SR 05-10-2016 3F
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 10, 2016
Agenda Item: 3.F
To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director, Planning and Community Development, Planning &
Community Development, Strategic Planning
Subject: Application for a California Coastal Commission Local Coastal Program (LCP)
Planning Grant For Additional Scope to Develop an Implementation Plan for
Certification
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the application for grant funds in the
amount of $175,000 from California Coastal Commission Local Coastal Program (LCP)
Planning Grant Program.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to apply for the
grant, accept the grant, if awarded, and accept all grant renewals, if awarded.
3. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
section of this report, in the event that the grant is awarded.
Executive Summary
This report seeks authorization to submit an application to the California Coastal
Commission (CCC) for a Local Coastal Program (LCP) Planning Grant (Round 3) for an
amount of $175,000 to extend the scope of work involved with developing the
Implementation Plan portion of the project. Staff is now halfway through the process of
preparing the LCP Land Use Plan (LUP), which is anticipated to be forwarded to the
Council by April or May 2017. Preparation of an Implementation Plan (IP), also known
as a Coastal Zoning Ordinance, will follow this process. Initial research and some
preparation of the Implementation Plan is already being undertaken, using funding
included in the current grant of $225,000 received from the same Planning Grant
program in 2014 (Round 2). Both the LUP and IP must be adopted by Council and
certified by the Coastal Commission in order to transfer authority to issue coastal
development permits to the City of Santa Monica.
The Round 2 grant that the City received was initially scoped to complete both the Land
Use Plan and the Implementation Plan by May 2017. However, as the project
progressed, it became clear that in order to develop an Implementation Plan in the
area, the scope and budget for the project would need to be increased substantially
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beyond what was envisioned when the initial grant was requested. In addition, it
became evident that completing the Land Use Plan ahead of the Implementation Plan
offers advantages in terms of clarifying policy and receiving Commission certification
before fully developing the implementing document.
The requested funding would be used to extend the 0.6 FTE Assistant Planner limited-
term, grant funded position for an additional 17 months, until September 28,2018, the
date by which projects under Round 3 grants must be completed, and to engage
consultants that specialize in LCP implementation plans.
Background
Coastal Zone, and is offered specifically for the purpose of facilitating planning projects
that will achieve certification of an LCP. The application for Round 3 is due May 20,
2016, and must include a Council resolution authorizing the application (Attachment A).
There is no requirement for a match in this grant program. However, the Cit
application will leverage other resources, including the current $225,000 CCC grant, the
$235,000 grant from the Ocean Protection Council to evaluate Sea Level Rise, $20,000
additional scope in the current consultant contract, and in-kind staff time.
A Local Coastal Program (LCP) as defined by the Coastal Commission is comprised of
two components: the Land Use Plan (LUP) and the Implementation Plan (IP). Staff is
currently preparing an updated LUP based on present land use and development
policies, in
requirements in regard to sea level rise, climate change and access issues. While
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state law requires internal (horizontal) consistency between General Plan elements, the
policies and regulations of the LCP take precedence within the Coastal Zone.
The City adopted its current LCP/LUP in 1992, but has never adopted an
Implementation Plan, with the result that currently all development in the Coastal Zone
must also obtain a Coastal Development Permit from the Coastal Commission after all
City entitlements are approved.
The LCP Update project is the first effort of the City since the initial LCP Land Use Plan
was certified in 1992. Since then, some substantial changes have occurred in regard to
conditions in the Coastal Zone, including the Civic Center development, Pier restoration,
many beach improvements, the Expo Light Rail Line and the adoption of the LUCE and
other implementation plans. Additionally, the Coastal Commission is particularly
interested in ensuring that its new programs and policies, especially those related to
climate change and sea-level rise, are incorporated into Local Coastal Programs.
Planning Grant in the amount of $225,000 that was awarded in 2014. Since receiving
the grant, staff has established a strong working relationship with the CCC staff, and the
development of the LUP has progressed. The grant is funding both a 0.6 FTE Assistant
Planner limited term position and a professional services agreement with Dudek to
On June 24, 2014, the Council
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approved a previous resolution for the 2014 grant that was awarded in that round. On
October 27, 2015, the Council awarded a contract to Dudek in an amount not to exceed
$124,000 (including a $12,000 contingency), to serve as project consultants and assist
in preparation of the LCP
.
Since the contract was authorized, two community meetings have been held to discuss
both general and specific topics related to planning in the coastal zone and anticipated
climate change impacts. In addition, numerous presentations have been made to City
commissions, the Pier Board and community groups (residents and businesses). Some
of these presentations have been provided jointly with the Downtown Community Plan
(DCP) team. Once the DCP is adopted, updated policies and property development
standards developed through the DCP process will be incorporated into the new LCP as
th
appropriate for those downtown areas (west of 4 Street) located within the Coastal
Zone.
The Implementation Plan, also known as a Coastal Zoning Ordinance will regulate the
,
ng entitlements and
Coastal Development Permits (CDP). Once approved, most CDP authority would be
transferred to the City of Santa Monica, and projects within the Coastal Zone would be
reviewed under the Coastal Zoning Ordinance. The Coastal Commission would retain
permanent coastal permit jurisdiction over development proposed on tidelands,
submerged lands, and public trust lands, and would also act on appeals that may be
filed for projects within a specific area just inland of submerged tide lands. The Coastal
Commission also reviews and approves any amendments to previously certified Local
Coastal Programs.
The LCP effort is being carefully coordinated with the Office of Sustainability and the
Environment, and is utilizing the results of their study of coastal erosion and shoreline
change along the Los Angeles County coastline. That study, being conducted by the
non-profit USC Sea Grant, is funded by a $235,000 Ocean Protection Council grant.
The study is providing important scientific data and forecasting for Santa Monica and
other coastal communities in regard to the vulnerability of property and infrastructure
within the coastal zone. The LUP will also incorporate appropriate adaptation strategies
emerging from this study.
Discussion
Staff is preparing to submit another grant application to the California Coastal
Commission to fund additional scope for the development of the Implementation Plan.
Initially, it was anticipated that the first ($225,000) grant awarded on November 24,
2014 would cover both project documents. However, as the project progressed, it
format, which is a completely separate zoning ordinance for the coastal area, the scope
and budget for the project would need to be increased substantially beyond what was
envisioned when the initial grant was requested. In addition, it became evident that
completing the Land Use Plan ahead of the Implementation Plan offers advantages in
terms of clarifying policy and receiving Commission certification before fully developing
the implementing document.
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CCC grant authorities, now consists of completion of the LUP by May 2017 along with a
75% complete draft of the implementation plan. The scope of the requested grant
would consist of the remaining work required to complete the implementation plan.
The current grant funds a limitedterm, part-time Assistant Planner position, project
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consultants (Dudek) and a small amount of other project expenses. If this grant request
is awarded, it would fund a similar process including in-house staff time and outside
consultant expertise. The additional funding would need to be used by September 28,
2018, adding 17 months to the project timeline to develop a complete draft of the
coastal zoning ordinance, undertake public review, and bring a final draft to decision
makers for adoption.
While there are no minimum or maximum grant amounts under the Planning Grant
program, a total of $3 million is available in this round. Preparation of a Local Coastal
Program Amendment is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) per CEQA Guidelines section 15265.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The total amount of grant funds requested from the California Coastal Commission
(CCC) Local Coastal Program (LCP) is $175,000. If awarded, the grant requires no local
g the
current CCC LCP grant, the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) grant, an additional
$20,000 of professional services included in the current contract with Dudek, and in-kind
staff time.
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If awarded, staff would establish revenue and appropriate expenditure budgets to reflect
use of grant funds. If renewals are awarded, budget changes, including the extension of
the limited term position, will be included in subsequent year budgets, contingent on
Council budget approval.
Prepared By:
Elizabeth Bar-El AICP, Senior Planner
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Council Report, October 27, 2015
B. Council Report, June 24, 2014
C. Draft Resolution for 2016 CCC Grant Application
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