party of California encourages the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission(FERC), California Governor Jerry Brown, Oregon Governor Kate Brown and the agencies of their State Governments to do everything in their power not to allow the proposed Jordan Cove LNG terminal and pipeline in Northern California and Southern Oregon.
- Questions and affirmations:
- (Nouri, Nassim) - affirmation.
- (Gonzales) - proposes a friendly amendment to strike the words "the Green Party of" from one of the Whereas clauses and otherwise correct the grammar due to the stricken language so that it reads:
"WHEREAS, California's reputation as an environmental leader in sustainability would be adversely impacted by the approval of the proposed LNG and pipeline projects;"
- Friendly amendment accepted (Brooks).
- Outstanding concern, but willing to stand aside:
- (Barnett) - This issue is a HUGE concern and this proposal doesn't address the problem. The US currently has 2 export ports for LNG nationally, 1 in Alaska and one in Oregon. The Trump administration has just approved 13 more new export ports, and approved 5 in Brownsville, Texas alone. America is moving to a new approach in which we frack and sell to other countries. This has not happened until now.
- No other outstanding questions or concerns.
- Approved by consensus.
Decision: Oppose AB 469 (CCWG, presentation by Cobb, in Feinstein's absence)
C.T. Weber of Peace and Freedom Party's June 16, 2017 message:
Friends,
The Assembly passed AB 469 (Cooper) and sent it to the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee. The bill will be heard on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. I will be speaking in opposition to the bill. AB 469 will make it even more difficult for candidates with little or no money to qualify for the primary ballot. I understand that the Green Party will be meeting in Sacramento this coning weekend. I would like to stop by and make a short presentation on why the Green Party should join with Peace and Freedom Party in opposing AB 469. I will bring a letter of opposition from the Green Party. Of course, you can rewrite it but I hope to deliver it to the author and members of the Senate Election Committee on Monday. Attached please find the letter of opposition. That way you can put it on letterhead, make any changes you want and sign a copy for me to pick up and deliver to the Capitol, if the Green Party votes to oppose. Thank you.
C. T. Weber
Peace and Freedom Party of California
Legislative Committee Chairperson
Text of proposed letter:
The Honorable Jim Cooper
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 6025
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 469 (Cooper) Oppose
Dear Assembly Member Cooper:
The Green Party of California is a ballot qualified party in California. Before the passage of Proposition 14, candidates seeking the nomination of the Green Party had to collect a maximum of 150 signatures in lieu of filing fees. Since the passage of Proposition 14 when partisan primaries were eliminated, and its implementing legislation which made it more difficult for Green Party candidates to qualify for the primary, the number of candidates we have been able to qualify for the primary ballot dropped by 85%.
Instead of 150 signatures in lieu of filing fees, current law requires our candidates to collect 10,000 signatures in lieu of filing fees to run for a statewide office, 3,000 signatures to run for U.S. House of Representatives and State Senate, and 1,500 signatures for State Assembly. Now AB 469 (Cooper)would reduce the number of days that candidates have to get their signatures in lieu of filing fees and supplemental signatures in lieu of filing fees by 42.8% (70 days to 40 days).
It was pointed out that to the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee that this reduction in the number of day to collect the signatures in lieu of filing fees made a bad system worse. As a result, the Assembly Elections Committee reduced the number of signatures in lieu to 7,000 for a statewide candidate (a 30% reduction), 2,000 for a U.S. House or State Senate candidate (a 33.3% reduction), 1,000 for State Assembly (a 33.3% reduction) and Board of Equalization by 25%. However, even with these reductions, if AB 469 is signed into law, our candidates would still need to gather more signatures in lieu per day than the current law.
Signatures in lieu of filing fees were supposed to be a reasonable alternative to filing fees. They are nota reasonable alternative and instead of making it more difficult, they should be drastically reduced. Therefore, the Green Party of California stands opposed to AB 469 and ask for you to vote in the negative on this bill.
cc: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee
- No outstanding questions or concerns.
- Approved by consensus.
Decision: Oppose Anti-Community Choice Energy Legislation (Brooks, Platform ERWG)
- The proposal as presented by Platform and ERWG:
- The Green Party of California will take a "support" position on legislation that supports Community Choice aggregation (also known as community choice energy programs) with the goals to increase local clean renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gases, and provide local environmental and economic community benefits and resiliency. The GPCA will take an "oppose" position to legislation that undercuts Community Choice energy programs with impacts such as: unfairly increasing costs on Community Choice customers, overly burdening Community Choice programs and putting them at a disadvantage in relation to the monopoly investor owned utilities or otherwise impacting the ability of Community Choice programs to meet the Community Choice goals described above. Some indicators that a bill may create problems for Community Choice programs include bill sponsorship by: the monopoly IOUs, electrical trade associations or their agents, or Senator Bradford. Any position taken will be copied to the GPCA Legislative Committee which is a legislative watch committee that has the authority to rescind the position. This proposal is only in effect during the current legislative session.
- Outstanding concerns, but willing to stand aside:
- (Rubin) - Labor councils are concerned about community choice aggregation because of the loss of jobs that may accrue and while this is not a basis for opposing the position being recommended, our party needs to take these issues into consideration.
- (Sorgen) - Proposes a friendly amendment to remove the word "aggregation," so people will be compensated instead of just giving back the power to the utilities.
- (Hicks) - The PUC is nowhere in this document and, if you think you can regulate energy without the PUC, as the regulators need to be involved, you are mistaken. The PUC needs to come into play and needs to be addressed in these documents. Because you can't do any of this without them.
- (Bram) - concern about process because we are giving time for concerns to be expressed when affirmations are not being expressed. (Facilitator's reply: we are out of time).
- A brief discussion was had about the friendly amendment being proffered. Because of the time constraints, the proposers are not accepting the friendly amendment or entertaining additional amendments at this time.
- No outstanding questions or concerns.
- The proposal is approved by consensus.
10:45 am - Workshops focused on Skills Building and/or Training (CCWG)
- Workshop I: Running a Campaign that Grows the Party facilitated by Barry Hermanson
- Workshop II: Using Social Media facilitated by Mel Figueroa and Sadie Fulton
- Workshop III: Movement School for Revolutionaries facilitated by David Cobb
12:00 pm - Lunch
1:00 pm - Reconvene and Quorum Count
Quorum Count on Sunday afternoon - 54 delegates present -
- All delegates between 1 and 64 (last card handed out) were here except the following:
3 - deregistered
21 - absent
35 - deregistered
39 - deregistered
45 - deregistered
46 - deregistered
47 - deregistered
48 - deregistered
49 - deregistered
57 - deregistered
- Regions: 9/11 Regions Present. (Central Coast and San Diego/Imperial Regions missing)
- We have quorum.
1:05 Announcements, including announcement of Standing Committee vacancies
1:10 pm Proposal: Approval Next General Assembly Meeting Date and Place (Coordinating Committee)
- Ventura County proposes to host the next General Assembly during either the weekend before or after the November elections.
- Outstanding Concerns, but willing to stand aside:
- (Brooks) - has a concern regarding scheduling a GA for one of the November weekends before or after elections. San Francisco has a Green fest, and they will be busy both ramping up for elections, and ramping down afterwards.
- (Rydberg) There are plans for a Green New Deal Conference in Eureka the weekend after the election.
- A show of hands/poll is taken about whether attendees prefer to schedule the GA for the weekend of Nov. 4-5th or 11-12th - per the Facilitators, it seems like more hands were raised for the weekend of Nov. 11-12th.
- Outstanding Concerns, but willing to stand aside:
- (Salas) - both of the dates offered by Ventura County appear to have conflicts with a number of different events.
- No other outstanding questions or concerns.
- Approved by consensus.
1:40 pm Breakout sessions for committees and working groups (Finance, GROW, Clearinghouse)
Announcement by Eric Brooks after Finance Committee Breakout session: 7 people may apply to Fundraising Committee (to be appointed by the CC) but most are women and many are named "Eric" or "Erik"! We need more women to volunteer for this committee (are there any Erica's out there?)
2:55 Confirmation: Standing Committee and Working Group Co-Coordinators (for any committees or working groups not confirmed in morning session)
[None]
3:00 pm Presentation: Single Payer Healthcare and SB562 (Green Party of Sacramento). Keith McCallum -
4:15pm Closing session
Adjourned!
Resources
None
References
None
Full details will be available shortly at:
http://www.sjcgreens.org/sga_approval_minutes_GA_June2017
Please send your discussion comments to gpca-votes at sfgreens.org<mailto:gpca-votes at sfgreens.org>
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