HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12112012 - C.97RECOMMENDATION(S):
AUTHORIZE the Chair to sign a letter to Tom Torlakson, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, expressing
the need for local jurisdiction consultation during planning discussions to reform school siting policy, as
recommended by the Legislation Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No Fiscal Impact to the General Fund. The County could see an indirect, long term fiscal benefit from reformed
school siting polices due to decreased demand for local infrastructure investment.
BACKGROUND:
Schools are constructed by local school districts following state guidelines. Local jurisdictions such as the County,
which normally have statutory responsibility for overseeing land development activities, have very little authority to
influence either the siting or the design of public schools. East Contra Costa County in particular has experienced
safety and circulation issues with schools placed in areas with very little supportive transportation infrastructure. In
addition to the circulation and safety issues, conflicts between local land use authorities and school districts, agencies
that have different goals, inevitably arise.
Superintendent Torlakson's office released a report in 2011 entitled,
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 12/11/2012 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: John Cunningham,
674-7833
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: December 11, 2012
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
C. 97
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Legislation Committee
Date:December 11, 2012
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Communication to State Superintendent of Public Instruction
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
"Schools of the Future Report " which includes recommendations for reforming school siting practices. The Board
of Supervisors, on May 8, 2012, sent a letter to the Superintendent congratulating him on his report and indicating
our interest in participating in any implementation. Subsequent to the Superintendent's report, the State
commissioned a separate study entitled "California’s K-12 Educational Infrastructure Investments: Leveraging
the State’s Role for Quality School Facilities in Sustainable Communities". Implementation of the
recommendations of both studies has been initiated.
The Legislation Committee recommended that the Board of Supervisors transmit a letter to the Superintendent
strongly indicating the need to consult with local jurisdictions on the matter of school siting.
The Committee's recommendations are consistent with the following policy positions in the County's 2012 State
Legislative Platform:
Transportation Issues:
120. SUPPORT efforts to improve safety throughout the transportation system.
123. SUPPORT efforts to coordinate development of state-funded facilities such as courts, schools, jails and state
offices with local planning.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without approving transmittal of the letter, the Board will forgo an opportunity to advance its legislative platform.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Promoting improved siting and design of schools as advocated in the Schools of the Future Report and
California’s K-12 Educational Infrastructure Investments: Leveraging the State’s Role for Quality School
Facilities in Sustainable Communities report will better integrate our education facilities with their surrounding
community and encourage more walking and bicycling to school. Anticipated outcomes are better designed
communities that promote a more healthy lifestyle for our children.
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
By unanimous vote, the Board accepted the new draft of the letter for consideration. AUTHORIZED the Chair
to sign a letter addressed to Tom Torlakson, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, as amended to:
include the California League of Cities, Counties Schools Partnership in the list of agencies to work with
(paragraph 3); add the Contra Costa Mayors Conference and Mr. Randell H. Iwasaki, the incoming Executive
Director of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to the distribution list.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Letter