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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01041994 - S.2 T0: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra Costa FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson County DATE: January 4, 1994 SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL TO LOCAL NASA WIND TUNNEL PROJECT IN THE BAY AREA SPECIFIC AEOUES7(6)OR FIECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt a resolution supporting the siting of the NASA Wind Tunnel Project at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California . Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to send a letter to President Bill Clinton requesting his support in bringing this project to the Bay Area. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Please reference attached correspondence from the Bay Area Economic Forum. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT,. YES SIGNATURE, b7L RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR -RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE -OTHER SIONATVREiSl:- ACTION OF BOARD ON January 4, 1994 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED --L OTHER The Board adopted Resolution No. 94/13. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS 15 A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABBE)*. - - - AND conFIECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES:-.-NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ASSENT, ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED January 4, 1994 (Distribution by PHIL BATCHELOR.CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Supervisor Torlakson) SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADKNISTRATOR sy� DEP, M362 110168) IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA C OSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA IN THE MATTER OF RESOLUTION NO. 94/13 Supporting NASA Ames Research Center As the Location for the Planned New NASA Wind Tunnels Project WHEREAS,the U.S.aircraft manufacturing industryis critical to the nation's economyand balanceof trade as well as our leadership in aviation technology;and WHEREAS,the industry is facing numerous challenges,including increased foreign competition;and WHEREAS, the United States does not have wind tunnel facilities to match flight simulation and productivity standards required by today's complex aircraft design;and WHEREAS,NASA Ames Research Center is a long-standing and internationally-renowed member of the Bay Area's scientific community;and WHEREAS, Ames is home to the world's largest wind tunnel, largest collection of wind tunnels and most advanced aerodynamic computational facility,all of which complement one another;and WHEREAS,over the past half-century Ames and its wind tunnels have played avital role in the Unite States'space exploration,as well as its aeronautics research and development efforts in national defense and technology transfer to commercial applications;and WHEREAS,Ames,the surrounding high-technology industry,nearby renowed universities,availability of large technical work force and other infrastructure assets make this area uniquely qualified to answer any technological challenge;and WHEREAS,the Bay Area is under economic stress which defense base closures,social impacts an dother events have caused to worsen;and WHEREAS,the federal government is currently considering the development of new,state-of-the-art wind tunnel facilities vital to preserving and reinforcing United States'leadership position in aeronautical research;and WHEREAS,designing and locating the new wind tunnel facilities at Ames would represent the most efficient and economic application of scarce aeronautics research funds to help the United States protect its leadership in the highy competitive civil transport market;and WHEREAS,selection of Ames as the site for the new wind tunnels would,with the support of a strong coalition of nearby business,research and governmental institutions and their uniquely qualified work force,ensure that the new wind tunnels successfully meet the challenges that lie ahead. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors does hereby express its strong endorsement of and support for the selection of the NASA Ames Research Center as the location for design and construction of the new wind tunnels. PASSED by unanimous vote of the Board Members present on this 4th day of January,1994. /ow Supervisor Tom Torlakson,District V Chairman of the Board S e r P w rs, is 'ct I Supervis r Gayle Bishop,District III Supers i eff mith,District II upervisor Sunne Wright McPeak,District IV JJ I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of an Order entered on the minutes of said Board of Supervisors on the date aforesaid. Witness my Hand and the Seal of the Board of Supervisors affixed this 4th Day of January, 1994. PHIL BATCHELOR,County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: 4(y Depu 17, V9 B1 1 R 1 t� �. December 6, 1993 of Bay Area Govei7iments and the Bay Area Council To: Economic Forum Board of Directors From: Sunne Wright McPeak Re: NASA Wind Tunnel Project- Request for Action and Status Report Progress is being made by the regional working group established to attempt to bring the proposed NASA wind tunnel complex to the Ames Research Center and the Bay Area. It is now the appropriate time to generate letters and resolu- tions as evidence of community support for Ames. Therefore, I would appreci- ate it if each Director would prepare a letter/resolution of support on behalf of the company, organization or governmental entity lie/she represents. Please address the document to: The Honorable Bill Clinton President of the United States The White House Washington, D. C. 20500 Please send the original document here to the Forum Office We will submit a copy of your letter/resolution to Ames Research Center -- Allies will include it in their bid package for the wind tunnel complex. We also will co- ordinate the submission of the originals of all letters to ensure they do reach the President. Enclosed for your information are: Copy of our early letter to President Clinton Copy of draft resolution for possible use of public sector Directors Status report on the project - Fact Sheet making the case for Ames Research Center Newsclip on Forum's support of project Within the next few weeks, depending on Washington actions, we may be asking those of you with personal contacts in the Administration to make personal phone calls. Please call me if you have any questions or suggestions regarding our efforts on this project. . s •r August 12, 1993 � m The Honorable Bill Clinton t- - President of the United States The White House Washington, U. C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: Tile Bay Area 1-sconomic Forum welcomes you to the San Francisco It,ay Area. We also appreciate your concern about the severe impact of the base closures on the economy of this region. Knowing of your stated interest in assisting this region to move fotward to help offset that significant impact through out technical expertise, we are ,asking for your support in bringing a major technological project to the Bay Area -- the siting of NASA's proposed National Wind'17unnel Facility at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View,California. We believe the NASA Ames facility in Mountain View is the hest qualified site in the country for the advanced wind tunnel complex for the following reasons: Key personnel and facilities needed to support the new complex already are in place at Ames Research Center, including advanced super-computers which are now supporting wind tunnel research. Ames is located in the Silicon Valley, which asyou know is renowned for advances in high-tech products anci manufacturing methods. The synergy that will exist between the high-tech Silicon Valley community and the national wind tunnel facility will pro- vide special benefits that can only further strengthen private industry, NASA , and the region as a whole. NASA Ames has an established history of cornprehensive aero- nautical research programs providing U.S. industry with direct. access to NASA's technical capability. It already is involved in cooperative efforts with private industry. i This region is the best location for siting the advanced wind tunnel complex because of our existing expertise,specifically: The San Francisco Bay ,area is the home of three major research universities: Stanford University - one of the world's foremost scientific universities and the leading computer science school in the nation. Univer•sily of California, Berkeley - the number one graduate ' school in the country. University of Californin, San Fi-anci.sco - world-class pioneer- ing health and scientific research institution. t The Honorable Bill Clinton August 12, 1993 Page Two This region is also the home of eminent national research labor- atories: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Stanford Linear Accelerator and, of course; NASA Ames Research Center. And this region is the home of Silicon Valley. Therefore, the San Francisco Bay Area has n powerful industrial and academic community of research facilities, high-tech industries, an existing high-tech infrastructure, and a highly skilled labor force -- a combination which we believe cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world. Selection of this region as the location for the proposed wind tunnels is im- portant to us. The construction of the two wind tunnels, which will comprise a state-of-the-art complex at the existing NASA Ames facility, will bring to the Bay Area approximately 2,000 construction jobs and, after the facility is completed, will add an additional 250 to 300 high tech Jobs to the existing employment base. These new jobs arc sorely needed In this region. The Bay Area Economic Forum, a non-profit organization, is a unique part- nership of the business,government, academic and foundation sectors of the nine-county Bay Arca. Through the strength of tills partnership, the Forum's mission is to be a catalyst for action to ensure and enhance the vitality of the region's economy. The Forum believes that tine strength of this region is our knowledge-based industries and related seryices. We are dedicated to enhancing this strength. The location of the advanced wind tunnel complex at the hifh tech facility at NASA Ames Research Center is a critical factor in the continued efforts of this region to overcome economic problems, such as the base closures, and to move forward to improve our economy by building on our existing expertise. It is in line with this mission that we ask for your support in ensuring that the proposed National Wind Tunnel Facility be located at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View. Thank you. Respectfully, Julius R. Krcvans, M.D. sunne Wrtgiil McCeak Chancellor Emeritus, Supervisor UC San Francisco, and County of Contra Costa,:end Chairman, Economic Forurn Vice Chair, Economic Forum RESOLUTION OF THE (NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION) SUPPORTING NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER AS THE LOCATION FOR PLANNED NEW NASA WIND TUNNELS WHEREAS, the U.S. aircraft manufacturing industry is critical to the nation's economy and balance of trade as well as our leadership in aviation technology; and WHEREAS, the industry is facing numerous challenges, including increased foreign competition; and WHEREAS, the United States does not have wind tunnel facilities to match flight simulation and productivity standards required by today's complex aircraft design; and WHEREAS, NASA Ames Research Center is a long-standing and internationally-renowned member of the Bay Area's scientific community;and WHEREAS, Ames is home to the world's largest wind tunnel, largest collection of wind tunnels and most advanced aerodynamic computational facility, all of which complement one another; and WHEREAS, over the past half-century Ames and its wind tunnels have played a vital role in the United States' space exploration, as well as its aeronautics research and development efforts in national defense and technology transfer to commercial applications; and WHEREAS, Ames, the surrounding high-technology industry, nearby renowned universities, availability of large technical work force and other infrastructure assets make this area uniquely qualified to answer any technological challenge; and WHEREAS, the Bay Area is under economic stress which defense base closures, social impacts and other events have caused to worsen; and WHEREAS, the federal government is currently considering the development of new, state-of- the-art wind tunnel facilities vital to preserving and reinforcing the United States' leadership position in aeronautical research; and WHEREAS, designing and locating the new wind tunnel facilities at Ames would represent the most efficient and economic application of scarce aeronautics research funds to help the United States protect its leadership in the highly competitive civil transport market; and WHEREAS, selection of Ames as the site for the new wind tunnels would, with the support of a strong coalition of nearby business, research and governmental institutions and their uniquely qualified work force, ensure that the new wind tunnels successfully meet the challenges that lie ahead, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the (name of your organization) does hereby express its strong endorsement of and support for the selection of the NASA Ames Research Center as the location for design and construction of the new wind tunnels. NASA WIND TUNNEL PROJECT Status Report - December 1, 1993 Organization of Regional Task Force (designated as Wind Tunnel Working Group) - Bay Area Economic Forum is lead agency - Director Revan Tranter is Chairman - Members include representatives of local Congressional delegates, state officials, business, labor, and the cities surrounding Ames (membership list attached). - PBN, a public affairs company, has been hired to coordinate the effort in an organized and effective manner. Forum has contributed $10,000 to this cost, and has asked other Working Group members to make matching contributions. The Forum is in daily contact with PBN. - A major briefing document has been prepared for the Working Group which compiles . all pertinent information. - Executive committee of the Working Group has been established to make policy recom- mendations. Members: BASF, State Commerce, Sunnyvale, and PG&E. Washington, D.C. Efforts - California Bay Area Congressional members continue to strongly support the effort on behalf of Ames. They have repeatedly stressed the importance of this issue to California in personal meetings with NASA Administration and the Clinton Administration. - Selected members of Working Group also have attended these meetings. - All communication by the Working Group with the Congressional delegation is handled through BAEF and PBN. - Aeronautics industry has reaffirmed the importance of new national wind tunnels and NASA and the Administration are focusing on this issue. Regional Efforts Working Group is providing Ames with additional material to strengthen its bid proposal for the complex. The particular issues related to supply of water and cost of energy are being addressed. Bechtel engineers have volunteered their assistance in technical aspects of the proposal and in preparation of a presentation package to accompany the Ames bid. Working Group soliciting letters/resolutions of support for Ames from their own organi- zations and from other groups within and beyond the region, including Southern California. BASF 12/3/93 Bay Area Wind Tunnel Working Group Membership (As of November 12, 1993) Alameda County Economic Development Commission Office of State Senator Alfred Alyuist Assembly Democratic Economic Prosperity Team Association of Bay Area Governments Bay Area Council Bay Area Economic Forum Office of Senator Barbara Boxer Office of Assembly Speaker Willie Brown California Democratic Congressional Delegation California Trade and Commerce Agency City of Mountain View City of San Jose City of Sunnyvale Office of Representative Ron Dellums Office of Representative Don Edwards Office of Representative Anna Eshoo ESL Office of Senator Dianne Feinstein Office of Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network Office of San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan Office of Supervisor Dianne McKenna Office of Representative Norm Mineta Mountain View/Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce Northern California Teamsters Union Office of Representative Nancy Pelosi Pacific Gas&Electric San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council Santa Clara and San Benito Counties Building and Cbnstruction Trades Council Santa Clara Manufacturers Association South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council F A C T S N E E T A Case for the NASA Wind Tunnel Complex at Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Santa Clara County, California NASA is proposing to build a$2 billion National Wind Tunnel Complex designed to maintain the nation's investment in aeronautical research and development and the competitiveness of the nation's domestic commercial aircraft industry. It is critical to the U.S.aeronautics industry's ability to remain competitive that these state-of-the-art test facilities be built. NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in Santa Clara County, California is the ideal site for this new facility. The Need for New Wind Tunnels The U.S.aircraft manufacturing industry is critical to the nation's economy and balance of trade as well as our leadership in aviation technology. However,no wind tunnel in the U.S.satisfies the combined requirements of accurate simulation of flight conditions and high productivity required by today's complex aircraft design. • The aeronautics industry in one of the largest in the country—employing nearly 1 million people. . .generating almost$100 billion in annual sales, and producing tens of billions of dollars in exports.' • The industry is facing numerous challenges,including increased foreign competition. Foreign competitors are investing in aeronautics ground testing facilities. • The U.S.market share of the world's ground-based aeronautics testing market is slipping while European and Japan,among other markets,are increasing their share? • Wind tunnels are one of the two most important tools in research and development of new aircraft, the other being computers' • The Clinton Administration is committed to strengthening civil aviation in the United States. Of NASA's four stated priorities for the 1990s,the fourth is to revitalize America's aeronautical base and help restore American aeronautics to the primacy it has enjoyed for decades' The National Wind Tunnels Complex • Eminent national research laboratories,and The National Wind Tunnel Complex would a leading force in technology transfer: include: Stanford University Office of Technology Licensing;University of California Office of • One high-speed transonic Technology Transfer,Lawrence Berkeley tunnel and one low speed Laboratory;Lawrence Livermore National subsonic tunnel,each costing Laboratory;Sandia National Laboratories; approximately$1 billion to Stanford Linear Accelerator;and NASA construct; Ames Research Center. • Facilities essential for develop- A highly skilled workforce—the Bay Area ing the next generation of has one of the highest proportions of commercial jet aircraft,which scientists,engineers,and computer exper- is: tise in the nation. - a key component in federal government's renewed focus on The highest density of venture capital firms aeronautics research. in the world—funding for new technolo- - in response to increasingly effective gies can be accomplished here better than competition from Europe. anywhere else in the country. • The combined capability(flight condi- The highest density of high technology tion simulation and productivity) companies in the world. The proximity exceeding all existing capability in the will facilitate and encourage extremely world. valuable technology transfers between the Complex and industry benefitting both The Ideal Location: Ames Research parties. Center Region's Re to the Important lex is Im The Bay Area is the ideal location for the The Complex p g National Wind Tunnel Complex. Economic Vitality • Ames Research Center lies in the midst Economically,California accounts for well over of Silicon Valley,which is renowned as half of all U.S.economic activity west of the the center of high tech research and Rockies and about an eighth of the entire production. The synergism that will country's. However,the depth and duration of exist between the Silicon Valley indus- the recession in California have resulted in an trial community and the National Wind estimated loss of more than 570,000 jobs.-' This Tunnel Complex will result in benefits project should be part of a larger economic beyond those that can be expected to strategy to strengthen and position California flow from a"stand alone" facility sited for the 21st century. elsewhere. Job Creation: The six-year construction phase The Bay Area has the infrastructure already would require approximately 2,000 construction in place to support the National Wind Tunnel jobs and 6,000 additional support jobs. Complex and to build on the results of its research: When completed, the facility would require an additional 200 high tech jobs for direct operation • World class research universities: of new facility(in addition to existing NASA/ Stanford University;University of Ames 5,000 employees)and about 400 addi- California at Berkeley;and, University tional jobs in the local community. of California at San Francisco. Critical Element in Region's Economic Vitality. - The Ames Research Center has the This facility is: largest R&D budget in Silicon Valley. • an important element in the region's - The Ames Research Center has an overall strategy of enhancing our economic annual budget more than$700 vitality by building on our existing and million-it spends more than$500 unique technological strengths. million in the Bay Area each year. • a center for a"mini-cluster"that can critical to helping offset the significant potentially spawn new businesses and economic impact that base closures will technologies. This mini-cluster effect is have on our regional economy. In the analogous to the economic growth which 1993 round of closures,California has sparked by the cyclotron projects at UC sustained 88 percent of the reductions Berkeley several decades ago. nationwide—40 percent of which were in the Bay Area. • an important catalyst for business,industry and education institutions throughout the critical to ensuring that existing Bay Area. activities at Ames are not reduced. Failure to site the National Wind - Ames has had a highly successful Tunnel Complex at the Ames Research partnership with the U.S.commercial Center would result in probable aircraft industry for more than 40 years. downgrading of the existing NASA Wind tunnels were placed at the Ames facility. This means job losses,elimina- Research Center with the primary tion of future job gains,and elimination mission of supporting the development of the multiplier benefits an important requirements of the aircraft industry. research facility provides industries through technology transfer opportuni- - Its comprehensive aeronautical research ties. program provides industry with direct access to NASA's entire technical capability,including super computer facilities. 'Techtiology for Ecottotnic Growth: President's - Among Bay Area's institutions that Progress Report. November 1993. received largest awards for Ames in 'Nashville Business Journal. February 15, 1992 are: Stanford University,San Jose 1993. State University,UC Berkeley, UC 'NASA Ames Research Center Davis,Foothill College,SRI,and UC San 4The Bureau of National Affairs,Inc. Francisco. s Wall Street Journal,November 16, 1993 Ensuring that the National Wind Tunnel Complex is sited at the Ames Research Center is a top priority of Bay Area government and business leaders. A coordinated and effective regional strategy to support the siting of the National Wind Tunnel Complex at the Ames Research Center is being spearheaded by a special working group of the Bay Area Economic Forum. The PBN Company,a California public affairs/communi- cations company,is assisting the Forum in coordinating the effort. All inquiries and information should be forwarded to: The PBN Company Three Embarcadero Center,Suite 2210 San Francisco,CA 94111 415/989-0536(telephone) 415/391-0759(fax) 2 �„ "p q c^ US O q v � i� on N p C� in �, � � C ✓ N ✓,,, .n -16 j G U Ucn° a, " G uw o �c p ' �4 o o •d �'� �� o� 3 o o sa cJa o o s •� � �� �acs U A A 6' 21 G u� p`." c?, w �.- .d O✓ A'� -p � (,C) � i6 d � y N ¢. �•O G �� � y °� p '�,N �•� cn U .fir G ai G •�•.:' °Gj,G u G O ,; E � G a> /! 6 PGc� ons oUC � c v ?: °J G '� aNi ° o'p. „a `�G, O ° cGa ° �d `6 -• 6� o O .. N B O G 0+� N ✓ © G RC1 3 0 0o cAu on .L w 'Etc SQ." ° 9— Opt- -3h Q ,hOR Q„ tointi o s �// , C�A a r-• Op ,yZ O � o o� 3 •�' P- a '6 r s cc. CD � a x rQ z a