Government Affairs & Regional Transportation Advisory Committee (GA-RTAC)
The Group meets monthly on the 2nd Thursday at the Chamber office. Typically, there are 25-30 officials there to share information.
The Committee was first established by the Chamber to bring government, first responders, utilities, and elected official representatives together to or our state and federal elected officials and community groups together to share information and concerns.
The GA-RTAC Committee is co-chaired by Board members Maureen Auer and Austin Marshall. Members include representatives from the City of Big Bear Lake, the Big Bear City Community Services District, Southwest Gas, Bear Valley Electric Service, the City Dept. of Water and Power, Big Bear Wastewater Agency, the Fire Department, the Big Bear Sheriff’s office, County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, Senator Ochoa Bogh, Assemblyman Tom Lackey, Caltrans, CA Highway Patrol and the South Coast Air Quality Control Management agency.
Committee Issues
- Utility Rate increases
- Sales tax on businesses
- Highway construction and maintenance projects;
- Letters of Support; and
- Road closures.
Work by the Committee
Lobbied Caltrans to shorten the 2005 SR 330 collapse repair to 7 months, instead of 2 years;
Secured placement of 12 freeway directional signs to Big Bear.
Other Concerns
Committee members discuss issues related to state and local roads, snow play violators, snow removal, upcoming big events, crime on businesses and more.
Economic Development
The Committee is co-chaired by Board members Matt Vecchio and Danielle Goldsmith. It works closely with the City of Big Bear Lake and the county, new and potential new business owners, and the City’s Economic Development Advisory Committee.
The Committee works to sustain and grow the Big Bear economy through communication with business owners, potential new businesses and new businesses.
It promotes “Shop Local” through social media, Big Bear Shop Local eGift card. The Committee promotes communication and identifies partnership opportunities for programs and projects to foster economic development.
Awards Committee
The Chamber Awards Committee sets the criteria for the selection of award recipients and recommends their choices to the Board of Directors.
Award recipients are honored at the Annual Membership Meeting and Awards breakfast the first Tuesday in June and they receive a years’ worth of promotion i through the Chamber.
NEW in 2023
The Chamber will recognize and honor an outstanding employee nominated by the business at the event. All member businesses are encouraged to nominate someone worthy of the honor.