 |
Home | Issues & Actions | About |
Archive Page This page is available as an archive to previous versions of LandWatch websites. |
KUSP LandWatch
News
Week of February 14, 2011 to February 18, 2011
Week of February 14, 2011 to February 18, 2011
KUSP provided a brief Land Use Report on KUSP Radio from January 2003 to May 2016. Archives of past transcripts are available here.
Week of February 14, 2011 to February 18, 2011
- Monday, February 14, 2011
Redevelopment In Santa Cruz County
- Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Pros And Cons On Redevelopment
- Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Capitola General Plan Meeting #1
- Thursday, February 17, 2011
The Global Water Policy Project
- Friday, February 18, 2011
Water Predictions For Santa Cruz
The following Land Use Reports have been presented on KUSP Radio by Gary A. Patton. The Wittwer & Parkin law firm is located in Santa Cruz, California, and practices environmental and governmental law. As part of its practice, the law firm files litigation and takes other action on behalf of its clients, which are typically private individuals, governmental agencies, environmental organizations, or community groups. Whenever the Land Use Report comments on an issue with which the Wittwer & Parkin law firm is involved on behalf of a client, Mr. Patton will make this relationship clear, as part of his commentary. Mr. Patton’s comments do not represent the views of Wittwer & Parkin, LLP, KUSP Radio, nor of any of its sponsors.
| Monday, February 14, 2011 Redevelopment In Santa Cruz County |
 |
Tomorrow evening, at 7:00 o’clock, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will be talking about redevelopment, a “hot topic” all around the state. Last week, I reported that the meeting would be held at the Del Mar Elementary School, located at 1959 Merrill Street in Live Oak. This may or may not have been accurate. The agenda for tomorrow’s Board Meeting doesn’t indicate that location, which means that the meeting has been officially noticed at the County Government Center. Wherever it is held, the meeting is definitely going to take place, and you may want to be there! Governor Brown has recommended terminating all redevelopment agencies in the State, as part of the way to meet the state’s truly horrendous budget crisis. Redevelopment agencies operate locally, and are under local control, but current state law provides them with what amounts to a state subsidy. Looked at on a statewide basis, state government is providing redevelopment subsidies that cost about $1.7 billion dollars a year to the state treasury. The Governor is saying that the state needs to direct this money to education and other high-priority state programs, instead of continuing to fund redevelopment projects that are essentially local in their impact. I’ll talk more about this tomorrow; in the meantime, check out the links in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. The Santa Cruz County Redevelopment Agency is doing a lot of great things! For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
|
|
| Tuesday, February 15, 2011 Pros And Cons On Redevelopment |
|
In the transcript of today’s Land Use Report, I’ve provided links to materials on “redevelopment.” Materials from Santa Cruz County, which the Board of Supervisors will consider tonight, make a good case that redevelopment in Santa Cruz County has done some really great things in the past, and can do a lot more, in the future, if the program isn’t abolished by the State. On the other hand, I’ve also provided links to a couple of critical reports. The State’s Legislative Analyst’s Office (which is extremely well-regarded for the quality of its work) has this to say: Redevelopment agencies receive approximately $5 billion of property tax revenue that would otherwise fund school districts, cities, counties, and special districts. There is no reliable evidence that redevelopment projects attract businesses to the state or increase overall economic development in California. The presence of a redevelopment area might shift development from one location to another, but does not significantly increase economic activity statewide. Given that analysis, it’s clear why Governor Brown wants to put monies that are often just a giveaway to big developers back to work for schools and other important state programs. An article by local resident Doug Kaplan makes the case for the Governor’s proposal. Check it out, and consider attending that Board meeting tonight! For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
|
|
| Wednesday, February 16, 2011 The Capitola General Plan Meeting #1 |
|
Capitola’s General Plan Advisory Committee will be holding its first meeting tonight, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Capitola City Hall, located at 420 Capitola Avenue. The public is very much invited to attend, and to participate. There will be a time on the agenda specifically set aside to hear comments from the public. If you would like more details, please check out the links in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. Frequent listeners know that the local community General Plan is any community’s most important planning document. All planning decisions have to be “consistent” with the local General Plan, which means that if the General Plan contains strong and well-stated policies, the future development of the community will have to carry out those policies. If the General Plan is “too general,” the future development of the community will be decided on a project by project basis, and that means that the community will have a lot less control over what happens. I’ve written a pretty nice little book on this topic, called Land Use And The General Plan, and there’s a link in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. Because it is just starting its work, the Capitola General Plan Advisory Committee will be discussing lots of basic questions, like what are the “key issues” to address in the General Plan Update. If you are a Capitola resident, I encourage you to get involved in the future planning of your community. And the future … starts tonight. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
|
|
| Thursday, February 17, 2011 The Global Water Policy Project |
|
If you are willing to take a little trip over the hill, there is an event tonight that may be of interest. Sandra Postel will be speaking this evening at Santa Clara University. The title of her talk is, “Water For Life: Strategies And Stewardship For A Water-Stressed World.” There is more information in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. Sandra Postel directs the independent Global Water Policy Project, and she lectures, writes, and consults on international water issues. She is Freshwater Fellow of the National Geographic Society, where she is lead water expert for the Society’s freshwater initiative. Postel is the author of several books, including Last Oasis: Facing Water Scarcity. In 2002, she was named one of the "Scientific American 50” for her contributions to water policy. According to Postel, the water strategies of the twentieth century helped to supply drinking water, food, flood control, and electricity to a large proportion of the human population, but they also dismantled valuable “ecological infrastructure.” This evening, Postel talks about how we can satisfy the water demands of our growing human population while protecting the aquatic ecosystems that support our economies and so much other life on the planet. These are issues that have importance for both Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
|
|
| Friday, February 18, 2011 Water Predictions For Santa Cruz |
|
One of the clients of the Wittwer & Parkin law firm, with which I am associated, is the Community Water Coalition, and I closely follow water issues on their behalf. That includes keeping track of what the City of Santa Cruz Water Department is doing, since the City supplies water not only within the City limits, but also in Live Oak, Pasatiempo, and part of the City of Capitola. On February 7th, the City’s Water Conservation Manager presented an important report to the City Water Commission, and I’d like to make sure you know about it. There is a link in the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. Titled “Water Supply Conditions, Initial Estimate of Water Supply Availability for 2011,” the report raises lots of red flags. Our actual situation really won’t be clear until the end of March, but things are not looking good. Despite heavy rainfall in December, which was 164% of normal, cumulative discharge, to date, puts us in the “Critically Dry” category. Daily flows are now at “below normal levels,” and “the length of time without any rain in what normally is the wettest month of the year [January] is notable…” Bottom line from the Water Conservation Manager: “The pattern of rainfall so far this year is shaping up exactly the opposite of what is needed.” Read the report yourself. It has a big bearing on lots of upcoming decisions. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
|
|
Archives of past transcripts are available here
|
CONTACT 306 Capitol Street #101 PO Box 1876 Phone (831) 759-2824 Fax (831) 759-2825 |
|