Posted Thursday, May 8, 2008

Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities Quarterly Meeting
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
8:30 a.m. -- 11:30 a.m.
BCDC, 50 California Street, Suite 2600, San Francisco

Bay Area elected officials, city and county managers, and planning and public works staff are invited to attend the Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities’ Quarterly Meeting on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at BCDC in San Francisco.

The meeting will provide a stimulating dialog on how climate change will impact how we plan and develop our communities. You will also learn about current policies and programs which are addressing these issues head-on, and ways to get involved.

Will Climate Change Land Use?

• What does climate change mean for where and how we live in the Bay Area?
• Where will the sea level rise to?
• Will food be grown in cities?
• How do we respond in a socially equitable manner?
• What are some smart, financially feasible development solutions?

Panelists:
Climate Change and Land Use Connections
Autumn Bernstein, Climate Plan
Making Climate Friendly Development a Financial Reality
Jim Heid, President, UrbanGreen
Urban Agriculture
Sibella Kraus, President, SAGE
Socially Equitable Land Use
Speaker tbd
Adapting to Rising Sea Levels and Scurrying Animals
Joe LaClair, Bay Conservation and Development Commission

To pre-register, RSVP to allison@bayareaalliance.org. For more information, visit http://www.bayareaalliance.org/activity.html.

Posted Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Proposition 13 at 30: The Political, Economic, and Fiscal Impacts
Conference on June 6, 2008
UC Berkeley

The political, economic, and fiscal impacts of Proposition 13 will be the subject of a major one-day conference at UC Berkeley on June 6, 2008. Sponsored by UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS), the UC San Diego Department of Sociology, the James Irvine Foundation, and the Stanford University Press, this free conference marks the 30th anniversary of the passage of California’s Proposition 13 and examines the legacy of this revolutionary amendment to the state constitution. Proposition 13 imposed a 1% cap on the local property tax rate for Californians and launched a national tax revolt movement. The fiscal impact of Proposition 13 on California local governments was and has been dramatic.

The morning segment will feature new public opinion polling data, unveiling the results of a statewide survey on voter attitudes regarding Proposition 13. The Field Poll will offer fresh insight into the public’s thinking about spending and taxes, as the state heads into a new fiscal year with a looming fiscal crisis. Three panels featuring a wide range of experts in the fiscal, economic, social, and political ramifications of this controversial tax movement will highlight the conference.

Open to the public with no advance registration required, the conference will be held on the UC Berkeley campus in the Lipman Room (8th floor of Barrows Hall), from 9 am to 5.30 pm. For complete agenda, visit the IGS website: igs.berkeley.edu; or call (510) 642-1474.

Posted Friday, April 25, 2008

2008 Growing Smarter Together Award Winners

ABAG presented the second annual Growing Smarter Together Awards during its Spring 2008 General Assembly on Thursday, April 24, 2008, in San Francisco. “These regional Growing Smarter Together awards are significant because they recognize innovative approaches and significant achievements of local governments, regional agencies, and residents collaborating to build complete communities to improve the quality of life in the Bay Area. They directly address the Bay Area’s regional challenges, showcase solutions, highlight outstanding individual leadership, and spotlight best practices that can be emulated regionwide,” Rose Jacobs Gibson, ABAG President and San Mateo County Supervisor, said during the General Assembly awards ceremony.

The Start It Up Award was presented to the City of San Leandro for its Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy to revitalize their downtown with a walkable, mixed-use housing and business development. Extensive public involvement and community engagement helped create San Leandro’s innovative long term vision.

The On the Ground—Getting It Done award was awarded to the City of Hercules to recognize the significant progress that the city has made in implementing its Plan and Regulating Code. The Plan for Central Hercules and its Regulating Code are significant for the high level of public involvement in planning the development, and for guiding development decisions to achieve greater density, mix of uses, walkability, public spaces, and regional transit mobility in Hercules.

The City of Dublin, Alameda County Surplus Property Authority, and Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) jointly received the Public-Private Partnership for their collaboration on the Dublin Transit Center. Their work and partnership creates a significant transit-oriented community in Dublin.

Gwen Regalia, Mayor of Walnut Creek, received the Distinguished Leadership Award. Mayor Regalia was recognized for her distinguished public service career and her unsurpassed commitment to sustainable community improvement and focused smart growth on the local, regional, and state level. Regalia is a past president of ABAG.

The Growing Smarter Together award winners were showcased in a special video produced by Comcast that premiered at the General Assembly. PG&E joined Comcast to help underwrite the awards program.

Posted Friday, April 25, 2008

ABAG's Spring 2008 General Assembly

View Presentations from William Fulton and William Fleissig

Approximately 200 of the region’s elected officials and civic leaders met during the Association of Bay Area Governments’ (ABAG) General Assembly, Focused Growth on Thursday, April 24, 2008, in San Francisco. The General Assembly opened with a welcome from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and featured the insightful analysis of William Fulton, Solimar Research Group President and CEO, Author, and Deputy Mayor, City of Ventura, and William Fleissig, Communitas Development President. They explored the interrelationship of land use, vehicle miles traveled, and the reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

The conference provided a platform for Bay Area elected officials and civic leaders to share best practices and viewpoints on the opportunities, challenges, and innovative strategies related to the FOCUS Initiative and Priority Development Areas (PDAs). An expert panel of local elected leaders explored how the needs of existing communities are being addressed through PDA infill development that provides access to transit, jobs, shopping and services. The conference also included an ABAG Business Session where member city and county delegates approved the ABAG Budget and Work plan—Fiscal Year 2008-2009. The General Assembly concluded with the presentation of the ABAG Growing Smarter Together Awards.

ABAG’s General Assembly is a bi-annual conference that brings Bay Area decision-makers together to explore key issues and trends in a regional context. Founded in 1961, ABAG is the regional planning agency for the nine counties and 101 cities and towns of the Bay Area and is recognized as the first council of governments in California.

Posted Monday, April 21, 2008
Alameda County

Alameda
Saturday, April 19, 2008, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Washington Park, Central Avenue & 8th Street, Alameda
For more information contact: City of Alameda Recreation and Park Department, (510) 747-7529 or City of Alameda Public Works Department, (510) 749-5840.

Berkeley
Saturday April 19, 2008
12pm - 5pm
Berkeley Civic Center Park
2151 Martin Luther King Jr. Way at Center
Berkeley, California 94704
http://www.hesternet.net/events.html
(510) 654-6346
Berkeley Earth Day is an annual event held in April to celebrate the environmental movement and creatively challenge the destruction of our planet. We provide cultural performers, speakers and resources to link individuals and groups with each other in community based ecological activities.

California State Parks Foundation Restoration & Clean-up
Saturday, April 19th
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Help out in cleaning up the Berkeley Shoreline. Eastshore State Park; Meet behind Sea Breeze Deli at University Ave. and Frontage Road.
http://www.calparks.org/programs/earth-day/
kfusek@ebparks.org,
(510) 544-2515

Hayward
Saturday, April 19 - 11 am to 3 pm
Hayward City Hall & Plaza
Opening Remarks by Mayor Michael Sweeney
Winning student multi-media presentations on helping our environment
Exhibits, Fun for Kids, Special Presentations

Emeryville
Sunday, April 26th
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
47th Street and Temescal Creek Park, Emeryville
For more information please call: (510) 596-3782 or (510) 596-4395
Carnival features music, dancing, fun activities for kids, composting and worms bins and organic gardening!
Oakland Earth Day
Saturday, April 19th, 2008
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Various locations. Please see the flyer at:
http://www.oaklandearthday.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=2932
http://www.oaklandearthday.com/Page289.aspx
(510) 238-7611
The Clean It, Green It, Mean It citywide project includes activities at various neighborhood sites.

