HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.10 - 2331 2019 Legislative Platform
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STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
DATE: December 4, 2018
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM:
Christopher L. Foss, City Manager
SUBJECT:
City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
Prepared by: Hazel L. Wetherford, Economic Development Director
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will consider approving a Legislative Platform for 2019 for the City of
Dublin. The Platform would guide the City’s response to pending and possible
legislation that affects the Dublin community.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the Resolution Approving the 2019 City of Dublin Legislative Platform.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the Legislative Platform.
DESCRIPTION:
On November 7, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 138-17 approving a
Legislative Platform for 2018 that includes the goals, strategies and priorities for
organizing the City's legislative interests. The 2019 proposed Platform (Attachment 2)
identifies the fundamental legislative issues deemed important to the City, and upon
City Council approval, will allow Staff to respond to the rapidly changing nature of
legislative items efficiently and without delay. The Legislative Platform is annually
adopted for each legislative year.
The draft 2019 Legislative Platform states that the City values its ability and authority to
exercise local control and to protect and enhance the quality of life for Dublin residents.
To that end, the City's primary legislative focus is to protect local government aut hority
and promote stable revenue for local governments to plan for future growth and needed
public facilities and services. The 2019 Legislative Platform priority areas are:
• General Administration
• Fiscal Sustainability
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• Public Works
• Community and Economic Development
• Public Safety
• Parks / Quality of Life
• Environmental Sustainability
The goals, strategies and priorities outline the approach and process the City will follow
in implementing the Legislative Platform. Once approved, the Legislative Platform wi ll
allow the City Council and Staff to respond in a timely manner to pending and possible
legislation.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
N/A
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Noticing not required.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution Approving the City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
2. Exhibit A to Resolution - City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
RESOLUTION NO. XX-18
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
*********
APPROVING THE CITY OF DUBLIN LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM 2019
WHEREAS, the Legislative Platform (“Platform”) for the City of Dublin for 2019 allows
City Staff to respond quickly in support of, or in opposition to, legislative issues based on
Dublin’s core values and City Council goals, especially in time-sensitive situations; and
WHEREAS, the Platform also permits City Staff to connect and communicate with
legislators regarding issues and impacts from the City’s perspective; and
WHEREAS, the Platform is an evolving document that changes due to City needs and
conditions as well as federal, state, county and local priorities and activities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin
adopts the City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019 attached hereto as Exhibit A.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor or his or her designee is authorized to sign
letters of opposition or letters of support, as drafted by City Staff for legislation as long as they
are consistent with the Platform.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of December 2018, by the following
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
_______________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
City Clerk
City of Dublin Legislative
Platform 2019
Legislative Platform: Goals, Strategies and Priorities DRAFT
City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
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Our Mission
The City of Dublin promotes and supports a high quality of life, ensures a safe and secure environment,
and fosters new opportunities.
Our Vision
Dublin is a great community to live, work, and raise a family. Dublin values:
Safety – We are dedicated to excellent public safety resources, including police and fire.
Finances – We will strive to be fiscally transparent and balance our budgets annually.
Multi‐Cultural Opportunities – We will meet the cultural needs of our community through
programming, understanding and events.
Innovation – We will continue to innovate in every aspect of government and promote
innovation within the business community.
Customer Service – We will provide excellent customer service to our residents and businesses
at all times.
Living an Active Lifestyle – We will continuously promote an active lifestyle through our parks
and facilities and encourage participation in local sports.
History – We will honor our history through places and programs that remind people of our
beginnings.
Business – We will support our businesses through ongoing economic development efforts and
help them grow and thrive locally.
Environmental Sustainability – We will continue to lead in building a sustainable community
and protecting our natural resources.
Introduction
The 2019 Legislative Platform highlights the City Council’s positions on important issues to engage in the
legislative process for the benefit of Dublin residents. City Staff monitors bills introduced into the
California Assembly or Senate as well as their path towards becoming a law. The Platform provides Staff
with direction and allows the City, on the Council’s behalf, to quickly respond in support of or opposition
to bills and other legislative or gubernatorial actions in time‐sensitive situations. Additionally, the
Platform enables staff to communicate Dublin specific issues and impacts to state legislators.
