Posted Monday, March 8, 2010

New Climate Funding Opportunity for California
Local Governments: Urban Greening for Sustainable Communities

Funding is available for local governments through a competitive grant program for urban communities focused on projects and plans that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, improve air and water quality, increase adaptability to climate change, and improve community quality of life. The California Natural Resources Agency will administer the grant program on behalf of the Strategic Growth Council. The application deadline is Friday, April 30, 2010, at 5 p.m.

The grant program includes the following categories:

1. Urban Greening PROJECTS for Sustainable Communities

• Cities, Counties and Nonprofits are eligible to apply. However, for interested entities that are not eligible to apply, we encourage partnerships with eligible applicants.
• Urban Greening PROJECTS grants are subject to legislative appropriation and future bond sales and up to $15.1 million will be available for urban greening projects.

2. Urban Greening PLANNING for Sustainable Communities

• Council of governments, countywide authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, local government (cities, counties, local joint powers authorities, special districts), and nonprofits are eligible to apply.
• Urban Greening PLANNING grants are subject to legislative appropriation and future bond sales and up to $5.8 million will be available for urban greening plans.

For more information and to download an application, go to http://sgc.ca.gov. You may send a one-page summary of your project or plan for input regarding eligibility and competitiveness to the following email address: urbangreening@resources.ca.gov.

Additional State Funding Coming Soon:
The Strategic Growth Council will soon begin issuing the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentive Program, which is designed to help local governments meet the challenges of adopting land use plans and integrating strategies in order to transform communities and create long-term prosperity. Learn more: http://sgc.ca.gov/docs/funding/Planning_Grant-_Final_Proposed_2010_02_12.pdf.

Posted Monday, March 8, 2010

Ecosystem Sustainability: Focusing Science on Managing California's Water Future
6th Biennial Bay-Delta Science Conference
September 27-29, 2010, Sacramento

Elected officials and staff are invited to attend the Biennial Bay-Delta Science Conference, entitled Ecosystem Sustainability: Focusing Science on Managing California’s Water Future, from September 27th -29th at the Sacramento Convention Center. The goal of the conference (formerly known as the CALFED Science Conference) is to provide new information such as, study results, model simulations, and analysis and syntheses of data to the broad community of scientists, engineers, resource managers, and stakeholders working on Bay-Delta issues. Speakers will present technical analyses and data relevant to the Delta Science Program’s mission to provide the best possible, unbiased, scientific information for water and environmental decision-making in the Bay-Delta system. In addition, abstracts and poster presentations will be used.

Call for Abstracts - Deadline June 4, 2010
The organizers of this 6th Science Conference are seeking presentations that support the goal of providing scientific information and ideas relevant to the specific themes listed on the web site, as well as the broader overall conference theme (Ecosystem Sustainability: Focusing Science on Managing California’s Water Future). We encourage individuals to submit abstracts on any relevant topic. In addition to sessions and poster topics based on the abstracts received, conference participants may propose special oral sessions or poster clusters on topics of particular importance to the Bay-Delta.

Please visit the conference web site for more details: http://baydeltascienceconf.com/.

Posted Friday, January 29, 2010

ABAG Projects Nominal Growth for 2010 Bay Area Economy

"The Bay Area economy will recover slowly, a mirror of the rest of the nation, stabilizing in 2010 with some recovery in 2011,” said Paul Fassinger, ABAG Economist and Director of Research, during the Association of Bay Area Governments’ (ABAG) 22nd Annual Regional Economic Outlook Conference on Tuesday, January 26, 2010. According to Fassinger, “Incomes are not expected to grow appreciably and the Bay Area inflation rate for 2010 and 2011 will hover at 2.5%.” These projections, which address the state of the Bay Area’s economy for 2010-2011 and other budget concerns challenging local governments, were presented to more than 150 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 income growth (0.3%) in 2010, increasing by 2.5% in 2011. Approximately 20,000 more jobs will be lost in 2010, while 2011 will show a modest increase of 8,000 jobs.” Chief Economist Howard Roth of the California Department of Finance provided the broader California outlook, noting “The recession may well be over, but the toll has been horrific. Recovery will likely be slow as unemployed workers try to find jobs and consumers struggle to get their finances in order. A major concern affecting this outlook is that another wave of less-than-prime adjustable-rate mortgages will reset between 2010 and 2012.”

ABAG Senior Regional Planner Hing Wong examined Bay Area retail sales and consumer spending patterns, stating that “consumer spending continues to be weak. Consumers will continue to feel the economic pinch as retail sales are forecasted to grow by only 0.4% in 2010 and 2.2% in 2011. The slowdown in the job market, and the high level of unemployment compounded by California’s ongoing budget issues, have eroded consumer confidence.” As a result, a nominal taxable sales growth of 1% is forecast for 2010, slightly increasing to 1.9% in 2011.

The Bay Area housing outlook was discussed by Andrew LePage, Anaylst, DataQuick Information System. LePage said, “Some indicators suggest the housing downturn has slowed, with potential for a fledgling recovery.” He detailed the California and Bay Area housing market downturns, resales, mortgage defaults, and foreclosure rates. He provided data on California foreclosure inventory by county which showed that Vallejo and Antioch had the highest number of foreclosures in 2009, 1529 and 1455 homes respectively. At the other end of the spectrum, Sausalito and Los Altos show the lowest foreclosure numbers in 2009 of 5 and 8 homes respectively.

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.

Posted Friday, January 15, 2010

ABAG 2009 Housing Report
Testing the American Dream in the San Francisco Bay Area

ABAG recently released the 2009 Housing Report: Testing the American Dream in the San Francisco Bay Area. The report chronicles the housing crisis across the Bay Area region. The housing bubble and the factors that led to the ultimate collapse are explored in this timely report, as well as the impacts on employment, the rental market, home prices, and property tax revenues.