Contra Costa County

Annual Contra Costa Earth Day Festival
April 29th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Chronicle Pavilion in Concord
Contra Costa Earth Day Festival, a non-profit organization, is holding its 11th anniversary Earth Day Festival Sunday,. This year's festival brings together environmentalists, energy experts, and the community with the theme of "Renewable Energy for a New Era." Visit the website www.ccearthday.org for more information.

Contra Costa Habitat for Humanity to Hold Earth Day Build-A-Thon
April 19-22
Habitat for Humanity’s most popular building and fundraising event of the year, the Earth Day Build-A-Thon, April 19-22. Participants collect pledges like a walk-a-thon, but pitch in to help frame 6 houses in four days. No experience necessary! To sign up, or for more info, visit www.habitatEB.org or call 510-251-6304 X311.


El Cerrito Earth Day
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Work parties: 9:00 am - 11:30 am, contact Garth Schultz at (510) 215-4351 or earthday@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us and Barbeque for volunteers.
http://www.el-cerrito.org/news/article.html?aid=336
For art show info, call Sheilaugh at (510) 685-4747.
Celebration will include free lunch, art show, family activities and a raffle.

Lafayette
Earth Day Festival and Science Symposium
Sunday, April 20th, 2008
12-4pm
Stanley Intermediate School
3477 School Street, Lafayette, CA
More than 20 vendors and displays, free entertainment, student organized symposium.
For more information please contact Janet Thomas at (925)-946-0563 or
bart_carr@yahoo.com

Orinda
Friends of Orinda Creeks Earth Day Clean-up
Sunday, April 19th
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Meet at the parking lot behind 23 Orinda Way, Orinda
For more information please call Maya Rappaport at (925) 253-1997 or e-mail mayarapp@comcast.net

Richmond
West County Earth Day
Saturday, April 19th, 2008
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
101 Pittsburg Avenue, North Richmond; just one block off the Richmond Parkway
http://www.recyclemore.com/earthday/_ed_home.asp
(510) 215-3126
Activities include free tours of the West County Recycling Center, Landfill and Municipal Compost Facility, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Recycling Olympics for kids, wildlife shows and musical acts.


Marin County

Marin Earth Day 2008: Celebration and Restoration
An Earth Day event featuring volunteering with trail work and activities for children in the morning and a celebration with bands, speakers and eco organizations in the afternoon.
April 19, 2008 Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Sir Frances Drake Blvd
Lagunitas, CA 94938
For more information contact Allison Kraus at (415) 454-4554 ex. 285 or e-mail: volunteer@marincc.org, or visit the website http://www.marincc.org/events.html.

Volunteer for Habitat Restoration at Phoenix Lake
Saturday, April. 19, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, at the Natalie Coffin Greene Park parking lot at the end of Lagunitas Road in Ross at 8:45 am to join the caravan to free parking. To register or for more information call the Marin Municipal Water District Volunteer Line at (415) 945-1169, or visit the MMWD website: www.marinwater.org under “Watershed/Outreach.”

Earth Day in the Marin Headlands
Marin Headlands Hostel
Fort Barry, Building 941
Sausalito, California 94965 37.8238, -122.529
A day of fun in the sun to celebrate our spaceship earth!
Music, Activities, Food and Friends.


Fairfax
Trail-marking project
April 27, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Forrest Terrace trail site
39 Meernaa at Forrest Terrace
For more information, call 456-5652

Sausalito
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Saturday, April 19, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Fort Baker, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito, CA
www.badm.org

Corte Madera
Creek Cleanup
Saturday, April 19, 9:30 start
Participants should wear boots and gloves to weed and tend new plants, and meet at the College of Marin ecology study area. For more information, call 457-1147.

San Rafael
A Multi-Lingual Celebration and Community Cleanup
Saturday, April 19, 2008, 10am to 3pm
Pickleweed Park and Community Center, 50 Canal Street, near Kerner Blvd., San Rafael
Call 415-485-3407 or go to http://www.sanrafaelvolunteers.org/2005_sql_forms_tables/live_sign_up.aspx to sign up.

Napa County
Tree planting, site cleanup, performances, food, and vendors
Saturday, April 19, 2008, 10:00 to 3:00
Napa Valley College Soccer Fields, 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway (Hwy. 29)
For more information, visit the website at http://www.earthdaynapa.com

Calistoga
Earth Day Celebration at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Myrtle Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Food, information, children’s activities, music and a trash clean-up

San Mateo County

Redwood City
Earth Day on the Bay 2008
Saturday, April 19 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.
Marine Science Institute
Redwood City, CA
This all day event is filled with family-friendly events geared towards providing fun, memorable, and meaningful experiences to bond you with SF Bay, and the planet.
http://www.cmiregistration.com/user/splash.jxp?org=261

San Francisco

2008 Earth Day Network/Green Apple Festival Free Line-up
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Starts at 12 noon, Music and Speakers

McLaren Park Earth Day - Come Celebrate Nature Where You Live!
Sunday, April 20, 2008, 11 am - 5 pm
John F. Shelley Drive

EarthFest, Aquarium of the Bay
April 20, 2008 12:00 noon - 4:00 PM
PIER 39 at The Embarcadero and Beach Street, San Francisco
EarthFest is a free outdoor festival featuring organizations dedicated to the conservation and protection of our environment, live children's music, free giveaways, and lots of opportunities to learn more about how you can be green.

Earth Day 2008, Restoration and Cleanup
Tue, April 22, 2008, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
San Francisco Center for the Book
300 De Haro St.
San Francisco, CA 94103

Santa Clara County

San Jose
Earth Day at San Jose City Hall
Tuesday, April 22 10:00a to 2:00p, 200 East Santa Clara St.
Celebrate Earth Day at San Jose City Hall from 10 am to 2 pm. Enjoy a farmer’s market, entertainment and a marketplace of environmental ideas where you can learn how to “green” your lifestyle or your business. Visit http://www.sanjoseca.gov/esd/EarthDay2008.asp for more information.

Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale Mtn. Meadow Restoration
Saturday, April 19, 2008
9am - 1pm
Sunnyvale Mountain Parking lot - on Hwy 35 (Skyline Blvd)
call 408-355-2278 or e-mail Irene.tsobanakis@prk.sccgov.org

Earth Day, Grant Park, Equestrian Campground
Saturday, April 19, 2008
9am - 1pm
help with removal of invasive plants
call 408-355-2278 or e-mail irene.tsobanakis@prk.sccgov.org

Solano County

Vallejo Water Conservation & Recycling Programs
Saturday, April 19, 2008, 9am - 1pm
Vallejo Farmers’ Market, Georgia Street
FOR INFORMATION CALL
(707) 55-EARTH OR VISIT
www.VALCORErecycling.org

Sonoma County

Santa Rosa
Tuesday, April 22, 8:00 a.m.
Within Reach Launch Party and Bike Ride!
ZAP! Electric Vehicles
501 Fourth Street
Santa Rosa, CA

Sebastopol
Earth Day Bike Ride
Tuesday, April 22, 8:00 a.m.
start at Laguna Farms, 1764 Cooper Rd

Posted Friday, April 11, 2008

Timely Tips for Earth Day - - What more can we do to help stop climate change?

