california urban open-space law

Deerings California Code

Government Code §12804.5. Vegetable garden programs

The Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency is hereby authorized to develop programs for technical and fiscal assistance to facilitate nonprofit, self-help community vegetable gardens and related supporting activities.

Food & Agriculture Code §401.5. Additional duties of department

The department shall also seek to enhance, protect, and perpetuate the ability of the private sector to produce food and fiber in a way that benefits the general welfare and economy of the state. The department shall also seek to maintain the economic well-being of agriculturally dependent rural communities in this state.

Public Resources Code §75125. Duties of council

The council shall do all of the following:

(a) identify and review activites and funding programs of member state agencies that may be coordinated to improve air and water quality, improve natural resource protection, increase the availability of affordable housing, improve transportation, meet the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code), encourage sustainable land use planning, and revitalize urban and community centers in a sustainable manner. At a minimum, the council shall review and comment on the five-year infrastructure plan developed pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 13100) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 3 of the Government Code and the State Environmental Goals and Policy Report developed pursuant to Section 65041 of the Governmant Code.

(b) Recommend policies and investment strategies and priorities to the Governor, the Legislature, and to appropriate state agencies to encourage the development of sustainable communities, such as those communities that promote equity, strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and promote public health and safety, consistent with subdivisions (a) and (c) of Section 75065.

(d) Manage and award grants and loans to support the planning and development of sustainable communities, pursusant to Sections 75127, 75128, and 75129. To implement this subdivision, the council may do all of the following:

(1)Develop guidelines for awarding financial assistance, including criteria for eligibility and additional consideration.

Public Resources Code §75128. Plan that improves air and water quality, improves natural resource protection, increases the availiability of affordable housing, improves transportation, and other specified purposes; Award of financial assistance

(a) To support the planning and development of sustainable communities, the council shall manage and award financial assistance to a council of governments, metropolitan planning organization, regional transportation planning agency, city, county, or joint powers authority, to develop, adopt or implement a regional plan or other planning instrument consistent with a regional plan that improves air and water quality, improves natural resource protection, increases the availiability of affordable housing, improves transportation, meets the goal of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code), and encorages sustainable land use. The financial assistance pursuant to this section shall be funded from moneys made available pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 75065.

(b) In awarding financial assistance pursuant to this section, the council shall give first priority to an application seeking funding to add or enhance elements of a regional plan that are not funded with federal moneys.

Public Resources Code §75129. Urban greening project that provides multiple benefits; Award of financial assistance; Minimum requirements for funding; Criteria

(a) To support the planning and development of sustainable communities, the council shall manage and award financial asistance to a city, county, special district, nonprofit organization, or entity formed pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of the Government Code, if at least one of the parties to the joint powers agreement qualifies as an eligible applicant, for the preparation, planning, and implementation of an urban greening project that provides for muliple benefits, including, but not limited to, a decrease in air and water pollution, a reduction in the consumption of natural resources and energy, an increase in the reliability of local water supplies, or an increased adaptability to climate change. An eligible project funded pursuant to this section shall not include a mitigation action that is required under existing law. The financial assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be funded from moneys made available pursuant to subdivision (a) of section 75065.

(c) The multiple benefits of a project, may include, but are not limited to, the establishment or enhancement of one or more of the following:

(7) Community, demonstration, or outdoor education gardens and orchards.