January 2017
New electric vehicle charging stations are coming to a location near you!
One Team ... One Dream!  Teamwork makes the dream work!  Riverside County and WRCOG recently partnered on a collaborative project to equip the subregion  with additional electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in direly needed locations.
 
In March 2016, WRCOG partnered with the County and leveraged grant opportunities provided by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to install six dual-port EV charging stations in Downtown Riverside capable of charging 12 electric vehicles at any given time.  In December 2016, these charging stations were installed and can be found in the following locations:

 - Riverside County Administrative Parking Structure - 4080 Lemon St., Riverside
 - Riverside Centre Parking Structure - 3403 10th St., Riverside
 - 12th Streetlight Parking Structure - 3535 12th St., Riverside 

EV Charging Station

In addition to these six EV charging stations, the following agencies were able to secure similar SCAQMD funding to install an estimated 17 additional EV charging stations across locations in Western Riverside County:

- County of Riverside
- Eastern Municipal Water District
- Murrieta - City Library
- Norco - Naval Seal Beach Station
- University of California Riverside
- Western Riverside Council of Governments
Final Regional Streetlight Demonstration Area Tour set for January 30, 2017

The Regional Streetlight Program is helping jurisdictions in Western Riverside County consider purchasing 63,000 Southern California Edison-owned streetlights, and retrofit them with energy-efficient technologies, saving local governments millions in operating and utility costs!  During Septem ber 2016, WRCOG partnered with the City of Hemet to implement a regional demonstration area showcasing over 100 LED streetlights from various vendors at five sites within the City of Hemet.   WRCOG has hosted four educational bus tours (with the support from the City of Hemet and Riverside Transit Agency) for local government officials, public safety staff, residents, and other community stakeholders to view the lighting technologies and provide input that will help inform decision-makers on selecting lights for potential future installation.   More than 100 people have participated in the tours thus far.


Left - Existing Sodium Streetlights; Right - LED Streetlights provide true-colored lighting

WRCOG will host an additional tour to showcase the implemented LED streetlights one last time.  The final tour will be held on January 30, 2017, and will run from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  The starting location for the tour will be at West Valley High School (3401 Mustang Way, Hemet, CA 92545).  Please RSVP to Anthony Segura, Staff Analyst, at  [email protected]  or call (951) 955 - 8389 in order to attend. 
Western Riverside Energy Leader Partnership activities
2016 Holiday LED Light Exchange & Energy Efficiency Kit Give-away Results

In December 2016, WRELP hosted its 3rd Annual LED Holiday Light Exchange at 5 holiday-themed community events in the Cities of Canyon Lake, Hemet, Murrieta, Norco, and Wildomar.  The Exchange provided opportunities for residents to exchange their old, incandescent holiday lights for new, energy efficient LED lights at no cost.  In addition to distributing LED lights, SoCal Gas provided WRELP with Energy-Efficiency Starter Kits that contained a low flow shower head and three faucet aerators.

The following highlights are from this year's LED Holiday Light Exchange & Energy Efficiency Starter Kit Give-away:
Christmas in the Park Event, City of Hemet

- Distributed over 480 strings of LED Holiday lights to the community

- Distributed over 70 Energy-Efficiency "starter-kits" on behalf of SoCal Gas

- Provided educational materials to the community on how to save energy during the holiday season

TUMF activities
Total TUMF revenues to date:
$698 million
Total TUMF revenues FY 2016/2017:
$14 million
Total TUMF revenues for November 2016:
$2.5 million
2016 TUMF Nexus Study Update  

The last major update to the TUMF Program Update was completed in October 2009, and WRCOG staff has been preparing a comprehensive update to the Nexus Study, which serves as the technical report that supports what is ultimately the fee structure for the TUMF Program. 
 
Staff and its TUMF consultant are preparing the draft 2017 TUMF Nexus Study, which is anticipated to be released for review and comment in February 2017.  In coordination with the release of the draft Nexus Study, WRCOG has convened an Ad Hoc Committee, which will make a recommendation to the WRCOG Committee structure on the preferred option to finalize the Nexus Study.  At the request of any member jurisdiction or stakeholder, WRCOG staff is available to discuss the Nexus Study.
 
