Tomorrow, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will set the date for a public hearing on the Santa Cruz County 2008 “Growth Goal.” Unless something changes tomorrow, which is unlikely, you can mark your calendars now. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 25th.

As far as I know, there is no other city or county in the state of California that sets an annual “Growth Goal,” in the way that Santa Cruz County does. The basis for this procedure is Measure J, the growth management referendum adopted by the people of Santa Cruz County in June 1978. The procedure, in other words, is our own idea, not a response to any kind of state mandate. Measure J is a pretty good demonstration of the flexibility of our local government “police power,” where land use is concerned.

If you haven’t read Measure J lately, I’ve provided a reference in the transcript to today’s Land Use Report. One of the major premises of Measure J is that growth should not just “happen to us,” but we should act, affirmatively, to have the kind of growth we want. Under Measure J, we can set our “Growth Goal” either high or low. It’s up to us! That’s what is so different about Santa Cruz County. Everywhere else, the community reacts to whatever growth comes. Here, we are at least trying to be “in charge” of growth. As a basic philosophical premise, I think that’s the way it ought to be!

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Measure J was adopted by a vote of the people in June 1978. It is now incorporated into the Santa Cruz County Code, in Title 17
http://ordlink.com/codes/santacruzco/index.htm

Santa Cruz County Website
http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/

Board of Supervisors Agenda
http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/Govstream/ASP/
Display/SCCB_AgendaDisplayWeb.asp?MeetingDate=8/28/2007

Agenda item on public hearing on “Growth Goal”
http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/Govstream/
BDSvData/non_legacy/agendas/2007/20070828/PDF/030.pdf

Other information about Measure J
http://www.landwatch.org/pages/
publications02/081802MeasureJstory.pdf

The City Council of the City of Arroyo Grande will be meeting this evening. Arroyo Grande is located just a bit south of San Luis Obispo.

As is often the case, some of the most important items are found on the Consent Agenda. Under California’s open meeting laws, with a very small number of exceptions, all “decisions” of a local government must be taken “in public.” This does not mean, however, that all items must be discussed in public, before a decision is made.

The “Consent Agenda” procedure is one in which a number of proposed actions are contained in a single, and usually long, list. No discussion of any of the specific items on the list takes place. Action is by a single motion, “to approve the Consent Agenda.” If someone wants to discuss an item, then that item must be “removed” from the Consent Agenda before the motion is adopted.

The Consent Agenda process is a helpful way to get through non-controversial items quickly. Members of the public need to keep a sharp eye out, though, or they might miss their chance to comment and participate. Tomorrow, the Arroyo Grande City Council is proposing to take action on the Consent Agenda that will affect a proposed 182-acre annexation to the City of Pismo Beach. If that’s important to you, you should be at the meeting, and ask that the item be “removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion.” There is more information below.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

City of Arroyo Grande Website
http://www.arroyogrande.org/

City Council Agenda
http://www.arroyogrande.org/admin/meeting-materials.php

Consent Agenda item on Pismo Beach Annexation
http://www.arroyogrande.org/meetings/559/8_n.pdf

The San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission is meeting tomorrow, and I am most interested, personally, in Item #2 on the Planning Commission agenda. I hope that listeners in San Luis Obispo County are similarly interested, and will be able to attend the Planning Commission meeting tomorrow. Here’s how Item #2 is described:

Continued hearing to consider a request by the County of San Luis Obispo to amend Framework for Planning, Part I of the Land Use and Circulation Elements of the County General Plan, to incorporate "smart growth" principles…

The County of San Luis Obispo makes agenda materials for the Planning Commission available online, so you can check out exactly what will be discussed, in advance of the meeting tomorrow.

I encourage you to do that, and to attend and participate in the Planning Commission deliberations. The Board of Supervisors will make the ultimate decision on whether or not (and to what extent) the County General Plan will be amended to include more “smart growth” principles. It’s at the Planning Commission level, though, that your ability to affect the outcome is greatest. The Commission has more time to consider the possible options, and is generally more willing to modify what’s before them than the Board of Supervisors will be, later. So, if you’d like more “smart growth” in the San Luis Obispo County General Plan (or if you don’t want that!) the meeting tomorrow is one not to miss.

There is more information below.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

San Luis Obispo County Website
http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/site4.aspx

SLO Planning Commission Agendas and Minutes
http://slocounty.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3

Agenda for August 30th Planning Commission meeting
http://slocounty.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?
view_id=3&event_id=9

I’d like to give you a “heads up” on an interesting meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, September 5th, at the Moss Landing Marine Labs, 8272 Moss Landing Road, in Moss Landing. The meeting will go from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., so it’s after normal work hours. I hope some KUSP listeners will be able to attend.

OK, what is this meeting about? This is a meeting of the U.S. Green Building Council-Monterey Bay, and the topic to is “Green Building Programs: What Local and State Government is Doing to Encourage Green Building.” Speakers include Chief Building Officials John Kuehl, of the City of Monterey, Dick Stubendorff, of the City of Santa Cruz, and Tim McCormick, of Monterey County. The kick-off speaker will be Brian Gitt, Chief Executive Officer of Build It Green. More information is available below.

Global warming is a significant challenge to our civilization. Human beings caused it (and we are continuing to cause it), and we’re going to have to change the way we do things if we are going to be successful in meeting the global warming challenge. Fundamental reforms in development patterns are going to be required. New ways to build are, too. The program on September 5th will focus on the latter. Notice, though, that “green building” techniques will have to become part of our basic land use regulations, if we hope to be able to make the changes we need to make.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Call 831-688-7900 for more information about the meeting. You can register online at www.usgbc-ncc.org

Registration Webpage
http://www.usgbc-ncc.org/index.php?option=com
_events&type=event&task=details&id=48&Itemid=109

Build It Green Website
http://www.builditgreen.org/

What Is Green Building?
http://www.greenbuilding.com/

Coastweeks is a three-week celebration of our coast and waterways, taking place from September 15th through October 7th. I’m giving you advance notice because Coastweeks is emphatically not oriented to “spectators.” It works because tens of thousands of Californians get personally involved, and personally participate. Coastweeks is a way not only to celebrate our coast, but also to clean it up. Coastweeks begins with the “California Coastal Cleanup Day,” on Saturday, September 15th, a massive volunteer effort in which more than 50,000 people normally participate. You, and your family and friends, can be among them!

As in past years, the California Coastal Commission is coordinating the various Coastweeks events being held throughout the state. The Commission has created an online calendar that let’s you know how you can get involved. There are nearly 200 events going on throughout California, and many of them are located right here on the Central Coast. In Santa Cruz County, Save Our Shores is providing overall coordination. In San Luis Obispo County, the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo County is the coordinator. The State Department of Parks and Recreation is coordinating Coastweeks efforts in Monterey County.

Below, you’ll find more information on Coastweeks.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Coastal Commission Website
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/

The Coast For You Website
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/pendx.html

Coastal Clean Up Day, September 15th
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html

Save Our Shores, Coordinator for Santa Cruz County
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/
counties/santacruz.html

ECOSLO, Coordinator for San Luis Obispo County
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/
counties/sanluisobispo.html

California State Parks, Coordinator for Monterey County
http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/
counties/monterey.html