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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-11 - AGENDA REPORTS - 2014 LEGISTLATIVE PLATFORM (2)CONSENT CALENDAR 167,41x4 SUBJECT: I t7 X17\;7111u I �l�lI1F Agenda Item: 2 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: March 11, 2014 Michael P. Murphy SANTA CLARITA 2014 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM City Manager's Office RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council accept the recommendation of the City Council Legislative Committee and adopt the Santa Clarita 2014 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 issues that are of interest to the organization and are likely to come forward during the congressional session or state legislative session. On March 3, 2014, the City Council Legislative Committee approved a recommendation that the Santa Clarita City Council adopt its first annual legislative platform. The Santa Clarita 2014 Legislative Platform is designed to provide City staff, as well as the City's federal and state legislative delegation with general guidance on legislative 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 issues of interest and concern. The Santa Clarita 2014 Legislative Platform outlines broad based legislative positions in the early days of the congressional and legislative sessions. As specific bills are considered by Congress and the California Legislature, those measures will be brought to the City Council Legislative Committee and City Council for adoption of positions. 1 I 1 � I "� ` �. ILS ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS 1. Reject the recommendation of the City Council Legislative Committee and not adopt the Santa Clarita 2014 Legislative Platform. 2. Approve the recommendation of the City Council Legislative Committee to adopt the Santa Clarita 2014 Legislative Platform, but amend issues contained within the document. 3. Other action, as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT No additional financial resources beyond those contained in the 2013/14 City of Santa Clarita budget are necessary to implement the recommended action. ATTACHMENTS Santa Clarita 2014 Legislative Platform 0 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita 2014 Leeislative Platform A legislative platform, approved by the City Council, enables City of Santa Clarita elected officials and staff to act quickly in outreaching 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 2014 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 policy position on all legislative, administrative and regulatory matters with which the City is involved. Position statements on legislation, regulatory, and other matters for which City Council established policy exists may be communicated by the City Manager or his designated staff to legislators, legislative staff, administration officials, administrative staff, 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 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 2014 Legislative Platform is to clearly 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 actions; taking appropriate action when required and in compliance with this Platform to safeguard and/or advance the City's interests in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento. The statements outlined below are intended to assist the City Council and City staff to appropriately address proposed legislation, administrative or regulatory actions to promote City interests and protect local authority, if necessary. FEDERAL • Support incentives and programs utilized by states and local governments designed to keep filming within the United States, and in particular, California. • Support legislation and grant opportunities that will preserve or increase funding for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). • Oppose legislation or regulatory action that seeks to reduce Santa Clarita's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement below FY 13-14 levels. • Support legislation and grant opportunities that will increase funding for Santa Clarita's community services, including funding for local law enforcement Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) • Seek funding opportunities to be used toward construction of a new Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's station. • Seek funding opportunities to be used toward construction of a new Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center. • Oppose the imposition of unfunded or less -than -fully funded mandates on local governments. • Support principles and legislation that will bring funding to the City of Santa Clarita under the reauthorization of the surface transportation act. • Oppose regulatory efforts by the Federal Communications Commission to erode or eliminate local government authority regarding siting of cellular communications towers or transmission sites. STATE • Support legislation to reinstate the Vehicle License Fee apportionment for newly incorporated cities and municipal annexations. • Support new or alternative approaches that may replace redevelopment agencies that will deliver positive benefits to Santa Clarita. • Monitor and influence legislation that fosters job creation, encourages sustainable growth, construction of affordable housing, and the elimination of blight in Santa Clarita. • Support efforts to streamline the redevelopment dissolution process with consistency and equitability. • Advocate for measures that support the City's continued efforts to retain and promote the growth or expansion of local businesses. • 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. • Oppose the imposition of unfunded or inadequately funded state mandates. • Support legislation and regulatory action to assure timely reimbursements of mandated reimbursements owed to the City of Santa Clarita. • Support legislation that maintains or enhances the City's ability to keep and protect existing state and local funding sources that provide revenues to the City of Santa Clarita. • Oppose legislation that limits local control of municipal public services or imposes unjustified financial burdens. • Work with state legislators and administration officials, in partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District in seeking funding to continue reduction of self - regenerating water softeners. • Ensure all cities, including contract cities, have equal access to funding which increases public safety services. • Support measures that provide funding to local agencies for training, effective disaster preparedness, sheriffs station infrastructure, homeland security, and emergency planning. • Monitor and influence legislation or regulatory action regarding the proposed California High Speed Rail project; with the goal of eliminating (i.e. Burbank to Palmdale direct alignment by-passing Santa Clarita) or limiting (i.e. tunnel extension through eastern neighborhoods of Santa Clarita) negative impacts to Santa Clarita residents and the community. • Support efforts to ensure Santa Clarita receives its fair share of transportation revenue proportionate to transportation tax dollars generated in the City, and increase funding for local transportation, transit programs, and projects. Support legislation or grant opportunities for local governments that provide funding for developing or enhancing alternative vehicle fueling stations.