The Oakland City Council approved  dramatic reductions to its parking requirements last week, undoing regulations established in 1965. The move is meant to make it less expensive to develop housing, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve quality of life for residents. The city is hoping to achieve better walkability with the new parking regulations. For instance, in major transit hubs, the required parking is zero and instead a maximum cap is set. Additionally, cost of parking will be separate from rent, meaning residents who do not drive will no longer subsidize neighbors that do. The regulations provide incentives for landlords to developers to offer transit passes and subsidies for car-sharing services to residents. (See prior CP&DR coverage .) Watchdog Group Sues Coastal Commissioners Five California Coastal Commissioners are being sued by Spotlight on Coastal Corruption for 590 alleged transparency rule violations in the last two years. Commissioners Erik Howell, Martha McClure, Wendy Mitchell, Mark Vargas and Steve Kinsey are accused of violating disclosure laws for ex-parte communications and could each face fines of millions of dollars. Ex-parte communications involve telephone calls, face-to-face meetings, emails or other written material related to a pending matter outside official public hearings. These interactions should be reported in writing within a week of the communication and include the date, time, type, location, list of everyone involved in the communication, and description of content. A bill prohibiting ex-parte communications by commissioners was defeated earlier this month. Lake Tahoe, Salton Sea to Receive Federal Funding The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved  a measure for $10 billion on water quality projects nationwide over the next decade. This includes $415 million for the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act. The first Act in 2000 provided $300 million in federal money for restoration projects on the lake. This new bill will include money for projects to improve water quality, reduce wildlfire threats, combat aquatic invasive species, and build new public transit systems featuring ecologically friendly roads. The Salton Sea would also receive funding  from the bill as would the Los Angeles River and Sacramento-area flood control. The measure must now go to the House to be voted on. Proposed Development May Run Afoul of Richmond General Plan Richmond residents filed  a lawsuit against a new 13.8-acre bayfront Terminal One development project at Terminal One. The project plan includes 334 condo and townhome units, restaurants, hiking trails and a 0.9-acre park. The five residents that filed the claim are members of the Brickyard Cove Alliance for Responsible Development (BCARD). They allege that the project’s EIR does not comply with CEQA because of traffic congestion, exposure to hazardous chemicals, blocked bay views and altered wind patterns for sailing community. The plaintiffs favor the site’s development, but are concerned with the height and subversion of Richmond’s General Plan 2030. Price Tag for Key L.A. River Parcel: $252 Million The Los Angeles City Council voted in May to allocate $40 million to purchase part of Taylor Yards, a crucial site site along the Los Angeles River to develop into a park space, wetland, and other amenities. City analysts have calculated  that it could cost more than $252 million to develop the 41-acre area into a park. $120 million of the expected costs are for environmental cleanup. UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation is preparing a new Los Angeles River Greenway Guide  and is using Marsh Park as a case study. This 3.9-acare park in the Elysian Valley has trees, green infrastructure, play and fitness equipment, a walking path, picnic tables, open-air pavilion, and a large industrial building that houses a company that takes modular shipping containers and turns them into units for the homeless. The guide includes 14 other case studies that include parks, pathways, access points and bridges along the river. The guide looks at challenges faced in each project and how the obstacles were overcome leading to successful riverside gateways. The 51-mile river has many successful projects on the northern part, but not the same amenities exist in the lower section of the river. (See prior CP&DR coverage .) Listing of Spineflower Could Complicate L.A.-Area Developments The San Fernando Valley spineflower may become listed  as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The flower, once thought to be extinct, has two known populations located in the Santa Monica Mountains of Ventura County and on the proposed Newhall Ranch development site. However, Newhall Land and Farming has said it has taken steps to protect the plant. For instance, in the Spineflower Conservation Plan approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2010 227 acres of Newhall Land are permanently funded and protected for the flower. Updates & Quick Hits The California Coastal Commission accepted  Measure H as a Minor Amendment to the Dana Point Local Coastal Plan, which will now allow the measure to become part of the 2008 Town Center Plan. Supporters say the measure will help the residents with the battle against special interests and developer money. The First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco rejected , 3-0, the city’s attempt to restrict tenant evictions under the state’s Ellis Act. The court said the ordinance would “discourage or penalize Ellis Act evictions” which creates a disincentive to evict. The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved  $750 million in public funding to build a stadium in Las Vegas to lure the Oakland Raiders. The hotel tax in the Las Vegas area will be raised to pay for the 65,000-seat stadium, as well as partially financed by billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. The governor, legislature and three-quarters of NFL owners need to be won over to make the project a reality. Four affordable housing projects in San Francisco will receive  $310 million in city money to jump start development. The projects will create 529 housing units for seniors, families, and formerly homeless persons. Unite Here Local 11, a labor union representing hotel workers, filed  a complaint to investigate potential illegal use of foreign money in a heated Beverly Hills ballot measure. The ballot measure would allow union-friendly Beverly Hilton to bypass public review to build a 26-story high-rise. Opposing the measure is China’s Wanda Group, which plans to build a $1.2-billion hotel-condominium project adjacent to the 26-story high-rise.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Garrett Wong ruled the city’s environmental review of the proposed Golden State Warriors’ arena in Mission Bay neighborhood was adequate. The court ruled the mitigations were reasonable and that local transit agencies were notified and able to respond to add additional services. The arena will be called the Chase Center after the team reached a deal with JPMorgan Chase. The main opposition to the project is the Mission Bay Alliance made up of UCSF donors. They argue the 18,500-seat arena will create congestion and slow access to the medical center. The team says the Chase Center will open in 2019. Norco's Rejection Hindu Temple Prompts Accusations of Discrimination The Norco City Council rejected , 5-0, a proposed Hindu temple that did not fit “western aesthetic” required by the laws of a city known as Horsetown, located in the Inland Empire. Those in favor of the project say it is “thinly veiled cultural discrimination.” The developers appealed to city leaders to meet city standards by lowering the building’s height by ten feet and removing the traditional dome. Council members raised other concerns about adequate parking, water drainage and the effect on residential vistas on the four-acre site. The facility would have drawn people from a 20-mile radius to promote “secular harmony” and “a balance between spirituality and modernity.” The project received seven opposition letters from stakeholders (to one support letter), one of which contended that the temple’s “way of life is not conducive to their beliefs…. I’d like to continue on with its hometown atmosphere and not be another casualty of political correctness and tolerance.” The temple’s bakers will have to wait one year before resubmitting a proposal. Alameda County Bans Fracking Alameda County has become the first Bay Area County to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing for the purpose of extracting natural gas and other fossil fuels. County supervisors unanimously approved the ban making it the fifth county in the state to do so. The county’s only oil generator, E&B Natural Resources, does not use fracking to extract oil, so the ban is mostly preventative and symbolic. Supervisors contend that the ban will protect residents’ water and their health. (See prior CP&DR coverage .) Judge Rules in Favor of Sale of Delta Islands The California Supreme Court sided with the Metropolitan Water District’s $175-million purchase of five islands in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. While MWD does not have a project for the land, it has said it could be used for a proposed multibillion-dollar water tunnel system. While this was a win for MWD, there are two other lawsuits facing the Southern California Water District. The first claims a breach of contract and the other argues that an environmental impact report should have been completed before purchase. It could be months or even years before all the legal challenges are resolved.  Chumash Win Federal Permission to Expand Reservation The Chumash tribe has received federal permission to annex Camp 4, a 1,400-acre parcel outside the current boundaries of its reservation in Santa Barbara County. The House Committee on Natural Resources moved forward a federal bill that would allow the annexation. Chumash leaders filed for the annexation three years ago, hoping to be freed of the county’s strict permitting process and property tax rolls. The reservation expansion has been the subject of hostility between neighbors and tribal leaders. Those opposed for the bill cite the fact that 10 out of 20 of the bill’s author’s top contributors this election cycle were Indian gambling interests. Others say it is an example of overstepping bounds, and these types of issues need to be dealt with at the local level. Lawmakers Protest Federal Transportation Grant Decisions Southern California was excluded from an inaugural round of federal transportation grants aimed at improving freight movement to and from ports, highways, and rail. Local democratic lawmakers sent  Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx a letter saying this snub would hurt California and national economies. Los Angeles has the busiest port in the U.S. and is responsible for moving 40 percent or an estimated $396 billion of the nation’s cargo. DOT omitted 16 projects in the six-county region that would improve the Port of Long Beach or pay for zero-emission cranes. Instead the DOT awarded $759 million in projects from Seattle to Louisiana. Only one project, expanding freeway in San Diego County to the Mexican border received $50 million. While the decisions cannot be changed for 2016, the congressional lawmakers hope to make it known how unhappy they are with being overlooked. The delegation is contesting $90 million going to revamp the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington D.C. which connects cars to pedestrian, saying it does not meet the criteria of improving freight movement. Oakland Approves Rental Protections The Oakland City Council approved two companion measures to limit the property owners’ ability to raise rents in what is now the fourth most expensive rental market in the nation. The measures will go before voters in November as the Renters Protection Act. They proposals require any annual rent hike of more than 10 percent to be approved by the city. Additionally, the proposal limits the amount the property owners can charge their tenants for capital improvements to their buildings. Buyers of duplexes and triplexes must live in the buildings for at least two years before they are exempt from rent control. Neither measure applies to buildings constructed after 1983, which are exempted under state law that restricts local rent controls. Los Angeles Strikes Deal with Airbnb to Collect Taxes The City of Los Angeles will start collecting taxes from Airbnb hosts. The city has had a tax similar to a transient occupancy tax but has faced difficulty making sure the money was collected. In the new deal, Airbnb will collect the tax and hand it over to the city. This would generate an estimated $5 million that may help pay for homeless programs. Airbnb is in favor of the plan and says it will help residents and ensure the city shares in the economic benefits. The tax still represents a paradox. In L.A. it is still illegal to rent out a home for less than 30 days at a time, although planning officials are working on a new law that could legalize and regulate such rentals. SCAG Issues Report in Advance of Regional Plan Discussions The Southern California Association of Governments has published a new report called “Toward a Sustainable Future: Is Southern California on Track?” The report hopes to build on the last regional plan by seeking more balance between mobility and housing needs with economic, environmental and public health goals. For instance its goal is to reduce carbon pollution by eight percent in four years and 21 percent by 2040. The four main recommendations include: 1) connecting transportation decisions to impact on climate and communities; 2) investing sooner in alternative transportation; 3) convening leaders and getting better data; 4) and bottom-up regional planning. While good progress has been made in public transportation in LA and Imperial County, major gaps remain in affordable housing in the region. Updates & Quick Hits A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge denied a request to halt construction on the Regional Connector subway project through downtown LA. The pending lawsuit, filed by owners of Japanese Village shopping center, claims Metro and two construction companies planned to inject a cement-like substance beneath the pedestrian mall without securing easements. This is the third lawsuit the Japanese Village has filed over the Regional Connector. The Coastal Commission unanimously approved a permit for the planned $2 billion Mid-Coast Trolley in San Diego. The 11-mile, nine-station project will travel through 3.5 miles of designated coastal zone.  The Santa Monica City Council unanimously voted to put the Land Use Voter Empowerment (LUVE) initiative on the November ballot. The initiative would subject any new construction over 32 feet or two stories to gain voter approval. While none of the council members supports proposal, they had no choice besides enacting it into law because the group had gathered enough signatures. San Diego Unified Port District voted , 6-1, to support Seaport San Diego, a $1.2 billion replacement for the 500-foot spire for Seaport Village. The plan includes three hotels with 1,077 rooms, more than 388,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a 480 “spire” observation tower and an aquarium. Three lawsuits have been filed in the past month against the City of Long Beach for selling prominent downtown properties without proper parking and traffic studies. The suit alleges the city is “piecemealing” its development projects and not doing a complete environmental study. The plans for the properties include a hotel, luxury apartments, and student housing. The Alameda City Council voted to place a pro-renter initiative on the November ballot and is now considering placing the current city ordinance-with more modest controls- alongside the renters’ measure. The current ordinance restricts landlords to one increase per year and requiring rises of more than 5 percent to be reviewed by an ad-hoc committee. The pro-renter initiative already approved for the ballot would cap annual increases at 65 percent of the change in the CPI for the previous year. (See prior CP&DR coverage .)

Riverside County reached  a settlement with Highland Fairview, the developers of the World Logistics Center in Moreno Valley, to mitigate impacts of the massive facility. The deal asks the developer to provide funding for road improvement projects throughout the county. The planned 40.6-million-square foot warehouse complex will generate an estimated 68,721 vehicle trips a day and approximately 20,000 jobs. The developer will pay $3 million for improvements on Gilman Springs Road and another $3 million to improve Highway 60. The project is facing a dozen lawsuits, and this settlement only eliminates three. The other legal challenges are air quality and endangered species. A Riverside County judge has 90 days to rule  on a Moreno Valley City Council vote to allow the complex to skirt the California Environmental Quality Act via the so-called "Tuolumne Tactic." The cases say the city and developer did not adequately address environmental issues such as air pollution, traffic and other consequences required by CEQA. City Council then adopted three developer-back initiatives exempting the project from environmental laws. (See prior CP&DR coverage .) Obama Administration Finalizing Desert Conservation Plan The Obama administration is advancing  the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, which would promote wind and solar installations on 10 million acres of the Mojave Desert. The plan, which the administration is seeking to finalize before President Obama leaves office, would permit install 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy on federal land. The plan sets aside nearly 2,000 square miles of land in the Mojave Desert and 5 million acres for conservation. Besides the three national parks, the desert is considered a wasteland used for military bases, off-road vehicle playgrounds and desert cities. However, scientists say developing the undisturbed desert soils could harm the fight against climate change. University researchers find that building rooftop solar systems on parking lots and large stores could provide the state with enough energy three to five times over. Driving this push for large-scale renewable development is the California law requiring half the energy provided by utilities to come from clean sources within 14 years. San Francisco Poised to Embrace Accessory Dwelling Units San Francisco Board of Supervisors are set to approve  so-called “in-law units” in existing private buildings. These accessory dwelling units could potentially create 30,000 more affordable housing units. The main concern was that ADUs should be permitted outside the actual structures of the building. The compromise was the units could only be created within existing structures in place for at least three years or in the open space under decks or light wells. District 3 and 8, which includes Castro, Noe Valley, Chinatown and North Beach, all have ordinances that legalize ADUs. The new provision states one ADU can be built for buildings with fewer than five units and an unlimited number for larger buildings, provided the units are 300 square feet for a studio and 500 for a one-bedroom. The city will create an outreach program to meet with qualifying property owners to provide technical assistance and possible financial assistance through banks. Delta Tunnel Biological Assessment Released The Department of Water Resources released  its biological assessment for the proposed $15.5 billion water tunnel project promoted by Gov. Jerry Brown. The assessment claims that the plan “minimizes potential effects” on endangered fish in the Delta. The biological assessment will now be reviewed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service and analyzed for potential violation on the ESA. A draft was received last fall. California officials are hoping to secure a decision before President Obama leaves in January. California Congressman Introduces Empowerment Zone Legislation Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton) has introduced  federal legislation, Revitalize Our Cities Act (HR 5498), to extend the federal Empowerment Zones program. The Act would open another 20 cities over the next three years that could include cities such as Stockton that need assistance but have been repeatedly left out of other federal funding programs. In empowerment zones, businesses that generate jobs in areas of high poverty or unemployment receive federal tax incentives. San Joaquin County has around 7.1 percent unemployment rate while the state average is 4.7 percent. Feds Awards Four TIGER Grants to California Cities California received  $40 million in four federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants to improve transportation. Three of the grants will improve transit service and the last will fund a one-mile road. The transit programs are $15 million to LA Metro for grade separation in Santa Fe Springs, $8.7 million to San Bernardino County for