The Public Record Tuesday, March 10, 2009 Page 9
pUBlIc SEcTor nEwS
…continued from page 7
MAJOR NEW RETAILERS COMING TO PALM SPRINGS
Despite a tough economy, major new retailers are coming to Palm Springs, including T.J.
Maxx, Marshall’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond and the popular cafe and bakery Panera Bread. T.J.
Maxx is slated to open its doors March 22 at the Smoketree Commons shopping center.
Additionally, Panera Bread will open March 24 and Marshall’s in mid-April at The Springs
shopping center on Gene Autry Trail and Ramon Road. Bed, Bath & Beyond is also slated to
open this summer at The Springs.
“The addition of these new retailers in Palm Springs means more jobs created and dollars
being spent in our City,” said Mayor Steve Pougnet. “In a tough economy this is great news
and it illustrates that big business understands that Palm Springs remains a destination.”
In fact, Panera Bread is in the process of hiring about 50 employees for positions that
include store management, associates and bakers, according to general manager Grace
Loomer. “Our company is growing and we’re happy that we can employ people during this
difficult time,” she said.
WATER SHORTAGE: STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED
As a result of California’s third consecutive year of drought, Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger recently proclaimed a state of emergency and ordered immediate action to
manage the crisis. In the proclamation, the Governor uses his authority to direct all state
government agencies to utilize their resources, implement a state emergency plan and provide
assistance for people, communities and businesses impacted by the drought.
The drought conditions and water restrictions are causing additional devastating economic
and business losses. Agricultural revenue losses exceed $300 million to date and could exceed
$2 billion in the coming season, with a total economic loss of nearly $3 billion in 2009.
In particular, the order directs that by March 30, 2009, the DWR shall provide an updated
report on the state’s drought conditions and water availability. According to the proclamation,
if the emergency conditions have not been sufficiently mitigated, the Governor will consider
additional steps. These could include the institution of mandatory water rationing and
mandatory reductions in water use; reoperation of major reservoirs in the state to minimize
impacts of the drought; additional regulatory relief or permit streamlining as allowed under
the Emergency Services Act; and other actions necessary to prevent, remedy or mitigate the
effects of the extreme drought conditions.
DWR and California’s Department of Food and Agriculture will also recommend, within 30
days, measures to reduce the economic impacts of the drought, including but not limited to
water transfers, through-Delta emergency transfers, water conservation measures, efficient
irrigation practices, and improvements to the California Irrigation Management Information
System. DWR recently announced that California’s severe drought had prevented it from
increasing its State Water Project (SWP) delivery allocations for the first time since 2001. This
year’s allocation as of February is at just 15 percent of SWP contractor’s requests. This is only
the second time in SWP history that the February allocation has been this low. In addition, the
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the administrator of the Central Valley Project (CVP), announced
on February 20 that California farms will not be allocated any water from the massive system
during 2009.
In a related action last week, Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) introduced SB 371, the
Safe, Clean, Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2009. The bill continues the work of many
over the past several years to get comprehensive and needed reforms to fix California’s
broken water supply and delivery systems. The plan proposed in Cogdill’s legislation
calls for issuing $9.98 billion in general obligation bonds to invest in the state’s aging water
infrastructure. Key elements of the proposal include building California’s water supply and
storage systems, providing for Delta sustainability, encouraging water conservation and water
use efficiency, and improving water quality. The plan also calls for implementation of
important river and watershed restoration projects.
HEALTHCARE DISTRICT ENDORSES SENATE BILL 39
Directors of the Desert Healthcare District have passed Resolution 09-02 supporting Senate
Bill 39, the Good Samaritan Protection Act now under review in the California legislature.
Introduced by Senator Benoit and coauthored by Assembly Member Nestande, the Bill would
extend immunity from civil liability to individuals rendering nonmedical emergency
assistance. Existing law states that individuals, who in good faith and not for compensation,
render emergency medical care at the scene of an emergency, are not liable for any civil
damages resulting from any act or omission. This bill would extend Good Samaritan protection
to include individuals rendering nonmedical care at the scene of an emergency as well.
“We strongly endorse efforts to close the gap in personal liability protection exposed by a
recent California Supreme Court decision,” said Glen Grayman, MD, District President. “The
Board voted unanimously to endorse S.B. 39 in order to protect good Samaritans ‘doing
healthy deeds,’ both medical and nonmedical, in emergency situations.”
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