HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-28 - AGENDA REPORTS - 2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM (2)Agenda Item: 5
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: fill
DATE: March 28, 2017
SUBJECT: SANTA CLARITA 2017 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
PRESENTER: Michael Murphy
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council accept the recommendation of the City Council Legislative Committee and adopt
the Santa Clarita 2017 Legislative Platform.
BACKGROUND
Many cities, special districts, and other organizations, which frequently take positions on federal
and state legislation, adopt an annual legislative program or platform. The legislative platform
outlines policy statements regarding legislative and regulatory issues that are of interest to the
organization and are likely to come forward during the congressional session or state legislative
session. The City Council adopted the Santa Clarita 2016 Legislative Platform on December 8,
2015.
On March 10, 2017, the City Council Legislative Committee reviewed the draft platform and
recommends that the City Council adopt the Santa Clarita 2017 Legislative Platform.
The Santa Clarita 2017 Legislative Platform outlines policy statements regarding legislative and
regulatory issues that are of interest to the City and may come forward during the I I5th
Congress and the California Legislature's 2017-18 Session. The Legislative Platform has been
developed in a manner that is consistent with previous positions adopted by the City Council and
is designed to provide City of Santa Clarita (City) staff, as well as the City's federal and state
legislative delegation, with general guidance on legislative and regulatory issues of interest and
concern to the City Council. The Legislative Platform will also inform organizations with an
advocacy presence in Washington and Sacramento, such as the League of California Cities and
California Contract Cities Association, of the Santa Clarita City Council's legislative interests.
Finally, the document will assist staff in communicating about legislative and regulatory issues
of interest and concern and will enable staff to quickly act in the event an issue of direct impact
to the City requires immediate action.
Pagc 1
Packet Pg. 28
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Reject the recommendation of the City Council Legislative Committee and not adopt the
Santa Clarita 2017 Legislative Platform.
2. Approve the recommendation of the City Council Legislative Committee to adopt the
Santa Clarita 2017 Legislative Platform, but amend issues contained within the
document.
3. Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
No additional resources beyond those contained within the adopted Fiscal Year 2016-17 City
budget are required for implementation of the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
2017 Legislative Platform Draft
Page 2
Packet Pg. 29
5.a
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
2017 Legislative Platform
A legislative platform, approved by the City Council, enables City of Santa Clarita elected
officials and staff to act quickly in reaching out to legislators, executive branch elected officials,
and legislative, administrative, or regulatory staff in communicating the City's interests at the
federal and state levels of government. The components within the 2017 Legislative Platform
are primarily based upon positions previously adopted by the City Council.
The Santa Clarita City Council establishes the City of Santa Clarita's official policy
position on all legislative, administrative and regulatory matters with which the City is
involved.
Position statements regarding legislative, administrative, regulatory, and other matters for which
City Council established policy exists may be communicated by the City Manager or designated
staff to legislators, legislative staff, administration officials, administrative staff, regulatory board
members, and other entities, as appropriate, reflecting the City Council's adopted policy.
For those matters in which no City Council policy exists, bills and other legislative,
administrative or regulatory matters will be brought to the City Council Legislative Committee
for a recommendation to the full City Council. These matters may also be brought directly to the
City Council, upon the request of the Council or in the event that timeliness of action by the City
Council is required.
The purpose of the Santa Clarita 2017 Legislative Platform is to outline the position of the City
Council on priority issues and matters that impact the City's ability to operate effectively. City
staff will monitor federal and state legislation, and administrative or regulatory proposals; taking
appropriate action when required in compliance with the adopted Legislative Platform in order to
safeguard and/or advance the City's interests in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento.
Packet Pg. 30
The statements outlined below are intended to assist the City Council and City staff to efficiently
and appropriately address proposed legislation, administrative or regulatory actions to promote
City interests and protect local authority, as necessary.
FEDERAL
1. Support legislation to establish the St. Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial and National
Monument.
2. Support legislation to increase funding for, creating enhancements to, or expanding the
boundaries of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
3. Support legislation seeking to implement the Rim of the Valley Corridor Special Resource
Study; containing boundary adjustments that include portions of the Santa Clarita Valley, but
does not eliminate or limit current authority of the City of Santa Clarita.
4. Support legislation, regulatory proposals or grant applications that will bring funding
beneficial to the City of Santa Clarita under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation
(FAST) Act.
5. Work with Members of Congress regarding issues related to the potential legislative
establishment of a Castaic Wilderness area.
6. Support legislation that enables local governments to enact ordinances or exercise regulatory
authority governing residential recovery facilities, including, but not limited to, drugs and
alcohol.
7. Seek funding opportunities to be used toward construction of a new Santa Clarita Valley
Senior Center within the City of Santa Clarita.
Seek funding opportunities to be used toward construction of a new Santa Clarita Valley
Sheriff's station within the City of Santa Clarita.
9. Support legislation, administrative proposals or grant opportunities that will increase funding
for Santa Clarita's community services; including, but not limited to, funding for local law
enforcement Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and enhanced Justice
Assistance Grants (JAG).
10. Support legislation, administrative actions or regulatory proposals ensuring that contract
cities for law enforcement services are treated equally with municipalities providing full
service or in-house law enforcement services.
11. Oppose regulatory efforts by the Federal Communications Commission to erode, limit or
eliminate local government authority regarding siting of cellular communications towers,
transmission sites or other infrastructure.
2
Packet Pg. 31
5.a
12. Support legislation or grant opportunities for local governments that provide funding for
development or enhancing alternative fueling stations for vehicles.
13. Support legislation and grant opportunities that will preserve or increase funding for the
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
14. Support incentives and programs utilized by states and local governments designed to keep
filming within the United States, and in particular, California.
15. Work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to secure updated community flood
maps.
16. Oppose the imposition of unfunded or less -than -fully -funded mandates on local
governments.
STATE
1. Support legislation that provides more transparency and contact between mobilehome park
owners and residents; particularly in the areas of mobilehome park owner/tenant relations,
conversion of senior parks to family parks, mobilehome lease agreements, and mobilehome
park maintenance and evictions.
2. Support legislative efforts to address the negative impacts of Proposition 47 and Proposition
57 on local governments and provide local law enforcement with the appropriate tools to
reduce criminal activity.
3. Oppose legislation that seeks to limit or eliminate municipal authority to regulate or ban
commercial growing, processing, licensing, sale or transport of cannabis or cannabis products
for recreational or medical use.
4. Oppose legislation that seeks to impose district -based voting systems in municipal elections
or otherwise mandates specific actions for municipalities to implement when challenged
regarding compliance with the California Voting Rights Act.
5. Oppose legislation that removes or limits the authority of local jurisdictions to determine
how best to comply with provisions of the California Voting Rights Act.
6. Support legislation that would enable the California Department of Transportation to transfer
ownership of portions of state highways to local governments, provided the receiving agency
is in agreement with the transfer.
7. Oppose legislation that seeks to circumvent local control and local circumstances when
addressing homelessness.
3
Packet Pg. 32
5.a
8. Oppose legislation, regulatory proposals or administrative actions to limit or eliminate local
government authority or mandate by -right approvals relative to the siting or modification of
telecommunications equipment or infrastructure.
9. Oppose legislation that changes the composition of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority Board of Directors (Metro), resulting in a reduction of Santa
Clarita's representation or influence with the Board of Directors.
10. Support legislation, regulatory proposals or administrative actions to assure timely
reimbursements of mandated reimbursements owed to the City of Santa Clarita by the State
of California.
11. Support legislation that maintains or enhances the City's ability to keep and protect existing
state and local funding sources providing revenues to the City of Santa Clarita.
12. Oppose legislation that limits local control of municipal public services or imposes new
financial burdens.
13. Monitor and influence legislation, regulatory proposals or other actions regarding the
proposed California High -Speed Rail Authority project; opposing alignment proposals that
are not fully underground within the Palmdale to Burbank project section or otherwise
negatively impact Santa Clarita residents and the community.
14. Oppose legislation that would infringe upon the authority of local governments to effectively
administer and consider unique local circumstances when processing permits and enforcing
building and safety standards.
15. Oppose legislation that would interfere with, limit or eliminate the decision -making authority
of local governments in the area of local land use.
16. Support legislation requiring transparency in the state licensing requirements for alcohol and
drug residential rehabilitation or recovery facilities on par with public noticing requirements
for group home facilities.
17. Support legislation that provides local governments with a role in regulating the location of
state licensed alcohol or drug recovery facilities.
18. Support legislation that will preserve or enhance the tools, incentives, and programs utilized
by local governments and the state that will keep filming in California.
19. Advocate for measures that support the City's continued efforts to retain and promote the
growth or expansion of local businesses.
20. Support legislation, regulatory proposals or grant opportunities for local governments that
provide funding for developing or enhancing alternative fueling stations for vehicles.
4
Packet Pg. 33
21. Support efforts to ensure Santa Clarita receives its fair share of transportation revenue; based
upon appropriate population statistics or proportionate to transportation tax dollars generated
in the City and increase funding for local transportation, transit programs, and projects.
22. Oppose legislation that would prohibit or limit local governments' ability to contract out for
the provision of services.
23. Oppose legislation that mandates local governments provide specific benefits to employees
or removes or limits local authority to determine the level of benefits to be provided to
employees.
24. Support measures that provide funding to local agencies for training, effective disaster
preparedness, sheriff's station infrastructure, homeland security, and emergency planning.
25. Support legislation, regulations or administrative actions ensuring all cities, including
contract cities, have equal access to funding which increases public safety services.
26. Support legislation, regulations or administrative actions ensuring all cities, including
contract cities, have equal access to funding for parks, recreation and open space.
27. In partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District, work with state legislators
and administration officials in seeking funding to continue reduction of self -regenerating
water softeners or provides funding for the chloride compliance project.
28. Support legislation that enhances transparency in the decision -making process of the State
Water Resources Control Board and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
29. Support full funding of the state's obligation to support local public libraries pursuant to
existing formulas established in the state's education code.
30. Oppose state regulatory efforts to override or eliminate local authority regarding the siting of
cellular communications towers, wireless transmission sites or other infrastructure.
31. Support legislation that direct a portion of Cap -and -Trade funds toward local transportation
projects.
32. Support legislation or administrative efforts to streamline the redevelopment dissolution
process with consistency and equitability.
33. Support legislation that increases penalties for possession of date rape drugs with the
intention of committing sexual assault.
34. Oppose the imposition of unfunded or inadequately funded state mandates.
5
Packet Pg. 34
5.a
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Michael P. Murphy
Intergovernmental Relations Manager
mmuMhy(& Santa-clarita. com
(661) 255-4384
Masis Hagobian
Administrative Analyst
mha og bian@santa-clarita.com
(661) 286-4057
0
Packet Pg. 35