Kings County as part of the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint County Planning & LAFCO engaging the COG’s Blueprint efforts to map out the County’s future. Greg Gatzka, Assistant Executive Officer LAFCO of Kings County

San Joaquin Valley Growth Issues  Efforts to address the Valley’s growth issues are becoming more pressing:  Governor Schwarzenegger  8 County San Joaquin Valley Blueprint by COGs  California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley  Regional Water Management Forums  Increasing number of new legislation tied to better growth management and use of our resources.

8 San Joaquin Valley County COGs receive 2 Million for SJV Blueprint  3.3 Million people now to 7 Million by More than double the size in 30 years.  $2 Million FY06-07 $2 Million FY07-08 Each COG works on its own plan then brings it together as a group.  The process involves the integration of transportation, housing, land use, economic development, and the environment to produce a preferred growth scenario to the year 2050.

Valley Growth Issues  Accelerated Population growth Millions projected for the valley!  Pre-dominance of large lot residential developments  Lack of housing affordability and other housing options  Valley brain drain – lack of education and retainment  Accelerated Loss & conversion of Prime Ag Land  Depletion of Water supplies – Groundwater & Surface  Difficulty in Ag economy & Increased export reliance  Antiquated 1960’s Zoning Ordinances  Declining health ~ obesity ~ diabetes and its relation to our built environment – air quality  Automobile dominant landscape of our built environment

KINGS COUNTY as part of the larger San Joaquin Valley growth picture.

Prime Agricultural Land  Our most prized ag land is surrounding our major urban centers  More outward growth will directly diminish the County’s prime ag lands KINGS COUNTY Growth Between 2000 and new residential units

MSRs & Sphere Updates  Reduce all our City & Community Sphere of Influences to planned urban areas.  MSRs, Plan for Services, Sphere Updates – evaluating Cities’ & Communities’ ability to provide adequate water. Real or Paper?  Water to likely be the biggest resource challenge. DRAFT

Our Watershed  Our surface water comes from other Counties

What to expect in the SJV near future?  Principles or Values in a voluntary blueprint document for:  More effective management of outward urban growth – SMART GROWTH  Prime Agricultural Land Preservation - AG Easements or Boundaries  Focus on major transportation corridors for concentrated growth –  TOD  Denser development in existing City and Community Cores  Greater resource protection  Competition among jurisdictions  Implementation depends upon local buy in and will vary amoung jurisdictions.

LAFCO LAW – Factors to consider Consideration of regional growth goals and policies  “The commission may, but is not required to, consider the regional growth goals and policies established by a collaboration of elected officials only, formally representing their local jurisdictions in an official capacity on a regional or sub-regional basis. This section does not grant any new powers or authority to the commission or any other body to establish regional growth goals and policies independent of the powers granted by other laws. (Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 761.)  Possibility of more emphasis being placed on this as more emphasis is placed on Blueprint plans.

What is Kings County & LAFCO doing –  The blueprint values and principals are gaining momentum so the County is being pro-active in addressing these factors up front in the General Plan Update and L/AFCO is looking at growth planned growth through the SOI update.  The County & LAFCO is actively engaging the COG Blueprint process and actively participating in their meetings.  County Planning has partnered with the Public Health Department to increase the knowledge base of Agencies on the growth issues and Smart Growth principals.  LAFCO is working to increase the local agency knowledge of LAFCO processes and responsibilities.  Mapping & Analyzing County resources - Prime Agricultural Land & Protested Contracts, Water Resources, New Construction, General Plans and Sphere of Influence Boundaries.  LAFCOs should engage their local COGs – keep closer tabs on the policy direction that is evolving since LAFCOs as well as City & County planning departments are likely to have the responsibility of implementation.