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<br />8A <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />'S8 303' Continued from Page 1... <br /> <br />The basic intent of the legislation is to require local agencies to complete all zoning for their <br />regional housing needs allocation (RHNA) at the beginning of the five-year planning period <br />instead of the current 10-year timeframe. The general plan consistency requirement would be <br />applied to all charter cities as well. <br /> <br />There are many problems with this bill, including how all of these new mandates will be funded. <br />This issue has not been addressed by Sen. Ducheny or the bill's sponsors. <br /> <br />The bill was amended in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee in order to place the open <br />space element of the general plan on par with the housing element. If SB 303 is adopted, it <br />would essentially "mirror" the housing element. <br /> <br />The open space changes in the bill seem extreme. For example. local agencies will have to <br />develop inventories, programs, and determine the open space needs for each income category. <br />Moreover, open space elements would have to be submitted to the state Department of <br />Resources for a substantial compliance determination at the same time the local agency submits <br />its housing element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development <br />(HCD). <br /> <br />Supporters of SB 303 argue the legislation is needed because local agencies are slow to comply <br />with housing laws, which slows project approvals. However, a new HCD report negates this <br />argument, finding that 79 percent of all local agencies (representing 88 percent of the state's <br />population) have an approved housing element. These findings beg the question: why does the <br />state need expensive new mandates when the overwhelming majority of cities are meeting state <br />requirements? <br /> <br />The bill is currently at the Assembly Desk awaiting committee assignment. The league <br />continues to oppose this measure. Because of the significant new amendments, local <br />agencies-even those that have submitted a letter in opposition-should send in a new letter of <br />opposition addressed to Senator Denise Ducheny with a "cc" to your Assembly Member. <br /> <br />A sample letter is available by looking up SB 303 using the League of Califomia Cities Web site's <br />bill search program, located at www.cacities.ofQ/billsearch. <br /> <br />Please look for continued monitoring of SB 303 in future issues of Priority Focus. For additional <br />background on S8 303, see "SB 303 Amended, League Still Opposed" at www.cacities.orqlhced. <br /> <br />'H.R. 2447' Continued from Page 1... <br /> <br />Details of the EEBG Program <br /> <br />H.R. 2447 emphasizes a community-based approach to help the nation meet its energy and <br />climate protection goals. Below is a short summary of the EEBG Program put together by the US <br />Conference of Mayors: <br /> <br />. Eligible Communities: Funds would be directed to cities, counties and states by the <br />Department of Energy through a formula program <br />· Eligible Activities Include: <br />o Expanding weatherization programs, adopting energy efficient building codes and <br />conducting energy audits <br />o Implementing fuel conservation and alternative fuels programs; and <br />o Developing and further expanding the use of alternative energy sources <br />. Authorization Levels <br />o $4 billion in FY 2008-09 <br /> <br />2 <br />