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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/21/2006, C6 - 2006 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM counat MfiftD�� o� j ac,Enba RepoRt Nb. eco CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Jonathan P. Lowell, City Attorney SUBJECT: 2006 LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM CAO RECOMMENDATION 1. Adopt a resolution establishing a Legislative Action Platform for 2006; 2. Appoint the Mayor and City Attorney to act as the primary legislative liaisons between the League of California Cities and the City of San Luis Obispo. DISCUSSION 1. Legislative Action Prosttam. Attached for the Council's consideration is the 2006 Legislative Action Platform Resolution. Similar resolutions have been adopted by the Council since 1993. The City Attorney's Office coordinates the Legislative Action Program with the assistance of the City Administrators Office and the various City departments. 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 Exhibits A and B to the resolution. As you are aware, by establishing a broad legislative platform and delegating responsibility to 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 needed to be brought to the Council on a formal agenda. The process has been efficient given the limited City resources available, and the City has been very active in communicating our positions on Federal and State legislation. In addition to the submission of letters to Federal and State officials,the resolution also encourages "face-to-face"communications with our Federal and State representatives and elected officials at all levels of government in order to further ensure implementation of the City's Legislative Action Program. Staff hopes to arrange more opportunities for such contact in 2006. At Council direction, the Legislative Action Platform was extensively revised prior to adoption in February 2005 and was modified again in May 2005. This year's proposed platform is not substantially changed, but for the addition of the following under the Economic Development heading: Supporting telecommunications reform legislation that preserves local control over public rights-of-way, protects local resources and guarantees access to, and funding for,public, educational and government(PEG)access television l� Council Agenda Report—2006 Legislative Action Platform Page 2 2. Legislative Liaison Appointments. The League of California Cities encourages cities to appoint a councilmember and a staff person to act as legislative liaison between the League and the City. It is recommended that Mayor Romero continue as councilmember legislative liaison and the City Attorney serve as the staff liaison as in previous years. FISCAL IMPACT No additional staff workload is anticipated ALTERNATIVES The Council is encouraged to provide any additional recommendations on the process or specific priorities. ATTACHMENTS Resolution, includes Exhibits A (City Legislative Action Platform for 2006) and B (League of California Cities 2006 Strategic Goals) G:\Legislative Priorities\2006 Agenda Report.DOC Cts —� Attachment. RESOLUTION NO. (2006 Series) ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CITY LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM FOR.2006 AND APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILMEMBER 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", the League of California Cities legislative priorities identified in Exhibit "B", 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: (1) Establish the Legislative Action Platform for 2006, as set forth in the attached Exhibits"A" and 'B" and authorize 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 David F. Romero to act as Councilmember legislative liaison and Jonathan Lowell to act as staff legislative liaison with the League of California Cities.. Resolution No. (2006 Series) Attachment Page 2 Upon motion of seconded by and on the following roll call vote: Ayes: Noes: Absent: the foregoing resolution was adopted this day of 2006. David F. Romero Mayor ATTEST: Audrey Hooper City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Yonaf6n P.Lowell City Attorney GALegislative Priorities\2006 Resolntion.DOC Exhibit A EXHIBIT A: CITY LEGISLATIVE ACTION PLATFORM FOR 2005 COMML NM DEVELOPMENT 1. Promoting reforms of the entire State mandated HCD Regional Housing Need Allocations process to recognize local urban plans and local resource limitations 2. Promoting funding sources to accomplish retrofitting of unreinforced masonry buildings 3. Promoting funding of on-campus housing at Community Colleges and CSU for student and faculty housing 4. Monitoring the pending court appeal of the San.Marcos decision so that the CSU system can mitigate within the City for the impacts of projects built on campus 5. Preserving local control of planning and zoning matters(such as the prohibition of drive-through windows and highway signage) 6. Supporting efforts to increase funding for affordable housing for very low, low and moderate income families for all cities and communities 7. Promoting funding for the identification, acquisition, maintenance and restoration of historic sites and structures 8. Supporting continued or expanded funding for CDBG program ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 9. Promoting funding and/or legislation that encourages research and development by businesses in California through tax credits or other incentive programs 10. Supporting funding and policies for the promotion of California as a place to locate businesses 11. Supporting funding fora state tourism promotion program 12. Promoting funding for the arts,especially public art 13. Supporting the effective and efficient use of all communications technologies including voice, video,data,and information services over wired and wireless transmission technologies 14. Supporting telecommunications reform legislation that preserves local control over public rights-of-way,protects local resources and guarantees access to, and funding for, public, educational and government (PEG) access television FINANCE 15. Continuing to support efforts to protect the City from loss of revenues due to State take-aways and unfunded State or Federal mandates C I _5 Exhibit A 16. 