Economic analysis firm BAE Urban Economics has released a report  “CEQA in the 21st Century Environmental Quality, Economic Prosperity, and Sustainable Development in California” contending that, contrary to claims by many developers and planners, the California Environmental Quality Act supports economically and environmental sustainable development. The report, sponsored by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, claims that CEQA does not have a dampening effect on California’s economy or on infill development and that concerns about frivolous CEQA lawsuits are overblown. Pointing to progressive developments in the state under CEQA, the report includes a number of significant findings, including: Legislative changes to CEQA aimed at streamlining the CEQA process to encourage  infill development  are working; between 2013 and 2015, legal challenges were filed in 0.7 percent of projects subject to CEQA review; California’s urban areas compare favorably to cities around the country with regard to the rate of infill vs. greenfield development; the state’s largest cities show ongoing improvement in walkability; and, when compared to other states, California produces the second highest number of affordable housing units per 100,000 residents in the nation.The report included a literature review of recent studies on CEQA’s impacts, legislation, legal findings, regulatory changes and their successes. San Francisco Seeks to Engage Community to Improve Public Spaces The San Francisco Planning Department released  the Public Space Stewardship Guide, which provides community groups, civic leaders, and private sector entities with models, case studies and ready-to-use tools for funding, programming and maintaining successful public spaces. “Parklets, plazas, Living Innovation Zones, and urban prototyping are transforming public spaces like never before,” said San Francisco Planning Director John Rahaim in a statement. “The Public Space Stewardship Guide is an invaluable resource for cities, neighborhood organizations, business owners, neighbors, and artists nationwide who want to activate and sustain successful public spaces.” The guide asserts that successful public spaces require cooperation between city leaders and communities. Additionally a successful public space requires funding, programming and maintenance. The guide includes 17 case studies in one of these five models: Event-Based Models, Grassroots Partnerships, Public/Private Partnerships, Self-Governing Special Assessment Districts, and Maintenance/Technical Assistance Partnerships. Each case study has strengths and weaknesses, and the collection represents the range of organizations, space types, “use levels” and budgets. Sacramento Seeks to Expand Urban Forest The Sacramento City Council approved  an ordinance to protect existing street trees and expand the city’s urban forest, which has historically been considered a nationwide exemplar. The ordinance will provide more clarity and accountability of how the city manages trees on public and private property. Additionally there will be a 15-day posting of a notice for city tree removals online along with a photo of the tree. The plan creates a funding source and regulations for planting new trees when older ones are removed. Fines can range from $250 to $25,000 a day for violations such as removing a tree without a permit or topping protected trees. Council members clarified a requirement that the tree removal permits are not issues before building permits, to ensure trees are not removed before a development is delayed or failed. State Awards $37.4 Million for Agricultural Preservation The Strategic Growth Council announced the awarding  of $37.4 million in grants under the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) this year to permanently protect 18,988 acres in 14 California counties. This $37.4 million in awards (pdf) will protect 18,988 acres of irreplaceable agricultural land and, by limiting development, will reduce emissions by eliminating an estimated 47 billion vehicle miles. The Department of Conservation’s Division of Land Resource Protection developed guidelines for the program, conducted public workshops, and reviewed 26 agricultural conservation easements, and funding 20 of them. By preventing agricultural lands from being developed SALC helps avoid increases in GHG emissions. Monterey County had five easement projects and a planning grant approved, the most awards of any county.  Developers in Limbo as S.F. Awaits Rules on Inclusionary Housing In June, San Francisco voters passed Proposition C to increase the affordable housing requirement to 25 percent of units for new market-rate projects. The Board of Supervisors passed subsequent legislation ordering a feasibility that could change the requirement based on economic analysis. With the study still pending, a recent report by the San Francisco Business Journal finds  that the delay has caused developers in the city to put projects on hold. The eight-member technical advisory committee that oversees the study was half appointed by the mayor and half by the Board of Supervisors. One major project in limbo is the 560-unit redevelopment of the former UCSF campus in Laurel Heights. The CEO of Prado Group, Dan Safier, told the Business Journal, “We will be considering the implications once the study has been completed and the Board has made its policy decision with respect to the study's findings."  Updates & Quick Hits A citizens group is challenging  Menlo Park’s General Plan, claiming that a recent update was inadequate. Voters for Equitable and Responsible Growth allege that the city’s CEQA analysis violates the minimum standards for traffic, housing, climate change and quality of life for Menlo Park and the surrounding communities.  Gov. Jerry Brown signed  a 25-year gaming compact between the state and Jamul Indian Village setting the terms under which the tribe will operate its casino. The Hollywood Casino Jamul in eastern San Diego County should open by the end of the summer and should employ more than 1,000 people. According to Zumper, rents dropped  in San Francisco (1.4 percent), Oakland (2.6 percent) and San Jose (2.6 percent) since July. The drops continue a recent trend of flattening or falling rents. The Sierra Club is threatening  litigation against San Diego County if sevearl development projects in rural San Diego County go forward. The club says the thousand of acres of development would undermine region and state’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. City of Sacramento is proposing  a series of event-parking zones around the Kings’ new downtown Golden 1 Center area. The parking rates will be higher in a three-block radius around the arena. While Gov. Jerry Brown is trying to extend  the state’s cap-and-trade program, a bipartisan group of Assembly-members is renewing a request to audit the program. The goal is to provide more information to evaluate the success of the program before renewing for another decade. The state released  results of an audit of the City of Irvine for the performance review of the Orange County Great Park contract. The audit showed the consultants chosen did not apply rigorous standards, had poor transparancy, and the selection of the consultant was unfair. While Irvine disagreed with various conclusions, the city indicated it would implement asome recommendations. Four law firms have teamed up with resident John Eng to sue  Millennium Partners and the Transbay Joint Powers Authority in San Francisco for improper construction on the 58-floor condominium tower, which is now sinking into the landfill beneath it. The class-action lawsuit is seeking $500 million for the buildings 400 plus residents for diminution in value. Contra Costa County supervisors approved , 4-0, a proposed half-cent transportation tax that would generate $2.9 billion over 30 years for the November ballot. The potential projects would include connecting East County with the Tracy area, Vasco road safety improvements, widening Highway 4 in Brentwood-Oakley area, bicycle and pedestrian-oriented projects, and helping bring BART east from Antioch to Brentwood. The proposed Bay-Delta water tunnel project will now be directed  to State Auditor Elaine Howle to figure out how the project has spent an estimated quarter-billion dollars on planning and how the state plans to finance the multi-billion-dollar program. The audit request came from two legislators who represent parts of the Delta, where opposition to the project is very strong. The California Coastal Commission officials say the agency is resolving  temporary cash flow problems triggered by timing of grant payments and reimbursements. The agency has a bridge loan that will help pay back a $1.45 million loan from the state Department of Finance. Article composed with one of the best online HTML tools . Please purchase a htmlg membership to stop adding links to the edited documents.

The San Diego City Council unanimously adopted a revised Downtown  Mobility Plan  (pdf). The $63 million plan  seeks  to further the transportation goals laid out in the city’s recent Climate Action Plan. The plan includes the addition of nine miles of bike lanes and more than five miles of widened sidewalks. It will add multiple protected bike lanes, many of which will be converted traffic and parking lanes, and other “road diets” to increase the number of people who walk and bike downtown. It also increases curbside parking by converting many parallel spaces into angled spaces. The plan addresses complete streets, pedestrian movement, bicycling, transit, vehicular traffic, transportation demand management, parking, intelligent transportation systems, airports, stormwater, and implementation. One of the most notable goals is that of increasing bicycle commuting from 2 percent of downtown workers to 6 percent by 2020. Los Angeles Ethics Commission Tallies Developer Lobbyist Expenditures According to the city’s Ethics Commission, developers  spent  a record amount on lobbying in the first quarter of 2015: $13.5 million. Nearly half of the money was spent on ten lobbying firms, most of which are involved with securing entitlements and general plan amendments for proposed developments. Nine of the top ten spent combined $1.4 million for various building projects and the tenth, Clear Channel (a billboard company) was fifth and spent $155,000 in the first few months of the year. This money goes to council members, commissioners or city staff. Some projects include the Palladium Residence in Hollywood or the new stadium for Major League Soccer stadium in Exposition Park. The biggest spender was CRE-HAR Crossroads SPV LLC with $220,660 in pursuit of approvals for hotels, shops, homes and offices surrounding the Crossroads of the World shops in Hollywood. Spending on billboard-related lobbying was around $545,000 because of a recent ordinance about digital billboards. The flurry of lobbying comes in advance of the March 2017 vote on the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative, which could freeze all development that does not conform with existing zoning. (See prior CP&DR  coverage .) Southern California Ill-Prepared for Earthquake Risk According to a  report  published by the Southern California Disaster Risk Initiative Committee, the region is not prepared for the inevitable disaster of the next large earthquake. The committee is comprised of business, public policy and utility leaders in Southern California. One of the areas that needs immediate attention is Cajon Pass, located on the San Andreas fault, with multiple combustible natural gas and petroleum pipelines electrical transmission lines, train tracks and Interstate 15. Fixing this is a daunting task, pushing for change is Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Co., Walt Disney Company and Wells Fargo. The report contends that having the entire region prepared for an earthquake is impossible, however small but meaningful steps can be taken. For instance for Cajon Pass, creating shutoff valves on both sides of the fault to automatically turn off during an earthquake. Other areas that must be fixed are water pipes and natural gas lines throughout Southern California and retrofitting collapse-prone buildings. The report contends that many large businesses and local politicians are unaware of the worst-case scenario for the next earthquake, in which water and power could be off for weeks and tens of thousands could be out of housing. Additionally many Californians don’t know their neighbors, which will hurt neighborhoods’ ability to recover. Multiple Homelessness Plans Considered in Los Angeles Los Angeles voters will  consider  one of two measures designed to address homelessness on the November citywide ballot: a new parcel tax or a $1.1-billion housing bond. Public polls show the bond having a better chance of passing in November, and it has support from many City Council member. But analysts feel the parcel tax would offer more flexibility and financial freedom. The city will decide by mid-August which measure will proceed. Mayor Eric Garcetti has pushed for increased budget for homelessness initiatives, and the city adopted a plan that would require at least $1.85 billion over the next ten years. The parcel tax would generate $102 per parcel, with nearly $80 million a year. Separately, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is lobbying for the county to impose a “millionaires’ tax” that would help fund homelessness programs. Tax-Free Stadium Plan Proposed in San Diego San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio is  advancing  a new plan to privately fund a sought-after $1.5 billion Chargers stadium. The plan eliminates a convention center annex and obviates the need for a proposed tax increase that would pay for it. His plan relies on investments by fans and investors, spending between $5,000 and $700,000 each. Instead of the “convadium” ballot initiative that would include