TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution certifying the 2014-2015 Local Development Report and its conformance with the State-mandated Congestion Management Program. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Congestion Management Program (CMP) is a State-mandated program created to address the negative impacts of increasing urban traffic congestion on the State’s economic vitality and quality of life. The CMP statute became effective with voter approval of Proposition 111 in June 1990. This statute links local land use decisions with their impacts on regional transportation and air quality and develops a partnership among transportation planning decision-makers in order to devise appropriate transportation solutions that include all modes of travel.
In the past, compliance with the CMP was demonstrated by an annual Local Implementation Report, which calculated “debits” when issuing new building permits and “credits” when implementing strategies that improved transportation and reduced traffic congestion. However, in August 2003, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board authorized a Nexus Study to explore the feasibility of implementing a congestion mitigation fee to meet the CMP mandate. While this study is underway, the CMP debit and credit point system has been suspended.
Nevertheless, the City is still required to certify and report building permit data. In that regard, the Department of Development Services has prepared the 2014-2015 Local Development Report (LDR) (Exhibit A).
On August 6, 2015, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the Resolution certifying the 2014-2015 LDR and its conformance with the CMP. The Planning Commission staff report is included for your reference (Exhibit B).
This matter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Michael J. Mais on July 7, 2015, and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on July 21, 2015.
SUSTAINABLITY
The intent of the CMP is to better coordinate land use and transportation decisions to reduce vehicle miles traveled, which will have a positive impact on the environment by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on August 18, 2015, in order to submit the certified LDR to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority by the September 1, 2015 due date. Failure to adopt a Resolution certifying the LDR and submittal to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority could result in the loss of State and Federal transportation monies.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no fiscal impact and no local job impact as a result of the recommended action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FINDING THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO BE IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (CMP) AND ADOPTING THE CMP LOCAL DEVELOPMENT REPORT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65089
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER