Title
Make a Determination of Consistency of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2015-2017 Capital Budget with the General Plan
Body
CITY OF ALAMEDA
Memorandum
To: Honorable President and
Members of the Planning Board
From: Liam Garland
Deputy Public Works Director
Date: March 23, 2015
Re: Make a Determination of Consistency of the Proposed Fiscal Year 2015-2017 Capital Budget with the General Plan
BACKGROUND
On June 2, 2015, staff will request the City Council approve a 2015-2017 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). California law requires that, before the City Council approves the CIP, the Planning Board determine its conformance with the General Plan.
In November 2014, Public Works convened an interdepartmental CIP team comprised of the City Manager's office, Fire, Information Technology, Library, Police, and Recreation and Parks Department. The CIP also benefitted from input from the Transportation Commission, Recreation and Park Commission, and the City's Executive Management Team. The City Manager's Office will finalize the CIP and operating budget in early May.
DISCUSSION
A draft of the CIP budget is attached at Exhibit 1. The CIP budget is consistent with Alameda's General Plan and various plans already approved by the City Council. Written and approved in 1991, with revisions to the Transportation Element in 2009, the General Plan broadly directs Alameda's existing structures and public infrastructure be improved, enhanced, and maintained.
The CIP budget includes three categories of projects: rehabilitation, transportation, and parks. Parks and rehabilitation projects are consistent with that plan, as they either improve, enhance, or maintain existing infrastructure such as parks, City buildings, sidewalks, stormwater pipes and pumps, lagoons, sewer pipes and pumps, and street trees. Transportation projects help maintain a safe, efficient transportation system (e.g., streets, signals, striping), and expand opportunities for transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists, which is consistent with the Transportation Element's four goals of circulation, livability, choice, and implementation.
To further ensure General Plan consistency, the capital budget includes a one-page description of each project in which the rationale for General Plan consistency is included. These project pages start at page 27 of Exhibit 1.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed Finding of General Plan Consistency is not a project as defined by California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Finding of Consistency does not commit the City to any of the identified projects in the CIP budget. Individual projects identified within the CIP budget and approved by City Council will be reviewed in accordance with CEQA requirements prior to their implementation.
RECOMMENDATION:
Make a determination of consistency of the proposed fiscal year 2015-2017 Capital Budget with the General Plan.
Exhibit:
1. 2015-2017 Capital Budget