CSAC Housing, Land Use, and Transportation Policy Committee Meeting 

The CSAC Housing, Land Use, and Transportation Policy Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, February 3rd from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., in the CSAC Peterson Conference Room, 1100 K Street, Sacramento. The tentative agenda includes a State Budget and Legislative Update and an action item to approve proposed changes to the CSAC County Platform chapters under the purview of the committee. The final agenda will be sent to committee members and posted on the CSAC website by next week.

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

AB 83 (Jeffries) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on January 5, 2011

AB 83, by Assembly Member Kevin Jeffries, would exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) a project for the installation of a new pipeline, not exceeding a specified length, for the distribution of recycled water within an improved public street, highway, or right-of-way. 

This measure is similar to AB 1704 also by Assembly Member Jeffries from 2010. CSAC did not engage in the bill last year, however, if counties have concerns with the measure CSAC is requesting you provide feedback as soon as is practical to Kiana Buss. 

AB 83 is awaiting committee assignment.

Housing

AB 129 (Beall) – Support
As Introduced on January 11, 2011

AB 129, by Assembly Member Jim Beall, would authorize a city or county to specially assess any fines or penalties not paid after demand by the city or county against the owner of real property whom owes fines or penalties. The fines and penalties may be collected at the same time and in the same manner as regular county taxes thereby avoiding additional time consuming and costly new procedures. Finally, the measure would also authorize a local agency to appoint a hearing officer to hear and decide issues regarding ordinance violations and the imposition of administrative fines and penalties.

AB 129 is similar to Assembly Member Beall’s AB 2613 from 2010 which CSAC supported. 

The measure is awaiting committee assignment.

Land Use

AB 31 (Beall) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on December 6, 2010

AB 31, by Assembly Member Jim Beall, would establish the High-Speed Rail Local Master Plan Pilot Program, applicable to specified cities and counties, and would require each of those jurisdictions to prepare and adopt, by ordinance, a master plan for development in the areas surrounding the high-speed rail system in each jurisdiction. The bill would require the master plan to include incentives for encouraging investment and coherent growth in the areas surrounding the high-speed rail system in each participating jurisdiction. The bill would also require the participating jurisdictions to collaborate with the State Air Resources Board to develop incentives to encourage development while concurrently reducing greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with or pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The bill would require the master plan to be consistent with the jurisdiction’s general plan and the regional sustainable communities strategy.

CSAC is requesting that counties review the measure and provide feedback as soon as is practical.

AB 31 is currently awaiting committee assignment. 

AB 46 (John A. Perez) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on December 6, 2010

AB 46, by Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, would provide that every city with a population of less than 150 people as of January 1, 2010, would be disincorporated into those cities’ respective counties as of 90 days after the effective date of the bill, unless a county board of supervisors determines, by majority vote within that 90-day period, that continuing such a city within that county’s boundaries would serve a public purpose because the location of the city, in a rural or isolated location, makes it impractical for the residents of the community to organize in another forum of local governance.

CSAC is requesting that counties review the measure and provide feedback as soon as is practical.

AB 46 is awaiting committee assignment.

Planning

AB 49 (Gatto) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on December 6, 2010

AB 49, by Assembly Member Mike Gatto, would, among other things, require the Office of Permit Assistance within the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to provide information to developers explaining the permit approval process at the state and local levels, or assisting them in meeting statutory environmental quality requirements, and would prohibit the office or the state from incurring any liability as a result of the provision of this assistance. The bill would require the office to assist state and local agencies in streamlining the permit approval process, and an applicant in identifying any permit required by a state agency for the proposed project.

CSAC is requesting that counties review the measure and provide feedback as soon as is practical.

AB 49 is currently awaiting committee assignment.

Transportation

SB 29 (Simitian) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on December 6, 2010

SB 29, by Senator Joe Simitian, would require, by January 1, 2013, a governmental agency that operates an automated traffic enforcement system to develop uniform guidelines and to establish procedures to ensure compliance with those guidelines. The bill would require the governmental agency to adopt a finding of fact establishing the need for the system at a specific location for reasons related to safety for those systems installed after January 1, 2012.

CSAC is requesting that counties review the measure and provide feedback.

AB 49 is awaiting committee assignment. 

SR 6 (Padilla) – Support
As Introduced on December 16, 2010

SR 6, by Senator Alex Padilla, would recognize the week of February 20, 2011, to February 26, 2011, as National Engineers Week and acknowledges the services bestowed upon the citizens of California by engineers.