december 2011 california today, planning and conservation league newsletter

8/12/2019 December 2011 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter

1/8

The Healthy Neighborhoods Act By: Jena Price

CALIFORNIA TODAYCALIFORNIA TODAYNews l e t t e r o f t h e Pl ann ing Conse r va t i on League PLANNING ANDCONSERVATIONLEAGUEPLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATION

December 2011 Volume 41, Number 4

The Planning and Conservation League is gearing upfor the return of legislative session in early January,when we will be pushing forward bills related to land use,water supply, high speed rail, and sensible CEQA reform.

Topping our efforts is The Healthy NeighborhoodsAct, authored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson,which seeks to reduce the amount of vehicle milestraveled (VMT) at the project level by rewarding infilldevelopment and fostering improved project design andtravel demand management programs. This legislation isintended to complement Senate Bill 375 (the SustainableCommunities and Climate Protection Act of 2008) andAssembly Bill 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act of2006), which work in concert to reduce greenhouse gasemissions to 1990 levels by 2020 by promoting moresustainable communities through transit-oriented, infilland mixed-use development.

The Healthy Neighborhoods Act directs stateagencies to develop regulations that will requiredevelopers to demonstrate how their projects will reduce

VMT below regional averages before permits can beprovided. Essentially, the bill seeks to take planning downto the project level to reduce VMTs.

Modeled after Title 24, regulations established in1978 to enhance energy efficiency of residential andnonresidential buildings, The Healthy NeighborhoodsAct seeks to establish a checklist that would rewardproject applicants for demonstrating VMT reductions.

Despite having a myriad of regional planningrequirements in place for decades, we continue to seesprawl and poor development practices throughoutCalifornia that undermine our environment and

communities, and threaten Californias long-teeconomic well-being. While strides are now being mto reduce VMTs through traditional regional plannefforts, largely thanks to SB 375, a great deal can should be done to augment these efforts at the projlevel.

Location is the primary factor in reducing VMhowever, a tremendous amount can also be done to reddependence on automobiles through project design (euse-mix, parking reductions, pedestrian and bike acceand travel demand management programs (e.g., rishare or transit passes). Under The HealNeighborhoods Act, projects that could not otherwmeet VMT reduction goals could implement offmitigation measures, such as providing funding regional bus service or pedestrian amenities.

The Healthy Neighborhoods Act faces an uphill clias it encourages people to think differently abplanning, while also coming at a time when Legislature faces understandable planning fatigue

an economic setting where there is a tremendous pushpromote any developments, regardless of sustainabiThat said, PCL strives to sponsor legislation that wcontinue to push California to adopt the most innovateffective, and successful policies that enhance our naturesources and communities. PCL believes The HealNeighborhoods Act represents an innovative approachreduce VMTs and promote smart growth whpreserving developers ability to pursue projects existing sites with appropriate mitigation, and we lfor this legislation to further the dialogue around timportant issue.

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Creating Healthy Communiti


2/8

Dear Friends,

California AffiliateNational Wildlife Federation

CALIFORNIA TODAY (ISBN 0739-8042)is the quarterly newsletter of the

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUEAND THE PCL FOUNDATION

1107 Ninth Street, Suite 901, Sacramento, CA 95814

PHONE: 916-822-5631 FAX: 916-822-5650

E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]

WEB ADDRESS: http://www.pcl.org

Membership to PCL is $35 a year and includes a

subscription to CALIFORNIA TODAY.

Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA and at

other additional offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes for

CALIFORNIA TODAY to the PCL Office:

1107 Ninth Street, Suite 901, Sacramento, CA 95814

PCLF BOARD OF TRUSTEESDAVID HIRSCH, Chairman

RALPH B. PERRY III, Vice Chairman

DANIEL S. FROST, Secretary-Treasurer

COKE HALLOWELL, Trustee

GARY PATTON, Trustee

PCL OFFICERSBILL CENTER, President

KEVIN JOHNSON, Senior Vice President

DAVID MOGAVERO, Secretary-Treasurer

SAGE SWEETWOOD, President Emeritus

JOHN VAN DE KAMP, President Emeritus

INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBERSELISABETH BROWN

JAN CHATTEN-BROWN

ROBERT CAUGHLAN

JOE EDMISTON

PHYLLIS FABER

ESTHER FELDMAN

RICK HAWLEY

FRAN LAYTON

DOUG LINNEY

JOHN MCCAUL

TONY ROSSMANN

BYRON SHERTERRY WATT

AMY WHITE

BILL YEATES

ORGANIZATIONAL BOARD MEMBERSBig Sur Land Trust

California Association of Local Conservation Corps

California Wildlife Foundation / California Oaks

California Rail Foundation

California Trout

Greenspace - The Cambria Land Trust

Golden Gate Audubon Society

The Laguna Greenbelt, Inc.

