Strategic Growth Council Update - April 2011

The Strategic Growth Council met on Friday, April 8, 2011. Below is a synopsis of the discussion and key actions taken at the meeting.

The full agenda and other meeting materials are available on the Strategic Growth Council website.

Seal Level Rise Considerations in Strategic Growth Council Programs

The Strategic Growth Council (SGC) considered incorporating considerations related to Sea Level Rise, as discussed by Dr. Amber Mace, Executive Director of the Ocean Protection Council, into their grants and programs. Secretary Laird discussed the struggle between adapting to climate change while also working to mitigate climate change in California. Secretary Adams discussed the need to incentivize good building/development practices that incorporate the Sea Level Rise considerations, and supported using bond funds as such an incentive. Council member Bob Fisher, supportive of incorporating the Sea Level Rise considerations into SGC’s grants and programs, asked Dr. Mace how principals that the SGC stands for could be incorporated into the work of the Ocean Protection Council. The Council voted to adopt Sea Level Rise Considerations into SGC’s programs.

See Sea Level Rise Staff Report for further information.

Urban Greening Grant Program guidelines

Polly Escovedo, Resources Agency, presented the proposed Urban Greening Guidelines to the Council. Chair Ken Alex questioned how staff arrived at the current definition of “urban,” a threshold criteria for eligibility to the grant program, and signaled an interest in increasing the density threshold of the definition. After hearing public comments regarding concerns with the urban definition Council member Fisher asked how changing the definition would impact future grant rounds. Chair Alex suggested that staff consider undertaking some GIS mapping of the different areas would be covered by various definitions of urban. The Strategic Growth Council adopted the guidelines as proposed in the agenda.

See Urban Greening Staff Report for further information.

Sustainable Community Planning Grant Program Guidelines

Bruce Gwynne, Department of Conservation, presented the proposed Sustainable Communities Planning Grants to the Council. There was vigorous discussion among members of the Strategic Growth Council, staff, and stakeholders regarding the proposed changes to the Economically Disadvantaged Community set-aside in the guidelines.

The guidelines were adopted as proposed. The motion to approve the guidelines authorized the Chair and Vice Chair, in consultation with the Executive Policy Officer, to make changes to the guidelines consistent with further discussion related to the concerns expressed about the Economically Disadvantaged Community set-aside.

See Sustainable Community Planning Grants Staff Report for further information.

Strategic Planning Process

Heather Fargo, Executive Policy Officer, presented on the proposed strategic planning process to be undertaken by the Strategic Growth Council and facilitated by the Center for Collaborative Policy. The presentation included a timeline (see below) and a discussion of the proposed process. Council members supported the idea of developing a strategic plan, but there was concern expressed about funding the process. Secretary Laird expressed the need for a road map, presumably to be developed out of the strategic planning process, to guide integration of the Strategic Growth Council principles into agencies.

Chair Alex requested that agencies identify discretionary funds that could be used to support the strategic planning process. Additionally, Council member Fisher challenged each of the other Council members to think of a few goals, relevant to their respective agency, that could be included as part of the strategic planning discussion. There was no action taken on this item, it was for discussion only.

Strategic Plan Timeline

2011 Strategic Growth Council Meetings

June 1, 2011
1-5pm
1001 I Street, Sacramento
Cal EPA Coastal Hearing Rm

August 3, 2011
1-5pm
1001 I Street, Sacramento
CalEPA Sierra Hearing Rm

October 5, 2011
1-5pm
1001 I Street, Sacramento
CalEPA Sierra Hearing Rm

December 7, 2011
1-5pm
1001 I Street, Sacramento
CalEPA Sierra Hearing Rm

Strategic Growth Council Meeting April 8th

The Strategic Growth Council will hold its next meeting on April 8, 2011, from 1 to 5 pm in the Cal/EPA Coastal Hearing Room, located at 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Items of interest on the agenda:
• Adopt Sea Level Rise Consideration in Strategic Growth Council Programs
• Approve Urban Greening Grant Program Guidelines*
• Approve Sustainable Community Planning Grant Program Guidelines*
• Update Strategic Planning Process

* If you have questions or concerns about the grant guidelines after the first round has been completed and would like revisions to the guidelines prior to the next round of grants, you must get your comments in to the SGC and staff between now and April 8th.

The agenda, staff reports, and related materials can be found here (including minutes from the last meeting) - http://www.sgc.ca.gov/meetings/20110408/

The meeting will also be webcast - http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Broadcast