Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4.06 AGAB and Metropolitan Trans Commission STAFF REPORT CITY CLERK File #140-10 CITY COUNCIL DATE:October 20, 2015 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Christopher L. Foss, City Manager SUBJECT: Relationship Between the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Prepared by Roger Bradley, Assistant to the City Manager EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will consider authorizing the Mayor to send a letter to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Governing Board and to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) expressing the City of Dublin opposition to MTC’s proposal to eliminate financial support to ABAG for that organization’s planning and research activities, and instead, absorb ABAG’s responsibilities into MTC. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign a letter on the City‘s behalf regarding the MTC proposal to eliminate ABAG financial support for its planning and research activities, and instead, absorb ABAG responsibilities into MTC. Reviewed By Assistant City Manager DESCRIPTION: In 1961, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) was created to serve as the Bay Area’s singular regional government. Since that time, however, as legislators have incrementally identified regional issues that need to be addressed they have created new single-issue regulatory agencies. As a result, after ABAG was formed, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) was made guardian of the Bay in 1969. In 1970, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) was created to manage transportation planning and funding. In 1995, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) was created to regulate air quality. Each of these agencies, along with many others – including the regional ITEM NO. 4.6 Page 1 of 3 water quality control board, the Army Corps of Engineers, State Fish and Wildlife, Federal Fish and Game, etc. – have jurisdiction and promulgate regulations within the Bay Area. Given that land use planning (ABAG) and transportation planning (MTC) are inherently linked, there is a consensus among some that those functions should be managed together. As a result, in 2003, ABAG and MTC formed a Joint Policy Committee to coordinate their regional planning efforts, and subsequent actions by the state legislature have added BCDC and BAAQMD to this policy coordination. There have also been periodic conversations about merging ABAG and MTC as a way to better coordinate and fund a regional vision, but longtime differences related to history, structure, culture, and style have hindered that effort. As an example of differences between the two organizations, ABAG receives much of its funding from cities, and its Executive Board is made up entirely of a number of city and county elected officials. MTC, meanwhile, has a smaller board that includes State and Federal representation, and it receives proportionately less funding from cities and more from the State and Federal governments. Many observers believe that the region would benefit from a combined agency that addresses land use, transportation and all related functions regarding the physical growth of the region. However, as mentioned, it has been difficult for the two agencies and their respective cultures to come together. Through recent action, MTC appears to be forcing a decision on merging. MTC has proposed, and will consider on December 31, 2015, no longer paying ABAG for its planning and research activities, and it instead plans to move ABAG’s planners to MTC. This would remove much of ABAG’s authority and mission. The budget cuts proposed by MTC would place ABAG at risk for insolvency. As a consequence, the remaining programs and efforts managed by ABAG could be in jeopardy, including some that benefit the region including the San Francisco Bay Trail Project, the San Francisco Estuary Project, and ABAG’s water quality, earthquake safety, and wetlands restoration activities. Many interested observers contend and promote the merits of consolidating and unifying the Bay Area’s regional agencies: where planning could be accomplished in a true multidisciplinary fashion; where transportation serves desired land use patterns; and where programs are collectively designed and balanced against local control concerns. Talk of a potential ABAG/MTC merger isn't new and has been a topic of discussion for some time. In that light, the current discussions about the possibility of a single regional planning agency for the Bay Area could represent an opportunity for action. However, Staff believes MTC’s current approach is inappropriate. Its proposal to take only one aspect of ABAG and financially cripple the rest of the organization isn’t well thought out and leaves many questions and concerns unanswered. In particular, its failure to engage cities has created deep concern regarding its long-term interest in respecting local control. If a merger were to proceed, the region would benefit, instead, from a merger that, at its end, delivers a comprehensive regional planning process, which recognizes local control while still promoting optimal use of land in the region, supported by and closely coordinated with transportation improvements and funding. That can’t happen, however, unless the merger is transparent and involves input from the broadest range of stakeholders, including cities. Change works best when it is grounded in a solid policy framework; has buy-in from the public, stakeholders, policymakers, and includes metrics for evaluating the effort. Page 2 of 3 Staff has prepared a letter discussing the relationship between ABAG and MTC (Attachment 1). The letter indicates the City’s opposition to MTC proposed defunding of ABAG, and recommends ABAG and MTC engage in dialogue that would lead to an appropriate restructuring of their relationship, which would include input from the cities within the region. Staff recommends the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign the letter on the City’s behalf and send copies to both ABAG and MTC. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: None. ATTACHMENTS: 1.Letter from the City Dublin Regarding the Relationship between the Associations of Bay Area Governments and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Page 3 of 3 October 20, 2015 ABAG Executive Board MTC Board of Commissioners 101 Eight Street 100 Civic Plaza Oakland, CA 94607 Dublin, California 94568 Phone: (925) 833-6650 Re: Relationship between the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Fax: (925) 833-6651 Metropolitan Transportation Commission Dear ABAG Executive Board and MTC Board of Commissioners: On behalf of the City Council of the City of Dublin, I am writing to express the City’s opposition to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) current proposal to defund the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG); consolidate responsibilities currently performed by ABAG, such as regional planning and research, under the authority of MTC; and, eliminate ABAG’s governing board. I believe the proposal developed by MTC staff is not in the best interest of the residents to which we have been elected to represent. Instead, the City strongly urges MTC and ABAG to immediately begin an open and transparent discussion on restructuring the relationship, including merger, and preserving municipal governments’ representation in regional planning efforts. City Council (925) 833-6650 City Manager The City strongly believes that such discussions must include input from a (925) 833-6650 Community Development broad set of stakeholders from all levels of government. (925) 833-6610 Economic Development (925) 833-6650 Thank you for your consideration. If I can be of further assistance, please do Finance/Admin Services (925) 833-6640 not hesitate to contact me at (925) 833-6650. Fire Prevention (925) 833-6606 Human Resources Sincerely, (925) 833-6605 Parks & Community Services (925) 556-4500 Police (925) 833-6670 Public Works/Engineering (925) 833-6630 David Haubert Mayor, City of Dublin www.dublin.ca.gov