HollisterFreelance.com | San Benito County Joins AMBAG, Expands Its Influence

San Benito County Joins AMBAG, Expands Its Influence

Sep 16, 2005
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Hollister - San Benito County supervisors voted this week to join the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, a tri-county agency charged with discussing and studying regional issues, such as transportation, housing and water and air quality.

"San Benito County needs to have a stronger presence in the Monterey Bay area," Supervisor Anthony Botelho said during Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting. "I think it's important that our county participate in regional arenas. We're not an island anymore," he said, adding that issues such as water and air quality and traffic require a regional approach.

Botelho's fellow board members agreed, and following a brief presentation from the AMBAG's Executive Director Nicolas Papadakis voted unanimously to join the association.

Botelho, who has been attending AMBAG meetings as an member representing the San Benito County Council of Governments since January, said he is pleased that the board voted to make the county full members.

"Being just an associate member, you're welcome to attend the meetings and voice concern on issues that affect our county, but you don't get to vote," he said.

Formed in 1968, AMBAG is a voluntary organization that studies issues of concern in the region of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz County. The association studies transportation, housing, water quality and air quality, according to Papadakis, who added that AMBAG also prepares population and housing forecasts.

San Benito County was the last regional government to join the association.

"We now have all cities and counties involved," Papadakis said. "I'm obviously very pleased with that."

The association's board of directors, which is comprised of two elected officials from each county member and one from each city member, meets once a month. While most of the meetings are held in Marina, where AMBAG is based, meetings are also held in member cites.

During Tuesday's meeting, Supervisor Don Marcus asked to represent the county on the AMBAG board. Chairman Reb Monaco held off on appointing county representatives, saying he would do it at the next time board meeting Sept. 27.

The majority of AMBAG's $1.5 million annual budget comes from state and federal funding sources. The association gets about $151,000 per year in member dues. To join, San Benito County will pay a prorated rate of about $3,150. Dues for a full year are about $4,200.