Report on Strategic Growth Council Meeting - June 24, 2009

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