For Economic Development Committee [July 24, 2024]
TO: Honorable Economic Development Committee Members
APPROVAL: Colby Cataldi, Director of Community Development
FROM: Paul Gonzales, Community Development Manager
Title
General Plan Update Presentation for the Land Use, Safety, Circulation and Environmental Justice Elements (Master Case No. 2023-019).
Body
BACKGROUND
The General Plan is a policy document approved by the City Council to guide future development within the City. The General Plan is comprised of a minimum of seven (7) elements required by the State of California which include Land Use, Circulation, Housing, Conservation, Open Space, Noise, and Safety.
The City was awarded the Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grant to update the Land use, Safety, Circulation, and to add the new Environmental Justice (EJ) Element.
Senate Bill 1000 amended Government Code Section 65302 to require cities and counties with disadvantaged communities to incorporate EJ policies as a separate element in the General Plan. Environmental Justice is defined by the state as “the fair treatment of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”
Initiation of the Focused General Plan Update
On June 23, 2020, at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting, the Council authorized submittal of a Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grant to the California Department of Housing and Community Development for multiple projects including a focused General Plan Update. In December 2022, the City initiated the focused General Plan Update portion of the grant and awarded a professional services agreement to the consulting firm Dudek.
The focused General Plan Update includes amendments to three (3) elements and the creation of a new element (Environmental Justice):
• The Land Use Element is being updated to retain consistency with Housing, Safety, and the new Environmental Justice Elements.
• The Safety Element is required to be updated to meet certain laws related to climate change projections, vulnerable populations, and evacuation. The Climate Adaptation Plan provides a basis for much of these requirements.
• The Circulation Element will incorporate recent data and figure updates to reflect current conditions and changes to the City’s truck routes.
• The Environmental Justice Element is new for Rialto and is being prepared in response to Senate Bill 1000. An Environmental Justice Element includes policies and actions related to six (6) pillars. The six (6) pillars are:
§ Access to Healthy Food
§ Promote Exercise
§ Reduce Pollution
§ Access to Public Facilities
§ Promote Safe and Sanitary Homes
§ Promote Civic Engagement
Public Engagement and Outreach
Public engagement is an important part of the General Plan Update process and is particularly important for the preparation of the Environmental Justice Element. The public engagement plan included:
• Pop-up activities at community events, which began April 2023
• Virtual and In-Person Workshops, began in May 2023
• Community Advisory Committee (CAC) formed May 2023
• Public Meetings to review the draft General Plan content and obtain public input
• Draft General Plan update published for Public Review
Notifications about public engagement included social media, a designated project specific website, mass email, and a direct postcard mailer to all Rialto households totaling over 25,000.
Timeline
The project schedule included:
• April 2024 EDC update
• December 2023: End of Comment Period for Environmental
• November 2023: Comment Period on Environmental
• October 2023: 3rd CAC meeting
• September 2023: Public review/comment of the draft plan
• June 2023: public workshops and CAC meeting
• April 2023: Two (2) community popups
• May 2023 City Council presentation and update
• May 2023: public workshops, formation of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC), the first CAC meeting (tentative), and presentations to Planning Commission and City Council
• April 2023: EDC update and timelines presented to committee
• March 2023, public outreach
• January 2023: EDC update on General Plan and Community Engagement
Future Tentative Public Meetings
• August 2024: Planning Commission Meeting
• September City Council meeting to consider the General Plan Update
• November 2024 City Council meeting for a second reading of the ordinance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
Preparation of the focused General Plan Update does not have a direct impact on the City’s General Fund. The City received a LEAP grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to fund the project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Economic Development Committee receive a presentation on the focused General Plan Update and provide comments.