Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose) and Assembly Member Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) have introduced two bills that would dedicate $7.4 billion annually for transportation projects. Approximately $2.5 billion will go to local streets and roads and another significant portion to freight, transit, active transportation, maintenance and rehabilitation of state highways and local roads. The plan would also stabilize the variable gas tax to help generate more revenues by adding a 17-cent per gallon increase. The bills also require local reporting and cities and counties to maintain existing general fund levels for transportation projects. Other parts of the plan include moving “complete streets” design to highways, creating an Office of Transportation Inspector General, and creating an advanced mitigation program for transportation projects. The two bills have been introduced in a special session, which allows negotiations to continue past the regular session’s deadlines.
San Jose Sues Santa Clara over Mixed-Use Project
The City of San Jose is suing the City of Santa Clara for approving the 240-acre mixed-use City Place project, which that allegedly have a negative impact on San Jose. City Place, also called Related Project, is located across from the Levi’s Stadium and will include retail, entertainment, office space, hotels and residential units. San Jose claims the EIR that was approved by Santa Clara City Council in June failed to adequately address impacts on traffic and housing. According to a letter San Jose sent to Santa Clara in November, the project does not include enough housing within City Place to support the jobs the project will generate. Additionally the City of San Jose commented on the lack of analysis on greenhouse gas emissions, air quality and public services.
Cap-and-Trade Auction Again Yields Disappointing Results
Revenue generated from the cap-and-trade program last month is estimated to be around $390 million, even weaker than the previous round in May. Around 30.8 million credits were sold out of the nearly 96 million available. The market did have a higher demand for permits than three months ago, which is a measure of success. Gov. Jerry Brown’s high-speed rail will get around $8.4 million this round, but the program needs significantly more. Cap and Trade funds also contribute to planning-related programs such as the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities grants. The Cap and Trade program is still facing a pending lawsuit as to the legality of this potentially unconstitutional tax. And the recent auction was conducted before the legislature approved an extension of the program, thus calling into the question the long-term value of carbon credits.
Planning Reform and Moratorium Initiative Qualifies for Los Angeles Ballot
Los Angeles activists have submitted 104,000 signatures to place the anti-development Neighborhood Integrity Initiative on the March 2017 ballot. The measure includes fast-tracking a new general plan, rules that developers cannot meet with city officials and a two-year moratorium on most major development projects. The major group in opposition, Coalition to Protect LA Neighborhoods and Jobs has raised $722,335, half of the money came from CH Palladium. Coalition to Preserve LA, the backers of the initiative, have received $1 million from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, as well as Leonardo DiCaprio, Kirsten Dunst, Lowe Enterprises, Planning Architecture Engineering Alliance, Westfield and Eli Broad, among others.
Ride-Hailing Services Collaborate with Public Transit in Dublin
In a unique collaboration between the public sector and ride-hailing services, Lyft and Uber riders in Dublin will get subsidized fares for not riding the bus. The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority has launched a $200,000, one-year pilot project to help pave the way for changes in how public transit serves suburban areas. Fares would be limited to $3 per trip within West Dublin and $5 within East Dublin. Managers of the bus service say offering these rideshare subsidizes will cost less than operating a bus for a few passengers. The pilot program was funded evenly by the Wheels funds and a grant from the Alameda County Transportation Commission.
First Public Street Opens in Sacramento Rail Yards
The City of Sacramento has opened the new Fifth Street bridge making it possible to drive from downtown into the heart of the old rail yards, which has been the subject of a long-term redevelopment. The property will house a Kaiser Permanente medical facility, major-league soccer stadium, new Superior Court building and up to 10,000 housing units. The city has been pushing for redevelopment of the railyard for 25 years, including ownership changes, toxic cleanup fights, recession doldrums and changing markets. Kelley’s Downtown Railyard Venture LLC bought the yard a year ago, and says the first apartment buildings will be available in 2018.
Anaheim Paves Way for Development Near Angel Stadium
The City of Anaheim Planning Commission voted, 4-0, to develop a 15-acre site across from the Los Angeles Angels’ parking lot for shops, restaurants, offices, residences and a hotel. The Angels are opposed to the project because, according to Angels’ attorney Allan Abshez “would cannibalize the Angels’ existing food, beverage and retail operations at Angels’ Stadium.” The plans include a 30-story residential tower with views of the stadium as well as an outdoor entertainment center. The Angels have plans to develop a “sports-entertainment-hotel” to help generate profits for the stadium renovations. The Angels, lead developer of the 15-acre site and the city will now try to reach a plan that is beneficial for all. The Anaheim City Council must still vote on the project within the next two months.
Soda Mountain Solar Plant Proposal Rejected
San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors rejected, 3-2, a solar plant proposed for the Mojave Desert’s Soda Mountains. The supervisors were concerned with the project destroying habitat and blocking ancient trails used by bighorn sheep. The Mojave Desert has hundreds of miles of land that has already been disturbed and can be used for such projects, Soda Mountains was not one of them. Soda Mountain Solar would bring hundreds of well-paying local union jobs, economic benefits to the county and local economy, and the production of clean solar energy.
Quick Hits & Updates
Executive Director Chris McKenzie of League of California Cities has announced his retirement after 17 years in the position. The board is conducting a nationwide recruitment for his successor. McKenzie will remain director until the Oct. 5-7 annual conference in Long Beach.
Long Beach was one of the six cities nationwide selected from a group of 18 to be part of a tactical urbanism workshop series. The cities receive funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to “advance street safety and placemaking projects such as pedestrian plazas, bike lanes, shared streets, and more.”
West Hollywood will be the fourth L.A.-area city to welcome bike-sharing. The WeHo Pedals bike pilot program begins August 30th at four stations. When WeHo Pedals is fully launched there will be 20 stations and 150 bikes.
The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society are planning to sue the Regional Tertiary Treatment and Water Reclamation Authority as well as the cities of San Bernardino and Colton over the alleged repeated stranding and killing of the threatened Santa Ana sucker fish. The Water Treatment plant shuts down its outflows to conduct maintenance, which leaves the fish with 75 percent less water in their critical habitat.
San Francisco City Controller released a draft report on affordable housing percentages in the city. The report finds that 18 percent affordable units for renting apartments was the ideal number and 20 percent for condominiums. This study was a feasibility study for Proposition C, the June ballot initiative that tried to raise the affordability requirements from 12 to 25 percent.
The California Coastal Commission halted the demolition of three decorative waterfalls at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes last April. The club has since sent four revisions to restore habitat of the protected California gnatcatchers; the most recent draft has been accepted.