Sierra Nevada Alliance

The Trust for Public Land

PCL/PCL FOUNDATION STAFFAND CONSULTANTSBRUCE REZNIK, Executive Director

JONATHAN BERNSTEIN, Administrative Manager

EVON CHAMBERS, Water Policy Assistant

DR. MONICA HUNTER, Central Coast Water Project ManagerJONAS MINTON, Senior Water Policy Advisor

JENA PRICE, Global Warming Program Coordinator

MELANIE SCHLOTTERBECK, Grants & Outreach Consultant

DANA SHOKES, Database Coordinator

As my first legislative session has reinforced, the Planning and ConservatLeague and PCL Foundation will only be as strong as our partnershcoalitions, and community support allow.

Without having the seemingly limitlessresources of industries that seek to influence

decision-makers to undermine environmentalprotections, our ability to positively impactenvironmental laws and regulations isdependent on the relationships we build andour ability to harness an engagedmembership and diverse coalitions workingtowards common goals. Building strongcoalitions has never been more critical asCalifornias economic and jobs crisis has putenvironmental protection squarely in thecross-hairs.

Luckily, PCL has a great head start onthis front. As highlighted elsewhere in thisissue of Cal Today, PCL is--at its core--aLeagueof groups working together to betterCalifornias laws and policies. More than 20 groups strong, PCLre-envisioning what Leaguemembership means as we hope to build a stronand more diverse group of partners in the coming year.

PCL is also launching our Alumni Club project in anticipation of our 50-yanniversary. With a 46-year history and an unsurpassed track recordaccomplishment, an incredible number of talented people have passed throuPCLs doors as board members, staff, and interns. Through our Alumni Club,

hope to provide an outlet for those people who have helped build PCL to contimaking us among the most effective and influential environmental groupsSacramento.

We hope you will consider becoming a partner in this fight--for those ofwho are part of non-profit organizations, please consider becoming organizational League member; for those with a history with PCL, join Alumni Club; others can join us at our Symposium, lobby days or otcommunity events; or simply support PCL or PCLF through a contributionvolunteer work.

Harnessing the power of we, together, we can create a legacy that will htransform California for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Bruce ReznikExecutive Director

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation2


3/8CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Update: 2012 Water BondBy: Evon Chambers

Fast Facts841 billionThe average amount of gallons of

water the State Water Projectdelivers per year to support thedrinking water supplies of 25 millioCalifornians and 755,000 acres ofirrigated farmland.

7 billionThe number of gallons of water savannually if a water efficient bathroofaucet were installed in every homesaving California households a tota

of $20 million in water and sewerbills, and nearly $70 million in enercosts.

325,851The amount of gallons of water in oacre-foot of water, or enough wate

for two households of four for a yea

44 million

The number of tons of CO2 emittedper year from the California watersector, a major contributor to climachange.

192The number of gallons of water atypical Californian uses each day.

40The number of gallons of water atypical Australian uses each day.

Sources:

Department of Water Resources, California Ene

Commission, California Environmental Protectio

Agency

In November 2009, the California

Legislature passed a package of

water-related bills aimed at

addressing the states water problems.

The most controversial aspect of this

package was, and continues to be, an$11.14 billion water bond that was

originally slated for the 2010 ballot. In

the course of a year, the states budget

crisis and poor economic climate,

combined with significant opposition

to the measure, effectively killed any

chance of the Water Bond passing in

2010.

Just ahead of the Secretary of

States deadline to send the Voter

Information Guide to print, the

Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1265

(Caballero and Jefferies), which

delayed the Water Bond until the

November 2012 election. In making a

case for passing the measure,

then-Assemblymember Caballero

acknowledged that the bond was in

trouble and that bond proponents

needed more time to sell the measure.

Now the time has come for theState Legislature and the

Administration to make a decision on

what to do with the Water Bond in

2012. The default option if the

Legislature does not act is for the

measure to remain on the 2012 ballot

as is. Many in the environmental

community, including PCL, favor

shrinking the bond and focusing on

environmental priorities. Such an

approach, however, would require a

two-thirds vote, always a dauntingprospect, as would repealing the bond

outright or delaying it another two or

four years.

