HomeMy WebLinkAboutS20 - Economic Development Committee to Fill EDC vacancyCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. s20
February 10, 2004
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Community & Economic Development, Planning Department
George A. Berger, AICP, Program Manager
949/644 -3207. gaberger @city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: Recommendation from Economic Development Committee to fill EDC
vacancy.
ISSUE:
• Fill current vacancy on Economic Development Committee.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Fill current Economic Development Committee vacancy by appointing Ms. Jane
Brown as the "Utility' representative.
DISCUSSION:
Background:
At their regular meeting of January 215`, 2004, the Economic Development Committee
recommended a number of revisions to the membership structure of the committee,
including one changing the position currently filled by Southern California Edison public
affairs representative Kim Barone - Scherer from an "At- Large" position to a more topic
area - oriented "Utilit ' position. These recommendations are the subject of another staff
report that is before the City Council for approval at its February 10, 2004 meeting.
Recommendation to fill Vacancy:
For some months, the position formally held by Ms. Barone - Scherer —who has taken on
different responsibilities within SCE and no longer covers Newport Beach —has been
• covered by. Ms. Jane Brown. Ms. Brown is a Public Affairs Regional Manager for
Southern California Edison, where she represents SCE in a number of Orange County
EDC Report
February 10, 2004
Page 2
communities, now including Newport Beach. Therefore, at their February 4th, 2004
meeting, the EDC Executive Committee recommended that the current "At Large'
committee position —which has been recommended by the EDC and staff to become
the "Utilit
Y' position—should be filled by Ms. Jane Brown. (see bio attached, Exhibit 1).
Environmental Review:
Not subject to CEQA, as the activity is not a project, as defined in Section 15378(b)(4).
Submitted by:
IFA
�C
-
Prepared by:
Attachment: Exhibit 1 — Biography, Jane Brown
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• JANE BROWN
Public Affairs Region Manager
Southern California Edison
Jane is a Public Affairs Region Manager for Southern California Edison. As a Region
Manager, she is the primary contact with city officials and staff in the communities of
Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley and Villa Park; she also represents Edison
through interaction with business leaders and non - profit organizations in these cities. She
is a board member of the Orange County Coast Association, the Costa Mesa Community
Foundation, and the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce. Jane is an active member
of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and serves on its Government Affairs
Committee.
Previously at Edison, Jane was an Electrical Service Planner and designed electrical
distribution systems for homes and businesses. She has expertise in the state's electric
regulatory environment as well as in utility infrastructure, design, and associated
processes.
As a representative of Southern California Edison, a company which has been part of the
Newport Beach community for nearly a century, Jane would bring value to the Economic
Development Committee. Jane would be an excellent source of information and would
• bring with her the resources that a well - established company like Edison has to offer.
Electricity is a necessity for businesses in Newport Beach, and in California today, there
exists an unusual political and regulatory framework for the electric industry which is
ever - changing. 2004 will be a banner year for electric legislation, which will in turn have
an effect on business in Newport Beach. Jane would be a resource for information about
these changes and how they will affect businesses and economic development in the city.
In addition, Edison's own Economic Development Department can partner with the EDC
to assist with business retention and development.
In 1991, Jane received a B.A. from Occidental College in Los Angeles, where she
majored in Diplomacy and World Affairs; she also studied abroad at the Padagogiche
Hochschule in Germany and the University of York in England.
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