Bay Area cities, towns, and counties can help stop climate change by incorporating climate protection suggestions into Earth Day (April 22th) Celebrations. Many local governments are trying to reduce their carbon footprint by implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy actions that can have multiple benefits including saving money, creating jobs, promoting sustainable growth, and reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. The question is what more can we do?

Communities and or residents can make some simple changes to reduce our carbon footprint. The following information is what cities, towns and counties can do and what residents can do.

What cities, towns, and counties can do:

• Make completing the Bay Trail a priority
• Make City Buildings Energy Efficient
• Apply to become a Green Business
• Buy Green Power
• Consider joining ABAG Energy Watch
• Stop Sprawl
• Green your fleet
• Turn Your Landfill into an Asset
• Switch the streetlights to LEDs
• Energy Smart Homes and Businesses
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Be an Efficient Buyer
• “Curb the Car” with a one-stop commute shop
• Use utility bills to share information about ride-sharing, energy efficient appliances and water conservation
In addition to these activities, ABAG POWER is looking at new efforts that could make a difference, such as solar photo voltaics installation assistance, hybrid vehicles purchasing through the State, biodiesel aggregate purchasing, and entering the green natural gas market.

Local governments can also provide information to residents in Earth Day announcements or handouts at events. The following list includes some suggestions.

What your residents can do:

• Change one light bulb to compact florescent bulb
• Adjust your thermostat down two degrees in winter and two degrees up in summer
• Unplug the TV, DVD player, computer, or other electronic devices that go to standby mode
• Turn off one or more non-essentials energy-consuming item such as TV, lights, computer, etc., for one hour
• Use less hot water
• Check your tires
• Drive less, bike more, use public transit or walk
• Shop for a home closer to where you work, etc.
• Plant a tree
• Recycle more

Posted Thursday, April 10, 2008

Industrial Land Use Forum
“The Future of Industrial Lands in the Bay Area”
Thursday, May 8, 2008
MetroCenter Auditorium, 101 8th Street, Oakland

Hosted by the Association of Bay Area Governments
and the Bay Area Industrial Roundtable

How will we balance the need for industrial lands with competing uses, as the need for housing grows, transportation costs rise, and environmental concerns mount? Local elected officials and staff are invited to attend the Industrial Land Use forum, “The Future of Industrial Lands in the Bay Area” on Thursday, May 8, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the MetroCenter Auditorium in Oakland.

Speakers and panelists will explore the contributions of industry on the Bay Area’s economy and evaluate how to achieve balanced growth. The conference will also focus on the critical role of industry in the Bay Area’s economy, emphasizing that industry provides much needed employment to a diverse workforce and indispensable support to the service sector.

This is a free public forum. If you plan to attend, please contact JoAnna Bullock at 510/ 464-7968 or joannab@abag.ca.gov.
For more information, call 510/464-7900.


Draft Agenda

Posted Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Confronting Climate Change
Using Markets to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Oracle Conference Center
350 Oracle Parkway, (Redwood Shores) Redwood City

Bay Area elected officials, city and county managers, planning and public works staff, and the business community are invited to attend the Confronting Climate Change business forum to learn about AB 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act). This important forum will be hosted by the San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA) on Friday, May 2, 2008, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Redwood City.

Forum attendees will learn about AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, which sets up the first enforceable state-wide program in the U.S. to cap all greenhouse gas emissions from major industries. Expert speakers will discuss how the new carbon constrained economy will result in far-reaching rules that require an 80% reduction in C02 (carbon) emissions by 2050. Widely debated emission reduction tools and the potential impacts of AB 32 on individuals and business in California will be explored.

Attendees will hear answers to the following questions:
• What is a “cap and trade” emissions trading system?
• How will greenhouse gases be reduced through an emissions trading system?
• How will my business be impacted by the “cap”?
• How can my business profit by selling emission credits on the open market?
• What new technologies will be spurred by the creation of a cap and trade market system?


The Association of Bay Area Governments is one of the co-sponsors of this business forum. SPACE IS LIMITED. Individual registration is $30 including lunch. Click here to register or complete the enclosed form and fax to SAMCEDA at 650/413-5909. For more information, call 650/413-5600.

Posted Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Invitation to Attend ABAG Spring General Assembly, Focused Growth
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street, San Francisco

Elected officials and staff from the Bay Area’s nine counties and 101 cities and towns, as well as civic and private sector leaders are invited to attend the ABAG Spring General Assembly, Focused Growth on Thursday, April 24th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco.

The Spring General Assembly will provide a platform for Bay Area leaders to share their best practices and viewpoints on opportunities, challenges, and innovative strategies related to Focused Growth. An expert panel will explore how the needs of existing communities can be addressed with Priority Development Areas (PDAs) that are developed as “complete communities.” The morning keynote speaker William Fulton, Solimar Research Group President and CEO, Author, and Deputy Mayor of the City of Ventura, will share his insight and expertise on land-use patterns, growth, and planning trends related to regional development. William Fleissig, President of Communitas Development Inc., will highlight strategies used to create vibrant, mixed-use, transit-oriented communities.

The ABAG second annual "Growing Smarter Together" Awards will be presented to Bay Area cities and leaders during the awards ceremony.

Please click here (http://www.abag.ca.gov/abag/events/ga) to view the conference agenda. Register for the conference online and receive a $10 discount. The registration deadline is Monday, April 21st. If you would like further information, call 510/464-7900.

Posted Friday, March 7, 2008

ABAG to Coordinate Outreach on New
Bay Area Crime Stoppers Initiative

A new tip line (1-800-222-TIPS) called Bay Area Crime Stoppers is now available for residents in the 415, 510, 925, 650, 408, and 707 area codes to call and report crimes anonymously. To help fight crime in the region, the Bay Area Council launched this major initiative in collaboration with the Bay Area police chiefs and sheriffs, government officials and representatives, and the Association of Bay Area Governments. ABAG will coordinate outreach to all nine counties and 101 cities of the region on Bay Area Crime Stoppers to ensure maximum participation. The new service, Bay Area Crime Stoppers was the result of an annual poll conducted by the Bay Area Council, which indicated that crime had risen to the third worse problem facing the region.

The Bay Area Council and the business community it represents have pledged to work with the mayors of the Bay Area cities to raise the money required. The Bay Area Crime Stoppers program is expected to cost as much as $700,000 per year. More than 30 law enforcement agencies and departments have pledged support. The program has had success in other U.S. regions, with an average conviction rate of 95 percent on cases that use information from Crime Stoppers, according to the Bay Area Council.

About the Tip Line

Bay Area Crime Stoppers pays rewards of $500 to $2,000 for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of persons responsible for committing felony crimes. One of the primary purposes of Crime Stoppers is to build trust and safety among the callers. Callers are not asked to identify themselves and no recording equipment or phone tracing is used. Police-trained operators at a Toronto-based call center, who are available to speak in dozens of languages, answer the tips line in-person 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Posted Friday, February 29, 2008

Preparing for Sea Level Rise
Conference is at Capacity - Online Registration is Closed
Contact Joe LaClair at BCDC (joel@bcdc.ca.gov) to be
placed on a waiting list and for information about future forums

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
MetroCenter, 101 Eighth Street Oakland, California

Elected officials, city and county managers, planning, public works and park agency directors; and flood control and water agency directors are invited to attend an interactive conference to learn the direct consequences of climate change driven sea level rise in the Bay Area-a region of great ecological and social diversity and economic importance.

