Assemblymember Gregg Hart Awarded Legislator of the Year
The California Special District Association (CSDA) awarded Assemblymember Gregg Hart, California State Assembly, District 37, as the Legislator of the Year.
The award ceremony took place at the Montecito Fire Department on Friday, March 1st.
Hart was honored for his support of local service specialists responsible for providing water, sanitation, healthcare, fire protection, parks, open space, resource conservation, mosquito abatement, and other essential services and infrastructure to communities throughout California.
Of interest to the CA Special District Association is Hart’s work on AB 557, which allows local agencies to continue meeting remotely during a declared state of emergency when it is unsafe to meet in-person. During the pandemic, the State Legislature approved remote meetings in recognition of safety, but the ability to meet remotely was set to terminate on January 1, 2024. AB 557 was signed into law and allows remote meetings to continue, provided they are accompanied by a formal state of emergency declaration made by the Governor.
CSDA Board President Elaine Magner stated, “Assemblymember Gregg Hart has been a real champion for special districts. We are so fortunate Assemblymember Hart authored AB 557 that allows special district boards to continue operating safely during a state of emergency. He understands that special districts provide crucial services for millions of Californians that cannot be interrupted due to emergencies.”
In accepting his award, Hart’s statement was most poignant, “I am very grateful to be recognized as the California Special District Association’s Legislator of the Year. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our local special district professionals. From firefighters and engineers to water technicians and park stewards, I am grateful for the folks who serve our communities every day. Our local special districts have taken on difficult challenges, including keeping our water running during extreme shortages, responding to wildfires and other disasters, and providing new services to historically underserved communities.”
Additional comments were made by Montecito Fire Protection District Fire Chief David Neels, who stated, “On behalf of our Board of Directors, we are happy to host this event today with CSDA as we honor Assemblymember Hart. His invaluable support for special districts has ensured our board members can continue to serve their constituents in a safe manner, even during a state of emergency. We are fortunate to have an Assemblymember that is willing to partner with special districts as we continue to provide for the safety of our communities.”
Fire Chief Neels was followed by Tom Fayram, the retired County Flood Control Director who now serves as president of the Los Olivos Community Services District. Fayram described the partnership in supporting the recovery efforts in the years following the 1/9 debris flow and responding to other emergencies, saying “While technically I worked for the County Board of Supervisors, I always felt like I worked with Supervisor Hart. We all benefit now from his service as our Assemblymember.”
The event was attended by many local public safety officials including SB County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig, SB City Fire Chief Chris Mailes, and CHP Commander Michael Logie. Also present were representatives from the Montecito Water District, Montecito Sanitary District, and the Montecito Association’s Houghton Hyatt.
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