The tentative schedule for the 2017 Nexus Study is as follows:

February 2017:  WRCOG releases a draft Nexus Study for review and comment by stakeholders (the draft Nexus Study comment period will be 30 days).  Subsequently, the WRCOG Committee structure reviews the draft Nexus Study and recommendations from the Ad Hoc Committee beginning with the Administration & Finance Committee;
March 2017:  WRCOG responds to comments received during the 30-day comment period of the draft Nexus Study.  The WRCOG Committee structure reviews the draft Nexus Study and makes a recommendation for consideration by the Executive Committee;
April 2017:  The Executive Committee action on the Nexus Study.  Member jurisdictions begin the process of approving TUMF Ordinances / Resolutions;
July / August 2017:  Any change in fee goes into effect (depending on each member jurisdiction's approval of TUMF Ordinance / Resolutions).
 
Fee Comparison Analysis Study
 
WRCOG has completed an analysis of development impact fees / exactions required and collected by jurisdictions / agencies in and immediately adjacent to the WRCOG subregion.   The initial task of the Fee Comparison Analysis was a research effort that involved 1) reviewing available development impact fee schedules online; 2) collecting information from various service providers (jurisdictions, water districts, school districts); 3) conducting necessary fee calculations; and 4) presenting initial fee estimates for all WRCOG jurisdictions.  In addition to the jurisdictions within the WRCOG subregion, the Study analyzed jurisdictions within the Coachella Valley and San Bernardino County.  The inclusion of additional neighboring / peer communities for consideration of relative fee levels between the WRCOG subregion and jurisdictions in surrounding areas that may compete for new development. 
 
One important section of the Study is an analysis of the economic benefits of transportation investment.  Through its funding of key regional transportation infrastructure projects identified by WRCOG member jurisdictions, the TUMF supports substantial output, wages, and jobs in Western Riverside County.  A prime example is the Cantu Galliano interchange - the first major project the TUMF Program funded.  The analysis found that vacant land with high infrastructure costs do not move forward without funding.  Planning and constructing the interchange opened the development market in the surrounding area, and, specifically, the land northeast of the interchange was likely influenced by the interchange attaining necessary funding and construction moving forward.  The analysis also found that new development generates new fees and results in additional TUMF improvements.  In the case of this project area, Hamner Avenue is undergoing roadway widening and additional improvements.
 
If you are interested in receiving a presentation on the TUMF Program and/or Draft Nexus Study, please contact Daniel Ramirez-Cornejo at (951) 955-8307 or [email protected].
Environmental community outreach 
WRCOG's Environmental Department assists member jurisdictions with addressing state laws that are meant to extend landfill life and increase recycling through the diversion of waste from landfills. Even though over the years legislation dictating the kind of materials for diversion and the manner of calculating the diversion rate for our member jurisdictions have changed, the intent of the law remains, as well as WRCOG's commitment to the task.

WRCOG has recently engaged in numerous recycling and used oil outreach and educational activities in the community to teach about the importance proper recycling and the correct disposal of used oil, oil filters, and household hazardous waste (HHW) to the community.  The following is a snapshot of the team's recent outings:
  • City of Temecula Used Oil Event:  November 5, 2016
  • City of Riverside Used Oil Event: November 19, 2016
  • America Recycles Event with Supervisor Ashley's Office: November 19, 2016
  • City of Perris Used Oil Event: December 3, 2016
  • City of Eastvale Used Oil Event: December 10, 2016
  • City of Eastvale Winter Fest: December 10, 2016
  • City of Murrieta Used Oil Event:  January 7, 2017
    •
From November 2016 to early January 2017, 517 used oil containers were provided to residents of Western Riverside cities.  At the events, DIYs are targeted, but the Used Oil Program centers around creating awareness to all consumers.  Attendees are provided with information of the environmental harm that occurs when toxic materials end up in landfills, other soil and our waterways. 
Used Oil Event in Murrieta
Upcoming Used Oil and Community Events: The following is a listing of upcoming used oil events that WRCOG staff will be participating in:
 
Date
Event Location
Time
01/28/2017
City  of Lake Elsinore: AutoZone, 322231 Mission Trail  9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 
02/04/2017 City of Eastvale: AutoZone, 14228 Schleisman Road 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
02/18/2017 City of Riverside: AutoZone, 7315 Indiana Avenue 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
03/04/2017 City of Moreno Valley: AutoZone, 12601 Perris Avenue 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
 
