SECTIONS 75120-75130 - California Statutes

PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE

SECTION 75120-75130

75120. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions
shall apply:
(a) "Council" means the Strategic Growth Council established
pursuant to Section 75121.
(b) "Regional plan" means either of the following:
(1) A long-range transportation plan developed pursuant to Section
134(g) of Title 23 of the United States Code and any applicable
state requirements.
(2) A regional blueprint plan, which is a regional plan that
implements statutory requirements intended to foster comprehensive
planning as defined in Section 65041.1 of, Chapter 2.5 (commencing
with Section 65080) of Division 1 of Title 7 of, and Article 10.6
(commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7
of, the Government Code. A regional blueprint plan articulates
regional consensus and performance outcomes on a more efficient land
use pattern that supports improved mobility and reduces dependency on
single-occupancy vehicle trips; accommodates an adequate supply of
housing for all income levels; reduces impacts on valuable farmland,
natural resources, and air quality, including the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions, increases water and energy conservation and
efficiency; and promotes a prosperous economy and safe, healthy,
sustainable, and vibrant neighborhoods.

75121. (a) The Strategic Growth Council is hereby established in
state government and it shall consist of the Director of State
Planning and Research, the Secretary of the Resources Agency, the
Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Secretary of Business,
Transportation and Housing, the Secretary of California Health and
Human Services, and one member of the public to be appointed by the
Governor. The public member shall have a background in land use
planning, local government, resource protection and management, or
community development or revitalization.
(b) Staff for the council shall be reflective of the council's
membership.

75122. The members of the council shall elect a chair of the
council every two years.

75123. (a) A meeting of the council, including a meeting related to
the development of grant guidelines and policies and the approval of
grants, shall be subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act
(Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of
Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), except that, for
purposes of this section, "meeting" shall not include a meeting at
which council members are meeting as members of the Governor's
cabinet.
(b) The council may sponsor conferences, symposia, and other
public forums, to seek a broad range of public advice regarding
local, regional, and natural resource planning, sustainable
development, and strategies to reduce and mitigate climate change.

75124. Of the funds made available pursuant to subdivisions (a) and
(c) of Section 75065, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars
($500,000) is hereby appropriated to the Resources Agency to be used
in support of the council and its activities in accordance with this
chapter.

75125. The council shall do all of the following:
(a) Identify and review activities and funding programs of member
state agencies that may be coordinated to improve air and water
quality, improve natural resource protection, increase the
availability of affordable housing, improve transportation, meet the
goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
(Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and
Safety Code), encourage sustainable land use planning, and revitalize
urban and community centers in a sustainable manner. At a minimum,
the council shall review and comment on the five-year infrastructure
plan developed pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 13100)
of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 3 of the Government Code and the
State Environmental Goals and Policy Report developed pursuant to
Section 65041 of the Government Code.
(b) Recommend policies and investment strategies and priorities to
the Governor, the Legislature, and to appropriate state agencies to
encourage the development of sustainable communities, such as those
communities that promote equity, strengthen the economy, protect the
environment, and promote public health and safety, consistent with
subdivisions (a) and (c) of Section 75065.
(c) Provide, fund, and distribute data and information to local
governments and regional agencies that will assist in developing and
planning sustainable communities.
(d) Manage and award grants and loans to support the planning and
development of sustainable communities, pursuant to Sections 75127,
75128, and 75129. To implement this subdivision, the council may do
all of the following:
(1) Develop guidelines for awarding financial assistance,
including criteria for eligibility and additional consideration.
(2) Develop criteria for determining the amount of financial
assistance to be awarded. The council shall award a revolving loan to
an applicant for a planning project, unless the council determines
that the applicant lacks the fiscal capacity to carry out the project
without a grant. The council may establish criteria that would allow
the applicant to illustrate an ongoing commitment of financial
resources to ensure the completion of the proposed plan or project.
(3) Provide for payments of interest on loans made pursuant to
this article. The rate of interest shall not exceed the rate earned
by the Pooled Money Investment Board.
(4) Provide for the time period for repaying a loan made pursuant
to this article.
(5) Provide for the recovery of funds from an applicant that fails
to complete the project for which financial assistance was awarded.
The council shall direct the Controller to recover funds by any
available means.
(6) Provide technical assistance for application preparation.
(7) Designate a state agency or department to administer technical
and financial assistance programs for the disbursing of grants and
loans to support the planning and development of sustainable
communities, pursuant to Sections 75127, 75128, and 75129.
(e) No later than July 1, 2010, and every year thereafter, provide
a report to the Legislature that shall include, but is not limited
to, all of the following:
(1) A list of applicants for financial assistance.
(2) Identification of which applications were approved.
(3) The amounts awarded for each approved application.
(4) The remaining balance of available funds.
(5) A report on the proposed or ongoing management of each funded
project.
(6) Any additional minimum requirements and priorities for a
project or plan proposed in a grant or loan application developed and
adopted by the council pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 75126.

