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Return to Local Positions page. Positions on Natural Resources
POSITIONSResource Adequacy 1. The state regulatory and planning agencies, as well as the energy providers, should give primary consideration to conservation and energy efficiency. State regulation and planning should also address the critical need for demand-side management of peak power requirements including real-time pricing. 2. In acquiring new electric resources, major additional factors to consider include the:
Integrated Energy Planning 3. The state should implement an integrated energy planning process that:
Statewide Standards 4. Statewide standards should be set for renewable resource development, demand-side management procurements and reserve requirements. 5. These standards should be applied to all load serving entities, including:
Organizational Structure 6. The energy planning and regulatory process should be based on coordination of functions, as well as collaboration among the existing agencies. The regulatory responsibilities (i.e., rate-setting and rulemaking) should be separated from planning and permitting functions. Roles of the State 7. The state should regulate and oversee in-state energy facilities, including Liquified Natural Gas terminals, through permitting, licensing, and enforcement of regulations for in-state and out-of-state providers. 8. The state should
Regional Planning 9. Decisions about implementation of the energy planning process
should be made on a region-wide basis through a mechanism that incorporates
participation by local governments. 10. Local governments should have responsibility to inform their citizens about developments in regional energy planning and to communicate local concerns to the regional planners. 11. Local governments should promote energy conservation, especially in
relation to building codes, transportation, resource recovery, and public
information. 12. Greater transparency in energy policy decision-making should be promoted by:
13. Given the importance of public participation, agencies should be
required to use plain language in all communications, proceedings, and
publications. 14. Any direct-access (choice of a provider) policy should not result in additional costs to the remaining core customers. 15. Customers who leave the regulated system for a direct-access account should be required to pay a fair share of the costs their utility has incurred to serve them. 16. Customers who have left a regulated utility for a direct-access
account and later wish to return, should be required to compensate for any
negative effects their return will have on the regulated system. 17. Energy agencies and utilities should develop programs that will help the water sector reduce its very large consumption of electric power and fossil fuels. 18. Information about the impacts of water conveyance, treatment, and end use, including irrigation pumping, should be disseminated to the public. 19. Energy policy should recognize the important interrelationship between water use and energy use. Practices such as universal metering and economic incentives to shift load to off-peak hours should be considered. 20. Recognizing that a substantial portion of California's economy is
based on agriculture, measures to reduce water-intensive crops and landscape
plantings should be considered. Adopted 1978; Updated 1980. 2006.
LAND USE PLANNING: POSITION IN BRIEF: PROMOTE EFFICIENT LAND USE PLANNING THAT BALANCES ECONOMIC GROWTH, AGRICULTURE, HOUSING, PUBLIC SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT AND CONSERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING ADEQUATE PARKS AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. (1960-62,1963-64,1966-67,1971.1983-85,1991, 2007) SPECIFICS OF POSITION 1. Support land use planning consistent with the County's natural features, encouraging a healthful environment and conservation of natural resources such as clean air, water, prime agricultural land, and our coastal environment. 2. Encourage a viable balance of economic, social and environmental factors for all communities. 3. Encourage land uses necessary for economic growth and compatible with industries that support a healthful and aesthetic environment, such as agriculture, horticulture, health care, technology and biomedical endeavors, education, and recreation, among others. 4. Support planning that promotes orderly development, including appropriate redevelopment of urban areas, discourages step-out development, and encourages infilling of existing communities, along with greater densities, flexible zoning, mixed-use housing and parking requirements when appropriate, and improved connection with public transit. 5. Support planning that provides for housing to meet the needs of all segments of the community. 6. Maintain identity and delineations of communities. 7. Preserve adequate open space, the coastline, wetlands, historical and cultural landmarks and aesthetic features, including appropriate public access.. 8. Support local governments in funding public services and improvements with the widest array of funding sources. 9. Support local governments in providing adequate space and facilities for active and passive recreation opportunities, including public parks, that are affordable to the general public. 10. Encourage the periodic updating of general plans to recognize the changing needs of the community and support effective and timely implementation. 11. Support land use planning decisions that are based on careful study and consideration of physical, economic, social and environmental factors. 12. Encourage cooperative planning among all levels of governmental agencies, including federal, state, regional, county and city, and with private enterprise, particularly with regard to regional issues such as population, transportation, water resources, public safety and similar concerns. 13. Promote and support opportunities for citizens to effectively participate in formulating land use plans and in land use planning decisions. 14. Support local government controls that provide visually pleasing communities through effective zoning, signage controls, and similar measures. BACKGROUND OF POSITION This position is the result of combining appropriate and related portions of early studies into one overall position. This was accomplished in 1983 when the league affirmed its position in support of orderly development. The position was reviewed and updated in 2007. In that review, the focus was to refine the position to better address the balancing act that has clearly become necessary between the financial needs of the cities and county and the needs of the residents here for jobs and housing with our long standing goal of conserving our unique and healthful environment. In addition, language was broadened and made more general, in order to facilitate application of the position to specific situations. Concern was expressed in early studies over the continued disappearance of agriculture as an industry and the depletion of oil reserves, both of which threatened to erode the tax base. Members agreed that Ventura County has a potential as a recreation area and that development of recreation as a major industry could provide a relatively high tax yield as well as protect aesthetic surroundings. Protection of the coastline for recreational use has had continued emphasis, as has the maintenance of open, rural or park-like atmosphere of local communities. Transportation Waste Management (non-Hazardous) Waste Management (Hazardous)
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