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FISCAL YEAR 2019-2024 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - CONFORMITY DETERMINATION TO THE ENVISION STOCKTON 2040 GENERAL PLAN
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Planning Commission adopt a resolution forwarding a determination to the City Council that the 2019-2024 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Years (FY)2019/2020 through FY2023/2024 conforms to the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan.
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Summary
California Government Code section 65401 requires that the Planning Commission review and determine that the City’s FY2019-2024 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is in conformity with the General Plan. This review is required annually for all projects recommended for planning, initiation, or construction during the upcoming fiscal year.
DISCUSSION
Background
The CIP is a detailed plan which contains descriptions of projects and efforts that the City anticipates undertaking over a five-year period. This program organizes and prioritizes the projects and identifies funding sources for the various efforts. The CIP is a critical part of the budget because it identifies those projects that are most critical to the City and sensitive to funding.
California Government Code section 65401 provides in relevant part:
“The official agency receiving the list of proposed public works shall list and classify all such recommendations and shall prepare a coordinated program of proposed public works for the ensuing fiscal year. Such coordinated program shall be submitted to the county or city planning agency for review and report to said official agency as to conformity with the adopted general plan or part thereof.”
By evaluating the CIP, the City will be relieved of the obligation to evaluate each project contained therein as they are funded and executed.
Present Situation
The responsibility of the Planning Commission with respect to the proposed CIP (Attachment A - FY 2019-2024 Preliminary Capital Improvement Plan) is to determine whether the identified projects are in conformity with the General Plan. The proposed CIP contains all of the same projects from the CIP approved last year except for three new projects that consist of citywide roadway resurfacing projects. All other issues associated with the CIP and the specifically-identified projects - including programming of funds and phasing of design and construction - are at the sole discretion of the City Council.
Following the Planning Commission’s determination of the CIP’s conformity with the General Plan, the City Council will consider approval of the CIP in conjunction with the FY 2019/2020 Budget.
Staff Analysis
Staff has reviewed the entirety of the CIP and has found it to be in conformity with applicable goals and policies of the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan, including the following:
1. General Plan Policy TR-1.1 Ensure that roadways safely and efficiently accommodate all modes and users, including private, commercial, and transit vehicles, as well as bicycles and pedestrians and vehicles for disabled travelers.
The projects contained in the CIP are at a conceptual level and have not yet been fully designed. City planning staff will be involved at the design stage of these projects to ensure that the project-specific designs provide appropriate levels of design quality, public art, and local character.
2. General Plan Policy LU-6.3 Ensure that all neighborhoods have access to well-maintained public facilities and utilities that meet community service needs.
The projects identified and described in the CIP are primarily related to maintaining and upgrading existing parking garages, roadways, parks and recreation facilities, roadways and utilities, including water, sewer, storm drainage, and other infrastructure. The projects have been identified to maintain required service levels and to accommodate future development, in accordance with approved master utility and infrastructure improvement plans.
In conclusion, staff finds that the projects contained in the CIP are consistent with the broad goals and policies contained in the Land Use and Transportation Elements and conforms to the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan. As such, staff recommends that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation to the City Council that the CIP is in conformance with the Envision Stockton 2040 General Plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The creation of government funding mechanisms or other government fiscal activities, which do not involve a commitment to any specified project, are not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), per CEQA section 15378(b)(4). This CIP does not authorize any specific project, and each project remains individually subject to the provisions of CEQA. No environmental review is required to support the proposed recommendation.
VOTES REQUIRED
A vote of a majority, four (4), of the total authorized membership of the Planning Commission is required for the Commission to act on this matter.
Attachment A - DRAFT FY 2019-2024 Preliminary CIP
This staff report was prepared by Deputy Director Michael McDowell, (209) 937-8690, michael.mcdowell@stocktonca.gov.