passenger rail service to Redlands, $6.3 million to Bay Area Rapid Transit to modernize Oakland’s 19 th Street Station, and $10 million to Live Oak to widen and upgrade one mile of Route 99, the city’s main street. Report Makes Recommendations for Healthy Land Use in Los Angeles Healthy, Equitable, Active Land Use (HEALU) Network released  “Strategic Opportunities to Create a Healthy, Equitable Land Use System in Los Angeles,” a policy brief address issues of health equity through land use. The brief has four key items to make Los Angeles a healthier and more equitable land use system. The first is increasing the percentage of public funds investing in health-promoting infrastructure in low-income communities. Second, is building capacity in the government, private sector, and community-based organizations for more engagement. The policy brief pushes for accelerated land use innovations and demonstration projects. The last is fostering cross-government collaboration to engage health and equity in all land use decisions. Ruling Complicates Development of Rail Yard at Port of L.A. A Contra Costa Superior Court Judge has ruled that the proposed BNSF Railway’s Southern California International Gateway project at the Port of Los Angeles must complete a “more robust and accurate analysis” of the possible environmental impacts. The ruling means the port and BNSF either improve the EIR, scrap the project altogether or appeal the decision. The proposed transshipment facility, to be located 185 acres four miles north of the port, would exceed local noise ordinances and generate 2 million trips per year from truck and trains. The ruling is part of a suit brought on by several groups in neighboring Long Beach; many have raised concerns about environmental justice, noting that the environmental impact report acknowledges that pollution form the facility "would fall disproportionately on minority and low-income populations because the census block groups are adjacent to the point of impact." Updates & Quick Hits The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to add Measure M, a half-cent tax increase proposal, to the November ballot to fund transportation projects. The proposal could generate $860 million per year. Starting in September in San Diego, smaller hotels, motels and short-term rentals will no longer have to pay a special room surcharge for tourism marketing. The city council voted that only lodgings with more than 70 rooms will pay the 2 percent on top of the city’s 10.5 percent room tax. The federal Department of the Interior approved the gaming compact for the North Fork Mono Rancheria tribe’s 305-acre casino complex north of Madera. However, a federal lawsuit is still pending which could affect start construction times. San Mateo City Council approved a rent-control initiative for the November ballot. The San Mateo Community Preservation and Fair Rent Charter Amendment seeks to cap rent increases at the regional consumer price index and instate just-cause eviction regulations. The rent-control measures would only apply to apartments built before Feb. 1, 1995 however all residents would receive protection against eviction without cause. The Sacramento City Council will vote on new rules for safeguarding, maintaining and removing trees on public and private land. The proposal would require a 15-day notice before city trees and some privately owned heritage trees could be cut down, with higher fines. Latham Square in Oakland has reopened after nearly three years of planning and construction. The square was enlarged and is now four times larger. Additionally there is a working fountain for the first time since 1941. The money for the project came from a state grand ($1.4 million), $3.8 from a half-cent sales tax revenue, $500,000 fro Alameda County Transportation Commission and $1.3 million in local funds. In the last year, Santa Monica issued 893 fines to local property owners and collected $20,000 from Airbnb, after enacting one of the strictest STR laws in the country. The city restricts its property owners from renting out homes or apartments on a short-term basis. Hosts who violate the law will pay fines of up to $500. Airbnb filed suit against the City of Anaheim after the city council banned short-term rentals and said home-sharing websites would be fined for illegal listings. The company says the city is violating the Communications Decency Act and the First Amendment. This is a similar lawsuit Airbnb is fighting in San Francisco. The new L.A. Football Club MLS team is proposing to build a massive athletic facility in Tustin on 85-acres of Navy-owned land surrounding a former blimp hangar. The plans for the site includes a 5,000-8,000 seat stadium, 18 sports fields, 12 baseball diamonds, a medical center, sports research lab, three hotels as well as a promenade with restaurants, stores and apartments.

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.