Posted Thursday, October 2, 2008

San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority Created

AB 2954 was signed into law, establishing the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority to secure crucial funding to restore San Francisco Bay wetlands. With the enactment of AB 2954, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) will appoint seven board members from Bay Area cities and counties to the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority.

“This new Authority fills a large gap, by linking the supportive Bay Area population and the urgent priority for funds to restore Bay wetlands,” said Henry Gardner, ABAG Executive Director. “It’s a creative solution to a regional need.”

The regional Authority could secure regional funding for Bay wetland restoration by proposing assessments, taxes or fees for local voter approval, or by receiving public and private grants. The Authority would also develop priorities and sequencing for allocating any funds received to Bay restoration projects.

Creating the Bay Restoration Authority is the primary recommendation in Save The Bay’s ground-breaking August 2007 report, “Greening the Bay: Financing Wetland Restoration in San Francisco Bay.” This report also stated that inadequate funding is the greatest barrier to restoring 100,000 acres of tidal wetlands, critical habitat of a healthy Bay.

For more information about Greening the Bay and the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, visit Save The Bay’s website at www.saveSFbay.org.

Posted Thursday, October 2, 2008

No Drugs Down the Drain Campaign

Due to possible environmental consequences, disposing of leftover medication down the toilet is no longer acceptable. To combat this problem, local, regional, state, and federal agencies have joined together in the No Drugs Down the Drain campaign, a one-week California-wide educational campaign during October 4-11, 2008.

Visit the campaign website at http://www.nodrugsdownthedrain.org/ to find local disposal information.

Posted Friday, September 26, 2008

2009 Bay Area Clean Air Plan Community Meetings in October

Elected officials and staff are invited to attend a 2009 Bay Area Clean Air Plan Community Meeting in the month of October 2008. These meetings are sponsored by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District). The schedule and scope of the 2009 Bay Area Clean Air Plan will be discussed during these meetings. Attendees may present ideas and suggestions about the plan. An update on the Community Air Risk Evaluation Program (CARE) Phase II activities will be provided.

2009 Bay Area Clean Air Plan will:
• Review progress in improving air quality to date
• Update the existing air quality plan to reduce ground-level ozone in the 2009-2012 timeframe
• Develop a control strategy to reduce ozone precursors, while also addressing particulate matter, air toxics, and greenhouse gases in a single integrated plan

Meeting Dates and Locations
Pre-registration is not required and there is no meeting fee

Monday, October 6 – West Oakland*
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
West Oakland Public Library
1801 Adeline Street, Oakland

Wednesday, October 8 – San Jose*
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
San Jose City Hall, Room W119 and W120
200 E. Santa Clara Street, San Jose

Tuesday, October 21 – Petaluma
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Petaluma Public Library
100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma

Thursday, October 23 – Pleasanton
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Pleasanton Senior Center
5353 Sunol Boulevard, Pleasanton

Monday, October 27 - San Leandro*
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
San Leandro Public Library, Estudillo Room
300 Estudillo Avenue, San Leandro

Thursday, October 30 – San Francisco*
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Bayview/Anna E. Waden Public Library
5075 3rd Street, San Francisco

*Note: CARE will be discussed at the West Oakland, San Jose, San Leandro and San Francisco meetings only.

The Air District is preparing the Clean Air Plan in association with its regional planning partners: ABAG, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. For more information, click here.

Posted Monday, September 22, 2008

Next Required AB 1234 Ethics Training Offered for Public Officials
December 17, 2008

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is partnering with the Institute for Local Government, the research affiliate of the League of California Cities, to provide required biennial ethics training for public officials. The ethics training is required for all newly elected officials and those who need to renew. The ethics training session will be offered on December 17, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter Auditorium, 101 Eighth Street in Oakland.

This ethics training conducted by the Institute for Local Government will help local officials meet the training mandate of AB 1234, which applies to public officials receiving expense reimbursement and compensation for their service. As mandated by AB 1234, all elected and appointed officials are required to take two hours of ethics training every two years. (Note that employees are covered by AB 1234’s requirements only to the extent so designated by their governing bodies.) Specific ethics laws and requirements will be addressed during the training sessions.

Workshop materials, a proof of participation certificate, and refreshments will be provided. The registration fee is $90 per participant. Click here for online registration. For more information on public service ethics and AB 1234 compliance resources, go to the Institute for Local Government’s website at www.ca-ilg.org/trust. The Institute for Local Government (www.ca-ilg.org) is a forward-thinking source of research and information for California's local officials.

Founded in 1961, ABAG is the regional planning agency for the 101 cities and towns, and nine counties of the Bay Area and is recognized as the first council of governments in California.

Posted Thursday, August 14, 2008

Contribute to Bay Area Conservation with a New Bay Area License Plate

Proclaim your support of Bay Area conservation efforts with your car’s license plate. The Bay Area Conservancy Program of the California State Coastal Conservancy now offers a special license plate to California drivers. The special plates will benefit the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program, which provides funding for conservation, habitat restoration, recreation, and other environmental projects in the nine-county Bay Area.

To see a sample, to order, and to learn more about the campaign and the Bay Area Conservancy Program, please visit www.bayarealicenseplate.org.

Posted Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Recent Drought Forecast Available

The 2007-08 drought is the worst since the early 1990s, according to indices. According to historical data, droughts come in various lengths, including multi-year droughts. Local governments can plan for water needs with the latest in information about drought in the western United States. “Drought in the West: Short-Range Forecasts to Assist with Local and Regional Planning,” prepared by Douglas Le Comte, a Meteorologist with the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, available online.

This powerpoint presentation includes current drought measures, focusing on California, including cumulative precipitation, spring snow pack, the U.S. Drought Monitor, and streamflow forecasts.

Current Water status
* Water Year precipitation = 85% of average
* Runoff = 60% of average
* Reservoirs = 75% of average
* For Northern Sierra, March-June = driest since records began in 1921 (3.4 in)

This winter’s forecast is examined in detail in Le Comte’s presentation, available by clicking here.

Posted Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Bay Area Water Conservation Urged

The Bay Area as well as the rest of California is facing the first drought in 16 years and it is widely held by some that we are in the midst of one of the most significant threats to water supply in the state’s history. Two consecutive record-dry winters throughout California have resulted in a threat to our water supply and prompted the governor to declare a statewide drought. Bay Area city and county officials and water agencies are taking action to conserve water and reaching out to residents to conserve water during the drought.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), which serves approximately 1.3 million people in parts of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, is seeking a 15 percent overall reduction in water use, with specific goals for different types of customers. EBMUD is the only water district to implement mandatory water rationing at this time. However, all other Bay Area water districts are calling for voluntary water rationing and believe conservation is critically needed now to help reduce the likelihood of mandatory rationing throughout the Bay Area next year.

To meet this challenge, Bay Area local governments and agencies have joined together to conserve water, launching a new public service campaign and website called “Water Saving Hero” (www.watersavinghero.com). Water agencies are offering conservation programs with a mix of incentives and rebates, free device installation and one-on-one home visits to reduce water consumption in homes, businesses and agriculture. The “Water Saving Hero” campaign highlights simple and effective steps Bay Area residents can take to conserve water now and for the future.

Water Conservation Tips:

Don’t leave the water running.
Turn off the tap while washing dishes. Fill the sink or a pail to wash and rinse dishes.
Check faucets and pipes for leaks.
Even a small leak from worn washers can waste more than 50 gallons of water per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.
Equip faucets with aerators.
Installing aerators on kitchen and bathroom sinks can reduce indoor water use by about 4%. Inquire about FREE aerators from your local water utility.
Upgrade to an efficient clothes washing machine.
High-efficiency clothes washers can reduce water and energy use by 40%. Many Bay Area water utilities provide cash rebates of up to $200 for residential customers who purchase qualifying efficient clothes washer models.
Wash only full laundry loads.
Rather than doing laundry every day, wait until there is a full load of laundry to run the clothes washing machine. This will save on water, wastewater, and energy costs.

These tips are provided by the “Water Saving Hero” campaign, a partnership among eleven water agencies and organizations from the nine Bay Area Counties, including the Alameda County Water District, Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency, Contra Costa Water District, EBMUD, Marin Municipal Water District, City of Napa, Santa Clara Valley Water District, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Solano County Water Agency, Sonoma County Water Agency and Zone 7 of the Alameda County Flood Control & Water Conservation District.

Resources and information are available for each county:
Alameda County
Contra Costa County
Marin
Napa
San Francisco City and County
San Mateo County
Santa Clara County
SolanoCounty
Sonoma County
East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)

California Governor Declares Drought

California Governor Declares State of Emergency for Central Valley

Posted Tuesday, July 1, 2008

TOD Marketplace: Connecting Cities and Developers
“Making Transit-Oriented Development Work”

Friday, September 26, 2008
8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
The Green Room, War Memorial Veterans Building
410 Van Ness Ave (at McAllister), San Francisco

The Association of Bay Area Governments, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Reconnecting America, and the Non Profit Housing Association of Northern California are co-sponsoring the annual Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Marketplace - a forum that connects city planners with developers. Elected officials and staff are invited to attend this important forum where they will hear expert panelists present best practice case studies on station area plans and development. Cities and ULI expert panelists will report on currently developing TOD plans and members of the audience will have the opportunity to provide feedback on feasibility. The TOD Marketplace features six Bay Area cities presenting their plans to a team of development professionals and a walking tour of new development in the Hayes Valley community of San Francisco.