75126. (a) An applicant shall declare, in the application submitted
to the council for financial assistance for a plan or project
pursuant to this chapter, the applicant's intention to follow a
detailed budget and schedule for the completion of the plan or
project. The budget and schedule shall be of sufficient detail to
allow the council to assess the progress of the applicant at regular
intervals.
(b) A project or plan funded pursuant to this chapter shall meet
both of the following criteria:
(1) Be consistent with the state's planning policies pursuant to
Section 65041.1 of the Government Code.
(2) Reduce, on as permanent a basis that is feasible, greenhouse
gas emissions consistent with the California Global Warming Solutions
Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the
Health and Safety Code), and any applicable regional plan.
(c) The council may develop additional minimum requirements and
priorities for a project or plan proposed in a grant and loan
application, including those related to improving air quality.

75127. (a) To support the planning and development of sustainable
communities, the council shall manage and award financial assistance
to a city or county for preparing, adopting, and implementing a
general plan or general plan element that is designed to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, promote water conservation, reduce
automobile use and fuel consumption, encourage greater infill and
compact development, protect natural resources and agricultural
lands, and revitalize urban and community centers.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the preparation and adoption
of a general plan may include a comprehensive update of a general
plan, amendment or adoption of an individual element of a general
plan, or any other revision consistent with the intent of Section
75065.
(c) For the purposes of this section, the implementation of a
general plan may include amendment or adoption of a specific plan,
community plan, zoning ordinance, or any other plan, ordinance, or
policy that is consistent with the intent of Section 75065.
(d) The funding provided pursuant to this section for the
preparation, adoption, and implementation of a general plan may also
include funding any activity necessary to conform a general plan to a
regional plan.

75128. (a) To support the planning and development of sustainable
communities, the council shall manage and award financial assistance
to a council of governments, metropolitan planning organization,
regional transportation planning agency, city, county, or joint
powers authority, to develop, adopt or implement a regional plan or
other planning instrument consistent with a regional plan that
improves air and water quality, improves natural resource protection,
increases the availability of affordable housing, improves
transportation, meets the goals of the California Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500)
of the Health and Safety Code), and encourages sustainable land use.
The financial assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be
funded from moneys made available pursuant to subdivision (c) of
Section 75065.
(b) In awarding financial assistance pursuant to this section, the
council shall give first priority to an application seeking funding
to add or enhance elements of a regional plan that are not funded
with federal moneys.

75129. (a) To support the planning and development of sustainable
communities, the council shall manage and award financial assistance
to a city, county, special district, nonprofit organization, or
entity formed pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of
Division 7 of the Government Code, if at least one of the parties to
the joint powers agreement qualifies as an eligible applicant, for
the preparation, planning, and implementation of an urban greening
project that provides multiple benefits, including, but not limited
to, a decrease in air and water pollution, a reduction in the
consumption of natural resources and energy, an increase in the
reliability of local water supplies, or an increased adaptability to
climate change. An eligible project funded pursuant to this section
shall not include a mitigation action that is required under existing
law. The financial assistance provided pursuant to this section
shall be funded from moneys made available pursuant to subdivision
(a) of Section 75065.
(b) The council shall develop minimum requirements for funding
eligible projects pursuant to this section, which shall require a
project to meet at least one of the following criteria:
(1) Use natural systems, or systems that mimic natural systems, to
achieve the benefits identified in subdivision (a).
(2) Create, enhance, or expand community green spaces.
(c) The multiple benefits of a project, may include, but are not
limited to, the establishment or enhancement of one or more of the
following:
(1) Tree canopy.
(2) Urban forestry.
(3) Local parks and open space.
(4) Greening of existing public lands and structures, including
schools.
(5) Multi-objective stormwater projects, including construction of
permeable surfaces and collection basins and barriers.
(6) Urban streams, including restoration.
(7) Community, demonstration, or outdoor education gardens and
orchards.
(8) Urban heat island mitigation and energy conservation efforts
through landscaping and green roof projects.
(9) Nonmotorized urban trails that provide safe routes for both
recreation and travel between residences, workplaces, commercial
centers, and schools.
(d) The council shall give additional consideration to a funding
project pursuant to this section that meets one or more of the
following criteria:
(1) The project uses interagency cooperation and integration.
(2) The project uses existing public lands and facilitates use of
public resources and investments including schools.
(3) The project is proposed by an economically disadvantaged
community.
(e) Up to 25 percent of the moneys allocated pursuant to
subdivision (a) of Section 75065 may be used to award revolving loans
or grants to a city, county, special district, nonprofit
organization, council of governments, metropolitan planning
organization, or entity formed pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with
Section 6500) of Division 7 of the Government Code, if at least one
of the parties to the joint powers agreement qualifies as an eligible
applicant, for the purpose of creating urban greening plans that
will serve as the master document guiding and coordinating greening
projects in the applicant's jurisdiction. These urban greening plans
shall be consistent with the jurisdiction's general plan or regional
plan, where one exists.

75130. This chapter does not authorize the council to take an
action with regard to the exercise of a local government's land use
permitting authority.