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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5i. 2022 Legislative Platform Item 5i Department: Administration Cost Center: 1001 For Agenda of: 4/19/2022 Placement: Consent Estimated Time: N/A FROM: Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager Prepared By: Hans Poschman, Assistant to the City Manager SUBJECT: 2022 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM RECOMMENDATION 1. As recommended by Council Members Marx and Shoresman , adopt a Resolution entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo, California, establishing the City Legislative Action Platform for 2022 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”; 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 Legislative Action Program Attached for the Council’s consideration is a resolution establishing the City’s 2022 Legislative Action Platform. Similar resolutions have been adopted by the Council since 1993. The City Administration Department coordinates the Legislative Action Program with assistance from the Attorney’s Office and from various City departments, as appropriate. This resolution authorizes staff to respond to legislative issues affecting the City (via letters signed by the Mayor or relevant Department Head), provided that the positions taken in the letters are consistent with the priorities identified in Exhibit A to the resolution (Attachment - A) 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 changing 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 2021, the City sent 14 letters pertaining to pending legislation utilizing the Legislative Action Platform. Page 225 of 1192 Item 5i During the January 18, 2022 City Council meeting the Council appointed Council Members Marx and Shoresman to an ad hoc committee to review the 2022 Legislative Platform. The ad hoc Committee met twice after Council Members reviewed the platform and suggested edits. The ad hoc committee made several changes to the platform that mostly expanded upon previous items in the platform. Additionally, they requested a new portion of the platform that would focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The DEI section is made up of existing items from the platform as well as new items that are consistent with the Major City Goal for DEI. 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. As has been past practice, staff recommends that Mayor Erica A. Stewart 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. 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. This year, the City will be providing a copy of the City’s Legislative Platform to Federal and State legislators and will be also sharing a co py with the County Board of Supervisors. Public Engagement This item is scheduled for the April 19, 2022 City Council meeting and will follow all required postings and notifications. The public may provide comment on this item at or before the meeting. Page 226 of 1192 Item 5i CONCURRENCE In preparing this year’s draft platform, input was solicited from all City departments and several additions and clarifications were recommended. All changes, including language clean-ups and issue consolidations, are shown in the legislative draft of the 2022 Platform attached to this report (Attachment B). In addition to Council’s substantive direction on the platform, staff also is seeking direction as to the application of the platform to City positions on particular projects or applications that Council Members believe raise issues related to the platform. Historically, and as affirmed by the City Councils of the last two years, 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 the council majority on that issue to ensure clarity in expectations moving forward. 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: not applicable Funding Identified: No Fiscal Analysis: Funding Sources Total Budget Available Current Funding Request Remaining Balance Annual Ongoing 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 that was not already included in the current budget appropriation. Page 227 of 1192 Item 5i ALTERNATIVES 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 take action 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 – Draft Resolution adopting the 2022 Legislative Platform B – 2022 Legislative Action Platform (Legislative Version) Page 228 of 1192 R ____ RESOLUTION NO. _______ (2022 SERIES) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE CITY LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM FOR 2022 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, the City Council considered an update to the Legislative Action Platform on January 18, 2022 and formed an ad-hoc subcommittee consisting of Councilmember Marx and Shoresman to provide further review and changes in response to Council and public input; 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: Page 229 of 1192 Resolution No. _____ (2022 Series) Page 2 Section 1. Establish the Legislative Action Platform for 2022 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 2. Appoint Mayor Erica A. Stewart 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 _______ 2022. ___________________________ Mayor Erica A. Stewart 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 Page 230 of 1192 EXHIBIT A CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Adopted by City Council Resolution No. XX (2022 Series) Page 231 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 2 The following document 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, as well as regional initiatives consistent with Major City Goals, and adopted City policy platforms, and does not otherwise extend to advocacy on any individual project or entitlement application pending before any decision-making body, unless specifically noted herein. Contents Climate Action ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Energy ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ..................................................................................................................... 5 Homelessness Resources Advocacy .............................................................................................................. 6 Community Development ............................................................................................................................. 8 Economic Development .............................................................................................................................. 10 Finance ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Human Resources/Employee Relations ...................................................................................................... 11 Public Safety ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Public Works ............................................................................................................................................... 14 Parks and Recreation and Natural Resources ............................................................................................. 14 Transportation ............................................................................................................................................ 16 Utilities ........................................................................................................................................................ 17 County/Regional Priorities ........................................................................................................................ 19 Central Coast Community Energy Policy Board and Operations Board Positions ............................... 20 Page 232 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 3 Climate Action 1. Supporting funding for communities to pay for public infrastructure that meets state greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and adopted City objectives. 2. Supporting funding to implement programs and related action items contained in local and regional Climate Action Plans to quantitatively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advocateing for regulatory reform, including but not limited to clean technologies, micro-grids, all electric buildings, electrified transportation and behind the meter technology. 3. Supporting local communities’ broad authority to form and administer Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs, reforming the CPUC California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and limiting decisions that negatively impact CCEs or otherwise shift the financial impacts of investor-owned utilities to CCEs. (Moved to Energy) 4. Supporting California Community Choice Associations’ (Cal CCA) CCA’s) Regulatory and Legislative Platform, where consistent with the City’s legislative platform. (Moved to Energy) 5. Supporting regulatory reform for the transition to clean technologies, microgrids, low and zero carbon energy generation, and decarbonized buildings. 6. Supporting reform of CPUC policies to ensure investor-owned utilities are able and required to provide timely, accurate, and sufficiently detailed energy data. (Moved to Energy) 7. Supporting funding and resources to focus climate investments on programs and projects that support environmental justice, economic and racial equity, and head of household jobs. 8. Supporting reform of CPUC policies and state legislation that supports increased and equitable access to distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar. (Moved to Energy) 9. Supporting extended producer responsibility for packaging and single-use product manufacturing as to encourage source reduction and the manufacturing of reusable and sustainable products. 10. Supporting measures that make waste diversion and reduction more equitable for our residents and businesses. 11. Supporting legislation that makes recycling organic waste and edible food recovery and distribution more efficient and easily accessible to residents and businesses in need. Page 233 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 4 Energy 1. Supporting local communities’ broad authority to form and administer Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs, reforming the CPUC California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and limiting decisions that negatively impact CCEs or otherwise shift the financial impacts of investor-owned utilities to CCEs. (Moved from Climate Action) 2. Supporting California Community Choice Associations’ (Cal CCA) CCA’s) Regulatory and Legislative Platform, where consistent with the City’s legislative platform. (Moved from Climate Action) 3. Supporting reform of CPUC policies to ensure investor-owned utilities are able and required to provide timely, accurate, and sufficiently detailed energy data. (Moved from Climate Action) 4. Supporting reform of CPUC policies and state legislation that supports increased and equitable access to distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar. (Moved from Climate Action) 5. Central Coast Community Energy Policy Board and Operations Board Positions (Moved from standalone category)1 a. Supporting environmental justice and economic equity. b. Supporting 3CE investment in and support for distributed energy resources (e.g., rooftop solar), demand response, behind the meter technology and energy efficiency. c. Supporting climate mitigation (e.g., emissions reductions), adaptation (e.g. distributed energy resources and grid stability), and resilience (e.g. disaster preparedness). d. Supporting the inclusion of all segments of the community in policy making and program design processes. e. Supporting processes that are transparent, collaborative, visible, and accessible and inclusive. f. Supporting rate, rebate, and revenue structures that create a robust programs budget. g. Supporting a portfolio of programs that focuses on economic, social, and environmental equity. h. Supporting a portfolio of programs that focuses on strategic and intentional long-term economic development consistent with sub-regional economic development approaches. i. Supporting regional climate action and a portfolio of programs that are strategically 1 The City Council approved the City joining Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) in September 2018 and City representatives have been seated on 3CE’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 3CE. 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 3CE and does not extend to advocacy on any indivi dual 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 3CE policy proposals: Page 234 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 5 implemented to achieve regional climate targets. j. Supporting a program design process that is transparent, collaborative, and inclusive. k. Supporting staffing required to effectively design, advertise, implement, and monitor effectiveness of the agency’s project portfolio. l. Supporting local government access to data, transparent GHG emissions reporting, and sub- annual emissions factors as available. m. Support programs that provide funding, technical support, or legislation that promotes grid independence and resiliency. n. Supporting processes and governance approaches that provide sufficient time for Board members to fully participate and drive decisions, from inception to implementation. o. 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. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 1. Support programs and policies to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and address systemic inequities that disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ , and other marginalized racial, ethnic, and faith-based communities. 2. Support programs and policies that disrupt anti-immigrant ideologies and center strategies for undocumented individuals’ health, well-being, and success. 3. Supporting education and employment opportunities and advancement of upward economic mobility and access to programs such as childcare, school’s family support networks and supportive services for people aging out of the foster care system. (Moved from Homelessness) 4. Supporting increased availability of grant funding for ADA accessibility improvements to streets, parks, and other public infrastructure. 5. Support the expansion of the safe harbor provisions of the California Voting Rights Act to include options other than district elections. 6. Support policies that protect voting rights and work to disrupt voter suppression tactics that disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous and other communities of color. 7. Supporting legislation that provides funding sources for appropriate human service agencies that support the mission of the Human Relations Commission. (Moved from Community Development) 8. Support legislation and funding to increase affordable and equitable childcare services and options for working low-income families. Page 235 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 6 Homelessness Resources Advocacy 1. Support legislation and funding for the prevention of homelessness and support of families and individuals vulnerable to becoming homeless. 2. Supporting funding for project-based, permanent affordable housing. Temporary Rapid Rehousing, Tiny Homes, Temporary Emergency Shelter Units and Private Market Landlords. 3. Support funding for the entire housing spectrum (including affordable units, ADUs, Tiny Homes, Temporary Emergency Shelters and family housing, and supportive housing for all homeless individuals and families including the mentally ill and aging adults). 4. Advocate for increased flexibility in the use of Federal Funds at the local level to address the full spectrum of services and transitional housing for individuals who are unhoused. 5. Support nonprofit eviction prevention services for low-income individuals and families. 6. Strong connections to landlords 7. Support programs and funding to encourage private market landlords to provide affordable units, participate in housing voucher programs and upgrade units for energy efficiency. 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. 8. 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) and Mobile Crisis Unit (MCU), as well as Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for public safety personnel. 9. Supporting employment services and job training for individuals who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. 10. Supporting funding for federal, state, county and local, non-profit and faith community’s coordination in preventing and ending homelessness. 11. Supporting funding for the removal and storage of homeless individual’s belongings and the cleaning of sites used by homeless groups unhoused residents. 12. Supporting funding and county programs that promote whole person care approaches that include access to expanded medical, mental, and behavioral health services, including substance use disorder treatment services, and new approaches to financing health care access and patient wellness to Page 236 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 7 reduce avoidable emergency room visits, hospital stays and readmissions. 13. Supporting education and employment opportunities and advancement of upward economic mobility and access to programs such as childcare, school’s family support networks and supportive services for people aging out of the foster care system. (Moved to DEI) 14. Supporting increased funding and statutory authorization for crisis intervention, involuntary assessment and commitment, guardianship control, and health welfare intervention and supervision of those suffering from chronic homelessness, mental illness and addiction and recognition of mental illness and addiction as contributors to chronic homelessness. 15. Supporting 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. 16. Opposeing legislation that seeks to circumvent local control and consideration of local circumstances and safety of the general public when addressing homelessness. 17. Supporting legislation that supports, programs, funding, court intervention, and statutory authorization for a unified crisis response system and enhances the ability of the County Behavioral Health Director, crisis response personnel, family members and social service providers to share information necessary for effective treatment interventions and to compel assisted outpatient treatment for a person exiting a conservatorship and those lacking capacity to provide for their own healthcare, shelter and food needs. 18. Supporting legislation that would allow the courts and crisis intervention personnel to consider a person’s medical, addiction and mental health conditions, history of adverse impacts on community health and safety, and capacity of individuals to provide for their own health, shelter and food needs in mandating program participation in connection with criminal justice and other contacts, including or expandsion of the definition of “gravely disabled” under code section 5150 et seq. and consider the impact on a court’s decision to certify them as a danger to themselves or others in evaluating whether an individual is a danger to themselves or others. 19. Supporting legislation for Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to allow for flexibility in funds earmarked for “Innovation” programs that are aimed at finding new and different ways to provide services. 20. Supporting legislation, funding, programs and other policy considerations policies to help to expand funding for the capacity in local psychiatric health facilities, delivery of case management, drug, alcohol, and detoxification services and facilities, and mental health services for all County residents. Page 237 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 8 21. Advocateing that the County lead in the area of expanding humane shelter and housing opportunities for the unhoused population, and expand outreach and case management services specifically tailored to the needs of homeless individuals in the County to transition out of homelessness. 22. Supporting the use of data from public safety, City, and regional Community Action Teams (CAT) and Mobile Crisis Units (MCU) outcomes, to advocate that the County allocate new resources to scale up these programs to match the need. 23. Supporting an effective and efficient update of the 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness that is action- oriented and focused on measurable, positive and realistic outcomes. 