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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06161998 - C75 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN THE MATTER OF SUPPORTING ) "MOVING TOWARD A BALANCED ) RESOLUTION 981320 ECONOMY" STUDY ) WHEREAS, Bay Area regional goals encourage development patterns and policies that discourage long distance commuting, and WHEREAS, regional goals also encourage increased housing supply, with a range of types and affordability and a suitable living environment to accommodate current and future workers and households; WHEREAS, regional goals encourage economic development which provides jobs for current and future residents, increases the tax base, supports and enhances California's position in the global marketplace, and helps provide the resources necessary to meet vital environmental, housing, transportation and other needs; and WHEREAS, ABAG has identified Jobs/Housing Balance and Sustainable Development Strategies as 1998-1999 priorities; and WHEREAS, the Contra Costa Economic Partnership has undertaken a study, "Moving Toward A Balanced Economy," that will identify strategies to provide a better balance between jobs, housing and transportation; and WHEREAS, the study will develop specific strategies for a balanced economy in each of the sub-areas of the County that will mitigate traffic congestion, improve the quality of life and lead to sustainable communities; and WHEREAS, the Partnership will conduct a comprehensive education and outreach effort to stimulate discussion and implementation of the strategies; and WHEREAS, the study and the implementation of its recommended strategies can serve as a model for other counties to achieve a better balance between jobs, housing and transportation. BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors urges the Association of Bay Area Governments to approve the Contra Costa Economic Partnership's request for funding for the outreach and implementation phase of the "Balanced Economy" study. PASSEL?by unanimous vote of the Board Members present on this 1 e day of June 1998. 1 hereby certify that this a true and correct copy of an order entered on the minutes of said Board of Supervisors on the date aforesaid. Witness my hand and Seat of the Board of Supervisors affixed on this 16th day of June 1998. PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County,Administrator Deputy Clerk R A c a 2 f� DU i May 28, 1998 To: Ed James,City Manager City of Concord Marcia Raines,City Manager City of Martinez Jeff Kohn,City Manager City of Pittsburg Isiah Turner,City Manager City of Richmond Ron Kiedrowski,Asst.City Manager City of San Pablo Herb Moniz,City Manager City of San Ramon Mike Ramsey,City Manager City of Antioch Ken Hobbs,City Manager City of Hercules Don Blubaugh,City Manager City of Walnut Creek Phil Batchelor,County Administrator Contra Costa County Fr: Linda Best Executive Director Re: "Moving Toward A Balanced Economy„Study Resolutions of Support for CCEP's Application to ABAG's Comprehensive Subregional Planning Project for funding As you are aware from the last partnership Board meeting, it will be essential to conduct an extensive education and outreach program to stimulate discussion and implementation of the strategies that will be identified in the"Balanced Economy"study. That effort is likely to cost up to$50,000. ABAG's Subregional Planning Program intends to fund two projects in the region for up to$30,000 per project. As you know,we still lack adequate funding for the study and outreach effort. Because the study itself is nearly complete, it is not eligible for the funding;however,it is possible that funding could be obtained for the outreach effort and we have submitted an application for that purpose. Therefore,we are requesting that you urge your City CounciVBoard of Supervisors to pass a resolution of support for ABAG approval of the Partnership's request,if at all possible, at your next Council/Board meeting,within the constraints of your agenda and legal notice deadlines. We believe that booth the study and the outreach effort are closely aligned with regional goats and ABAG's 1998-99 priorities of jobs/housing balance and sustainable development strategies. 1 have enclosed a copy of the application and a sample resolution for your use, if desired. Please let me know when the resolution will be on your agenda and if it would be helpful for me to be present. Thank you very much for your help and support,and call if you have any questions. 100 1 GAJAn '( VVAY, SM-E 102 CA -?4520 • I51 C) 681 3266 FAX {5 101; 68 1 -3269 MOVING TOWARD A BALANCED ECONOMY IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY A PROPOSAL TO THE ASSOCIATION OF BAY AREA GOVERNMXNTS' COMPREHENSIVE SURREGIONAL PLANNING PROGRAM Submitted by the Contra Costa Economic Partnership May 1998 THE PROPOSAL The Contra Costa Economic Partnership respectfully requests a grant from the Association of Bay Area Governments' Comprehensive Subregional Planning Program of$30,000 to fund the education and outreach phase of the Partnership's Moving Toward A Balanced Economy study. The project is described below,along with the supplementary information requested by the Request for Proposal. The Contra Costa Economic Partnership's Balanced Economy study will be conducted in two phases. The initial phase is the study itself,which was begun in January of 1998 and will be completed in June of 1998. The second phase will begin in July of 1998 and will focus on education,outreach,and implementation of the policy recommendations of the study. THE CONTRA COSTA ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP The Contra Costa Economic Partnership is a publictprivate partnership of business and government leaders formed to promote economic vitality in Contra Costa County. Our objective is to retails and expand existing business,while providing a climate to attract high-wage jobs and emerging technology companies. Our strategy calls for streamlining the permitting process,developing a long-term plan to retain business and attract new industry, linking education and training to required job skills,improving infrastructure,and developing new jobs and affordable housing near employment centers. In our short existence,we have made excellent progress in moving toward our objectives. The Partnership was instrumental in establishing the EPA Assistance Center in Martinez. Through our efforts,local amendments to the Uniform Building Code were substantially reduced,providing greater uniformity. This year,the Partnership completed an extensive research project on local permitting practices and produced a report highlighting"best practices"in the permit process. We will continue to monitor this process and facilitate streamlining efforts. A Transportation White Paper was published in 1997,which continues to serve as a basis for prioritizing transportation projects in the County. The Partnership has also been active in workforce development activities,serving as a link between employers and the education community to ensure that curriculum is appropriate to producing a qualified workforce. We participate in the Workforce Development Advisory Panel,a recent effort to provide much- needed collaboration and coordination between the massy agencies and organizations addressing this issue. In August of 1997,through the efforts of the Partnership,the City of Concord,and PG&E,the Contra Costa Software Business Incubator was established to foster the growth of small,start-up software companies. The facility is already fully leased,with a waiting list. We are in the development stage of two new incubators,a Bioscience incubator in West County and a Telecommunications Incubator in South County. Our Board of Directors determines policy and oversees the organization's programs. It is comprised of business representatives from a variety of industries and local government representatives,including the nine largest cities and the County. The majority of the County's major employers are represented in the Partnership. A Board of Directors list is attached to this application. The Board of Directors,at its meeting of January 15, 1998,voted unanimous support for the project. Individual resolutions from our local government members in support of this application will be forwarded to ABAG. 2 PHASE ONE. THE BALANCER? ECONOMY STUDY The Work Program The Balanced Economy study is designed to define a set of'strategies aimed at achieving a balanced economy for Contra Costa County. It is based on the premise that the County's quality of life will be increasingly threatened unless agreements can be reached on basic policies to direct the County's future, especially in the critical areas of housing,jobs,and transportation. The study recognizes that each of the County's sub-areas has differing characteristics and will require differing strategies to achieve a balanced, sustainable economy. The Contra Costa Economic Partnership believes that the study can provide a model for other counties and regions in the Bay Area to analyze the pressures of growth and to develop strategies that,if implemented, can provide a better balance between jobs,housing and transportation and a more sustainable economy. The draft principles that have been identified as contributing to a sustainable economy include the following: + Minimize traffic congestion. • Promote jobs/housing balance with a diversified housing stock in each sub-area of the County. • Position the County to attract employment growth sectors through: - Land availability - Efficient entitlement process - Appropriate fees Seek to create employment opportunities that will meet the needs of existing residents. • Enhance the education system to ensure a quality labor force,attract employers and serve the residential community. • Raise the education level of residents to match the requirements of new job sectors. + Maximize regeneration of"brown field"areas. • Establish mechanisms to ensure that future growth benefits the fiscal condition of Contra Costa communities. • Prioritize transportation improvements. In addition to the draft principles,the study will include the following components: 1)an analysis of Contra Costa by sub-area;2)an analysis of the fiscal impact of residential development,and 3)a set of strategy recommendations for each sub-area to achieve a balanced and sustainable economy. The analysis of each sub-area will assess trends and conditions with respect to trends in demographics,the labor pool,job centers,housing,expected future growth trends in employment,industries,population and housing,and existing and planned transportation systems linking employees to jots centers. The analysis will also synthesize the trend information to develop an assessment of each sub-area regarding the current and projected balance and match between job centers,labor pool,housing and transportation linkages. From this base of information,the study will identify opportunities and constraints regarding future job opportunities,target industries to match skills of existing residents,the housing needs for the existing labor pool and the labor pool of growth industries,and transportation improvements needed to reduce current congestion and accommodate future development. The housing fiscal impact analysis will first provide an empirical analysis of the actual fiscal impacts that a range of housing products have had on municipalities in Contra Costa County. Secondly,the study will address the importance of an adequate supply of the right mix of housing for attracting and maintaining business and job growth. This component will also evaluate techniques that communities have used to mitigate fiscal burdens of residential development. 