a convention center, DeMaio’s plan would substitute a 250-room hotel whose rooms would overlook the stadium field as well as retail center, fitness club, restaurants and other attractions. DeMaio criticizes San Diego hoteliers for not making their own plans while being worried about the convadium losing business but still allowing the Chargers to be the only leadership on the subject. DeMaio says his plan is the only one with the San Diego taxpayers in mind. His 41-page report outlines ten different financing solutions to privately fund the stadium. For instance, if the stadium is built near UC San Diego and San Diego State, the schools will contribute $125 million to the project. DeMaio proposes a mail ballot election in November that would counteract the Chargers’ proposal but keep the general concept of a sports and entertainment center so that it would not be subject to new environmental legal challenges. (See prior CP&DR  coverage .) Report: Traffic Tops List of Californians’ Concerns The Public Policy Institute of California released a  report  about traffic congestion in the state. The report shows 58 percent of Californians say traffic congestion on freeways and major roads is the biggest problem in the region. These numbers are consistent with findings found ten years ago, when 64 percent said it was the biggest problem. The areas with the biggest concerns over congestion are LA County, Bay Area, Inland Empire and Orange County/ San Diego Counties. The report also found that 68 percent of Californians say they usually commute alone, which is a decrease of two percent from 2006. In the Bay Area, 24 percent commute by public transportation, and in LA County 11 percent. The majority of stateside respondents said more money should be spent on roads, highway and bridge maintenance, with public transit and freeways as the top priorities. While there are multiple ways to fund the gap in infrastructure, 61 percent of adults say they support the issuance of state bonds as opposed to increases in local sales tax to fund transportation projects. L.A. City Attorney Files Criminal Charges over Airbnb-Related Evictions For what may the first time in the country, criminal charges have been  filed  against a building owner that evicted tenants to offer the site for rent on Airbnb. Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer has changed an owner with six misdemeanor charges for violating city zoning, building code, rent- control laws and a civil suit, which should send signals to other landlords about breaking the city’s rent control laws. As Feuer said at a news conference, “given that shortage of affordable housing, illegally converting rental units to hotels or short-rentals has got to stop.” The complaint says the tenants were evicted under the Ellis Act, which requires landlords to pay relocation fees and notify tenants within five years. This is one example of the housing market in L.A. more than 1,000 rent-controlled apartments were taken off the market. Many of the attorneys and tenants blame Airbnb for the illegal converting of apartments. Updates & Quick Hits A Costa Mesa association of business owners is  filing  a lawsuit against the city for allowing an Islamic cneter to open a 6,000 square-foot center near John Wayne Airport. In February, the planning commission denied the proposed center but in March the City Council approved it on a 3-2 vote. The business group says it is worried about property rights and parking issues. California lawmakers  approved  a streamlined permitting process that would allow marijuana growers to divert water from streams. This new process will make it simpler for regulators to protect streams and fisheries from the effects of marijuana growing operations. However, it allows growers to bypass the CEQA permitting process and instead pay $5,000 to divert. Rancho Mirage is  annexing  320 acres of tribal land for a 1,200 unit 55-and-older community. The City Council approved a tentative tract map and will submit application for annexation with the Riverside County LAFCO. The land is owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the discussion now is whether a federal environmental impact statement prepared by the tribe met CEQA standards. UC Merced announced that it will  expand  classrooms, dorms and labs for an additional 4,000 students over the next half-decade. The $1.14 billion project, overseen by Plenary Properties Merced, will dramatically increase the footprint of the university, which opened in 2005 and currently enrolls 6,600 students. Construction should be completed by 2020. The City of Alameda  rejected  a rent stabilization ordinance’s funding plan. The ordinance came into effect in March and will cost $1.95 million administratively annually. The city proposed offsetting the cost by having landlords pay $31 per unit, of which fifty percent could be passed on to tenants. This was rejected and Vice Mayor Frank Matarrese wanted more information on how other cities pay for these ordinances, without creating more bureaucratic work. (See prior CP&DR  coverage .) The board of the LA. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority  approved , 11-2, an expenditure plan that will likely lead to a sales tax measure for the November ballot. Included in the project are new subway line from San Fernando Valley to LAX, extensions to connecting communities and would have a “no sunset” provision which would provide ongoing financing to dozens of major transportation projects. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors will vote in August to officially place the measure on the November ballot.

Housing activists, including Urban Habitat and Housing California, are suing city of San Jose for a policy shift that undercuts state the Surplus Land Act, a state law designed to encourage affordable housing on public property. State law requires residential developments on public lands to include some affordable housing, but the city has given exemptions to developers building high rises downtown. The plaintiffs say these exemptions will lead to less affordable housing being constructed downtown and are seeking an injunction. City attorney Ricky Doyle says the city can make the policy changes because San Jose is a charter city and the law in question does not apply to charter cities. Survey: Californians Still Support AB 32 GHG Reductions Public Policy Institute of California released findings on a statewide survey on Assembly Bill 32, the decade-old law mandating reduction of GHG emissions, indicating sustained support for the state’s efforts to combat greenhouse gas emissions. The telephone survey included 1,703 Californian adults from July 10-19th 2016. When asked about the law in general, 69 percent were in favor and 19 percent opposed. In response to a proposed law that would set more ambitious targets, 68 percent of adults were in favor of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Those surveyed thought actions to reduce warming would create more jobs (40 percent adults) or no effect (29 percent). A majority of Californians (55 percent) say they have never heard of the state’s cap-and-trade system, which is a key component of AB 32. PPIC finds that the drought is still the most important environmental issue facing the state (38 percent) and air pollution was second (13 percent). Delta Tunnels Face Key Decisions; Land Surveying Can Proceed Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed $15.5 billion water tunnels are approaching some key junctures. Public hearings this week, and, at the same time, project planners will be securing declarations from two U.S. regulatory agencies that the tunnels will not violate the Endangered Species Act. This is the most urgent hurdle and should be completed before the November election or the project could get put on hold for years. Another vital decision to be made in the next few weeks is whether the south-of-Delta water agencies, primarily responsible for paying for the tunnels, choose to be on board. The state Supreme Court last week ruled government officials do not need to go through formal eminent domain process before surveying private property for the tunnel project. The courts acknowledge the number of days set aside for a survey were “not insignificant” but that landowners would retain full possession of the property and no significant damages were anticipated. L.A. Metro Seeks to Improve Access to Parks The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors approved a “Transit to Open Spaces and Parks” motion to address equity of park access in Los Angles County. Over 50 percent of the county’s population has a “very high” or “high” park need according to a recent county assessment. The plans are expected to be completed by October and will include opportunities for transit access, funding sources, and recommendations. A SCAG 2008 Environmental Justice report found a lack of public transportation options to national parks and a “very limited” access to state parks. With Metro’s Measure M sales tax increase on the ballot for November, the county may have sufficient resources to fund park accessibility. Major Overhaul Planned for Redondo Beach Waterfront Redondo Beach City planning department released an EIR for new plans to develop the 36-acre waterfront village. More than 500,000 square feet of new development, developed by CenterCal, would include public market, retail and restaurants, boutique hotel, creative office space and a specialty cinema. The plans include walking and bike paths, as well as enhancements to public space in the waterfront area. Critics of the plan fear that it will diminish the distinctive character of the city’s historic pier and waterfront and turn it into a generic retail and entertainment destination. Klamath Dam Removal May Be Approved by Year’s End A long-awaited plan to remove and decommission four dams long the Klamath River may go before a federal agency by the end of the year. The agreement must go before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as well as get water quality permits from both California and Oregon. A nonprofit company, Klamath River Restoration Corporation, took ownership of the dams and is in charge of submitting the plans to the federal agency. The company is expecting significant litigation on accusations of secret meetings, lack of transparency and lack of authority. Other concerns include endangered species and sediment in the reservoir. A separate agreement known as the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement would ensure irrigators receive more water for their land than would be allowed. Group Releases Online Tool for Environmentally Friendly Development Bay Area transportation advocacy group TransForms has released GreenTRIP Connect , a website that helps users calculate “how smart location, affordable homes and traffic reduction strategies can reduce driving and GHG emissions from residential development”. The site is designed as a tool for community members, city officials and developers. The goal is to help communities provide more affordable homes and transportation while evaluating impacts on traffic and air pollution. The tool allows users to identify a parcel of land considered for development and calculate transportation benefits of locating in a walkable community near transit. Alameda County Seeks to Preserve Restrictions on Gun Shops Alameda County Supervisors are asking a court to uphold its countywide zoning restricting the locations of gun shops. Pro-gun groups are challenging the county’s 1998 ordinance prohibiting new gun shops in areas within 500 feet of residential neighborhoods, schools, day care centers, liquor stores or other gun shops. While the Second Amendment gives the right to bear arms, the county argues it does not need allow any place to sell weapons. The U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco voted, 2-1, to revive a lawsuit challenging the ordinance and said the county must justify the zoning restriction by providing evidence that gun stores are magnets for crime. Updates & Quick Hits In July Los Angeles County supervisors voted , 3-2, to place a marijuana that would fund housing and health services for the homeless on the November ballot. That vote was nullified two weeks later when the author of the measure introduced a motion to rescind it. In Long Beach, the Queen Mary Land Development Task Force adopted six guiding principles for redesigning the 56 acres surrounding the landmark ship. Most importantly, the large parking lots will be converted to waterfront promenades with a transit hub. The new development must have public access, connectivity and a complete community. Peninsula Open Space Trust has been purchasing farms along the San Mateo County coast to preserve farming and open opportunities for young farmers amid the high real estate prices. The plan for the four farms totaling 153 acres is to place a conservation easement on the title so the property cannot be developed. The Mission Bay Alliance, opponents of the Warriors arena in Mission Bay, said they will take the case to the California Court of Appeal after losing last month. The group says San Francisco city officials violated CEQA when they signed off on an incomplete 2,300-page EIR. Los Angeles put out a call to develop homeless housing in eight city-owned properties. These sites include parking lots, vacant parcels, and city facilities with excess land. The city has an $138 million plan to address homelessness in the next year, as well as a $1.2 billion parcel tax measure on the November ballot. The Humboldt County Planning Commission has approved its first two commercial medical cannabis farms- a quarter-acre farm and a 7-acre one. In January the county’s commercial medical marijuana program set land use regulations and created a permitting system for commercial cannabis operations. Edited with the online HTML5 editor . Please subscribe for a htmlg.com membership to remove similar messages.

In a reversal of a previous recommendation, the staff of the Coastal Commission has recommended approval, with conditions, of a controversial development for Banning Ranch, a 401-acre parcel in Newport Beach. The new staff recommendation increases the amount of developable land from 19 ares to 55 acres, with most of the remaining land set aside as a nature preserve. As proposed, Newport Banning Ranch would include an upscale hotel, retail space and around 900 homes. The Newport Beach city council had approved the development years ago and subsequently won a court challenge by environmentalists, saying the Coastal Commission had final approval. Proponents of the project note that the parcel is far from pristine, as it is a working oil field. Opponents say the project needs to be reduced drastically because, despite the oil operations, it serves as an Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area for the California gnatcatcher and endangered San Diego fairy shrimp. The commission will vote May 12. Federal Legislation May Aid Salton Sea U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and James Inhofe (R-OK) introduced a bill that would ask the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to partner with local governments and other agencies to address fragile ecosystems such as Salton Sea, Lake Tahoe, and Los Angeles River. The Salton Sea poses a serious public health hazard as the decline of the water exposes more dirt. The area is a major bird sanctuary and the air quality issues are harming the critical habitat. This Water Resources Development Act would give the Army Corps the authority it needs to provide long-term assistance to the sea. The Act would also address aging infrastructure, aid regions suffering from the drought and provide funds for projects like desalination and groundwater recharge. Housing Advocacy Group Sues Bay Area Cities The San Francisco Bay Area Renters' Federation (SFBarf) has begun its "sue the suburbs" campaign to force small cities to increase density amidst the growing housing supply issue. Lafayette is the first city being targeted because it scrapped a plan to build high-density housing on 22 acres north of Highway 24 and is located near BART. The city opted for 44 single-family homes instead of the 315 units planned. SFBarf is suing because of the state's Housing Accountability Act, which stops cities from rejecting development for arbitrary reasons. SFBarf is hoping to teach other municipalities a lesson against construction and housing growth. The group is funded primarily by Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman who says the lack of available housing has "choked off the growth potential" for companies in the Bay Area. In response to SFBarf, residents group Save Lafayette is now suing the city to have a ballot referendum that would allow voters to reverse the zoning plan for the future development area. Rents May Be Topping Out in S.F., Poll Finds A recent poll shows that high cost of living is promoting up to one - third of Bay Area residents to consider leaving the region. In the poll of 1,000 people ( pdf ), conducted by Bay Area Council, the top three reasons were high living costs, low housing supply, increasing traffic times. Around 60 percent of residents think additional housing should be built outside the nine-county region and 84 percent want better transportation networks between the Bay and surrounding cities. However, as President and CEO of the Bay Area Council Jim Wunderman said this will only push lower-income families farther away and mean commuters will travel farther distances. Housing supply in the Bay Area has shrunk, with a shortage of 50,000 homes per year. In a separate Bay Area Council poll on commuting habits ( pdf ), 83 percent of residents said traffic will never improve. While some counties like San Francisco want transit planning to stay local, the majority of residents in the area want a regional transportation plan. Counties Sue to Stop Purchase of Delta Islands San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties sued  the Metropolitan Water District to stop the $175 million purchase of five islands in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. A judge has refused to block the controversial purchase. Now the deal's opponents will seek a preliminary injunction at a May 19 hearing, the purchase will be made in June. They say MWD should not be able to buy the land without undergoing the CEQA process. MWD says it will use the land to store dirt and construction equipment for a proposed multibillion-dollar water tunnel project and will comply with CEQA when it decides what to do with the property. Forces Line Up to Support, Oppose SANDAG Funding Measure The San Diego Association of Governments will vote on a proposal Friday that would raise up to $18 billion on roads, transit and parks in the region. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, the county Republican Party, green groups and La Mesa City Council will vote against the plan that would a half-cent sales tax increase. San Diego could expect $1.812 billion while the smallest city, Del Mar around $8.3 million and SANDAG would keep roughly $12.5 billion for the numerous construction projects it has planned. The SANDAG board approved the measure and the initiative will go to county supervisors before appearing on the November ballot. Criticism ranges from low-income communities paying high proportions to spending too much on mass transit while majority of residents commute in cars or prioritizing freeways and interchanges instead of only mass transit. Currently, polls show between 67.8 to 62.2 percent support from voters. Report Ranks U.S. Cities According to Brownfield Redevelopment Potential Arcadis, a Dutch design and environmental consulting firm released its Urban Land Restoration Index ( pdf ) that ranked development potential for 27 U.S. cities. In California, San Francisco was ranked 6th and Los Angeles 19th it and San Diego was 25th out of 27 U.S. cities in attractiveness for commercial development restoration. San Diego was ranked worst for cleanup costs and 24th for real estate opportunities. All three of the cities were ranked high on the cost for cleanup spectrum. A major factor in the high rating was the city's stringent regulatory requirements. While these are common in other major cities, San Diego has a much slower economy and fewer developers interested in cleaning up brownfield sites. A local real estate consultant, Gary London, says San Diego has very few brownfield sites as majority have been cleaned up in the past three decades. The main brownfield site is the 8-acre MTS bus yard that may become the new Chargers stadium. In Los Angeles, a 160-acre former aircraft and aerospace facility was converted into a 800 thousand resident community that stimulated $800 million in private investment, $45 million in lease and tax revenues. Bill Would Ban Ex Parte Communication between Coastal Commissioner, Developers State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, of Santa Barbara, wants to introduce legislation to ban California Coastal Commissioners from ex parte communication with developers to restore the public's confidence in the Commission. Since 1992, commissioners have been required to disclose the contact within seven days with pertinent details. Of the disclosure forms reviewed by the Los Angeles Times, two lobbyists account for 42 percent of communications related development interests. Jackson hopes to eliminate these systems but opponents say these are crucial to giving developers extra time with commissioners for questions. Slow Growth Campaign Proceeds in Santa Monica Resident activist group Residocracy has collected enough signatures to file the Land Use Voter Empowerment (LUVE) to qualify for the November ballot in Santa Monica. The campaign gathered 10,000 signatures for an initiative that would give greater control to voters for large developments in the city. The goal is to stop alleged over-development and require voter approval for Major Development Review Permits and major changes in the City's Land Use Policy Documents. The group successfully lobbied for down-zoning of the city's award-winning LUCE last year. (See prior CP&DR coverage.)

A pact between California, Oregon and a private utility, PacifiCorp, could finally lead to the demolition of four hydroelectric dams that block salmon migrations up the Klamath River. It does so without requiring direct federal involvement and, therefore, without requiring congressional approval.  In 2010 a pact gave US Interior Department a major role in decommissioning of dams and required Congress to sign off on the removal; Congress refused to do so last year hen it was in the throes of partisan gridlock. According to the agreement California will contribute $250 million in state bond money and PacifiCorp customers will pay a surcharge up to $200 million, which should cover the estimated costs. The removal of the dams will be managed by the new Klamath River Renewal Corp. Solar Plant near Baker Wins Federal Approval In a move designed to increase national energy independence, the Obama administration approved a 1,767-acre solar energy plant at Soda Mountain, in the Mojave Desert. Located near the town of Baker, the project is on land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and being developed by Bechtel. The project will provide enough power for 86,000 homes. Many environmental groups are upset. They claim that the move undermines the administration's recent designation of new national monuments in the California desert and claim that the project threatens migration patterns of desert bighorn sheep. The BLM counters that the approved project is smaller than what was proposed and that steps have been taken to mitigate its impacts on the Mojave National Preserve. Berkeley Mayor Advances Housing Package Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates is proposing a solution to the city's housing crisis that he calls the Omnibus Housing Package. From 2010 to 2015, Berkeley's population grew by 5.5 percent while housing supply increased by 1.2 percent. The proposal includes five main ideas: streamlining approval for "green" housing projects, new city density bonus to create workforce housing, incentives for TOD, increased student housing, and incentives for landlords to rent to low-income tenants. Berkeley Progressive Alliance, which frequently opposes what it considers Bates's pro-development stance, calls the ballot measure speculative. The Alliance wants a ballot measure to increase business license tax on large landlords and taxes on short-term rentals, with proceeds going to a city Housing Trust Fund. Both Bates and the alliance want to raise affordable housing impact fees by $6,000 per unit, although Bates will give discounts if fees are paid early. San Jose Receives Grant for High Speed Rail Station Area Planning The city of San Jose has received $600,000 in state and federal funds from CA High-Speed Rail Authority to transition Diridon Station into a regional train hub. The Diridon Station Area Plan lays the groundwork for high-density and transit-oriented development surrounding the station. Through this agreement, the City of San Jos� is receiving $400,000 in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) funds and an additional $200,000 of state funds to advance the Diridon Station Area Plan process. The station already is a hub for many rail and bus services. "Our Diridon Station Area Plan envisions a vibrant and urban mixed-use setting that serves as a regional hub of jobs, housing, transportation and entertainment," said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo in a statement. "I thank High-Speed Rail for investing in the implementation of the City's vision for this area, and look forward to working with them and stakeholders throughout the community to create a world-class destination in and around Diridon Station." Hispanic Homeownership Rises in Central Valley, Statewide        While homeownership has declined across the country, a new report indicates that Hispanic homeownership rates are steadily increasing, especially in traditionally Hispanic centers such as the Central Valley. According to the State of Hispanic Homeownership Report, since 2000, "Hispanics have accounted for 52 percent of the growth in U.S. homeownership." Issues like wage inequity, lack of employment opportunities, education and training related to homeownership are significant hurdles that prevent Hispanics from purchasing their own homes. Nearly 38 percent of Hispanics in California are millenials, and new programs are targeting these first-time homebuyers by requiring less money down for good credit. There are multiple barriers to Hispanic ownership such as the large group of Latinos that are "credit-invisible" meaning they pay for purchases in cash and therefore have no credit history or are "unscorable". Long Beach to Pursue Infrastructure Financing Measure A coalition of Long Beach City leaders have filed papers to put a sales tax measure on the June ballot to fund infrastructure repairs throughout the city. The "Mayor Garcia, Foster & O'Neill Committee to Support the Measures A &B to Protect Police & Fire and Repair Infrastructure in Long Beach" can spent  The tax, currently at 9 percent, would increase to 10 percent for six years; it would then drop to 9.5 percent for the remaining four years. The increase would finance infrastructure repairs and reverse budget cuts affecting police and fire departments. Long Beach Police Officer's Association spent $13,300 on polling to find out voters approval for the tax measure. Bakersfield Council Protests Proposed Rail Station Bakersfield City Council voted, 7-0, to approve comments oppose a proposed interim high speed rail station north of Shafter.  A recently revised CAHSR draft Business Plan indicates that the high-speed train is will stop north of Bakersfield rather than in the center city from 2025 to 2029. The switch will not give the city the economic boost it is expecting from the station for those four years. Calling the system a "fraud," councilmembers claim that the Shafter site contradicts a law suit settlement in which CAHSR pledged to locate a station in Bakersfield. The city and nearby communities have been working with CAHSR to advance the environmental process for a station at F Street and Golden State Highway in Bakersfield. The letter notes that the current proposed Shafter station would increase greenhouse gases locally, by requiring another rail system to connect Bakersfield to the station. L.A.'s Ports o' Call to Get Makeover Seeking to revitalize a long-struggling destination at the Port of Los Angeles, developers have released a plan to transform the kitschy Ports o' Call in San Pedro. Rebranded as San Pedro Public Market, the first phase will cost nearly $100 million; construction will begin in 2017 and be finished in 2020. The developers, The Ratkovich Co. and San Pedro-based Jerico Development, are going for an authentic wharf-and-warehouse look similar to San Francisco's waterfront developments. The first phase would take up 16 acres with 150,000 square feet of restaurants, shopping, fresh markets, boutique-style office space and a half-mile promenade.  San Pedro's historic Red Car will return to carry visitors up and down the wharf. The goal is to make the new waterfront area an attraction for everyday, and not just weekends and holidays. Demolition of Rent Controlled Buildings Rise in Los Angeles Amid soaring rental rates, an investigation finds that rent-controlled buildings in Los Angeles are being demolished to build expensive homes, condos and new rentals at an alarming rates. The Los Angeles Times found that more than 1,000 rent-controlled apartments were taken off the market last year, a threefold increase over previous years. City records indicate the loss of 20,000 units since 2001, with tenants evicted under the provisions of the Ellis Act. Many of the recent demolitions are of properties that had been purchased in the past year. To help preserve affordable housing, the city is looking at an annual cap on demolitions of rent-controlled apartments. Activists are also calling for reforms to the Ellis Act. Bransen Appointed Executive Director of Transportation Commission Susan Bransen was appointed executive director of the California Transportation Commission  April 1. She was previously chief deputy director, chief of staff and policy advisor for the agency's director. She replaced Will Kempton, who will continue his advocacy on transportation issues as Executive Director of Transportation California. S.F. Bike Share Program to Expand San Francisco's Bay Area Bike Share program is expanding , moving into the Mission, further into South of Market and Duboce Triangle. Motivate, the firm that operates the system, announced 72 new potential station locations throughout the city including 700-1000 more bikes. San Jose will see an increase in 13 new stations and 150 more bicycles. The system has annual permits or short-term passes available that allow for unlimited number of 30-minute rides. Since summer 2013, approximately 10,000 people have annual passes and 60,000 have used short-term permits. Online surveys, dozens of meetings were held to learn where people wanted new stations.

Marking a major expansion of Los Angeles’ rail network, Phase II of the Exposition Light Rail Line, from Culver City to Santa Monica, officially opened Friday, May 20. The extension realizes a long-sought goal of connecting downtown Los Angeles to the beach; the two combined phrases make the trip in 46 minutes. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and other backers hope that the line will attract commuters who would otherwise travel on the heavily congested Interstate 10. It is also hoped that by reaching into the region’s affluent Westside the line will attract discretionary riders. Metro estimates that 64,000 riders will use the line daily by 2030. Built at a cost of $1.5 billion, Expo Line Phase II is one of several rail projects underway in Metro’s current construction plan. the design of the line has drawn criticism for having too many at-grade street crossings – 29 – and for not having signal priority in the City of Los Angeles. With the opening of Expo Phase II, Metro now operates over 100 miles of subway and light rail lines. (See prior CP&DR coverage  here  and here .) Report Describes Loss of Natural Lands in Western U.S. A new report called The Disappearing West , published by Truckee-based non-profit research group Conservation Science Partners, charts the transformation of the west’s natural lands by new subdivisions, roads, oil and gas production, agricultural operations, and other human developments. Between 2001 and 2011 nearly 4,321 square miles were developed in the 11 western states, with California losing the most natural land. They calculated every 2.5 minutes the West loses an area of natural land the size of a football field, that equates to a loss of over 430 square miles annually. Among California counties, San Bernardino lost the most land – 60,000 acres – followed by Riverside, Kern, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties. The report also found that only 12 percent of western land is protected as parkland or other type of preserve; California has the highest percentage of protected land in the West, at 24 percent. Completion of First Segment of High Speed Rail Pushed Back to 2022 The first segment of California High Speed Rail originally scheduled for completion in 2018 will not be done until 2022 according to revised contract with the federal government. The contract confirms that federal funds may be still used for the project even thought it is behind schedule. The delay has provided fuel for opponents of the project. Supporters say the delay reflects more ambitious plans and an improved vision, and they blame farmers and not-in-my-back-yarders for holding up construction with lawsuits and other protests. The Obama administration has given CHRSA an extension for the use of federal funds. The authority has 15 months to spend $2.5 billion from the federal government, but many feel the funds will still be spent after the deadline. Meanwhile, CHSRA has promised up to $500,000 each for cities including La Mirada, Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs to fund economic and environmental impact studies for the network’s eventual extension into Orange County. Friant Study Area Put in ‘Limbo’ by Fresno County Supervisors Fresno County supervisors voted , 5-0, to keep the Friant Corridor Study Area, a 5,364-acre section of land along the San Joaquin River between Fresno and the town of Friant, in limbo or “set aside.” While some groups are interested in developing the land, others, primarily environmental groups, say there is inadequate water available for development. A more complete study will now have to be done to include potential water supply sources. Twice the Fresno County Planning Commission has rejected the Friant Corridor Study. Developers Quad Knopf are interested in six “opportunity sites,” which include six percent of the study area. They are interested in expanding Lost Lake Recreation Area, kayak and canoe rentals, recreational fields, restaurants and convenience stores. Quad Knopf is not interested in residential development and thus did not complete an exhaustive comprehensive study including water supply. American Planning Association Launches Planning Assistance Program California Chapter of American Planning Association has launched a program that would offer planning assistance to financially constrained cities throughout California and Baja California. The Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) helps educate the community, engages and empowers the municipalities. Participants may qualify for AICP credit and team members help with short-term and future planning. The evaluations for pro-bono assistance consider community need, potential positive impact and community readiness in terms of local leadership and community support. The community then reimburses team members for transportation, food, overnight accommodations and facilities and materials to undertake the project. The program is based on a similar programs in Illinois, Washington, and New Jersey. Study Shows Shortage of Funding for Bay Area Transportation Projects Transportation research firm Trip has released a study indicating that the Bay Area’s transportation projects are severely underfunded. Of the 20 most critical projects, only three have full funding, 11 have partial funding, and six won’t get any funds until 2020. Trip ranked the top 20 projects green, yellow or red depending on their funding. Projects receiving yellow ranking is seismic retrofitting of the Golden Gate Bridge, MTC’s planned express lane and BART extension to downtown San Jose to name a few. Red, or projects with severe underfunding, are the Caltrain extension, BART improvements, Interstate 680 interchanges and Highway 152 realignment and widening. They also looked at projects in Sacramento, San Diego and Los Angeles. Innovative Developer Tapped to Revitalize Downtown Garden Grove The Garden Grove city council unanimously approved a project intended to transform the downtown of the suburban Orange County city into a walkable business-friendly area. Little American Business (LAB) Holdings, owned by Shaheen Sadeghi , are the developers behind the widely acclaimed Anaheim Packing House and Costa Mesa’s The Lab. LAB is purchasing 17 parcels, including 12 single-family homes, downtown and plans to convert each into an art gallery, brewery, yoga, or coffee shop. The plans call for preservation of buildings’ historic elements. Some in Garden Grove say that the city has not sought enough public input into the project and have expressed concerns about displacement. Oakland Adopts Impact Fees on New Market-Rate Units Oakland is adopting impact fees on new market-rate housing units to provide funds for transportation, infrastructure and affordable housing. The City Council approved the fees, 7-1, which mirror those in neighboring cities Emeryville and Berkeley. The city is divided into three geographic zones with different fees for the different areas. The lowest fees starting in September is $750 per market-rate unit is in the area east of 23rd Avenue (including Coliseum City) and the highest is $7,000 in downtown, uptown and Lake Merritt. The fees are designed in part to encourage developers that include affordable housing in their projects, as they would be exempt. However, many residents worry that the fees are too low and not phased in quickly enough to push for change. (See coverage of rent control this month.) Los Angeles County Seeks Tax for Homeless Services The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to pursue a “millionaires tax” that would pay for housing and services for the homeless. Additionally, the supervisors will look at the $1 billion per year the county spends on homeless single adults on things like emergency medical care, mental health treatment, cash assistance and incarceration. Both propositions would need two-thirds approval from voters, and the millionaire’s tax would need a change in state law because the county does not have the authority to increase income taxes. Meanwhile, The city and county of Los Angeles passed plans to approve $150 million in funding to reduce homelessness. The state is considering a $2 billion in bonds to build 10,0000 to 14,000 units for mentally ill homeless people statewide.  Unlike the millionaire’s tax, the proposal to look into spending on homeless services was unanimously approved. Updates & Quick Hits The Concord City Council voted unanimously to approve Lennar Urban to develop the Concord Naval Weapons Station despite accusations about an unfair bidding process and objections from residents. Orange County Transportation Authority will be cutting bus routes with low-ridership starting June 12 but majority of reductions take place in October. For June, route 172 and 173 between Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach will be eliminated, and Route 178 on Saturdays from Huntington Beach to Irvine. The 91/Perris Valley Line (91/PV), which will extend Metrolink service on the 91 Line, will begin operations June 6. It is the first extension of Metrolink since the Antelope Valley Line was built in 1994. The extension will extend 24 miles from the Riverside to South Perris and add four new stations. The extension cost $248 million and will serve approximately 4,000 riders a week. UCLA Professor of Regional and International Development in the Department of Urban Planning Michael Storper received the Royal Medal from the Royal Geographical Society for his “leadership in human and economic geography.” His research focuses on urban economies, with a focus on California. Airbnb estimates it brought in $920 million into the Los Angeles economy last year. The national Hotel and Lodging Association says does not account for the loss in affordable housing and stable communities. The city is working on whether to tax guests or adopting rules and regulating hosts. Enough signatures have been collected to place an affordable housing measure, Build Better L.A. , on the November citywide ballot. The measure would compel real estate developers to provide affordable housing for larger projects that seek exemptions from city planning and zoning rules. Two Chargers fan groups are asking  San Diego visitors to boycott three hotel chains that are they say are opposed the proposed stadium-convention complex in downtown San Diego . The groups say they are following the money and want transparency for campaigns and projects. (See prior CP&DR coverage .) What was an ongoing debate in San Diego has finally been put to rest. The city’s Climate Action Plan is enforceable to the extent required by CEQA, according to City Attorney Jan Goldsmith. The 3,000-unit Parkmerced development in San Francisco is encouraging residents to take public transportation or ride-hailing services by offering $100-a-month credit. It is assumed to be the largest such developer-sponsored program in the state, and supporters are hailing it as a model for incentivizing the use of alternative transportation modes.

South Los Angeles and a section of San Diego south of downtown have been designated federal Promise Zones . Instituted in response to the recession of the late 2000s and administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the designation enables the country’s neediest neighborhoods to receive competitive federal grants to tackle poverty-related issues. This is the third round of designations; there are now 13 urban Promise Zones nationwide. Promise Zones are usually evaluated on number of empty foreclosed homes. After multiple unsuccessful applications, South L.A. won the designation in part because of high rates of multiple families living in a single apartment and one of the worst homelessness rates in the country; in San Diego’s Promise Zone, the youth unemployment rate of 40 percent was cited as a reason for the designation. Los Angeles is the only city to have two designations within its boundaries, with another area designated in 2014. Since the first designation, Los Angeles has secured nearly 30 grant awards in more than $100 million for education, workforce development, healthy food access and economic opportunity.  Initiative Would Significantly Revise Ventura County Open-Space Policy A proposed initiative in Ventura would weaken the existing open-space laws that were approved in 1995 and 2002. The Save Our Agricultural Resources (SOAR) and Hillsides Voter Participation Area ordinances were put in place by voters in order to give them a say in whether farmland could be converted into other land uses. Now, SOAR staff is updating its plan to include unincorporated county and assorted city measures. Opponents to the staff initiative have collected 30,000 signatures to place a new initiative, Sustain VC, on the ballot. The Sustain VC initiative would require voter approval to develop farmland and open space in unincorporated county, as well as designate up to 225 acres for food processing plants and rezone farm parcels. UC Berkeley Releases Tool for Analyzing Housing Supply Statewide The Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley released a new Housing Development Dashboard , an interactive platform to allow stakeholders to easily understand and interact with land use measures and market conditions for housing production. The Dashboard was designed in response to the state’s housing affordability crisis with an eye towards evaluating the supply of housing statewide. The Dashboard is designed to simulate a variety of housing strategies and outcomes: Will a higher level of inclusionary housing stall production? How much more housing would get built if we streamlined the approval process? The Dashboard was built on multiple data sets and default assumptions about economic factors that influence housing production. Next the researchers assessed how various policies change the cost of development. Currently the system has a Development Calculator and Policy Gauge, although the latter is only developed for four Bay Area cities. Senate Approves Reconstitution of SCAQMD Board The state Senate approved a bill to add three state-appointed environmental justice members to the South Coast Air Quality Management District board. SCAQMD has come under fire for becoming more business friendly after the transition to the panel’s Republican majority, according to Senate Leader Kevin DeLeón (D-LA). This was evidenced by the SCAQMD vote, which fell along party lines, 7 Republicans opposed and five Democrats and one independent in favor. This bill would expand the board from 13 to 16 members, with the three new representatives appointed by the governor, Senate Rules Committee, and the Assembly speaker. Currently there are 10 locally chosen members and three state appointees. SCAQMD is in charge of improving air quality for 17 million residents, with an area that currently has the worst smog in the nation. Survey Gauges Los Angeles Voters’ Attitudes towards Transportation Options In anticipation of a major transportation measure on the November ballot, Los Angeles-based transportation advocacy group Investing in Place released  results of a survey of L.A. County voters and their priorities related to transportation funds. The survey found strong voter approval for using tax revenue from the potential L.A. County Transportation tax to fund alternatives to driving, and especially for investing in projects that improve walkability throughout the county. There is strong support for spending funds on freeways, rail transit and bus service, more voters are interested in methods that are alternatives to driving. For instance 83 percent of voters said they would be in favor of using funds to make it easier and safer for children to walk or bike to school. Additionally it is estimated that 19 percent of all trips in L.A. County are walking or biking, while those methods of transportation represent 39 percent of those killed in traffic collisions. Making alternatives to driving safer and improving sidewalks must be priorities for Los Angeles County. Feds Approve Redevelopment of L.A.’s Jordan Downs The City of Los Angeles has received federal approval to demolish and transform the 49-acre Jordan Downs, a public housing project in Watts that has been plagued with problems for generations. This revitalization will happen in multiple phases. The first phase, beginning this year, includes a public-private effort led by HACLA to rebuild 250 units of new affordable housing, 120,000 square feet of retail, nearly two acres of park space and an expansive community center. In later phases, there were will be additional public amenities and total 1,410 units of housing (both affordable rental and ownership). Updates & Quick Hits The San Francisco Planning Commission voted, 4-3, to reject a ban on chain stores on Polk Street after a proposed Whole Foods caused an uproar among residents. Planning commissioners said zoning should be amended to permit some retail establishments in while imposing restrictions on developments opposed by residents. Documents filed this week by state and federal officials assert that the proposed $17 billion Delta tunnels will not divert Northern California’s water to Southern California. Public hearings will begin end of July, with the first set dedicated to water rights and the second round on tunnels’ impact on the environment. California Coastal Commission Chairman Steve Kinsey will recuse himself from voting on the proposed Newport Banning Ranch project because of previously undisclosed private meetings with developers. Notices of ex-parte meetings must be filed within a week of the meeting; Kinsey failed to report two separate meetings last year. The Los Angeles City Council voted , 12-0, to provide $198.5 million in subsidies and loans to Related Cos. to build a mixed use development consisting of two towers across from Walt Disney Concert Hall.  The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approved , 5-0, a farm-labor housing camp west of Orcutt. The Curletti Farm Employee Housing Project included 30 bunkhouses, common buildings for cooking, dining and laundry for Betteravia Farms which grows produce on 9,000 acres. Developers John Leung and Jean Lang, who had been developing a $1 billion, 65-acre El Monte Transit Village, are facing three counts of bank fraud and seven counts of making false statements to a federally insured institution. The city of El Monte is suing the two for forging signatures to obtain loans and lines of credit and both were arrested in 2009 for forgery, embezzlement, grand theft, burglary and fraud but charges were filed last week. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted , 10-0, to approve legislation that would require short-term rentals to post listings only if the resident is registered with the city, or face daily fines up to $1,000.

In a possible blow to High Speed Rail and climate-change programs like the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities grant program, the most recent cap-and-trade auction fell short of expectations. Only 2 percent of carbon credits were purchased -- 785,000 of the 43 million offered, all sold at the floor price of $12.73. The Department of Finance had anticipated revenues of $2.4 billion for the fiscal year. Three previous auctions met expectations, resulting in a total of $1.8 billion for the year. The rail authority was expecting $150 million and received $2.5 million from the $10 million that was generated last week. Some analysts suggest that emitters of carbon dioxide have cut back on emissions more than anticipated. Other reasons for the low turnout are because there is less need for credits, litigation may overturn the entire system and volatility by speculators in a secondary trading market. There is a $500 million reserve set up for volatility that could help close the gap, which will be decided on by Gov. Jerry Brown and the legislature. Riverside to Reconsider Governance of March Air Base Riverside County supervisors are sponsoring a measure to ask the Board of Supervisors to restructure the March Joint Powers Authority, which in 1993 was tasked with overseeing the transition from military to civilian use. The former March Air Force Base is significantly smaller now and does not need the annual $600,000 subsidy. The remaining land would be parceled equally among the three cities: Riverside, Moreno Valley and Perris. The JPA will still exist but its role would be as airport authority, overseeing civilian use of the March base and promoting base’s importance in case of downsizing or elimination by Congress. Disbanding the JPA has been considered before and failed, but the supervisors are more hopeful because the vision and most land has been developed. Sacramento May Shut Underperforming Light Rail Segment Sacramento Regional Transit is considering closing the Green Line to North Natomas and Sacramento International Airport indefinitely, after costing $44 million and operating for four years. This line averages only 440 boardings a day and costs $330,000 annually. Transit officials had hoped housing developments in the areas the Green Line served would come online more quickly. Another option, instead of closing a line, would be having every few Gold Line trains make the entire Green Line loop . Final decisions will be made in June, and the cuts would take place January 2017. RT has suffered from low ridership, increased costs, and less state and federal transportation funding. Fares were increased by 10 percent, making tickets the most expensive in the state. Lawsuit Filed by Critic of Inglewood Football Stadium Barbara Ohno, a former accountant for the city of Inglewood, is filing a lawsuit against Mayor James Butts and other officials because she claims to have been let go for “whistle-blowing” on alleged financial and accounting irregularities during the city’s pursuit of an NFL team. She says the city “engaged in faulty financial and accounting practices, fraudulent regulatory reporting, and reclassification of costs to depict a favorable, but false, financial picture.” City representatives say Ohno was a probationary employee released before completing her probationary period and that the city was never required to present financial data to the NFL. Los Angles May Subsidize Grand Avenue Project The City of Los Angeles may offer a financial aid package of $198.5 million over 25 years to Related Cos. to support the completion of the long-awaited Grand Avenue Project. Related put $50 million into constructing Grand Park and opened Emerson, a luxury apartment building nearby, two years later. Now, a pair of hotel and residential towers are planned across from Walt Disney Concert Hall but the funds are short. The proposed funds would help Related finish constructing a four-star hotel, 429 residential units, restaurants and stores on Grand Avenue. Related would be able to keep half of the taxes generated for the city. This subsidy package represents half of the funding gap, which an analyst says is so high because of the decision to hire Frank Gehry as the architect.  City Council will vote on the proposal next week and construction on the towers will begin next year. Los Angeles Sponsors Competition for Innovative Urban Solutions Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced the first Mayor’s Cup, with a $25,000 prize, for innovative solutions for promoting entrepreneurship, preserving affordable housing, supporting small businesses, and beautifying vacant and blighted spaces. The program is soliciting proposals from student entrepreneurs and local academics to incentivize creativity. Submissions must solve one of eight challenges posed by the program.  Finalists will pitch ideas to panel of business and government leaders; grand prize winners will work with City Hall for eight weeks to bring their proposals to life. Applications are due Oct. 15 and finalists will be announced early November. San Francisco Competes for  ‘ Smart City’ Grant San Francisco is one of seven cities pitching a transportation vision to U.S. Department of Transportation for a $50 million “Smart City” grant. The San Francisco plan includes Mayor Ed Lee, SF Municipal Transportation Agency, UC Berkeley, Google, Uber and Lyft. The plan includes autonomous buses, shared bikes, Uber and Lyft vehicles and parking structures converted into green space or affordable housing. The entire system would be available using a single smartphone app. More than 40 companies have pledged a combined $99 million should they receive the federal grant. This new system would improve safety, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and allow people to travel anywhere in the city in twenty minutes or less. The project will be implemented in three-year phases over the next decade. Quick Hits & Updates Madera County is creating a Department of Water and Natural Resources to streamline services for residents, ensure groundwater management, and deal with supply, quality and storage. Julia Berry, former executive director of Madera County Farm Bureau, is the new director of the department.A judge approved the Metropolitan Water District’s purchase of 20,000 acres in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties asked the Superior Court to block the purchase arguing about the potential harm to the delta.In one of the largest commercial deals in recent memory in San Francisco, the Planning Commission approved two mixed-use towers totaling 2.3 million square feet in the Transbay district in South of Market. One tower is 850 feet with residence and offices and the other is 605 with residences and a hotel. City officials say the project supports walkability, increased public transit and restores historic buildings on site.KaBOOM! announced its 2016 Playful Cities USA that make it easy for kids to get “balanced and active play in their neighborhoods.” Out of the 257 communities that were recognized, 30 are in California. San Francisco and Kerman have been recognized as honorees ten times.The ongoing lawsuit on Bakersfield’s Centennial Corridor project must return to court earlier than expected because demolition contractors began dismantling vacant structures. The group suing, Concerned Citizens About Centennial Corridor, is asking for a preliminary injunction against further work on the project before the June 3 court date.The Del Rey Oaks city council unanimously approved a would-be ballot initiative clearing the way for  the development of a 54-acre RV park in the city. It is believed to be the first time the “Tuolumne tactic,” which enables a council to pre-empt a popular vote without CEQA review, has been used on a project that small.

To address the state's intensifying homelessness crisis, state senators proposed a $2 billion bill to help provide up to 14,000 units of permanent housing for the state's mentally ill homeless population. California has roughly 116,000 homeless people. The monies, to be raised as bonds, would be repaid over 20 to 30 years with money from the tax for mental health services approved in 2004 (Proposition 63). Backers of the bill say they hope that state funds will encourage local governments to address their respective homelessness problems. The Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Le'n also proposed $200 million from the state's general fund to assist with rent subsidies until the new housing projects are completed. A spokeswoman for Gov. Jerry Brown said, "the administration is supportive of efforts to empower local governments to tackle homelessness, poverty, and mental health issues in our communities and we will take a close look at the proposals in this package." Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that he embraces more state funding, while others criticized the proposal for not allowing local leaders to make financial decisions. Group Files Pair of Suits Against Warriors' Arena A citizens group called the Mission Bay Alliance recently filed suit to halt the development of The Golden State Warriors proposed $1 billion arena in San Francisco's Mission Bay. The arena was recently approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors.  Parents fear that game time traffic to the Warriors arena, located 1,000 feet from UCSF Children's Hospital, could block life-saving care. The lawsuit argues that the plan violates California Environmental Quality Act for failing to consider other locations and for causing significant, air quality, noise, and traffic impacts. It also claims that the area plan violates a 1998 redevelopment plan, which, they say, does not include a sports arena. A separate suit filed by the group argues that UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood signed memorandum supporting the project without authorization from the UC Board of Regents. Sacramento Considers Rails-to-Trails Greenway            Sacramento officials are advancing a proposal for a defunct railroad right of way in the southwestern part of the city to be converted into a 4.5-mile long paved trail for bikes and pedestrians. Dubbed the Del Rio Trail, the project is currently in the planning stages and estimated to cost $17 million; the city recently received a $2.2 million grant from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments for environmental studies and other preliminary work. Supporters hope it will not only provide recreational space but also become an alternative route for commuters heading into downtown Sacramento. Residents surrounding the right of way, unused since 1978, have expressed support for the proposal, although a few cite concerns about increase in visitors to the area. However, California Department of Parks and Recreation envisions an extension of the Old Sacramento tourist train from downtown Sacramento to the Zoo. There are currently various options and ideas being discussed, and the City will begin community and stakeholder meetings this year. Los Angeles Drafts Regional Strategy to Combat Homelessness The City of Los Angeles released a draft Homelessness Strategy Report, which backers say lays the foundation for a regional approach to addressing the chronic issue. The report calls for expanded staffing, services, rental subsidies, and permanent housing for the city's homeless residents. Its recommendations will guide the Mayor Eric Garcetti's and city council's short- and long-term homelessness policy decisions. The report also identifies potential funding streams and begins to estimate initial costs that will help inform the mayor's proposed 2016/2017 budget. The draft, which is designed to complement a strategy being issued by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, will be heard by the Homelessness and Poverty Committee on January 13, with a follow-up meeting later in the month. It is expected to be considered by the full City Council in February. Garcetti said in a statement that his three top priorities center on "scaling up the Coordinated Entry System; preventing people at-risk for homelessness from landing on the streets; and balancing health and safety concerns with the rights and needs of people who are living in unacceptable conditions." Gas Leak Prompts Proposal to Halt Annexations  Los Angeles city officials are considering placing a moratorium on annexations near Porter Ranch. Since October of last year a gas leak from Southern California Gas Company in Porter Ranch has caused residents to become sick and nauseous while releasing a torrent of greenhouse gases. The SoCal Gas has placed 2,258 people in temporary housing with an additional 3,168 in the placement process. The process has been slow and Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer went to court to force SoCal Gas to speed up the relocation process. In response to the crisis, County Supervisor Michael Antonovich asked County Local Agency Formation Commission Director Novak for a temporary ban on annexing unincorporated county areas into the city if they surround Porter Ranch and Chatsworth. At least one project, 188-home development, is currently planned in the area.  LAFCO will consider the moratorium Jan. 13. San Jose Backs Off of Affordable Housing Fee San Jose has approved a fee on new residential projects to support affordable housing and recently discussed a similar fees on commercial developments. The city council voted 7-4 to postpone a nexus study necessary to the implementation of a fee on commercial developments. Citing his desire to support jobs and businesses, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo voted against the study, telling the Silicon Valley Business Journal, "We're the only major city in the United States with a smaller daytime population than nighttime population." The city has a ratio of 0.84 jobs to employed residents, the lowest of any major city in the U.S. One supporter of the fee stated the vote was not on approving the fee on commercial development but only allowing the study to begin. Originally the motion would require the city to achieve a 1-to-1 ratio of jobs to employed residents before implementing the study. This language has been removed, which gives hope to Zwick and other housing advocates that in a few years this proposal will be discussed again. Three NFL Teams Officially Seek Move to L.A. Three National Football League teams have, after years of discussion and speculation, officially filed requests to move to the Los Angeles area. The Oakland Raiders have proposed a move to Carson while the San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams submitted papers asking for approval to move to Inglewood, where they would share a stadium. The applications will be reviewed by an NFL committee in New York before a presentation at an owners meeting in Houston. To move a team at least 24 of the 32 owners in the league must approve. CTC Awards $96 Million for Rail Projects Of this sum, the California Transportation Commission announced that it will allocate $96 million to three main rail projects. The first, with $53.4 million will lower Fullerton Road Grade Separation Project, a $145.2 million project in the City of Industry that is in its final engineering and design stages. The second project with $42.2 million will purchase eight new zero-emission light-rail trains for San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. The last rail project is $1.7 million to the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency for a yearlong demonstration program for the Pacific Surfliner to connect with current transit service providers. The CTC has allocated an additional $1 million to the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority for maintenance on its rail lines between Auburn and San Jose. These investments will improve aging infrastructure, alleviate traffic delays and promote biking, walking and public transportation.    Pershing Square Competition Names Finalists In Los Angeles an international design competition to pick the "redesign" of downtown's Pershing Square, long considered one of the worst public spaces in the United States, is down to four finalists. Sponsored by the nonprofit Pershing Square Renew, the competition began with hundreds of architects and designers. The jury, consisting of city officials, development experts, neighborhood stakeholders and the public, voted end of last year. The finalists, chosen from a short list of 10 teams, are SWA with Morphosis, James Corner Field Operations with Frederick Fisher & Partners, Agence TER with SALT Landscape Architects, and wHY with Civitas. Entrants were charged with redesigning the square to make it more friendly to pedestrians and to integrate it better with the surrounding high-density neighborhood. The winner will be announced in March. There is not yet a timeline or budget for build-out. Tribe Proposes Major Casino in Sacramento County In Sacramento County the Wilton Rancheria tribe has submitted documents to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for an environmental review for a 282-acre casino and hotel resort along Highway 99. The 700-person tribe proposes a development with 2,000 slot machines, 84 table games, and a 12-story, 302-room hotel. The tribe has six other proposals including a shopping center, if the gambling development does not get approved. A public hearing will be held January 29th in Galt.  However tribal chairman Raymond C. Hitchcock said the project will take many years to begin because of the many approvals with agencies, Sacramento County, the City of Galt, and an agreement with Gov. Brown. Coastal Commission Withdraws from Landfill Discussion In North San Diego County, a debate over the proposed Gregory Canyon Landfill is approaching an unexpected resolution . Though the site is 20 miles inland, the California Coastal Commission became involved in discussions because of a concern with contaminants flowing into the San Luis Rey River, wildlife, water supply and fish. Last month, the Commission withdrew its application in the debate and said "its initial concerns about the effects the proposed trash dump might have on the coast have been eased". The withdrawal is a victory for developers because of less permits required. However native tribes, city of Oceanside, and environmental groups are disappointed in the decision of the Commission.  Anti-Development Referendum Struck Down in Yuba County In Yuba County a petition  for a referendum to overturn approval of the Magnolia Ranch residential and commercial development has been rejected by the county clerk because of a lack of legally sufficient attachments made available to petition signers. The petition claims that Magnolia Ranch would use valuable agricultural land and harm their farming businesses. The referendum supporters received 3,344 signatures and a minimum of 1,242 are needed to rescind approval or call an election. The developers, CEM Investments, filed a formal complaint that the referendum supporters did not attach specific plan and project maps. The county counsel and county clerk agreed. Referendum leader Ernie Ehnisz said Hansen made a rushed decision and that opponents will go to Yuba County Superior Court. HSR Authority Names Contractor for Third Phase California High-Speed Rail Authority named Spanish construction company Ferrovial the winning bidder to construct 22 miles of the California High-Speed Rail. Ferrovial was the lowest bidder, costing $348 million for the job compared to the other three teams with bids between $377 and $582 million. The authority estimated bids for the contract would fall between $400-$500 million. This stretch would be the third section the High-Speed Rail Authority has contracted since 2013, and will begin north of the Tulare-Kings county line and continue south to Shafter.

