2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Monterey, California
Mission Statement
The Land Use & Environmental Committee is a Policy committee. Its mission is to develop C.A.R.'s land use and environmental policy. It has original jurisdiction to evaluate legislation and regulation in the following issue areas as they relate to real estate: Environmental, Land Use and Zoning, Property Rights, Resources, and Subdivision and Development.
Presiding:
Peter Morris, Chair
Bob Hart, Vice Chair
Issue Chairs:
Staci Caplan, Environmental
Rosemarie McNair, Land Use and Zoning
Jean Tietgen, Property Rights
Chris Anderson, Resources
Robert Leighton, Subdivision and Development
Executive Committee Liaison: Virginia Butler
Legislative Committee Vice Chair: Art Nellessen
Governmental Affairs Director's Liaison: Donna Carpenter
Staff Coordinator: Jelisaveta Gavric
Federal Issues Coordinator: Matt Roberts
I. Welcome and Opening Remarks - Peter Morris, Chair
II. Action Items
A. State (none)
B. Federal (none)
C. Questions or Motions from Committee Members
D. Other
III. Direction Requested
A. State (none)
B. Federal (none)
C. Questions or Motions from Committee Members
D. Other
IV. Actions Taken/Update
(none)
V. Report Items
A. Environmental - Staci Caplan, Issue Chair
1. State
a. Wetland Issues. The State Water Resources Control Board is developing a new and aggressive wetlands regulatory and permitting program that could have significant, negative impacts on public and private projects and activities throughout California.
b. CEQA Working Group. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has become the basis for numerous lawsuits concerning public and private projects. The goal of the CEQA Working Group is to pursue thoughtful policy changes to this important law that will help preserve CEQA’s original intent – environmental protection – while stamping out some of the misuses of CEQA. Senator Rubio will carry the Working Group's 2013 reform legislation.
c. CalEnviroScreen/Environmental Justice.
2. Federal (none)
3. Questions or Motions from Committee Members
4. Other
B. Land Use and Zoning - Rosemarie McNair, Issue Chair
1. State
SB 17 (Gaines) State responsibility areas: fire prevention fees. This bill will attempt to repeal the now-infamous fire fees levied by the State.
2. Federal
National Flood Insurance Program. The President recently signed the Hurricane Sandy Relief Act, H.R. 41, which will increase the borrowing authority of the NFIP to $30.425 billion from $20.775 billion.
3. Questions or Motions from Committee Members
4. Other
C. Property Rights - Jean Tietgen, Issue Chair
1. State
a. AB 52 (Gatto) Native Americans. This bill will create additional reporting and consulting requirements for developers working with potential sacred sites.
b. California Coastal Commission: Draft Strategic Plan 2013-2018. The Commission is currently outlining priorities for 2013-2018, including mixed-use, high-density, transportation-oriented, green, "smart growth" policies for the coastal zones.
2. Federal
Eminent Domain. Cities and counties are exploring the idea of local governments using eminent domain authority to seize performing mortgage notes of "upside down" or "underwater" homeowners, and then refinance them at the homes' current value, and sell that new note to a new investor.
3. Questions or Motions from Committee Members
4. Other
D. Resources - Chris Anderson, Issue Chair
1. State
a. SB 37 (de Leon) Energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades: on-bill repayment program. This bill would enact an on-bill repayment program that will provide Californians greater access to energy efficiency and clean technology upgrades.
b. Energy Efficiency Working Group. AB 758 (Skinner, 2009) Regulatory Development Update: The California Energy Commission (CEC) released its Scoping Plan last fall, which the 2012 Working Group reviewed and helped staff prepare comments. Two stakeholder workshops will be held in early 2013 to discuss prosed regulatory framework. **Please bring your business card to the meeting to be added to the Energy Efficiency Working Group 2013.
2. Federal (none)
3. Questions or Motions from Committee Members
4. Other
E. Subdivision & Development - Robert Leighton, Issue Chair
1. State
a. AB 22 (Blumenfield) Sidewalks: repairs. Reintroduction of a bill that failed in 2012 that would force local governments to repeal their statutory obligation to repair sidewalks without first going to the voters for approval.
b. State Performance Standards for Infill Projects Eligible for Streamlined CEQA Review. Rulemaking to streamline the CEQA review process for developments that meet minimum design, location, and other performance standards are almost complete. Streamlining will largely apply to energy efficient, transportation-oriented, high-density, low-income housing.
2. Federal (none)
3. Questions or Motions from Committee Members
4. Other
VI. New Business / Other?
VII. REALTOR® Committee on Air Quality
VIII. Closing Remarks
IX. Adjournment