3 The final,and most important,component of the study will, based upon all of the data and analysis described above,develop a set of strategy recommendations for each sub-area,addressing the following: • Target industries • Job center opportunities • Labor pool • Transportation linkages • Housing production to match target employment profile In summary,the work program is designed to produce the following outcomes: • For each of the sub-areas in Contra Costa,a description of current trends in housing, employment and transportation and the likely consequences between now and the year 241 fJ if current trends continue. • A description of what might be anticipated in each Contra Cost sub-area should current trends be modified in accordance with the principles set out in this program. • A series of recommendations on actions that can be taken to ensure a balance in the production of jobs and housing supported by essential transportation improvements. Consultants and Staff Keyser Marston,the lead consultant for the study,has one of the largest real estate and redevelopment advisory practices on the West Coast,with experience in all types of commercial and residential real estate. Representative public sector clients include nearly every major municipality in California,cities,ports and military bases throughout the west,county and special districts,as well as public and private colleges and universities. Its services include real estate,redevelopment,economic development strategies, infrastructure finance,housing,and fiscal impact. Bernard prieden,Associate Dean of Architecture and Planning and Ford Professor of Urban Development at M.I.T.,is conducting the housing fiscal analysis of the study. He has served as Chairman of the M.I.T. Faculty,Director of the M.I.T.-Harvard Joint Center for Urban Studies,and Research Director of the M.I.T. Center for Real Estate. He has also served as a consultant on housing and urban planning to numerous federal and state agencies,including the U.S.Department of Defense. He has written or edited eight books and is the author of more than 60 articles in his field. Korve Engineering is an international transportation leader,providing a full range of transportation planning,traffic engineering,and civil engineering design services to public-and private-sector clients throughout the world. Their planning experience covers the full range of public agency and development planning,including regional policies and plans,travel demand studies,new towns and specific plans. The firm incorporates new methods that link land use,transportation,and air quality solutions. Linda Best is Executive Director of the Contra Costa Economic Partnership and currently spends approximately 25%of her time on the Balanced Economy study. She is a former consultant in planning and government relations and a former Executive Director of the Contra Costa Council. She has served on both the San.Ramon Valley Area Planning Commission and the Contra Costa County Planning Commission. The Process The Partnership and the consultants have involved appropriate stakeholders and technical advisers as the study has proceeded. A Technical Advisory Committee has been established to review the draft work products of the consultants and meets monthly. The Committee includes representatives from Contra 4 Costa Community Development Department,Contra Costa Transportation Authority,ABAG, homebui€dens,commercial real estate and City Managers from cities representative of each sub-area of the County. Additionally,meetings were held in each sub-area of the County to review the initial analysis and fundings of the Trends and Conditions section of the report. Those meetings included expanded representation of other stakeholders in the community, including education and chambers of commerce. Prior to adoption of the final report by the Partnership Board,briefings/meetings will be held with interested stakeholders and interest groups, including stakeholder meetings in each sub-area,and meetings with business and special interest groups, including labor and environmental organizations. The Timetable The final draft of the study will be available in mid to late June. Briefing sessions will be held with stakeholders to obtain comments,and the final dram will be submitted to the Economic Partnership Board of Directors at its July meeting. PHASE TWO: OUTREACH AND SUB-AREA IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM The goals of the outreach/implementation program are twofold: 1) Build awareness,stimulate discussion and begin to build consensus of the findings and recommendations of the study. 2) Solidify support among the jurisdictions in the sub-areas for the strategy recommendations and encourage cooperative sub-area efforts to implement the strategies. The target audience for the outreach/implementation program is decision makers and opinion leaders, including public officials,business organizations,trade associations,labor organizations,educational institutions,environmental groups and the media. Most importantly,we must establish:a willingness on the part of our elected officials to take strong leadership and plan a sustainable vision for Contra Costa's future. The Work Program 1) To build awareness,stimulate discussion and begin to build consensus around the findings and recommendations of the study,briefings and meetings will be held with the following constituencies: a Briefings with County elected officials a Presentations to City Councils a Presentation to Mayors Conference a Mailing to all elected officials a Media briefings a Opinion leader/stakeholder briefings,by sub-area • Public forum a Presentations to trade associations,chambers of commerce and tether interested organizations • Roundtable discussions with labor groups and environmental organizations to identify areas of agreement 2) To solidify support for the study's recommendations and encourage sub-area cooperative efforts,the program will undertake the following actions: • Obtain resolutions of support for the recommended strategies from City Councils and the 5 County and an indication of intent to engage in cooperative sub-area efforts to implement the strategies. Obtain tetters of support from other related agencies,business and civic organizations, and, if possible, labor and environmental groups. • Schedule editorial briefings and obtain favorable editorials. Expected Work Products It is expected that as a result of the Balanced Economy study and the education/outreach program,the strategies identified in the study will evolve into action plans initiated by cooperative planning efforts in each of the sub-areas to achieve economic development,job growth and reduced traffic congestion and commuting. Specific actions which might result include: + Zoning and redevelopment actions to provide a broader range of housing,including affordable housing. a Redevelopment activity to regenerate brown-fields areas to make them suitable for economic development. • Zoning and entitlement actions to prepare appropriate lands for job centers. • Targeted workforce development programs to increase workforce skills commensurate with targeted industry clusters. • Prioritization of transportation improvements to support job center development. • State reform of local government financing mechanisms to provide greater financial stability for local communities. The Timetable The outreach program will begin in June when the draft report has been completed. Briefings to obtain comments and feedback will be held with key elected officials,business leaders and key stakeholders in sub-areas. Following formal adoption by the Partnership Board,the extensive outreach program described above will take place between July and December. The primary informational campaign to build awareness and stimulate discussion will begin in July and extend through October. The effort to solidify support will overlap the first effort in October and proceed through November and December. Consultants/Staff Linda Best,as Executive Director of the Contra Costa Economic Partnership,will be the primary staff person for the education/outreach program. Her qualifications are listed above under Phase One. She will be assisted by a professional communications professional,yet to be identified, The communications consultant will provide professional expertise in designing and producing the educational materials,both printed and visual,for maximum effectiveness and persuasion. CONSISTENCY WITH REGIONAL GOALS,OBJECTIVES AND 1998.49 PRIORITIES The Contra Costa Economic Partnership's Balanced Economy study and education and outreach program is consistent with regional goals,as well as the 1998-99 priorities established by the Regional Planning Committee. The strategies identified in the study and the eventual implementation of those strategies as an outgrowth of the communications and outreach program will further the following regional goals: • Goal: Development patterns and policies that discourage long distance,single-occupant 6 automobile commuting and increase resident access to employment,shopping and recreation by other non-auto means. The study will identify the most viable target industries for each sub-area of the County based on the workforce profile for that area. By focusing on efforts to locate appropriate job centers in areas where the workforce is out-commuting in significant numbers,single occupant automobile commuting can be substantially reduced. Goal: increased housing supply,with a range of types and affordability and a suitable living environment to accommodate current and future workers and households. The study will identify future job growth in each sub-area,the nature of the jab,the projected income,and the type of housing needed to house employees in diose jobs. By implementing the recommended housing strategies,more workers will be able to live in the area in which they work,thus reducing traffic congestion and increasing the quality of life. • Goals Economic development which provides jobs for current and future residents, increases the tax base,supports and enhances California's position in the global marketplace,and helps provide the resources necessary to meet vital environmental, housing,transportation and other needs. By identifying those target industries most suited to each sub-area,and by encouraging implementation of strategies necessary to attract those industries through the education and outreach program,County sub-areas will be well-positioned to achieve economic development targeted to their residents' needs. Successful economic development will facilitate sustainable communities able to meet housing,transportation environmental and other needs. 1598-99 Priorities: Jabs Housing Balance;Sustainable Development Strategies The Balanced Economy study's primary focus is identify those strategies that will achieve a true jobs/housing balance,by clearly identifying the future jobs in each sub-area,the household income based on those jobs and the housing stock that will be needed to house those employees. By realistically targeting industries for each area,sustainable economic development can be achieved. The model created by this study can be replicated in other counties in the Bay Area and can also be used as a regional model to facilitate better jobs/housing balances across counties. 7 BUDGET The Balanced Economy Study $115,000 Consultant Fees 100,000 CCEP Staff Time 15,000 The Education/Outreach Program 47,000 Design,Layout,Printing 17,000 Information Packet Overhead Presentation Materials Mailings Communications Consultant 10,000 Mailings Press Kit Information Packet Editorial and Press briefings Meeting Facilitation 5,000 CCEP Staff Time 15,000 TOTAL BUDGET $162,000 ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES Of the total$162,000 budget,the majority of the funds are being allocated from the Economic Partnership's budget,spread over two fiscal years, 1997-98 and 1998-99. The Partnership's budget is funded by member investments. Additionally,520,000 will be contributed by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority for data collection and analysis,with the stipulation that the contribution does not constitute endorsement of any of the recommendations. The Partnership and its members believe that a$30,000 contribution by ABAG for the education and outreach grogram is appropriate and will not only further regional goals as identified above,but can serve as a model approach for the Bay Area Region for identifying strategies for achieving sustainable communities. 9