The San Benito County Board of Supervisors considered the Council of Governments decision to use different projected growth figures than those used by the Associated Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG). There was concern that the County was opening itself up to costs associated with CALTRANS transportation projects, as well as expenses born by AMBAG for the Environmental Impact Report which accompanies the County’s General Plan.

 

There are differing growth projections between the AMBAG model which is planning towards a county population of around 94,000 residents in 2035 and the Council of Governments projection, which is around 81,000 for the same period.

 

Second District Supervisor Anthony Botelho shared that CALTRANS has informed the County that, by not using the AMBAG model, they will not be eligible for state and federal funds for projects which which rely upon that model.

 

Supervisor Botelho presented a resolution requesting that the Council of Governments (COG) utilize the AMBAG model. There was discussion about the problem of having two different projected population figures. The discussion revealed a need to reconcile the figures so that the County is working from one target. The Supervisors chose to address this issue at the upcoming May 6 meeting concerning the General Plan. Using the COG figure would require adjusting the General Plan impacts and would cost the County additionally in developing the General Plan which would need to reflect that population number.

 

Supervisor Botelho’s resolution was passed and the COG representatives on the County Board were directed to cast their vote on the matter to reflect the wish of the majority of the Board. The COG representatives of the Board are Supervisor Botelho and District 5 Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz. Supervisor De La Cruz requested to be removed from the COG representative, rather than voting in that way. He was replaced on COG by Supervisor Board Chair Jerry Muenzer who will cast the vote at the meeting.

 

According to Supervisor Botelho, the Council of Government action must be taken by this Thursday at the COG meeting in order to avoid the possible negative consequences.