Transcript Legislative Updates and Proposed Measure

The League of California Cities
Resources to Promote
“Better Transportation”
Eric Figueroa
Regional Public Affairs Manager
East Bay Division
October 23, 2012
Our Strategic Goals
• The League’s Regional Approach for 2012
– Build Strong Partnerships for a Stronger
Golden State. Collaborate with other public and
private groups and leaders to reform the structure
and governance, and promote transparency, fiscal
integrity, and responsiveness of our state
government and intergovernmental system.
Regional Approach
• Our Focus is Regional – Yet Still Local
– The League is Committed to Local Decision
Making
– Our Members Want Incentive Based Approach to
Issues
– The League Serves a Wide Variety of Members,
but We Can All Agree We Want a Better
Community
– The Issue is How . . . And it is Never One Size Fits
All
SB 375
• Ground Breaking Legislation Changed the Way California
Addresses Climate Change.
• The League Did Support SB 375, but it was a Hard Fought
Decision.
• One of SB 375’s Crucial Elements is That Once a Target is
Established, the Regions Have Flexibility in Determining How
They Will Achieve their Respective Targets.
• The State’s Only Role is for the Air Resources Board to Agree
or Disagree with the Region on Whether the Region’s Plan
will Achieve the Targeted Reduction — not to Micromanage
the Methods and Strategies Developed by the Region.
Our Guiding Principle
• Preserving regional flexibility and local control was a critical
factor for the League, business groups, homebuilders and other
organizations in the final agreement on SB 375.
• As regions move forward with developing and implementing
Sustainable Communities Strategies they need flexibility to
develop plans that reflect local realities, which are now even
starker.
• The best hope for progress is to focus on the practical
challenges faced by local agencies and the marketplace and
working to develop the financial and other resources to match
desired goals.
• This is Where Cities and Counties are Critical Partners with
Advocacy Groups – We Really Do Need to Work Together
Beyond Advocacy - Education
• The League is Committed to Education in All
Areas That Impact Communities
– Education Via Our Policy Process
– But More Importantly, Education via Our Research
Arm: The Institute for Local Government
ILG – Resources to Support You
• ILG’s Climate Action and Sustainability Best Practices
Framework - 10 Best Practice Areas for Local Agenices
Including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Energy Efficiency & Conservation
Water & Wastewater Systems
Green Building
Waste Reduction & Recycling
Climate-Friendly Purchasing
Renewable Energy & Low-Carbon Fuels
Efficient Transportation
Land Use & Community Design
Open Space & Offsetting Carbon Emissions
Promoting Community & Individual Action
Practical Examples
• ILG’s Climate Action and Sustainability
Examples for Inspiration and Replication
– Focus on Results in the 10 Key Areas.
– Greenhouse Gas Reduction Samples
– Climate Action Plan Samples
– A Bay Area Specific Page
Climate Action Resource Page
• Beyond Best Practices and Examples are Information
Sharing Pages
– Specific Items in Each of the 10 Best Practice
Areas for Local Agencies
ILG Awards of Recognition
• The Beacon Award: Local Leadership Toward
Participating in the Voluntary Beacon Award Program
Provides Local Agencies and Their Leaders with
Positive Recognition for Saving Energy, Conserving
Resources, Promoting Sustainability and Reducing
Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
• The Beacon Program Shines a Bright Light on
Accomplishments for Residents, Colleagues and
Others.
League of California Cities
• Recap
– We Are Looking to Work with Other Regional
Entities to Promote Positive Climate Change Ideas.
– Guided by Our Core Principal of Local Control
– Maintain a Research Arm to Facilitate Learning
Among our Members in City and County
Government
• Questions?