The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce is always actively involved in some sort of advocacy for our members. Many times, people only know that we are advocating for something when they see us testifying at a public hearing, and usually the daily newspapers don't mention our testimony. However, that does not mean that we're not working for you. The reality is that the chamber would rather do the work than get the credit.
We have worked on several major issues and helped bring them to the forefront. If you have read the Carlsbad Business Journal over the past few months, you know the chamber was very instrumental in helping craft the new entertainment and public consumption ordinances in Carlsbad. These new ordinances were agreed on by both the Carlsbad entertainment establishment owners and the Carlsbad Police Department. Further, both ordinances unanimously passed through the City Council.
The Carlsbad Village is another local issue we've actively been working on, including design standards for the area and the long-awaited North County Transit District study. Last year, the chamber sent a letter to Debbie Fountain, the city's housing and redevelopment director, on amendments to the Village Master Plan and Design Manual. Many of our suggestions were added to the proposed amendments, which the city's Design Review Board passed in September. The City Council, which acts as the housing and redevelopment commission, approved some of these standard changes last month. Many of the standards will be put into place immediately, but some will need approval by the California Coastal Commission.
Speaking of the Coastal Commission, we have continued our work with Poseidon Resources to promote the proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad. The chamber put together a busload of people to attend the Coastal Commission hearing Nov. 15 in San Diego, much like we did for the Oct. 30 State Land Use Commission to advocate for the approval of Poseidon's land use permit. Many chamber members and representatives, including the chamber's President and CEO Ted Owen, testified before the State Land Use Commission. That commission stayed their vote until their Feb. 26 meeting in Los Angeles. Owen and Michael Babowal, the chamber's Director of Government Affairs, will travel to LA for that hearing.
The chamber started a new series called “Up Close and Personal with …” The program is designed to let our members and elected officials meet in a relaxed environment. Our first Up Close and Personal was with Congressman Brian Bilbray. Approximately 50 chamber members attended the program, which was sponsored by Ash Ibrahim's company, Sunset Coast Capital, and catered by Chef DK Catering. Bilbray mingled with members for quite some time and addressed the crowd for 20 minutes about what he is doing in Washington D.C. to advocate for business. The chamber is currently working toward putting events together with Sen. Mark Wyland, Assemblyman Martin Garrick, Supervisor Bill Horn and the members of the Carlsbad City Council.
As did most of the state, the chamber also focused on health care this year. We formed a health care subcommittee from our Government Affairs Committee and had representatives from the California Small Business Health Coalition and governor's office come speak about health care issues and legislation. We also joined forces with the Oceanside, Vista and San Marcos chambers to form the North County Healthcare Alliance. The alliance was formed to address local issues regarding health care, as well as to band together to take a lead role in helping Tri-City Medical Center pass a bond to build a new hospital.
This past year also saw the implementation of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Call to Action e-mail program. On several occasions, we sent out e-mails asking our members to make calls or send letters to support or oppose an issue. We took the program a step further by creating a logo and a page for Calls to Action on our Web site, www.carlsbad.org.
Currently and into 2008, the chamber is working toward more ways to involve our members in our advocacy efforts. We don't know what 2008 will bring to our plates, but we expect it will be as much or more than 2007. Next year, look for Calls to Action, keep an eye out for Up Close and Personal with programs and attend the Government Affairs Committee, which meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the chamber.
We have worked on several major issues and helped bring them to the forefront. If you have read the Carlsbad Business Journal over the past few months, you know the chamber was very instrumental in helping craft the new entertainment and public consumption ordinances in Carlsbad. These new ordinances were agreed on by both the Carlsbad entertainment establishment owners and the Carlsbad Police Department. Further, both ordinances unanimously passed through the City Council.
The Carlsbad Village is another local issue we've actively been working on, including design standards for the area and the long-awaited North County Transit District study. Last year, the chamber sent a letter to Debbie Fountain, the city's housing and redevelopment director, on amendments to the Village Master Plan and Design Manual. Many of our suggestions were added to the proposed amendments, which the city's Design Review Board passed in September. The City Council, which acts as the housing and redevelopment commission, approved some of these standard changes last month. Many of the standards will be put into place immediately, but some will need approval by the California Coastal Commission.
Speaking of the Coastal Commission, we have continued our work with Poseidon Resources to promote the proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad. The chamber put together a busload of people to attend the Coastal Commission hearing Nov. 15 in San Diego, much like we did for the Oct. 30 State Land Use Commission to advocate for the approval of Poseidon's land use permit. Many chamber members and representatives, including the chamber's President and CEO Ted Owen, testified before the State Land Use Commission. That commission stayed their vote until their Feb. 26 meeting in Los Angeles. Owen and Michael Babowal, the chamber's Director of Government Affairs, will travel to LA for that hearing.
The chamber started a new series called “Up Close and Personal with …” The program is designed to let our members and elected officials meet in a relaxed environment. Our first Up Close and Personal was with Congressman Brian Bilbray. Approximately 50 chamber members attended the program, which was sponsored by Ash Ibrahim's company, Sunset Coast Capital, and catered by Chef DK Catering. Bilbray mingled with members for quite some time and addressed the crowd for 20 minutes about what he is doing in Washington D.C. to advocate for business. The chamber is currently working toward putting events together with Sen. Mark Wyland, Assemblyman Martin Garrick, Supervisor Bill Horn and the members of the Carlsbad City Council.
As did most of the state, the chamber also focused on health care this year. We formed a health care subcommittee from our Government Affairs Committee and had representatives from the California Small Business Health Coalition and governor's office come speak about health care issues and legislation. We also joined forces with the Oceanside, Vista and San Marcos chambers to form the North County Healthcare Alliance. The alliance was formed to address local issues regarding health care, as well as to band together to take a lead role in helping Tri-City Medical Center pass a bond to build a new hospital.
This past year also saw the implementation of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Call to Action e-mail program. On several occasions, we sent out e-mails asking our members to make calls or send letters to support or oppose an issue. We took the program a step further by creating a logo and a page for Calls to Action on our Web site, www.carlsbad.org.
Currently and into 2008, the chamber is working toward more ways to involve our members in our advocacy efforts. We don't know what 2008 will bring to our plates, but we expect it will be as much or more than 2007. Next year, look for Calls to Action, keep an eye out for Up Close and Personal with programs and attend the Government Affairs Committee, which meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the chamber.