National Clothesline

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill last month that was supported by the California Cleaners Association that will help get the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s permitting process rolling again.

The process was brought to a halt after a successful lawsuit by the Natural Resources Defense Council which ordered the air district to do a full environmental review of its permitting system. In response to the ruling, the district, which covers all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, stopped issuing credits to small businesses and public service providers like fire stations and hospitals.

The air district, backed by business groups and other governmental agencies unable to proceed with projects for lack of permits, took the case to the legislature where Sen. Roderick Wright, a Los Angeles Democrat, introduced legislation that would help SCAQMD sidestep the court ruling.

Supporters of the legislation say the effect of the lawsuit was to block implementation of nearly 1,100 permits for drycleaners, schools, fire stations, police stations, water quality plants, pollution control projects, hospitals, electricity generation and other projects. Another 2,000 existing permits are potentially subject to being canceled, they said.

CCA and the Korean Drycleaners-Laundry Association joined a broad coalition that urged passage of the bill, asking members to write letters in support of the pending legislation, saying that without permits drycleaners install new equipment to comply with the state-mandated phase-out of perchloroethylene cleaning machines.

The bill was passed in the waning hours of the legislative session in September and sent to the governor, who signed it Oct. 11. It will let SCAQMD reinstate the emissions credit bank which provides free air permits to essential public services and small businesses. With the governor’s signature, the “bank” will be able to reopen on Jan. 1, 2010.

If you had a good idea that shaved costs or added revenue to help your bottom line in this difficult year, it may be worth an extra $250.

The Southern California Cleaners Association is inviting cleaners to bring their best idea of the year to the sixth and final seminar in its 2009 series that has focused on ways for members to cut costs, thrive and grow in down economic times.

After everyone has put forth their “best ideas” at this month’s dinner meeting, the best idea overall will receive a grand prize of $250. Everyone will be able to participate in the meeting’s round-table discussions and there will be raffle prizes, too.

The meeting will be Wednesday, November 11 at Stevens Steakhouse, 5332 Stevens Place, in Commerce, CA. Registration is $45 for SCCA members and $90 for non-members.

SCCA grew out of the Greater Los Angeles Drycleaners Association (GLADCA), the oldest local drycleaning association in California, after other local associations in the region disbanded.

For more information on the group, call (877) 445 2322, or visit the association’s web site, www.socalcleaners.org.

Members of the Northwest Drycleaners Association’s Group Retrospective (Retro) Rating program received refund checks in September for the 2007/08 Retro Year. Participating members received an average refund of $570 with some receiving more than $2,000 for this period.

The Northwest Drycleaners Group Retrospective Rating program provides the opportunity for participating members to receive discounts on workers’ compensation rates and refunds on savings produced by the group.

According to Chuck Brown of Fox Cleaners, chair of the Northwest Drycleaners Retro Committee, “the 2007/2008 Retro Year has officially experienced the first interim adjustment and, to date, the results are very positive with a maximum refund of 10 percent. We want to applaud all members on your hard work to achieve these great results.”

The Northwest Drycleaners Association has sponsored the Retro fund for the past 15 years. The program has earned refunds of more than $160,000 for its participating members.

Retro members on average receive a 17 percent savings on their workers’ compensation with a seven percent discount up front on Labor and Industry rates combined with a maximum refund of 10 percent through the Retro program.

The Retro program not only offers an opportunity to receive a refund on workers’ compensation premiums, but also provides an opportunity to lower individual workers’ compensation “experience factors” through the aggressive and professional claims management and safety services of Integrated Claims Management, Inc. (ICM), the NWDCA Retro plan administrator. This in turn reduces the quarterly amount of premiums members pay to Labor and Industry, in effect a refund “up front” every quarter. The service is free to Retro members.

NWDCA/DLI members interested in participating in this program can contact ICM at (360) 786-1378.