HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/03/2009, B1 - CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF GOAL-SETTING FOR 2009-11 f
council M"°*°'° 2-3-09
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CITY O F SAN LU IS OBISPO
FROM: Bill Statler, Director of Finance& Information Technology
SUBJECT: CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF GOAL-SETTING FOR 2009-11
RECOMMENDATION
Continue consideration of goals for 2009-11 from the January 31 budget workshop, if needed.
DISCUSSION
Council consideration and prioritization of goals for 2009-11 has been scheduled for an all-day
budget workshop on Saturday, January 31.
This item has been scheduled in the event that additional time is required to complete this
process. To place the need for follow-up into perspective, no follow-up meeting was required
after the goal-setting workshop for either the 2005-07 Financial Plan or the 2007-09 Financial
Plan. On the other hand, this was required in previous Financial Plans. Accordingly, the most
prudent course is to schedule time for this on an"as needed"basis.
GABudget Folders\W. Financial Plans\2009-11 Financial Plan\Council Goal-Scuing\2009-2-3 Goal-Setting Follow-Up if Needed\Continued
Goals Consideration. 2-3-09.doc
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From: Jan Marx [mailto:janmarx@stanfordalumni.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 4:29 PM
To: Hampian, Ken
Subject: Liaison report for 2/3/9
I attended the 1/28/9 ACPD Board meeting and was concerned to hear that the County is now a
Federal non-attainment area. This means that our air quality is deteriorating, and we will have to
work harder to counter pollution and climate change.
The attached portion of the agenda report provides an update about ACPD, SLOCOG and
LAFCO's new regional planning efforts in response to SB 375 and AB 32. To further the
interests of the city, we will need to take an active role in developing regional planning scenarios
and Climate Action Plans.
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AIR POLLUTION
CONTROL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
TO: Board of Directors, Air Pollution Control District
FROM: Larry R. Allen, Air Pollution Control Officer
DATE: January 28, 2009
SUBJECT: Planning for Regional Sustainability
SUMMARY
The enormous challenges posed by climate change, high housing and energy costs and increasing
global pressure on finite resources have great potential to impact our region's achievement of
critical economic and quality of life goals. AB 32 and SB 375 provide important pathways for
addressing these challenges in California. Development of comprehensive regional plans of
action will be essential to the future success of ours and other regions statewide in meeting the
requirements and goals of these statutes at the local level. The upcoming updates to the
District's Clean Air Plan (CAP) and the San Luis Obispo Council of Government's (SLOCOG)
Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) represent two important region-wide planning efforts that
can provide a solid foundation for ensuring San Luis Obispo County continues to prosper in a
carbon and resource-constrained future. The presentation to your Board today is intended to
provide additional information on these important issues and planning efforts, and the actions
staff believes are essential to ensuring public health protection and economic vitality for our
region in the future.
RECOMMENDATION
That your Board receive and file the information provided.
DISCUSSION
The San Luis Obispo County region is at an important decision point. Climate change, economic
impacts of high energy and housing costs, developing and integrating clean and diversified
energy technologies, and reducing demand on finite resources (water, air, ecosystems, fossil
fuels, etc.) are critical issues facing every level of government throughout California, our nation
and the world. How we respond to them over the next few years will likely shape our future for
generations to come. AB 32 and SB 375 outline important pathways for addressing these
challenges in California. Development of comprehensive regional action plans will be essential
to the future success of our region and other regions throughout the state in meeting the
requirements and goals of these statutes in a way that reflects local conditions and meets the
needs of our residents.
The Air District's Clean Air Plan (CAP) and the San Luis Obispo Council of Government's
Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) are both scheduled for a comprehensive update over the
next two years. These represent two significant region-wide planning efforts that can form the
3433 Roberto Court.San Luis Obispo.CA 93401 •805-781-5912•FAX: 805-781-1002
info@slocleanair.org • www.slocleanair.org
APCD Board— Update on Atf 32 and SB 375
January 28, 2009
Page 2
foundation for addressing the most critical issues we will face. It is the responsibility of regional
governance to formulate a coordinated and integrated framework to achieve regional goals and a
regional vision. The CAP and RTP are essential elements in the development of such a
framework.
The following discussion outlines the interrelationships between AB 32, SB 375 and the
upcoming updates to the CAP and RTP, and emphasizes the importance of ensuring these
planning efforts provide the strategies and tools needed to ensure a viable and prosperous future
for our region.
AB 32
California's passage of AB 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) and subsequent actions
toward its implementation have put our state at the forefront of international efforts to address
global climate change. The law mandates reducing GHG emissions statewide to 1990 levels by
2020; GHG emissions are then to be further reduced to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. These
reductions, while quite substantial, are deemed essential by climate scientists to stabilize the
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and prevent the most severe effects of global
climate.