Attendees will learn how to assess their community's vulnerability to the effects of sea level rise including the potential costs of protecting against an increase in sea level. Adaptation strategies for protecting property in threatened areas will be explored. Participants will hear from local governments who are confronting the challenges of sea level rise and the strategies they are pursuing, and hear how they can partner with other agencies and organizations to reduce sea level rise rates by cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Leading climate change experts, who will be presenting, include Dan Cayan, Director, Climate Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Leader of the Governor's Climate Scenarios and Coastal Research Teams; Peter Gleick, Executive Director, Pacific Institute, Co-Author of Assessing The Costs Of Adapting To Sea-Level Rise: A Case Study Of San Francisco Bay; and Will Travis, Executive Director of San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC).

This conference is hosted by San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), and the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Registration fee is $25 per person and includes conference materials and continental breakfast and lunch. In an effort to reduce event footprint, attendees are asked to bring their own reusable coffee/tea cup. The conference agenda and registration information are available at BCDC Conference and Registration. Contact: Joe LaClair, BCDC, for more information at 415/352-3656 or joel@bcdc.ca.gov.

Posted Friday, February 29, 2008

Land Use Performance Targets:
Roundtable Discussion

City and County elected officials and senior staff are invited to attend one of a series of local meetings being held in each of the nine Bay Area Counties. ABAG will make a brief presentation on the region’s land use projections and the impact of linking performance targets to land use within policy assumptions. Attendees will discuss how performance targets can help local government leaders understand how both regional and local policies are incorporated into the region’s land use projections.

The following meetings are scheduled:

March 12, Santa Clara County
7 - 9 p.m., Santa Clara County Board Chambers
County Government Center
70 W. Hedding Street, 10th Floor, San Jose
Co-hosted by Santa Clara County Supervisor Pete McHugh
and City of San Jose Councilmember Forrest Williams

March 19, Napa County
1:00 p.m., Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency
707 Randolph St., Napa

March 24, Marin County
7 - 9 p.m., Mill Valley Community Center
Mountain View Room, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley
Co-hosted by Marin County Supervisors Steve Kinsey and Charles McGlashan

March 26, Alameda County
7 – 9 p.m., San Leandro Library/Lecture Hall
300 Estudillo Avenue, San Leandro
Co-hosted by Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty
and City of Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates

March 27, San Mateo County
6:30 - 8:30 p.m., San Mateo County Board Chambers
400 County Center, Redwood City
Co-hosted by San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson
and Joint Policy Committee Board Member Sue Lempert

March 31, Central/East Contra Costa County
7 - 9 p.m., Walnut Creek City Council Chambers
1666 No. Main Street, Walnut Creek
Co-hosted by City of Walnut Creek Mayor Gwen Regalia
and City of Martinez Councilmember Mark Ross

April 10, Sonoma
Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Meeting
TBD

San Francisco TBD

The Solano County and West Contra Costa County meetings were held in February.

For more information, contact Christy Riviere, ABAG Regional Planner at (415) 464-7923.

Posted Thursday, January 31, 2008

ABAG’s Growing Smarter Together Awards

The second annual ABAG Growing Smarter Together Awards recognizes excellence in planning and development by local governments. This regional awards program showcases personal and program/project oriented work that demonstrates a significant commitment toward achieving regional planning goals.

The Growing Smarter Together Award program is an opportunity for local governments to showcase their innovative approaches and significant achievements in implementing the Bay Area Vision. The 2007-2008 award winners will be honored and featured at the ABAG Spring 2008 General Assembly on April 24th in San Francisco.

More information about the awards categories and nomination requirements is available at http://www.abag.ca.gov/smarter.html. The deadline for entries is Friday, March 7th, 2008. Please contact the ABAG Communications Department at 510/464-7995 or 510/464-7922 with any questions.

Posted Thursday, January 31, 2008

ABAG Projects Regional Economic Outlook 2008-2009 at January Conference

View KGO Channel 7 Webcast of the Conference

During the ABAG 20th annual Regional Economic Outlook Conference on Thursday, January 24, 2008, ABAG’s Economist and Director of Research Paul Fassinger said, “The Bay Area economy is expected to show slow job growth with a possible recession on the horizon in 2008 and then improve in 2009.” According to Fassinger, “Energy prices, mortgage industry, and the state budget continue to cause concerns about their impact on our region’s economy. However, even as the Bay Area mirrors the rest of the nation, we expect that the Bay Area will experience a relatively mild recession.” These projections, which addressed the state of the Bay Area’s economy for 2008-2009 and other budget concerns challenging local governments, were presented to over 200 conference attendees representing local government, regional agencies, and business.

Highlights
Focusing on current and future Bay Area economic trends, Fassinger said, “In the short term, the Bay Area will see nominal job growth with the addition of 15,000 jobs in 2008 and 25,250 jobs in 2009.” Fassinger also forecasted that the Bay Area inflation rate for 2008 will be 3.4% and 3.0 % for 2009, with income growth for 2008 and 2009 at 0.0% and 0.5% respectively.

Chief Economist Howard Roth of the California Department of Finance provided the broader California outlook. He noted, “Both the state and national economies will experience a weak year in 2008, with the California and national housing sector slumps showing no signs of abating at year-end. Best case is that economic growth will stabilize at a low level by the end of 2008, but the major risks affecting this outlook are higher energy prices and whether the housing sector downturns turn out worse than expected.”

ABAG Senior Regional Planner Hing Wong examined Bay Area retail sales and consumer spending patterns. He said, “Consumer confidence has been declining with slow sales during the last half of 2007. Consumers will continue to feel the economic pinch as retail sales are forecasted to grow by only 2.6% in 2008, while total taxable sales are forecasted to increase by 2.7%.” The Bay Area housing outlook was explored by Gerald P. Cox, Director of Sales and Marketing, RealFacts. He detailed the Bay Area housing market downturns and discussed the flat housing development and rentals available for 2008 and 2009.

ABAG’s conference provides a two-year regional economic outlook at the beginning of each calendar year. It is the foremost regional conference for forecasting local government future revenue and planning budgets and is consistently rated by attendees as one of the most reliable prognostications of Bay Area economic trends.

View KGO Channel 7 Webcast of the Conference

Posted Monday, December 31, 2007

Resources Available from Workshop on
How to Finance Disaster Recovery and Rebuild After a Disaster

As a follow up to the ABAG Financing Disaster Recovery Workshop on December 5th, ABAG is now offering a new website section(http://quake.abag.ca.gov/recovery/) with information for local governments about financing disaster recovery and improving preparedness. To help local governments assess their needs and prepare for disaster recovery, the website includes a Repair and Reconstruction Model Ordinance and Repair Provisions in California State Law and Regulations.

The need for local governments to improve their disaster recovery has been underscored by the recent southern California fires and the October 30th magnitude 5.4 earthquake near San Jose. Based on recent disasters, it is evident that the critical process to rebuild and recover buildings, infrastructure, and communities could take as long as several years, depending on the severity of the disaster.

The December workshop was the first in a series of workshops focusing on disaster recovery training for Bay Area elected officials. Additional workshops will be scheduled in 2008. For more information, contact Jeanne Perkins at 510.464.7934 or jeannep@abag.ca.gov.

Posted Friday, December 21, 2007

Opportunity to Discuss Water and Wastewater Funding

Join the discussion to fund your water quality and wastewater projects. A Bay Area public workshop will be held to discuss the future of the California Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan program in Santa Rosa on January 7, 2008 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. This meeting will be at North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Central, 50 Skylane Boulevard, Suite A Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

Funding is available through the CWSRF loan program and new applicants and projects are welcomed. Last year alone, the CWSRF loan program awarded over 450 million dollars in new contracts and can help local governments fund essential projects.