The registration fees (lunch is included) are:
$70 Members / $90 Non-Members
$35 Public Members / $55 Public Non-Members
$30 ULI Young Leaders Group Members / $50 Young Leaders Group Non-Members
$15 Student Members / $25 Student Non-Members

For online registration click here. Visit the ULI website
for more information.

Posted Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Association of Bay Area Governments' Climate Protection Outreach Promotes use of Reusable Grocery Bags
To View New Website Section, Click here

To demonstrate ways for local governments and residents to address climate protection, ABAG unveils a special website section, which features earth-friendly tips and links to best practices and resources that local governments and communities can put to use. As one step to protect the climate, ABAG challenges the Bay Area region to reduce the use of plastic and paper grocery bags. ABAG will distribute thousands of free reusable grocery bags to Bay Area local elected officials and community leaders to demonstrate best practices for reducing green house gas emissions and how simple steps can make a difference.

By just using non-disposable bags, the Bay Area could save between 21 million to 50 million gallons of crude oil per year. These actions also reduce the amount of global warming gases that are released during the production, transportation, and disposal of all bags. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only one percent of plastic bags are recycled nationwide, leaving 99 percent to break down into smaller and smaller toxic pieces affecting our eco-cycles. In the Bay Area alone, residents use on average 333 million to 1.6 billion plastic bags a year. To be a part of the solution, Bay Area residents can collect reusable grocery bags one at a time and soon they will have enough bags to meet all of their shopping needs. With the Bay Area working together, each simple step taken to reduce harm to the environment can make a difference.

The bag donation was made possible by support from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

Background on ABAG Climate Protection Efforts
As part of ABAG’s ongoing regionwide efforts to promote Bay Area sustainability and quality of life, ABAG has emphasized the link of better land use practices to climate protection, which also will help meet AB 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) mandates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, ABAG launched the FOCUS initiative with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) in 2006 to encourage development accessible to transit, jobs, shopping, and services as a way to reduce congestion and automobile use, while invigorating communities. ABAG also administers the innovative Green Business Program that has helped more than 1,000 of the Bay Area’s small to medium sized businesses in nine counties implement environmentally responsible business practices.

In addition, ABAG’s Energy-Watch program with partner PG&E helps local governments identify, fund, and implement energy and cost saving projects. For more information on these and other ABAG programs and services, visit the website at www.abag.ca.gov.

Posted Friday, May 23, 2008

ABAG Executive Board Adopts Final Regional Housing Needs Allocation

The ABAG Executive Board adopted the final Regional Housing Needs Allocation on May 15, 2008. Based on the adoption of the final Regional Housing Needs Allocation, each city and county receives a housing allocation reflecting the number of housing units needed for a range of income levels--from very low to above moderate income. The State Department of Housing and Community Development has sixty days to accept these numbers as final, or revise them.

Housing Element Law requires, as the next step, that each city and county revise the housing element in its general plan to accommodate the housing allocation it receives, and to submit the revised housing elements to HCD for certification.
This adoption concludes a two-year process. First, a housing methodology was established in May 2006 and then accepted in January 2007. Following this, in April 2007, HCD delivered to ABAG, via letter, the region's total housing need for the 2007-2014 RHNA period. On July 19, 2007, ABAG's Executive Board adopted the draft Regional Housing Needs Allocation for all the jurisdictions in the San Francisco Bay Area (excluding the San Mateo County Subregion), by income category, for the 2007 - 2014 period. A lengthy review, comment, and appeals process preceded the final adoption.

Background on RHNA Process
Housing Element Law (Govt. Code Secs. 65580 et seq) requires ABAG and other councils of governments statewide to create a methodology for allocating the region’s housing need. In the Bay Area, the regional housing need is determined by HCD. Regional need reflects the number of housing units needed for a range of income levels--from very low to above moderate income.

Click here to view the final Regional Housing Needs Allocation for Bay Area cities and counties.

Posted Friday, April 25, 2008

2008 Growing Smarter Together Award Winners

Click above to View Video of 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 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 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

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