ABAG Vice President Jesse Arreguín Elected to California State Senate

Congratulations to Berkeley Mayor and ABAG Vice President Jesse Arreguín on his election to the California State Senate! Jesse will represent Senate District 7, which includes Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and other East Bay communities. ABAG-MTC staff look forward to continuing to work with Jesse in his new position.

BAHFA Current Projects and Next Steps

Following the removal of Regional Measure 4 from the November 2024 ballot and the election results of Proposition 5, BAHFA staff presented to the ABAG Housing and BAHFA Oversight Committees to discuss BAHFA’s current pilot programs in the context of ABAG-MTC’s regional housing portfolio and highlight considerations for BAHFA’s work moving forward. ABAG, BAHFA and MTC remain committed to producing and preserving affordable housing for Bay Area residents as well as advancing tenant protections for vulnerable Bay Area residents. Staff will engage in stakeholder discussions on future regional housing measures and overall next steps and expect to return to the Joint Housing Committees and BAHFA Oversight Committee in early 2025. Presentation materials, including overviews of existing and potential future programs are available on the Legistar website.

Call for Projects! ABAG-MTC Accepting Applications for Climate Program Grants

Applications for the Climate Program Implementation Grants are due on Friday, December 20, at 4 p.m. These funds are focused on Climate Program implementation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and include grants for capital investments.
Recordings and slides from informational webinars are available on the program web pages. MTC staff are available to consult on potential applications though office hours, which can be booked on the program web pages.
Learn about available climate grants.

Recap: Plan Bay Area 2050+ Summer 2024 Engagement

This summer, nearly 13,800 Bay Area residents were active in the second round of public engagement for Plan Bay Area 2050+, culminating in an outreach effort that was among the most extensive in the plan’s history. Led by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), this focused update to the long-range plan for transportation, housing, the economy and the environment seeks to address challenges and refine strategies informed by public input.
Read more about summer engagement activities.

Plan Bay Area 2050+: Final Blueprint Initial Recommendations

Following a detailed progress update on the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Final Blueprint in October, the ABAG Administrative Committee and MTC Planning Committee are anticipated to consider approval of Final Blueprint strategies in January 2025. Approval will be followed by action by the ABAG Executive Board and Commission as well as further modeling and analysis of Final Blueprint outcomes.

Pinole’s PEER Program: A Local Model to Improve Energy Efficiency Program Uptake

California residents are increasingly finding opportunities to upgrade their homes for energy efficiency and electrification through regional, statewide, and federal rebate programs. However, high upfront costs continue to be one of the biggest barriers to home improvements. Small-scale pilot programs, such as the Pinole Energy Enhancement Rebate (PEER) program, offer an opportunity to address local needs with innovative solutions.

Launched in January 2024, the PEER Program was designed to layer incentives on top of existing energy efficiency and electrification measures.
See more about the PEER program.

Regional Housing Technical Assistance Program Webinars

• 2024 New Housing Laws Webinar: December 11, 10 – 11:30 am. The recent state legislative session brings many changes to housing laws in California. Join ABAG’s Regional Housing Technical Assistance Program for a webinar on Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. to review these new laws. Staff from Goldfarb & Lipman LLP will discuss some of the most significant legislation and what it means for jurisdictions. Register via this link.
• Updates to the Annual Progress Report with HCD Staff: January 16, 2025, 10 – 11 a.m. The RHTA Program will host staff from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to give an overview of updates to the Annual Progress Report (APR) on Jan. 16, 2025. Registration information will be posted on the RHTA web page.

Meetings

View Executive Board and Committee meeting information here.