San Diego Superior Court Sets Aside First Sustainable Communities
Strategy
The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) came under fire
in early 2012 for its Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), the
first ever to be developed and adopted to comply with SB 375
(Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008), which requires California’s 18
metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions from vehicles and light trucks via regional
transportation plans (RTP).
AB 22 (Blumenfield) – Oppose
As Introduced on December 3, 2012
AB 22, by Assembly Member Bob Blumenfield, would prohibit a city,
county, or city and county that has an ordinance in operation
that requires the city, county, or city and county to repair or
reconstruct streets, sidewalks, or driveways that have been
damaged as a result of tree growth from repealing the ordinance
without the concurrence of the local electorate by majority
vote.
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:
AB 890 (Olsen) – Support
Chapter No. 528, Statutes of 2012
AB 890, by Assembly Member Kristin Olsen, exempts from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) repair, maintenance,
and minor alterations of existing roadways, provided the project
is initiated by a city or county to improve public safety, does
not cross a waterway, and involves negligible or no expansion of
an existing use. The exemption applies to a city or county with a
population of less than 100,000 persons and will sunset January
1, 2016.
SB 214 (Wolk) – Support
As Amended on August 6, 2012
SB 214, by Senator Lois Wolk, would update state law governing
Infrastructure Financing Districts (IFDs) to provide an improved
mechanism to deliver much-needed infrastructure projects and
create jobs in California.
AB 2447 (Skinner) – Support
As Amended on August 6, 2012
AB 2447, by Assembly Member Nancy Skinner, the California
Neighborhood Revitalization Partnership Act of 2012, would create
a competitive grant program for financing the purchase of
foreclosed homes, the demolition of blighted structures that are
foreclosed or abandoned, and the redevelopment of demolished or
vacant properties.
AB 345 (Atkins) – Support
As Amended on June 29, 2011
AB 345, by Assembly Member Toni Atkins, would codify in statute a
long-standing advisory committee, the California Uniform Traffic
Control Devices Committee (CTCDC), created by the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The measure would also
add two additional representatives to the CTCDC representing
non-motorized users of the road, selected from the Caltrans
Active Transportation and Livable Communities Advisory Group
(ATLC).
AB 890 (Olsen) – Support
As Amended on January 13, 2012
AB 890, by Assembly Member Kristin Olsen, would exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) repair, maintenance,
and minor alterations of existing roadways, provided the project
is initiated by a city or county to improve public safety, does
not cross a waterway, and involves negligible or no expansion of
an existing use. The exemption would sunset January 1, 2016.
SB 162 (Anderson) – Oppose
As Amended on May 21, 2012
SB 162, by Senator Joel Anderson, would prohibit a state agency
from opposing fee-to-trust land acquisition applications if the
land is intended for housing, environmental protection, or
cultural preservation.
Governor Brown Appoints Director of Transportation
Governor Brown appointed a director to the California Department
of Transportation (Caltrans) on May 9. Malcolm Dougherty, 43, of
Fresno, has been serving as acting director since 2011 and chief
deputy director since 2010.
