C

• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A state law (California Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.), requiring state and local agencies to regulate activities with consideration for environmental protection. If a proposed activity has the potential for a significant adverse environmental impact, an environmental impact report (EIR) must be prepared and certified as to its adequacy before taking action on the proposed project.
• California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC). The governor-appointed nine-member commission charged with identifying and cataloging places of special religious or social significance to Native Americans and known graves and cemeteries of Native Americans on private lands. The NAHC also performs other duties regarding the preservation and accessibility of sacred sites and burials and the disposition of Native American human remains and burial items.
• Cantilever. A beam or architectural element projecting beyond a wall line without support from below.
• Capital Improvements Program (CIP). A program, administered by a city or county government that schedules permanent improvements, usually for a minimum of five years in the future, to fit the projected fiscal capability of the local jurisdiction. The CIP is generally reviewed annually for conformance to and consistency with the Policy Plan.
• Capacity. The ability to provide a service or fulfill an obligation in the desired manner or at a desired level of service.
• Circulation system. The entire system of streets, bikeways, transit routes, truck routes, railroad, pedestrian paths, and other routes that people use for driving, walking, bicycling, and moving throughout a city.
• Cohesiveness. Unity of composition between design elements of a building or a group of buildings and the landscape development.
• Collaborate. To intentionally, willingly work together toward a common objective or goal.
• Community assets. Public libraries, public museums, arts and cultural facilities, community/senior centers, and similar facilities open to and for the benefit of the public.
• Community character / community identity. The history, culture(s), natural features, and human-built features that a community’s residents value and wish to celebrate and maintain. Community character can also be defined as the sum of attributes and assets that make a community unique and establish a sense of place for its residents. Some attributes and assets are tangible, like a unique main street area, while others are intangible, like a general sense of tranquility associated with the natural environment.
• Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL). The-average equivalent A-weighted sound level during a 24-hour day, obtained after addition of five decibels to sound levels in the evening from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M. and after addition of 10 decibels to sound levels in the night before 7 A.M. and after 10 P. M.
• Community Revitalization Investment Authority. Community Revitalization & Investment Authorities (CRIAs) are a tool to fund economic development projects within a geographic boundary utilizing tax increment financing. Eligible areas for a CRIA include those that are disadvantaged based on several determinations.
• Compatible. In relation to use, the ability for two or more uses to coexist without conflict, with minimal conflict that can be mitigated, or in a beneficial manner. When used in relation to a structure, indicates that the structure is built so that its appearance is similar to that of the principal unit to which the structure is accessory or to the general character of the neighborhood or community with regards to color, materials, construction, lighting, signs, or the emission of sounds, noises and vibrations. See also incompatible.
• Complete streets. A transportation facility that is planned, designed, operated, and maintained to provide safe mobility for all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit vehicles, truckers, and motorists, appropriate to the function and context of the facility.
• Complete streets network. A system of on- and off-street facilities (e.g., sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails), that enable all users of all ages and abilities to navigate within or through a community area, with an emphasis on mobility focus areas. The system can consist of one or more facility type based on the intended users and access requirements. Individual facilities may overlap or not, serve all or just some users, and be contiguous or disconnected. Complete streets facilities and improvements are subject to physical constraints presented by the local context and financial feasibility limitations.
• Comply with. To follow specified existing ordinances, regulations or procedures.
  Complement / complementary. Combining or coexisting (e.g., two buildings or land uses) in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each other.
• Concurrent. Services, facilities, activities or other things that are provided or are occurring at the same time as something else.
• Congestion management program (CMP). Required by law for every county to address the impact of local growth on the regional transportation system. Required to receive Measure M2 funds.
• Conservation. The management of natural resources to prevent waste, destruction, or neglect.
• Consider. To remain open to and evaluate a range of possible actions or outcomes as part of a decision.
• Consistent. To be or act in harmony or aligned with something; see also inconsistent.
• Consolidate. To bring together aspects, features, or components of a system or locale that can serve better in a combined, merged, or integrated form.
• Construct. To build something: buildings, roads, channels, etc.
• Context. Local or regional environmental, social, and economic conditions.
• Context-sensitive. An approach, design, standard, or practice that is sensitive to and varies according to the local or regional environmental, social, and economic conditions.
• Context-sensitive solutions. The planning, design, and implementation of transportation and/or building infrastructure that is in scale and character with surrounding land uses, minimizes negative effects, and adds value to adjacent land uses through design, aesthetics, and other techniques.
• Continue. To maintain and/or resume an action.
• Cooperate. To work in a positive effort with another entity toward a mutually beneficial end. Such work may take the form of direct action, passive support, or even inaction.
• Coordinate. To work in a positive effort with another entity in the process of conducting individual actions or initiatives that relate to each other and that can benefit from concurrent or cooperative activity.
• Critical and essential facilities. Public safety and services sites, structures and institutions that, if impacted by an emergency, could exacerbate the problem, reduce a (generally public) entity’s ability to respond, or present a significant secondary problem or a problem greater than the original emergency.