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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4.3 - 2982 2020 Legislative Program Page 1 of 2 STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL DATE: December 3, 2019 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Christopher L. Foss, City Manager SUBJECT: 2020 Legislative Platform Prepared by: John Stefanski, Assistant to the City Manager EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will consider approving a Legislative Platform for 2020. The Legislative Platform would guide the City’s response to pending and potential legislation that impacts the Dublin community. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the Resolution Approving the 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. DESCRIPTION: On December 4, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 129 -18 approving a Legislative Platform for 2019 that includes the goals, strategies and prio rities for organizing the City's legislative interests. The proposed 2020 Legislative 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 rap idly changing nature of legislative items efficiently and without delay. The Legislative Platform is adopted annually for each legislative year. The proposed 2020 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 authority and promote stable revenue for local governments to plan for future growth and needed public facilities and services. The 2020 Legislative Platform priority areas are: General Administration Page 2 of 2 Fiscal Sustainability 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 will allow the City Council and Staff to respond in a timely manner to pending an d potential legislation. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE: None. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: None. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution Approving the 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform 2. Exhibit A to Resolution - 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform RESOLUTION NO. XX-19 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN ********* APPROVING THE 2020 CITY OF DUBLIN LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM WHEREAS, the 2020 Legislative Platform (“Platform”) for the City of Dublin 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 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform 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 3th day of December 2019, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: _______________________________ Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________ City Clerk 2020 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM GOALS, STRATEGIES, AND PRIORITIES DECEMBER 2019 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform    Page 2 of 9 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 2020 Legislative Platform highlights the City Council’s positions on important issues to engage in the legislative process for the benefit of Dublin residents. Over the next year, City Staff will monitor bills introduced into the California Assembly or Senate as well as their path towards becoming law. This 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 with 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 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. 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform    Page 3 of 9 The City of Dublin’s 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 advocate(s) to develop positions on proposed legislative measures. o Review positions and analyses by the League of California Cities, legislative advocates and other local government / professional associations in formulating the City’s position. o Take positions on proposals that clearly impact the City or threaten local control. o 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. 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform    Page 4 of 9 The Process Oversight of the Legislative Platform 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 Staff will follow the process below when responding to legislative proposals: 1. Review and determine whether a legislative proposal will impact the City. 2. Prepare a letter outlining the City’s position for the Mayor’s or City Manager’s signature. 3. Distribute the letter to the legislation’s author(s), the City Council, and other relevant parties. In scenarios where a legislative proposal or regulation arises that may impact the City and is not covered by this Legislative Platform, Staff will prepare a draft position letter for the City Council to review prior to distribution. 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform    Page 5 of 9 Legislative Priorities for 2020 General Administration Staff recommends that the City Council support: 1. Legislation that enhances or streamlines local control and allows cities to address the needs of local constituents within a framework of regional cooperation. 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. Staff recommends that the City Council oppose: 1. Legislation that attempts to restrict local authority or decision-making whether by state or federal legislation or ballot propositions. 2. Legislation that would diminish or eliminate local governments’ ability to contract out for the provision of services. 3. Legislation that requires cities to use district-based elections. 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. 9. Legislation that supports measures to provide sustainable public pensions and other post- retirement benefits to ensure responsive and affordable public services. 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform    Page 6 of 9 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, energy, and other critical infrastructure systems. 2. Legislation that will provide access or public-private partnerships to 5G Cellular Networks 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 5G 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 supports cities in their efforts to properly regulate new and emerging methods of transportation, including micro-mobility devices and transportation network companies that use city infrastructure to offer private services. 9. Legislation that enhances the safety of City streets for car, bicycle and pedestrian traffic, reduces traffic congestion, or supports regional transportation improvements. 10. Legislation that encourages the optimum and sustainable utilization of local groundwater basins. 11. Legislation that enhances the reliability of water transmission and storage through the Delta and Tri-Valley. 12. 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. 13. Legislation that creates flexibility in the implementation of mandatory storm water and solid waste programs and provides funding for those programs. 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform    Page 7 of 9 14. 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. 15. 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. 16. 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 divert funds collected from the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB1). 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 or recreational 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, business attraction, and business 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. 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. 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform    Page 8 of 9 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. 6. Legislation that would interfere with the ability to provide productive incentives to support job creation, business attraction, and business retention. 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. Environmental Sustainability Staff recommends that the City Council support: 1. 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. 2. Legislation that supports minimizing single-use disposables as well as minimizes product packaging. 3. Legislation that supports the ability of cities to run efficient and effective waste diversion programs. 4. Legislation and policies that assist local government in meeting or exceeding established goals of reducing water consumption and increasing water supply without preempting local planning decisions. 2020 City of Dublin Legislative Platform    Page 9 of 9 5. Legislation that supports reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to extracting, transporting, and manufacturing materials. 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 2018 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, battery storage, microgrids, and the 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.