30350-30355
PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE
SECTION 30350-30355
30350. (a) It is the policy of the state that local governments be paid their legitimate costs, from either state or federal funds, for the implementation of certified local coastal programs; provided, however, that such payment shall only be available for those costs directly attributable to the operation of a certified local coastal program and which costs would not have been incurred but for such local coastal program and which costs are not of a nature which would normally be incurred by such local government in carrying out its land use planning and regulatory responsibilities pursuant to any provision of law other than this division. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, claims for payment of costs directly attributable to the operation and implementation of a certified local coastal program shall only be submitted, reviewed, and approved in the manner set forth in, and pursuant to the provisions of, this article. (c) The provisions of this article are intended to establish a procedure that ensures the orderly and carefully monitored expenditure of limited public funds for payment of such costs, the incurring of which is hereby recognized as being in the interest of all the people of this state because they carry out state policies for the wise, long-term conservation and use of coastal resources. 30351. The commission shall, not later than July 1, 1980, prepare and adopt procedures for the issuance and management of local coastal program implementation grants. The purpose of the grants program is to provide, to the extent funds are available, financial assistance for local governments and, in cases the commission deems appropriate, other public agencies to carry out certified local coastal programs. The procedures required by this section shall specify, consistent with the criteria set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 30350, the categories of expenditures eligible for implementation grants and shall include procedures for application, review, approval, and disbursement of grant funds. 30352. (a) Any local government carrying out its certified local coastal programs may, upon the delegation of the development review authority pursuant to Section 30519, claim reimbursement of costs incurred for the implementation of such local coastal program if costs have not been provided in an implementation grant issued pursuant to Section 30351. (b) Claims made pursuant to this article shall be submitted to the executive director of the commission not later than September 30 immediately following the fiscal year during which the claimed costs were incurred. The executive director shall review such claims in accordance with the provisions of this article and shall submit all such claims to the Controller within 60 days after receipt of a claim, but in no event later than November 30. (c) All claims submitted pursuant to this section shall be filed on forms approved and prepared by the commission in consultation with the Controller. Such forms shall specify the information needed to enable the executive director of the commission and the Controller to make the determinations required by Section 30353. The claim forms required by this section shall provide for claims of actual costs incurred during the fiscal year preceding submittal and for the costs the claimant local government estimates will be incurred during the then-current fiscal year. 30353. Payment for costs claimed pursuant to this article shall be made only for costs which, but for the operation of a certified local coastal program, would not have been incurred by the claimant local government and if the following criteria are met: (a) Costs for establishing a regulatory program to implement a certified local coastal program, including costs for the preparation and printing of public information materials, application forms, establishing new procedures, and staff training are payable. The costs specified in this subdivision include initial startup costs incurred over a period not to exceed one year from the date a certified local coastal program has been adopted for implementation by the appropriate local government. (b) A fixed payment not to exceed ten dollars ($10) per permit application for any development subject to a certified local coastal program may be claimed and paid. The payment specified in this subdivision is intended to cover general costs, including costs for public notice, notice and submittal of files to the commission, and appearances before the commission. (c) Other costs of processing and reviewing coastal development permits pursuant to a certified local coastal program shall normally not be eligible for reimbursement because these types of activities should either be incorporated within the routine regulatory process of the local government or, at the discretion of the local government, be paid for from reasonable permit fees. A local government may, however, request payment for increased regulatory costs if it can show that either or both of the following special circumstances apply within its jurisdiction: (1) In jurisdictions with a population of less than 10,000, the existing regulatory program of the local government is not capable of processing and reviewing additional coastal development permits pursuant to a certified local coastal program and where the increased costs could not reasonably be expected to be covered by permit fees. (2) The regulatory program included in a certified local coastal program requires the discharge of resource management functions that exceed the level of regulatory review normally required or undertaken by the local government. (d) Costs for enforcement of regulatory requirements that are directly related to local coastal program implementation, such as ensuring compliance with coastal development permit terms and conditions, are payable, if the enforcement activities are not of a type routinely undertaken or of a type required by law as part of the affected local government's normal regulatory responsibilities. (e) Litigation costs which, but for the operation of a certified local coastal program, would not have been incurred may be paid. Where an action is brought against a local government and the action states as a principal cause of action the operation of the local government's local coastal program and the local government prevails in the action, litigation costs may be paid to the extent the costs are not assessed against the party bringing the action. Where the local government loses the action primarily on grounds it has failed to properly carry out its certified local coastal program, litigation costs shall not be paid. In accordance with procedures established by the executive director of the commission in consultation with the Attorney General, litigation costs may be paid prior to the rendering of a final judgment in the action, if the Attorney General has intervened in the action in support of the local government's position, the amount paid does not exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), and the amount paid is equal to or greater than 5 percent of the local government's general revenues as published in the most recent version of "Cities Annual Report" by the Controller. The local government shall reimburse the state from any costs recovered after a final judgment is rendered in the action. (f) If additional planning is required by the commission as a condition of its certification of any local coastal program, costs for the additional planning are payable. 30354. (a) The executive director of the commission shall review and evaluate each claim submitted pursuant to this article and shall determine whether: (1) The costs claimed meet the requirements of this article. (2) The costs claimed are not paid for or reimbursed from any other source of state or federal funding. (3) The claimed costs are reasonable for the implementation of a certified local coastal program. (b) The executive director of the commission shall submit to the Controller, on behalf of each claimant local government, all claims submitted pursuant to this section together with his or her recommendation whether the Controller should allow or deny, in whole or in part, the claim. A copy of each claim shall also be sent to the claimant local government at the time such claim is submitted to the Controller. The executive director's recommendation shall be based on his or her determinations made pursuant to this article. If the executive director fails to make a recommendation by the time claims are required to be submitted to the Controller, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 30352, the executive director shall be deemed to have recommended approval of the claim. (c) The provisions of Section 2231 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall apply to claims filed pursuant to this article; provided, however, that where a conflict between Section 2231 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and this article occurs, such conflict shall be resolved in a manner that best carries out the purposes of this article. The Controller shall apply the criteria of this article in determining whether to allow or deny, in whole or in part, any such claim and shall consider the recommendations of the executive director of the commission. 30355. As used in this article, "certified local coastal program" means any portion of a local coastal program that has been certified.