Neighborhood Connections Public Draft Plan Virtual Citywide Workshops, 11/20

From the City of Sacramento:

The [City of Sacramento] Department of Public Works’ Transportation Planning team invites community members to participate in two upcoming virtual workshops to review and provide input on the latest piece of the Streets for People Active Transportation Plan.

The Streets for People Plan is based on over two years of community engagement that included attending over 70 events and countless conversations with community members about their vision.

One aspect of the plan includes identifying the Neighborhood Connections network that will create low-stress, comfortable connections on neighborhood streets by identifying key corridors for traffic calming to reduce driver speeds and improve quality of life.

Earlier this summer, staff released initial draft recommendations and are now presenting the Neighborhood Connections Public Draft Plan for additional discussion.

“These workshops are an important opportunity for community members to share their perspectives, ask questions, and help shape the plan, specifically for their needs and priorities in their own neighborhoods,” said Jeff Jelsma, transportation planner with the Department of Public Works. “We believe that the more voices we bring into this process, the stronger and more inclusive the final plan will be for Sacramento.”

Neighborhood Connections Public Draft Plan Virtual Citywide Workshop #1
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6-7:30 p.m.

Neighborhood Connections Public Draft Plan Virtual Citywide Workshop #2
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 12-1:30 p.m.

The Neighborhood Connections Public Draft Plan will be available from Nov. 4 to Dec. 1 for public review and comment.

The Neighborhood Connections, when implemented, will encourage more active transportation, such as walking and bicycling, allowing the city to reach climate action goals set in the Climate Action and Adaption Plan.

For more info, please visit https://sacramentocityexpress.com/2024/10/30/learn-how-the-city-plans-to-improve-neighborhood-mobility-and-reach-climate-action-goals-at-these-virtual-workshops/.

Attend County Planning Commission Meeting Oct 21, 2024

Please attend this meeting and speak out.

The Upper Westside Specific Plan is a proposed development in the unincorporated Natomas area, covering 2,066 acres of mostly rural land. It proposes: housing – 9000 units and commercial – 3 million sq ft. Traffic congestion will be intense with only 3 Connector Roads out of the development: Garden Hwy, West El Camino, and San Juan. The Planning Commission meeting is a public hearing. Come and speak!

The County Planning Commission is October 21st at 5:30 pm. 700 H Street, Suite 1450, Sacramento.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), which outlines the potential environmental effects of the project, is available for review. Submit comments by October 28, 2024.

Links
Read project documents here. Documents of note:
“Notice of Availability” document is a concise summary of the project.
“Draft Environmental Impact Report” is long – but there is an Executive Summary. Another way to read it is to look for a specific topic of interest to you, like Air Quality, Transportation, or Noise.

ECOS has already written a strong letter in opposition to this project, here.

Read more about ECOS work on Natomas here.

Feel free to share the flyer below to spread the word! Click here or on the flyer below for a PDF version.

ECOS Climate Committee meeting, Oct 17, 2024

Topics: Air Pollution in Minority Communities; and SACOG Update

Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

6:00 PM: Welcome and Introductions

6:10 PM: Need to reduce air pollution in minority communities – presented by Álvaro Alvarado, Cal/EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

Álvaro will present his recently published findings (in collaboration with UC Berkeley) that Californians are breathing far less pollution from vehicles than we were 25 years ago. Exposure to fine particulate matter from traffic has dropped by 65%. Communities of color and low-income communities have seen the biggest improvements. The largest reductions in air pollution levels over the past two decades happened in Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities. However, they are still exposed to higher levels than white Californians – a relative gap that did not change much. Álvaro’s branch produces CalEnviroScreen maps, which help identify communities burdened by pollution.

7:00 PM: Work in progress at Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) – presented by Kacey Lizon, SACOG Deputy Director for Planning & Programs

Kacey will present the status of “Green Means Go”, their 2025 “Blueprint”, and their upcoming regional monitoring report. Green Means Go is a State-funded program to increase the capacity of storm, water, and sewer utilities to accelerate infill housing with lower greenhouse gas emissions than housing in greenfields. The Blueprint is SACOG’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy. SACOG’s monitoring report will consist of data on transportation, land use, housing, and demographic and economic factors.

In November, we hope to continue discussions with SACOG staff on how our 6-county region can meet the State’s target for a 19% reduction in GHG from vehicles by 2035, and possible changes to Statewide legislation (e.g., SB 375 – Sustainable Communities & Climate Protection Program, and SB 743).

7:50 PM: Updates

Click to view a PDF of this agenda.

Environmentalist of the Year Awards, October 26, 2024

Saturday, October 26, 2024, 5:00pm
Camp Pollock, 1501 Northgate Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815

Please join us at the Environmentalist of the Year Awards to celebrate and be inspired on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Camp Pollock. Network, have dinner, and enjoy a walk by the river on a glowing October evening.

ECOS has a decades-long legacy of honoring local environmental leaders. The Environmentalist of the Year Awards allow us to recognize important work done by people in many fields to further sustainability.

More about the event

Become a sponsor

Get tickets

ECOS Mtg + Board: Nature-Based Carbon Solutions & Biodiversity at SMUD, 9/25/2024

Wednesday, September 25, 2024
6:00 pm Featured Presentation by Kathleen Ave of SMUD
7:00 pm ECOS Board Meeting

Kathleen Ave
Sr. Climate & Ecosystem Strategist, Zero Carbon Energy Solutions
Emeritus Chair, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Power in Pollinators Initiative

Kathleen Ave will provide an overview of SMUD’s activities, then launch into a discussion of SMUD’s Carbon and Biodiversity programs. She will share existing and emerging efforts to improve biodiversity at SMUD projects, facilities and along transmission lines, and will discuss a conceptual plan for a Regional Biodiversity Index.

Click here to view the agenda.

Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155