San Joaquin Council of Governments Board of Directors on Thursday filled the third of four vacancies on the agency’s Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and is still seeking a representative from the trucking industry.
The CAC is a vital part of how the agency manages Measure K, the half-cent sales tax for transportation projects in San Joaquin County. It is estimated that Measure K, initially approved by voters in 1990 and renewed by nearly 78% of county voters in 2006, will deliver nearly $3 billion in transportation improvements by 2041.
“We very much appreciate the time and commitment given to the CAC, because it is such an important forum for discussing how we implement the Measure K program and regional transportation planning issues,” said SJCOG Executive Director Diane Nguyen. “CAC members don’t only attend meetings, but also must review agenda items before each meeting. Their expertise, enthusiasm and thoughtful consideration of the policy issues they study have contributed to SJCOG’s success in managing Measure K.
“To the CAC members who have left recently, we sincerely thank you and want you to know we valued your dedication,” Nguyen continued. “To new members, welcome and thank you for taking on this important responsibility.”
Ken Vogel, a member of the San Joaquin County Board of Education, was approved Thursday by the SJCOG Board of Directors to sit on the CAC as the agriculture industry representative. Vogel, a former county supervisor and former SJCOG chair, has been involved with agriculture for more than 50 years, serves as a San Joaquin Farm Bureau director, and is a member of the San Joaquin County Agricultural Advisory Committee. He fills a slot that had been vacant for several years.
Ripon Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Kelly Donohue was appointed to the CAC by the Ripon City Council on Aug. 10. Donohue is active in her community, led the Chamber of Commerce through a challenging year because of the pandemic, and helped local business owners receive COVID-19 relief funds. She replaced Stephanie Hobbs who had served eight years on the CAC and had participated in SJCOG’s One Voice® advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. Hobbs continues to be active in Ripon and was a catalyst and tireless fundraiser for the multimillion-dollar Ripon Stadium project.
Blain Bibb was named by Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln on Sept. 15 to sit on the CAC to represent Stockton. Bibb is the president and CEO of JaniTek Cleaning Solutions in Stockton. JaniTek Cleaning Solutions employs more than 400 people and serves more than 800 facilities in California. In 2020, the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce named Bibb’s company the 2020 Business of the Year. Bibb replaced Rick Grewel who served four years on the CAC. Grewel is a Stockton businessman, a champion of small business development, and active in many civic organizations. An avid flyer, Grewel has been a volunteer backup pilot for the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department for many years.
SJCOG is still looking to fill a vacancy for the trucking industry to round out the 16-member CAC.
“We’re really looking forward to filling that fourth vacancy to bring the CAC to full strength, especially since trucking is such a big part of the regional economy and has a direct effect on overall transportation in San Joaquin County,” said Tim Kohaya, the agency’s senior regional planner coordinating the committee.
Formed in 1991, the CAC is made up of county residents from diverse backgrounds with varied interests to provide input in the development of SJCOG transportation plans and programs funded by Measure K.
The CAC is made of members who represent the geographical, social, cultural and economic mix of the region. A member is appointed to four-year terms from each of the cities — Escalon, Lathrop, Lodi, Manteca, Ripon, Stockton and Tracy — and San Joaquin County. A member each is appointed from several special interest groups, including the League of Women Voters, Sierra Club, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), University of the Pacific, and one each from the agriculture, business and trucking industries. One member is appointed to represent transit advocacy.
To learn more about joining the CAC, contact Tim Kohaya at (209) 235-0389 or kohaya@sjcog.org.