WORD OF THE WEEK
BMPs
BMPs: aka Best Management Practices related to all-things storm water. To mitigate the potential for pollution from urban runoff, local, state, and federal agencies have instituted regulations requiring development planning and Best Management Practices (BMPs) for construction and post-construction phases of a proposed project. These standards require control of storm water-related pollution from development and redevelopment projects prior to discharge to receiving waters.
CAP
CAP, otherwise known as a Climate Action Plan, is a comprehensive roadmap that outlines the specific activities that an agency will undertake to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate action plans build upon the information gathered by greenhouse gas inventories and generally focus on those activities that can achieve the relatively greatest emission reductions in the most cost effective manner.
CEQA
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is California’s broadest environmental law. CEQA helps to guide the Department during issuance of permits and approval of projects. Courts have interpreted CEQA to afford the fullest protection of the environment within the reasonable scope of the statutes. Link for more information on this topic: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/CEQA/Purpose
Costa-Hawkins
DEFINITION: is a California state law, enacted in 1995, which places limits on municipal rent control ordinances. Costa–Hawkins preempts the field in two major ways.
First, it prohibits cities from establishing rent control over certain kinds of residential units, e.g., single family dwellings and condominiums, and newly constructed apartment units; these are deemed exempt. Second, it prohibits municipal “vacancy control”, also called “strict” rent control.
DIF (Development Impact Fees)
Gerrymander
To divide or arrange (a territorial unit) into election districts to give one political party an electoral majority in a large number of districts while concentrating the voting strength of the opposition in as few districts as possible.
Housing Element
Inclusionary Zoning
Inclusionary zoning requires or incentivizes private developers to designate a certain percentage of the units in a given project as below market rate (BMR)—cheaper than their value on the market, and often less than the price of producing them. (The large majority of IZ programs are mandatory—80 percent of them according to one study.)
Mixed-Use Development
“Mixed use” refers to developing structures and communities that have a mixture of residential, business and retail uses. Mixed-use is considered as a pedestrian-friendly and “smart growth” planning strategy.
Moxie (Not to be confused with the beverage):
Force of character, determination, or nerve.
PAC
What is a PAC or otherwise known as Political Action Committee? A group organized to raise money or support for a politician or cause, often abbreviated PAC.
To see more Political Words click here.
RWQCB
aka: Regional Water Quality Control Board. There are nine regional water quality control boards statewide. The nine Regional Boards are semi-autonomous and are comprised of seven part-time Board members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Regional boundaries are based on watersheds and water quality requirements are based on the unique differences in climate, topography, geology and hydrology for each watershed. Each Regional Board makes critical water quality decisions for its region, including setting standards, issuing waste discharge requirements, determining compliance with those requirements, and taking appropriate enforcement actions.
YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard)
YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) is a pro-development movement in contrast and opposition to the NIMBY (acronym for “not in my backyard”) phenomenon. In California, YIMBY groups support new housing growth, pro-housing policies & legislation, and engages political activism. Check out CA YIMBY’s website and their video here.