This year’s housing report provides a comparative analysis of foreclosure rates near major cities and suburban areas. Four case studies featuring the City of Antioch, the City of Fairfield, the City of Sunnyvale, and the City and County of San Francisco describe how cities and counties are tackling the housing crisis in many unique ways and creating opportunities.

In addition, the results of ABAG's 2009 housing survey with the number of residential building permits issued in 2008, as well as identification of the total number of housing units in each city, town, or unincorporated area, are included.

Click here to view Housing Report. To purchase the report go to http://store.abag.ca.gov/projections.asp or call (510) 464-7900.

Posted Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Growing Smarter Together Awards
CALL FOR ENTRIES

Nominations for The Fourth Annual ABAG Growing Smarter Together Awards Program are due on Thursday, February 25, 2010. ABAG’s Annual Growing Smarter Together Awards Program showcases excellence in local government. The awards recognize both personal and program or project-oriented work that demonstrates a significant achievement toward moving the region's Bay Area vision to implementation. Single jurisdictions or groups of jurisdictions working in partnership may submit nominations for the Regional Growing Smarter Together Awards. These awards recognize the positive work being undertaken by cities, towns and counties in the Bay Area.

Award categories include:
• Distinguished Leadership – Elected Official
• Start It Up
• On the Ground – Getting It Done: FOCUSed Growth
• Preserving and Protecting the Environment
• Public-Private Partnership
• Sharing the Benefits
• Building a Better Bay Area - Urban Design.

Submittal Guidelines
Full submittal guidelines and a description of each category are available here.

Previous Award Winners
Click here to view videos of previous award winners.

Posted Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The Association of Bay Area Governments Elects New Officers
President Mark Green and Vice President Susan L. Adams Take the Lead

ABAG, the Bay Area’s regional planning agency and council of governments, has elected new officers. Union City Mayor Mark Green has been elected ABAG President for a two year term beginning January 21, 2010, and Marin County Supervisor Susan L. Adams, Ph.D, RN, is slated to become Vice President. They follow in the footsteps of outgoing President Rose Jacobs Gibson, San Mateo County Supervisor, who will officially turn over the gavel at the January 21st Executive Board Meeting in Oakland.

Mayor Green has been ABAG Vice President for the past two years. Commenting on his new role, incoming President Mark Green says, “I look forward to serving the Bay Area over the next two years and will be taking ABAG's regional message into each county. The new decade will demand a higher level of regional cooperation as we try to solve some vexing problems in housing, planning, transportation, the environment, and in the economy. All of us will be required to look at the way we do things through a different lens.”

Mayor Green brings an outstanding history of public service to regional leadership. He has served as Mayor of Union City for sixteen years, first elected in 1993. Prior to becoming Mayor, he worked in the insurance industry for over two decades and served in various city government positions since 1986 as planning commissioner and park and recreation commissioner and as Union City councilmember from 1991-93. Mayor Green is currently Chair of ABAG’s Regional Planning Committee and serves on ABAG’s Executive Board, Administrative, and Legislation and Governmental Organization Committees. He is Chair of the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency and Vice Chair of the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority and the Bay Area Hazardous Waste Management Facility Allocation Committee. He is a board member of the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and East Bay Economic Development Alliance. A native of Peoria, Illinois, he has lived in the Bay Area since 1971 and is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

ABAG Vice President-Elect Susan L. Adams currently represents the 1st District on the Marin County Board of Supervisors, and in her second four-year term as Supervisor serves as Marin County’s Director of Emergency Services. She also serves on a number of boards and commissions including the
Children’s Health Initiative Task Force, the Disaster and Citizen Corps Council, the Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Task Force, the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), ABAG’s Executive Board and Regional Planning Committee (RPC), and the state and national Associations of Counties (CSAC and NACo), serving as Vice-chair of NACo’s Health Steering Committee. Supervisor Adams also serves on a state Task Force for Criminal Justice Collaboration on Mental Health Issues. Supervisor Adams was born and raised in San Francisco. She completed her master's degree in nursing at UCSF as a maternity clinical specialist and a women's health nurse practitioner. Her clinical practice and research focus was child bearing women with a special interest in addiction and recovery during pregnancy and motherhood. Supervisor Adams received a doctorate from UCSF in 1998 with her research and dissertation work focused on the experiences of pregnant women and new mothers who were using crack cocaine.

On becoming ABAG Vice President, Supervisor Adams says, “ABAG is one of our Bay Area’s premiere regional planning agencies and I look forward to working with President Mark Green over the next two years on a broad spectrum of regional issues that will help enhance the links between land use and environmental quality of life in the Bay Area. With my background in health care, the lens I use is the link between a healthy planet and healthy people and communities.”

Posted Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Winter Spare the Air Season Has Begun

Wood Burning Rule makes it illegal to burn when air quality is unhealthy

Wood smoke is a major source of wintertime air pollution in the Bay Area and contains harmful pollutants such as particulate matter and carbon monoxide, as well as toxins such as dioxin, which is linked to increased cancer rates in adults. In the winter, wood smoke from the 1.4 million fireplaces and wood stoves in the Bay Area contributes about one-third of the harmful particulate pollution in the air. As part of efforts to protect public health, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has opened the Winter Spare the Air season and begun enforcing a regulation that restricts wood burning in the Bay Area through February 28, 2010. This winter is the second winter season that the Wood Burning Rule, which was passed in 2008, is in effect.

Jack Broadbent, BAAQMD executive officer, underscored the importance of heeding the Winter Spare the Air Alerts. “This winter, Bay Area residents must check before they burn,” he said. “It is illegal to burn wood or firelogs when a Winter Spare the Air Alert is in effect. Wood smoke pollution is associated with a number of serious health risks and is particularly harmful to children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems.” The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is the regional agency chartered with protecting air quality in the Bay Area.

When does a Winter Spare the Air Alert Occur?
The Air District will declare a Winter Spare the Air Alert when air pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. During a Winter Spare the Air Alert, the use of wood-burning devices, including fireplaces, pellet stoves, wood stoves and outdoor fire pits, is forbidden. There are expected to be, on average, approximately 15-20 Winter Spare the Air Alerts during the season.

This season, Winter Spare the Air Alerts will be declared the day prior to the alert going into effect. Each day by 2 p.m., the Air District will issue an air quality forecast. If air quality is forecast to be unhealthy, a Winter Spare the Air Alert will be called for the next day. The Alert will be in place for 24 hours – one calendar day – active from midnight-to-midnight.

Those who burn during a Winter Spare the Air Alert will receive a warning for the first violation and a second violation is subject to a $400 ticket. The ticket amount will increase with any subsequent violations. Residents and businesses that burn wood as their only source of heat are exempt from the regulation.

Under the new rule, it is required that only EPA-certified wood stoves or fireplace inserts, pellet stoves, or natural gas devices can be sold or installed in new construction or remodels. The new rule also places year-round prohibitions on excessive smoke, and on the burning of garbage and other harmful materials in fireplaces and woodstoves.

How do residents know what to do during Winter Spare the Air Alerts?

Bay Area residents can check before they burn by:
Visiting www.baaqmd.gov or www.sparetheair.org

Calling 1-877-4-NO-BURN:
Sign up for e-mail AirAlerts at www.sparetheair.org
or phone alerts by calling 800-430-1515.

Posted Friday, November 20, 2009

Delta & California Water Forum

New Delta & California Water Legislation: How will the Bay Area be affected?

Concerned about the future of the San Francisco Bay Delta, the linchpin of the state’s water system? Wondering what the new package of water bills just passed will mean for the Bay Area? Bay Area elected officials and staff, water agencies, local businesses, fishing interests, regional agricultural interests, environmentalists, media, state government staff, and interested public are invited to attend a free forum on Thursday, December 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Oakland Marriott CityCenter, 1001 Broadway (Downtown Oakland, near 12th BART Station).

Sponsored by the Association of Bay Area Governments’ San Francisco Estuary Partnership, this timely forum will help attendees decipher the latest Delta- and water-management-related legislation and proposed bond measures. Resource and water policy experts will explore what the recently passed water and Delta legislation mean to Bay Area constituencies and discuss the changes in water policy. An overview of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan will be presented, spotlighting how it will affect Bay Area citizens, businesses, agriculture, wildlife, and water agencies. In addition, the implications of passing or not passing the proposed 2010 $11 million bond will be examined.

For a complete agenda, go to Delta Forum.

For further information, contact the San Francisco Estuary Partnership at (510) 622 2465.

Posted Friday, October 23, 2009

ABAG Fall General Assembly
Planning and Development During Economic Downturns
Building New Partnerships

View Luncheon Keynote Speaker Will Fleissig’s Presentation

Ron Sims, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and former County Executive, King County, Washington presented the keynote address during the Fall General Assembly on Thursday, October 22, 2009, in San Francisco. As the second most senior official at HUD, Sims is responsible for managing the Department's day-to-day operations, a nearly $40 billion annual operating budget, and the agency's 8,500 employees. Sims set the stage for the half-day General Assembly discussion by presenting an expansive federal perspective on how to build partnerships to support sustainability, livability, and economic development in the 21st century. Sims spoke about the importance of aligning interests and integration of housing, transportation, and air quality with an emphasis on healthy neighborhoods. “Regionalization is our only way to be able to compete globally and be competitive for the rest of the century,” Sims told the audience of ABAG elected officials and staff. He emphasized, “HUD is not your regulator, but will partner in community development with a desire to see regions plan together with investments that make regions work.”

A panel of Bay Area elected leaders, including Solano County Supervisor Jim Spering, San Francisco County Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, San Jose Councilmember Sam Liccardo, Oakland Councilmember Jean Quan, and Moderator Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, followed Sims. Speakers discussed the current economic downturns and their impact on public revenues and services, and examined local opportunities and partnerships for moving toward long-term sustainable and equitable local and regional development.

The General Assembly featured an informative presentation on leveraging sustainability by luncheon speaker Will Fleissig, President of Communitas Development Inc. and active member of Urban Land Institute and ReConnecting America. Click here to view Fleissig’s Presentation.

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.

Posted Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Workshops Available for Local Governments to Adopt Water Conservation Ordinance

Local workshops in San Jose and Oakland will assist local governments and urban water suppliers in adopting and implementing the required Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. The law requires cities and counties, including charter cities and charter counties, to adopt landscape water conservation ordinances by January 1, 2010.

California Department of Water (DWR) and California Urban Water Conservation Council and various organizations throughout the state are conducting a series of workshops on the following:
• The content of the Model Ordinance
• Cities and counties roles and responsibilities
• Assistance available to local governments
• Water purveyors roles
• Experiences of local governments and water purveyors
• Benefits of adopting and implementing an ordinance

Reservations are required. For more details, please visit the DWR website at
http://www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/landscapeordinance/

Bay Area Workshops
Monday, October 26, 2009
8:30 AM-12:30 PM
Santa Clara Valley Water District
HQ Boardroom
5700 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, CA 95118
(408) 265-2600

Monday, November 2, 2009
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Boardroom, 2nd Floor
375 11th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
(866) 403-2683

Posted Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Need Cities and Towns Participation in Proposed Application for Brownfields Assessment Grants

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is planning to apply for Brownfields Assessment grants from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for the year 2009. ABAG is looking for cities and towns to partner together for the EPA grant funds which will provide loans and subgrants to clean up the brownfield sites in priority development growth areas.