The Legislative Platform evolves as the City's needs adjust, new issues arise, and conditions at the
federal, state, regional, county, and local level change. The City values its ability and authority to
exercise local control and to protect and enhance the quality of life for Dublin residents. To that end, the DRAFT
City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
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City's primary legislative focus is to protect local government control and promote stable revenue for
local governments to plan for future growth and needed public facilities and services.
The City of Dublin Legislative Platform priorities are:
General Administration
Fiscal Stability
Public Works
Community and Economic Development
Public Safety
Parks / Quality of Life
Environmental Sustainability
Goals
Advocate the City’s legislative interests at the federal, state, and county levels.
Inform and provide information to our legislators, City Council and staff on the legislative
process, key issues and legislation that could have a potential impact on the City.
Serve as an active participant with other local governments, the League of California Cities,
regional agencies, and local professional organizations on legislative/regulatory issues that are
important to the City and our region.
Strategies
Communicate legislative positions on proposed federal, state, and county legislation, measures,
initiatives, and governmental regulations.
o Work with City departments and our legislative advocates to develop positions on
proposed legislative measures.
o Review positions and analysis by the League of California Cities, legislative advocates
and other local government / professional associations in formulating the City’s
position.
o The City will take positions only on proposals that clearly impact our City or are a threat
to local control.
o Actively track key bills through the legislative process.
o Communicate the City’s position through correspondence, testimony, and in‐person
meetings.
o Work cooperatively with other cities, associations and the League of California Cities on
advocating the City’s legislative position.
o Meet with legislators and their representatives, as well as other federal, state and
county government officials on a regular basis, to discuss local government issues,
proposed legislation, request for funding assistance, and City programs and services.
DRAFT
City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
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The Process
Oversight of the Legislative Platform
Upon the Legislative Platform adoption, the City Manager’s Office will exercise day‐to‐day oversight of
legislative matters. In addition to coordinating formal action through the City Council, the City Manager
and his or her designee will administer the City’s Legislative Platform.
Responding to Legislative Proposals
Upon the Legislative Platform adoption, the following process will be followed in response to legislative
proposals:
Once a determination has been made that a legislative proposal may impact the City, a letter
outlining the City’s position will be drafted for the Mayor’s or City Manager’s signature.
If a legislative proposal or regulation arises that is not addressed by the adopted Legislative
Platform and it is determined that it may impact the City, a draft position letter will be prepared
for the City Council to review.
A copy of all legislative letters will be distributed routinely to the City Council.
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City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
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Legislative Priorities for 2019
General Administration
Staff recommends that the City Council support:
1. Legislation that enhances local control and allows cities to address the needs of local
constituents within a framework of regional cooperation. Support legislation that streamlines
and simplifies the job of running a city and oppose efforts that erode the City’s authority to
control its own affairs.
2. Legislation that provides funding to schools for operational or infrastructure needs.
3. Legislation that streamlines the process to apply for, to receive approval of, and to receive State
or Federal emergency funding.
4.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose:
1. Legislation that would diminish or eliminate local governments’ ability to contract out for the
provision of services.
2. Legislation that requires cities to use district‐based elections.
3. Legislation that attempts to restrict local authority or decision‐making whether by state or
federal legislation or ballot propositions.
4. Legislation that limits or removes local review and permitting of emerging telecommunications
technologies, such as Small Cell technology.
Fiscal Sustainability
Staff recommends that the City Council support:
1. Legislation that maintains or enhances ongoing revenues to the City.
2. Legislation which updates the tax structure to enhance local government revenues that have
declined due to the expansion of e‐commerce, increased consumption of services rather than
durable goods, and innovations in technology.
3. Legislation and regulatory actions that ensure timely distribution of mandated reimbursements
owed to the City.
4. Legislative reforms that would remove unnecessary state‐imposed mandates.
5. Legislation that provides for the use of incentives for local government action rather than
mandates (funded or unfunded).
6. Legislation that establishes infrastructure financing districts or other funding mechanisms for
infrastructure improvements.
