CP&DR

Cities Cut, Delay Development Fees

May 21, 2009

California, Development impact fees, Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 06 Jun 2009

The recession and slack development activity have caused about 10 cites and counties to reduce their development impact fees, while more jurisdictions have delayed collecting fees until new buildings are ready to occupy. Some interest groups regard the fee deferrals as helpful in generating local activity. But whether fee reductions are similarly stimulative is debatable.

Federal Stimulus Grants May Help Locals Meet New Planning Mandates

May 21, 2009

California, Insight, Local government finance, Vol. 24 No. 06 Jun 2009, William Fulton

There's never been a weirder time to try to do planning in California.

On the one hand, the state has made climate change a major priority – and it's driving local government efforts in a hundred different ways, ranging from greenhouse gas analyses in environmental documents to switching out light bulbs in city corporation yards.

On the other hand, the state is cutting back all over the place because of the ever-more-dismal budget crisis. And this is going to make it hard for local governments to meet the requirements the state is laying out.

CRA Wins Lawsuit, But Money Issues Still Unresolved

May 20, 2009

California, Paul Shigley, Redevelopment, Redevelopment Watch, Vol. 24 No. 06 Jun 2009

With the State of California again facing financial calamity, the fight in Sacramento over tapping the revenues of local redevelopment agencies to fund schools is likely to intensify. Among the latest developments are a Sacramento County Superior Court ruling blocking implementation of a portion of a 2008 law requiring redevelopment agencies to transfer $350 million in tax increment revenue to schools, and a state controller's office report that says more than one-quarter of redevelopment agencies face sanctions for being out of compliance for their pass-through payments to schools.

Lawmakers Address Climate, Water, Local Planning

May 1, 2009

California, Featured Articles, Legislation, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009

State lawmakers have introduced an extraordinarily diverse collection of bills regarding land use planning, natural resources and infrastructure this year. While lawmakers' interest in affordable housing and redevelopment reform appears to have waned, the number of bills related to climate change or renewable energy has increased dramatically in 2009.

Legislators have proposed at least five measures that would place water bonds before voters. Other measures are aimed at enhancing the health and changing the governance of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Bills concerned with development in fire-prone areas have returned after failing last year, as has a measure to ease use of tax increment financing for infrastructure around transit stations. There is also a bill that would raise vehicle license fees to fund at least some of the regional planning required by last year's SB 375.

CEQA Guidelines Proposed For GHG Emissions Analysis

Apr 29, 2009

California, California Environmental Quality Act, Environment Watch, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009

The Governor's Office of Planning and Research has completed proposed California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions. The guidelines now move to the Natural Resources Agency, which intends to invite additional comment and conduct at least two public hearings this summer before releasing a final version.

Cities, Counties Weigh SB 375 Strategies While Rules Evolve

Apr 28, 2009

California, Climate change, Insight, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009, William Fulton

SB 375 is now law, but another year and a half will pass before the California Air Resources Board adopts the follow-up numerical regional targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. This puts California's cities and counties in a pretty big bind: How can they adopt plans for the future that will conform with the climate change law if they don't know what standard they are going to have to comply with?

Planning Departments Downsize, Private Firms Scramble For Jobs

Apr 1, 2009

California, Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

Significant reductions in general fund revenues and building activity have caused many cities and counties in California to reduce planning department staffs. Numerous jurisdictions have shrunk staff sizes by one-quarter to one-half, and more cuts may be coming during the 2009-10 fiscal year.

The tough economy is also hitting private consulting firms. Consultants that typically work for private developers are seeking public-sector jobs, and large outfits are bidding on ever-smaller projects, creating a high level of competition.

Lodi Voters Kill Redevelopment Plan

Mar 26, 2009

California, Elections, Initiatives and referendums, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

Voters in Lodi rejected redevelopment, while those in Alamo said no to incorporation of a new city during municipal balloting on March 3. In Los Angeles, voters narrowly rejected two charter amendments, one for a solar energy program, the other for fiscal incentives for business development. Only in Glendora did the electorate provide a positive response to proposed change. A measure rezoning the site of a former automobile dealership for other retail uses passed easily.

The Other State Budget Breakthrough: Environmental Review Exemptions

Mar 2, 2009

California, California Environmental Quality Act, Insight, Vol. 24 No. 03 Mar 2009, William Fulton

It was a little-noticed aspect of the final California budget deal, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made California Environmental Quality Act history when he signed the long-delayed 2008-09 budget in February.

Schwarzenegger asked for and got something no governor had ever gotten through the budget process before: an exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act for certain state construction projects based on economic hardship, rather than on natural disaster.

New Infrastructure Financing Needed, Says PPIC

Feb 27, 2009

California, CP&DR Staff, Featured Articles, Vol. 24 No. 03 Mar 2009

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has released a new report in which it urges less reliance on state general obligation (GO) bonds to fund infrastructure improvements. The report, "Paying For Infrastructure: California's Choices," recommends reducing the voter requirement for local bonds from two-thirds to 55%, more user fees and expanded experimentation with public-private partnerships.