COUNTY VENTURA

COUNTY OF VENTURA CALIFORNIA

General Plan Update

Planning Commission

Work Session Series No. 4 continued

June 13, 2019

Ventura County | RMA - Planning Division

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Text Box

County of Ventura Planning Commission Work Session No. 4 PL17-0141 Exhibit 34 - Staff PowerPoint June 13, 2019

Ventura County General Plan Update | 2

The Planning Division requests that the Planning Commission:

1. PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS on the Public Review Draft of the 2040 General Plan Elements and Area Plans:

a. Conservation and Open Space Element (Exhibit 11)

b. Hazards and Safety Element (Exhibit 12)

c. Public Facilities and Services Element (Exhibit 10)

d. Appendix B: Climate Change (Exhibit 19)

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

Staff report contains additional details regarding Items 1.a – 1.d


PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSIONS

COMPLETED


WORK SESSION SEQUENCE

• Planning Division and Consultant Presentation

• Planning Commission Questions and Clarification

• Public Testimony

• Planning Commission Deliberation

– Project staff slides available for aid in guided discussion


COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT


▪ Channel Islands Boating Center in Oxnard

▪ Grant Brimhall Library in Thousand Oaks

▪ Ventura County Museum of Agriculture in Santa Paula

▪ Mount Pinos Ranger Station in Lockwood Valley

▪ Oak View Community Center in Oak View

▪ Roger Jones Community Center in Oxnard

▪ Ventura County Government Center in Ventura

OPEN HOUSE LOCATIONS Exhibit 2

Spanish and Mixteco interpretation services and materials available


Six focus group meetings were held with issue-area experts for the topical areas of:

▪ Transportation and infrastructure (Exhibit 4)

▪ Climate change (Exhibit 32)

▪ Open space and recreation (Exhibit 32)

▪ Agriculture

▪ Economic development

▪ Water

FOCUS GROUPS – MAY 20 AND 22, 2019


GENERAL COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC Exhibit 2

▪ Policies are too general, should be specific as to how they will be accomplished

• Recommend word changes: "coordinate", "strive", "encourage“/"discourage", etc.

• Quantification metrics for goals, policies, and programs to measure progress (use concrete numbers, not general language)

• Clarify enforcement mechanisms (especially when policies lack programs)

▪ Include citations and bibliography

▪ Include explanations and definitions of abbreviations

▪ Population growth estimates may not fully represent effects of city growth on County resources and services

Additional public comment highlights discussed by element


PROJECT OVERVIEW


PROJECT PHASES AND MILESTONES

1. Initiate Project2. Prepare the

Background Report3. Affirm the Vision and

Guiding Principles

5. Prepare the Draft General Plan

Fall 2018 to Summer 2019

6. Conduct Environmental Review

Spring 2019 to Spring 2020

7. Prepare Final Documents and Adoption

Winter 2019 to Spring 2020

4. Evaluate Alternatives

Winter 2017 to Fall 2018


Preliminary Public Draft

Public DraftProgram

EIR

Final General

Plan / EIR

DEVELOPING THE 2040 GENERAL PLAN

Opportunity to fine tune the General Plan to meet County needs prior to full environmental assessment

Following Commission recommendations and Board direction, the Public Draft will be developed

The Public Draft will be evaluated to determine the environmental implications associated with the 2040 General Plan

Based on the Program EIR and public hearing process, the 2040 General Plan will be updated to create the final document

ProgramEIR


USING THE 2040 GENERAL PLAN


The Ventura County 2040 General Plan contains a number of policies and programs that address cross-cutting themes that weave throughout the General Plan. Icons are used to highlight the relationship between policies and programs to these topics, as applicable.

Climate Action Plan

Environmental Justice

Healthy Communities

Environmental Impact Report

POLICY AND PROGRAM ICONS Page 1-9


• Regulation and Development Review (RDR)

• Master Plans, Strategies, and Programs (MPSP)

• Financing and Budgeting (FB)

• Planning Studies and Reports (PSR)

IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS

• Services and Operations (SO)

• Inter-Governmental Coordination (IGC)

• Joint Partnerships with the Private Sector (JP)

• Public Information (PI)

Many policies are specific enough to be applied and carried out directly as consistency with the General Plan is evaluated for future projects and actions

Page 1-10


As part of the 2040 General Plan, existing language was used as

the starting point. From here, adjustments were made to:

▪ Standardize the language used (e.g., “The County shall…”)

▪ Ensure internal consistency

▪ Eliminate redundancy

▪ Remove items that state the County will adhere to the law

▪ Remove/rewrite items that are now obsolete or have been completed

▪ Remove/rewrite items where the County has no jurisdiction

▪ Add good policy ideas from Area Plans

▪ Comply with new state laws

▪ Achieve the Vision and Guiding Principles established by the Board

UPDATING GOALS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS


CHAPTER 6

CONSERVATION AND OPEN SPACE ELEMENT



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6.1 Biological Resources

6.2 Coastal Resources

6.3 Scenic Resources

6.4 Cultural, Historical,Paleontological, andArchaeological Resources

6.5 Soil and Mineral Resources

ORGANIZATION

6.6 Oil and Gas Resources

6.7 Energy Resource Conservation

6.8 Open Space

6.9 Climate Change andGreenhouse Gas EmissionsReduction

6.10 Implementation Programs


▪ Clarify existing policies for wetland buffers ▪ Comments regarding Climate Action Plan (CAP) policies and programs

located in COS Element, to be addressed later in presentation▪ Urban greening

PUBLIC COMMENT HIGHLIGHTS ON COS ELEMENT

Additional CAP items discussed in Appendix B: Climate Change portion of presentation


CHAPTER 7

HAZARDS AND SAFETY ELEMENT



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7.1 Wildfire Hazards

7.2 Flood Hazards

7.3 Coastal Flooding

7.4 Geologic and Seismic Hazards

7.5 Hazardous Materials

7.6 Transportation Related Hazards

7.7 Oil and Gas Production andTransportation Incidents

ORGANIZATION

7.8 Military Compatibility

7.9 Noise

7.10 Air Quality

7.11 Increasing Temperatures

7.12 Emergency Response



▪ Wildfire hazards• Construction / Standardize design• Buffers• Evacuation• Emergency response

▪ Education and outreach▪ Sea-level rise

PUBLIC COMMENT HIGHLIGHTS ON HAZ ELEMENT



CHAPTER 5

PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES ELEMENT



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5.1 Public Facilities and Services

5.2 Energy Efficiency for County Operations

5.3 Infrastructure Funding

5.4 Wastewater Treatment andDisposal

5.5 Solid and Hazardous Waste

5.6 Flood Control and Drainage Facilities

5.7 Public Utilities

ORGANIZATION

5.8 Community Facilities

5.9 Library Facilities and Services

5.10 Parks and RecreationalFacilities

5.11 Law Enforcement andEmergency Services

5.12 Fire Protection



▪ Fire protection and services (e.g. water supply)▪ Flood control and urban greening▪ Parks and recreation

PUBLIC COMMENT HIGHLIGHTS ON PFS ELEMENT



APPENDIX B

CLIMATE CHANGE


▪ Plan to reduce community’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, adapt to climate change, or both

▪ CEQA Guidelines, Section 15183.5: key elements for GHG emission reduction planning and tiering/streamlining provisions

▪ SB 379 (2015) amended state planning law to require that climate change vulnerability and adaptation be addressed in safety element and other appropriate elements

WHAT IS A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (CAP)? Exhibit 19


▪ The 2040 General Plan will serve as the County’s climate action plan (CAP), with policies integrated throughout the document

▪ The integrated CAP and its technical components are summarized in Appendix B

VENTURA COUNTY CAP Exhibit 19


▪ Close to 200 policies and programs are tagged with the CAP icon

• Both GHG measures and adaptation measures. In some cases, a policy or program may contribute to both (Table B-10)

Climate Action Plan

Environmental Justice

Healthy Communities

Environmental Impact Report

POLICY AND PROGRAM ICONS Page 1-9


B.1 GHG Emissions Reduction Strategy

B.1.1. Baseline Emissions Inventory

B.1.2. Emissions Forecasts

B.1.3. GHG Reduction Goals and Targets

B.1.4. GHG Reduction Measures

B.1.5 GHG Strategy Implementation and Monitoring

B.2 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy

B.2.1 Existing Adaptation Efforts

B.2.2 Climate Vulnerability, Adaptation, and Implementation

B.3 Summary of GHG Reduction and Climate Adaptation Measures

APPENDIX B ORGANIZATION Exhibit 19


KEY “FRAMING” POLICIES / PROGRAMS FOR GHG STRATEGY

COS-10.1 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Strategy

COS-10.2 Community GHG Reduction Target for 2030

COS-10.3 Community GHG Reduction Goals for 2040 and 2050

COS-10.4 GHG Reductions in Existing and New Development

COS-T GHG Strategy Implementation

COS-U Monitoring

COS-V Public Reporting

COS-W Inventory Updates

COS-X GHG Strategy Updates

COS-Y Tiering and Streamlining Project-Level GHG Analysis

Exhibit 19


BASELINE EMISSIONS INVENTORY RESULTS (B.1.1)• Baseline year: 2015

• Approximately 1,856,804 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) emitted per year

• Unincorporated Ventura County

• Aligned with inventories prepared by Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance + other climate action plans around the state

• U.S. Community Protocol compliant

Exhibit 19


METHODS AND SCOPE OF GHG EMISSIONS INVENTORY

• Inventory reporting framework (U.S. Community Protocol): limited to sources and activities within defined local geographic boundaries, over which local agency has jurisdiction or significant influence

• Consistent with CARB 2017 Scoping Plan and OPR 2017 General Plan Guidelines

• Rodeo Citizens Association v. County of Contra Costa (CA First Appellate Court, 2018): lifecycle analysis is speculative


METHODS AND SCOPE OF GHG EMISSIONS INVENTORY (CONTINUED)

Use of global warming potential (GWP) values from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 4th Assessment Report (AR4):

▪ Calculation of County’s legislative reductions and targets requires consistency with 2017 Scoping Plan and State’s inventory, which uses AR4 GWP values

▪ Switching from AR4 to AR5 GWP values now, without statewide change in CARB’s accounting framework, would result in inconsistency with SB 32 (2016) and 2017 Scoping Plan

▪ Adjustments to GWP values in future inventory updates may include IPCC 5th

Assessment or other GWP values, if CARB switching to use of AR5


METHODS AND SCOPE OF GHG EMISSIONS INVENTORY (CONTINUED)

Comparison of AR4 vs. AR5 GWP values (for illustrative purposes only):

▪ AR4 GWP values (100-year timeframe)• Methane (CH4) = 25

• Nitrous Oxide (N2O) = 298

• Total County emissions using AR4 values = 1,856,804 MTCO2e

▪ AR5 GWP values (100-year timeframe)• CH4 = 28

• N2O = 265

• Total County emissions using AR5 values = 1,879,875 MTCO2e

▪ Net difference: +23,071 MTCO2e, or 1.24 %


EMISSIONS FORECASTS AND REDUCTION TARGETS (B.1.2 AND B.1.3)

• Forecasts prepared for two scenarios (BAU and Legislative-Adjusted)

• Growth in population, housing, jobs per SCAG RTP/SCS used to prepare forecasts

• Legislative adjustments account for State and Federal regs and policy

• GHG target set at 41% below 2015 levels for 2030

• Longer-term goals for 2040 and 2050: 61% and 80% below 2015 levels

• Consistent with OPR and CARB guidance


▪ GHG reduction measures are the “actions” to reduce emissions

▪ No quantification of GHG reduction measures has taken place to date

• Next steps following public review of Preliminary Public Draft:

• Revise policies and programs, quantify effectiveness in meeting 2030 target and progress towards 2040 and 2050 goals

• Revise Appendix B (including results of quantitative “gap analysis”)

• Draft EIR will incorporate and rely on quantitative GHG analysis and the CAP

GHG REDUCTION MEASURES (B.1.4) Exhibit 19


▪ GHG reduction measures should be:

• Locally-based actions within County’s jurisdiction or legal authority

• Informed by existing programs and activities, community input, and aligned with existing County goals and policies

• Complementary to CARB Scoping Plan for SB 32 (2016) implementation

GHG REDUCTION MEASURES (B.1.4) Exhibit 19


LU-11.3 Design

LU-11.4 Sustainable Technologies

LU-16.9 Building Orientation and Landscaping

LU-A Guidelines for Orderly Development Implementation

CTM-2.11 Efficient Land Use Patterns

CTM-2.12 Countywide Bicycle Lane and Trail System

CTM-2.13 Transportation System Connectivity

CTM-2.21 Intercommunity and Countywide Public Transportation System

CTM-4.1 Reduce Vehicles Miles Traveled (VMT)

CTM-4.2 Alternative Transportation

CTM-6.5 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

GHG REDUCTION MEASURES – KEY EXAMPLES Exhibit 19


PFS-2.1 Sustainable Plans and Operations

PFS-5.4 Solid Waste Reduction

PFS-5.5 Agricultural Waste Reuse

PFS-5.6 Value-Added Alternatives to Waste Disposal

PFS-L Food Waste Reduction

COS-5.3 Soil Productivity

COS-8.1 Reduce Reliance on Fossil Fuels

COS-8.3 Clean Power Alliance

COS-8.4 Decarbonize Communitywide Electricity Supplies

COS-8.5 Zero Net Energy Buildings

COS-8.7 Renewable Energy Features in New Development

GHG REDUCTION MEASURES – KEY EXAMPLES (CONTINUED) Exhibit 19


COS-8.8 Urban Tree Canopy Improvements

COS-9.1 Open Space Preservation

COS-M Local Building Standards for Energy Efficiency

COS-N Study to Demonstrate Energy and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Savings

COS-P Building Code Update (Reach Code)

HAZ-10.5 Air Pollution Impact Mitigation Measures for Discretionary Development

HAZ-10.6 Transportation Control Measures

HAZ-10.7 Fuel Efficient County Vehicles

AG-5.2 Electric- or Renewable-Powered Agricultural Equipment

AG-5.3 Electric- or Renewable-Powered Irrigation Pumps

AG-5.5 Carbon Farming Practices

GHG REDUCTION MEASURES – KEY EXAMPLES (CONTINUED) Exhibit 19


▪ Monitoring the CAP :

• Implementation status monitoring (quarterly)

• Performance monitoring (annually)

• Inventory Updates (every five years, starting with 2020)

▪ Annual Reporting:

• Sharing results of monitoring activities with the public, including annual CAP progress reports, and presentations to Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors

• Starting in 2022, more detailed report that includes results of the 2020 inventory update, with opportunity to update CAP if needed

IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, REPORTING (B.1.5) Exhibit 19


▪ The following events would trigger a GHG Strategy update process:

• Enactment of new state or federal legislation that codifies into statute post-2030 GHG emission reduction or zero-net carbon targets or goals; or,

• Adoption of an update to California’s Climate Change Scoping Plan by CARB, pursuant to Executive Order (EO) B-55-18 or state legislative actions

▪ Key principles for monitoring, reporting, and updating:

• Both qualitative and quantitative process

• Keep public and decision-makers informed regarding progress

• Update CAP periodically to reflect new information, such as changes in state policy, technology, and new ideas for achieving target and goals

UPDATING THE GHG STRATEGY (B.1.5) Exhibit 19


▪ SB 379 (2015) requirements:

• Conduct climate change vulnerability assessment (see Background Report, Chapter 12 – Climate Change, re-summarized in Appendix B, Section B.2)

• Develop climate adaptation goals, policies and objectives based on the vulnerability assessment results (see items tagged with CAP icon and tagged as “Climate Adaptation Measure” or “Both” in Table B-10)

• Identify a set of feasible implementation measures based on the adaptation policies (see above)

• Safety Element = primary element to address requirements, but other elements may address climate adaptation if applicable

CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE STRATEGY (B.2) Exhibit 19


▪ Temperature: a rise of 3 to 6 °F in annual average temps by 2090• Extreme heat: an increase of up to 79 extreme heat days per year by 2099

▪ Sea-Level Rise:• Coastal erosion of up to 1.36 meters by 2100• Elevated groundwater levels and salinity intrusion in adjacent watersheds• Exposure of approximately 23,300 people countywide to inundation from a 100-year flood event combined with a 1.4-

meter (4.6-foot) rise in sea level, many of which are low income or especially vulnerable• Exposure of approximately 170 miles of roads and railways, hospitals, schools, emergency facilities, wastewater

treatment plants, three power plants, and a naval base from a 100-year flood event combined with a 1.4-meter (4.6-foot) rise in sea level

▪ Flooding:• More frequent events and more extensive and longer duration of impacts

▪ Wildfire:• 15 % increase in the potential amount of area burned by wildfire between 2020 and 2085, compared to historical

trends

▪ Habitat fragmentation due to changes in precipitation, increased temperatures, and rising sea levels

CLIMATE EXPOSURE ANALYSIS – KEY FINDINGS Exhibit 19


▪ Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

▪ Coastal Resilience Ventura

▪ Ventura County Resilient Coastal Adaptation Project

▪ Ventura River Watershed Council - Watershed Management Plan

▪ Ventura County Fire Protection District - Unit Strategic Fire Plan

▪ Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council - Community Wildfire Protection Plan

