On June 7, Measure AA, a ballot initiative first endorsed by Bay Planning Coalition in May 2014, passed with 69.08% of the vote. It was on the ballot in the nine Bay Area counties where it creates a $12 per parcel tax that will raise $500 million over the next 20 years that will be dedicated to key San Francisco Bay restoration projects.
So what happens now? As Sam Schuchat, Executive Officer of the State of California Coastal Conservancy, told the Daily Republic in an article published July 3, the next step is for the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority—the government agency charged with distributing the tax revenue—to “finalize a staff” and prepare to appoint up to three new members to its board, which will remain at its current size of seven people.
After those things have been accomplished and what Schuchat called a likely joint powers agreement “among the authority, the conservancy and ABAG to establish a formal staff” is in place, the authority will begin reviewing and funding projects. It is estimated that a call for project proposals will be issued next summer.
Bay Planning Coalition will closely monitor the process used to distribute Measure AA funds. To engage in our policy work, please contact our staff about joining one of our several member committees.
–“The Bay Planning Coalition is a non-profit organization well known for its advocacy and credibility in the San Francisco Bay Area corporate and environmental community. When we speak about an issue, legislators and regulators listen.”
Tags: Bay Area, measure AA, restoration, sea level rise