TITLE
Recommendation to adopt The Principles for Active Living and Complete Streets for inclusion in the update to the Long Beach General Plan update. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In 2008, the City of Long Beach received a grant from the Los Angeles County Public Health Department (the PLACE Grant) to update the City's General Plan (Long Beach 2030) with "active living" and "complete streets" policies and to expand the network of bike facilities in Long Beach. The grant also funded the City's mobility coordinator, annual bike counts, numerous walk audits throughout the City and partial funding of the Vista Street Bike Boulevard.
On September 16, 2010 and on October 7, 2010, the Planning Commission held a study session on the Urban Design and Mobility Elements of Long Beach 2030, respectively. These study sessions presented the culmination of extensive community dialogue and outreach on how the City should enhance the public realm and improve circulation. Throughout the winter, the Public Works Department conducted public workshops to identify and prioritize new bike facilities for the Bicycle Master Plan (BMP) in anticipation of the update of Long Beach 2030.
Through these planning activities, staff has coalesced ten principles for complete streets and active living for review and approval. The Principles for Active Living and Complete Streets (Exhibit A) will also serve to satisfy the requirements of the PLACE Grant and allow the City to seek funding for additional bike facilities and other green infrastructure initiatives. These principles are a significant shift in emphasis for the City's General Plan from the 1990s, and they provide the context for many of the City's current implementation projects.
On June 2, 2011, the Planning Commission reviewed and recommended that the City Council adopt these principles to inform and guide the direction, policies and programs in Long Beach 2030. For a city of the size and complexity of Long Beach, a General Plan update requires an approach that is iterative and deliberate. The Principles for Active Living and Complete Streets is the first in a series of principles staff will bring forward for policy maker's advisement and consent, leading up to the adoption of the Long Beach 2030 General Plan. The forthcoming Principles will provide further clarification of the overarching policy direction for updating Long Beach 2030, and is based upon three key Elements of the General Plan: Urban Design, Land Use and Mobility. These Elements form the core of the Long Beach 2030 and are vital to shaping the physical, social and economic development of Long Beach in the coming years.
This letter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Michael Mais on May 26, 2011 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on June 3, 2011.
SUSTAINABLITY
The Principles for Active Living and Complete Streets is consistent with and supports many of the sustainability policies and programs identified in the Sustainable City Action Plan.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on June 21, 2011, to ensure the City fulfills the PLACE grant deliverable of updating the City's General Plan with active living policies and programs by its conclusion on June 30, 2011.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no fiscal impact as the grant has been concluded. The recommendation will have no local job impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER