Lamorinda Council Members Give Tri-City Forecast

Council Members from Lamorinda’s three communities held a special joint meeting at the Soda Center at Saint Mary’s College to hear a report on the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) and share updates on road conditions and economic development.

Martin Engelmann from the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) and Miriam Chion of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) delivered most of the information about SB 375, the Senate bill requiring a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles.

After a powerpoint presentation explaining the goals, strategies and schedules regional agencies will develop and follow with local jurisdictions, the panel of visiting directors and staff took questions from council members.

Lafayette Council Member Don Tatzin asked about job figures used in determining housing projections.

An answer from Engelmann suggested that different agencies use different models, a response that drew a request for clarification from Orinda Mayor Victoria Smith.

“If you are projecting less jobs, how can you not project less need for housing?” she asked.

Chion stepped up to the podium to explain that despite lower job growth, there has not been a reduction in the demand for housing. As the population ages, more people are living alone, instead of in families, she explained.

Council member Brandt Andersson said the Shaping Our Future process had been greeted with suspicion in Lamorinda when it was first introduced.

“To what extent did that form the starting scenario for you?” he asked.

Engelmann referred to the process as “a building block” and said the CCTA would have been “way behind without it.”

Andersson pressed Engelmann and Chion for an answer to what would happen if a regional agency’s plans differed from a community’s general plan for land use.

The answer, that continued conversations would lead to new ideas and that conflicts between plans could reside for a long time without resolution did not draw requests for more specificity, but ended the discussion.

Road repair was addressed individually by each town or city.

Lafayette said the city had two big decisions.

The council had to decide whether or not to allocate part of the city’s reserve to fund the initiative, and citizens had to pass or reject a parcel tax to make up the difference. 

Unwilling to put a parcel tax on the ballot without strong indication voters will approve it, the council is using citizens: asking them to circulate a petition to place the $97 dollar, pay as you go, 10 year maximum tax on the ballot.

Orinda has gone to voters two times and faces a 100 million dollar tab for repairing all of its roads, according to Mayor Smith.  The percentage of failed roads has dropped from 43 to 30, but given the current economic decline, the city has no plans to propose a bond or parcel tax measure.

Moraga has turned to RECON, the Revenue Enhancement Community Outreach to the Neighborhood program, to ask citizens how to improve the roads in Moraga.

Council member Mike Metcalf said the community has a lot of opinions and not a lot of time. Focus groups have insisted the town council be accountable for allocating funds and present a viable plan. A meeting on Wednesday, February 16, will have more information, he stated, declining to provide additional details.

Council member Dave Trotter, of Moraga, asked if Lafayette’s parcel tax took into account the roads that deteriorate during the plan's ten year span.

A two-tiered system means funds will be provided to maintain the fixed roads while failed roads are being fixed.

Council Member Ken Chew asked how the city recruits enthusiastic petitioners and was told that, at this point, there aren’t enough people involved in the drive.  A March 1 meeting will tell city leaders if there is enough community support to begin the ballot drive.

Orinda council member Dean Orr wanted to hear ideas about making smarter bids for infrastructure project funding.

Metcalf said relying on staff was key and following the example of Lamorinda police forces would lead to improved collaboration.

Orinda led off the community and downtown development reports with mention of the Wilder project, and downtown residential and affordable housing developments.  The Planning Commission will hold more public meetings and make reports to the council in March.

Lafayette’s downtown plan started five years ago and is nearly complete. With a commercial design plan and a parking strategy, City Manager Steve Falk said Lafayette is “at the end of a long and inclusive process.”

He mentioned new businesses — Paxti, Whole Foods, and several decorator and interior design stores — along with Woodbury, a condominium complex and a 70 unit Senior living facility.

Parking, a crucial element in the downtown area, will be eased by the purchase of land at 941 Moraga Road. The decision about the old Lafayette Library is hung up until title issues are resolved.

Moraga Mayor Karen Mendonca said (to appreciative laughter) the town has abundant parking and a three person economic development team she predicted will streamline decisions in 2011.

The Moraga Center Specific plan will revitalize the Moraga Ranch complex, Rancho Laguna has been approved, and a new Mediterranean restaurant will open in the Rheem Center within a month.

Acknowledging the rough path the town experienced with the Dollar Tree application and Rancho Laguna, town manager Jill Keimach made a favorable mention on an application for a 40 unit apartment building on the old bowling site on Moraga Road, a project geared toward providing off-campus housing for Saint Mary's College students.