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 HUMAN RESOURCES/EMPLOYEE RELATIONS/HUMAN RELATIONS 17. Supporting additional workers compensation reforms that lower employers' costs while still protecting workers 18. Supporting pension reform efforts in concert with the League of California Cities positions 19. Opposing the expansion of the"Peace Officers' Bill of Rights"or other attempts to curtail management rights 20. Supporting legislation that provides funding sources for appropriate human service agencies that support the mission of the Human Relations Commission. PUBLIC SAFETY 21. Continuing State and Federal funding support for disaster preparedness, earthquake preparedness, Homeland Security,hazardous material response, State COPS program and other local law enforcement activities 22. Preserving the City's authority to investigate police misconduct 23. Preserving the City's authority to establish both medical and non-medical emergency service levels 24. Supporting efforts.to expand the scope of parental responsibility for crimes committedby minors 25. Supporting efforts to provide the Governor with authority to override the parole board when anyone convicted of a violent offense is proposed to be released on parole 26. Preserving the authority of local control on issuance of concealed weapons permits 27. Supporting legislation to help curb alcohol-related criminal behavior and underage drinking 28. Opposing new or increased state fees for state provided law enforcement.services 29. Supporting the fair and efficient allocation of radio spectrum that provides quality frequencies, free from interference, for al local public safety communication needs PUBLIC WORKS 30. Supporting legislation to increase the availability of grant funding to replace aging infrastructure of all types, e.g. streets,bridges, water, sewer and storm sewer systems,etc. 31. Obtaining funding, cooperation and prompt approval from the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers for necessary flood control projects C& Exhibit A PARKS AND RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES 32. Supporting State and Federal funding for 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 33. Supporting the creation of National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of San Luis Obispo County to protect this fragile habitat from offshore oil and gas development 34. Opposing any development under existing or new offshore oil and gas leases off the coast of San Luis Obispo County 35. Supporting funding for rehabilitation of urban parks and unmet community recreational needs, in particular"at risk" youth 36. Encouraging the State Department of Parks and Recreation to expedite the distribution of bond funds and other funds resulting from special legislation(e.g. Irish Hills funds) 37. Seeking legislative exemption from property taxes on lands dedicated to open space purposes which are outside the boundaries of the jurisdiction owning such lands TRANSPORTATION. 38. Changing gas tax laws to allow local tax for transportation purposes based on a majority vote of the public 39. Promoting continued and increased funding sources for street maintenance and transportation, including transit,bicycles,others 40. Working with the Caltrans, SLOCOG and the California Transportation Commission to expeditiously fund Hwy 227 road overlay and reconstruction project,and subsequent relinquishment of Hwy 227 within the City limits 41. Supporting clean air transit funding for San Luis Obispo County, in particular funding that supports alternative modes of transportation with clean air benefits 42. 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 UTILITIES 43. Supporting clean water funding programs 44. Supporting legislation to facilitate recycling program development and enhance local government's ability to comply with solid waste requirements CL -7 Exhibit A 45. Supporting legislation to eliminate mandatory penalties for violations of NPDES Requirements and returning discretionary control to the Regional Water Quality Control Board Executive Officers ( .e.repeal SB 709) 46. Supporting legislation promoting the safe,responsible, and cost-effective reuse of Exceptional Quality or better biosolids 47. Supporting legislation to streamline the state regulatory processes 48. Supporting sustainable energy programs 49. 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 50. Supporting federal legislative action to transfer Salinas Reservoir properties to a local agency 51. Supporting legislation that aids in the implementation of the California Urban Water Conservation Council's Best Management Practices regarding urban water conservation 52. Supporting legislation eliminating departing load charges which discourage the use of alternative energy resources COUNTY/REGIONAL PRIORITIES 53..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 2005 regarding development near the edges of the City 54. Encouraging the County Board of Supervisors to place a measure before voters that would create a vector control program benefit assessment program for San Luis Obispo County 55. Encouraging participation by County in providing nearby parking for County employees and clients, and alternate transportation and parking demand reduction 56. Supporting County development of a local ordinance providing additional local oversight and regulation of the land application of Exceptional Quality or better biosolids 57. Working cooperatively with the County to solve City/County flood problems G:U.egislative Priorities\2006 Legislative Action Platform-Exh A.DOC C� -g League of California Cities Exhibit B i 2006-02-07 Board Adopts Strategic Goals for 2006 The League board of directors set the course of the organization for the coming year when it met with the leaders of the League's departments,divisions,policy committees and caucuses.After participating with other League leaders in eight separate discussion groups,the directors considered a list of proposed strategic goals formulated by the discussion groups.The following focus and goals were adopted: Strategic Focus in 2006:To support policies that directly promote the development and redevelopment of healthy and safe cities. Strategic Goals: In 2006 the League and its divisions,departments,caucuses and policy committees will advocate: ■ Infrastructure: Expanded funding for state and local investment in the physical infrastructure of California, including, but not limited to, its roadways,bridges, levees, parks, libraries,and systems for delivering and treating water,wastewater and storm water. • Housing: Expanded housing supply and affordability for all Californians, consistent with the planning and environmental quality objectives of the League's Principles for Smart Growth and the League's mission to restore and protect local control. • Redevelopment: Protection of redevelopment funding and authority, the critical tools necessary for local investment in future affordable housing and the infrastructure so necessary for the continued expansion of the California economy. last updated: 12/2/2005 I i RECEIVED oSSpNLU�g���o RED FILE FEB 21 2006 MEETING AGENDA DATE 4 iO ITEM # L� SLO CITY CLERK �eU�CENI MEMORANDUM From the Office of the City Attorney February 21, 2006 To: Mayor and City Council Via: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer From: Jonathan P. Lowell;City Attorney Subject: Item C-6, 2006 Legislative Action Platform Council Member Mulholland requested that staff consider modifying the recommended 2006 Legislative Action Platform to include an additional item, under the heading of Parks & Recreation and Natural Resources and following existing item.34, to read as follows: 35. Supporting measures to prohibit discharge of pollutants into the ocean (e.g. selenium contaminated waters from the San Joaquin Valley) The items following this one would be renumbered. Staff concurs with this change and hereby makes it a part of its recommendation rATTORN :Y CDD DI-1 Ly FIN D19 c FIRE CHIEF PW DIR�; POLICE CNF � REC DIR UTILDIR L",BIR