HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-11-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - SC 2015 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM (2)Agenda Item• 2
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager Approval: U�UII/
Item to be presented by: Michael P. Murphy
DATE: November 25, 2014
SUBJECT: SANTA CLARITA 2015 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council accept the recommendation of the City Council Legislative Subcommittee and
adopt the Santa Clarita 2015 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. The City
Council adopted the City of Santa Clarita 2014 Legislative Platform on March 11, 2014.
On November 3, 2014, the City Council Legislative Subcommittee reviewed the draft platform
and recommends that the Santa Clarita City Council adopt the 2015 Legislative Platform.
The Santa Clarita 2015 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 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 and will enable staff to quickly act in the event an issue of direct impact to
the City requires immediate action.
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The Santa Clarita 2015 Legislative Platform outlines broad based legislative positions prior to
the start of the 114th Congress and the California Legislature's 2015-2016 Session. As specific
bills are considered by Congress and the California Legislature, those measures will be brought
to the City Council Legislative Subcommittee and City Council for adoption of formal positions.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. Reject the recommendation of the City Council Legislative Subcommittee and not adopt the
Santa Clarita 2015 Legislative Platform.
2. Approve the recormnendation of the City Council Legislative Subcommittee to adopt the
Santa Clarita 2015 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 2014/15 City of Santa Clarita
budget are necessary to implement the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
Santa Clarita 2015 Legislative Platform
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
2015 Legislative 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 2015 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 on legislation, 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, 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 2015 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, as necessary.
FEDERAL
1. Seek funding opportunities to be used toward construction of a new Santa Clarita
Valley Senior Center within the City of Santa Clarita.
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2. Seek funding opportunities to be used toward construction of a new Santa Clarita
Valley Sheriff s station within the City of Santa Clarita.
3. Support principles and legislation that will bring funding to the City of Santa Clarita
under the reauthorization of the surface transportation act.
4. Oppose regulatory efforts by the Federal Communications Commission to erode or
eliminate local government authority regarding siting of cellular communications
towers or transmission sites.
5. Support legislation and grant opportunities that will preserve or increase funding for
Santa Clarita's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
6. Oppose legislation or regulatory action that seeks to reduce Santa Clarita's
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement below FY 13-14 levels.
7. 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).
8. Support incentives and programs utilized by states and local governments designed to
keep filming within the United States, and in particular, California.
9. Support legislation or grant opportunities for local governments that provide funding
for development or enhancing alternative vehicle fueling stations.
10. Support legislation to designate the St. Francis Dam National Memorial.
11. Oppose the imposition of unfunded or less -than -fully funded mandates on local
governments.
12. Work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to secure updated
community flood maps.
STATE
1. Oppose legislation that seeks to impose district -based voting systems in municipal
elections.
2. Oppose legislation that removes authority of local jurisdictions to determine how best to
comply with provisions of the California Voting Rights Act.
3. Oppose the imposition of unfunded or inadequately funded state mandates.
4. Support legislation and regulatory action to assure timely reimbursements of mandated
reimbursements owed to the City of Santa Clarita.
5. 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.
6. Support new or alternative approaches that may replace redevelopment agencies that will
deliver positive benefits to Santa Clarita.
7. Support efforts to streamline the redevelopment dissolution process with consistency and
equitability.
8. Support legislation to reinstate the Vehicle License Fee apportionment for newly
incorporated cities and municipal annexations.
9. Monitor and influence legislation that fosters job creation, encourages sustainable
growth, construction of affordable housing, and the elimination of blight in Santa Clarita.
10. Advocate for measures that support the City's continued efforts to retain and promote the
growth or expansion of local businesses.
11. Support legislation or grant opportunities for local governments that provide funding for
developing or enhancing alternative vehicle fueling stations.
12. 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.
13. Oppose legislation that limits local control of municipal public services or imposes
unjustified financial burdens.
14. 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.
15. Ensure all cities, including contract cities, have equal access to funding which increases
public safety services.
16. Support measures that provide funding to local agencies for training, effective disaster
preparedness, sheriffs station infrastructure, homeland security, and emergency
planning.
17. Support efforts to ensure Santa Clarita receives its fair share of transportation revenue;
based upon current population statistics and proportionate to transportation tax dollars
generated in the City and increase funding for local transportation, transit programs, and
projects.
18. Support legislation that enhances transparency in the decision-making process of the
State Water Resources Control Board and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
19. Oppose legislation that would infringe upon the authority of local governments to
effectively administer and modify state and local construction provisions and standards.
20. Oppose legislation that would interfere with the decision-making authority of local
governments in the area of local land use.
21. Oppose legislation that would prohibit or limit local governments' ability to contract out
for the provision of services.
22. Support legislation that would retain local governments' regulatory authority regarding
medical marijuana dispensaries.
23. Oppose legislation that mandates local governments provide specific benefits to
employees or removes local authority to determine the level of benefits to be provided to
employees.
24. Support legislation requiring transparency in the state licensing requirements for alcohol
and drug residential rehabilitation facilities on par with public noticing requirements for
group home facilities.
25. 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.
26. Support full funding of the state's obligation to support local public libraries pursuant to
existing formulas established in the state's education code.
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