The California Transportation Commission, or CTC, was established in 1978, as the single state agency to preside over state transportation policy. The CTC is responsible for programming and allocating funds for the construction of highway, passenger rail, and transit improvements throughout California. The Commission also advises and assists the Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, and the Legislature, in formulating and evaluating state policies and plans for California’s transportation programs. The Commission is also an active participant in the initiation and development of State and Federal legislation that seeks to secure financial stability for the State’s transportation needs.

If you’d like to see the CTC in action, its next meeting is in West Sacramento on Wednesday of this week. Among other things, the CTC will be considering a $15 million dollar allocation for High Speed Rail.

Land use planning and transportation planning are inextricably related. The most forward thinking growth management bill pending in the State legislature, SB 375, ties future transportation investments to smart growth policies. Those who care about the future growth and development of California need to become ever more familiar with, and involved with, our state and regional transportation agencies.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

California Transportation Commission Website
http://www.catc.ca.gov/

Agenda for October 24, 2007 Meeting
http://www.catc.ca.gov/meetings/agenda/
07Agenda/07Oct/102407Final_Est_Timed_Agenda.pdf

Live Oak, located between Capitola and Santa Cruz, is not a city, since it doesn’t have its own elected City Council. As part of the County’s “unincorporated area,” Live Oak is under the direct jurisdiction of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. Most of the Live Oak area is in the First Supervisorial District. County Supervisor Jan Beautz, who represents the First District, plays an important role in setting policy for Live Oak. While decisions are ultimately made by the five-person Board of Supervisors as a whole, the Board does tend to defer to the “Supervisor of the District.” If you’re a Live Oak resident, and haven’t been in touch with your Supervisor, I’d encourage you to get acquainted. I think, in fact, there will be a chance to see her in action this evening, at 7:00 p.m., at the Simpkins Swim Center off 17th Avenue. As I understand it, Supervisor Beautz will be exploring the possibility of saving the Pleasure Point “Roadhouse,” perhaps finding the funds to turn it into a kind of Pleasure Point Community Center. Next year is an election year in the First District, and candidates for the First District seat will probably also be in attendance.

Here’s another “heads up.” Significant land use and infrastructure changes are affected by the County’s redevelopment activities in Live Oak. On Tuesday, November 20th, the entire Board of Supervisors will be reviewing the Live Oak Redevelopment project. There is more information on the KUSP website.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Redevelopment Agency Review Meeting Announcement
http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/bds/
Govstream/BDSvData/non_legacy/agendas/
2007/20071016/PDF/028.pdf

In the transcript of today’s Land Use Report, I’ve placed some information about three major statewide groups that work on water policy: the Association of California Water Agencies, or ACWA; the California Water Association, or CWA; and Public Officials for Water and Environmental Reform, or POWER.

ACWA represents public water agencies. CWA represents privately owned water agencies (like Cal-Am). And POWER is best described as an “environmental/public interest” group. All of them are holding conferences in November.

On November 6th, the CWA will be meeting at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, which means that Central Coast residents can find out about the key issues in water policy from a private utility perspective without having to leave the Monterey Bay Area.

The CWA conference in Monterey will be focusing on:

• Global Climate Change, Water and AB 32 Implementation
• The Role of Water Utilities in Managing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Embedded Energy Savings in Water Conservation Programs
• How Monterey Reduced Water Usage by More Than 30%; and
• Desalination and Aquifer Storage Recharge on the Monterey Bay

If you’d like the “public agency” or “public interest” perspective, check the KUSP website for details on the POWER and ACWA conferences scheduled for later in November.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

CWA Website
http://www.calwaterassn.com/

CWA Conference Program
http://www.calwaterassn.com/
MontereyConference-Nov2007.pdf

ACWA Website
http://www.acwa.com/

ACWA Conference Preliminary Program
http://www.acwa.com//events/
FC07/PrelimAgenda2.pdf

POWER Water Conference Website
http://www.cawaterpolicy.org/

The Monterey Bay Area is a great place to hold a conference, and that means that Central Coast residents can often get access to some of the most creative and thoughtful experts in the nation without having to travel very far. If you’re interested in agriculture and water quality, you might want to mark your calendar for November 7th through November 9th. Those are the dates of a conference sponsored by the Central Coast Agricultural Water Quality Coalition, which will be meeting at Asilomar. Details are available on the KUSP website.

The Central Coast Agricultural Water Quality Coalition is mainly oriented towards the interests of farm owners and operators, who are faced with ever more stringent water quality regulations. Traditionally, agriculture has resisted regulation, in whatever form, but water quality concerns demand attention, and farming practices can have a big impact. At the upcoming conference, here are the topics that will be the focus of discussion:

• Water Quality Monitoring: Data, Methodology, Trends & Advancements
• Food Safety & Environmental Protection: Conflicts and Compatibilities
• Agricultural & Environmental Innovations
• The Sustainability Factor; and
• Agricultural Interfaces

This conference, in the end, will confront the business and economic implications of environmental protection. The public at large, and farmers and landowners, all have an interest in that!

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Conference Announcement
http://www.agwaterquality.org/
2007conference/

Detailed Conference Agenda
http://www.agwaterquality.org/
2007conference/agenda.pdf

Background on the Central Coast Agricultural Water Quality Coalition
http://www.awqa.org/farmers/workinggroup.html

As I’ve been mentioning this week on the Land Use Report, there are some outstanding opportunities for self-education right here on the Central Coast. If you’d like to become more effective as a citizen advocate for environmentally sustainable land use policies, please do consider taking in one or more of those meetings I’ve mentioned.

Today, let me give you another opportunity to get engaged. On Wednesday, November 14th, the Central Coast Joint Data Committee is going to present its “Regional Signatories’ Fair.” “Signatories,” in this case, refers to agencies and organizations that have signed up to be part of the Joint Data Committee. The Committee is a working collaborative of those who utilize Geographical Information Systems in their public agency or other work. “GIS Day 2007” is an opportunity to learn how Geographical Information Systems are being used by agencies in the Central Coast region.

I am not one who will argue that “technology” can solve our most pressing environmental, economic, social justice (and land use) problems. Legal and social change is needed. Political action, in other words. But “technology” can make a different in the land use arena. The power of Geographical Information Systems is immense, and I think it would be well worth a trip to Monterey, on November 14th, to see how this tool is being used by our local governmental agencies. There is more information on the KUSP website.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information

Central Coast Joint Data Committee
http://www.ccjdc.org/

GIS Day Announcement
http://www.ccjdc.org/events/
gisday/2007_GIS_Day.pdf

GreenInfo Network
http://www.greeninfo.org/