April 2024 ABAG E-News: Save the Date for the 2024 ABAG General Assembly, Sea Level Rise Project List Update, $10-20 Billion Regional Housing Bond Eyed for November 2024 Ballot
MTC and ABAG sent this bulletin at 04/04/2024 11:00 AM PDT
Join representatives from the Bay Area’s nine counties and 101 member cities for the annual General Assembly and Business Meeting conference on Friday, June 21 at the Oakland Museum of California. Time and registration details to come.
Sea Level Rise Project List Update
ABAG-MTC and BCDC are updating a regional sea level rise project inventory in support of Plan Bay Area 2050+. Updated data will be used in Plan Bay Area 2050+ to create the Sea Level Rise Resilience Project List and also will be integrated into other regional efforts, such as BCDC’s Shoreline Adaptation Project Map program and BCDC’s Bay Adapt Joint Platform. ABAG/MTC /BCDC staff rely on local support to review current adaptation plans and projects. A Feb. 12 kickoff meeting introduced the effort, and local engagement is now underway. Input on the existing and new sea level rise adaptation projects is requested by April 12. Contact Rachael Hartofelis at rhartofelis@bayareametro.gov. MORE
$10-20 Billion Regional Housing Bond Eyed for November 2024 Ballot
The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority and ABAG are entering a critical phase of the process to place a $10 billion to $20 billion general obligation bond for affordable housing on the November 2024 ballot. To qualify for the ballot, BAHFA must submit its resolution calling for the election to the Registrars of Voters by August 9. A series of decisions to enable the bond to proceed to voters will take place between now and June. In February, the BAHFA Oversight and ABAG Housing Committees recommended adoption of two foundational documents that will set priorities for the 20% of funds that BAHFA will retain to invest across the region: the BAHFA Business Plan and BAHFA’s Regional Expenditure Plan. MORE
BayREN Supports Local Businesses with Energy Efficiency Upgrades
In the bustling heart of downtown San Rafael in Marin County stands Thai Food Express, serving beloved dishes such as red curry, drunken noodles, and papaya salad. Recently, the restaurant has embraced improvements: energy efficiency upgrades made through the BayREN Business program. The program aims to help small businesses across the Bay Area reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint. The program provides incentives for energy efficiency LED lighting, refrigeration and more. MORE
Bay Area Gets $32 Million for Critical Water Quality Projects
The Bay Area is the beneficiary of $32 million in water quality grants to protect fish passages in Richmond, build rain gardens at schools in underserved areas of Petaluma and provide flood protection in San Jose, among other projects. These projects will be implemented over the next three to five years under the administration of the San Francisco Estuary Partnership. The grants are provided through the Integrated Regional Water Management Program, funded by the California Department of Water Resources. MORE
PCA Grants Will Provide Up to $8.5 Million for Bay Area Conservation Projects
ABAG and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), in partnership with the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), are offering up to $8.5 million in grants ranging from $200,000 to $1 million in the latest cycle of Priority Conservation Area (PCA) grants. Applications are due by Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. The PCA program aims to preserve and enhance the natural, economic and social value of rural lands as the region’s population continues to grow. MORE
Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) Are About to Get a Refresh
The 17-year-old regional land use planning framework for conservation in the Bay Area is wrapping up a yearlong effort to address past challenges and integrate important topics of equity and climate adaptation. Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) are locations designated to ensure the region’s biodiversity, natural resources, open spaces, agricultural lands, clean water and clean air. MORE
Kickoff: Bay Area Eviction & Legal Services Study
Protecting vulnerable tenants is one of the three core goals of the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority. Evictions and the effects of evictions are known to have negative health and wellness outcomes and are a key driver of homelessness. However, it is difficult to obtain and understand data about evictions in the Bay Area – the scale of evictions, the causes, the availability of services and the impacts on households who experience them. BAHFA is funding a regional study to better understand evictions in the Bay Area. MORE
State of the Estuary Conference Cancelled
The State of the Estuary Conference scheduled for March was cancelled due to the conference venue not being ready. The conference will be re-scheduled soon. MORE
Introduction of Vanessa Smith, ABAG PIO
Welcome Vanessa Smith to ABAG-MTC! Vanessa’s primary responsibility is to serve as the Public Information Officer of the Association of Bay Area Governments — supporting the public information and public engagement efforts of ABAG, as well as the work jointly conducted with MTC. Vanessa will be responsible for writing and editing a variety of documents and materials related to housing and other work overseen by ABAG. She will be working within the Public Engagement team of the Legislation & Public Affairs (LPA) section and will collaborate closely with the Communications team within LPA, the Regional Planning Program, the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority and the Local Government Services sections. Reach out to Vanessa at vsmith@bayareametro.gov or (415) 778-448.
In the bustling heart of downtown San Rafael in Marin County stands Thai Food Express, serving beloved dishes such as red curry, drunken noodles, and papaya salad. Recently, the restaurant has embraced improvements: energy efficiency upgrades made through the 
ABAG and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), in partnership with the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), are offering up to $8.5 million in grants ranging from $200,000 to $1 million in the latest cycle of 
Protecting vulnerable tenants is one of the three core goals of the 
Introduction of Vanessa Smith, ABAG PIO
