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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2013 1218 CCSA REG ITEM 09A ITEM 9.A. MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL , ___ %aid=a0/3__ _ AGENDA REPORT TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Jennifer Mellon, Administrative Services Manage DATE: December 4, 2013 (CC Meeting of 12/18/13) SUBJECT: Consider Providing Input to the Ventura Council of Governments Regarding Delegation to Prepare a Sub-regional Sustainable Communities Strategy BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)has initiated the process for developing the 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) update to meet federal and state requirements, including Senate Bill 375 greenhouse gas targets. Attached is a staff report from the Ventura Council of Governments (VCOG) recommending that VCOG decline the sub-regional delegation for the 2016-2040 RTP/SCS for Ventura and to pursue establishment of a committee of local planning staff to coordinate with SCAG staff on the RTP/SCS process, reporting to the VCOG board on the status of the process. While SB 375 grants the sub-regions within SCAG, one of which is VCOG, with the option of working with their respective Transportation Commissions to submit their own sub- regional RTP/SCS; VCOG and City staff are of the opinion that the significant costs for VCOG to assume the responsibility for preparing a sub-regional Sustainable Communities Strategy overrides the benefit of local control gained by that process. In order to provide some local input, which VCOG and Cities believe to be important to the process, VCOG may wish to consider a sub-committee of local planning staff that, in conjunction with the VCOG Executive Director would coordinate with SCAG throughout the RTP/SCS process. Staff concurs with the VCOG recommendation to decline a sub-regional delegation for the 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy for Ventura and establish a committee of local planning staff to coordinate with SCAG staff on the RTP/SCS process, and report back to the VCOG Board on the status of the process. FISCAL IMPACT There would be a fiscal impact to VCOG estimated to be $500,000 if a sub-regional report was undertaken. It is not known what Moorpark's cost would be because no funding formula has been established. 1 Honorable City Council December 18, 2013, Regular Meeting Page 2 STAFF RECOMMENDATION Direct staff to provide a letter to the Ventura Council of Governments concurring with their staff report recommendations 1) Decline subregional delegation for the 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS)for Ventura County; and 2) Pursue establishing a committee of local planning staff to coordinate with SCAG staff on the SCS process, and report to the VCOG Board on the status of the process. Attachment —Ventura Council of Governments Draft Staff Report with two Attachments 2 VENTURA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS MEMORANDUM TO: Board of Directors FROM: Laura Behjan, Executive Director SUBJECT: Consideration of Accepting Delegation to Prepare a Subregional Sustainable Communities Strategy DATE: January 9, 2014 Recommendation: It is recommended that VCOG: 1) Decline subregional delegation for the 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) for Ventura County; and 2) Pursue establishing a committee of local planning staff to coordinate with SCAG staff on the SCS process, and report to the VCOG Board on the status of the process. Discussion: SCAG has initiated the process for developing the 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) update to meet federal and state requirements,`including Senate Bill 375 greenhouse gas targets. SB 375 was enacted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and light duty trucks by integrating transportation, land use housing and environmental planning processes. Under the law, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are required to develop and incorporate an SCS element into their RTPs; these strategies are to be geared toward achieving greenhouse gas emission targets established by the California Air Resources Board. SB 375 grants the subregions within the SCAG region the option of working with their respective Transportation Commissions to submit their own Subregional SCS; subregions must formally indicate to SCAG by February 2014 if they intend to exercise this option (i.e., subregional delegation). In January, 2014 SCAG Regional Council will take final action on a set of principles and guidelines for Subregional Delegation for those subregions that may choose to develop their own documents for incorporation into the regional SCS. Proposed Principles for Subregional Delegation, presented at the October 3, 2013 Regional Council meeting is provided with this report (see Attachment — "Draft Principles for Subregional Delegation"). Subregions choosing to prepare their own SCS will be expected to adhere to the adopted principles and SCAG's Framework and Guidelines for the Sustainable Communities Strategy. 3 In 2012, two SCAG subregions, the Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG) and the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, took subregional delegation for their respective SCS. In this cycle, OCCOG has declined delegation; a decision by the Gateway Cities has not yet been made. In considering whether to choose subregional delegation, the costs and benefits must be weighed. The primary advantage to assuming subregional delegation would be enhanced local control in the process. The key factors weighing against subregional delegation are increased administrative requirements and costs, to VCOG and local jurisdictions, and the potential liability to VCOG jurisdictions should any legal challenge to its subregional SCS result. The advantage of local control in the SCS process would be somewhat diminished in that SCAG would retain the authority to make adjustments to growth distribution and land use information submitted by the subregions if deemed necessary to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets set by the California Air Resources Board. In this event, SCAG will work with the subregion to address any possible adjustment. It should be noted, however, that SCAG would collaborate with any subregion in this situation, whether delegation were chosen or not. With respect to cost, OCCOG spent approximately $500,000 on its 2012 SCS. For the upcoming SCS, OCCOG staff estimates its costs could be two to three times higher, in that the 2016-2040 RTP/SCS has additional monitoring requirements, and an expanded public participation and outreach program. The OCCOG estimate also assumes potential costs should alternative planning scenarios be desired or a legal challenge to the local SCS arise. In informal discussion with SCAG staff, it is estimated VCOG's cost would be similar to OCCOG's in that the same requirements for SCS preparation apply to each region. In addition, as currently situated, VCOG does not have the staff resources to provide the necessary oversight for the consulting work required of this project; therefore, it would be recommended that VCOG retain a land use planner on a part-time temporary basis for the duration of the project to oversee and administer the consultant contract and to coordinate with SCAG throughout the process. VCOG currently has an available fund balance of approximately $60,000, a portion of which could be allocated to this project on a one-time basis; the remaining cost would likely necessitate an additional allocation from each of VCOG's participating jurisdictions, using a population-based formula. In staff's opinion, the significant costs of VCOG assuming the responsibility for preparing a subregional Sustainable Communities Strategy override the benefits of additional local control in the process. In order to allay the concern that Ventura County may not receive due consideration in the process, VCOG may wish to consider a small subcommittee of local planning staff that, in conjunction with the VCOG Executive Director, would coordinate with SCAG staff throughout the process. In this regard, it is proposed that the Executive Director work with the City Managers and County Chief Executive Officer to form a group to represent VCOG's interests with SCAG in the SCS process and to report on the status of the SCS process to VCOG. 2 4 Based on the significant costs of assuming delegation, it is recommended VCOG decline subregional delegation for the Sustainable Communities Strategy. It is further recommended VCOG pursue establishing a committee of planning staff to coordinate with SCAG throughout the SCS process, and report to the VCOG Board on the status of the process. 3 5 Attachment 1 DRAFT PRINCIPLES FOR SUBREGIONAL DELEGATION AND UPDATE OF FRAMEWORK AND GUIDELINES For Presentation to Regional Council, October 3, 2013 The below principles clarify the policy provisions of the Regional Council adopted 2012- 2035 Framework and Guidelines for the Sustainable Communities Strategy(SCS)pursuant to SB 375 enacted legislation. They have been prepared for development of the SCS 2016- 2040 Plan update and do not represent a significant policy change. The principles are arranged in chronological order and not in order of priority or significance. 1. As in the approved 2012-2035 RTP/SCS, growth distribution and land use information for the 2016-2040 RTP/SCS Plan update will be adopted at the jurisdiction level. Growth distribution and land use information for 2016-2040 subregional SCS submittals will also be held constant at the jurisdiction level. Any necessary modifications of subregionally- submitted land use scenarios for the RTP/SCS will be made at the sub jurisdictional level (see also Principles#4 and#5). 2. Subregions choosing delegation are encouraged,but not required, to use the Scenario Planning Model (SPM) tool for developing subregional SCSs and to submit them in SPM, or other compatible, GIS-based, format. This will enable SCAG to better integrate sub-regional submissions with the regional SCS and will allow sub-regions to prepare alternative scenarios if they so choose (i.e., Principle#3 below.) SCAG will provide the SPM tool and training free of charge for sub-regions and jurisdictions. The SPM tool is new for the 2016-2040 RTP/SCS Plan update process. Thus, it was not included in the 2012-2035 Sub-regional SCS Framework and Guidelines. 3. Per SB 375, alternative planning scenarios will be developed at the regional level for the 2016-2040 SCS Plan update. Subregions choosing delegation are not required to develop alternative growth distribution and land use scenarios. SCAG will not issue subregional greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2020 and 2035. Should a subregion choose to develop scenarios, the scenarios can be evaluated relative to each other at the sub- region's discretion using comparative performance information. This provision was not included in the 2012-2035 Framework and Guidelines. 4. For incorporation in the regional 2016-2040 RTP/SCS Plan update, SCAG may adjust subregionally submitted growth distribution and land use information at the sub- jurisdictional level if the compiled regional SCS does not meet the GHG reduction targets established by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) or other performance objectives specified by the Regional Council. The Framework and Guidelines will 6 provide information on the process and timing for the determination of regional performance objectives and for assessing the performance of the compiled regional SCS. 5. Any adjustment to subregionally submitted growth distribution and land use information will be an iterative process, in close collaboration with the subregion and affected jurisdictions. SCAG staff will also work closely with subregions prior to the finalization and submittal of the subregional SCS to address potential adjustments. Note that any adjustments to locally submitted growth information in non-delegated subregions will also be done in a collaborative process. 6. The regional 2016-2040 SCS Plan update (including sub-regional SCSs from sub-regions choosing delegation) will follow SB 375 public participation requirements. 7. Subregions choosing delegation for the 2016-2040 SCS Plan update will be required to provide progress reporting on the implementation of the SCS for their subregion. Per SB 375, SCAG will monitor and report on implementation of the approved regional 2012- 2035 SCS so as to be able to exchange information with ARB and other stakeholders. This information will also assist SCAG in preparing future plan updates, and is consistent with SCAG's intended approach for developing the 2016-2040 RTP/SCS Plan update, which will emphasize progress reporting, monitoring, and updating. The amended Framework and Guidelines will specify format, timing and other details of this requirement. (This provision was not included in the 2012-2035 Subregional SCS Framework and Guidelines.) 8. 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