To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Milan Nevajda, Deputy Director; Lisa Hulette, Senior Environmental Specialist
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Grant Application to Coastal Commission for Vehicle Miles Traveled Analysis
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a resolution authorizing Permit Sonoma to submit a planning grant application to the California Coastal Commission for up to $200,000 to prepare a comprehensive analysis and guidelines regarding vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions, and accept the funds if awarded.
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Executive Summary:
Permit Sonoma requests for the Board to authorize submittal of a planning grant application to analyze vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reductions in the Sonoma County Coastal Zone and authorize the Director of Permit Sonoma to execute all agreements resulting from the grant application.
Discussion:
On July 30, 2019 the California Coastal Commission released a Notice of Funding Availability for a Planning Grant program that provides financial and planning assistance, under authority of the California Coastal Act, to study greenhouse gas emissions and develop guidelines for reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on the coast. Up to $1,500,000 in grants is available to be awarded to all coastal jurisdictions.
As part of its 2017-2019 Comprehensive Planning two-year work plan, Permit Sonoma has been collaborating with the Coastal Commission’s North Central Coast District to prepare a Local Coastal Plan update; implementation of the updated Local Coastal Plan is expected in 2020. The Sonoma County Local Coastal Program (LCP) contains three distinct components including the Local Coastal Plan which is currently being updated, the Implementation Plan known as the Coastal Zoning Code (County Code Chapter 26C), and the Administrative Manual. The Coastal Commission Planning Grant will provide funding to supplement analysis that is necessary for the successful implementation of the Local Coastal Program update.
In 2014 the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 743 which requires local jurisdictions to consider Vehicle Miles Traveled rather than Level of Service (delay at intersections) to evaluate impacts under CEQA. Senate bill 743 was passed as part of California’s ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by the year 2030. The County of Sonoma has resolved to meet this goal and further reduce levels to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
The proposed grant will fund a focused on VMT analysis and subsequent greenhouse gas emission reductions necessary to reach the goals established in SB 743. The emphasis of the analysis will be on development on the Sonoma County coast, and will provide the County with an accurate, science-based model and VMT Estimate Tool to equitably review impacts related to land use and recreational activity on the coast. Specifically, an economic analysis of the balance between jobs, housing and land use projects, from the perspective of a rural tourist economy will be created, while incorporating social equity components, with the knowledge that many of the County’s service workers in the coastal region probably travel long distances to get to their jobs.
Permit Sonoma intends to submit a Planning Grant application that will achieve the following scope:
• Implement Draft Local Coastal Program policies and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consider thresholds for Vehicle Miles Traveled (California Coastal Commission Grant LCP18-02);
• Implement SB 743 and new CEQA Guidelines for GHG emissions and VMT, and consider local thresholds for significance for VMT;
• Establish methodology and metrics for evaluating GHG impacts and VMT resulting from rural and visitor serving uses on the Sonoma County Coast;
• Develop a guidance document and menu of potential mitigation measures tailored to the Sonoma County Coastal Zone to be applied to future development projects
• Ensure continued protection of coastal resources and public access to the coast while meeting or exceeding the Counties adopted greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; and,
• Provide technical analysis of VMT reduction strategies and options including an economic impacts study.
The assessment will inform public entities, private community residents, decision-makers and other interested stakeholders and decision-makers on action-oriented solutions for VMT analysis, GHG reduction and subsequent development of local thresholds. The results of the coastal VMT study will be a VMT Estimation Tool that will be transferable and informative for VMT-related planning efforts.
The draft resolution appoints the Permit Sonoma Director, or their designee, as the County’s agent to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including, but not limited to applications, agreements, and payment requests, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project with the California Coastal Commission (as described in the grant application on file with the Clerk of the Board).
Prior Board Actions:
May 8, 2018: Board adopts the Climate Change Action Resolution 18-0166 to support a county-wide framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to pursue local actions that support the identified goals therein.
September 18, 2018: Board adopts Resolution 18-0376 authorizing Permit Sonoma to submit a planning grant application to the California Coastal Commission for $200,000 to prepare a Local Coastal Program Update.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$87,250 |
$12,250 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
$87,250 |
$12,250 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
$12,250 |
$12,250 |
|
State/Federal |
|
$87,250 |
$87,250 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
|
$175,000 |
$25,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
If the County’s application is successful, the Planning Grant will provide Permit Sonoma with up to $200,000, as outlined in the grant application (on file with the Clerk of the Board), a portion of which may be used to fund consultant services for analysis. The Planning Grant does not require a local match, however a County cost share will be incorporated through in-kind staff hours dedicated to the project. Staff hours for SB 743 Implementation and Local Coastal Program implementation have already been allocated within the Comprehensive Planning Section’s two-year work plan for 2019-2021, therefore additional staffing is not needed
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Draft Board of Supervisors Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Grant Application to the California Coastal Commission