Overview
The Strategic Growth Council (SGC) met yesterday afternoon. Members in attendance were Environmental Protection Agency Undersecretary Cindy Tuck (sitting in for Secretary Linda Adams), Business Transportation and Housing Secretary Dale Bonner, Office of Planning and Research Director Cynthia Bryant, Natural Resources Secretary Michael Chrisman, Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Belshe, and appointed public member Robert Fisher. Bridgett Luther, Director of Conservation, sat in for Secretary Chrisman for the later part of the meeting.
Urban Greening Presentation
The Council received a presentation from co-presenters Andy Lipkis, President of TreePeople, and Mark Pastrella, Los Angeles County Public Works. The presentation touched on the possibilities before the Council through integration and coordination of the agencies; and examples of urban greening, integrated infrastructure, and multiple-benefit projects built through partnerships. The presentation sparked discussion around leveraging funds, the cost benefit model, challenges to integration, and more.
Proposition 84 Grant Programs
The Council has the authority to administer two different funds from the Sustainable Communities section of Proposition 84, Land Use Planning Incentives ($90 million) and Urban Greening ($70 million). The Council received a presentation from staff on the projected timeline for developing and delivering these grant programs, as well as the legislative requirements and areas of flexibility in developing the grant guidelines.
There was little discussion among the Council members on the specifics of the grant guidelines; however, the Council decided to hold two public workshops before the September 30th Council meeting, and one topic for discussion would be the development of criteria for the grant guidelines.
Public Comment
At the end of the meeting, during the public comment period, there was an impressive line-up of public speakers the following non-profit organizations, local governments, and agencies:
· Natural Resources Defense Council
· The City Projects
· League of California Cities
· Greenbelt Alliance
· Planning and Conservation League
· City of Redlands
· City of Richmond
· California ReLeaf
· CalFire, Urban Forestry
· Sacramento Tree Foundation
· The Nature Conservancy
· Trust for Public Land
· California Urban Forests Council
More Information
The SGC new website has links to the materials provided at the meeting; however some have not yet been posted, so please check back: http://www.sgc.ca.gov/
SGC 2009 Meeting Schedule:
· Two ½ day workshops open to the public prior to September Council meeting – exact dates TBD
· September 30, 1-3:30 pm
· December 9, 1-3:30 pm
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Strategic Growth Council Meeting – June 24, 2009
The Strategic Growth Council (SGC) will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, June 24th from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Meeting Details and Agenda
Location: CalEPA, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, Sierra Hearing Room
Time: 1:00 to 3:30 pm
Agenda: www.sgc.ca.gov
Webcast: www.calepa.ca.gov/Broadcast
Contact: annamarie.young@opr.ca.gov
This meeting will mostly focus on the development of the Council’s two grant programs: 1) local and regional planning for sustainable communities and 2) urban greening plans, programs, and projects. Staff will give an overview of each of the grant program’s framework, identifying the requirements of the programs based on SB 732 and where the Council has flexibility, and what the Council’s opportunities are. There will then be a discussion about the Council’s desired outcome of the two grant programs in relation to broader SGC goals and objectives.
Public comment is taken prior to a vote on any agenda item as well as at the end of the meeting.
Meeting Details and Agenda
Location: CalEPA, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, Sierra Hearing Room
Time: 1:00 to 3:30 pm
Agenda: www.sgc.ca.gov
Webcast: www.calepa.ca.gov/Broadcast
Contact: annamarie.young@opr.ca.gov
This meeting will mostly focus on the development of the Council’s two grant programs: 1) local and regional planning for sustainable communities and 2) urban greening plans, programs, and projects. Staff will give an overview of each of the grant program’s framework, identifying the requirements of the programs based on SB 732 and where the Council has flexibility, and what the Council’s opportunities are. There will then be a discussion about the Council’s desired outcome of the two grant programs in relation to broader SGC goals and objectives.
Public comment is taken prior to a vote on any agenda item as well as at the end of the meeting.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Action Alert: Sign-on to Support Letters for Important Legislation
NOTE: Please send in your responses by 12 noon on Tuesday June 2nd to be included on group support letters.
Sustainable California is collecting support for the following bills that will be on the Senate or Assembly floor for a vote this week.
