March 2011 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter

8/3/2019 March 2011 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter

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League Sponsors Healthy Neighborhoods Act By: Jena Price

CALIFORNIA TODAYCALIFORNIA TODAYNews l e t t e r o f th e Pl ann ing & Conse r va t i on League PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUEPLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATIONMarch 2011 Volume 41, Number 1

Californians want to live and work in greatneighborhoods. We want sustainable and walkablecommunities and a convenient and dependable public transitsystem. For this and many other reasons votersoverwhelmingly support stemming the tide on globalwarming. And now our golden state has two landmark laws

that can serve as a model for the rest of the nation.Heres the issue -- after many, many years of poor

planning and suburban sprawl, we are very dependent on ourcars. In fact, 36% of Californias greenhouse gas emissionsare created by our vehicles. The bottom line is that we nowneed to create transportation systems, communities, and jobopportunities all in close proximity to each other. A recentPublic Policy Institute of California report showed that thevast majority of commuters still drive to work, even if theylive or work near a transit station. It seems that employmentdensity (the number of jobs per square mile) matters morewhen encouraging commuters to use transit instead ofdriving to work everyday.

What we need to do now is implement the intent of ourglobal warming laws. How will we do that? The League isspearheading the way with a two-prong approach. First, weneed to give citizens and community leaders the tools theyneed to make new developments climate friendly byaddressing responsible land use through the implementationof landmark legislation like Senate Bill 375. Known as theGreenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Bill, SB 375

(Steinberg) builds on the existing framework of regioplanning in an attempt to incorporate the regional allocatof housing needs and regional transportation planningorder to reduce the emissions created from vehicles.

Second, we need to support reforms that ensure that ndevelopment is climate friendly and does what SB 375 sai

should. These landmark bills set the groundwork by aimto limit urban fringe development and decrease greenhogases. The League will champion complimenting measuthat promote high density, infill development, and preserour farm land, keeping the residents of California all-arohealthier.

Thats why this year the Planning and ConservaLeague introduced the Healthy Neighborhoods (Assembly Bill 605). It is the first of many to come overnext five years; as we turn our focus towards using legislative process to encourage more sustainadevelopment, more pedestrian friendly communities an all around healthier, less polluted environment. TLeagues bill, authored by Assemblymember RoDickinson, aims to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT)new developments and creates a checklist or standards new developments to meet. As the legislative sessproceeds, we look forward to keeping you all posted on progress of our bills!

To learn more about PCLs work in the Capitol gowww.PCL.org.

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

CEQA Updates, pages 3 and 7


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Dear Friends,

California AffiliateNational Wildlife Federation

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

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUEAND THE PCL FOUNDATION

1107 Ninth Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814

PHONE: 916-444-8726 FAX: 916-448-1789

E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]

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

Membership to PCL is $35 a year and includes a

subscription to CALIFORNIA TODAY.

Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA and at

other additional offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes for

CALIFORNIA TODAY to the PCL Office:

1107 Ninth Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814

PCLF BOARD OF TRUSTEESDAVID HIRSCH, Chairman

RALPH B. PERRY III, Vice Chairman

DANIEL S. FROST, Secretary-Treasurer

COKE HALLOWELL, Trustee

PCL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEBILL CENTER, President

KEVIN JOHNSON, Senior Vice President

DAVID MOGAVERO, Secretary-Treasurer

SAGE SWEETWOOD, President Emeritus

JOHN VAN DE KAMP, President Emeritus

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTSELISABETH BROWN

JAN CHATTEN-BROWN

PHYLLIS FABER

RICK HAWLEY

FRAN LAYTON

DOUG LINNEY

TERESA VILLEGAS

BILL YEATES

ORGANIZATIONAL BOARD MEMBERSBig Sur Land Trust

Breathe California, Sacramento-Emigrant Trails

California Association of Local Conservation CorpsCalifornia Wildlife Foundation / California Oaks

California Trout

Greenspace - The Cambria Land Trust

Golden Gate Audubon Society

The Laguna Greenbelt, Inc.

Mono Lake Committee

Mountain Lion Foundation

Sierra Nevada Alliance

Southern California Agricultural Land Foundation

Train Riders Association of California

The Trust for Public Land

PCL/PCL FOUNDATION STAFFTRACI SHEEHAN, Executive Director

EVON CHAMBERS, Water Policy Assistant

VERN GOEHRING, Legislative Consultant

DR. MONICA HUNTER, Central Coast Water Project Manager

JONAS MINTON, Senior Water Policy Advisor

JONATHAN BERNSTEIN, Administrative Manager

JENA PRICE, Global Warming Program Coordinator

MELANIE SCHLOTTERBECK, Grants & Outreach Consultant

DANA SHOKES, Database Coordinator

New models, new thinking, and new partnerships - thats what we need to comglobal warming. We have an opportunity to put those ideas into action: the 3Americas Cup that will be held in 2013 in San Francisco.

If you dont following the Cup or sail, you may not know that this is a huge evMeasured in both total spectators and net economic activity, the Americas Cup is third-largest sporting event in the world, second only to the Olympics and the Wo

Cup - and larger than both the World Series and the Super Bowl!If you are a member of the Planning and Conservation League, you may kn

that late in the 2010 legislative year, the City of San Francisco was exploring possibility of securing a legislative exemption from the California EnvironmeQuality Act (CEQA) for this event. The city, and event organizers, felt thatexemption would provide certainty that the required infrastructure improvementBays existing facilities could be constructedon-time and on-budget.

But after discussing this issue with theLeague and other members of theenvironmental community, the City decided

not to pursue the CEQA exemption - adecision the San Francisco Gatecalled thesmartest move that San Francisco made inits quest to host the next Americas Cup.Instead, the League and others committedto work with the Americas Cup and to helpit meet its responsibility to protect Californias environment.

Then the City took its quest for sustainability even further. There is now intein partnering with regional environmental groups and local businesses to promsustainability, with actions like offsetting the events carbon footprint, purchasgreen energy to power the event, and managing event waste sustainably. There

hopes that the event could be carbon negative.This model of partnering for sustainability has a proven track record in ot

major international sporting events. The 2010 Vancouver Olympics reduced thcarbon footprint with LEED standards for facilities, purchased a hundred thoustons of carbon offsets to balance the events environmental impact. In a simfashion, the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals in Berlin partnered with the United NatiEnvironmental Program to sponsor tree planting to make the event carbon neutr

By partnering with regional environmental experts and sponsors to achisustainability, the Americas Cup can bring awareness and sustainability to a masscale. In addition to the direct benefits for the global environment, the partnershipssustainability will also benefit the events sponsors because a sustainable event m

bring additional international attention, media exposure, and spectator interest. the City of San Francisco, a comprehensive green strategy will demonstratecommitment to protecting the environment and may represent a competiadvantage.

Sincerely,

Traci SheehanExecutive Director

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation2

The 32nd Americas Cup.


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CEQA Exemptions Rearing Their Ugly Heads AgainBy: Jena Price

Fast Facts60 millionCalifornia's expected population by

2050.

$4.3 billionThe annual savings on infrastructucosts by cities and counties in 205more compact neighborhoods are

built.

300,000The acres of California farmland loevery year due to population

pressures.

$1.66 billionThe amount of money saved on

pollution related health costs if mosustainable community developmeand more diverse transportation

options were taken advantage of.

18%The potential vehicle miles travelereduction if 60% of all futuredevelopment was made up ofcompact development.

In the final hours of last yearslegislative session, the Planning andConservation League fought hard todefeat last minute bills and preventpossible bills from legislative

consideration. After the dust hadsettled, the League was happy toannounce that not a singlesignificant California EnvironmentalQuality Act (CEQA) exemption waspassed.

Its a new year and a new session,that means new legislation right?Not so. As the barrage of new billsflood Legislative Counsel, there aresome repeats which suffered defeatlast year. Among these re-introducedbills is AB 241, formally SBX8 42(also SB 1010, AB 1805, andABX8 37), which would allow theCEQA exemption of 25 projectseach year for five years.

Last year it died in committeeand this year we will work

aggressively to see that this billsoutcome is the same. By exemptingthese projects from judicial review,residents in Californias communities,cities, and counties would not be able

to enforce the environmental reviewprocess of CEQA for any of the 125projects - no matter their size orimpact on their lives. This bill wouldstrip the ability of communities tohold developers and projectproponents accountable for implementingmitigation measures that reduce oravoid significant adverse effects onair and water quality, trafficcongestion, noise, and open space.

We intend to keep you apprisedof any further attempts to hack awayat CEQA during this legislativesession. For questions or comments,please email: [email protected] visitour website: www.PCL.org andtwitter page: twitter.com/PCLeague.

Protect CEQA CampaigWondering how you and/or yorganization can get involved work with the League to prot

CEQA? The League worked with environmental allies and loactivists to bring together a coalitof more than 150 conservation community groups working protect CEQA from rollbacks. need your support! You can sign upreceive our alerts on CEQA and bmember of the coalition by emailJena Price at [email protected] to CalHeroes.com!

Cal Heroes Website LaunchedThe California Environmental Quality Act is the states premier

environmental law. For over 40 years CEQA has empowered Californians toprotect the state in all of its diversity: from safeguarding the urbanenvironment to conserving Californias magnificent coasts, forestmountains, farmland, and more. It has also provided a critical framework forgovernment accountability.

In its recent history, many have tried to weaken or comprise theintegrity of CEQA. It is repeatedly a favorite last minute ploy in statebudget negotiations and each year numerous pieces of legislation have been

introduced attempt to handout legislative free passes to financially andpolitical special interests groups.

Now entering the final stretch of budget negotiations and entering thenew two-year legislative session. PCL thought we would highlight a fewCEQA victories of over the course of over four decades, as a reminder whyCEQAs defense is crucial. Our new CalHeroes website features storiesfrom the immensely popular Everyday Heroes Protect the Air We Breathe,the Water We Drink, and the Natural Areas We Prize publication.


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2011 Symposium a Success!By: Melanie Schlotterbeck

On January 29, the Planning andConservation League and the PCLFoundation held their AnnualEnvironmental Legislative Symposiumin downtown Sacramento. The event

brought together some of thebrightest minds working on some ofCalifornias toughest environmentalchallenges. The overriding themes ofthe day centralized around the statebudget, water policy and planning,and upholding the integrity ofCalifornias premier environmentallaw; the California EnvironmentalQuality Act (CEQA).

We were thrilled to have recentlyappointedNatural Resources SecretaryJohn Laird as our esteemed morningkeynote speaker. Secretary Lairddrew our attention to the plight of

the state budget and how we can allrally together to be most effective in2011.

The event offered twelve sessionsto choose from with incredible

expertise and experience amongstour speakers and moderators. Thisyear we hit a high with 13 policy andopinion leaders on our panels,including Senator Lois Wolk,Assemblymembers Jared Huffmanand Mike Feuer, Delta StewardshipCouncil Chair Phil Isenberg,Department of Fish and Game ChiefDeputy Director Kevin Hunting, and

California Energy Commission ChairKaren Douglas, among others!During lunch, we honored five of

2010s environmental heroes andlaunched our PCL Ambassador

Program to help groups netwwith leading environmental exper

The event closed with a rousspeech by San Francisco SuperviRoss Mirkarimi. He announced tSan Francisco recently won the bidhost the next Americas Cup relayed the Citys commitmentCEQA compliance for the event.

Save the date for next yeSymposium, it will be held at Sacramento Convention Center Saturday, January 28, 2012.

CALIFORNIA TODAY Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

Some of the comments we received...

I am so glad I stayed -- the last speech [SupervisMirkarimi] was great!

This [Water Wars session] was fascinating and Im na lawyer!

John Laird! Gives hope!

Money and time well spent.

Having facilitated tables at lunch was a great idea! Pleacontinue.

Secretary Laird presents the morning keynote to a standing roomonly.

hotos by: Amber Schmaeling

The Whats Next for California Water? Paneldiscusses Californias current water situation. Fromeft Assemblymember Huffman, Senator Wolk,

Chair Isenberg, and PCLs Jonas Minton.

PCL Board member David Mogavero engages histable with a discussion on Land Use.

The California State Parks Foundations GregZelder runs a workshop on social media.



GOLD SPONSORS ($5,000+)Chatten-Brown and Carstens SunPower

SILVER SPONSORS ($2,500+)Camp Lotus

BRONZE SPONSORS ($1,000+)AFSCME Local 2428 California Association of LocalConservation Corps East Bay Municipal Utility District Environment Now Kevin K. Johnson, A Professional LawCorporation Los Angeles Conservation Corps Linda &Byron Sher Metropolitan Water District MogaveroNotestine Associates Remy, Thomas, Moose andManley LLP Rossmann & Moore LLP Shute, Mihalyand Weinberger LLP The Rose Foundation

EMERGING SPONSORS ($500+)Adams, Broadwell, Joseph and Cardozo LLP CaliforniaAmerican Water California Association of ProfessionalScientists California State Parks Foundation Peter andCarole Clum Community Conservation Solutions

Conservation Clarity Downey Brand LLP Robert J.Erickson Phyllis Faber Infill Builders Association

Vern Goehring Inland Empire Utilities Agency LippeGaffney Wagner LLP Lozeau | Drury LLP M.R. Wolfe a

Associates Marin Conservation League National WildFederation Water ReUse Association Terry Watt Joh

Van de Kamp

NON-PROFIT SPONSORS ($250+)California Interfaith Power and Light California NativePlant Society California Oaks Foundation CaliforniaRail Foundation Defenders of Wildlife Friends ofHarbors, Beaches and Parks Friends, Artists and Neighbof Elkhorn Slough Greenspace - The Cambria Land TrustSan Diego River Park Foundation Valley Land Alliance

OTHER SPONSORS

Ecoconsult Environmental Law Section of the CaliforniaState Bar

...your generosity made this event possible.

Thank You to Our Sponsors...

PCL Board President Bill Center provides a summaryof the event, lessons learned, and next steps.

Photos by: Melanie Schlotterbeck

PCL Foundation Trustee Coke Hallowell and daughterJoell sold their book Take Me to the River. Barb Byrneenjoys a chat with Joell at the book signing table.

Part of the Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger entourageaughing it up just before the closing keynote.

Our closing keynote Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, (third frright) with League Board President Bill Center, ExecutivDirector Traci Sheehan and staff.

Our 2011Award Winners

Assemblymember Mike FeuerSenator Alan Lowenthal

Legislators of the Year

Doug CarstensCarla Bard Award

California State Parks Foundation

David Gaines Award

Lynne PlambeckDorothy Green Award


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San Clemente Dam Removal Project UpdateBy: Dr. Monica Hunter

One of the PCL Foundations core efforts is to helpfacilitate the removal of the seismically unsafe SanClemente Dam in Monterey County. The Carmel RiverRe-Route and Dam Removal Project is being proposedthrough a unique partnership of federal, state, and local

agencies led by the California Coastal Conservancy (SCC)and NOAAs National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),working together with the California American WaterCompany (CAW), a private water utility and owner of theSan Clemente Dam. The Foundation recently joined thiseffort to conduct public outreach and support communityinvolvement funded by a SCC grant to work withcommunity groups and residents as the project movesthrough the various agency permitting reviews during thecoming year.

The Public Utilities Commission is currentlyreviewing CAWs project application, and during a

February meeting heard from Monterey Peninsresidents, many of whom spoke in support of dam remoand restoration of the river. The next milestone for project is anticipated to be completed by March 2011 wthe Notice of Determination is issued by the Departm

of Water Resources (DWR), the final step in its CEprocess. DWR determined in the mid-1990s that seismically weak dam poses a threat to communresidents downstream of the dam in the event omagnitude 6.2 or greater earthquake and ordered CAWimplement a solution.

For a full project description, please see the CoaConservancy website at :http://www.scc.ca.gov/webmaster/ftp/pdf/sanclemente/sanemente_large.pdf.

For more information, contact Monica Hunter, CenCoast Watersheds Program Director at MHunter@pcl.

From ensuring the endangered Delta smelt recoversto implementing water-wise developments that decreaseour demand for water from the Delta, the League hasbeen at the forefront of discussions and planning as it

relates to the future of the West Coasts largest estuary.The state is now grappling with how to handle thedecades old water conflict at the Bay Delta. The StateWater Boards ground-shaking and scientifically-basedDelta Flows report, indicated that the health of the BayDelta needs to have greater inflows and outflows andless water diversions if it is to survive as a home for fishand wildlife. The Delta Stewardship Council is chargedwith developing a plan for the Delta by the end of theyear.

At the request of the Council, Jonas Minton presenthe top four priority actions that should be included in tCouncils initial Delta Plan. The Leagues testimony alincluded an outline of how to pay for the plan.

Priority Actions for the Delta Updating and Set New Flow Standards -- Directhe State Water Resources Control Board to starupdating flow standards now for existing conveyancand set standards for new conveyance.

Improve Levees -- Prioritize Delta levees forimprovement and approve funding consistent withthose priorities.

Examine Potential Water Supply -- Call upon BDelta Conservation Plan leaders and other stakeholdeto conduct due diligence review of a 3,000 cubic f

per second conveyance facility. Restore the Delta -- Work with Delta interests a

others including the Metropolitan Water Districtand Westlands on phased restoration projects.These priority actions would be funded through a

affordable financing plan, including, but not limited toutilizing Proposition 1E funds and creating a beneficipays model.

The League will continue to be involved in thisimportant statewide water issue. Stay tuned!

Delta Discussions Utilize League's ExpertiseBy: Jonas Minton



Californias EnvironmentalQuality Act (known by its acronymCEQA) has, ever since GovernorRonald Reagan signed it into law,served as a bulwark against reckless

development and rampant pollution.CEQAs complex process of

meetings and reports delivered astunningly simple result: It put everycitizen, neighborhood, or town oneven footing with the most powerfulforces in our society.

It was born with powerfulenemies. It made it harder tobulldoze a forest or put a factory next

to a school. It protected our riversand mountains, our beaches, andwetlands. While some hailed it ashope for the future, others saw it as a hindrance to business.

Despite all that, it withstood every effort to dismantle it.Californians, it turned out, had come to depend on itsprotections, even if they didnt fully understand them. Andwhy not? CEQA worked.

Since its adoption, Californias population more thandoubled. But our air quality improved. Our economy grewthreefold, but our impact on the environment actually

softened. Even the poorest neighborhoods have a tool toprotect themselves.

CEQA has helped a coalition of community groupsto achieve a historicsettlement with the Port ofLos Angeles to reduce airpollution in surroundingneighborhoods. This lawempowered the Mothers ofEast L.A. to defeat a toxicwaste incinerator to bebuilt within 7,500 feet ofhomes, schools, churches,and hospitals. It forced thedevelopers of the massiveMission Bay project in SanFrancisco to reducesewage outflow and torestore critical wetlands.

For the past 39 years, the Legislature been successful in repelling many attacksCEQA.

Unfortunately, that is no longer the cIn 2009, the Legislature, bowing to press

from billionaires, passed legislation that ga CEQA exemption to the City of Industrbuild a football stadium in East L.A.

Many legislators, including myself, spagainst that bill on the floor, warned that would not create jobs but would instead othe door to every business interest in the sto come to the Legislature when they cget what they want by following the law.

Already this year, whispers in the Cap

halls have turned to a rumble as a nstadium is proposed for downtown Angeles. No doubt, the proponents of

project will tout the hundreds of new jobs the stadium provide. One only needs to look east to the empty lot in City of Industry to know that we have been there, tried t

When will itend? Unfortunately,I am afraid it willonly end with thecomplete

dismantling ofCEQA. If thishappens, allCalifornians, therich, the poor, theurban, and the ruralwill suffer the consequences of a system that no lonvalues the input of those that will be most affected.

Senator Alan Lowenthalrepresents portions of Los AngelesCounty. He invites you to contacthim through his website at:

http://dist27.casen.govoffice.com/

CEQA and the LegislatureBy: Senator Alan Lowenthal


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Forest Stewardship Council certified paper containing50% recycled fiber with 25% post consumer waste,elemental chlorine free and printed with vegetable ink.

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUELANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE FOUNDATION

107 9TH STREET, SUITE 360 SACRAMENTO, CA 95814

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

The photo featured inthe last edition of CalToday is of a celebritytrain ride event to raisesupport for CaliforniaPropositions 116 and 117.Both initiative-based measureswere placed on the June 5,1990 ballot and passed with the majority vote. Prop 116authorized $1.99 billion to fund specified intercity rail,commuter rail, and urban rail transit projects statewide. Prop117, the California Wildlife Protection Act, prohibited sport-hunting of mountain lions and established the HabitatConservation Fund. This Fund allocates $30 million each yeartowards wildlife habitat protection until 2020.

Can you identify the situation or people in this editionspicture? Show off your knowledge of PCLs greenroots andenvironmental history! Email your response to EvonChambers at [email protected].

PCL History ProjectBy: Evon Chambers

New NWF RepresentatiBy: Les Welsh

Hello, my name is Les Welsh and I am perhPCLs newest supporter! As the new RegioRepresentative for the Pacific Region ofNational Wildlife Federation (NWF), I am excito be working to empower and strengthen regions five state affiliates, including the Plannand Conservation League. Im pleased to lend voice and experience to the issues most importto the membership of PCL and look forwardworking together for a healthier planet for all of

NWF has had a long and fruitful commitmto conservation here in California. We are nworking to grow that commitment by addin-state staff. In doing so, we should be ableprovide increased support on the many issues wwhich we share a priority interest with PCL. I lforward to this very promising work in the comyear.

Documents

March 2011 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter