Administrative Policy
Citywide Legislative Policy
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I. Purpose Statement
To address legislative and regulatory concerns in a timely manner, this Citywide Legislative Policy details guiding principles organized around respective legislative, policy, and regulatory matters. This Citywide Legislative Policy supplements the Citywide Strategic Plan to build an effective and flexible legislative advocacy strategy.
II. Guiding Principles
The Citywide Legislative Policy Guiding Principles are fundamental, overarching concepts that can be applied to respective legislative and/or regulatory matters. While legislative or regulatory proposals vary in breadth and complexity, these guiding principles will help narrow the focus to those matters that are the most consequential to the City of Chino. The Citywide Legislative Policy Guiding Principles include:
Preserve Local Control: The City will advocate to ensure that proposed legislation supports or expands the decision-making authority of a local agency to provide public services to its community. Preserving local control recognizes that Chino residents, through their democratic expression, have voted into office local elected officials who are best suited to make decisions that impact the immediate community. This also recognizes that imposing State mandates without appropriate reimbursement (commonly referred to as unfunded mandates) unnecessarily encumbers City resources, placing an unreasonable burden on the ability of local agencies to best serve their community.
Protect and Expand Local Funding and Public Finance: The City will support measures that add to funding sources (e.g., grants or other funding programs). Likewise, the City will support legislation that protects existing funding sources, revenue bases, and local control over municipal budgeting. Conversely, the City will oppose efforts to shift local funds to State or County governments. The City will also support legislation that, through transparent tax structures and revenue allocations, seeks to secure predictability in annual tax yields.
Enhance Quality of Life: The City will support legislation that advocates for the safety, well-being, and security of its residents, businesses, and visitors. This includes legislation that assists the City and its local partners to help families with childcare needs or by providing robust after school programs; this also includes support for those struggling with mental health and/or experiencing homelessness. Finally, the City will support legislation that promotes public safety operations and enhances the ability of public safety officers to protect their community, deter crime, and hold criminals accountable.
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Citywide Legislative Policy
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III. Legislative, Regulatory, and Policy Areas:
The following, in no particular order, are specific legislative and policy areas concerning the City of Chino. Identifying these issues narrows the City’s focus on specific matters within the scope of the City’s Guiding Principles.
A. ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ONT): As a neighbor to ONT, the City of Chino has a clear interest in fostering a collaborative relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration, the City of Ontario, and the Ontario International Airport Authority.
Therefore, the City will:
i. Support efforts that consider the quality of life for communities adjacent to ONT.
This includes promoting environmentally safe aviation techniques that lessen the airport’s carbon footprint and noise pollution generated from its activity. ii. Support efforts to utilize other airports within the Greater Los Angeles area that can accommodate increased activity.
iii. Support legislative and regulatory initiatives to study and mitigate the noise and air quality impacts that are associated with air traffic overflights. iv. Support legislation that seeks to promote local control with airport administration and oppose efforts to regionalize aviation oversight as to minimize adjacent community concerns and influences.
B. FEDERAL LEGISLATION: The City of Chino partners with federal agencies and utilizes federal programs to deliver public services or improve undeveloped land. Therefore, the City will:
i. Support legislation that promotes flexibility to utilize funds that best meet local needs.
ii. Work with federal agencies to develop sustainable land use and infrastructure plans in the southern part of Chino adjacent to the Prado Basin and Santa Ana River. iii. Engage local representatives to leverage federal funding for backbone infrastructure projects and social services.
C. HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATIONS: By representing Chino residents, it is understood that Chino elected officials are best suited to make policy decisions surrounding local land uses. Thus, the City of Chino will support legislation that strengthens local control over land use decisions. Therefore, the City will:
i. Oppose any development agreement located in the City’s sphere of influence that does not align with City standards or its General Plan. ii. Support legislation that simplifies and streamlines Housing Element requirements.
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iii. Support measures that provide funding to help cities address affordable housing concerns.
iv. Support efforts that increase City input when Regional Housing Needs Assessments are analyzed and developed.
v. Support any measure or legislation that seeks to preserve or build the City’s local control over planning and zoning matters.
D. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND STABILITY: Chino is a dynamic and growing community that requires and expects robust public services. This means the City will adamantly protect its revenue sources while simultaneously taking prudent measures to control operational costs. Therefore, the City will:
i. Support legislation or proposals that provide greater financial independence from the State by affording the City greater latitude to generate and control its revenue sources.
ii. Oppose legislation that creates an unfunded mandate. iii. Oppose legislation that unfairly redistributes general-purpose tax revenue (e.g., sales tax revenue yields from online purchases).
iv. Oppose legislation that limits discretion with locally imposed taxes. v. Oppose legislation that removes or limits tax exemptions from municipal bonds. vi. Support legislation that builds predictability in local government tax revenues and oppose any legislation that reduces or eliminates local revenue sources.
E. EMPLOYEE RELATIONS AND PENSION ADMINISTRATION: The City of Chino continues to employ best practices in personnel management and desires to see that State legislation will support our efforts. Therefore, the City will:
i. Support legislation that allows the City to engage more independently in employee relations and collective bargaining.
ii. Support legislation that fairly distributes financial obligations to fund pensions and other post-employment benefits between the City of Chino and its retirees. iii. Oppose legislation that undermines the relationship and understanding among the City of Chino, City of Chino employees, and the California Public Employee Retirement System (e.g., California Senate Bill 266, 2019-2020 Regular Session). iv. Oppose legislation that seeks to impose additional financial burdens on public agencies with its pension administration, employee relations, and/or collective bargaining practices.
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F. PUBLIC SAFETY: The City of Chino prides itself on providing excellent and robust public safety services. The City of Chino Police Department and the Chino Valley Independent Fire District are staples of the community, and the City will support legislation that promotes their respective efforts. Therefore, the City will:
i. Support legislation that holds criminals accountable for their actions and deters future criminal behavior.
ii. Oppose and repeal legislation that discourages police officers from efficiently enforcing laws by imposing undue burdens and unjust consequences for protecting their communities.
iii. Support legislation that narrows the scope of the categories of criminals that can qualify for early release.
iv. Support legislation that protects the rights of business owners, employees, and property owners to defend themselves, their businesses, employees, and customers from theft and robbery.
v. Support legislation that provides greater latitude for local agencies to use asset forfeiture funds in a manner most effective for their respective communities. vi. Support legislation that assists and provides funding for local law enforcement efforts, fire suppression/prevention, hazardous materials mitigation, and disaster preparedness.
vii. Support legislation that allows the City to better recoup the funds expended when responding to a Citywide disaster/emergency.
viii. Support legislation that funds programs aimed at protecting youth from tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. This includes after-school programs that offer positive activities for participants.
ix. Support legislation that strengthens law enforcement’s ability to enforce legal protections for all individuals who are victims of a crime. x. Support legislation that strengthens the presence of, or provides funding for, law enforcement personnel and public safety officers on school campuses to improve the safety of our schools. Support the expansion of funding and grants for cutting- edge public safety technologies and equipment that enhance the capabilities and efficiency of first responders.
xi. Support legislation and funding to assist local law enforcement, fire department, and emergency medical responses to address the opioid epidemic. xii. Support legislation that enhances the prosecution and sentencing of those who sell and furnish dangerous opioids such as fentanyl.
xiii. Support legislation and funding that helps address California law enforcement's recruitment and retention crisis, including resources that enhance first responder wellness and development.
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xiv. Support legislation and funding to combat and prevent organized retail crime, including stronger sentencing and bail requirements.
xv. Support legislation to narrow the scope of Proposition 57 to increase the transparency of early releases and protect the public from the early release of those convicted of serious felonies.
xvi. Support legislation strengthening the State’s resentencing laws under Proposition 47, thereby strengthening consequences against repeat offenders. xvii. Oppose legislation that prohibits or restricts the use of tools, resources, technologies, and practices currently authorized for use by public safety, including canines, license plate readers, and facial recognition technology.
G. COMMUNITY SERVICES, PARKS, AND RECREATION: The City of Chino provides a wide variety of high-quality recreational, educational, social, health, and other services that enrich the community and support resident populations of all ages and abilities. Therefore, the City will:
i. Support funding for recreational facilities and programs. ii. Support funding for public museums, theaters, and arts programs. iii. Support funding and legislation to preserve and promote historically significant community facilities.
iv. Support legislation that encourages, facilitates, and funds joint-use opportunities with educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholder groups to enhance the City's mental health, community services, and recreational opportunities.
v. Support legislation that provides funding and expands and improves safety net and support systems so that local agencies and their community partners are better equipped to support those experiencing mental health crises, homelessness, food insecurity, addiction, etc.
vi. Support increased funding for programs that partner law enforcement officers with mental health and social work professionals when interacting with at-risk members of our community.
vii. Support funding programs that help local agencies continue to improve and modernize local parks and make them more accessible.
viii. Support legislation that provides access opportunities to physical activity, proper nutrition, and healthy lifestyle options through the promotion of active transportation, healthy foods, youth and senior programming. ix. Support legislation that provides access to before and after school care for youth.
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H. LOCAL AND REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE: The City of Chino is a growing community that serves as a major residential and commercial area in both the Inland Empire and the Greater Los Angeles region. Given the consistent use and economic implications of Chino’s local and regional infrastructure, the City will continuously seek opportunities that support infrastructure maintenance and construction. Therefore, the City will:
i. Support legislation that creates the framework for effective and beneficial collaboration with regional and neighboring agencies.
ii. Support legislation that provides funding and/or recognizes the importance of regional and local infrastructure within the San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange County areas.
iii. Support legislation that recognizes changing market trends and incorporates opportunities to facilitate these changing economic conditions. iv. Support legislation that promotes equitable fiscal liability and maintenance for regional infrastructure facilities.
I. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES: The City of Chino’s Administration Department serves as an intersection for all departments. The Administration Department facilitates the efforts of all departments while ensuring compliance with electoral and transparency laws.
Therefore, the City will:
i. Support legislation that promotes modern, effective, and financially prudent means to meet legal noticing requirements for public meetings. ii. Support legislation that simplifies Fair Political Practices Commission regulations and filing requirements.
iii. Support legislation that cuts any unnecessary costs for municipal elections. iv. Oppose any legislation that would require additional costs without adequate reimbursement.
v. Support legislation that would assist cities in identifying, mitigating, and coming to a resolution on clear and unequivocal abuses of the California Public Records Act.
IV. Legislative Policy Committee Membership:
When City Council committee assignments are established, the City Council committee assignment list shall include the Legislative Policy Committee. Two sitting City Council members shall serve on the Legislative Policy Committee. The term of the committee assignment will continue until the City Council committee assignment list is reviewed, modified, and approved by the City Council.
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City staff support of this committee shall be determined and assigned by the City Manager.
V. Functions and Tasks of the Legislative Policy Committee:
The Legislative Policy Committee (“Committee”) shall meet as needed. All Committee meetings shall be publicly agendized and held in publicly accessible facilities pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act.
The Committee shall have a subpage to the Chino City Council webpage. The Committee subpage shall detail the Committee’s membership, purpose, and information on accessing agenda-related materials.
The Committee will review proposed legislation that could potentially impact the City of Chino and recommend official positions to the City Council. The Committee members will meet with State and Federal elected officials or members of their office on the legislation impacting the City.
The Committee will formulate and/or approve official City responses or communications to proposed legislation impacting the City and forward those responses or communications to the City Council for approval. All signed letters or other formal means of expression will be uploaded on the Committee’s subpage.
The Committee will instruct and work with City staff and its consultants on matters relating to legislation.
For those legislative items with potentially significant impact to the City or that create an issue of timeliness for an official response, the City Council authorizes Staff to formulate and approve official City responses with the qualification that the position is determined to be consistent with the City’s legislative policy. The Committee or Staff will report to the City Council on any updates, recommendations, or actions taken by the Committee or Staff at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting following the most recent Committee meeting.
VI. Signature Authority:
All signed letters or any other formal expressions of support or opposition to proposed legislation, regulations, or policies as directed by the Committee or the City Council or formulated by Staff consistent with the City’s legislative policy as noted above, may be signed by the Mayor on behalf of the City of Chino. Given the legislative process’ fluidity and in the interest of time, should the Mayor be unable or present to sign on behalf of the City, then the City Council hereby designates the Committee members or the City Manager to sign on behalf of the City.
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Citywide Legislative Policy
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VII. Policy Changes and Amendments:
This policy may be changed with City Council approval by way of an adopted City Council Resolution.