Proposition 218 Threatens $100 Million
in Local Government Services

While local governments are still scrambling to deal with the effects of the Supreme Court's Guardino decision, there is new trouble ahead on the November ballot. Proposition 218, the so-called Right to Vote on Texas Act, threatens to derail city and county funding for basic services like fire protection, lighting and water, libraries,ambulances, and redevelopment programs. Prop. 218 would prohibit cities, counties, and special districts from imposing, extending or increasing any fees, assessments or charges unless approved by a majority vote. Prop. 218 would also require charter cities to submit general taxes to the voters for majority approval. Prop. 218 would establish school districts and redevelopment agency fees as specific, non-general fund

taxes-- therefore, all school and redevelopment fees will be required to meet the two-thirds vote requirement. The proposition also requires that before adopting or increasing property-related fees, local govern- ments must mail information to every property owner, reject the fee if a majority protests in writing, and obtain voter approval. In addition, these fees would be required to meet several restrictions by July 1, 1997: the fees may be imposed for direct property-related services only and cannot be higher than the cost of providing the service

to the specified parcel of land; the services must be immediately available to the property owners; and no fees may be charged for services widely "available to the public at large"&emdash;"including but not limited to police, fire, ambulance or library services." Prop. 218 would make two further significant changes. In legal disputes over any tax or fee, the burden of proof would be shifted from the taxpayer to the local government to prove that the assessments are legal. The proposi- tion would also amend the Constitu- tion to enable voters to repeal or reduce any local tax, assessment or fee through the initiative process. According to the Legislative Analyst, Prop. 218 would slash revenuesfor local governments by more than $100 million annually. Additional costs exceeding $10 million annually are estimated for elections, notifications, fee analysis and legal services.

BAY AREA LEADS THE NATION IN COMPARATIVE REGIONAL ECONOMIES According to a report released recently by the Bay Area Economic Forum, the Bay Area is a dynamic leader in the state and national transition to a knowledge-based, export-oriented economy. The report, The Bay Area: Leading a Transition to a Knowl-edge-Based Economy, compares the performance of the Bay Area economy with major metropolitanareas across the nation, including New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Boston, Seattle, Charlotte, and Phoenix. Among the significant findings of this first-of-its-kind regional economic comparison: The Bay Area leads all other regions in key indicators, with the largest share of college and advanced degrees; more and better research centers; more than double the average number of patents per employee; the largest share of high tech exports; and three times the number of commercial Internet domains. The Bay Area has the highest number of top-ranked graduate programs in the nation for science, math and engineering. The Bay Area per capita income of $29,200 is second only to New York and is growing faster. The Bay Area has more fast-growing private companies than any region and attracts 35 percent of the venture capital invested in the U.S., while representing only 2 percent of the population. Bay Area exports currently represent 17 percent of the Gross Regional Product, more than twice the U.S. average. Exports from the region have grown 50 percent over the last 4 years. The report also warns that the Bay Area must address several challenges to maintain its prosperity: improve primary and secondary education; increase affordable housing; relieve the tax burden; reduce crime and poverty; and reduce the costs of doing business in the state. Copies of the report are available for $15 from the Bay Area Economic Forum at 415/981-7117.

$125,000 in New Subregional
Planning Grants

The Association is pleased to continue its award-winning Com- prehensive Subregional Planning Program with cash grants and staff assistance to support new subre- gional programs, as well as implementation projects in the pilot subregions of Sonoma County and the Tri-Valley. Enhanced by a $25,000 contribution from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Association will distribute approximately $125,000 to localities in 5 subregions. On July 17, the Executive Board approved the recommendations of the Regional Planning Committee's review panel and awarded a total of $100,000 to support new collabora- tive subregional planning projects. The Oakland/San Leandro project is aimed at revitalizing the border area between the two cities, including improving commercial thoroughfares and underutilized commercial and industrial areas. The project will create a blueprint for cooperation in an urban setting.

As the proposal articulates, "In joining efforts to reevaluate this area, it is hoped that the cities can achieve together what they could not achieve separately: revitalize an area of great economic potential and regional significance." The South Napa project (includ- ing the Cities of Napa and American Canyon, and Napa County) seeks to integrate participants' planning programs to equitably resolve growth management issues in the South County area where most future urban growth is expected to occur. A primary focus will be to maintain strong protections for agricultural land, open space, and environmen- tally sensitive areas while offering opportunities forbalanced residential and economic development. The participants will enlist a facilitator to guide decisionmakers toward consensus. A noteworthy feature of the workscope is an interest in exploring models for revenue- sharing. The San Mateo Coastside project is comprehensive with a

focus on land use and transportation for the Cities of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, and San Mateo County. A major concern is the relationship between expected development and infrastructure capacity. In addition, technical assistance will be provided to SEDCORP (Solano Economic Development Corporation) to assist in preparing an economic strategy for Solano County on behalf of all the cities and the County of Solano. The Comprehensive Subregional Planning Program began last year with projects in Sonoma County and the Tri-Valley. Having prepared comprehensive planning strategies, both subregions are now pursuing specific implementation projects. We are pleased to announce that the program recently received a national American Planning Associa- tion award for Outstanding Effort in Furthering Intergovernmental Planning and Coordination.

Thanks, Summer Interns! We'd like to take this opportunity to thank our summer interns for the hard work, energy and perspectives they brought to ABAG. We wish all of them good luck in their bright futures! Pictured left to right: Yvonne Choong, Ann Guy, Heather Baker, Eric Shaw , Emiliano Gaytan, Corrine Jew, Robert Davila, Christina Ramos,(not pictured: Claudia Albano, Bruce Angel, Jamon Larry).

$200,000 Available to Local Agencies for Bay Trail Development The Bay Trail Project was successful in securing a $200,000 line item in the State Budget. The funding will be channeled through the California Conservation Corps (CCC), and leveraged with local and private matches. Interested agencies along the Bay Trail are invited to form subregions and apply for funding. Grants will finance CCC labor to develop trail segments. Receipt of these state funds requires a match from private and local sources. In addition to dollars, the matching funds may include in- kind contributions such as materials, labor, maintenance, and even previously-developed designs or plans. Local agencies should contact the Bay Trail Project immediately to be considered for funding. For more information, please call Karen Moonitz with the Bay Trail Project at 510/464-7915.

Bay Trail Criterium a Success at Lake Merritt The "Chevron Bay Trail Criterium," was a great success at Oakland's Lake Merritt on August 3. Racers sped around a 0.8 mile course for cash, prizes, medals...and glory. The main event of the day, a 36- lap timed race for professional riders, was won by local cyclist Fred Rodriguez, a resident of Piedmont. Karen Kurreck of Cupertino placed first in the women's race; and Lisse Hansen won the women's division 4. Larry Nolan took first in the 35 and Over division; men's division 3 was won by Dwayne Ward; division 4 by Jonathan Owens; and division 5 by Daren Taschi. Local elected officials competed in the "World's Shortest Political Race"&emdash; a 100 yard "dash" in which the winner is the one who finishes last. Councilmember Carla Woodworth from Berkeley and Mayor Nora Davis from Emeryville conceded defeat &emdash; by coming in first. Councilmember Ronald Raab from San Ramon finished second, and Councilmember Natalie Bayton from Oakland was the winner, crossing the finish line last with the help of an assistant who sported a t-shirt reading "community support." The annual Bureaucrats Cup was won by Team BCDC, otherwise known as the Mudsharks. East Bay Park District's Park Express took second, and Royal Flush represent- ing the Contra Costa County Sanitation District was third.

Local Options Under Electric Deregulation

Progress toward deregulation of the electric market has been slow but sure over the last eight months.

In December, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced its vision of a deregulated market by 1998 and charged a number of working groups with the responsibility of developing the implementation details.

These working groups, comprised of representatives of the utilities, independent power suppliers, large users, and ratepayers, have toiled all summer to develop recommendations for CPUC review this fall.

Recommendations to be unveiled include: 1) how to compensate the utilities for generation units which will be rendered uneconomic by deregulations, 2) how to establish an independent operator of the transmission system and a wholesale power exchange, and 3) how and when utility customers will be eligible to purchase power from independent power suppliers.

Encouraged by the progress to date, ABAG's Power Purchasing Pool is taking initial steps to evaluate potential electric prices in the deregulated environment by issuing an RFP for electricity later this year on behalf of the Bay Area's local governments.

For more information on electric deregulation, attend ABAG's Power Conference on Thursday, September 12 (see details below).

LIVABLE CITIES CONFERENCE/Call for Papers

A call for papers has been announced for the 20th International Making Cities Livable Conference. The conference will take place in Santa Fe, N.M. from April 15 to 17, 1997. Conference themes include: Containing Urban Sprawl, New Urban Neighborhoods, Maintaining Urban Identity, Creating Successful Urban People Places, The Good City for Children and Youth and Balanced Urban Tourism. A Cities of Vision exhibit will also be part of the conference. Deadline for all submittals is October 1, 1996.

For more information, contact Suzanne Crowhurst Lennard at 408/ 626-9080; Fax 408/624-5126.

PROPOSED REVISIONS TO CEQA GUIDELINES

CLEAN WATER - LEGISLATION AND FUNDING

GUIDE TO BUYING RECYCLED

The Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board is presenting a hands-on manual to assist public agency buyers in locating and obtaining high-quality recycled content products. The manual addresses the basics, including recycled content standards and definitions, state and federal requirements, model purchasing policies, bid and contracting procedures, vendor identification, cooperative purchasing, product specifications, and strategies for waste prevention. To order a copy of Resourceful Purchasing, please contact Mark Cullors at 510/614-1699, or via e-mail at acwma @stopwaste.org.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE ROUNDTABLE IN SAN FRANCISCO

The Telecommunications 101 Infrastructure Partnership Project is hosting a roundtable discussion on "Linking Communities, Schools and Libraries" on Wednesday, September 18, 1996 from 9 am until noon at the Pacific Bell Executive Communications Center, 370 Third Street, Room 100, in San Francisco. The conference is free, but seating is limited and reservations are required. For more information, call 415/357-3100.

SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY CONFERENCE

The San Francisco Estuary Project will hold its third annual State of the Estuary Conference on October 10-12, 1996 at the Officers' Club at the Presidio of San Francisco. Technical sessions will address: biological resources, wetlands, land use and watershed management, contaminants and impacts from reduced freshwater flows. Registration is $175 for three days, $150 for Thursday & Friday, $85 for one day (Thursday or Friday), or $40 for Saturday; the fee includes lunch, a State of the Estuary Report, and a CCMP Workbook and Abstract Book. More info is available on the conference homepage at http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/sfep/soe.html. To register, call the Estuary Project at 510/286-0460.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER