Newsletter #2

Newsletter #2 l August 2009

Issues and Opportunities Report The County published the Issues and

Opportunities Report on July 28, 2009. The report is a summary of the key is-

sues and opportunities that have major policy implications for San Joaquin

County. A summary of the critical issues and main opportunities is located on

pages 4 through 7 of this newsletter. The document is available online at: www.sjcgpu.com.

In June 2008 the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved a three-year program to update the County General Plan. The General Plan was last comprehensively revised in 1992 and the County is now in the process of updating the Plan to reflect changing conditions in the County.

In this newsletter you will find information on currently available docu-ments, upcoming meetings, and ways to get involved in the General Plan Update process.

San Joaquin County Citizens:

San Joaquin County General Plan Update

Keep Up To Date During the General Plan Update proc-ess the County will maintain a mailing list of individuals who want to be kept informed on the latest program events. If you would like to be added to this list, please sign up online at www.sjcgpu.com or contact:

Ray Hoo, Senior Planner San Joaquin County Community Development Department 1810 East Hazelton Avenue Stockton, CA 95205 Ph. 209.468.3164 [email protected]

How Issues and Opportunities were Identified: Stakeholder Interviews

In August and September 2008 San Joaquin County conducted a series of stakeholder interviews as part of the General Plan Up-

date. A diverse group of stakeholders participated in the inter-views, representing a variety of agencies, groups, and interests,

including: the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, County departments, San Joaquin COG, cities, Delta Protection

Commission, Farm Bureau, Sierra Club, Building Industry Asso-ciation, San Joaquin Partnership, Agricultural Commission, and many others. The interviews were held to explore the percep-

tions of problems, issues, goals, and opportunities related to challenges facing the County.

Community Workshop #1

In October and November 2008 San Joaquin County held 14

community workshops to help kick off the General Plan Update. Diverse groups of County residents attended workshops from Manteca, Ripon, Escalon, French Camp, Lammersville, Tracy,

Lodi, Stockton, the Delta, Mountain House, Morada, Lockeford, Clements, Woodbridge, Thornton, Linden, and Lathrop. The

workshops provided an opportunity for the public to offer their thoughts on what they like and what the problems are within

their communities and the County, and what should be ad-dressed in preparing

the General Plan.

Draft Background Report (NOW AVAILABLE!)

The Background Report provides a “snapshot” in time of the

County’s existing conditions. It provides data and information on a wide range of topics including demographics and econom-

ics, communities, land use, climate change, agriculture, housing, transportation, public utilities and services, natural resources,

the Delta, recreational and cultural resources, safety, and noise. The Draft Background Report identifies a list of key findings con-cerning the various topical areas.

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) includes staff from

County departments. The TAC provides input and review of draft Update documents. On May 22, 2009, the TAC held a

meeting to discuss and provide input on issues and opportuni-ties for inclusion in the Issues and Opportunities Report.

Focus Groups

The Focus Groups provide technical and policy input to County staff and the Consultants. Each of the five Focus Groups consists

of 12-20 members, formed around the following topics: Agricul-ture; Natural Resources and the Delta; Land Use, Housing, and

Economic Development; Transportation and Circulation; and Services, Utilities, and Safety. On May 28 and June 3, 2009, the Focus Groups met to discuss the issues and opportunities that

the General Plan Update should address and should be included in the Issues and Opportunities Report. The meetings were open

to the public and several community members provided com-ments.

The purpose of the report is to focus community attention on key physical, environmental, economic, cultural, social, and planning-

related issues and opportunities that have major policy implica-tions for San Joaquin County. The report identifies Countywide

issues and opportunities, organized by major themes that gener-ally correspond to the outline of the Draft Background Report. The

report also contains a Community Overviews section that provides a profile of defined rural communities, urban communities, and

city community areas (i.e., unincorporated “fringe” areas adjacent to city limits).

Purpose of the Issues and Opportunities Report:

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY

RURAL ROADWAYS

AIRPORT

PORT

COMMUNITIES

OPEN SPACES

AGRICULTURE

WILDLIFE

The General Plan website provides a one-stop location to get the latest information on the General Plan program. The website will

provide up-to-date information on upcoming events and allow anyone to download copies of meeting minutes/agendas and

documents/reports prepared for the General Plan Update.

Background Report Collect information on current conditions and trends and prepare the Background Report.

Goals and Policies Report Draft a set of goals, policies, and implementation programs that achieve the County’s desired vision.

Environmental Impact Report Assess the environmental implications of the proposed Draft General Plan.

Public Review Review and comment on the proposed General Plan at hearings with the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.

Project Initiation Coordinate with County staff and conduct the first round of community workshops.

Issues & Opportunities Work with focus groups, Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and the public to identify key issues and opportunities.

Alternatives Report Develop a range of alternatives based on issues and opportunities identified in Phase 4 and develop a vision statement.

Final Documents and Adoption Prepare the final General Plan and EIR follow-ing public review and hearings.

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Steps in Updating the General Plan

GENERAL PLAN UPDATE

Housing Element Prepare a comprehensive update of the 2004 Housing Element.

Development Title Revise the Development Title to carry out the overall land use policy direction of the updated General Plan.

General Plan Update Website

www.sjcgpu.com

What is an issue?

An “issue” is defined as an im-portant unsettled matter or

problem that needs to be ad-dressed through the General

Plan Update process.

What is an opportunity?

An “opportunity” is defined as a unique, favorable, or advanta-geous condition within the

County that the County can pre-serve or capitalize on through the

General Plan Update process.

Want more information on the issues below? See the Issues and Opportunities Report, available at www.sjcgpu.com.

Demographics and Economic Demographics and Economic DevelopmentDevelopment Future Population Growth. San Joaquin County’s population

is expected to exceed one million by 2030. Where and how

these people live and work is a central General Plan issue.

Aging Population. The County’s elderly population (i.e., age 60

and over) is expected to double in the coming decades.

Education and Training. San Joaquin County’s educational

attainment is low compared to the rest of the state, resulting in higher unemployment rates and lower wages for residents.

Student/Employee Retention. Retention of highly trained and

skilled employees and students graduating from the County’s higher education institutions is low within the County.

Low Wage Jobs. Wages within the County and its cities are low

compared to state averages, putting a strain on families and

limiting the retention of highly skilled workers and attraction of new high wage industries.

Unemployment. Unemployment is extremely high in San Joa-

quin County and its cities and continues to worsen during the current economic downturn.

Land Use and DevelopmentLand Use and Development Growth and Development. How and where growth occurs

within San Joaquin County over the next 20 years is a major is-

sue that the General Plan will address.

Cities Expansions. Expansion of cities has continued to urban-

ize more of the County’s agricultural areas and encroach on un-

incorporated communities.

Agricultural Parcelization. Accord-

ing to local farmers, demand for rural residential homesites can lead to the

conversion of agricultural lands, re-sulting in a diminished flexibility and profitability of farming.

Airport Compatibility. Of the County’s six public airports, the

Stockton Metropolitan Airport faces the greatest risk for conflicts between growth of the airport and urbanization of surrounding

land.

Shifting Land Use Patterns. Historic inefficient development

patterns in the Central Valley and San Joaquin County cities

have resulted in lower densities and rapid conversion of agricul-tural lands.

Climate ChangeClimate Change Reducing GHG Emissions. Future planning and environmental

review processes must address the issue of climate change con-sistent with State mandates to reduce greenhouse gas emis-

sions.

Adapting to Climate Change. Climate change impacts are ex-

pected to include shifts in the availability of resources and in-

creased risks from natural disasters.

AgricultureAgriculture Farmland Conversion. Agricultural farmland continues to be

converted to urbanization primarily as a result of annexation and development of cities.

Agricultural-Urban Conflicts. As the

population continues to increase in urban and rural areas of the County, agricultural-urban

conflicts are likely to in-crease.

TransportationTransportation Public Transit Service. Service and coordination continues to

be a challenge to provide public transit service to unincorpo-

rated communities.

Passenger Rail Service. Passenger rail service is limited and

unable to meet existing and expected demands.

Bikeways. Bikeway connections among unincorporated areas

and cities lack continuity, resulting in a fragmented inconven-ient system.

Transportation Funding. Lack of funding has made it increas-

ingly difficult for the County to construct transportation im-provements necessary to meet mobility needs and provide tran-

sit options.

ISSUES

The County is limited in its ability to directly influence education and training and student/employee retention. However, the County can allow for the development of facilities that address these issues.

Traffic Congestion. Rural roads have

become congested and are expected to continue to worsen as the County and its cities grow.

Rural Road Conflicts. San Joaquin County’s rural roads are ex-

periencing greater conflicts between the transport of farming equipment and commuter-oriented automobile traffic.

Roadway Conditions. Roadway conditions are poor on many

local County roads.

Public Services and UtilitiesPublic Services and Utilities Over-extended Services. San Joaquin County faces the chal-

lenges in meeting increased service demands with less money.

Infrastructure Age, Capacity, and Funding. The County and

Special Districts face challenges in maintaining, improving, and

funding infrastructure to meet service demands.

Fire Protection Districts. Expansion of cities may limit the abil-

ity of some fire districts to continue operating in the future.

Flood Control Infrastructure. Flood control infrastructure im-

provements are needed to protect residents from heightened flood risk.

Law Enforcement Response. Law

enforcement response time is a con-cern of County residents.

Schools and Education. Educational

performance and the location and provision of educational fa-cilities within San Joaquin County are in need of improvement.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources Water Supply. Water supplies for urban, agricultural, and envi-

ronmental uses will continue to decrease as demand increases.

Groundwater Overdraft and Saltwater Intrusion. Groundwa-

ter overdraft has reduced the storage capacity of groundwater basins, limited the future availability of groundwater supplies,

and is causing eastward intrusion of saltwater.

Habitat Encroachment/Loss. A serious threat to native plants,

animals, and their habitats is conversion of habitat to urban de-

velopment or agricultural uses.

Energy. Energy costs and renewable energy requirements are

expected to rise requiring more energy conservation and new

sources of renewable energy.

The DeltaThe Delta Water Supply. The reliability of the Delta as a water supply

source is increasingly threatened by drought, declining ecosys-

tem conditions, and Delta levee stability.

Flooding/Island Loss. Within the

Delta few of the levees were con-

structed to meet modern engineering standards.

Development Pressures. Development within the Secondary

Zone of the Delta has increased over the past decade, placing pressure on existing delta agriculture and ecosystems.

Recreation and Cultural ResourcesRecreation and Cultural Resources Parks and Recreation. Unincorporated communities lack ac-

cess to local parks and recreation facilities and programs.

Waterway Access/Facilities. Public access to the waterways is

limited and public facilities serving waterway users are inade-quate to meet demand.

Cultural Resource Protection. Many undiscovered archaeo-

logical sites are at risk of loss from development, agriculture, and river erosion.

SafetySafety Air Quality. Air quality in the County is

among the poorest in the state, annually exceeding Federal and State standards.

Flooding. Flooding is the most likely natu-

ral hazard to occur in the County.

Evacuation Routes. Unincorporated communities and rural

areas in San Joaquin County are at risk during major emergen-

cies due to lack of coordinated evacuation planning.

Crime. Significant increases in locally reported crimes and local

crime rates have occurred compared to statewide trends.

Airport Hazards. Updates to Airport Land Use Plans will require

consideration and incorporation within the General Plan.

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE

Want more information on the opportunities below? See the Issues and Opportunities Report, available at www.sjcgpu.com.

Demographics and Economic Demographics and Economic DevelopmentDevelopment Key Economic Generators. San Joaquin County has several key

economic engines (i.e., Port of Stockton, Stockton Metropolitan

Airport, agriculture, and commercial/manufacturing opportuni-ties) that have access to one of the most interconnected trans-

portation hubs in California.

Enterprise Zone. The Stockton/San Joaquin Enterprise Zone

offers businesses and industries considerable advantages of a

California State Enterprise Zone, which in turn can stimulate business investment and entrepreneurship, create jobs, and sus-tain economic expansion.

Tourism. Natural and agricultural resources offer a major op-

portunity to expand new areas of the economy while supple-menting existing industries and marketing the County’s unique

resources and products.

Clean-Green Industries. As

demand for clean, renewable

energy continues to grow, the County can tap into this de-

mand and be an economic cen-ter for green industries and

“green-collar” jobs.

Land Use and DevelopmentLand Use and Development Open Space Separators. A carefully applied

strategy can ensure that the County has a consistent approach to maintaining open

space separation between its

urban areas.

Intergovernmental Coordination. The San Joaquin County

General Plan Update offers a unique opportunity to establish

partnerships with surrounding jurisdictions and agencies.

Available Capacity. The County has land planned under the

current 2010 General Plan to accommodate population growth

for the next 20 years, however limited services and other con-straints limit the ability of this capacity to be realized.

Employment Generating Development. There are many op-

portunities to plan for unincorporated employment centers that

can provide jobs for residents and revenues for the County.

Climate ChangeClimate Change Planning and Monitoring. The County can address the issue of

climate change and reduce GHG emissions with a Climate Action

Plan.

Carbon Sequestration. San Joaquin County’s agricultural lands

are the County’s biggest resource to remove GHG emissions

from the atmosphere.

AgricultureAgriculture Farmland Preservation. Farmland pres-

ervation opportunities exist through a variety of tools, including: farmland and

habitat conservation easements, William-son Act contracts, and agricultural mitiga-tion.

Agricultural Economy. Keeping the agricultural industry

healthy and robust will maintain San Joaquin County’s diverse farming industry, encourage economic and job growth, and pro-

vide effective and efficient infrastructure-serving agriculture.

Sustainable Agriculture. Agricultural operations can expand

their stewardship of the land through sustainable agricultural

practices and make possible the benefits of farming to future generations.

Organic Farming. Organic farming offers a small but poten-

tially very profitable “niche” segment of San Joaquin County agriculture.

Locally Grown Produce. The County is surrounded by large

urban populations that can support markets for agricultural products that are grown, purchased, and consumed locally.

Agricultural Education. Urban populations within the County

can learn the benefits through an understanding and support of local agriculture.

OPPORTUNITIES

TransportationTransportation Public Transit Investments. The

County has opportunities to expand and link local and regional transit with

inter-state and inter-regional transportation systems.

Transportation Demand Management. Transportation de-

mand management is a major opportunity to reduce vehicle miles traveled, traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions,

and air pollution.

High Speed Rail. High Speed Rail presents long-term transpor-

tation connections and economic growth opportunities.

ACE Train Extensions. Extension of the ACE train line will ex-

pand connections to the Bay Area and areas south of San Joa-quin County.

Goods Movement Efficiency Improvements. Expanded and

enhanced goods movement facilities and infrastructure offer potential solutions to addressing needs for better trade connec-

tions.

Public Services and UtilitiesPublic Services and Utilities Communications Infrastructure. Improve-

ments in high capacity information communica-

tions infrastructure can benefit residents and stimulate economic growth.

Low Impact Development. Low impact development offers a

new, innovative way to improve water quality, recharge ground-water basins, and provide cost-effective drainage systems.

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources Water Conservation/Re-use. Increased demand for water and

the costs associated with provid-ing additional supplies have led to

strong support for additional water conservation and re-use.

Groundwater Recharge Areas. Efforts to recharge groundwa-

ter basins have been effective in restoring groundwater levels.

Habitat Protection. Natural habitat protection can provide

places for plants and wildlife to live and recreation amenities for residents and visitors.

Mineral Resources/Mining. Protection of mineral rich areas

will ensure this resource is available for future extraction.

Alternative Energy. Alternative energy sources and technol-

ogy have the potential to improve air quality and reduce energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The DeltaThe Delta Delta Protection . The County is working towards manage-

ment plans that may offer guidance and policy directives for making decisions within the Primary and Secondary Zones in

the Delta.

Recreation and Cultural ResourcesRecreation and Cultural Resources The Delta. The Delta is the County’s

single most important recreational asset.

Rails to Trails. Abandoned rail lines

offer an opportunity to link recrea-tional activities and communities.

Joint Use School Facilities. School playgrounds can provide an

important local recreation resource, particularly in smaller com-munities and neighborhoods in the County.

SafetySafety Emergency Preparedness. Preparing area response plans that

incorporate inventory data, training for emergency responses, and evacuation plans is crucial for ensuring the safety of County

residents and businesses.

New Flood Maps. New Flood Insurance

Rate Maps (FIRMs) for the County will ensure

that existing and future residents are aware of their flood risk exposure and are prepared

for possible flooding.

Minimal Impact Development. Land use policies play a critical

role in avoiding incompatible land uses and reducing localized

air pollution exposure that can result in adverse health impacts.

Healthy Communities. Access to grocery stores, parks, and

recreational programs can influence an individual's choice to eat

better, exercise more, and live healthier.


COMMUNITY WORKSHOP #2 VISION 2030

COMMUNITY WORKSHOP #2 VISION 2030


The County will be holding 14 Community Workshops throughout the County during the months of August and Sep-

tember. For more information, check out the General Plan Update Website (www.sjcgpu.com) or contact Ray Hoo, Sen-

ior Planner, at 209.468.3164 or [email protected].

Public Meeting Dates All Meetings Begin at 7:00 p.m.

DATE LOCATION

Monday Ripon Community Center 8/10/09 334 W. Fourth St., Ripon, CA 95366 Wednesday Woodward Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room 8/12/09 575 Tannehill Dr., Manteca, CA 95337 Thursday Escalon Library 8/13/09 1540 Second St., Escalon, CA 95320 Monday Lockeford Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room 8/17/09 19456 N. Tully Rd., Lockeford, CA 95237 Tuesday New Hope Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room 8/18/09 26675 N. Sacramento Rd., Thornton, CA 95686 Monday Lodi Grape Festival, Jackson Hall 8/24/09 413 E. Lockeford St., Lodi, CA 95240 Wednesday Public Health Department, Multi-Purpose Room 8/26/09 1601 E. Hazelton Ave., Stockton, CA 95205

DATE LOCATION

Thursday Lathrop City Hall, Council Chambers 8/27/09 390 Towne Centre Dr., Lathrop, CA 95330 Monday Elks Lodge 8/31/09 19071 N. Lower Sac. Rd., Woodbridge, CA 95258 Tuesday Davis Elementary School,Multi-Purpose Room 9/01/09 5224 E. Morada Lane, Morada, CA 95212 Wednesday Houston Elementary School, Auditorium 9/09/09 4600 E. Acampo Rd., Acampo, CA 95220 Thursday First Baptist Church 9/10/09 17580 E. State Route 26, Linden, CA 95236 Monday Larch-Clover Community Center 9/21/09 11157 W. Larch Rd., Tracy, CA 95304 Wednesday Robert J. Cabral Agricultural Center 9/23/09 2101 E. Earhart Ave., Stockton, CA 95206

Your input is needed! Where should development occur?

How should your community grow or be preserved?

What sectors of our economy should we grow? What are our infrastructure needs and standards?

How can transportation and movement throughout the County be improved?

How can the County promote healthy communities and residents?

What is the County's role in the long-term success of the agricultural industry? How do we protect and manage our water and open space resources?

Can we make a constructive difference to address climate change?

There are many other questions that are

relevant and need to be considered in this

decision-making process. We urge everyone

to participate and help develop a vision and

guiding principles that will shape the future

of our County. The Board of Supervisors, the

Planning Commission, and the Community

Development Department want you to be

involved so the General Plan reflects the

collective wisdom of our communities and

residents.

Newsletter #2

Documents

Transcript of Newsletter #2