Economic Prosperity Strategy Report B
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NORTHERN WATERFRONT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AD-HOC COMMITTEE Thursday, October 30, 2014 9:00 a.m. 4th Floor Conference Room Office of Supervisor Federal Glover 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA AGENDA ITEMS: 1. Introductions 2. Public comment on any item not on this agenda (speakers may be limited to three minutes). 3. RECEIVE update on the San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement Project. 4. RECEIVE status report on Northern Waterfront work program and activities associated with the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative including: A. Bay Area Regional Economic Prosperity Strategy Report B. Community/Business engagement process C. Policy Areas and Action Teams D. Funding Opportunities 5. Next steps A. White Papers B. Development of Regional Action Plan C. Marketing Outreach D. Website E. MTC/CCTA Forum F. Update Board of Supervisors NORTHERN WATERFRONT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AD-HOC COMMITTEE Thursday, October 30, 2014 Agenda Item #3 To: Supervisor Federal Glover, District V Supervisor Mary Piepho, District III Ad-Hoc Committee From: Rich Seithel, Chief, Annexations and Economic Stimulus Programs Subject: Update on the San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement Project The San Francisco Bay to Stockton Navigation Improvement Study is part of a long- term effort to improve deep draft navigation from the San Francisco Bay to Stockton, California. The Port of Stockton (Port) is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE's) non-federal sponsor for the study, and Contra Costa County and the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), including its member refineries, are contributing partners to the Port. The proposed navigation improvements are composed of two reaches (Projects): the Western Reach, which spans from the West Richmond Channel to the Avon Terminal in Contra Costa County; and the Eastern Reach, which spans from the Avon Terminal to the Port in San Joaquin County (see attached map Attachment #3-1). Both reaches are currently maintained to a depth of 35 feet mean lower low water (MLLW). The navigation channels beginning just south of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (West Richmond Channel), through San Pablo Bay and Carquinez Strait, and extending into Suisun Bay to Chipps Island (the Pinole Shoal, Carquinez Straight, and Suisun Bay channels) are authorized to a depth of 45 feet MLLW. The Stockton Deep Water Ship Channel (Stockton DWSC) is authorized to a depth of 35 feet MLLW; additional deepening will require a new authorization. Planning for the project under USACE's SMART Planning (3x3x3) process began in January 2013, with the purpose of improving deep draft navigation within the ship channels from the San Francisco Bay to the Port. The project objectives are to reduce transportation costs and increase economic efficiency of maritime commerce en route to refineries along the northern Contra Costa County waterfront and to the Port; improve maritime navigation by reducing public safety risks due to possible groundings or collisions; and reduce potential environmental effects from increased vessel trips in the channels associated with current light loading and lightering operations. The alternatives initially under consideration consisted of deepening the Western Reach to a maximum depth of 45 feet MLLW and deepening the Eastern Reach to a maximum depth of 40 feet MLLW. Page 1 of 138 In summary, deepening and minor realignment of this channel will allow for operational efficiencies for many different industries, an increase in waterborne goods movement, reduced congestion on roadways, and air quality benefits along the Northern Waterfront. Ryan Hernandez, Principal Planner, Contra Costa County Water Agency, will be available for further updates and questions. Attached is Page 2 of 138 Attachment #3-1 Page 3 of 138 NORTHERN WATERFRONT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AD-HOC COMMITTEE Thursday, October 30, 2014 Agenda Item #4 To: Supervisor Federal Glover, District V Supervisor Mary Piepho, District III Ad-Hoc Committee From: Rich Seithel, Chief, Annexations and Economic Stimulus Programs Subject: Receive status report on Northern Waterfront work program and activities associated with the Initiative The Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative is an ambitious regional cluster-based economic development strategy that includes workforce development and training, infrastructure investment, permit streamlining, import-export expansion, advanced manufacturing process improvements, and improving goods movement along rail, trucking, and marine freight corridors, including the M-580 National Marine Highway. Target industry clusters include: Clean Technology; Advanced Transportation Fuels; Diversified Manufacturing; Food and Beverage Processing; and Life Sciences. Primary to this effort is the engagement of stakeholders along the Northern Waterfront from both the private and public sectors. Following is a status report: A. Bay Area Regional Economic Prosperity Strategy Report Since January 10, 2014, staff has been meeting with several groups regarding the significance of the Northern Waterfront Initiative to the Plan Bay Area effort. These groups included: the Contra Costa Transportation Association (CCTA); Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC); Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), and; San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR). These meetings, along with support from the East Bay Leadership Council and our city partners, have culminated in our inclusion in the newly published, “Economic Prosperity Strategy.” The Northern Waterfront Initiative is cited and discussed several times throughout the report, particularly in the areas of industrial land preservation and for our multi-jurisdictional approach. Attached is a copy of the report (attachment #4-1) and a copy of the Northern Waterfront presentation to the Bay Area Regional Prosperity Plan Steering Committee (Attachment #4-2). The presentation to the Steering Committee resulted in a $30,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Northern Waterfront Initiative. B. Community/Business Engagement Process The vision for the Northern Waterfront should represent the combined input of multiple stakeholders working together towards a common objective for the future economic Page 4 of 138 development of the area as a working waterfront. Community and business engagement is necessary to solicit input and feedback from community stakeholders and the general public, as well as, to help satisfy the directive of transparency, collaboration, and participation. Community and business engagement, along with a regional approach, is also an understandable and necessary requirement for most grant funding programs (e.g. EDA; EPA). In order to more effectively implement an outreach program, a community/business engagement process has been developed. The community/business engagement process developed is based on a set of guiding principles and objectives. The three guiding principles are: 1) make the process accessible; 2) foster community input and support; and 3) form partnerships. The three primary objectives are: 1) induce public participation and input; 2) raise awareness; and 3) stakeholder engagement. The January 10, 2014 Forum not only made the process accessible but was highly successful in raising awareness of the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative. Subsequent to the Forum, awareness continues to be heightened through public meetings and presentations. Stakeholders are engaged through participation in the Action Teams (see section C below). Attached is a chart outlining the community/business engagement process (Attachment #4-3). Throughout the process, public participation and input is solicited and encouraged. There have been over 80 calendared meetings since the January 10th Forum regarding the Northern Waterfront Initiative. These meetings addressed a wide variety of communities, agencies, and the business community. Attached is a list of the groups (Attachment #4-4). This list does not include individual businesses that are interested in locating, or have located, in the Northern Waterfront. It is important to note that over 20 unique presentations have been made to interested parties and agencies with some requesting regular update presentations since January 10th. C. Policy Areas and Action Teams Local governments have the ability to influence the health of the local economy in many ways through infrastructure investments, workforce training, land use policies, business attraction and retention programs, financial incentives, and other mechanisms. Strategic public policies could enhance the Northern Waterfront’s competitive advantages. In the Craft Consulting Group’s Revitalizing Contra Costa’s Northern Waterfront report, recommendations were set forth outlining key strategies and initiatives that can be implemented, both individually and collectively, by local governments working together to promote the economic viability of the Northern Waterfront. Seven public policy initiatives were identified: 1) business climate and regulatory environment; 2) infrastructure investment; 3) development incentives and financing; 4) regional branding and marketing; 5) cluster development, innovation, and productivity; 6) business development and support services; and 7) workforce development. Page 5 of 138 In order to study these policy areas and solicit input, seven “Action Teams” were proposed to identify issues, make recommendations regarding these policy