Study Notes - Part 1
Warren Budget - Energy Budget Notes
Warren-Alquist Act:
Mandates "performance standards" for buildings.
Sets an energy budget measured in energy consumption per ft² of floor space.
Calculation Requirements:
Involves detailed calculations of estimated energy consumption.
Calculations are complex and typically performed using computer software.
Iran Contracting Act (2010) Notes
The Iran Contracting Act of 2010, codified in the Public Contract Code Sections 2200-2208, prohibits vendors engaged in investment activities in Iran from bidding on, submitting proposals for, entering into, or renewing contracts with the State of California valued at $1,000,000 or more.
Vendor Restrictions:
Can't bid, submit proposals, enter into, or renew $1,000,000+ contracts if involved in Iran investments
DGS Role:
Establish and update ineligible vendors list
Vendor Certification:
Must confirm not on ineligible list before bidding or contracting for $1,000,000+
Procurement Methods:
Applies to RFPs, IFBs, non-competitive awards, etc.
Buyer Responsibility:
Check ineligible vendor list during bid evaluation
Financial Institutions:
Must certify no credit to ineligible vendors
California Office of the State Fire Marshal
Mission:
Protect life and property via fire prevention engineering, education, and enforcement
Support to CAL FIRE:
Focuses on fire prevention
Responsibilities:
Provides a wide range of fire safety support
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Responsibilities:
Protect over 31 million acres of privately-owned wildlands
Provide emergency services in 36 of 58 counties through local government contracts
Emergency Services:
Wildland fires
Residential/commercial structure fires
Automobile accidents
Heart attacks
Drownings
Lost hikers
Hazardous material spills on highways
Train wrecks
Floods
Earthquakes
Fire Hazard Zones:
Required by California law to identify fire hazard severity
Zones based on factors: fuel, slope, fire weather
Three zones: medium, high, very high
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Notes
Responsibilities:
Protect over 31 million acres of privately-owned wildlands
Provide emergency services in 36 of 58 counties through local government contracts
Emergency Services:
Wildland fires
Residential/commercial structure fires
Automobile accidents
Heart attacks
Drownings
Lost hikers
Hazardous material spills on highways
Train wrecks
Floods
Earthquakes
Fire Hazard Zones:
Required by California law to identify fire hazard severity
Zones based on factors: fuel, slope, fire weather
Three zones: medium, high, very high
California Water Code Notes
Scope:
Covers state waters: surface, groundwater, wetlands, saline waters
Regulates discharge of waste or fill into these waters
California State Water Board
Structure:
Five-member board
Regulates statewide water policies
Supports Regional Water Quality Control Boards
Responsibilities:
Ensure water quality compliance with the Clean Water Act
Regulate 211,000 miles of rivers/streams, 1.6 million acres of lakes, bays, and coastlines
Manage water quality and control contaminants
Regional Water Quality Control Boards
Regional Challenges:
Address water issues specific to each biogeographic region
Varying needs due to diverse topography, climate, geology, hydrology
Regulatory Actions:
Set regional water quality standards
Develop and enforce regional regulations
Regional Areas:
North Coast, Central Coast, Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, Southern California Coastal, Desert-Modoc
Regulations tailored to specific regional conditions
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
Passed: 2014
Requirements:
Local agencies form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs)
Implement Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs)
Purpose:
Protect and manage groundwater resources
Address water shortages, especially during droughts
Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
Focus:
Protects water quality for surface and groundwater
Grants regulatory authority to California Water Board and State Water Resources Control Board
Aligns state standards with federal regulations
California Wetlands
Definition:
Area with continuous/recurrent saturation causing anaerobic conditions and hydrophyte-dominated vegetation
State definition complements federal WOTUS definition
Protection:
Adopted state protections in 2019
Porter-Cologne Act and additional state/local restrictions safeguard wetlands
California Streams
Importance:
Source of drinking water for 7.3 million people
66% of streams are temporary (intermittent/ephemeral)
Protection:
Regulated by California Water Boards
Current Water Code and Clean Water Act interpretations cover all streams
Focus on perennial streams, with evolving regulations as research progresses
Regional Specifics
Regions:
North Coast, Chaparral, Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, Southern Coastal, Desert-Modoc
Perennial streams mostly in North Coast and Sierra Nevada
Temporary streams common in arid areas and mountainous headwaters
Regional regulations vary based on local needs and water conditions
How to Find Protected California Waters on Your Project Site
Environmental Consultants
Role:
Trained to survey sites for environmental impacts
Identify potential environmental risks, such as protected waters
Recommend necessary permits and compliance steps
Process:
Manual site surveys
Can take weeks or months to complete
Transect Protected Waters Map
Technology:
Uses machine learning to automate protected water mapping
Assesses region using prior precipitation trends and current water data
Features:
Provides likelihood and confidence level of regulated water on a site
Helps in selecting appropriate project locations or buildable areas within a plot
Generates site-specific list of required permits for compliance with federal, state, and local laws
Efficiency:
Produces reports in minutes
Expedites the environmental due diligence process
California State Parks Office of Historic Preservation Notes
Overview
Mission: Administer federal and state historic preservation programs
Leadership: Directed by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the State Historical Resources Commission
Responsibilities
Historic Property Management:
Identify, evaluate, and register historic properties
Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations
Promote economic incentives for property owners
Encourage historic preservation through education, public awareness, and leadership
Program Administration:
Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program
Provide architectural review and technical assistance
Areas of Assistance
Architectural and Technical Guidance:
Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties
California Historical Building Code and ADA provisions for historic properties
Design guidelines and preservation incentives
Sustainability and adaptive reuse of historic properties
Local Government Assistance
Support to City and County Governments:
Integrate historic preservation into community planning and development
Provide guidance on preservation plans, ordinances, and surveys
Develop local designation criteria, historic districts, HPOZs, and conservation districts
Create economic incentives and train local commissions
Assist with CEQA responsibilities for historical resources
California Main Street Program
Initiated: 1985
Purpose: Revitalize historic central business districts
Administration: Taken over by OHP in 2004 due to Senate Bill 1107
Funding: No funds allocated for staff or operations
