Subject: Re: [GPCA-SGA-Votes] Discuss ID 138 - Approval: Minutes, General Assembly, June 10-11, 2017
From: Mimi Newton <[email-masked]>
To: GPCA Discussion List for SGA Votes <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2018 10:44:53 -0700

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 (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 (Proposal Strategic Plan), an additional link has been provided.

4.  For the Sunday, June 18, 2017 Item at 10:05 - 10:35 am (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 (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 (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 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.  [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 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 
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 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, 2017

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, 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 - 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 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 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!

** ** **
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 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 <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> Please send your discussion comments to [email-masked]
> 
> 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 [email-masked]. 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 [email-masked]
> -- 
> gpca-votes mailing list
> [email-masked]
> https://list.sfgreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpca-votes