Galt Councilman Darryl Clare to lobby in Washington

While San Joaquin County officials are lobbying federal officials on their One Voice trip this week to Washington, D.C., Sacramento County is engaging in a similar effort to get federal money.

Galt City Councilman Darryl Clare is representing the city of Galt this week on what is known as the Cap to Cap trip, sponsored by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

Clare will lobby for $1 million to upgrade Galt's sewer treatment plant, and $480,000 to purchase an 800-megahertz radio system so that the Galt Police Department can be on the same frequency as the sheriff's department and fire districts throughout Sacramento County.

Clare, who sits on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments and the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District board, is discussing climate change issues and energy independence with elected officials and agency staff members, he said in a phone interview Monday.

Clare lobbied for continued federal funding for federally mandated regulations like the Clean Air Act, and discussed transportation issues with Eric Swedlund, deputy director of the governor's Washington office.

Clare said he met with Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, on Sunday. The next day, he had meetings with Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, and with staff members from Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville.

This morning, Clare and the entire Cap to Cap delegation will attend a seminar on green and clean technology, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, will be the luncheon speaker.

Clare said he will also attend meetings today with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and with Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Alamo, about global warming and energy independence.

Galt Mayor Andrew Meredith and Vice Mayor Donald Haines went on a similar lobbying trip in March through the National League of Cities, where they lobbied for wastewater plant and police department upgrades, along with cameras for city parks, Haines said.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.