Wrap-Up: Another Successful Housing, Land Use, & Transportation
Policy Committee Meeting
The CSAC Housing, Land Use, and Transportation Policy Committee
had another successful meeting during the 118th CSAC Annual
Meeting in Los Angeles County last week. The agenda was packed full
of timely and important information for counties, both in
retrospect of accomplishments achieved in 2012 and in preparation
for the 2013 legislative session. A few significant highlights
include:
Director of the California Department of Housing and
Community Development, Linn Warren, provided an update to the
committee members on current efforts underway regarding
statewide housing policy. His comments regarding his strong
commitment to achieving real housing element review streamlining
and reform was music to our ears. CSAC staff will keep you posted
on the ongoing efforts to ensure statewide housing policy goals
are met in local housing elements but that the review HCD
provides is efficient and effective.
Sonoma County Counsel, Bruce Goldstein, provided
an update on the status of CSAC’s efforts to influence new
and renewed Tribal-State Gaming Compactsunder the Brown
Administration. In 2011, the CSAC Board of Directors directed
CSAC staff to pursue amendments to the current Compact template
to improve implementation outcomes for counties. CSAC did achieve
some measureable successes in the Graton Compact, ratified in
March 2012, which are summarized here.
It’s our understanding that the Graton Compact will serve as a
template for other Compacts negotiated by Governor
Brown.
CSAC staff also reviewed the key provisions of the
recently enacted federal surface transportation reauthorization
measure – Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act
(MAP 21). Notably, CSAC had some wins within the measure which
include increase funding for transportation safety projects, the
retention of funding for local off-system bridges, and increased
environmental and project delivery streaming to name a few. CSAC
staff remains engaged in MAP 21 as we work on state
implementation of the federal bill. Please contact HLT Senior
Legislative Analyst, Kiana Buss, should you have any questions
regarding the provisions within MAP 21 or our efforts on state
implementation.