The AB 32 Scoping Plan (Plan)recently adopted by the California Air Resources Board (ARB)
in December 2008 identifies GHG emission reduction strategies and targets for nearly every
sector of the economy and society, including land use and transportation. It is designed to reduce
GHG emissions statewide by 174 million metric tons, about a 15% reduction from today's levels
and 30% below the business as usual emissions projected for 2020. Increased energy efficiency
in new and existing buildings and appliances, significant expansion in development and use of
renewable energy, and application of green building standards will play a significant role in
achieving the projected reductions. A cap and trade program will apply to many of the sectors
covered in the plan; however, the timing and mechanics of that program have not been finalized.
Since nearly 40% of GHG emissions in California are from the transportation sector, the Plan
includes a number of measures to improve vehicle efficiency, advance clean fuel use and
technology, and reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) from new and existing urban development.
Regional land use and transportation GHG reduction targets will be established for every
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in the state using the SB 375 process described
below. Local government is also called upon to establish goals to reduce both municipal and
community GHG emissions at least 15% by 2020. These targets are expected to be met through
regional and local land use planning efforts that focus on concentrating new growth in existing
urban areas to achieve compact and mixed use development patterns that reduce dependence on
the automobile and increase the viability of alternative transportation. Such planning efforts are
the focus of SB 375.
SB 375
SB 375 was developed to address one sector of the AB 32 Scoping Plan: Regional
Transportation-Related GHG emissions. Enacted in 2008, it builds on the existing regional
transportation planning process to connect essential reductions of GHG emissions from cars and
light trucks to land use and transportation policy. The law is meant to improve regional land use
APCD Board– Update on AB 32 and SB 375
• January 28, 2009
Page 3
coordination and streamline projects that aid the state's goal to reduce carbon emissions, improve
efficiency, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. It requires ARB to establish GHG reduction
targets for each MPO region by September 2010 and identifies the Regional Transportation Plan
as the mechanism for achieving the targets through development and implementation of a
Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS).
The SCS is a regional land use plan that must identify a forecasted development pattern for the
region which, when integrated with the transportation network and other transportation measures
and policies, will reduce GHG emissions from automobiles and light trucks sufficiently to
achieve the regional targets adopted by ARB. The RTP must quantify, through modeling, the
reduction in GHG emissions projected to be achieved by the SCS; if the SCS is not projected to
achieve the regional GHG targets, an Alternative Planning Strategy (APS) is required. The APS
must identify the principal impediments to achieving the targets within the SCS. The APS must
also include a number of measures—such as alternative development patterns, infrastructure, or
additional transportation measures or policies—that, taken together, would achieve the regional
target.
ARB is responsible for reviewing and approving the modeled emission reductions for the SCS.
The AB 32 Scoping Plan assumes that reductions in VMT from better land use planning will
reduce 5 million metric tons of GHGs, about 3% of total emission reductions expected by 2020.
In real terms, this means a region's VMT will have to be "flatlined" or even slightly reduced
over the timeframe of the Plan, while at the same time accommodating expected population
growth. SB 375 anticipates that a change from historic levels of VMT growth (approximately
double the rate of population growth) will require a substantive departure from current land use
development patterns. There is a growing consensus among transportation planners that past
practices to ensure smooth traffic flow such as increasing the capacity of interchanges, highways,
and roads have not worked. In fact, many projects built to mitigate the cumulative traffic
impacts of development contribute to the incremental problems of sprawl by providing capacity
for future growth, which leads to even higher per capita VMT.
Land use development patterns have continued to generate high levels of vehicle trips that
produce demand on our transportation systems that cannot be matched with adequate supply
because of dramatic rises in costs of land and infrastructure construction and severe lack of
transportation funds. Planning strategies now being recommended to reduce VMT include a
more comprehensive regional approach that:
• Identifies regional growth strategies that reduce per capita and total VMT.
• Utilizes transportation funds to catalyze development patterns that reduce demand on the
transportation system and improve infrastructure for transit and alternative modes of
transportation.
• Encourages and incentivizes local consistency with regional plans.
An approved SCS designed to achieve the regional GHG target can provide significant long-term
benefits to the region through coordinated planning to achieve more vibrant,energy efficient and
sustainable communities. On the practical side, SB 375 provides for streamlined environmental
review for projects consistent with the SCS. It specifies that projects consistent with the SCS can
� 1
APCD Board— Update on AB 32 and SB 375 —
January 28, 2009
Page 4
programmatically address VMT-related GHG impacts by tiering off the EIR prepared for the
RTP; some projects that meet specific requirements are exempt from CEQA. Projects that
improve jobs/housing balance, infill development, transit oriented and mixed use developments
are among project types expected to be consistent with an approved SCS.
Regional Transportation Plan
SLOCOG is beginning its update of the RTP and is expected to finalize their recommended
process and workplan at their April meeting. SLOCOG approved its Regional Blueprint
(Community 2050) at its December meeting, which provides a good first step in the process by
illustrating past regional growth trends and identifying general principles,objectives, and goals
for future growth. However, the Community 2050 Report did not present specific regional
growth alternatives or measurable performance standards required in an SCS. Thus, a critical
next step is the development of comprehensive regional planning scenarios complete with
detailed and practical performance measures. These regional performance measures would
provide the data necessary for informed dialogue and decision making, such as future household
commute times/distances/costs, percent of population within close proximity to
transit/bike/pedestrian facilities, and other appropriate measures developed during the planning
process.
The criteria for developing regional targets will be published by September 2009, with final
targets adopted by ARB by September 2010. Unfortunately, waiting until final targets are
adopted before starting development of an SCS will put our region at a significant disadvantage
in achieving needed GHG reductions by 2020, and will greatly impede our ability to develop an
effective Clean Air Plan (CAP). Air District staff has met with SLOCOG and LAFCO staff in an
effort to gain consensus on a process for developing an SCS for the current RTP update. The
goal of this effort is to address the requirements of AB 32 and SB 375, provide VMT reduction
strategies essential to the success of the upcoming CAP, and prepare the region for a more
sustainable approach to growth and mobility that focuses on efficiency and effectiveness. There
appears to be staff level agreement on the following process:
1. The 2010 RTP will utilize an interim SB 375 GHGNMT target for analyzing baseline
performance. The interim target would be developed by a RTP technical working group
(described in#2 below) based on the land use and local government emission reduction
goals identified in the AB 32 Scoping Plan. The working group would coordinate closely
with ARB staff to ensure the interim target is consistent with the target levels expected to
be adopted by ARB.
2. A working group would be established to assist in developing detailed regional planning
scenarios and assessing and analyzing their respective performance. The working group
is expected to include local planning agency representatives, LAFCO, APCD,
development representatives and others with the expertise and resources needed to help
develop and evaluate a comprehensive strategy.
3. The working group would present its findings to the SLOCOG Board for use in making
decisions on the alternatives to be evaluated in the RTP Environmental Impact Report.
In support of this effort, APCD has been working cooperatively with all cities and the County
over the past several months to develop baseline GHG inventories that will be needed to prepare
APCD Board— Update on AB'32 and SB 375
January 28, 2009
Page 5
and evaluate the effectiveness of the SCS. Those inventories are expected to be completed by
April 2008, followed by development of climate action plans for each jurisdiction. Incorporation
of strategies from the climate action plans into the SCS alternative scenario analyses will be
important to the development and implementation of an effective regional plan.
Clean Air Plan
District staff has begun work on scoping the upcoming comprehensive update to the Clean Air
Plan (CAP). This Plan will be the first"multi-pollutant" CAP in the County's history,
addressing ozone, particulate matter(PM),toxics and greenhouse gases. The county is currently
designated nonattainment for state ozone and PM health standards, and will be designated
nonattainment for the federal ozone standard next year. Addressing these issues, as well as
meeting the new mandates of AB 32 represent significant challenges in the development of the
CAP.
Many of the GHG emission sources addressed in the AB 32 Scoping Plan are also significant
sources of ozone precursor and PM emissions, so achieving the goals of AB 32 will also provide
significant co-benefits in reducing criteria air pollutants and associated threats to public health.
Therefore, in addition to evaluating reduction strategies for traditional stationary sources, it is
expected that many CAP measures will focus on meeting AB 32 Scoping Plan recommendations
for VMT reduction, green building, and other sectors that are within the jurisdiction of local and
regional agencies in our county. Because motor vehicles represent over 60% of pollutant
emissions in our county, reducing land use related VMT in particular will be a critical factor in
the ability of the CAP to ensure air quality in San Luis Obispo County meets state and federal air
quality standards in the future. Thus, development of a comprehensive and effective SCS is
directly linked and essential to the success of the CAP.
Anticipated Next Steps
District staff anticipate working closely with SLOCOG staff in reaching out to all jurisdictions to
discuss the interrelationships described above and the importance of a coordinated SCS
development process and path for moving forward. Full participation by all affected agencies and
dedication of staff and resources will be essential to the success of this effort. An update will be
provided to your Board at our March 25, 2008 meeting to provide more details on the CAP
update and our coordinated approach with SLOCOG.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
All member agencies will be invited to participate in the development of regional planning
scenarios, the development of the GHG inventories, and potentially Climate Action Plans.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
There is expected to be no financial impacts to the budget at this time, with resources confined to
staff time.
HABoaM\2009\1-jan%RnaRSB375_BIM.doc