The City of Sacramento  released  a preliminary environmental impact report for a new version of the long-discussed  redevelopment  of its downtown rail yards. The EIR describes a dense neighborhood of up to 21,000 residents on the 244-acre site, with residential structures ranging from five stories to 15. Included in the plan is a Kaiser Permanente medical campus, a 25,000-seat soccer stadium, a 1,100 room hotel, and 3.9 million square feet of office space. The plan is designed to discourage the use of cars, by having offices and light-rail stations nearby. The 3,700-page EIR identified expected traffic problems, need for new schools, appropriateness of proposed 450-foot riverfront residential towers, noise and light pollution, as well as the potential use of the transit. Much of the issues are related to the stadium and potential for noise and light pollution and increased traffic before sold-out events. Additionally, the site already has soil and groundwater pollution that must continue to be filtered and cleaned. Construction is estimated to begin in 2018 and will take several decades. L.A. Metro Revises $120 Billion Expenditure Plan The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority  released  a revised expenditure  plan , to be approved by a November ballot measure, that would fund an estimated $120 billion of transit and highway projects, road improvements and pedestrian and bike paths. Titled the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan, the plan would impose permanent countywide sales tax, augmenting and extending one that was approved by voters in 2008. The Metro board will decide whether to put the plan on the November ballot at its meeting this month. A previous version of the plan had called for a half-cent sales tax that would expire in 40 years. In the revision, the agency is recommending a “no sunset” measure that would raise billions in perpetuity. This means nine projects could be accelerated for a combined 42 years earlier than previously expected and saving approximately $9.4 billion. In addition to funding major projects, the plan would return 20 percent to 88 cities across the county to fix roads, repair potholes and add bicycle and pedestrian paths. A recent survey showed 72 percent of residents were in favor of a permanent tax for sustainable transportation. The new plan would cost the average county resident about $25 more a year. Sacramento Measure B Transportation Tax Moves Forward The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors  submitted  Measure B for the November ballot asking voters to raise sales tax for transportation improvements. The county tax would increase a half-cent for thirty years. Seventy percent of the estimated $3.6 billion revenue would go to road projects with a “Fix It First” theme in the first five years, this includes repaving streets and filling potholes. Thirty percent would go to Sacramento Regional Transit (SRT), which operates buses and light-rail trains in the area. SRT is required to spent 75 percent of its allocation in the first five years on replacing old buses, doing maintenance and improving security, rather than expanding routes. If the sales tax went into effect, Sacramento County’s rate would become 8.25 percent and City of Sacramento 8.75 percent in April. Since the reduction in gas tax, many counties across the state are considering similar measures. Major Redevelopment Approved for Los Angeles Airport Property The Los Angeles City Council approved a major  redevelopment  for the northern edge of Los Angeles International Airport. The 340 acre- LAX Northside Plan Update calls for 175,000 square feet of community and civic uses and 50 acres of recreation and open space to be developed adjacent to the airport on land owned by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which is a city agency. The plan is a comprehensive update of a denser land-use plan initially conceived in the 1980s. The land was acquired in the 1970s and 1980s as a buffer between the airport and surrounding residential communities. The project is envisioned as a center of employment, retail, restaurant, office, hotel, research and development, education, civic, airport support, recreation, and airport-buffer uses that support the needs of communities surrounding LAX. The plan envisions 175,000 square feet of community amenities like open space, recreation facilities, restaurants, retail space, and a campus-like office space. LAWA will oversee the implementation of the plan. Bus Rapid Transit Line to Break Ground in Fresno After years of discussion, Fresno will finally begin  construction  on two new bus rapid transit lines to provide faster connections from the north and east ends of the city with downtown. The system, operating on the city’s busy Blackstone and Kings Canyon/Ventura corridors, should be operational in November 2017 and will cost around $30 million. Most of the money comes from U.S. Department of Transportation grants that include new buses, reinforced bus parking areas and new shelters, modifications to traffic signals and vending machines to buy tickets. It is estimated that improvements could cut travel times in half. The Fresno system provides nearly 14 million rides annually, with 1.6 million annual passengers on the two corridors that will be upgraded to BRT. Fares will increase 25 cents next year to help pay for the new and improved system. Del Mar Seeks Dramatic Cuts to Energy Use The City of Del Mar became the second city in San Diego County to  declare  its goal of switching to all-renewable energy by 2035. The Climate Action Plan, approved last week, follows many of the same measures as San Diego’s in reducing city’s carbon emissions. The goal is 50 percent reduction by 2020 and 100 percent by 2035. The plan seeks to boost the number of people who commute by bike or on foot, and triple the amount of tree cover to assist in cooling and capturing carbon. Energy use accounts for 36 percent of the city’s baseline greenhouse gas emission levels and adding solar arrays and upgrading buildings to conserve energy is a major step in cutting energy. Transportation accounts for 17 percent of GHG emissions and is another focus of the Climate Action Plan. A rise in sea level would disintegrate the bluffs surrounding the small, coastal city and its streets and structures would be swamped with severe flooding. However, unlike San Diego, Del Mar’s targets aren’t legally mandated and therefore a guide and not a contract. Casino Hit with Lawsuit over Water Use Bertsch-Ocean View Community Services District in Del Norte County is  suing  the proposed new casino by Elk Valley Rancheria, Del Norte LAFCO, and Crescent City for not consulting with them before decided to use their water and tie into the city’s sewer treatment system via Bertsch Tract water lines. It is estimated the casino would use 60,000 gallons of water a day. The Bertsch-Ocean Community wants the decision reversed and claims the correct documentation for the proposal was not received by the city. According to the lawsuit, an EIR or Negative Declaration was not completed which means “Del Norte LAFCO abused its discretion, acted arbitrarily and capriciously.” Adding another building to existing waterlines and pumps will result in wear and tear that the current homeowners will have to pay for. Updates & Quick Hits OCTA unanimously  approved  $26.7 million in funding for 17 community transit circulators, such as shuttles or bus trolleys, for all the local agencies that applied. Funding went to Dana Point’s Pacific Coast Highway Trolley, Lake Forest’s shuttle service and San Clemente’s rideshare proposal to name a few. Smart Growth America released a  report  on foot traffic and Walkable urban places (WalkUPs). The report found that WalkUPs in 30 of the largest cities across the country now have greater market shares do car-oriented suburbs. The San Francisco Bay Area ranked sixth out of the 30; Los Angeles was 17th and Sacramento and San Diego came in towards the bottom, at 23rd and 24th. San Jose city officials have  agreed  to spend more than $100 million over the next decade to reduce tons of trash that flows into creeks and into the San Francisco Bay, repair miles of leaking underground sewage pipes and clean stormwater contaminated with harmful bacteria. This result comes after a lawsuit brought on by Baykeeper, a conservation group based in Oakland, claiming San Jose violated the Clean Water Act. U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff  introduced  a federal bill to create the Rim of the Valley Corridor in the Los Angeles area. The bill would add 193,000 acres of wild lands along the Los Angeles River to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The federal bill would double the size of the recreation area and increase the amount of trails, roads and facilities. Sen. Barbara Boxer is expected to introduce companion legislation in the Senate. A  deal  between China Railway International and a U.S. company to build XpressWest, a high-speed rail from Victorville to Las Vegas has been called off. CRI blames difficulty with federal regulatory requirements: that high-speed trains must be manufactured in the U.S. The Chinese company originally stated it would provide $100 million for the 230-mile route. (See prior CP&DR  coverage .) Three counties in the Bay Area — Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco --will be  asked  to vote on a tax to come up with $3.5 billion to repair and rebuild BART commuter rail. The measure would increase property tax bills between $35-$55 per parcel per year for 30 years. However, this measure will not pay to extend BART nor cover the cost of adding stations to the existing system, instead it will replace tracks and ties, install new electrical cables and tunnels and control rooms.

