Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) and Renne Public Management Group (RPMG) have partnered again with the Institute for Local Government (ILG) to host “Ch-Ch-Changes: CEQA and How It Impacts Your Wildfire Risk Reduction Efforts,” on January 26. The webinar is the fourth and final installment of the collaborative Advanced Wildfire Risk Reduction series, designed to help local government leaders better understand the multidisciplinary approach of wildfire risk reduction and better protect their communities from wildfires.
For many local governments, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has been both a necessary safeguard and a barrier to urgent wildfire recovery efforts. When entire neighborhoods — or key infrastructure — need rebuilding, lengthy reviews can stall progress at the very moment speed matters most.
In the webinar, RPLG Founding Partner Jon Holtzman and RPMG Consultant Dave Winnacker will review the governor’s recent executive orders, explore the impacts of AB 130 and SB 131 and clarify what these changes mean for local governments.
California Assembly Bill 130 (AB 130) exempts most infill housing development from review under CEQA, which is intended to streamline the approval process and accelerate housing development in urban areas. California State Bill 131 (SB 131) exempts certain other projects from CEQA review, including advanced manufacturing in industrial districts, high-speed rail and wildfire mitigation. SB 131 specifically streamlines the approval process for wildfire mitigation projects, potentially accelerating risk reduction efforts. Both bills were endorsed by the governor, who requested their incorporation into the state budget.
“CEQA remains one of the most challenging aspects of public project development in California,” said Jon. “Our goal is to provide practical guidance on how to apply CEQA flexibilities while still protecting environmental standards.”
For more information, visit CA-ILG.org/Wildfire.
ILG is a nonprofit nonpartisan organization that supports local governments with tackling their most pressing issues. As the nonprofit affiliate of the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties and the California Special Districts Association, ILG proudly serves municipalities throughout California.
RPLG, a Platinum-Level sponsor of ILG, practices throughout California, advising and advocating for public agencies, nonprofit entities, individuals and private entities in need of effective, responsive and creative legal solutions.