Many believe that the bond, as

written, should not be placed on the

ballot, particularly given the states

current debt. Governor Brown

acknowledged this when he stated,

We have to figure out a way to make

it more politically acceptable[In its

current form] it wont pass.

By the November 2012 election,

the bond language will be three years

old. Delaying the bond will mean it

will be even more outdated when it

reaches voters. Meanwhile, our

understanding of what is needed and

how it can be financed will be further

informed by several ongoing

processes, such as the Delta Plan. PCL

favors focusing on a smaller, moretargeted green water bond in 2012

that has a better chance of passing,

while simultaneously developing a

plan for meeting the states longer-

term water needs.


4/8

Perspectives on the Water BoSB 375: Where the Rubber

Meets the Rail (CLE)

Boondoggle or Beacon?

The Future of High Speed

Rail in California

4 CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Think Small at 2012 SymposiumBy: Melanie Schlotterbeck

Symposium Snapshot

Date: Saturday, January 28, 2012

Venue: Sacramento Convention Cen

1400 J Street, Sacramento

Time: 8:15 - 9 AM Check-in

9 - 5 PM Symposium

Californias High Speed Rail (HSR)

ystem has long been discussed, and

emains one of the most expensive and

ontroversial infrastructure projects in

Californias history. HSR proponents see

vital project that will change

Californias transportation landscape,

educing the need for new and expanded

ighways, and resulting in fewer

greenhouse gas emissions, while putting

Californians back to work. Opponents of

he current plan have been critical of its

outing, financing plan, skyrocketing

rice-tag, and the ridership and business

lan assumptions that have been made ineveloping the proposal. Get the latest

nformation on the HSR project from the

xperts.Elizabeth Alexis, Californians

Advocating Responsible Rail Design

Denis Dout, SNCF America Inc.

Dan Richard, High Speed Rail Authority

SB 375 requires metropolitan planning

organizations to adopt Sustainable

Communities Strategies (SCS) that will

reduce vehicle miles traveled and

greenhouse gas emissions through more

integrated land use, and transportation

and housing planning. The San Diego

Association of Governments was the

first in the state to write and adopt its

SCS, which remains embroiled in

controversy, and now, litigation. This

panel includes information on this early

SCS adoption and strategies for what

must occur next to make the promise of

integrated and sustainable planning areality. Mike McKeever, Sacramento Area

Council of Governments (Moderator)

Laurel Impett, Shute, Mihaly and

Weinberger LLP

David Mogavero, Mogavero Notestine

Associates

Eliot Rose, UC Berkeley Center for

Resource Efficient Communities

In 2009, the California Legislature a

Governor Schwarzenegger approved

water bond package totaling more th

$11 billion dollars that was to be pla

on the November 2010 ballot. By m

2010, the Legislature and Governor

postponed the bond until the 2012

elections. There was much debate at

time, and still now, about its viability

Some argue it will resolve many of

Californias historic water woes and

needed restoration measures, while

others contend the bond includes

outdated water storage techniques th

will ultimately fail. This panel willbring different perspectives together

discuss whats next for the bond: leav

it on the 2012 ballot as is, delaying i

another 2 or 4 years, or shrinking it. Assemblymember Jared Huffman

(Moderator)

Joe Caves, Conservation Strategy G

Jim Earp, Rebuild California

Jonas Minton, Planning and

Conservation League

Our 2012 Symposium is shaping up

o be another cant miss event that will

bring together activists, elected and

gency officials, and business and

cademic leaders to explore the leading

nvironmental issues facing California.Focusing on what can be done locally,

his years theme is THINKSMALL:Local Solutions to Protect our Environment,

Strengthen our Communities, and Rebuild

ur Economy.

Join keynote speaker Controller

John Chiang, legislative awardees

Senator Kevin de Len, Assemblymembers

Jerry Hill and Jared Huffman, and

hundreds of participants as we explore

solutions to the states most pressingissues, including water, land use,

transportation, food and energy

production. A few session highlights

are below.

We hope to see you there!

CM I 1 .25I LawCLE CM I 1CM I 1 .25


5/8

Registration FeesConference fee covers continental breakfast, lunch,

refreshments, and all Symposium materials. The fee schedu

is as follows:

Before Dec. 31 After Dec.

