HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB2598_20180910_LetterToQuirkCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114, slocity.org
September 18, 2018
The Honorable Edmund G. Brown
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
VIA Email: Leg.Unit@gov.ca.gov
RE: AB 2598 (Quirk) Cities and Counties: Ordinances: Violations
Request for Signature
Dear Governor Brown,
The City of San Luis Obispo respectfully requests your signature on Assembly Bill 2598 which will
enhance tools that assist local governments protect the health and safety of their residents through code
enforcement.
California building codes are designed to protect the health and safety of residents and visitors in
housing and other occupancies. When major violations – raw sewage, unapproved heaters, over-
burdened electrical systems, unsafe balconies, blocked fire exits, and other dangerous conditions – are
not aggressively addressed, people can get seriously harmed. While existing law authorizes various
levels of fines, these amounts have not been updated in many years. Inadequate penalties can erode
respect for the law.
This measure would update the fine levels for repeated violations for inflation, while continuing to
keep the initial fine lower and establish a hardship waiver process for repeated violators who have
made a bona fide effort to comply with the first violation and payment of the additional fines would
create an undue financial hardship.
This measure would enhance our city’s ability to address code violations that affect the health and
safety of our residents. For these reasons, the City of San Luis Obispo respectfully urges you to sign
AB 2598 (Quirk).
Sincerely,
Heidi Harmon
Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
cc: The Honorable Bill Quirk, California State Assembly, District 20
assemblymember.quirk@assembly.ca.gov
Tom Dyer, Chief Deputy Legislative Secretary, Office of Governor Brown
Leg.Unit@gov.ca.gov
Dave Mullinax dmullinax@cacities.org