The Barbed Wire - November 18, 2016

November 18, 2016
NHF and Partners Unveil Veterans Housing Project
Tree Mortality Increases 100 Percent in 2016
Dick Dickerson Highway Dedication
Air Resources Board Unveils New Cap-and-Trade Funding Guidelines
Will Suction Dredge Mining Have Another Chance?
Congress Continues Efforts on Federal Funding
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BULLETIN BOARD
REGULATORY UPDATE

NHF and Partners Unveil Veterans Housing Project

On Veterans Day, representatives from National Homebuyers Fund, Inc. (NHF), Volunteers of America, and HomeAid Sacramento held a press event to unveil the first phase of the Dealynn Street Veterans Housing project in Sacramento.  NHF committed $320,000, about 40 percent of the project’s total cost, as part of its commitment to support veteran housing projects.  The Dealynn Street project, which is estimated at $800,000 dollars, will renovate a 12-unit apartment complex built in the 1950s, to provide housing for up to 22 local homeless or very-low-income veterans and their families from four California counties: Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado.  The event garnered ample media coverage, including hits on Good Day Sacramento, CBS Sacramento, and Fox 40, and News 10.  NHF’s press release on the project can be accessed here.

Tree Mortality Increases 100 Percent in 2016

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that the U.S. Forest Service has identified an additional 36 million dead trees across California since the last aerial survey was conducted in May of this year, bringing the total to 62 million dead in 2016.  This represents more than a 100 percent increase in dead trees across the state from 2015.  Additionally, millions of additional trees are weakened and expected to die in the coming months and years, threatening the safety of local communities across the state.  CAL FIRE's press release can be accessed here.

Dick Dickerson Highway Dedication

On Monday, a dedication ceremony was held in the City of Redding for the Richard “Dick” Dickerson Memorial Highway.  Dick Dickerson served as a Shasta County Supervisor from 1993 to 1998.  As part of his service as a Shasta County Supervisor, Dickerson served on the RCRC Board of Directors and was its Chairman in 1998.  

Dickerson went on to serve in the State Assembly from 1998 to 2002.  After leaving the State Assembly, Dickerson was elected to the Redding City Council.  Sadly, Dickerson died in Redding in September of 2014 after several months of illness.

With the enactment last year of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 53, authored by Assembly Member Brian Dahle (R-Lassen), a portion of State Highway 44 in Redding is now dedicated to Dickerson. 

Air Resources Board Unveils New Cap-and-Trade Funding Guidelines

This week, the California Air Resources Board released supplemental guidelines for state agencies to use when administering grants funded by Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds.  The guidelines were developed to provide investment targets in line with the 2016-17 State Budget Cap-and-Trade allocations, as well as to provide criteria for determining whether a project provides benefits to disadvantaged communities in accordance with Senate Bill 535 (De León).  

While Assembly Bill 1550 (Gomez), signed into law earlier this year, places even greater restrictions on how funds can be spent in disadvantaged communities as defined by the California Environmental Protection Agency, the new guidelines do not address those new parameters.  The Board expects to update the guidelines again in 2017 to address AB 1550.

Comments on the supplemental guidelines are due by December 6, 2016.  Detailed information can be accessed here.

Will Suction Dredge Mining Have Another Chance?

Since 2009, the use of vacuum or suction dredge equipment has been statutorily prohibited in California.  For many of RCRC counties suction dredge mining historically provided not only recreational and economic viability to individuals, but also associated economic stability to communities that hosted the recreational visitor opportunities. 

In 2015, Senate Bill 637 (Allen) authorized the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to adopt waste discharge requirements or a waiver of waste discharge requirements that address water quality impacts of suction dredge mining.  The requirements may specify conditions or areas where suction dredge mining is prohibited, or limit the particular use of specific equipment.  The State Water Board will be holding four workshops throughout the state to solicit public input on developing these requirements in early 2017. 

After these initial workshops, State Water Board staff will draft recommendations to regulate suction dredge mining activities and hold an additional public workshop, prior to a Water Board hearing for adoption.   

Congress Continues Efforts on Federal Funding

As Congress returned this week for the first time since the federal elections, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate continued to work to find a solution on FY 2017 appropriations.  The federal government is currently funded through December 9, 2016.  

On Thursday, House leadership announced the House will begin the process to pass a Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government funded until March 31, 2017.  The announcement came in response to President-elect Trump’s request for Congress to delay resolving FY 17 appropriations until next year when both Congress and White House are under Republican control.  If Congress passes a Continuing Resolution to continue the current levels of federal funding, the new Congress and President-elect Trump will be tasked with finishing up the FY 17 funding bills in the early part of 2017.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Greater Sacramento Economic Council Hosts Inaugural Competitiveness Forum

The Greater Sacramento Economic Council (Greater Sacramento) describes itself as the catalyst for innovative growth strategies in the Capital Region of California.  The organization spearheads efforts to retain and grow key regional industry sectors, scale new businesses, develop and attract advanced and emerging industries, and address state and local regulatory challenges.  These efforts will help strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness, drive economic growth, and foster a business-friendly environment that will lead to sustained job-growth and increased investments throughout the Greater Sacramento six-county region.  Representing a collaboration between local and state governments, market leaders, influencers, and stakeholders, Greater Sacramento encompasses the counties of Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, and El Dorado Counties.

Earlier this week, Greater Sacramento held their inaugural Competitiveness Forum in Placer County.  This quarter’s forum featured Dr. Christopher Weare, Director of Research and Strategy for Greater Sacramento, moderating a panel on macroeconomic trends, the strengths of our educated workforce, the need for entrepreneurship and impediments to it, and an introduction of the groups new Competitiveness Dashboard, accessed here.

A few of the key takeaways from the panel include:

  • Healthcare is the fastest growing industry in the region;
  • The rental market is the hottest in the state over the last six months;
  • Commercial rental space is at a premium;
  • California’s impact fees are four times higher than the national average.

The following rural county representatives serve as Greater Sacramento Public Service Directors:

  • Supervisor Kirk Uhler, Placer County
  • Supervisor Don Saylor, Yolo County
  • Supervisor Mary Jane Griego, Yuba County
  • Don Ashton, Chief Administrative Officer, El Dorado County
  • Curtis Coad, Interim County Administrative Officer, Sutter County

The Greater Sacramento website can be accessed here.

BULLETIN BOARD

CAL FIRE Urban and Community Forestry Program California Climate Investments Grants 2016/2017

Click here

Rural America at a Glance, 2016 Edition

Click here

REGULATORY UPDATE

Discussion Draft of Significant Effects and Hazards in the CEQA Guidelines.  The proposed revisions specifically address the requirement to analyze hazards that a project may risk exacerbating and are in response to the California Supreme Court’s decision in California Building Industry Association v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (2015) 62 Cal. 4th 369.  Agency: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Status: The draft language was released October 21, 2016, with comments due by November 21, 2016.  A copy of the draft can be accessed hereRCRC Comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org

Working Draft 2017 CVFPP Update.  The Working Draft 2017 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP) Update has been released for initial public review.  First adopted in 2012, the CVFPP guides the State’s participation in the managing flood risk in areas protected by the State Plan of Flood Control.  The Update will further refine the State Systemwide Investment Approach (SSIA) to support flood risk management actions locally, regionally, and systemwide.  Agency: Department of Water Resources (DWR) Status: The Working Draft was released on October 28, 2016 with public comments due November 28, 2016.  The Working Draft 2017 CVFPP Update can be accessed here.  RCRC Comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org

Proposed Pesticide Use Near School Sites Regulation.  While current regulatory requirements for pesticide applications near schools vary from county to county, the proposed regulation will provide minimum statewide standards for all agricultural pesticide applications near public K-12 schools and child day care facilities.  The proposed regulation will require growers to notify public K-12 schools, child day care facilities, and County Agricultural Commissioners when certain pesticide applications made for the production of an agricultural commodity near a school site are planned in the coming year, and again a few days prior to the applications.  In addition, certain pesticide applications near these school sites will be prohibited at certain times.  Agency: Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) Status: The proposed regulations were released in September 2016, with public comments now due December 9, 2016.  Public hearings were held on November 15 and 16, in Oxnard and Tulare, respectively and one more is scheduled for December 9, 2016, in Salinas.  The public notice with public hearing time and location details and the draft regulations can be accessed hereRCRC Comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org

General Plan Safety Element Review and Assessment.  The proposed rule establishes a standardized review process for the Board of Forestry review of a draft element or a draft amendment to the safety element of a county or a city’s general plan that contains State Responsibility Area (SRA) or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.  Agency: Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (Board) Status: The proposed rule was published October 28, 2016, with comments due by December 13, 2016.  The Board anticipates holding a public hearing on January 24, 2017.  The proposed rule can be accessed here.  RCRC Comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org

California Paint Stewardship Program 2016 Annual Report.  PaintCare has submitted their California Paint Stewardship Program 2016 Annual Report (Report) to CalRecycle.  Agency: CalRecycle Status: Report posted November 3, 2016, with public comments regarding the performance of the paint stewardship program due December 19, 2016.  CalRecycle will make a subsequent determination regarding compliance within 90 days.  RCRC Comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties.  The Report can be accessed here.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org

Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands.  The proposed rule implements the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) update for a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assisted or financed project involving new construction or a substantial improvement that is situated in an area subject to floods.  Agency: US Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Status: The proposed rule was published October 28, 2016, with comments due by December 27, 2016.  The proposed rule can be accessed here.  RCRC Comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org

Amendments to the Portable Engine ATCM and the PERP.  Revisions to the Portable Engine Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) and the Statewide Portable Equipment Registration Program Regulation (PERO) are being proposed.  The current ATCM requires subject fleets of engines to meet a series of fleet average emission standards for diesel particulate matter (DPM).  The ATCM fleet standards became effective in 2013 and become more stringent in 2017 and 2020.  Compliance with the future fleet requirements are projected to be very difficult.  The proposed amendments include alternatives to the current fleet averages to protect public health while considering economic impacts to regulated fleets.  Agency: Air Resources Board (ARB) Status: Draft regulations are dated September 9, 2016.  A public workshop was held on November 10, 2016.  The proposed regulations are anticipated to be released in early 2017, and considered at the March 2017 ARB public meeting.  The draft regulations and additional information can be accessed hereRCRC Comments: Staff is seeking input from member counties.  RCRC Advocate: Mary Pitto mpitto@rcrcnet.org