PCL Member (discount code required) $110 $140

Government (discount code required) $120 $150

General $150 $180

CLE $250 $280

Student $40 $50

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

REGISTRATION FORM

Name

Organization

Address

City, State Zip

Phone

Email

Meal Selection: Italian Stuffed Chicken Vegetarian Pot Pie Vegan Dish

RegistrationOption: CLE AICP

Payment Options:

Member Code: ______________ Amount: $_____(printed above the mailing label)

1. Credit Card: register online at: www.PCL.org or fill out thi

form and fax it to: 916-822-5650

Credit Card # (Visa/MC) Exp. Date

2. Check- make payable to PCL and mail with form to:

Planning and ConservationLeagueAttention: RegistrationCoordinator

1107 9th Street, Suite 901

Sacramento CA95814

E-NewslettersAs part of registering for the Symposium you will be subscribed to our free, wee-newsletter, the PCLInsider. Know that you may remove your name from our at any time by following the unsubscribe link provided in the newsletter.

Photographs & Videos: Please be aware that PCLand PCLF will be takingphotographs of the event, which will be used in our publications and on the webmay possibly record videos of the event as well.

CLE & AICP CM Credit

This year AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance

(CM) credits for many activities at this event. PCL and PCLF

certify that this activity is pending approval for 3.75 hours of

CLE credit by the State Bar of California.

Event Sponsors (to date)

Gold Sponsor (5000+)Chatten-Brown & Carstens

Silver Sponsor (2500+)

Lippe Gafney Wagner LLP Sempra Energy

Bronze Sponsor ($1000+)East Bay Municipal Utilities District Liquid EnvironmentalSolutions Long Beach Water Department Remy, Thomas,Moose and Manley The Rose Foundation Rossmann &Moore LLP Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger LLP

Emerging Sponsor ($500+)Adams, Broadwell, Joseph and Cardozo Cory Briggs California American Water California Association ofProfessional Scientists California Native Plant Society Carole and Peter Clum Conservation Clarity EnvironmentNow Vern Goehring Kevin Johnson, APLC Mark WolfeAssociates Mogavero Notestine Associates NationalWildlife Federation Phyllis Faber John Van de Kamp

Non-Profit Sponsor ($250+)California Association of Resource Conservation Districts California League of Conservation Voters Ecoconsult Friends, Artists and Neighbors of the Elkhorn Slough Friends of Harbors, Beaches, and Parks GreenSpace - TheCambria Land Trust LandWatch Monterey County LagunaGreenbelt, Inc. The Sierra Fund

f you are traveling from out of town and need a nice place to

tay, please reserve your room at The Citizen Hotel. Be sure to

mention the Reference Code (PCL) when calling to make

your reservation. All reservations must be made by Friday,

anuary 6, 2012 to receive the discounted rate.

Reservations Details:

Price Per Night: $104 plus taxes and incidentals

Room Types: Single or Double Reservations: Guests make their own arrangements

and pay room, tax, and incidentals

Toll Free Reservation number: 866-949-0777,

mention the PCL Room Block


6/8CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation6

The Planning and Conservation League and PCL

Foundation are working to walk the walk by becoming

as sustainable in our operations as possible. Over the past

year, our efforts have included moving to smaller offices

with less of an ecological footprint, purchasing greener

products (such as higher recycled content paper and moreenergy efficient equipment), and moving to vendors with

a strong eco-conscious ethic.

Starting in 2012, we will take the overdue step of

reducing the number and size of our mailings in favor of

greater electronic communication. Not only is this the

environmental option, but in these challenging economic

times, it is also the most financially sustainable approach

as well.

But to do this, we need your help! As an organizat

that has been around for more than four decades, P

only has physical mailing information for many of

long-time supporters. Therefore, we are asking all of

to go towww pcl org and sign up for our online Insinewsletter or paperless giving program (icons on right column)! Or you can email us your cont

information at pclmail@pcl org, and well make sure continue to get our updates electronically.

By signing up, you will be able to keep apprised

PCL and PCLF campaigns, know what is going on in

Capitol, and continue to play an active role in the poli

that impact our environment and communities--all w

helping PCL operate more sustainably.

PCL Going Greener, Your Help Needed

PCL seeks partners looking to work collaboratively

to strengthen Californias laws and policies so they better

protect our environment and improve the quality of life

and economic security for all Californians.

Since it was formed, the Planning and Conservation

League has been just that--a Leagueof groups working

together on policies to better Californias environment.

When PCL was formed in 1965, there was no unifiedvoice for conservation efforts in the Capitol, and our

organization played a pivotal role representing local

organizations and communities that would otherwise

have been left out of the dialogue. Through the years, the

League has waxed and waned as PCL has adjusted to

changing circumstances within the organization as well

external forces, such as economic downturns.