At the public workshop, the program’s short and long-term goals will be discussed as will how to measure success in achieving those goals. Public comments are also essential in developing the program’s Fiscal Year 2008-09 Intended Use Plan and CWSRF Project Priority List, which will greatly impact how the program funds are spent.

Registration is encouraged, but not required.
To RSVP or for questions and additional information, please contact:
Kyle Wooldridge OR Christine Gordon
(916) 341-5744 (916) 341-5835
KWooldridge@waterboards.ca.gov CGordon@waterboards.ca.gov

If you are unable to attend the workshop, please visit the CWSRF loan program
website for instructions on how to get on the CWSRF Project Priority List.
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/funding/srf.html

Posted Wednesday, December 12, 2007

NEW FILM: Building Communities We Care About

A new resource is available for local governments and community groups to engage people in constructive discussion around housing development in their communities. The film, Building Communities We Care About, was created by the Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities.

It is a short film featuring heart-warming stories from Bay Area residents, which reveals the often hidden, and highly personal costs of regional issues. Building Communities We Care About can be viewed on-line at:
www.bayareaalliance.org/video.html and DVD copies are available.

ABAG represents cities, counties and regional agencies on the Bay Area Alliance Steering Committee with other public, private, and non-profit organizations.

Posted Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Successful Conference: ABAG General Assembly and MTC Transportation 2035 Summit

More than 800 Bay Area residents, elected officials, community and business leaders, planners, and transportation and smart growth advocates registered for the ABAG Fall General Assembly/Metropolitan Transportation Summit - - Bay Area on the Move. This joint conference showcased results of the FOCUS initiative, including identification of priority development areas and previewed some of the major decisions anticipated as part of an update to MTC’s long-range transportation policy and investment blueprint, known as Transportation 2035.

To hear a conference audiocast, or view presentations, visit the website at http://www.abag.ca.gov/planning.

Posted Monday, November 26, 2007

Financing Disaster Recovery Workshop

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Join ABAG to discuss financing disaster recovery on Wednesday, December 5 from 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. in the MetroCenter Auditorium prior to the Regional Planning Committee (RPC) meeting. This lunch workshop is the first in a series to discuss key issues of concern and to serve as training for Bay Area elected officials.

The southern California fire storms and the October 30th magnitude 5.4 earthquake near San Jose are a reminder that disasters can and do happen. While many organizations and all local governments are improving their response to disasters, the recovery process is in need of improvement. Recovery is that period from a few hours to several years after the disaster while we rebuild our buildings, infrastructure, and communities.

The RPC (reporting to ABAG’s Executive Board) is in a position to act as a Regional Recovery Task Force for the region in the weeks, months, and years following a major disaster event as the region rebuilds. The topic of the first of these meetings will be on FINANCING RECOVERY: How the money flows (or doesn't flow). This forum will be extremely useful for all Bay Area elected officials to insure that jurisdictions receive funding after disasters.

Please pre-register for this FREE event by calling Jeanne Perkins at 510.464.7934 or emailing her at jeannep@abag.ca.gov so that ABAG orders the appropriate number of lunches.

Posted Friday, November 9, 2007

A Brave New World:

AB 32 & CEQA -- Confronting Climate Change
Forum on Friday, December 7, 2007


Did you know that AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act is changing the way California combats climate change and will impact businesses across the state? Are you interested in learning how to prepare for legal challenges of projects involving the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or relying on public infrastructure subject to CEQA? The Association of Bay Area Governments is co-sponsoring A Brave New World, the AB 32 & CEQA Forum about new climate change legislation and mandates, on Friday, December 7th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Oracle Conference Center, 350 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores.

During this important forum, featured speakers will explore implementation challenges for private and public projects posed by AB 32 and CEQA. Michael Zischke of Cox, Castle & Nicholson, one of California’s top land use attorneys and co-author of the leading treatise on CEQA, will examine the legal challenges of CEQA. Richard Lyon of the CA Building Industry Association, among the first to identify CEQA climate change issue as a major risk to public and private projects, will provide examples and context for CEQA legal challenges. Dave Fogarty, Executive Director of the AB 32 Implementation Group, will share his insights on AB 32 and its impact on California businesses.

Register for this forum on-line at www.SAMCEDA.org. Space is limited. The registration fee is $25 per individual or $250 for a table of eight through November 23rd. After November 23rd the cost will be $30 per individual and $275 for a table of eight. Lunch is included. The forum is co-sponsored by SAMCEDA, the Bay Area Council, the Bay Planning Coalition, the California Chamber of Commerce, Brisbane Chamber of Commerce, Millbrae Chamber of Commerce, Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce, San Mateo Chamber of Commerce, South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the Contra Costa Council, the East Bay Economic Development Alliance, and Home Builders Association of Northern California. For more information, contact Stephanie Gloeckler at 650-413-5600.

Posted Friday, November 2, 2007

Planning for Families:

The Housing and Education Nexus Symposium
Thursday, November 29, 2007
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
UC Berkeley Center for Cities & Schools Institute of Urban and Regional Development
316 Wurster Hall #1870, Berkeley

The quality and availability of housing and the disparity in educational quality across the Bay Area affect choices families make, as they weigh access to quality schools and housing locations. The Association of Bay Area Governments is co-hosting a day-long symposium on November 29, 2007, at the UC Berkeley Center for Cities & Schools Institute of Urban and Regional Development, to explore these issues.

The symposium will provide both national and local perspectives on the relationship between housing and educational policies and practices. Deborah McKoy, Executive Director, Center for Cities and Schools will examine the nexus between housing and education.
Kenneth Kirkey, Planning Director, Association of Bay Area Governments, will discuss Bay Area housing and demographic change and the implications for neighborhoods and schools. The symposium will feature best practices from across the nation and a small roundtable dialogue. The lunch and keynote address will be presented by Maria Blanco, Executive Director of the Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute on Race, Ethnicity and Diversity, Boalt Law School at UC Berkeley.

The symposium is co-sponsored by Bay Area LISC, BEST (Building Educational Success Together) Collaborative, Gilbane, Inc., and the Walter and Elise Haas Fund. Attendance is free, but space is limited. View full conference agenda and register at http://www.rsvpbook.com/event.php?442995.

Posted Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Census Update Workshop

A Planner’s Roadmap to the 2010 Census
Thursday, November 29, 2007
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Association of Bay Area Governments and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission are hosting a Census Update Workshop, A Planner’s Roadmap to the 2010 Census, as a service to ABAG member cities and counties, as well as councils of governments throughout California. The workshop will be held on Thursday, November 29, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter Auditorium, 101 Eighth Street in Oakland.

Attendees will learn how to use and interpret American Community Survey (ACS) data. Statistics about Bay Area demographics, housing, transportation, and social and economic characteristics will be presented using ACS data. Experts from the Bureau of the Census will present the “ins and outs” of the 2010 Census and discuss the options for changing census geography for 2010, along with ACS, and the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA). The LUCA process allows cities and counties to submit boundary changes and address information to the Census Bureau. The Census Update Workshop will provide information on LUCA and other geographic programs, along with submission deadlines and review periods.

This Census Update Workshop is sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau. To view the agenda and register for this free workshop, go to http://www.abag.ca.gov/abag/events/census/. For more information, contact Patricia Perry, ABAG Senior Regional Planner, at 510-464-7957.

Posted Tuesday, October 30, 2007

ABAG General Assembly and MTC Transportation 2035 Summit Successful: "Bay Area on the Move" Audio-casts, Resources and Materials Available.

More than 800 Bay Area residents, elected officials, community and business leaders, planners, and transportation and smart growth advocates registered for the ABAG Fall General Assembly/Metropolitan Transportation Summit - - Bay Area on the Move. This joint conference showcased results of the FOCUS initiative, including identification of priority development areas and previewed some of the major decisions anticipated as part of an update to MTC’s long-range transportation policy and investment blueprint, known as Transportation 2035.

To hear a conference audiocast, or view presentations, visit the website at www.abag.ca.gov/planning/.

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Find out the Wildfire Risk of Your Home and
What You Can Do to Prepare
Go to http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/wildfire/

The on-going fire storms in southern California again reinforce the need for those of us who live and work in the Bay Area to be prepared for natural disasters. ABAG has compiled extensive information on Bay Area wildfire risk, including maps, as well as extensive information on how to prepare for this hazard.

Using the interactive maps provided, you can find out specific hazards such as wildland-urban interface wildfire threat for your neighborhood. Go to http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/wildfire/

There are also links to information on how to prepare from the State Fire Marshall, CalFire, the American Red Cross, and others at http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/wildfire/

To review how to drive in an emergency, ABAG has provided information at http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/traffic/index.html

For information on the types of items to keep in your car at all times: visit http://quake.abag.ca.gov/traffic/CarGuideEnglish2.PDF

Posted Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Greening Infill
Best Practices Conference Series
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Elihu Harris Auditorium 1515 Clay Street, Oakland

ABAG is hosting the Greening Infill conference for elected officials, planners, and public works staff engaged in urban development and redevelopment. Part of the Best Practices Conference Series, the Greening Infill conference will highlight effective programs and policies that address stormwater compliance, water and energy conservation, waste reduction, and brownfields clean up.

Expert panelist will demonstrate how to set up green building programs, illustrate best practices, and a review proposed city ordinance. The conference will also feature a special session on protecting and conserving water in infill programs.

The conference will be held on Thursday, December 6 from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Elihu Harris Auditorium located at 1515 Clay Street in Oakland. Conference registration is available online at www.abag.ca.gov. The registration fee is $30 through November 30 and $40 after November 30. For more information contact ABAG at 510-464-7900. The full conference agenda is below.


Greening Infill
Best Practices Conference Series
Thursday, December 6, 2007

Upcoming Conference!
Register at www.abag.ca.gov
$30 by November 30th
$40 after November 30th

Greening Infill
Best Practices Conference Series
Elihu Harris Auditorium 1515 Clay Street, Oakland
December 6, 2007

Best practices for elected officials, planners & public works staff engaged in urban development and redevelopment. Highlights effective programs and policies that address stormwater compliance, water and energy conservation, waste reduction, and brownfields clean up.

8:15 Introduction, Henry Gardner, Executive Director, ABAG

8:20 Welcome to Oakland, Nancy Nadel, Councilmember, City of Oakland (invited)

8:30 Keynote: Panama Bartholomy, Advisor to the Chairman, California Energy Commission

9:00 Green Building Programs
Moderator Mayor Mark Green, Union City

Setting Up Your Own Program, Karen Kho, Program Manager, Stopwaste.org
The Green Point Rated Program, Brian Parker, Gov. Rel. Manager, Build it Green
Lessons from Santa Rosa, Dell Tredinnick, Santa Rosa
San Francisco’s proposed Ordinance, Rich Chien, Residential Green Building Coordinator

Break 10:30

10:45 Protecting and Conserving Water in Infill
Moderator Bruce Wolfe, Ex. Officer, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

The Water-Energy-Greenhouse Gas Connection, Gary Klein, Ca Energy Commission
Green and Blue Design, Peter Shultze-Allen, City of Emeryville
Stormwater Regulations in Brownfields Development Geoff Sears, Wareham Development
City of Portland Ecoroofs Program, Tom Liptan, City of Portland

12:15 Adjourn

Posted Monday, October 22, 2007
Cancelled

Water-Wastewater and Hazards Forum:
Impacts of Climate Change and Earthquakes on Facility Design, Disaster Preparedness, and Recovery Planning--October 25, 2007

Thursday, October 25, 2007

The California Council of Geoscience Organizations is sponsoring a Water-Wastewater Hazards Forum on October 25th at the MetroCenter in Oakland for local government officials, public works representatives, and other stakeholders interested in earthquake hazards and climate change issues. Co-sponsored by the Association of Bay Area Governments, this forum will examine the impacts of climate change and earthquakes on disaster preparedness and recovery planning, featuring the following three expert panels:

Session One – Climate Change and CO2 Emissions
James Jacobs - Environmental Bio-Systems, Inc. and Tamalpais Community Services District: Our History of CO2 Emissions
Stephanie Cheng - CH2M Hill: Responding to Regulations on Reducing Greenhouse Gases
James Jacobs - Environmental Bio-Systems, Inc. and Tamalpais Community Services District: Responses of a Small Community Services District
Randy Schmidt - Central Contra Costa Sanitary District: Responses of a Wastewater Agency
Kent Alm – Attorney: Legal Issues Related to Climate Change

Session Two – Climate Change and Design Considerations for Sea Level Rise, Flooding, and Drought
Will Travis – Executive Director, BCDC: A Strategy for Dealing with Sea Level Rise in San Francisco Bay
Elizabeth Mathieson – Exponent: Flooding, Landslides, Groundwater and Drought Impacts
Yogesh Prashar - East Bay Municipal Utility District: Levees, Flooding, Earthquakes, and Aqueduct Design
San Francisco PUC – Invited: Sea Level Rise, Sewer Lines, and Design Considerations
Sarah Young (Invited) – Santa Clara Valley Water District: Adaptation Strategies to Unstable Climate

Posted Thursday, September 20, 2007

2007 TOD Marketplace: Connecting Cities and Developers to
Transit-Oriented Development-- September 28th

Development industry professionals who are seeking sites for transit-oriented development (TOD) and city officials and staff who have plans seeking TOD for downtowns, station areas, and town center are invited to attend the Urban Land Institute’s 2007 TOD Marketplace, Connecting Cities and Developers to Transit-Oriented Development. In addition to a context-setting panel and case studies on successful plans, this year's marketplace will feature six Bay Area cities presenting their plans to a team of development professionals and the audience.

The workshop-style event gives city planners the opportunity to get immediate, dynamic feedback on the feasibility and potential of making their plan a reality. The final session of the TOD Marketplace includes a walking tour of new developments in downtown Berkeley. Cosponsors of this event include the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), Reconnecting America, and The Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California.

The 2007 TOD Marketplace will be held on Friday, September 28, 2007, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Gaia Building Theatre, 2116 Allston Way, Berkeley. Please register as soon as possible. For more information and to register, go to www.todmarketplace.org or contact Marisa Cravens (510-464-7926 or marisac@abag.ca.gov).

Posted Tuesday, September 18, 2007

New Critical Coastal Area Study and Technical Materials Available for North/central Coast

The State Critical Coastal Areas (CCAs) pilot project is designed to provide technical assistance to local governments, non-governmental organizations, and others involved in controlling land based sources of pollution entering special areas of the California coast. A new CCA study and technical materials for the north/central coast are now available as part of the Phase I research and planning efforts. Phase II materials will be available this winter. For more information, go to http://www.sfei.org/cca/ or http://www.abag.ca.gov/cca.html.

Background
ABAG is committed to ensuring the success of the State's Critical Coastal Areas (CCAs) Program, an innovative program to foster collaboration among local stakeholders and government agencies, including the California Coastal Commission, to better coordinate resources and focus efforts on coastal watersheds in critical need of protection from polluted runoff. ABAG has formed a partnership with the San Francisco Estuary Institute, the California Coastal Commission, and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission in a pilot project to evaluate CCAs and their respective watersheds. The ABAG study areas include the San Mateo County mid-coastside, and Sonoma Creek watershed, and the Sonoma County watershed.

For additional information, contact Kathleen Van Velsor, ABAG Senior Environmental Planner, Kathleenv@abag.ca.gov 510-464-7959, or Kat Ridolfi, Project Manager, at SFEI, Kat@sfei.org, 510-464-7392.

Posted Tuesday, September 18, 2007
ABAG PLAN PRESENTS

BE SEWER SMART SUMMIT 2007
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
JOSEPH P. BORT METROCENTER AUDITORIUM, OAKLAND

ABAG PLAN (Pooled Liability Assurance Network) launches its Be Sewer Smart community outreach campaign with a 2007 Summit for public works directors, city engineers, operators of sanitary districts, and other stakeholders. The Summit provides an opportunity to learn about new regulations, best practices, and strategies for preventing backups and backflows and achieving operational and business goals.

The Be Sewer Smart Summit 2007 will feature Eric Maag, new director of the Division of Water Quality for the State Water Resources Control Board, who will discuss what is needed to comply with the new regulations and reporting of SSOs (Sanitary Sewer Overflows) with their new database. Attendees will also learn the inside story on how other districts implemented Best Practices for capital improvements, as well as for the prevention of backups and backflows.

The Be Sewer Smart Summit begins at noon on September 25th with lunch, presentations, and panels throughout the afternoon and culminates with a reception and exhibit. A press conference will be held the morning of the summit to engage Bay Area media in the Be Sewer Smart public outreach campaign. Register at www.sewersmart.org and for additional information contact Mary Lou Thiercof at 510/336-1047 or mlt@workingimages.com


About ABAG PLAN: ABAG Risk Management & Insurance Services began in 1986 with the formation of the ABAG Pooled Liability Assurance Network (PLAN) Corporation. PLAN is a non-profit corporation administered by ABAG whose purpose is to benefit the citizens of each member community by establishing a stable, cost-effective self-insurance, risk sharing and risk management program for each member.

Posted Friday, August 24, 2007

“A Greener Shade of Blue”
8th Biennial State of the Estuary Conference
October 16-18th

The San Francisco Estuary Project announces the 8th Biennial State of the Estuary Conference: “A Greener Shade of Blue.” Held at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland October 16-18th, this important environmental conference provides a forum for scientists, resource managers, environmentalists, elected officials, stakeholders, and members of the public to assess the ecological health of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary.

Sponsored by ABAG’s San Francisco Estuary Project, CALFED Science Program, and dozens of federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses and others, the conference offers both plenary and concurrent sessions with over 80 invited speakers. Topics and issues addressed include global change impacts, pollution and emerging contaminants, land use challenges, wetlands restoration, status of fish and wildlife, invasive species, and Bay-Delta linkages.

The three day registration fee is $270 due by September 28th, with special rates for students and groups. For more details, please check the conference website: http://sfep.abag.ca.gov/soe/

Posted Friday, August 24, 2007

Public Private Partnerships—A Strategy to Rebuild California
Conference hosted by Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG)
Wednesday, October 17, 2007?

Elected officials and staff are invited to attend the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s Public-Private Partnership conference to explore how public-private partnerships can be used to address infrastructure and facility challenges. The conference will be held on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, at the headquarters of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., One AMD Place, in Sunnyvale. The conference defines public-private partnerships as contractual, risk-sharing agreements between the public sector and the private sector for the purposes of designing, planning, financing, constructing and/or operating infrastructure or development projects that would traditionally be undertaken entirely by the public sector.

Attendees will learn how to structure public-private partnerships to maximize the benefits and hear from public and private sector experts who showcase best practices and examine potential pitfalls related to public-private partnerships. Creative options for funding new libraries, police stations, courthouses, city halls, and other government facilities will also be identified.

The conference will feature examples of how public agencies around the world have partnered with private sector firms to speed the delivery of needed improvements while saving public funds and retaining high standards. There will be discussions about how Australia, Europe, and Canada have used partnerships to help build roads, rail lines, schools and water systems, courthouses and police stations, while reducing cost to taxpayers, speeding delivery, and adding value through design innovation. Speakers include Tyler Duvall, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Larry Blain, CEO of Partnerships British Columbia, the company that brought together ministries, agencies and the private sector to facilitate development and infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships.

The conference is sponsored by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. The Association of Bay Area Governments is a supporting sponsor. The conference registration fee is $125 for non-members and $75 for members, governments, and nonprofits through September 17. After September 17, the registration fee is $175 for non-members and $100 for members, governments, and nonprofits. For more information or to register, visit the website at
http://www.svlg.net/events/calpthree1017/ or contact Laura Stuchinsky (408-501-7851 or lstuchinsky@svlg.net).

Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007

60-Day Local Government Comment Period Begins at Adoption of Draft Regional Housing Needs Allocations (RHNA)

On July 19, 2007, ABAG’s Executive Board adopted the draft RHNA allocations for all the jurisdictions in the San Francisco Bay Area (excluding the San Mateo County Subregion), by income category, for the 2007 – 2014 period. The release of this draft RHNA allocation begins a 60-day comment period for cities and counties. Jurisdictions will have until September 18, 2007, to request revisions to their allocations.

ABAG will then have 60 days to respond to requests for revisions. After any revisions, local governments will have an additional 60 days to appeal the Revised RHNA numbers. In early 2008, ABAG will hold a public hearing on appeals.

Final RHNA allocations will be made prior to April 2008. Prior to June 2008, the final RHNA will need to be adopted by ABAG’s Executive Board and released by ABAG.

Background on RHNA Process: How Total Regional Need Is Determined
The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has determined that the Bay Area needs to plan for 214,500 – 227,500 housing units during the 2007 – 2014 planning period. HCD has also determined how many of these units are needed across four income categories, very low, low, moderate, and above moderate. With this assignment of the regional need by the state, ABAG is responsible as mandated for allocating the total regional need to all jurisdictions in the Bay Area.

The regional housing need is divided into two parts—the existing need and the projected need. In determining the total regional need for the 2007 – 2014 period. Existing need is based on state estimates of total households in 2005, plus growth during 2006. Projected need is determined by household growth in the region. Household growth is determined by the components of population growth: 1) births or natural increase; 2) migration and 3) household formation rates. Using these factors, projected regional need of 212,500 housing units was determined. Adding in existing need, the total housing need for the region is 214,500 housing units.

In addition to the total need, HCD’s determination of housing need is given to the region by income category. The income categories are very low, low, moderate and above moderate. The percent of total units in each income category is based on the regional average distribution of households across the various income categories. Using the lowest end of the range, the regional need assignment, by income category is:

Income Category.....Percent..........Units
Very-Low..................22.8%...........48,840
Low...........................16.4%...........35,102
Moderate...................19.3%...........41,316
Above Moderate........41.5%...........89,242
Total.........................100%..........214,500

ABAG’s Executive Board has adopted the minimum number of units, 214,500 housing units, by income category, for the 2007 - 2014 planning period.

