Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 027-2021 to designate three Green Zones as a part of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) Green Means Go pilot program. (Cont. 4/13/2021, Item 20)
FUNDING: N/A
Staff requesting this matter be Continued off calendar.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Our region faces an ambitious state-mandated per capita greenhouse gas reduction target of 19 percent by 2035 per the Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, which was adopted on by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) on November 18, 2019. SACOG and local governments must work in partnership with the State to support new and innovative housing and transportation projects that will help the region and the state achieve climate goals.
Green Means Go is a multi-year pilot program created by SACOG to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the six-county Sacramento region, as required under the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008, also known as Senate Bill (SB) 375. The pilot program focuses on three key emission reduction strategies which include accelerating infill development, reducing vehicle trips, and promoting clean mobility options, in targeted areas, called Green Zones. For Green Means Go to be most effective, Green Zones need to be in areas where new growth is planned and is supported by local policies and actions so that the efforts to accelerate infill, travel choice, and electrification all have potential to be complementary strategies.
Green Zones will be areas within El Dorado County where qualifying development or redevelopment projects will be eligible for funding should SACOG receive state funding leading up to the next Metropolitan Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (MTP/SCS) update.
The framework for establishing a Green Zone is centered around a locally led collaborative nomination process which was approved by the SACOG Board of Directors on August 20, 2020. Qualifying areas within El Dorado County were subsequently identified, and nominated by County Staff to be designated Green Zones under the Green Means Go pilot program (Attachment A). The Board of SACOG approved the zones that were nominated by County Staff on December 17, 2020. They include:
Green Zone #1: El Dorado Hills
El Dorado Hills is located in an established Community Region identified in the SACOG MTP/SCS. The Jobs/Housing Balance in 2018 was 0.9 jobs to every house in El Dorado Hills. More than 50% of the workforce in the El Dorado Hills Business Park commutes into El Dorado Hills from other parts of the region. The El Dorado County Transportation Commission (EDCTC) is currently studying various land use scenarios to redevelop parts of the Business Park through the El Dorado Hills Business Park Transportation Plan.
Potential Funding from SACOG through the Green Means Go pilot program could fund housing, transit improvements, broadband, electric vehicle infrastructure, bicycle/pedestrian improvements and electric bike share programs.
Green Zone #2: Cameron Park
Cameron Park is located in an established Community Region identified by the SACOG MTP/SCS adjacent to U.S. Highway 50. A portion of Cameron Park is also identified as a Low Income Area by the SACOG MTP/SCS. These are areas where 40% or more of the people live at 200% or less of the federal poverty level. The Jobs/Housing Balance in 2018 was 0.4 jobs to every house in Cameron Park. Similar to many areas in El Dorado County, this indicates that residents commute outside of the area to work. There are 320 acres with over 129 parcels available for commercial or industrial development in Cameron Park. Such development would bring jobs closer to this well-populated area.
Potential Funding from SACOG through the Green Means Go pilot program could fund transit improvements, broadband, electric vehicle infrastructure, and bicycle/pedestrian improvements.
Green Zone #3: Diamond Springs
Diamond Springs is an Established Community Region as identified by the SACOG MTP/SCS. Diamond Springs is located adjacent to State Route 49. Most of Diamond Springs is identified as a Low Income Area by the SACOG MTP/SCS and a disadvantaged community in accordance with the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) definition. These are areas where 40% or more of the people live at 200% or less of the federal poverty level. Significant portions, roughly 20% of residents, are either elderly or disabled.
Potential Funding from SACOG through the Green Means Go pilot program could fund road improvements, transit improvements, Travel Demand Management (TDM) Programs, planning, electric vehicle infrastructure, bicycle/pedestrian improvements and off-street parking.
Each Green Zone is shown on the attached Green Means Go Green Zones Nomination Map (Attachment B). The Board is being asked to adopt a resolution (Attachment C) that would approve these designated Green Zones in El Dorado County, and thereby make projects within that zone potentially eligible for state funding under the Green Means Go pilot program. There is currently no state funding for the Green Means Go pilot program. However, Assembly Bill 1209, introduced by Assembly Member McCarthy on February 19, 2021, would, if enacted, codify the Green Means Go Grant and Loan Program.
The resolution will also authorize the Director of Transportation or designee to propose amendments for the Green Zones and all other documentation necessary to participate in the Green Means Go pilot program.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could direct staff to choose alternative zones that meet the SACOG criteria for nomination which would then need to be approved by the SACOG Board, or the Board could choose not to designate Green Zones in El Dorado County and the County would not be eligible for related Green Means Go pilot program funding opportunities.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Planning and Building Department
Economic Development Division
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost associated with this agenda item. Adopting this Resolution may lead to additional funding opportunities associated with the Green Means Go program.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair’s signature on the resolution.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward a copy of the Resolution to Transportation, attention Lindsay Tallman, for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Consistent with the Economic Development and Housing Elements of the General Plan, adoption of Green Zones within El Dorado County will make qualifying infill development eligible for funding assistance, should it become available.
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation