HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 10 - 2020 Legislative Platform Department Name: City Attorney
Cost Centers: 1001
For Agenda of: April 21, 2020
Placement: Business Item
Estimated Time: 30 minutes
FROM: Christine Dietrick, City Attorney
Derek Johnson, City Manager
Prepared By: Bailey Hicks, Legal Assistant
SUBJECT: 2020 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
RECOMMENDATION
1. Adopt a Resolution (Attachment A) establishing a Legislative Action Platform for 2020; and
2. Provide direction to staff on the scope and application of the legislative platform related to
advocacy for non-legislative items or particular projects; and
3. Appoint the Mayor, City Attorney, and City Manager to act as the primary legislative liaisons
between the League of California Cities and the City of San Luis Obispo.
DISCUSSION
Attached for the Council’s consideration is a resolution establishing the City’s 2020 Legislative
Action Platform. The City Attorney's office coordinates the Legislative Action Platform with
assistance from the Administration Department and various City departments, as appropriate. This
resolution authorizes staff to respond to legislative issues affecting the City (via letters signed by the
Mayor or the relevant Department Head), provided that the positions taken in the letters are
consistent with the priorities identified in Exhibit A to the resolution (Attachment B) and League of
California Cities advocacy efforts.
By establishing a broad legislative platform and delegating responsibility to the Mayor and staff to
respond to proposed legislation and recommendations from the League of California Cities, the City
is better able to react quickly to changed circumstances and urgent requests than it would be if each
item were brought to the Council at its regular meetings. The process is considered a best practice,
has been efficient given the limited City resources available, and the City continues to be very
active in communicating its positions on Federal and State legislation. In 2019, the City sent 27
letters pertaining to pending legislation utilizing the Legislative Action Platform.
In preparing this year’s draft platform, input was solicited from all City Departments. Staff was
asked to take a critical look at the items within their scope of operations and expertise and evaluate
whether there was an opportunity to narrow or focus the platform. With that look, several additions
and clarifications were recommended. All changes, including language clean-ups and issue
consolidations, are shown in the legislative draft of the 2020 Platform attached to this report.
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In addition to Council’s substantive direction on the platform, staff is also seeking direction as to the
application of the platform to City positions on particular projects or applications that Council
Members believe to raise issues related to the platform. Historically, and as affirmed by the City
Council since 2016, the platform has been utilized primarily to advocate for or against a particular
piece of legislation and not for or against a particular project or permitting application (adjudicative
acts before other jurisdictions’ legislative bodies). Staff continues to recommend that the scope be
limited to legislative action, but again requests explicit direction from a Council majority on that
issue to ensure clarity in expectations moving forward.
New to the Legislative Platform this year is a section related to the City’s relationship with
Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP). City Council approved joining MBCP in September
2018 and City representatives have been seated on MBCP’s Policy Board, Operations Board, and
Community Advisory Council since 2019. This section of the City’s Legislative Platform
identifies City policy positions on key topics that may come before the various MBCP boards
and advisory bodies.
Also new to the Legislative Platform this year in language which states that the City will pursue
aggressively COVID-19 related legislation and funding at the Federal and State Level to assist
residents, businesses, and the City in their economic recovery from this incident.
Legislative Liaison Appointments
The League of California Cities encourages cities to appoint a council member and a staff person to
act as legislative liaisons between the League and the City. Staff recommends that Mayor Heidi
Harmon act as the Council legislative liaison and the City Attorney and the City Manager serve as
the staff liaisons.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
Similar resolutions have been adopted by the Council since 1993 following the advice and example
of other cities (1993 Staff Report).
Policy Context
The legislative platform is a tool to promote the efficient use of staff and Council time.
Efficiency is always an important goal to strive for but is also an underlying component of the
Fiscal Health Response Plan. While not a new way of doing business, it is an existing practice,
the purpose of which is to reduce time spent drafting, reviewing and acting on Council agenda
items, freeing time to work on other matters and ensuring the most timely and effective response
to emerging issues.
Public Engagement
Proactive public outreach is not historically part of the legislative platform adoption process.
Occasionally, during the year, members of the public will contact the City to ask if it will support
or oppose a piece of legislation, but recommendations to update the issues included in the
platform itself come from staff.
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CONCURRENCE
All City Departments provided input on the 2020 Legislative Platform and concur with the
recommendations in this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in this
report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines Sec. 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: No Budget Year: N/A
Funding Identified: No
Funding Sources Current FY Cost Annualized
On-going Cost
Total Project
Cost
General Fund N/A
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total:
Because no additional staff work is anticipated as a result of this ongoing program, no new fiscal
impact will be incurred.
ALTERNATIVE
The Council may wish to include other issues, not included in the current draft. However, it is
important to note that the Legislative Action Platform allows the City to act on any bills and other
measures formally supported by the League of California Cities. It is staff’s recommendation that
desired additions to the Platform are generally crafted and flexible to allow for quick responses to
legislation important to cities.
Attachments:
a - Resolution adopting the 2020 Legislative Platform
b - Legislative Draft, Exhibit to Resolution
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R _____
RESOLUTION NO. _______ (2020 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE CITY LEGISLATIVE
ACTION PLATFORM FOR 2020 AND APPOINTING THE COUNCIL
MEMBER AND STAFF PERSON TO ACT AS LIAISON BETWEEN THE
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA
CITIES
WHEREAS, a major objective of the City Council is to adopt an aggressive legislative
action platform which strengthens local government, promotes City goals and defends the City
against legislative actions by State and Federal governments that would weaken local government
and/or take away traditional revenue sources; and
WHEREAS, it is vital to the fiscal health and the self determination of the City to
effectively communicate with State Legislators and Federal representatives in order to favorably
influence State and Federal legislation, regulations and grant requests; and
WHEREAS, the League of California Cities conducts a legislative analysis and advocacy
program on behalf of cities for State issues and major Federal issues; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to be proactive and involved in the governmental decision-
making processes directly affecting the City legislative priorities identified in Exhibit “A,” and other
selected issues as may from time to time be recommended by the League of California Cities; and
WHEREAS, a key component of the City’s Legislative Action Platform is face-to-face
meetings between City representatives and elected officials at the Federal, State, and County levels,
and coordination with similar efforts made by other local government entities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo does hereby:
SECTION 1. Establish the Legislative Action Platform for 2020 as set forth in the attached
“Exhibit “A and authorize the Mayor and designated staff to take positions on legislation generally
consistent with the Legislative Action Platform and such other resolutions and recommendations of
the League of California Cities as may be from time to time presented to the City; and
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Resolution No. ______ (2020 Series) Page 2
R _____
SECTION 2. Appoint Mayor Heidi Harmon to act as Council Member legislative liaison
and City Manager Derek Johnson and City Attorney Christine Dietrick to act as staff legislative
liaisons with the League of California Cities.
Upon motion of ____________________, seconded by ________________, and on the following
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this ___ day of __________ 2020.
_______________________
Mayor Heidi Harmon
ATTEST:
_______________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of
San Luis Obispo, California, on ________________________.
_______________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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EXHIBIT A
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM FOR 2020
The following reflects those legislative matters on which the Council majority authorizes the
Mayor, City Manager and City Attorney to engage in legislative advocacy on behalf of the City
without the need for further Council review or authority. The Council’s authorization extends
only to advocacy for or against generally applicable legislative proposals being considered by
local, regional, state and/or federal policy makers or regulators and does not extend to advocacy
on any individual project or entitlement application pending before any decision -making body,
unless specifically noted herein.
Climate Action
1. Providing funding (e.g., through Cap and Trade or other sources) for communities to
pay for public infrastructure that meet s mandated greenhouse gas emission reduction
goals.
2. Providing funding to implement programs and related action items contained in local and
regional Climate Action Plans to quantitatively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
advocating for regulatory reform, including but not limited to clean technologies, micro-
grids, all electric buildings, electrified transportation.
3. Providing communities broad authority to form and administer Community Choice
Energy (CCE) programs, reforming the CPUC, and limiting decisions that negatively
impact CCEs or otherwise shift the financial impacts of investor owned utilities to CCEs.
4. Providing support for the Cal CCA’s Regulatory and Legislative Platform.
5. Promoting regulatory reform for the transition to clean technologies, microgrids, low and
zero carbon energy generation, and decarbonized buildings.
6. Reforming CPUC policies to ensure investor owned utilities are able and required to
provide timely, accurate, and sufficiently detailed energy data.
Homelessness
1. Supporting funding for project-based permanent affordable housing, Temporary Rapid
Rehousing, Tiny Homes, Temporary Emergency Shelter Units and Private Market
Landlords. Strong connections to landlords are even more important in high-cost, low-
vacancy markets, where affordable housing options are limited and even those with a
voucher may find themselves unable to locate a unit.
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2. Supporting additional funding that encourages unique multi-departmental and inter-
governmental collaboration to assist individuals experiencing homelessness, such as the
City’s Community Action Team (CAT).
3. Supporting legislation that focuses on employment services and job training for
individuals who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.
4. Supporting federal, state, county and local jurisdictions in providing legislation that
focuses on preventing and ending homelessness and provides funding that promotes all
levels of government and private, non-profit, and faith sectors to come together to build
a common vision that align activities, policies and priorities to ending homelessness.
5. Promoting funding and legislation that addresses the removal and storage of homeless
individual’s belongings and the cleaning of sites used by homeless groups.
6. Supporting county programs that promote access to expanded behavioral health services,
including substance use disorder treatment services. Including new approaches to
financing health care to create both opportunities and strong incentive for hospitals to
work with community partners to invest in improving the health of patients and to reduce
avoidable emergency room visits, hospital stays and readmissions.
7. Promoting legislation that supports advance education and employment opportunities
and support upward economic mobility; provide connections to health and behavioral
health care services; and link people to programs such as childcare, schools family
support networks.
8. Supporting legislation that expands conservatorship laws allowing for increased
guardianship control and health supervision of those suffering from mental illness and
recognize mental illness and addiction as a contributor to chronic homelessness.
9. Supporting legislation that creates streamlined protocols and metrics to be used by
homeless service providers, local agencies, and other non-governmental partners to
capture and share accurate statistics of individuals experiencing homelessness, including
vacancy rates, in-flow and out-flow information, cost-reporting of services provided and
rendered, and individuals successfully housed.
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10. Supporting legislation, regulatory, or administrative efforts that provide additional
authority or funding for municipalities to address homeless issues within their
communities and support the Keeping California Safe Act legislative efforts to address
the negative impacts of AB 109, Proposition 47, and Proposition 57 on local governments
and provide local law enforcement with the appropriate tools to reduce criminal activity.
11. Opposing legislation that seeks to circumvent local control and local circumstances when
addressing homelessness.
Community Development
1. Preserving local control of land use planning and zoning matters.
2. Supporting State and Federal assistance to prevent the loss of housing for those impacted
by COVID-19.
3. Promoting reforms of the entire State mandated HCD Regional Housing Need
Allocations process to recognize local resource limitations and align infrastructure and
other funding to help communities meet mandated housing requirements.
4. Promoting funding of on-campus housing at Cal Poly for students, staff and faculty, and
University acquisition of residences for staff and faculty housing.
5. Supporting efforts to increase funding for affordable housing and supportive housing
services for very low, low and moderate income individuals and/or families in all cities
and communities and opposing the erosion of local inclusionary housing and in -lieu fee
programs.