Embattled California Coastal Commission Executive Director Charles Lester released a twenty-page  memo  (pdf) detailing his accomplishments and reasons for remaining in his position. Several commissioners have called for Lester's  removal , citing poor job Over 17,000 letters have been received from the public, letter with 153 signatures from staff of the agency, and numerous comments from political representatives of the state in favor of Lester as director. Environmentalists and supporters of the current leader of the agency say the ousting has little to do with Lester personally, but is instead a move by pro-development groups to gain control of the Commission. The commission is expected to discuss Lester's possible ouster at its Feb. 10 meeting in Morro Bay.  SGC and HCD Post Notice of Funding Availability for AHSC Program The Strategic Growth Council and the Department of Housing and Community Development announced the 2015-16 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and Application for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program. A copy of the NOFA is available  here  (pdf). Application access is available through the  Financial Application Assistance Statewide Tool  (FAAST); search for 2015-16 Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program. Concept proposals are due via the FAAST system by 5:00 p.m., Weds., March 16. SGC is holding three remaining statewide workshops this week in Riverside, Los Angeles, and San Diego to assist applicants interested in applying for the 2015-16 Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program. Small group or one-on-one consultations will also be offered to interested applicants on a first come, first served basis. For more information click here. Agenda, presentation materials, and additional guidance are also available on the AHSC  website . AHSC Program Staff will respond to questions sent to  AHSC@hcd.ca.gov , with answers to  frequently asked questions  posted on both the SGC and AHSC websites on a regular basis.  Inland Empire Highway Project Faces Lawsuit The Federal Highway Administration is facing a second lawsuit trying to block construction of a 16-mile, six-lane freeway connecting Perris and San Jacinto. Last May, County Transportation Commission brought the initial lawsuit, which was dismissed. The new claim is brought on by a coalition of environmental groups including Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club. The proposed project will cost $1.7 billion and environmentalists argue it will increase sprawl, traffic, increase air pollution and threaten wildlife. Moreno Valley Considers Massive Annexation The City of Moreno Valley is considering annexing 30 square miles of rugged, sparsely populated unincorporated Riverside County north of the city, bringing the city limits all the way to the San Bernardino County line. The move would increase the city's size by roughly 60 percent. Backers of the annexation say it would enable the city to promote hillside residential developments and development of vineyards, both of which are largely lacking in Moreno Valley currently. After the study is completed, the City Council must decide to file annexation with the county LAFCO. (See prior coverage of Moreno Valley.) Bakersfield Hires Firm for Station Area Plan The Bakersfield City Council voted, 6-0, to hire urban planning and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill to design a station area plan for the High Speed Rail project. The Rail Authority is studying two alignments through Bakersfield: one that would bring the train along the Union Pacific tracks through the middle of the city, or one paralleling the Burlington Northern Santa Fe route north of downtown. The conceptual alignment, along the Union Pacific tracks, would require taking of fewer land parcels but could hurt Kern County's chances of receiving a heavy maintenance facility for the train and the station would not be located in downtown Bakersfield. Bakersfield Planning Director Jacqui Kitchen told the Californian that the city wants "to make sure we get as much functionality out of this effort as we can, and that it's a process that really results in something that is useful regardless of whether the station is built or not." Dam Removal on Klamath May Proceed In the wake of a partisan congressional impasse, PacifiCorp has announced that will proceed with removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River in Southern Oregon/ Northern California. While many groups, including the states of California and Oregon, have long sought for the removal of the dams, PacificCorp's current proposal would exclude habitat restoration and other provisions of the Klamath Agreement. That agreement, made between farmers, tribes and environmental, promises habitat restoration and a reliable supply of water. PacifiCorp will contribute $200 million and Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed an additional $250 million. Farmland Group to Preserve Land on S.F. Peninsula Palo Alto-basd nonprofit Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), has announced it will spend $25 million over the next ten years to preserve farmland between Pacifica and Santa Cruz County. The group will purchase private property, and resell it at a 90 percent reduction to farmers, with conservation easements in place to ensure that it remains arable. The area has lost an estimated 200,000 acres of farmland since 1984, with farmland in San Mateo County now among the most expensive in the nation. The program is intended to halt developments of hotels, golf courses, and second homes on the Pacific Coast while tripling the acres of protected farmland. Eyeing up to 2,250 acres, POST hopes to promote organic crops and conventional growing, while allowing Bay Area restaurant and markets the option to purchase local produce. Veterans Administration Releases Plan for L.A. Campus In a move to address the growing homeless crisis in Los Angeles, a master plan has been released for converting a neglected West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus into a residential community with 1,200 permanent units for disabled and traumatized veterans as well as 700 short-term units. The proposal includes a village for women who have suffered sexual trauma, gardens, theaters, sports fields, gym facilities as well as recreation centers for non-homeless veterans. Mayor Eric Garcetti vowed to house all homeless veterans by the end of this year, and a recent survey suggests there are fewer than 800 homeless veterans in the city, down from over 2,000 the previous year. The development would be on VA land, financed with public and private funds.  S.F., Sacramento Rent Increases Tied for Second Nationally San Francisco and Sacramento are tied for the second-highest rent increases in the country last year. Their 10 percent increases rank second, beyond only Portland, with 14 percent. The analysis from Yardi Matrix, shows in Sacramento "renter by necessity" appreciated 0.8 percent in the last three months while "lifestyle" renters dropped by 0.5 percent in the same time period. The difference between the two groups is those who cannot afford to own, such as younger adults or lower middle-income groups, and those that choose to rent because of location or preference. Sacramento's rise in rental prices is a result of the limited supply of available units, the ratio of new units to overall is 0.7 percent, lowest among the top 30 markets. High Speed Rail Commission Names New Members The nine-member board of directors for the California High-Speed Rail Authority has gained two new members. Lorraine Paskett, a Glendale attorney and CEO of Cambridge LCF Group is a consultant on energy, water and environmental issues. She replaces James Hartnett of Redwood City who became general manager of Caltrain in March 2015. Assembly Member Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) replaces authority vice chairwoman Thea Selby. Lowenthal was a member of the Long Beach Unified School District and City Council before her election to the state Assembly in 2008. Gov. Jerry Brown will appoint the final member.

The California Air Resources Board released a plan that would continue the cap-and-trade program past the 2020 expiration date to 2050. The program has been instrumental in Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to cut emissions by major companies. Money from the program pays for the high-speed rail, electric car subsidies, the sustainable communities programs by the Strategic Growth Council, and many programs in disadvantaged communities. The new plan would provide links with a similar program in Canada, align with federal clean power standards, and be a mechanism to meet Brown’s aggressive GHG reduction targets through 2030. The cap-and-trade program is currently facing many political and legal challenges: such as the argument that it is an unconstitutional tax because it passed in 2006 with a majority vote and not two-thirds. The new plan would increase allowance prices, to push companies to become more innovative and environmentally friendly. The vote by the ARB is scheduled for March 2017. Los Angeles Launches Tenants’ Rights Campaign Amid the City of Los Angeles’ housing affordability crisis, Mayor Eric Garcetti launched a campaign to make tenants living under the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance aware of their rights. Called Home for Renters, the campaign is organized through the L.A. Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA). There are around 624,000 units in L.A. that are covered by rent stabilization, meaning the rent can only increase 3 percent each year. While one in two L.A. families lives in an apartment subject to RSO, only a third of those families understand the ordinance. This new campaign will close the information gap by reaching out to vulnerable neighborhoods with advertisements, door-hangers, informational pamphlets, and online resources to tenants and landlords. The campaign was designed by Garcetti’s Innovation Team and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies which helps to find new, innovative approaches to growing concerns in L.A. communities. Lawsuits Piling Up Against Coastal Commission The California Coastal Commission is facing four separate lawsuits for allegedly illegal secret communications between developers and Coastal Commissioners. The cases, each brought by different individuals and advocacy groups, include a 1950s-era resort in Aliso Canyon, the South Silver Shoals housing project in Pismo Beach, work-live rental units for artists in Laguna Beach, and a storage facility for radioactive waste at San Onofre nuclear plant. These all involve ex-parte communications -- third-party communications between developers and commissioners that are supposed to be revealed publicly. Commissioner Wendy Mitchell allegedly had coaching sessions and private emails with the Aliso Canyon project developer. Coastal Commission attorneys say the emails were forwarded by Mitchell to the rest of the staff and therefore were properly disclosed. A similar situation occurred in Pismo Beach and Laguna Beach, with commissioners being accused of not reporting meetings with developers correctly. The San Onofre lawsuit involved 15 ex-parte communications between commissioners and Southern California Edison on location to store the radioactive fuel pellets. These cases are occurring while a law banning ex-parte communications makes its way through the legislature. Bike Share Finally Arrives in Los Angeles After several false starts over the years, the City of Los Angeles has implemented its first bike-sharing program, which aims to connect Metro bus and rail passengers to thousand of bicycles across the county. The launch of 1,000 Metro bicycles at 65 stations throughout downtown cost $11 million. The system uses the same bus or train fare card- TAP, which makes it the first bike-share program in the country being operated by a transit agency. The rental will cost $3.50 for 30 minutes and will help with commuters “first mile, last mile” connections. (See prior CP&DR coverage .) Grand Jury Slams San Diego Bike Share Program Meanwhile, the San Diego County Metropolitan Transit System is being accused of refusing to support the city’s bike-sharing program. Managed by DecoBike, the system was launched in 2013 and cost $8 million to build kiosks and other required infrastructure. A grand jury found that MTS as well as beach communities has failed to expand the bike-share program as intended. "... hile kiosks are located throughout the urban core, they are not co-located with transit stops, which is crucial to the program’s goal of solving the 'last mile' issue and connecting to public transportation," reads the May 2016 grand jury report, according to the San Diego Reader. MTS claims that concerns about safety in many of the narrow streets where trolley stations are located have stalled expansion. Mission Beach and Pacific Beach have been hesitant because of potential loss in revenue to bike and beach rental shops. DecoBike says these two types of bike rentals are fundamental different and no record of revenue loss has been shown by any shops. ARB Holding Statewide Meetings on Climate Change Action Plan The Environmental Justice Advisory Committee, in cooperation with the Air Resources Board, is holding a series of meetings across the state to hear stakeholder concerns and gather input on air pollution and California’s Climate Change Action Plan. The EJAC consists of representatives from communities most affected by poor air pollution, primarily minority or low-income populations. Input for this Scoping Plan is a requirement of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 that aims to cut GHG emissions by 40 percent. The first meeting was July 11 in San Bernardino, San Diego July 14, Oakland July 19, Wilmington July 25, South Los Angeles July 26, Fresno, Modesto, and Bakersfield July 28 and Sacramento July 29. Report: San Francisco Pursues Code Violations A San Francisco Examiner report finds that in San Francisco, building code violations are followed up by city officials more often than in most other major cities in the U.S. Violations range from lack of hot water and heat to rodents and mold. This was tracked by a report written by the Department of Building Inspection from 2012-2015. In those three years there were 36,466 housing code violations which means the housing inspector confirmed the complaint in their reports and cited the owner for the violation: 88 percent of these violations were corrected by the landlord. San Francisco has such a high percentage of correction because of the follow-up steps the department takes. The DBI looked at nearly 24 cities across the country and San Francisco was the only city that tracked its complaint online, held hearings for noncompliance and issues liens to collect outstanding penalties. Updates & Quick Hits  A group of Central Valley land owners will redraft and reintroduce a proposal to divert high speed rail bond funds to water storage projects for 2018. The initiative will make domestic and irrigation the state’s highest priority for water use, giving the farmers in the Central Valley stronger legal standing. The California Urban Rivers Grant Program has opened the first round of its grant cycle. There will be five technical assistance workshops: Sacramento July 13, Los Angeles July 25, San Jose July 29, San Diego August 2, and Redding August 9. Online applications are due October 3. A proposal for a new football stadium for the San Diego Chargers gathered enough signatures to appear on the November ballot. Their initiative would raise city’s tax on hotels from 12.5 to 16.5 percent to pay for the $1.8 billion stadium and convention center. A study by think tank Transit Center found that Los Angeles will get the most return for investments through prioritizing projects serving walkable neighborhoods such as Hollywood and downtown L.A. Additionally, bus shelters are important in improving the riders experience and L.A. is lagging in installing hundreds of shelters over the last 15 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given a $3 million loan to the Community Revitalization and Development Corporation that will help build 58 affordable apartments in Bakersfield intended to house migrant farm workers. Five other California cities will receive $3 million as well: Woodland, Sukiah, McFarland, Greenfield and Calexico. The City of Carson is planning to build an outlet shopping center on the former landfill site that was bypassed as the potential home of a football stadium for the Raiders and/or Chargers. The City Council voted to begin negotiations with Macerich Real Estate Co. to develop a portion of the 157-acre site. A former member of Westminster’s planning commission, Dave Phuong Dinh Vo, was arraigned on charges of soliciting and receiving a $15,000 bribe for helping a business owner get a liquor license. FBI officials investigated the case against Vo, whose charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The Monrovia City Council voted, 5-0, to approve a new bicycle master plan . The plan includes 3.7 miles of bike paths, 5.1 miles of bike lanes, 17.9 miles of sharrowed bike routes, and 7.1 miles for further study for protected bike lanes. AEG has proposed to build a sports and entertainment arena in the now Seaport Village in downtown San Diego. The privately funded development will cost around $1.4 billion and include three hotels, retail and restaurant space, and office space. No team has been identified for the arena, which would host concerts and other events.