Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties.
 

COVID-Related Extensions Possible on CDBG Annual Performance Reports

On Monday, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced that the State Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) for non-entitlement jurisdictions requires all CDBG Recipients to submit Annual Performance Reports (APRs) documenting any activity that occurred during fiscal year 2019/2020. The reporting period covers July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. APR documents must be completed and submitted via email to CDBG.Reports@hcd.ca.gov by Friday, July 31, 2020. If the deadline can’t be met due to circumstances caused by COVID-19, please email Francisco Arnaiz outlining the reasons for requesting an extension and the date you expect to submit the report. Additional details are available in the HCD announcement here.

 

Upcoming Hearing of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) to Adopt Changes to Affordable Housing Tax Credits in Fire Disaster Counties

On Wednesday, June 17th at 1pm, the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) is expected to consider and adopt finalized regulation changes to Affordable Housing Tax Credits in fire disaster counties per federal legislation, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. The final proposed regulations can be viewed here, and the CTCAC teleconference agenda with call in-details can be viewed here.

Previously, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma announced CTCAC’s intent to clarify the regulations to ensure these disaster tax credits are distributed to areas hardest hit by recent wildfires, see here. Last year, federal legislation from Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa) provided $100 million in affordable housing tax credits for California counties in 2017 and 2018 disaster areas. These funds are designed to assist rebuilding efforts in communities located in Butte, Lake, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Orange, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Sonoma, Ventura and Yuba counties which suffered devastating losses due to the Camp Fire, Tubbs Fire, Thomas Fire, and Mendocino Complex Fire.

 

RCRC June Board Meeting Will Occur Virtually

The June meeting of the RCRC Board of Directors will occur over Zoom, rather than as a gathering in either Merced County or the offices of RCRC in Sacramento County. RCRC Chair, Supervisor Daron McDaniel of Merced County, made the announcement in a message to members of the RCRC Board of Directors in late May. This decision is a result of many factors, including State and Sacramento County public health orders, as counties progress through various stages of re-opening. At this time, RCRC staff and officers remain hopeful that the September Board of Directors meeting can be held in Merced County, likely to occur on September 17-18. RCRC staff, in consultation with RCRC leadership, will continue to monitor the situation closely.

 

Butte County Seeks Chief Administrative Officer

Butte County is recruiting for the position of Chief Administrative Officer. The filing deadline is July 20, 2020. To apply or for more information, see the announcement here.

 

Job Posting- Shasta County Director of Housing/Community Action Programs

The county of Shasta has extended the application deadline and is accepting applications through 5:00 PM on June 19, 2020 for the position of Director of Housing/Community Action Programs. Click here for details or to apply now.

 

Career Opportunity- SRTA Chief Fiscal Officer

Shasta Regional Transportation Agency (SRTA) is seeking a Chief Fiscal Officer. Position details are available here. The position is open until filled. See the SRTA website for updates and submission information.

 

Public Forums Announced for Southern California Edison’s Proposed Rate Increase on Electric Customers

Public Forums to discuss Southern California Edison’s 20.5% rate increase request with the California Public Utilities Commission has been scheduled to occur on Tuesday, June 30th and Wednesday, July 1st at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day. To participate and make public comments at that time, call 1-800-857-1917, passcode 1673482, or you may view the public meeting here. For the full public notice, see here.

 

CARB to Host an Air Regulatory Overview Webinar for Public Agencies in California

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will be hosting an Air Regulatory Overview webinar for public agencies on June 29, 2020.

This course is an overview of air regulations that public agencies in California have compliance requirements including:

  • Idling Limitations;
  • On-Road Public Fleet Regulation;
  • In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation;
  • Periodic Smoke Inspection Program; and
  • Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP).

DATE:     June 29, 2020
TIME:     1:00 p.m.
WEBINAR:  Register

 

Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Holds Weekly Webinars to Answer Questions on New CEQA Process

Senate Bill 743 (Steinberg; 2013) requires a new process to analyze transportation impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to vehicle miles traveled (VMT); more information can be found here. In order to answer questions that may arise as implementation nears for this new CEQA metric, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) is holding weekly “Office Hours” on a variety of topics from May 20th to June 24th. To view past events, including the discussion focusing on rural implementation, see OPR’s YouTube page here. Register for upcoming events here.

June 17, 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon
To Be Determined

June 24, 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon
To Be Determined

 

RCRC Annual Meeting in Napa County Cancelled

The RCRC Annual Meeting 2020 has been cancelled as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This meeting was scheduled to occur in Napa County this September. Several factors led to this difficult decision, most notably, current and future state and local government guidelines. Planning is underway to hold a future Annual Meeting in Napa – most likely in 2022 – in order to enjoy the beauty of the County as well as contribute to its economic recovery. More information on the return to Napa will be forthcoming after consideration and action by the RCRC Board of Directors.

 

PG&E Announces Weekly Public Webinars on Wildfire Safety and PSPS Mitigation Efforts

PG&E announced a schedule of public webinars at which it will provide information on local Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) and wildfire safety efforts, including how it will make PSPS events smaller in size and shorter in duration, efforts to install new grid technology and harden electrical infrastructure, and enhanced vegetation management activities.

Webinars will take place on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Webinars have taken place for Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Lassen, Marin, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, and Yuba Counties. Upcoming webinars are scheduled as follows:

  • June 17 – Mendocino and Lake Counties (join webinar here)
  • June 24 – Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties (join webinar here)
  • July 1 – Humboldt, Trinity, and Siskiyou Counties (join webinar here)
  • July 8 – Glenn, Tehama, and Shasta Counties
  • July 15 – Alpine, Tuolumne, and Mariposa Counties
  • July 22 – Merced, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus Counties
  • July 29 – San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Kern Counties
  • August 5 – Tulare, Madera, and Fresno Counties

See a full schedule, find information to join a webinar by phone, or view past presentations here. Check back for links to future webinars.