Please show your support for these bills. If you would like to sign on to one or more of these letters, please send an email to connie@csgcalifornia.com and include your name, organization, electronic signature, and logo. We will collect names in support of each of the bills and submit a group support letter from Sustainable California for each bill.
Assembly Bill 49 - Water Conservation (SUPPORT): AB 49 is coauthored by Assemblymembers Feuer and Huffman. The bill promotes increased water use efficiency by requiring a reduction in per capita urban water use and requiring implementation of efficient water management practices by agricultural water suppliers. The Bill would require a 20% reduction in statewide urban per capita water use by 2020.
Senate Bill 406 - Funding Sustainable Communities Strategies and Blueprints (SUPPORT): SB 406 is authored by Senator DeSaulnier. SB 406 would authorize municipal planning organizations, councils of governments, or county transportation commissions and subregional councils to impose surcharges on motor vehicle registration to be expended to develop and implement sustainable communities strategies, per SB 375, and regional blueprint plans.
Climate/Carbon Trust Bills:
Assembly Bill 231 - Climate Protection Trust Fund (SUPPORT): AB 231 is authored by Assemblymember Huffman. This bill creates a state treasury account for AB 32 generated revenues and establishes parameters for the investment of these funds for the purposes of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and generally assisting the state in meeting AB 32 Scoping Plan goals.
Assembly Bill 1405 - Community Benefits Fund (SUPPORT – IF AMENDED): AB 1405 is authored by Assemblymember de Leon. This bill would establish the Community Benefits Fund where an unspecified percentage of the funds collected pursuant to AB 32 would be deposited. Funds in the Community Benefits Fund would be used for competitive grants for projects in the most impacted and disadvantaged communities that reduce GHG emissions or help adapt to climate change.
Senate Bill 31 - California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: revenue allocations (SUPPORT – IF AMENDED): SB 31 is authored by Senator Pavley. The bill would require that revenues collected pursuant to AB 32 compliance mechanisms adopted by the state board also be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Fund. The bill specifies certain uses of the revenues collected pursuant to the fee.
Sustainable California is collecting support for the following bills that will be on the Senate or Assembly floor for a vote this week.
Please show your support for these bills. If you would like to sign on to one or more of these letters, please send an email to connie@csgcalifornia.com and include your name, organization, electronic signature, and logo. We will collect names in support of each of the bills and submit a group support letter from Sustainable California for each bill.
Assembly Bill 49 - Water Conservation (SUPPORT): AB 49 is coauthored by Assemblymembers Feuer and Huffman. The bill promotes increased water use efficiency by requiring a reduction in per capita urban water use and requiring implementation of efficient water management practices by agricultural water suppliers. The Bill would require a 20% reduction in statewide urban per capita water use by 2020.
Senate Bill 406 - Funding Sustainable Communities Strategies and Blueprints (SUPPORT): SB 406 is authored by Senator DeSaulnier. SB 406 would authorize municipal planning organizations, councils of governments, or county transportation commissions and subregional councils to impose surcharges on motor vehicle registration to be expended to develop and implement sustainable communities strategies, per SB 375, and regional blueprint plans.
Climate/Carbon Trust Bills:
Assembly Bill 231 - Climate Protection Trust Fund (SUPPORT): AB 231 is authored by Assemblymember Huffman. This bill creates a state treasury account for AB 32 generated revenues and establishes parameters for the investment of these funds for the purposes of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and generally assisting the state in meeting AB 32 Scoping Plan goals.
Assembly Bill 1405 - Community Benefits Fund (SUPPORT – IF AMENDED): AB 1405 is authored by Assemblymember de Leon. This bill would establish the Community Benefits Fund where an unspecified percentage of the funds collected pursuant to AB 32 would be deposited. Funds in the Community Benefits Fund would be used for competitive grants for projects in the most impacted and disadvantaged communities that reduce GHG emissions or help adapt to climate change.
Senate Bill 31 - California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: revenue allocations (SUPPORT – IF AMENDED): SB 31 is authored by Senator Pavley. The bill would require that revenues collected pursuant to AB 32 compliance mechanisms adopted by the state board also be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Fund. The bill specifies certain uses of the revenues collected pursuant to the fee.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