▪ Ventura County Fire Protection District - Personal Wildfire Action Plan

EXISTING ADAPTATION AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS/STUDIES


COS-8.7 Renewable Energy Features in Discretionary Development

COS-8.9 Battery Energy Storage Systems

COS-R Solar Canopies in Non-Residential Projects

HAZ-11.1 Critical Vulnerable Infrastructure

HAZ-P Identify Critical Infrastructure Vulnerable to Extreme Heat

HAZ-11.9 Urban Greening (parking lot shading, landscaping, cool pavement)

HAZ-11.5 Outdoor Worker Protection

HAZ-S Extreme Heat Education and Outreach

HAZ-T Cool Roof Ordinance

AG-N Subsidies for Resilient Crop Production

TEMPERATURES AND EXTREME HEAT – KEY EXAMPLES Exhibit 19


COS-2.2 Beach Nourishment

COS-2.10 Saltwater Intrusion

HAZ-3.1 Sea Level Rise Planning and Adaptation

HAZ-3.2 County Infrastructure Projects and Sea Level Rise

HAZ-I Estuaries, Wetlands, and Groundwater Basins Resilience

CTM-K Update County Roadway Design Standards/Guidelines

PFS-6.3 Climate Change Impacts on Flood Control and Drainage Facilities

PFS-C Climate Change Impacts Monitoring

WR-F Discretionary Development Review for Adequate Water and Wastewater

SEA-LEVEL RISE AND FLOODING – KEY EXAMPLES Exhibit 19


PFS-7.2 Reduce Transmission Facility Fire Hazard Risk

HAZ-1.1 Fire Prevention Design and Practices

HAZ-1.2 Defensible Space Clear Zones

HAZ-1.3 Controlled Burns and Other Fire Prevention Measures

HAZ-1.4 Development in High Fire Hazard Severity Zones

HAZ-1.5 Wildfire Risk Education

HAZ-1.6 Post-Fire Community and Natural Resource Recovery

HAZ-11.4 Education and Outreach on Effects of Climate Change

HAZ-11.8 Undergrounding Utilities

HAZ-B Wildfire Vulnerability Assessment and Mapping

WILDFIRE – KEY EXAMPLES Exhibit 19


COS-9.3 Open Space Preservation

COS-C Update Tree Protection Ordinance

AG-4.4 Pest Management (invasive species)

AG-5.3 Alternative Irrigation Techniques

AG-6.1 Monitor Climate Change Research

AG-6.2 Drought-Tolerant Crops

AG-N Subsidies for Resilient Crop Production

WR-2.4 Reduce Potable Water Use

WR-3.1 Groundwater Management

WR-3.3 Groundwater Recharge Projects

AGRICULTURE, WATER, & NATURAL RESOURCES – KEY EXAMPLES


LU-18.5 Participation in Climate Change Planning

PFS-1.2 Resilient Facilities and Services

HAZ-11.2 Climate Change-Related Partnerships

HAZ-11.3 Limit Impacts of Climate Change on Designated Disadvantaged Communities

HAZ-11.4 Education and Outreach on Effects of Climate Change

HAZ-A Develop and Implement Educational Programs for Wildfire Resilience

HAZ-G Communication Program for Property Owners At-Risk from Sea Level Rise

COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND EDUCATION – KEY EXAMPLES


▪ General Comment: Policies and programs are too general and weak, address urgency of climate change in specific, enforceable ways

▪ Policy COS-10.2 and Policy COS-10.3 for GHG Targets and Goals: Recommend modification

▪ Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory: Methodology and scope of analysis comments▪ Carbon sequestration on agricultural and natural and working lands▪ Add Program that monitors and analyzes production of GHG emissions from oil and gas▪ Electrification and overall decarbonization of buildings, transportation, and

infrastructure: New construction projects, existing building retrofits, energy efficiency, and appliance replacements

▪ Climate Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Monitoring and Reporting▪ Education and outreach

PUBLIC COMMENT HIGHLIGHTS ON APPENDIX B: CLIMATE CHANGE

Additional CAP items discussed in other Elements of presentation


PLANNING COMMISSION QUESTIONS

AND CLARIFICATION


PUBLIC TESTIMONY


PLANNING COMMISSION DELIBERATION