BIA Baldy View Chapter

Department of Water Resources Deputy Director to share insight about the state’s infrastructure

ONTARIO, Calif. (July 26, 2017) — The Building Industry Association (BIA) Baldy View Chapter is pleased to announce that Joel Ledesma, Deputy Director State Water Project, Department of Water Resources will headline the 11th Annual San Bernardino County Water Conference and serve as the lunchtime keynote speaker. The conference will take place Friday, August 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario.

The theme of this year’s event is “Managing Water for Extremes: Feast or Famine.” Through a Q&A format, panelists from private industries, water agencies and county and city government will outline ways they are dealing with the ever-changing water supply situation.

With the media’s attention on our water supply delivery system earlier this year and the ongoing repairs to the Oroville Dam Spillway, this discussion couldn’t be timelier.

“Planning for operations and maintenance of State Water Project facilities is very important to managing our water supply,” said Ledesma. “I am pleased to speak at such a prestigious event and share what key moments and actions made the difference in averting disaster at Oroville.”

Ledesma was appointed Deputy Director of the Department of Water Resources’ State Water Project earlier this month. Ledesma has served in several positions at the California Department of Water Resources since 1991, including assistant division chief of operations and maintenance, chief of plant asset management, chief of the delta field division, principle hydro electric power utility engineer, supervising control engineer, senior control engineer, and an electrical engineer.

“The BIA Baldy View Chapter is honored to have a keynote speaker with this depth of knowledge of water issues,” said Carlos Rodriguez, BIA Baldy View Chapter CEO. “Mr. Ledesma will provide attendees with the latest information about the State’s response to infrastructure maintenance and plans for the future.”

To purchase tickets or inquire about sponsorship, please call Nicole Desmond at 909.795.7760. Tickets cost $125 each, which includes lunch and participation in the event program. For more information, please visit www.biabuild.com/water-conference.

About the San Bernardino County Water Conference

The San Bernardino County Water Conference was established in 2007 to provide a forum for multi-agency dialogue. Each year, water experts, stakeholders, public officials from our county and throughout the state participate in identifying regional solutions to maintaining an ample water supply. Since 2007, more than 4,000 people have come together to discuss issues such as groundwater depletion, water quality issues, strict regulations, monumental infrastructure expenditures and alternative sources of water.

New single-family home construction is far below demand, and while new-home prices in Riverside and San Bernardino counties are lower than other Southern California areas, costs are still difficult for many Inland residents to meet.

A recent draft report from California’s Department of Housing and Community Development outlined the statewide woes reflected in the Inland area.

New-home production statewide is far below projected needs – 80,000 homes annually for the last decade, with a projected need of 180,000 homes per year. The lack of supply and associated rising costs are shutting a broad variety of Californians out of the market.

The nation’s most populous state has the third-lowest home ownership rate among the 50 states and the lowest in California since the 1940s.

An effort to streamline homebuilding permits failed last year in the state Legislature. California Gov. Jerry Brown promised in his January budget message to attack the housing issue again with a bill package he said would cut red tape, fees and other hurdles affecting the industry.

Building Industry Association's Southern CaliforniaGovernment Affairs staff from Baldy View Chapter for San Bernardino County and the Riverside County Chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California spoke to members of the Orange County Register press in order to speak about the current state of the housing market and the building industry in Southern California.

Despite the challenges, developers are finding ways to get homes on the market.

The Imperial Hardware lofts project in downtown Riverside reflects a trend of younger buyers’ preferences toward townhouses in urban areas, with “walkability” for work and shopping, Garrison said.

The Ontario Ranch development in Ontario is a 13-square-mile, master-planned community that ultimately plans 46,000 new homes.

“It’s a finicky time for the industry,” Garrison said. “Homebuilders want to be in business in California. California and the communities need to set the conditions; if they set the conditions for it, we will be there to build.”

Click here to read the full article from the Orange County Register.