Brownfields are abandoned, idled or underused industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. The deadline for submitting the grant applications to the EPA is October 16, 2009. Please visit the website at http://www.abag.ca.gov/brownfields.html for more information or contact Joanna Bullock, ABAG Grants Administrator at 510-464-7968 or joannab@abag.ca.gov.

Posted Friday, October 2, 2009

ABAG Releases Annual Housing Survey Data

Thirty-seven percent less new housing was permitted in 2008 than in 2007 in the San Francisco Bay Area according to a recently completed Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) annual survey. Not surprisingly, regional results indicate a significant drop in permits compared to 2007, though certain areas of the region experienced an increase over the previous year.

ABAG is releasing the Housing Survey Data in advance of issuing the 2009 Housing Report. New this year, the Housing Survey Data includes information on affordable housing (units that are affordable to households earning less than 120 percent of the area's median income), as well as information on market rate housing. Data is now available at http://www.abag.ca.gov/pdfs/2009_Housing_Data.pdf.

Posted Monday, September 28, 2009

Region Measures Disaster-Resistance
Public Invited to Comment on Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

ABAG in coordination with approximately 100 cities, counties, agencies, and special districts has developed a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) draft update for the San Francisco Bay Area. The LHMP is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirement for jurisdictions to receive Federal assistance for disaster mitigation. The overall goal of the LHMP is “to maintain and enhance a disaster-resistant region by reducing the potential loss of life, property damage, and environmental degradation from natural disasters, while accelerating economic recovery from those disasters.”

The public is invited to comment on the LHMP, which identifies ways to reduce risk and disaster vulnerability related to infrastructure, health, housing, economy (private business), government services, education, environment, and land use. The ABAG regional LHMP for the San Francisco Bay Area identifies 361 mitigation strategies and regional priorities for mitigation. In addition, over 100 jurisdictions are currently preparing annexes to the ABAG regional LHMP, which identify mitigation areas specific to each participating city or county.

Public Comment Opportunities
The public can review the LHMP at http://quake.abag.ca.gov/mitigation and attend the Earthquake and Hazards Lifeline Committee meeting at 9:00 a.m. and/or the ABAG Regional Planning Committee meeting at 1:00 p.m. Both meetings are on October 7, 2009, at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter, 101 Eighth Street, Oakland (across from Lake Merritt BART). Meeting details are listed at http://quake.abag.ca.gov/mitigation/. Comments must be e-mailed to shaky@abag.ca.gov by October 12th. Local cities, counties, and special districts are also holding public meetings to review their local priorities. Continued public participation is important because it gives residents and businesses the opportunity to voice their specific comments and be involved in this important process.

More information on natural hazards mitigation is located at http://quake.abag.ca.gov/. For more information, contact Jeanne Perkins, Earthquake Hazards Program Consultant, or Danielle Hutchings, ABAG Earthquake and Hazards Specialist, at 510/464-7951, DanielleH@abag.ca.gov.

Posted Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Projections and Priorities 2009: Building Momentum

Over the next 25 years ABAG projects that an additional 1.7 million people will live in the Bay Area, over 1.6 million new jobs will be created, and more than 600,000 homes will be built. A much older population and higher energy costs are anticipated, as well as changes resulting from global warming. Rising sea levels, a reduced snow pack, additional forest fires, and more record heat days are projected. These are just some of the insights provided by Projections and Priorities 2009: Building Momentum, issued in August. This biennial publication highlights the specific changes forecast for the Bay Area over the next 25 years and represents the region’s collective plans for these imminent changes.

The 162 page publication, Projections and Priorities 2009, provides a summary of biennial demographic and economic forecasts for the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as describes the region's Priority Development and Conservation Areas and performance targets. Projections 2009 forecasts population, employment, income, and households for the San Francisco Bay Area in five year increments from 2000 to 2035, with data for the region’s nine counties and 101 cities. This data includes labor force and age projections by county which provides insight into the region's economy. A CD with the actual data files is also part of the document.

“Priorities” part of Projections and Priorities 2009 incorporates the region’s Priority Development and Conservation Areas (PDAs) and performance targets. For the first time, both the region’s transportation investment plan and this year’s update to the forecast were tested against a series of specific performance targets. Impacts on carbon dioxide emissions from cars and light trucks, as well as other measures, are some of the facts presented.

The newly published Projections and Priorities 2009: Building Momentum publication was featured during a workshop on August 28th in Oakland before an audience of more than 100 elected officials and business and community leaders. Key highlights of the demographic and economic forecast were presented with discussions about where and how will growth occur and how plans for growth affect presumed priorities and impact local communities.

Building Momentum: Projections and Priorities 2009 (August 2009, 162 pages with CD of data files), can be purchased through ABAG Webstore at. Price: $225 + $5 postage and handling. CAT. NO. P09001PRO For additional information, call ABAG at 510/464-7900.

Posted Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Glossary for SB 375 and Other Related Terms
Materials from ABAG Spring 2009 General Assembly

Alternative Planning Strategy (APS) -- A separate document from the Regional Transportation Plan for regions where the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) will not achieve the greenhouse gas reduction target. If the SCS is unable to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the targeted levels, then an Alternative Planning Strategy (APS) must be prepared. The APS would show how the greenhouse-gas targets would be achieved through alternative development patterns, infrastructure, or additional transportation measures or policies. The APS is a separate document from the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), but may be adopted at the same time as the RTP.

Assembly Bill (AB) 32 -- The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which requires California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

Assembly Bill (AB) 32 Scoping Plan -- The scoping plan developed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has a range of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) reduction actions which include direct regulations, alternative compliance mechanisms, monetary and non-monetary incentives, voluntary actions, market-based mechanisms such as a cap-and-trade system, and an AB 32 cost of implementation fee regulation to fund the program. The Plan is a central requirement of AB 32.

Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) -- The council of governments and designated regional planning agency representing the Bay Area’s nine counties and 101 cities and towns. ABAG initiates innovative programs, projects and partnerships to help resolve the region’s economic, social and environmental challenges, providing research and analysis and cost-effective local government service programs. ABAG is committed to enhancing the quality of life in the San Francisco Bay Area by leading the region in advocacy, collaboration, and excellence in planning, research, and member services.

Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) – BAAQMD regulates industry and employers to keep air pollution in check and sponsors programs to clean the air. BAAQMD also works with ABAG, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) on issues that affect land use, transportation, and air quality.

Bay Area Regional Agency Climate Protection Program – This program was approved by the Joint Policy Committee (JPC) on July 20, 2007. As part of this process, ABAG has established targets for assessing alternative land-use scenarios in the development of the latest iteration of Projections 2009, the region’s policy-based forecast of population and employment. MTC developed the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) update, Transportation 2035, which evaluates transportation strategies and investment programs relative to a target of reducing GHG emissions from on-road vehicles in the year 2035 by 40 percent compared to 1990 levels.

Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) -- A state-established agency with jurisdiction over dredging and filling of San Francisco Bay and limited jurisdiction over development within 100 feet of the Bay.

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) -- This California law passed in 1970 requires that documentation of potential environmental impact of development projects must be submitted prior to development. Under SB 375, housing development projects can qualify for a full CEQA exemption if:
• They do not exceed eight acres or 200 units
• They can be served by existing utilities
• They will not have a significant effect on historic resources
• Their buildings exceed energy efficiency standards
• They provide any of the following:
- Five acres of open space
- 20 percent moderate income housing
- 10 percent low income housing
- 5 percent very low income housing.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) -- CO2 is a colorless, odorless, non-poisonous gas that is a normal part of the ambient air. CO2 contributes the most to human-induced global warming. Human activities such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation have increased atmospheric concentrations of CO2 by approximately 30 percent since the industrial revolution.

Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) Program – The program examines toxic air contaminants (TAC) emissions from point sources, area sources and on-road and off-road mobile sources with an emphasis on diesel exhaust, which is a major contributor to airborne health risk in California. The program was initiated in 2004 to evaluate and reduce health risks associated with exposures to outdoor TACs in the Bay Area.

Climate Change - Refers to changes in long-term trends in the average climate, such as changes in average temperatures. Climate change refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.

Complete Communities - Complete communities are those which provide the opportunity for people to live a complete day, including their work, school, services, and recreation, within the boundaries of their own neighborhoods. Complete communities offer these amenities in a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere where public transit is at least as convenient as the automobile. These neighborhoods or districts are self-sufficient by connecting transit and shopping, and are surrounded by different housing types, services, and amenities. Complete communities are created through an integrated approach to transportation planning, land use planning, and urban design with an inter-related set of policies that mutually reinforce one another.

Equitable Development– Equitable development ensures that individuals and families in all communities can participate in and benefit from economic growth and activity. It is grounded in four guiding principles: the integration of people and place strategies; reduction of local and regional disparities; promotion of "double bottom line" investments; and inclusion of meaningful community voice, participation, and leadership.

FOCUS -- A regional planning initiative spearheaded by ABAG in cooperation with MTC, and in coordination with BAAQMD and BCDC. FOCUS seeks to protect open space and natural resources while encouraging infill development in existing communities (see PCAs and PDAs below). The FOCUS initiative encourages future growth in areas near transit and within the communities that surround the San Francisco Bay. Concentrating housing in these areas offers housing and transportation choices for all residents, while helping to reduce traffic, protect the environment, and enhance existing neighborhoods.

Focused Growth -- Development that reflects higher densities, mixed use, and a higher proportion of housing and employment growth in urban areas, particularly near transit stations and along transit corridors, as well as in town centers.

Global Warming -- The progressive gradual rise of the Earth's average surface temperature thought to be caused in part by increased concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) -- Gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect, which causes warming of the atmosphere of the Earth.

Indirect Source Rule (ISR) – ISR is one of several elements of a more comprehensive approach to address health concerns in communities that are disproportionately impacted by poor air quality and to minimize the cumulative effects of land use decisions on local and regional air quality. This multifaceted approach initiated by BAAQMD will coordinate ongoing efforts at the Air District and develop and implement key enhancements to existing Air District programs. This will provide a cohesive strategy that will assist in the growth of the Bay Area while protecting public health and minimizing impacts on the climate. The Air District will be convening a workgroup to assist in rule development and will hold extensive public workshops throughout the Bay Area to allow stakeholders to provide input. Staff anticipates proposing an Indirect Source Review Rule for consideration by the District Board of Directors in 2010.

Joint Policy Committee (JPC) -- The JPC coordinates the regional planning efforts of the ABAG, BAAQMD, the BCDC and MTC. Among the JPC’s current initiatives are focused growth, climate protection, and development of a sustainable communities’ strategy pursuant to SB 375.

Low-carbon emissions standards or low carbon fuel standards (LCFs) -- California's LCFS requires fuel providers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels sold in the state, dramatically expanding the market for alternative fuels. By 2020, the LCFS will reduce carbon content in all passenger vehicle fuels sold in California by 10 percent.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) -- A regional council of governments authorized under federal law to develop a regional transportation plan.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) -- The transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. MTC is the MPO for the Bay Area. MTC is currently working on its 2035 Transportation Plan.

Particulate Matter2.5 (PM2.5) -- Fine particles are 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller. The regional target is to reduce fine particulate matter, PM2.5, by 10 percent below today’s levels.

Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) -- Particulate matter of 10 micrometers or less in size. The regional target is to reduce coarse particulate matter, PM10, by 45 percent over today’s levels.

Priority Conservation Area (PCA) -- Regionally significant open spaces for which there exists a broad consensus for long-term protection and for which public funds may be invested to promote their protection. Local jurisdictions and open space agencies identified these locations voluntarily through the FOCUS initiative.

Priority Development Area (PDA) -- Locations within existing communities that present infill development opportunities, and are easily accessible to transit, jobs, shopping and services. Local jurisdictions identified these locations voluntarily through the FOCUS initiative.

Reduction Target -- A goal set by California Air Resources Board for a region to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks.

Regional Rail Plan -- MTC, Caltrain, BART, California High-Speed Rail Authority, in collaboration with a coalition of rail passenger and freight operators, regional partners, and rail stakeholders, prepared a comprehensive Regional Rail Plan for the Bay Area. The Regional Rail Plan examined ways to incorporate passenger trains into existing rail systems, improve connections to other trains and transit, expand the regional rapid transit network, increase rail capacity and coordinate rail investment around transit-friendly communities and businesses. It also analyzed potential high-speed rail routes between the Bay Area and the Central Valley. Overall, the plan looked at improvements and extensions of railroad, rapid transit, and high-speed rail services for the near (5 to 10 years), intermediate (10 to 25 years), and long-term (beyond 25 years).

Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) -- The Regional Housing Need Allocation process is a state mandated planning process for housing in California. ABAG is responsible for allocating this state-determined regional housing need among all of the Bay Area’s nine counties and 101 cities. Factors used by ABAG in the current allocation process include projected household growth, existing employment and projected employment growth, and projected household and employment growth near transit. Future RHNAs must be consistent with the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) mandated by SB 375. Local housing elements must be adopted 18 months after the next regional transportation plan.

RHNA Integration – RHNA must be consistent with the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS). SB 375 requires that the RHNA/housing element cycle will be synchronized and coordinated with the preparation of every other RTP update, starting with the first update after 2010 (i.e., 2013). RTP updates occur every four years, and housing elements must be adopted by local governments eighteen months after the adoption of the RTP. With a few exceptions, the region will now be on an eight-year RHNA cycle and local governments will be on eight-year housing element cycles. In addition to synchronizing with the preparation of the RTP and the SCS, the RHNA allocation must be consistent with the development pattern included in the SCS. The resolution approving the RHNA shall demonstrate consistency with the Bay Area’s implementation of SB 375 and the SCS.

Regional Performance Targets – Both ABAG and MTC used performance targets in developing the Regional Transportation Plan and Projections 2009. Performance targets include limiting greenfield development to 900 acres per year, or 22,500 acres over the 2010-2035 time period. Additional targets include increasing non-auto access to jobs and services by 20 percent, by 2035, and reducing daily vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita by 10 percent, compared to 2006 levels. Other targets include increasing access to jobs and essential services via transit or walking by 20 percent above today’s levels; reducing driving per person by 10 percent below today’s levels; reducing traffic congestion, measured by hours of delay, by 20 percent below today’s levels; and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels.

Regional Targets Advisory Committee (RTAC) – The Advisory Committee is tasked with recommending factors to be considered and methodologies to be used in establishing the targets, not recommending the targets themselves—though MPOs are explicitly permitted to recommend targets for the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) consideration. This committee is composed of representatives of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), affected air districts, the League of California Cities (the League), the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), local transportation agencies, and members of the public—including homebuilders, environmental organizations, environmental-justice organizations, affordable housing organizations, and others.

Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) -- A transportation plan which is developed every four or five years that, among other things, outlines a region’s transportation investments. The Bay Area’s Regional Transportation Plan is called Transportation 2035 Plan and it is the long-range planning document of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). The plan has a 25-year horizon and serves as a comprehensive blueprint for investment strategies for maintaining, managing and improving the surface transportation network in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. The plan determines how the region will spend nearly $218 billion in local, regional, state and federal funds that are projected to be available to the Bay Area over the next 25 years.

SB 375 Transportation and Land Use Planning Act of 2008 –The act mandates an integrated regional land-use-and-transportation-planning approach to reducing greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from automobiles and light trucks, principally by reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT). SB 375 requires that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) set GHG-reduction targets for cars and light trucks in each California region for the years 2020 and 2035. SB 375 provides incentives for creating attractive, walkable and sustainable communities and revitalizing existing communities. SB 375 also changes the state Housing Element law by linking regional planning efforts for transportation and housing. Under the bill, all transportation and housing planning processes are put on the same eight-year schedule and must be updated once every eight years. The Sustainable Communities Strategy, RTP and RHNA will be developed together through a single and integrated cross agency work program with the JPC.

SB 375 Implementation -- SB 375 explicitly assigns responsibilities to ABAG and to the MTC to implement the bill’s provisions for the Bay Area. Both agencies are members of the Joint Policy Committee (JPC). The polices in this document were approved by the JPC and provide guidance to the two lead regional agencies in fulfilling their responsibilities in collaboration with their JPC partners, BAAQMD and BCDC.

Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) -- A part of the Regional Transportation Plan that predicts a likely growth pattern for the region. The SCS lays out how emissions reductions will be met. This strategy becomes part of the Regional Transportation Plan. It does incorporate the RHNA requirement to provide housing to accommodate all income groups while meeting reduction targets. SB 375 requires the regional transportation plan for regions of the state with a metropolitan transportation planning organization to adopt an SCS.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) — A type of development that links land use and transportation facilities to support public transit systems and help reduce sprawl, traffic congestion and air pollution. Transit-oriented developments include housing, along with complementary public uses (jobs, retail and services), at a strategic point along a regional transit system, such as a rail hub.

Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) – MTC’s TLC Program provides funding for projects that provide for a range of transportation choices, support connectivity between transportation investments and land uses, and are developed through an inclusive community planning effort. The purpose of TLC Program is to support community-based transportation projects that bring new vibrancy to downtown areas, commercial cores, neighborhoods, and transit corridors, enhancing their amenities and ambiance and making them places where people want to live, work and visit.