6. Supporting continued funding of National Housing Trust Fund and streamlined and
efficient implementing regulations at the state level.
7. Promoting additional state funding to implement AB 32 (The California Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006) and SB 375 (The Sustainable Communities and Climate
Protection Act of 2008) through local general plan updates that implement the regional
sustainable communities plan and alternative planning strategy, if needed.
8. Promoting funding for the identification, acquisition, maintenance and restoration of
historic sites and structures.
9. Supporting continued or expanded funding for the Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) program.
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10. Supporting continued local control over mobile home park rent stabilization and local
control over the conversion of mobile home parks to other uses. Encourage the
amendment of Section 66427.5 of the California Government Code and other relevant
law for the purpose of ensuring that mobile home park residents are not involuntarily
removed from homes or otherwise economically impacted if parks are subdivided or
converted.
11. Resolving and addressing regulatory or financial barriers to implement AB 811 property-
assessed clean energy districts.
12. Encouraging continued viability of inclusionary housing provisions and avoidance of
conflicts with Costa-Hawkins Act.
13. Enabling the issuance of parking citations on private property.
14. Advocating full funding for services and transitional housing for individuals who are
unhoused, including providing more flexibility in the use of Federal funds on the local
level to address housing.
15. Supporting legislation that provides funding sources for appropriate human service
agencies that support the mission of the Human Relations Commission.
16. Supporting responsible review and revision of CEQA to ensure sound environmental
determinations.
17. Promoting pragmatic and clarifying actions to implement Proposition 64 Cannabis
legalization, including increased funding for health education, the preservation of local
land use decision making, reconciliation of conflicts in state and federal law, and systems
for legal banking.
18. Supporting modern and cost-efficient, thorough and accurate methods for the population
to exercise its civic obligation to be counted in the 2020 Census.
Economic Development
1. Supporting state and federal assistance for those people and businesses facing severe
economic losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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2. Supporting regional economic development support, expressly excluding support for
weapons production or distribution activities and fossil fuel production or distribution
activities.
3. Supporting direct assistance and/or legislation that supports local agencies with
recovering costs related to the COVID-19 disaster and stimulate economic development,
resiliency and recovery.
4. Promoting funding and/or legislation using tax credits or other incentive programs to
encourage research and development by businesses in California.
5. Supporting funding and policies for the promotion of California as a place to locate
businesses that provide head-of-household jobs.
6. Supporting economic development that is integrated with articulated Major City Goals
such asclimate action as well as social justice and diversity objectives, such as the Green
New Deal.
7. Supporting funding for the state tourism promotion program.
8. Supporting the effective and efficient use of all communications technologies including
voice, video, data, and information services over wired and wireless transmission
technologies and supporting net neutrality.
9. Supporting telecommunications reform legislation and other measures that preserve local
control over public rights-of-way, protect local resources and guarantee access to,
funding for, and local flexibility in utilizing funds for public, educational and
government (PEG) access television.
10. Supporting the expansion of public infrastructure financing tools and funding for
infrastructure.
11. Supporting head-of-household jobs, including analyses of impacts and associated
mitigations regarding major regional employers.
Finance
1. Supporting meaningful fiscal reform that allows each level of government to adequately
finance its service responsibilities while continuing to support efforts to protect the City
from loss of revenues due to State take-aways and unfunded State or Federal mandates.
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2. Advocating against initiatives that unduly burden and/or prohibit local government
ability to support essential services to the community.
3. Endorsing legislation that provides local government with a fair share tax on catalog and
Internet sales; and opposing legislation that limits state or local authority to tax catalog
or Internet sales.
4. Supporting efforts to collect the full amount of local transient occupancy tax from online
sales of lodging.
5. Supporting the continuation of California Specialized Training Institute activities within
San Luis Obispo County.
6. Opposing legislation that removes the municipal bond tax exemption.
Human Resources/Employee Relations
1. Supporting additional workers’ compensation reforms that lower employers' costs while
still protecting workers and opposing legislation that would restrict appropriate cost
controls in the workers’ compensation system.
2. Supporting pension and retiree health benefits reform efforts, policy changes, and
permissible administration decisions aimed at reducing unfunded liabilities, reducing
costs, and ensuring the long-term viability of the defined benefit pension system in
concert with the League of California Cities and the California Public Employees
Retirement System (PERS) Board of Directors.
3. Opposing the expansion of property rights in public employment and procedural
requirements that hinder or significantly increase the public costs of effective
performance management, including legislation that curtails management rights or
obstructs the timely, efficient and cost-effective implementation of performance
management or disciplinary measures.
4. Supporting legislation to protect the City's continued ability to administer its Cafeteria
Benefit Plan and maintain comprehensive health care coverage for eligible employees,
in a financially sustainable manner.
5. Supporting reforms that limit the financial impacts of joint and several liability on public
entities.
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6. Supporting the clarification, modification or repeal of AB 646 fact finding requirements
and opposing measures that reduces local control over public employee disputes.
7. Opposing measures that curtail management rights or impose local government
mandated employee benefits that should be directly negotiated between labor groups and
employers.
8. Supporting Federal legislation to modify, refine, or eliminate Federal Labor Standards
Act (FLSA) requirements on public agencies.
9. Support reforms that limit the joint and several liability to agencies who have entered
into Joint Powers Agreements (JPAs).
Public Safety
1. Continuing State and Federal funding support for school safety, disaster preparedness,
earthquake preparedness, Homeland Security, hazardous material response, State COPS
program and other local law enforcement activities.
2. Preserving the City's authority to investigate police misconduct.
3. Preserving the authority of local control on issuance of concealed weapons permits.
4. Supporting legislation to help curb drug and alcohol-related criminal behavior and
underage consumption.
5. Opposing new or increased state fees for state-provided law enforcement services.
6. Supporting the fair and efficient allocation of radio spectrum that provides quality
frequencies, free from interference, for all local public safety communication needs.
7. Supporting efforts to enhance radio and data system(s) stability and interoperability
among public safety agencies and jurisdictions.
8. Supporting efforts to reduce retention periods for video monitoring data not related to an
identified incident or operation.
9. Preserving the City's right to regulate activities with adverse health and safety impacts
on local streets, sidewalks and rights-of-way.
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10. Supporting legislation to improve and enhance the safety of cargo transported via rail,
including but not limited to: safety enhancements for rail vessel construction with an
emphasis on efforts to rapidly improve the safe transport of volatile crude oil and limit
the use of older, “grandfathered” containers and vessels; enhancements in remote
monitoring and control of railcar speeds; reduction of railcar speeds in populated areas
like San Luis Obispo; enhancements in communications, notifications and information
dissemination to local governments, especially public safety agencies.
11. Supporting and expanding funding and programs to proactively reduce fire risk attributed
to heavy vegetative fuels loads, high tree mortality, drought, and climate change to
remove diseased, dead and/or down combustible vegetation, thin forests to improve
forest health, and create effective defensible space between the undeveloped and
developed environments.
12. Supporting grants and aid to land/property owners with properties one mile or less from
natural vegetation, which are threatened by wind-driven fire events, to harden structures
again fire impingement and create sustainable defensible spaces.
13. Supporting grants and aid to local governments to develop modern evacuation
communications systems to effectively reach all residents in a timely fashion via voice,
text, email, and other electronic means.
14. Supporting legislation that would result in the implementation of a statewide modern
evacuation communications system to effectively reach all residents in a timely fashion
via voice, text, email, and other electronic means, which is available for use by local
governments at the discretion of local governments.
15. Supporting legislation to preserve and enhance local control, at the City level, for the
provision of public safety services, including the scope and provision of medical and
non-medical emergency services.
16. Supporting uniformity of state and federal regulations of drones and the study and
adoption of appropriate local airport protections and public safety exemptions.
17. Supporting legislation regarding the safe transport and storage of nuclear waste.
18. Supporting legislation to address the education, funding and treatment of opioid
addiction.
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19. Supporting legislation that expands funding to manage vegetation and fuel sources in the
wildland urban interface.
20. Supporting legislation to provide funding to help communities prepare for and be
resilient after natural disasters.
Public Works
1. Supporting increased availability of grant funding to replace aging infrastructure of all
types, e.g. streets, bridges, water, sewer, parks, and storm sewer systems, etc.
2. Supporting increased funding for flood protection, clean stormwater and low impact
infrastructure projects.
3. Ensuring cooperation and prompt approval from Federal and State regulatory agencies
(such as the Department of Fish & Wildlife, Regional Water Quality Control Board and
the Army Corps of Engineers) for necessary projects involving the City's creek system.
4. Supporting monetary incentives or grant funding for alternative fuel vehicles for
replacement of municipal fleet equipment.
5. Supporting funding and policies that support and enhance active transportation modes
such as bicycles, pedestrian, transit connections, and transit.
6. Supporting continued protection of SB-1 and other funding for transportation
infrastructure maintenance.
Parks and Recreation and Natural Resources
1. Supporting State and Federal funding and other measures to promote the acquisition,
protection, preservation and restoration of natural resources, open space, coastal
resources, signature land forms, wetlands and park development, including continued
funding for the Land and Water Conservation Grant Pr ogram and for the California
Conservation Corps.
2. Supporting the expansion of National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of San Luis Obispo
County to protect this fragile habitat from offshore oil and gas development.
Deleted:
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3. Supporting amendments to stormwater regulatory requirements to reduce mandatory
minimum fines and penalties and the recovery of private attorneys’ fees for technical
non-compliance issues that do not result in adverse public health impacts or
environmental harm.
4. Support stormwater requirements that are related to specific issues and include
reasonable implementation timeframes and funding.
5. Opposing any development under existing or new offshore oil and gas leases off the
Coast of San Luis Obispo County.
6. Opposing any development under existing or new oil and gas leases in San Luis Obispo
County.
7. Supporting and seeking State and Federal funding and other measures to conduct
research and implement land management measures for the purpose of carbon
sequestration.
8. Supporting measures to prohibit discharge of pollutants into the ocean (e.g. selenium
contaminated waters from the San Joaquin valley).
9. Encouraging the Resources Agency and its departments to expedite the distribution of
remaining Proposition 1 bond funds to take advantage of the many favorable
opportunities for land and easement acquisition and enhancement project contracting.
10. Seeking legislative exemption from property taxes on lands dedicated to open space
purposes, which are outside the boundaries of the jurisdiction owning such lands.
11. Protecting funding to reduce or mitigate negative impacts to vital regional and
community services Californians’ access to parks, open space, after school
programming, senior services, facilities that promote physical activity, protect natural
resources, and strengthen safety and security.
12. Promoting policies that recognize the benefits of parks and recreational fa cilities in the
advancement of "sustainable communities" and curbing greenhouse gas emissions,
including: strengthening policies that fund parks, open -space, bike lanes and non-
motorized trails through the development and implementation of a carbon credi t and
offset program, and advocating for the strong integration of local and regional park and
non-motorized transportation improvements into "Smart Growth Scenarios" pursuant
to SB 375.
Deleted: for
Deleted: that negatively impact
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13. Supporting access to joint use of schools; parks and open space; d evelopment of streets
and trails that encourage physical activity and healthy living.
14. Supporting extension or permanent legislation at the federal level of enhanced tax
deductions for charitable donations of Conservation Easements
15. Supporting legislation to limit the opening of national parks (or other protected public
lands, e.g. Carrizo Plain) to fossil fuel extraction.
Transportation
1. Supporting changes in gas tax laws that allow local tax for transportation purposes based
on a majority vote of the public.
2. Supporting the continuation of, and increased funding sources for street maintenance
projects, transportation improvements, transit operations and multimodal facility
projects.
3. Supporting funding sources for transit electrification.
4. Supporting clean air transit funding for San Luis Obispo County, in particular funding
that provides for alternative modes of transportation with clean air benefits.
5. Supporting actions to: (1) promote cooperation and mutual support between metropolitan
planning organization (MPO) agencies and local transit providers, and (2) discourage
trends toward MPO agencies/regional "control" of local transit providers.
6. Encouraging private transportation companies (such as Union Pacific Railroad) to reach
agreements for sharing of properly secured right of way corridors for other compatible
uses such as bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
7. Opposing the proposed diversion of any funding source for transportation that reduces
amounts designated for transit operations.
8. Supporting funding for projects to implement adopted complete street plans
demonstrated to improve public health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
9. Supporting provision of Cap and Trade funding for intercity rail.
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10. Supporting increased funding for existing Active Transportation Program (ATP).
11. Preserving funding for existing and future transportation needs.
Utilities
1. Supporting clean water funding programs.
2. Supporting recycling, waste diversion, and zero waste programs and enhancing local
government's ability to comply with solid waste reduction requirements.
3. Supporting measures that require the State Water Resources Control Board and Regional
Water Quality Control Boards establish a process to evaluate, in advance of adoption,
the costs of compliance for pending and future regulatory actions on NPDES permittees.
4. Supporting legislation that requires the State's environmental agencies to conduct peer
review of proposed regulations to ensure that the proposal is based on sound science.
5. Supporting the elimination of mandatory minimum penalties for violations of NPDES
Requirements and returning discretionary control to the Regional Water Quality Control
Board Executive Officers (i.e. repeal SB 709).
6. Supporting measures to ensure reasonableness in the administration of NPDES permit
governing City operations, including pursuing a municipal representative on the
Regional Water Quality Control Board
7. Promoting the safe, responsible, and cost-effective reuse of Exceptional Quality or better
biosolids.
8. Supporting sustainable energy programs.
9. Supporting legislation allowing cities/agencies to establish fees for the costs of operating
mandated water quality programs such as, but not limited to, municipal storm water and
total maximum daily loading.
10. Supporting federal legislative action to transfer Salinas Reservoir from Army Corps of
Engineers Military Project to Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Project.
11. Supporting water conservation best management practices.
Deleted: <#>Supporting the implementation of the
California Urban Water Conservation Council's Best
Management Practices regarding urban water conservation
and compliance with AB 1420.¶
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12. Supporting amendments to the Urban Water Management Planning Act to recognize
past investment in water conservation and the City's ability to comply with SBx7-7
and other water conservation regulations.
13. Opposing legislation that requires recycled water to be included in water conservation
regulations.
14. Opposing legislation that requires mandatory consolidation of water systems without
acknowledgement of water rights.
15. Promoting legislation that expands or encourages the expansion of recycled water
production and use.
16. Supporting legislation eliminating departing load charges which discourage the use of
alternative energy resources.
17. Allowing the use of Public Goods Funds for the development and installation of energy
saving or green energy generating projects to benefit local government.
18. Opposing legislation that diminishes the City’s existing water rights.
19. Promoting the protection of water resources.
20. Supporting the protection of our natural resources from invasive species.
21. Supporting regional water resiliency initiatives.
22. Supporting a two-track option of laboratory accreditation, California Environmental
Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) and the National Environmental Laboratory
Accreditation Conference (NELAC) Institute also known as TNI.
23. Supporting streamlined water rights amendment processes for minor water rights permit
changes.
24. Supporting federal and statewide funding of water infrastructure projects.
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County/Regional Priorities
1. Supporting legislation and other policy considerations to expand funding for the delivery of
case management, drug, alcohol, and detoxification services, mental health services, and
the establishment of shelter facilities.
2. Working with the County to assure land use practices that are consistent with the
Memorandum of Agreement adopted by the City Council and County Board of
Supervisors in 2016 regarding development near the edges of the City.
3. Encouraging participation by County in providing nearby parking for County employees
and clients, and alternate transportation and parking demand reduction.
4. Supporting County development of a local ordinance providing additional local
oversight and regulation of the land application of Pollutant Concentration (PC) or better
biosolids.
5. Supporting the County’s Flood Control and Water Conservation District efforts to solve
City/County flood problems.
6. Supporting the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District's legislative
program, where consistent with the City's adopted policies and platform.
7. Supporting the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments' legislative advocacy activities,
where consistent with the City's adopted policies, platform and public project objectives.
8. Supporting efforts to enhance dangerous animal regulation and enforcement.
9. Supporting the streamlining, clarification and simplification of conflict of interest
regulations applicable to local officials.
10. Encouraging the County and cities therein to join the Monterey Bay Community Power
community choice energy program
11. Supporting the Central Coast Regional Energy Network at the Count y Board of
Supervisors, the CPUC, and related relevant entities.
12. Working with appropriate regional partners, including the County, adjacent cities, Cal
Poly, and regulatory agencies to fund and support climate change impact projections and
coordinate approaches for increasing regional resilience.
Deleted: Working cooperatively with
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13. Ensuring that permitted development outside City jurisdiction has adequate water supplies
to support development activities and intensities and does not indirectly impose water
service obligations to adjacent municipal water agencies.
Monterey Bay Community Power Policy Board and Operations Board Positions
City Council approved joining Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) in September 2018
and City representatives have been seated on MBCP’s Policy Board, Operations Board, and
Community Advisory Council since 2019. This section of the City’s Legislative Platform
identifies City of San Luis Obispo policy positions on key topics that may come before the
various boards and advisory bodies of MBCP. The policy positions contained herein are intended
to guide Board member deliberation and voting and staff review of agenda, but are not an
exhaustive list of issues that may arise. These positions are intended to extend only to advocacy
for or against generally applicable policy proposals being considered by MBCP and does not
extend to advocacy on any individual project or entitlement application pending before any
decision-making body, nor does it extend to the larger legislative platform of the City. The City
Council is supportive of MBCP policy proposals that:
1. Prioritizing economic, social, and environmental equity.
2. Prioritizing climate mitigation (e.g. emissions reductions), adaptation (e.g. distributed
energy resources and grid stability), and resilience (e.g. disaster preparedness).
3. Prioritizing the inclusion of all segments of the community in policy making and program
design processes.
4. Supporting processes that are transparent, collaborative, visible, and accessible.
5. Supporting rate, rebate, and revenue structures that encourages a robust programs budget.
6. Prioritizing a portfolio of programs that focuses on economic, social, and environmental
equity.
7. Prioritizing a portfolio of programs that focuses on strategic and intentional long-term
economic development consistent with sub-regional economic development approaches.
8. Supporting regional climate action and a portfolio of programs that are strategically
implemented to achieve regional climate targets.
9. Supporting a program design process that is transparent, collaborative, and inclusive.
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10. Supporting staffing required to effectively design, advertise, implement, and monitor
effectiveness of the agency’s project portfolio.
11. Providing local government access to data, transparent GHG emissions reporting, and
sub-annual emissions factors as available.
12. Supporting fair distribution of resources and representation among MBCP member
jurisdictions. This may also entail supporting local presence and staffing, as well as
brand identity that is reflective of the entire MBCP service territory.
13. Supporting processes and governance approaches that provide sufficient time for Board
members to fully participate and drive decisions, from inception to implementation.
14. Supporting projects that focus on strategic and intentional regional economic
development consistent with regional economic development approaches, when feasible,
and with entities that support fair wage practices and maximize benefit to local
workforces, when feasible.
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