Today, the League is more than 20 groups strong.

While this is a great start, PCL is looking to dramatically

grow its League representation over the coming year. It

is only through strength in numbers that PCL will be

truly effective in impacting public policy. At the same

time, even with the growing number of environmental

non-profits in Sacramento, the voice of local

communities is often overlooked. Simply put, League

partners are our eyes and ears on the ground, while PCL

is their voice in the Capitol.

League membership starts at $250 (based on the

organizations budget), and offers tremendous benefits,

including discounts to PCL events (such as

Environmental Symposium), legislative briefings,

promotional and co-branding opportunities. M

importantly, membership means you have a voice

helping shape PCLs agenda and impacting statew

public policy.

For more information on the benefits of Lea

membership, please contact Melanie SchlotterbeckMSchlotterbeck@pcl org or 714-779-7561.

Strengthening the L in PCLBy: Evon Chambers


7/8CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

This past legislative session saw the passage and signing

of a PCL-sponsored bill aimed at providing clarity and

saving time during the litigation process under the California

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). AB 320, authored by

Assemblymember Jerry Hill, requires lead agencies under

CEQA to list recipients of approval for a particular projectin the Notice of Exemption (NOE) or the Notice of

Determination (NOD). While this may seem like a relatively

minor clarification, it has important real-world implications

in how CEQA challenges proceed.

Currently, anyone challenging an agencys decision

under CEQA must include all recipients of approval in

their suit without having a complete record of who these

parties are. This is particularly challenging with CEQA,

which has a very short statute of limitations that does not

allow a full vetting of possible parties. As a result, attorneysoften over-file, naming more parties than are actually

needed, to ensure that a valid legal challenge is not thrown

out on a technicality.

AB 320 represents

sensible CEQA reform that

will ensure that all parties

with a direct interest in a

CEQA lawsuit are made

aware of the litigation, whileparties with no direct link

to the case are not

unnecessarily dragged into a

lawsuit.

The legislation was

signed into law by Governor

Jerry Brown after previous

attempts under Governor Schwarzenegger had failed. T

Planning and Conservation League is excited to see

CEQA reform bill finally signed into law, and we would to thank, in particular, Assemblymember Hill and his s

for their hard work and perseverance, and all those oth

that worked so hard towards the success of this bill.

Sensible CEQA Reform Bill (AB 320) Signed Into LawBy: Jena Price

As required by the United States Post Office, every year we need to publish our Statement of Circulatio


8/8

Forest Stewardship Council certified paper containing55% recycled fiber with 35% post consumer waste,elemental chlorine free and printed with vegetable ink.

PLANNING ANDCONSERVATIONLEAGUELANNING ANDCONSERVATIONLEAGUEFOUNDATION

107 9THSTREET, SUITE901 SACRAMENTO, CA 95814

VISIT US ON THE WEB: www.PCL.org or www.PCLFoundation.org

Thanks to PCLs

former Executive Director,

Jerry Meral, we know

the history behind this

photo. The year is 1978,

and the occasion is the

signing of the Pine

Flat Planning and Feasibility Study Agreement - a power

purchase agreement by the Department of Water

Resources (DWR) of power from the Kings River (via

Pine Flat Dam). Around the table from left to right are:

Bob James, Deputy Director DWR; Jerry Meral; Ed

Terhaar, Energy Division Chief DWR; Chuck Shoemaker,

Assistant Director DWR; Ron Robie, Director DWR

(seated); Robin Reynolds, Deputy Director DWR; Lloyd

Harvego, Deputy Division Chief DWR; Dick Ferreira,

Branch Energy Division Chief DWR; and another staff

member, Energy Division DWR.

Lets keep our momentum rolling! Can you identify

the people or the event captured in this photograph?

E-mail your responses to Evon Chambers atpcl org.

PCL History ProjectBy: Evon Chambers

Alumni Project By: Evon Chambers

Four years from now (2015), will mark the Plann

and Conservation Leagues 50th anniversary. Lead

up to this momentous occasion, PCL is working

compile a list of former interns, staff, and bo

members. We would like to know where they are n

and what theyve been up to. We will use t

information to create a PCL Alumni Project

complement our History Project, providing

opportunity for former members of the PCL team

get together, reminisce about past victories,

mobilize for future successes! If you are, or knowformer PCL board members, staff or interns, ple

send their names, roles, approximate years of serv

and contact information to Evon Chambers EChambers@pcl org.

december 2011 california today, planning and conservation league newsletter

Documents