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AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 5(C) Date: February 18, 2014 To: El Cerrito City Council From: Melanie Mintz, Interim Community Development Director Margaret Development Services Manager Subject: Approve Filing a Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Application for a Targeted Update to the 1999 General Plan ACTION REQUESTED Adopt a resolution approving the filing of an application for grant funds for a Sustainable Communities Planning grant to do a targeted update to the 1999 General Plan under the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84). BACKGROUND On August 30, 1999 the El Cerrito City Council adopted an update to its 1975 General Plan, outlining the future of the City’s development. The Plan, prepared pursuant to Government Code Section 65300, has served the City well, maintaining a consistent vision of how development, growth, infrastructure, and public safety should be managed in El Cerrito. Pursuant to state law, cities must update their general plans periodically to conform to changes in state law and other legal requirements and to reflect changes in land development patterns or changes in population, the economy and other factors. Since 1999, there have been a number of local investments, planning efforts and analyses that have developed a new framework of objectives and policies intended to reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions, create a mode-shift away from private automobile usage, stimulate investment and drive resource-efficient, context-sensitive community development. Concurrently, a number of state and regional policy changes have occurred that create new challenges and opportunities for the City, including the passage of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008 (SB 375) and the dissolution of redevelopment agencies. A targeted General Plan update would serve to integrate and codify the results of recent planning efforts and analyses, including the Climate Action Plan (2013), Ohlone Greenway Master Plan (2009), and upcoming San Pablo Avenue Specific and Complete Streets Plan and Urban Greening Plan. Updating the General Plan will also create a path forward for addressing new challenges and objectives, such as Climate Adaptation and Resilience, provision of services within the new municipal economic context and developing a comprehensive vision for El Cerrito within the framework outlined in Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) Page 2 Bay Area, the Bay Area’s Sustainable Community Strategy, prepared in compliance with SB 375. Adoption of a revised General Plan that “meets the needs of the community now and in the future” is identified as a strategy within the City’s Strategic Plan. Currently, the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) has issued a request for proposals for its third round of Sustainable Communities Planning grants. The principal goal of the grant program is to fund the development and implementation of local plans that foster sustainable community development and help both the city, and the State, achieve improved environmental, social and economic outcomes. General Plan updates are an eligible activity for the grant program. The action before Council tonight is for Council to approve the filing of a grant application to the Strategic Growth Council for a targeted update to the City’s General Plan, tentatively titled Connected El Cerrito: Vision 2035. The competitive Sustainable Communities Planning grant program aims to fund activities which go beyond typical planning activities by funding plans that are innovative, implementation focused and incentivize sustainable community development. Staff proposes to submit an application for a General Plan update which consolidates and integrates the results of City plans and policies that have occurred since the 1999 General Plan update and identifies new and innovative ways for the City to meet its own mission and vision (as articulated in the 2013 Strategic Plan). The targeted update must also proactively integrate the findings and goals outlined in Plan Bay Area and the State Environmental Goals and Policy Report. If successful, grant funding would assure a robust planning process and assist the City in doing the necessary data collection, analyses and public engagement to assure that the General Plan is fact-driven, responsive to local, regional, state and global priorities and situates the City to proactively implement the vision charted by the Plan. Grant requests can range from $50,000 to $500,000 for single applicants. Staff anticipates requesting the full amount to perform a targeted update of the entire General Plan, inclusive of necessary technical and implementation-focused studies and an Environmental Impact Report. Grant applications are due February 28 and awards are anticipated to be made at the June 12, 2014 Strategic Growth Council meeting. ANALYSIS Updating the General Plan will enable the City to proactively coordinate its activities to achieve its Strategic Plan, Climate Action Plan and Plan Bay Area goals and to respond to both State and local environmental priorities and economic realities that have changed significantly since the 1999 General Plan was developed. The competitive Sustainable Communities Planning grant aims to fund the development and implementation of plans and activities that foster the development of sustainable communities by helping local governments meet the challenge of adopting plans and integrating transformative strategies that lead to long-term prosperity by promoting equity, strengthening the economy, protecting the environment and promoting healthy, safe communities. Whereas the City has proactively developed a Climate Action Plan and is currently developing the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan that fulfills a number of Climate Action ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) Page 3 Plan goals in the specific plan study area, a General Plan update would allow the City to integrate the goals citywide and adopt new objectives in neighborhoods outside of the specific plan study area to fulfill the objectives of Plan Bay Area. General Plans consist of a number of elements pursuant to Government Code 65300 and the State’s General Plan Guidelines. Elements for the proposed update have yet to be finalized. Final elements will be developed both in response to the upcoming State General Plan Guidelines (GPG 2014) and through early and ongoing public and Council engagement in the planning process. Preliminary information from the State Office of Planning and Research indicates that the GPG 2014 will emphasize economics, equity, climate change and healthy communities as well as aim to implement the vision of the State’s Environmental Goals and Policy Report. A draft set of elements, developed based upon the City’s Strategic Plan, the State’s current General Plan Guidelines, Plan Bay Area, and the State’s Environmental Goals and Policy Report, will be proposed for the grant application. (See Table below.) Connected El Cerrito: 2035 Element (proposed) Corresponding City of El Cerrito Strategic Plan Goal/Strategy Corresponding State Requirement/Goal Land Use and Community Design Goal C: Deepen a Sense of Place and Community Identity Goal F: Foster Environmental Sustainability Citywide Land Use * Community Design** Mobility Strategy (Goal Encourage Use of Alternative Modes of Transportation to Connect People and Create a Sense of Community Goal F: Foster Environmental Sustainability Citywide Strategy (Goal Implement the City’s Climate Action Plan/Reduce Vehicle Miles Travelled Circulation/Complete Streets Element* Community Livability (includes Arts, Culture and Economic Development) Goal B: Achieve Long-Term Financial Sustainability Strategy (Goal Develop an Economic Development Action Plan Economics*** Economic/Fiscal Development** Community Safety (includes Climate Goal E: Ensure the Public’s Health and Safety Safety * ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) Page 4 Connected El Cerrito: 2035 Element (proposed) Corresponding City of El Cerrito Strategic Plan Goal/Strategy Corresponding State Requirement/Goal Adaptation, Resilience and Natural Hazards Goal E: Ensure the Public’s Health and Safety Goal F: Foster Environmental Sustainability Climate change*** Natural Resources and Conservation Goal C: Deepen a Sense of Place and Community Identity Goal F: Foster Environmental Sustainability Citywide Strategy (Goal Implement the City’s Climate Action Plan/Facilitate energy and water efficiency and greater adoption of clean energy Conservation * Open-Space * Energy Water Air Quality Climate Change*** Parks, Recreation and Human Services Goal A: Deliver Exemplary Government Services Goal C: Deepen a Sense of Place and Community Identity Strategy (Goal Promote Strong Neighborhoods Goal E: Ensure the Public’s Health and Safety Parks and Recreation** Equity*** Healthy Communities*** Noise* Housing Goal C: Deepen a Sense of Place and Community Identity Housing* Equity** Capital Improvements/Public Goal D: Develop and Rehabilitate Public Facilities as Community Capital Improvements/Public ---PAGE BREAK--- Facilities, Infrastructure Focal Points and Maintenance Implementation Goal A: Deliver Exemplary Government Services Goal B: Achieve Long Term Financial Sustainability * Required element pursuant to 2003 General Plan Guidelines * * Optional element pursuant to 2003 General Plan Guidelines ***Likely General Plan Guidelines 2014 Focus Area FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Agenda Item No. 5(C) Economics*** The City is eligible to apply for up to $500,000 with a requirement of at least 10% in matching funds. Up to half of the matching funds can be provided in the form of in-kind contribution. Community Development will propose a $25,000 cash-contribution in the FY 2014-15 City Budget from the General Fund which we anticipate being fully offset by a grant from the Municipal Services Corporation. An additional $25,000 in matching funds will come from the Community Development Department FY 2014-15 operating budget to increase our competitiveness. Matching funds do not need to be secured at the time of application; however, by passing the attached Resolution the City guarantees that, if awarded, it will guarantee the matching funds prior to execution of a grant agreement. Because outside funding of General Plans is rare, staff believes this opportunity must be pursued as the City needs to maintain compliance with State requirements. Additionally, staff anticipates that a portion of the staff time utilized to implement the grant will be reimbursable through the grant to offset the matching funds. Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachment: 1. Resolution Page 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) RESOLUTION 2014-XX RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CERRITO APPROVING AN APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLANNING GRANT AND INCENTIVES PROGRAM UNDER THE SAFE DRINKING WATER, WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, RIVER AND COASTAL PROTECTION BOND ACT OF 2006 (PROPOSITION 84) WHEREAS, on August 30, 1999 City Council adopted an update to its 1975 General Plan; and WHEREAS, pursuant to state law, cities must update their general plans periodically to conform to changes in state law, other legal requirements and to reflect changes in land development patterns or changes in population, the economy and other factors; and WHEREAS, since adoption of the General Plan local investments, planning efforts and regional and state policies and laws have developed a new framework of objectives intended to reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions, create a mode-shift away from private automobile usage and stimulate investment in resource-efficient, context-sensitive, sustainable community development; and WHEREAS, the Legislature and Governor of the State of California have provided funds for the program as referenced above; and WHEREAS, the Strategic Growth Council has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program, establishing necessary procedures; and WHEREAS, said procedures established by the Strategic Growth Council require a resolution certifying the approval of application(s) by the Applicant’s governing board before submission of said application(s) to the State; and WHEREAS, the City, as applicant, if selected, will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the development of the proposal that the City submits for grant funding (“Proposal”). NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of El Cerrito that it hereby authorizes the following actions: 1. Approves the filing of an application for Connected El Cerrito: 2035, a targeted update to its 1999 General Plan in order for the City to become a sustainable community; ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) 2. Certifies that the City, as applicant, understands the assurances and certification in the application; 3. Certifies that the City, as applicant, will have sufficient funds to develop the Proposal or will secure the resources to do so; 4. Certifies that the Proposal will comply with any applicable laws and regulations; and 5. Appoints the City Manager, or designee, as agent to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to applications, agreements, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project(s). BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption. I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on February 18, 2014 the City Council of the City of El Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City of El Cerrito on February 2014. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: Janet Abelson, Mayor