Transit Priority Projects – Projects that contain at least 50 percent residential use; have a minimum net density of 20 units per acre; have a floor-area ratio for the commercial portion of the project at 0.75; and are located within ½ mile of either a rail stop, a ferry terminal, or a bus line with 15-minute headways.

Posted Thursday, May 7, 2009

Feedback on Solar and Energy Efficiency District Report Requested

ABAG is exploring the feasibility of creating a regional Solar and Energy Efficiency (SEE) District in partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). An overview of this proposed District with an executive summary report was presented to the ABAG Executive Board on March 19, 2009.

Background
The District would maximize available state and federal subsidies and work with existing PG&E incentives. The program would be designed to help private property owners with the costs of solar installation and energy efficiency retrofits, providing the upfront costs of solar, energy efficiency, and other renewable energy installations. The costs would be repaid from a new line item on participating property owners' tax bills. Property owners would be spared the upfront cost of solar panel installation, which can total approximately $30,000. It is anticipated that the region’s ability to spread the financing cost over a much larger market area would make the program more feasible and encourage broader retrofit participation for solar and energy efficiency improvements.

The Solar and Energy Efficiency District report and executive summary are available at http://www.abag.ca.gov/abag/events/agendas/e031909a-Item%2009.pdf. Feedback or comments on the program concepts outlined in the report are requested and encouraged. For more information, contact Ezra Rapport, ABAG Deputy Executive Director, 510/464-7927 or ezrar@abag.ca.gov.

Posted Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Skate, Walk, or Bike The Bay Trail

ABAG commemorates the 20th anniversary of the San Francisco Bay Trail Project. The San Francisco Bay shoreline has seen profound changes since the initiation of the Bay Trail Development Project in 1989. Access to the Bay from San Francisco to San Pablo is now available with trails to suit the needs of hikers, bicyclists, and birdwatchers alike. The 20th anniversary of the Bay Trail marks an exciting time to celebrate how regional collaboration has resulted in the completion of nearly 300 of the planned 500 miles of recreational and alternative commute trails around the Bay. To recognize this milestone, events such as Sunday Streets will be held around the region to celebrate the many ways to experience the expansive San Francisco Bay Trail.

The San Francisco Bay Trail provides region-wide access to commercial, industrial and residential neighborhoods; points of historic, natural and cultural interest; recreational areas, such as beaches, marinas and fishing piers; and over 130 parks totaling over 57,000 acres of open space. The Bay Trail passes through highly urbanized areas, such as downtown San Francisco, as well as remote natural areas, such as the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

A network of waterfront trails connecting all nine Bay Area counties and crossing the major toll bridges in the region, the Bay Trail provides access to recreation and vistas that make the region unique. The scenic waterfront walking and biking trails along the San Francisco Bay also serve as an important transportation link for the San Francisco Bay Area region. It is also important to recognize that as far as the Bay Trail has come, more work and funding are needed to support the completion of the Trail. For more information on the Bay Trail, ways to support Bay Trail projects, and upcoming 20th anniversary events, call 510/464-7900 or visit the website at http://baytrail.abag.ca.gov/.

The San Francisco Bay Trail Project is a nonprofit organization administered by ABAG to plan, promote, and advocate for implementation of the Bay Trail. To carry out its mission, the Bay Trail Project provides funds for trail construction and ensures consistency with the adopted Bay Trail Plan, provides technical assistance, enlists public participation in trail-related activities, and publicizes the Bay Trail and its benefits to the region.

Posted Tuesday, May 5, 2009

2009 Growing Smarter Together Awards Presented
View Videos of All Winning Projects

This third annual presentation of the Growing Smarter Together Awards was a special highlight of ABAG’s Spring General Assembly in April and recognized five categories of local government planning and development projects. Alameda County, and the cities of Berkeley, San Mateo County, San Ramon, and Union City were singled out because of their significant commitment to building complete communities and advancing focused growth principles. Corporate sponsor PG&E helped underwrite the awards program and Comcast produced special videos showcasing the five award winning projects, which can be viewed below.

Building a Better Bay Area - Urban Design, a new category unveiled this year, was presented to the City of Berkeley for Oxford Plaza and David Brower Center. This transit-oriented, infill, mixed-use project has used outstanding design and green building techniques that surmount the challenges of infill development including land constraints, affordability, and integration with an existing neighborhood. Project has contributed 120 new jobs, 97 rental units of affordable housing, a world class environmental center, located in the heart of downtown Berkeley across from UC Berkeley and one block from BART.

Sharing the Benefits Category: Award to the City of San Ramon for its Housing Rehabilitation Program. The innovative San Ramon Housing Rehabilitation program helps avoid community displacement or other adverse impacts, while promoting community revitalization. The Program provides financial and technical assistance to families, seniors, and other underserved populations to help them maintain and preserve healthy homes and improve the quality of neighborhood housing stock. Eligible improvements range from abating lead base paint and asbestos hazards, improving energy efficiency and water usage, providing handicapped accessibility modifications, to providing new roofs, electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, and other needed repairs for aging homes.

Public-Private Partnership Category: Award to San Mateo County for HEART-Housing Endowment and Regional Trust. The Housing Endowment and Regional Trust, the HEART of San Mateo County, is a model of how public and private partnerships can strengthen and build vibrant sustainable communities healthy communities. Through the effective cooperation of San Mateo County, its 21 cities, non profits, and the private sector, HEART has sponsored housing programs with financing options that encourage growth in existing communities and foster better connections between land use and transportation, serving all income levels. Projects include Hillcrest Gardens, the Village at the Crossing, Trestle Glen, Peninsula Station, and El Camino Family Housing.

On the Ground—Getting It Done: FOCUSed Growth Award to Union City for implementation efforts within the City’s Intermodal Station District. Union City is transforming fifty acres of underutilized areas into a transit-oriented, high- density, mixed-use downtown district: creating a new town center with civic, residential, commercial and office uses. This is done in concert with the transformation of the Union City BART station into a landmark intermodal transit facility, providing connections between existing BART and bus systems and proposed passenger rail services. BART and AC Transit were also recognized with certificates for their outstanding support and partnership in this project.

Preserving and Protecting the Environment Category: Alameda County and Public Works Department for Peralta Creek Restoration Project. The Peralta Creek Restoration project provided its Oakland neighborhood with enhanced flood protection and moved beyond just repairing the failed retaining walls. Alameda County Flood Control District created a natural riparian habitat in the midst of an urban setting of buildings and pavement, revitalizing the socially disadvantaged neighborhood with park-like views and a restored creek. A critical element of project success was the effective public outreach that involved the community in planning with help from the City of Oakland and the Unity Council.

Posted Friday, April 24, 2009

ABAG Spring General Assembly
Call to Action: SB 375—Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
through Land Use and Transportation Planning
April 23, 2009

More than 175 of the region’s elected officials and civic leaders attended the ABAG Spring General Assembly where they tackled the critical issue of climate change through the lens of SB 375 and AB 32. The General Assembly provided a platform for Bay Area leaders to discuss how past initiatives and policies have prepared the region to move forward and meet the land use, transportation climate action challenges of SB 375.

Keynote speaker Nancy McFadden, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Pacific Gas & Electric Company discussed regional climate action energy efficiency partnerships such as the ABAG Energy Watch Program and the proposed Solar Energy Efficiency District that will help meet climate protection goals. Mark Green, ABAG Vice President and Union City Mayor and Steve Kinsey, Marin County Supervisor and MTC Commissioner discussed the land use and transportation strategies that are being undertaken to meet the region’s climate protection goals. PowerPoint presentations from Mayor Mark Green and Supervisor Steve Kinsey can be viewed here.

The General Assembly also featured the presentation of the third annual ABAG Growing Smarter Together Awards. Local governments were recognized for outstanding efforts in planning and development. These local government efforts demonstrated significant commitment toward achieving the regional planning goals of the Bay Area Vision and focused growth principles being advanced in the FOCUS Initiative.

The 2009 Award winners are:

Urban Design
City of Berkeley, Oxford Plaza and David Brower Center

Sharing the Benefits
City of San Ramon, Housing Rehabilitation Program

On the Ground – Getting It Done
City of Union City, Intermodal Station District Plan

Public-Private Partnership
San Mateo County, Housing Endowment and Regional Trust, The HEART of San Mateo County

Preserving and Protecting the Environment
Alameda County, Public Works Department
Videos of all winning projects can be viewed at http://www.abag.ca.gov/smarter.html.

During the ABAG Business Meeting, the 2009-10 Annual Budget and Work Plan was approved. The delegates also voted to amend the Bylaws to allow for flexibility in scheduling the Spring Business Meeting of the General Assembly.

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 Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Third Call for FOCUS Priority Development Area Applications
Deadline for Submitting an Application: Friday, June 12, 2009

Local governments in the nine county San Francisco Bay Area are again invited to submit FOCUS applications for regional designation of an area within their community as a Priority Development Area (PDA). These PDA designations help inform regional and state agencies where incentives and assistance are needed to support local efforts that encourage infill development near transit. Many local governments are already participating and have been eligible to apply for a variety of capital funds and planning grants for the Priority Development Areas within their jurisdiction.

Visit http://www.bayareavision.org to download the application materials and learn more about FOCUS Priority Development Areas.

FOCUS is led by ABAG and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), with support from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC)—in partnership with congestion management agencies, transit providers, and local governments throughout the Bay Area. It is partially funded by a Blueprint Grant from the State of California Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency.

Posted Friday, April 10, 2009

Open International Design Competition
Responding to Sea Level Rise

The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission is hosting an open international design competition for ideas responding to sea level rise in San Francisco Bay and beyond. The Rising Tides competition aims to solicit ideas from anyone interested that are applicable to San Francisco Bay and beyond. Entrants must submit their ideas on a single 24” by 36” (Architectural D size) lightweight board (1/4” thick) with their idea laminated to one side in a vertical configuration. Ideas are to be presented anonymously. Submissions must be postmarked by June 29th at 4:00 p.m.

Click here for complete information http://www.risingtidescompetition.com. If you have any questions, please contact Brad McCrea, Bay Design Analyst, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (415) 352-3615.

Posted Friday, April 10, 2009

Buying Green...Buying Smart -- Conference Materials and Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Resources

The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) conference held on March 18, 2009, at the MetroCenter in Oakland was a resounding success - the MetroCenter auditorium was filled to capacity. Speakers provided a wealth of practical information, and audience members responded with valuable input that will be used as we consider next steps.

Conference Materials:
The agenda, handouts, speaker bios, PowerPoint presentations, and brief summaries of presentations made by speakers who did not use PowerPoint are now available on the Hazardous Waste Committee website at http://www.abag.ca.gov/hazwaste/eppconference.html.

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Resources:
You will find links to additional EPP information, including links to policies and ordinances adopted by jurisdictions around the Bay Area and elsewhere at http://www.abag.ca.gov/hazwaste/environmentallypreferablepurchasing.html.

Thanks to everyone who completed a conference evaluation/challenge form. ABAG will use that information to plan the next workshop and consider other ways to support local government environmentally preferable purchasing needs.

ABAG wishes to, again, express appreciation to all of the speakers, StopWaste.Org, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and all of the work group members who helped to plan the conference.

News managed by NewsPro.

Visit our News Archives (dating back to January 1997)