THE GREEN STANDARD… Back in March we reported that Foothill Partners, the developers behind the green Uptown Monterey Shopping Center (aka the new Trader Joe’s shopping center) at 570 Munras Ave. in Monterey, were in the final stages of seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the retail plaza. They got it, and established a new first for Monterey: First LEED certified shopping center in the state (and one of only a handful in the U.S.). At 10:30am, Monday Sept. 8, the U.S. Green Building Council will present the LEED Silver certification plaque to Foothill Partners, Daniels & House Construction Company and the city of Monterey. [JL]

TIRES AND TREES… As plans for local bus rapid transit and rail lines slog through the endless swamps of planning and financing, cities are working with Monterey-Salinas Transit to get more people out of their cars in the meantime. On Tuesday Sept. 9, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea will consider routing an MST trolley around the city’s business district and to the Carmel Mission. At the same meeting, Mayor Sue McCloud will step down from the dais to appeal a Forest and Beach Commission decision allowing her neighbor to remove a 30-inch tree. To attend the Sept. 9 meeting: 4:30pm. Council Chambers, City Hall, Monte Verde between Ocean and 7th, Carmel. Free. 620-2000. http://ci.carmel.ca.us/carmel/index.cfm [KA]

BIG BOXES AND BMX… There is, apparently, never too much development for the city of Marina. After getting The Dunes on Monterey Bay back on big box track, the city is now hoping to lure developers to build a 52-acre business park and 200-acre sports campus near the airport. The city is encouraging extreme sports facilities for skateboarding, BMX and motocross. Proposals, which are due Friday Sept. 26, should be gnarly. [ZS]

MONEY CRUNCHING… It’s historical, but for the wrong reasons. At press time, late Tuesday, Sept. 2, 63 days into the fiscal year, California lawmakers had yet to pass a state budget. This sets a new record for a state spending plan delay (the previous one was set in 2002, under Gray Davis’ leadership, when the Legislature did not approve a budget until Aug. 31. Republicans recently announced a plan that would cut state-funded programs and borrow against the lottery, but don’t expect it to get anywhere: Neither Democrats nor Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will support it. [JL]