24. Support state and federal funding of mandates to provide care and services to vulnerable populations. 25. Support legislative efforts to repeal Article 34 of the California Constitution, which requires majority approval by the voters of a city or county for the development, construction, or acquisition of a publicly funded affordable housing project. Community Development 1. Supporting 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 local, state, or federal disasters. 3. Supporting 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. Supporting 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 increased 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 implementationing regulations at the state level. 7. Supporting 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 Page 238 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 9 general plan updates that implement the regional sustainable communities plan and alternative planning strategy, if needed. 8. Advocate forPromoting funding for the identification, acquisition, maintenance and restoration of historic sites and structures. 9. Supporting continued andor expanded funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. 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 to ensuringe that low income mobile home park residents are not involuntarily removed from homes or otherwise subject to involuntary displacement due to economically impactsed oif parks are subdivision ded or conversionted. 11. Encourage the protection, enhancement and increased production of mobile home park residency opportunities 12. Resolving and addressingPromote resolving regulatory or financial barriers to implement AB 811 property-assessed clean energy districts. 13. Encourageing continued viability and expansion of inclusionary housing provisions and avoidance of conflicts with Costa-Hawkins Act. 14. Advocate for the ability to issue Enabling the issuance of parking citations on private property. 15. 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. 16. Supporting legislation that provides funding sources for appropriate human service agencies that support the mission of the Human Relations Commission. (Moved to DEI) 17. Supporting responsible review and revision of CEQA to ensure sound environmental determinations. 18. Promoteing 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. Page 239 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 10 Economic Development 1. Supporting state and federal assistance for those people and businesses facing severe economic losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other disasters. 2. Supporting regional economic development support programs and funding to remove unwanted firearms from homes and businesses. Support regional economic activities except for those that promote weapons or fossil fuel production or distribution activities. , 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-19pandemic or other disasters and stimulate economic development, resiliency, and recovery. 4. Supporting 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 and the City and County of San Luis Obispo 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 as climate action, environmental protection and, 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, broadband for all residents 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. Page 240 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 11 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. 2. Opposeing initiatives that unduly burden and/or prohibit local government ability to support essential services to the community. 3. Supporting collection of the full amount of local transient occupancy tax from online sales of lodging. 4. Supporting the continuation of California Specialized Training Institute activities within San Luis Obispo County. 5. Opposeing removal of the municipal bond tax exemption. Human Resources/Employee Relations 1. Supporting additional workers’ compensation reforms that lower employers' costs while still protecting workers and opposeing 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. Opposeing 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. 6. Supporting the clarification, modification or repeal of AB 646 fact finding requirements and opposeing measures that reduces local control over public employee disputes. Page 241 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 12 7. Opposeing 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). 10. Support meaningful statewide and national efforts to make quality health care more affordable and accessible to residents and reduce costs for cities and employers. Public Safety 1. Supporting new and continued State and Federal funding support for school safety, disaster preparedness, earthquake preparedness, Homeland Security, hazardous material response, State COPS (Citizen’s Options for Public Safety) program, CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) and other local law enforcement public safety activities. 2. Supporting preservation of the City's authority to investigate police misconduct. 3. Supporting local control on issuance of concealed weapons permits. 4. Supporting legislation to help curb drug and alcohol-related criminal behavior and underage consumption. 5. Support legislation to limit or end the sale of all nonflavored and flavored electronic smoking device products, including mint and menthol and to increase enforcement and education related to their use. 6. Opposeing new or increased state fees for state-provided law enforcement services. 7. Supporting the fair and efficient allocation of radio spectrum that provides quality frequencies, free from interference, for all local public safety communication needs. 8. Supporting efforts to enhance radio and data system(s) stability and interoperability among public safety agencies and jurisdictions. 9. Supporting efforts to reduce retention periods for video monitoring data not related to an identified Page 242 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 13 incident or operation. 10. Preserveing the City's right to regulate activities with adverse health and safety impacts on local streets, sidewalks, public spaces and rights-of-way. 11. 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. 12. Supporting and expanding funding and programs to local jurisdictions 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. 13. 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. 14. 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. 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 and legislation that would result in the implementation of a statewide modern earthquake notification and 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. 16. 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. 17. Supporting uniformity of state and federal regulations of drones and the study and adoption of appropriate local airport protections and public safety exemptions. 18. Supporting legislation regarding the safe transport and storage of nuclear waste. Page 243 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 14 19. Supporting legislation to address the education, funding, and treatment of opioid addiction. 20. Supporting legislation that expands funding to manage vegetation and fuel sources in the wildland urban interface. 21. Supporting legislation to provide funding to help communities prepare for response, recovery 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. Supporting 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 electric 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 Program 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. 3. Supporting amendments to stormwater regulatory requirements to reduce mandatory minimum Page 244 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 15 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. (Moved to Utilities) 4. Support stormwater requirements that are related to specific issues and include reasonable implementation timeframes and funding. (Moved to Utilities) 5. Opposeing any development under existing or new offshore oil and gas leases off the Coast of San Luis Obispo County. 6. Opposeing 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 creeks and ocean (e.g. selenium contaminated waters from the San Joaquin valley). 9. Supporting expedited 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. Supporting legislative exemption from property taxes on lands dedicated to open space purposes, which are may be outside the boundaries of the jurisdiction owning such lands. 11. Supporting funding to reduce or mitigate negative impacts to vital regional and community services and enhance public access to parks, open space, after school programming, senior services, facilities that promote physical activity, protect natural resources, and strengthen safety and security. 12. Promoteing policies that recognize the benefits of parks and recreational facilities 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 credit 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. 13. Supporting access and connectivity to joint use of schools; parks and open space; development 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. Page 245 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 16 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, as well as revenue replacement for electric vehicles to support transportation infrastructure. 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 fleet and transit electrification. 4. Supporting transportation funding for San Luis Obispo County, in particular funding that provides for alternative modes of transportation with clean air benefits or reductions in Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and greenhouse gases. 5. Support transportation funding and policy that promote regional bike and pedestrian connections between cities and other population centers. 6. 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. 7. Supporting cooperation of 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. 8. Opposeing the proposed diversion of any funding source for transportation that reduces amounts designated for transit operations. 9. Supporting funding for projects to implement adopted complete street plans demonstrated to improve public health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 10. Supporting provision of Cap-and-Trade funding for transportation projects. 11. Supporting increased funding for existing Active Transportation Program (ATP) and other sources of bicycle and pedestrian transportation funding. 12. Supporting funding for existing and future transportation needs. Page 246 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 17 13. Supporting funding strategies to reduce the personal cost of transportation, especially cargo and electric-assist bicycles and their supporting infrastructure. 14. Opposeing proposed changes to statistical methodologies such as Metropolitan Statistical Areas that have the potential to reduce funding for transportation improvements. 15. Supporting improvements of state and federal standards guiding application of street design and traffic control devices to allow more flexibility for local agencies to prioritize safety, particularly for vulnerable road users, consistent with recent calls to action from groups likesuch as the National Transportation Safety Board, NACTO and others. Utilities 1. Supporting clean water and drinking 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 (includes building of recycling infrastructure). 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. Supporting 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 Page 247 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 18 water quality programs such as, but not limited to, municipal storm water and total maximum daily loading. 10. Supporting federal legislative action and funding to transfer Salinas Reservoir from Army Corps of Engineers Military Project to Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Project. 11. Supportting federal and state funding that would allow for transfer of Salinas Reservoir from the Army Corps of Engineers to a local jurisdiction. the County or City of San Luis Obispo. 12. Supporting water conservation and water use efficiency best management practices. 13. 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. 14. Opposeing legislation that requires recycled water to be included in water conservation regulations. 15. Opposeing mandatory consolidation of water systems. 16. Supporting the expansion of recycled water production and use, including potable reuse. 17. Supporting legislation eliminating departing load charges which discourage the use of alternative energy resources. 18. Supporting the use of Public Goods Funds for the development and installation of energy saving or green energy generating projects to benefit local government. 19. Opposeing legislation that diminishes the City’s existing or potential water rights. 20. Supporting the protection of water resources. 21. Supporting the protection of our natural resources from invasive species. 22. Supporting regional water resiliency initiatives. 23. Supporting streamlined water rights amendment processes for minor water rights permit changes. 24. Supporting federal and statewide funding of water infrastructure projects. 25. Opposeing legislation that inhibits the City's ability to collect water and sewer bills either through Page 248 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 19 terminating service for non-payment or other reasonable means absent public health or safety emergencies. 26. Opposeing legislation that restricts water and sewer rates for certain customers to below the cost to provide service based on legitimate public interests such as affordable housing, senior housing, nonprofit public beneficial uses, and/or educational uses. 27. Support 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. (Moved From Parks) 28. Support stormwater requirements that are related to specific issues and include reasonable implementation timeframes and funding. (Moved From Parks) County/Regional Priorities 1. Supporting County land use policies and 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 and opposing inconsistent policies and practices. 2. Encourageing participation by County in providing nearby parking for County employees and clients, and alternate transportation and parking demand reduction. 3. Supporting County development of a local ordinance providing additional local oversight and regulation of the land application of Pollutant Concentration (PC) or better biosolids. 4. Supporting the County’s Flood Control and Water Conservation District efforts to solve City/County flood problems. 5. Supporting the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District's legislative program, where consistent with the City's adopted policies and platform. 6. Supporting the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments' legislative advocacy activities, where consistent with the City's adopted policies, platform, and public policy and project objectives. 7. Supporting efforts to enhance dangerous animal regulation and enforcement. 8. Supporting the streamlining, clarification, and simplification of conflict-of-interest regulations applicable to local officials. Page 249 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 20 9. Supporting efforts of other regional entities to join Central Coast Community Energy. 10. Supporting the Central Coast Regional Energy Network at the County Board of Supervisors, the CPUC, and related relevant entities and supporting pilot projects in the City as feasible. 11. Supporting regional and regulatory collaboration to fund and support climate change impact projections and coordinate approaches for increasing regional resilience. 12. Supporting requirements that 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. 13. Supporting assistance for those experiencing physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19a pandemic or other disaster. 14. Supporting the Integrated Waste Management Authority’s (IWMA) legislative platform, where consistent with the City’s adopted policies, platforms, and public policy and project objectives. 15. Support regional efforts to create a spectrum of housing types (including board and care and housing types that include other supportive services) within the County to house the unhoused. 16. Encourage the County of San Luis Obispo to build complete streets when building new roads, and to upgrade existing roadways to be complete streets. Central Coast Community Energy Policy Board and Operations Board Positions Footnote: CCity Council approved the City joining Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) in September 2018 and City representatives have been seated on 3CE’s Policy Board, Operations Board, and Community Advisory Council since 2019.2 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 3CE. 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 3CE 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 2 3CE was formerly known as Monterey Bay Community Power (MBCP) Page 250 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 21 supportive of 3CE policy proposals: 1. Supporting environmental justice and economic equity. 2. Supporting 3CE investment in and support for distributed energy resources (e.g., rooftop solar), demand response, behind the meter systems and energy efficiency. 3. Supporting climate mitigation (e.g., emissions reductions), adaptation (e.g. distributed energy resources and grid stability), and resilience (e.g. disaster preparedness). 4. Supporting the inclusion of all segments of the community in policy making and program design processes. 5. Supporting processes that are transparent, collaborative, visible, and accessible and inclusive. 6. Supporting rate, rebate, and revenue structures that create a robust programs budget. 7. Supporting a portfolio of programs that focuses on economic, social, and environmental equity. 8. Supporting a portfolio of programs that focuses on strategic and intentional long-term economic development consistent with sub-regional economic development approaches. 9. Supporting regional climate action and a portfolio of programs that are strategically implemented to achieve regional climate targets. 10. Supporting a program design process that is transparent, collaborative, and inclusive. 11. Supporting staffing required to effectively design, advertise, implement, and monitor effectiveness of the agency’s project portfolio. 12. Supporting local government access to data, transparent GHG emissions reporting, and sub-annual emissions factors as available. 13. Support programs that provide funding, technical support, or legislation that promotes grid independence and resiliency. 14. Supporting processes and governance approaches that provide sufficient time for Board members to fully participate and drive decisions, from inception to implementation. 15. 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 Page 251 of 1192 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM Page 22 wage practices and maximize benefit to local workforces, when feasible. (Moved Section to be closer to Energy) Page 252 of 1192 Item 5i – 2022 Legislative Platform Economic Development Split item number 2 as follows:Remaining in the Economic Development section:Support regional economic activities except for those that promote weapons or fossil fuel production or distribution activities.Moving to the Public Safety section:Support programs and funding to remove unwanted firearms from homes and businesses. Parks and Recreation and Natural ResourcesAdd the year after SB 375 in the 12th item:Promote policies that recognize the benefits of parks and recreational facilities 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 credit 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 SB375 (2008). UtilitiesAdd the following two additional planks to the platform:Support autonomy for management of individual Sustainable Groundwater Management Act designated basins within the county.Support funding for implementation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans including the San Luis Obispo/Edna Valley Basin. EnergyMove Item number 17 from Utilities to EnergySupport legislation eliminating departing load charges which discourage the use of alternative energy resources. Questions?