What's next for the Lake Elsinore Pilot Litter Program? RC Flood Control joins the Clean Team!
The   City of Lake Elsinore, WRCOG and Riversid e Flood Control and Water Conservation District are working hard to move the Lake Elsinore Litter Pilot Program to the next level.  April 22, 2017, is both Earth Day and the day of the Annual Lake Elsinore Clean Extreme event.  All parties are  working together to merge the Litter Pilot Program into this community event.  This year, well over 700 city residents are expected to clean lots, pick up highway trash, and paint a large mural on a wall located directly across the highway from the Lake Elsinore Outlets.  The Lake Elsinore Litter Program will donate materials, conduct contests, bring along a remote radio station and provide "Love Where You Live" information for all attendees.  WRCOG would like to thank Lowe's Home Improvement and CR&R Environmental Services for their contributions to this effort!  Look for more information on the April 22, 2017, Clean Extreme Event on the City of Lake Elsinore's and WRCOG's websites.

Lake Elsinore Pilot Litter Program Design for Educational Outreach

Executive Director's column 
Up next... Smart Cities

"In a living city, I could never have noticed so much. Living cities don't hold still."
                 - John Irving , The World According to Garp

Autonomous vehicles.  Broadband internet.  LED Streetlights.  Real time parking sensors.  Visitor oriented smart phone applications.

What do all of these items have in common?  They are all part of an emerging idea called Smart Cities.  

So, what is a Smart City and why do we care?  One definition of a Smart City is provided by the Smart City Council .

A smart city uses information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance its livability, workability and sustainability. In simplest terms, there are three parts to that job: collecting, communicating and "crunching." First, a smart city collects information about itself through sensors, other devices, and existing systems. Next, it communicates that data using wired or wireless networks. Third, it "crunches" (analyzes) that data to understand what is happening now and convey what is likely to happen next.

In many cases, the individual technologies which make up a Smart City are not new or innovative.  There were early experiments with self-driving cars first in the 1980's .  Broadband internet has been widely available since the early 2000's.  Smart phone applications have proliferated as smart phone ownership has exploded since the introduction of the first  iphones and Blackberries in the mid-2000's .

Integrating these individual technologies under the Smart City umbrella can provide many benefits to cities, including greater responsiveness to changing conditions, lowering costs, reducing resource consumption, and improving communications, as further discussed below.

Greater Responsiveness : Smart Cities technologies allow cities to respond more quickly to changing conditions, whether it be natural or human-caused challenges.  The City of Santa Cruz in California, for example, uses data on recent crimes to identify likely locations where police resources can be redeployed based on the likelihood of future criminal activity.    In the United States, it is common for larger cities to have traffic management centers (TMCs) which they use to monitor real-time traffic conditions within the City.  Examples of Riverside County agencies with these TMCs include Riverside, Corona, and Temecula .  These facilities use cameras and other sensors to determine the locations of accidents and respond to incidents to reduce delay and congestion.

Lowering Costs :  Smart City technologies have the potential to reduce costs for both the municipality and its residents.  One common strategy is the use of LED Streetlights, which has been implemented in municipalities such as Los Angeles and Boston. In both instances, the conversion to LED streetlights produced a significant and ongoing costs savings.  WRCOG is currently evaluating a potential program to acquire and convert over 60,000 streetlights to LED technologies.  In other instances, Smart Cities technologies can allow municipalities to monitor building performance and energy usage in real time to reduce energy costs .  

Reducing Resource Consumption :  Smart City technologies can reduce the use of energy, water, and other scarce resources.  Barcelona, Spain regularly uses sensors in one of their main parks to monitor rainfall and adjust watering schedules accordingly.  The City of Kalgoorlie in Australia, which is located in an arid region of the County, has used Smart Water meters to reduce water consumption by 10%.  

Improving Communications :  A key element of Smart Cities is the extent to which it can improve communication between a jurisdiction and its residents, and also between residents, visitors and others.  One approach was taken by the City of Laguna Beach, which created a Smartphone App for visitors .  A more ambitious concept is being implemented in New York City, where over 7,000 old payphones are being replaced with communication kiosks with free Wi-Fi, Smartphone charging, and a tablet to access maps of the City .   This effort is called LinkNYC and is being funded entirely by private funds since the City is selling advertising space on all of these kiosks. 

So... if Smart Cities are so amazing, then why aren't more jurisdictions embracing this concept?  A survey by the Smart Cities Council concluded that the main barriers to implementing Smart Cities were lack of funding, organizational issues, and lack of an internal champion . 

According to this 2013 survey, the primary issue for jurisdictions was one of funding.  For many small to mid-sized localities, municipal finances are stressed for a variety of reasons such as the need to invest in existing infrastructure, prioritizing investments in public safety (such as police and fire), while experiencing reductions in funding.  Even with the most recent economic recovery, many jurisdictions would find it challenging to reallocate existing resources to a new initiative, particularly one which is a cutting edge issue when there are unmet demands for existing services already. 

Other constraints include organizational limitations within jurisdictions.  Smart City initiatives often require close collaboration between internal departments including but not limited to Public Works, Community Development, Economic Development, Utilities, and also elected officials.   Multi-departmental efforts can be challenging due to the need to closely coordinate staff who often have different perspectives, interests, priorities, and budgets with which to work.

The final challenge is that of finding a "champion" who is someone at a high-level within the jurisdiction such as a City Council or Board of Supervisors member, city manager or county executive or administrative officer who can provide an overall vision and direction for the effort.  This champion can work to identify the financial resources and also work with the different groups within the jurisdiction to address any coordination issues. 

Are these challenges insurmountable? Absolutely not. 

There are significant pots of public funds available to implement Smart Cities. The United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) recently held a Smart Cities Challenge in which it solicited proposals throughout the United States, and awarded $40 million to Columbus Ohio .  Their Smart Cities proposal included the use of different technologies to address health care, transportation, and economic development.   The amount of private sector funding available for Smart Cities-related efforts is potentially larger than any grants.  One easy opportunity is co-locating private sector equipment with publicly owned infrastructure.  For, example, space on streetlights can be leased out to wireless providers to generate revenues for  municipalities . 

Other challenges are within the direct control of jurisdictions to address.  Organizational challenges or lack of a champion can be remedied by encouraging key stakeholders to make Smart Cities a priority and encourage new approaches to the traditional "siloed" approach which regularly happen within many cities.

We have Smart Phones, Smart Cars, Smart houses, so why not Smart Cities?

 

Calendar of events 
  January 26
WRCOG Finance Directors' Committee (10:00 a.m.), County of Riverside Admin. Ctr., 3rd Floor, Conf. Room A, Riverside.
 
January 25
WRCOG Clean Cities Coalition (1:00 p.m.), CANCELLED.

January 30
WRCOG Streetlight Demonstration Area Tour (5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.), West Valley High School. 3401 Mustang Way, Hemet.
 
February 6
WRCOG Executive Committee (2:00 p.m.), County of Riverside Admin. Ctr., 1st Floor Board Chambers, Riverside.
 
February 8
WRCOG Administration & Finance Committee (12:00 p.m.), County of Riverside Admin. Ctr., 5th Floor, Conf. Room C, Riverside.
 
February 9
WRCOG Planning Directors' Committee (9:00 a.m.), Riverside City Hall, 3900 Main Street, 7th Floor, Mayor's Ceremonial Room, Riverside.
 
February 9
WRCOG Public Works Committee (2:00 p.m.), Transportation Annex, 14th Street, Conf. Room #3, Riverside.
 
February 15
WRCOG Solid Waste Committee (1:00 p.m.), Riverside County Department of Waste Services, 14310 Frederick Street, Moreno Valley.
 
February 16
WRCOG Technical Advisory Committee (9:30 a.m.), County of Riverside Admin. Ctr., 5th Floor, Conf. Room C, Riverside.
 
February 16
RCHCA Board of Directors (11:00 a.m.), County of Riverside Admin. Ctr., 1st Floor Board Chambers, Riverside.
 
March 6
WRCOG Executive Committee (2:00 p.m.), County of Riverside Admin. Ctr., 1st Floor Board Chambers, Riverside.
 
March 8
WRCOG Administration & Finance Committee (12:00 p.m.), County of Riverside Admin. Ctr., 5th Floor, Conf. Room C, Riverside.
 
March 9
WRCOG Planning Directors' Committee (9:00 a.m.), To be determined.
 
March 9
WRCOG Public Works Committee (2:00 p.m.), Transportation's 14th Street Annex, 2nd Floor, Conf. Room 3, Riverside.
 
March 16
WRCOG Technical Advisory Committee (9:30 a.m.), County of Riverside Admin. Ctr., 5th Floor, Conf. Room C, Riverside.  

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