Regional Allocations to Jurisdictions
The regional allocation of housing units was allocated to jurisdictions using the method adopted by ABAG’s Board at their January 18, 2007 meeting. The allocation method and the resulting draft allocation of housing units to jurisdictions can be viewed at www.abag.ca.gov/planning/housingneeds/ . For questions regarding a jurisdiction’s draft RHNA allocation, contact ABAG Research Director Paul Fassinger at 510-464-7928.

Posted Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Three Upcoming FOCUS Forums: Environment, Economy, and Equity

FOCUS Environment Forum
Monday, July 23, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

FOCUS Economy Forum
Monday, July 23, 10 a.m. to Noon

FOCUS Equity Forum
Thursday, July 26, 1:30- 3:30 p.m.

All meetings held at the MetroCenter Auditorium, 101 8th Street, Oakland


Advocacy organizations and individuals involved with the “three-Es” (economy, environment, and equity) are invited to learn more about the Focusing Our Vision Initiative (FOCUS) at a series of upcoming forums. The FOCUS staff will host three forums beginning on Monday, July 23 with the FOCUS Economy Forum from 10 a.m. to noon and the FOCUS Environment Forum from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The last meeting in this series is the FOCUS Equity Forum which will be held on Thursday, July 26 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. These interactive forums are an opportunity for advocacy and stakeholder organizations and groups to comment, present ideas and suggestions, and identify opportunities to work together around common objectives.

About FOCUS
FOCUS is a regional planning initiative that encourages future growth near transit and in existing communities that surround the San Francisco Bay, enhancing existing neighborhoods and providing housing and transportation choices for all residents. FOCUS is spearheaded by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), in partnership with congestion management agencies and local governments throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

To RSVP, call 510-464-7926 or e-mail FOCUS@abag.ca.gov, and identify which meeting you wish to attend.

For more information, visit www.bayareavision.org/focus

Posted Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Local Governments Can Nominate Priority Conservation Areas – deadline August 17th

As part of the FOCUS initiative, nominations are now being accepted to designate priority conservation areas in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. Local governments are encouraged to participate in this process and to collaborate with other entities on the nomination of areas.

Nominations should be for regionally significant areas that have broad community support and an urgent need for protection. These areas should contain lands important for protection through purchase or easement within the next few years. This nomination and designation process is important because knowing the region’s near-term conservation priorities will help promote collaboration and investment in areas that are critical to the region’s economy, quality of life, and ecological diversity. The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 17th, 2007. FOCUS Priority Conservation Area nomination guidelines and form are available online at http://www.bayareavision.org/focus/nominationprocess.html

About FOCUS
FOCUS, short for the Focusing Our Vision, is a regional planning initiative spearheaded by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in coordination with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC). Staff is working with cities, counties, and other stakeholders to plan collaboratively where growth can be accommodated (priority development areas) and identify areas needing protection (priority conservation areas) within the next few years in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. For more information on FOCUS, visit www.bayareavision.org/focus or call 510/464-7994.

Posted Friday, July 6, 2007

Dedication Ceremony for Bay Trail Improvements in Sunnyvale – July 12, 2007

Elected officials and staff and the public are invited to attend a Bay Trail dedication ceremony hosted by ABAG's Bay Trail Project on Thursday, July 12, 2007. This special dedication ceremony is in recognition of Bay Trail improvements donated by Julia Miller, a long-time member of the Bay Trail Board of Directors and the ABAG Executive Board. The former Sunnyvale mayor donated over $4,700 to the Bay Trail Project and a portion of these funds were used to install a new bench and viewing scope along the Bay Trail in Sunnyvale. Local residents and employees at nearby businesses now have a new resting spot to enhance their ability to observe and enjoy the marsh. The Bay Trail Project thanks Julia Miller for her generous contribution. Former Senator Liz Figueroa will also help celebrate this event.

The dedication ceremony will be held near Sunnyvale Baylands Park at noon on July 12. From Hwy 237 take the Caribbean Dr. Exit. Turn right on Borregas. Veer left and drive to the parking lot at the end of the road. Walk about ten minutes following signs towards the event location.

Posted Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Linking Land Use and Water in the Bay Area
Workshop Presentations Now Available

ABAG joined the Local Government Commission and the Bay Area Water Forum in hosting the Linking Land Use and Water in the Bay Area Workshop on April 23, 2007. This regional workshop provided local leaders strategies and tools to protect and manage water resources needed for future growth. Participants gained insights into the practical and policy aspects of water quality and water supply management, receiving information to better understand the links between water and land use in their jurisdictions.

Speaker’s presentations can be viewed at http://water.lgc.org/water-workshops/san-francisco-bay-area. These materials include updates on regional efforts and opportunities to link land use planning and water resources management and examine the impacts of new development and financial liabilities.

Posted Friday, June 8, 2007
FOCUS on Bay Area Housing
June 28, 2007, at the Gaia Building in Berkeley

Oakland, CA…Proven strategies for creating affordable housing in the Bay Area will be shared by local governments, non-profit housing builders, and for profit developers at the June 28th forum, FOCUS on Bay Area Housing. This half-day conference will be held in Berkeley at the Gaia Building, 2116 Allston Way, from 9 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. and is sponsored by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). Co-sponsors include the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Urban Land Institute, East Bay Community Foundation, and Bay Area Council.

Keynote speaker Carol Galante, CEO of Bridge Housing, will discuss how to create and sustain collaborations between local governments and non-profits to build affordable housing. A panel of local government officials and developers led by Climate Change/Land Use and Housing Program Director Steve Sanders, The Institute for Local Governments, will describe how challenges to building affordable housing were met and overcome. ABAG staff will present the current Regional Housing Needs Methodology and engage State Housing and Community Development staff and local leaders in a conversation about state and regional housing policy objectives. The Second Annual Housing Report describing the status of Bay Area housing and featuring best practices for meeting the housing challenge will be unveiled and distributed to attendees.

FOCUS on Bay Area Housing is the second in the FOCUS conference series exploring planning issues within a regional context and showcasing best planning and development practices. Elected officials, managers, consultants, local government and non-profit staff are invited to participate. The registration fee is $30 and on-line registration with directions and parking information is available at http://www.bayareavision.org/outreach/bah.html or call ABAG for further information at 510/464-7993.

Posted Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Smart Parking Policies for your Community Seminar

Thursday, June 14, 2007 – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Elected officials, city staff, and development professionals are invited to learn how to define and implement parking policies and programs supportive of Smart Growth and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) during the Smart Parking Policies for your Community Seminar on June 14th. Attendees will learn about strategies to address parking demand in downtowns/city centers/transit station areas. Best practices from the Bay Area will be highlighted, along with examples of lower parking requirements and other supportive measures for development projects. This all-day seminar will feature a special technical workshop from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the use of a new model to estimate parking demand for smart growth development. As an added bonus, all attendees will receive a Smart Growth Parking Policy “Toolbox” and modeling program.

This seminar will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter Auditorium, 101 8th Street in Oakland (across the street from Lake Merrit BART Station). Register online at http://www.mtc.ca.gov/meetings/events/parking.htm. Seating is limited. More information on this free session is available at http://www.mtc.ca.gov/meetings/events/parking.htm.

The Smart Parking Policies for your Community Seminar is sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and supported by ABAG.

News managed by NewsPro.