7. Legislation that changes the Communications Act of 1934 that removes the distinction between
“capital” and “operating” funds to provide more local control for community television stations
in the use of their public, educational, and government (PEG) channel fees.
8. Legislation that supports measures to increase transparency of all public employee salaries and
benefits. DRAFT
City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
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9. Legislation that supports measures to provide sustainable public pensions and other post‐
retirement benefits to ensure responsive and affordable public services.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose:
1. Legislation that undermines and preempts local authority over local taxes and fees. Monitor
state and federal budget deliberations and oppose attempts to balance the state and/or federal
budget by shifting funds from local government.
2. Legislation that imposes unfunded or inadequately funded federal and state mandates on local
governments.
3. Legislation that eliminates development fees or limit the ability of cities to levy fees to provide
for infrastructure or services.
4. Legislation that requires or expands state involvement in City financial audits, fiscal monitoring,
general oversight, or assistance by the State Treasurer, State Controller or other state agencies.
5. Legislation that defers reimbursements for state mandated programs.
Public Works
Staff recommends that the City Council support:
1. Legislation that will provide local governments with new and innovative revenue options and
resources to finance critical infrastructure maintenance and construction needs for
transportation, water supply, wastewater, storm water, and other critical infrastructure
systems.
2. Legislation that will provide access or public‐private partnership to 5‐G Cellular Network for
connected and Autonomous vehicle technology implementation. Support is needed to establish
long term agreements with technology companies that are seeking access to city infrastructure
for creating a 5‐G Cellular Network.
3. Legislation that would enable the sale of traffic data (traffic signal and other) to recover the cost
of data collection.
4. Legislation that ensures the City receive its fair share of transportation funding and that keeps
the funding decisions at the local level.
5. Legislation that supports reducing congestion and delay along freeways in the Tri‐Valley Area.
6. Legislation that supports freight movement (between the San Francisco Bay Area and the
Central Valley) with projects that could reduce truck traffic along I‐580. These projects may
include rail‐based freight movement or sharing the passenger rail corridors for freight
movement.
7. Legislation that supports Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) including the implementation
of Connected/Autonomous vehicles.
8. Legislation that enhances the safety of City streets for car, bicycle and pedestrian traffic, reduces
traffic congestion, or supports regional transportation improvements.
9. Legislation that encourages the optimum and sustainable utilization of local groundwater basins.
10. Legislation that enhances the reliability of water transmission and storage through the Delta and
Tri‐Valley.
11. Legislation that provides funding or incentives for the cost‐effective development of local water
resources, water conservation, or expansion of recycled water infrastructure and improvements
to reduce dependence on imported water sources. DRAFT
City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
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12. Legislation that creates flexibility in the implementation of mandatory storm water programs
and provides funding for those programs.
13. Legislation that support a constitutional amendment to lower the threshold for approval of sales
and use taxes for transportation purposes. Currently, such taxes must be approved by two‐
thirds of the voters.
14. Legislation that allows fuel tax indexing or an increase to provide additional funding for local
street projects, especially maintenance, and support efforts that protect against transportation
funding diversions.
15. Legislation that provides cap and trade funds derived from transportation fuels for clean
transportation purposes.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose:
1. Legislation that would infringe upon the ability of local governments to effectively administer
and modify state and local construction provisions and standards.
2. Legislation that takes away local control of managing and operating local streets.
3. Legislation that reduces the City’s condemnation authority regarding acquisition of properties
required for public projects.
4. Legislation that seeks to repeal the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB1) or that
seeks to divert funds collected.
Community and Economic Development
Staff recommends that the City Council support:
1. Legislation that maintains cities’ authority over land use decisions.
2. Legislation that strengthens local governments’ regulatory authority and control over the siting
of medical marijuana dispensaries.
3. Legislation that would create a more equitable Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
process. Support legislation that creates more flexibility for local jurisdictions to work together
to provide housing that counts toward RHNA requirements.
4. Legislation that enhances the City’s efforts to retain existing businesses and attract new
businesses.
5. Legislation that provides tangible and productive tools and incentives to support job creation
and retention.
6. CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) legislation that eliminates redundant, costly and
cumbersome mandates and restrictions.
