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C. 97

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Interim Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	October 21, 2014

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Comment Letter on the Contra Costa Transportation Authority's DRAFT 2014 Countywide Transportation Plan Update

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 10/21/2014

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, (925) 674-7833
cc:	John Kopchik Julie Bueren Steve Kowalewski Robert Calkins

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: October 21, 2014
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter on the 2014 Countywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) transmitting the County's comments to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None. The recommendation addresses an outside agency's actions.

BACKGROUND:

Measure J (2008), the countywide half-cent transportation sales tax, includes a requirement for periodic updates to the Countywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP). The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (Authority) manages the sales tax on behalf of its member agencies, the nineteen cities and the County of Contra Costa, and is responsible for maintaining and updating the CTP.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The Board of Supervisors considered this item at their September 23, 2014 meeting. During discussion, staff was directed to make several revisions to the letter. The need for those revisions are discussed below and the edits can be seen in redline/strikeout in the attached revised draft letter.

Staff was further directed to consult with Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) staff to see if the September 30, 2014 deadline for commenting on the CTP would be extended. If the deadline was not extended, staff was to make the changes based on direction at the September 23rd meeting and submit the letter. If the deadline was extended, the letter was to return for consideration by the Board of Supervisors at their October 21, 2014 meeting.
County staff confirmed with CCTA staff that the deadline has been extended to November 3, 2014 and the letter is being submitted for your consideration.
The original Board Order included substantial background on the CTP and both the County and Authority CTP review process.That Board Order can be reviewed at this. The Draft Countywide Transportation Plan can be viewed at this changes from the September 23, 2014 version of the letter include various grammatical and clarifying edits seen in the draft letter and the following substantive changes: Page 4/5 - Sustainable Communities Strategy: Changes were made to reflect that the County has been proactively implementing responsible growth management prior to the current AB 32 (2006) and SB 375 (2008) initiatives.
Page 5 - Greenhouse Gas Legislation: Changes were made to reflect comments from the Board regarding the limited information on the AB 32 authorized Cap and Trade Program in the CTP. It was pointed out that this issue is particularly critical given the CTP may be used to establish a need for new revenue and the Cap and Trade Program will eventually make new revenue available.

Page 5 - SB 743 (2013): Changes were made to reflect the likelihood that SB 743 may fundamentally impact how land development and the associated transportation analysis and mitigation is conducted in the County.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If a comment letter is not transmitted, the Board will forgo an opportunity to provide input on the 2014 Countywide Transportation Plan Update.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Not applicable.