7. Legislation that advances or encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, start‐ups, small business
opportunities, and/or workforce development.
8. Legislation that provides incentives for affordable housing and transit‐oriented development.
9. Legislation that increases financial assistance to provide affordable, transitional, special needs
and emergency housing to the homeless, seniors, veterans, and people with special needs.
10. Legislation encouraging the expansion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics) programs in K‐12, higher education and libraries.
DRAFT
City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
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Staff recommends that the City Council oppose:
1. Legislation that would interfere with the decision‐making authority of local government in local
land use and zoning.
2. Legislation that erodes the ability of cities to condition and deny projects that inadequately
mitigate impacts to the community.
3. Legislation that weakens local governments’ ability to regulate massage establishments through
zoning code provisions.
4. Legislation and regulatory efforts that would diminish or eliminate the authority of cities to zone
and plan for the development of telecommunications infrastructure, including the siting of
cellular communications towers or transmission sites.
5. Legislation that would diminish or eliminate cities’ authority to regulate condominium
conversions.
Public Safety
Staff recommends that the City Council support:
1. Legislation and grant opportunities that increase funding for local law enforcement, fire
suppression and prevention, hazardous materials mitigation, and emergency medical services.
2. Legislation that provides funding to local agencies for training, disaster preparedness crime
prevention, public outreach, and emergency planning.
3. Legislation which ensures cities have control of regulating local medical marijuana facilities
instead of the state, protects public safety with standardized security requirements, protects
public health with uniform health and safety standards, and ensures patient safety with a quality
assurance protocol.
4. Legislation that improves data and information dissemination from the railroads and Federal
government, preparedness funding, and first‐responder training for oil‐by‐rail shipments.
5. Legislation that maintains or increases grant funding for the Community Oriented Police Services
(COPS) program.
6. Legislation that provides a greater share of asset forfeiture funds for cities and increases latitude
for spending local funds.
7. Legislation that supports funding to mitigate, adapt and respond to extreme weather events.
Parks / Quality of Life
Staff recommends that the City Council support:
1. Legislation that creates new funding opportunities for parks and community facilities.
2. Legislation that provides funding for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) facility and park
upgrades.
DRAFT
City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2019
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Environmental Sustainability
Staff recommends that the City Council support:
1. Legislation requiring manufactures to be responsible for safe disposal or reuse of their products
and by‐products, particularly for hazardous products such as sharps, unused prescription drugs,
and fluorescent light bulbs.
2. Legislation that encourages manufacturers to include post‐consumer recycled material in their
products and encourages state and local government agencies to use less‐toxic and recycled
content products.
3. Legislation that supports the development of alternative technologies such as anaerobic
digestion or mixed waste processing that result in waste diversion from landfills.
4. Legislation and policies that assist local government in meeting or exceeding established goals of
reducing water consumption without preempting local planning decisions.
5. Legislation that enhances building energy efficiency standards and building safety standards.
6. Legislation protecting the interest of California’s Community Choice clean electricity providers
and their customers.
7. Legislation that assists regional and local governments in development and implementing
energy efficiency and conservation strategies and ensure that local governments can continue,
and not be preempted in, their efforts to achieve economic improvements through increased
energy efficiency and conservation plans that seek to decrease carbon emissions (a League of
California Cities Federal Priority).
8. Legislation that supports regional and local government efforts to develop and implement
programs to reduce air pollution.
9. Legislation or grant opportunities for cities that provide funding for developing or enhancing
alternative vehicle fueling stations.
10. Legislation to address litter control and abatement problems in California.
11. Legislation that would make it easier for cities to fund and comply with new and increasingly
stringent storm water quality permit requirements.
12. Legislation that lessens the financial impact of state and federal unfunded mandates related to
compliance with environmental programs and regulations.
13. Legislation that supports local solar generation and electrification of California’s energy and fuel
supply.
Staff recommends that the City Council oppose:
1. Legislation that preempts local planning decisions regarding solid waste facility sites, preempts
local solid waste and AB 939 fee setting authority, or imposes taxes or fees on local solid waste
programs to fund State programs not directly related to solid waste management. DRAFT