2023-2024
LEGISLATIVE
PLATFORM
CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CA
DRAFT
Contents
Overview of the City of Chula Vista .......................................................................................................... 1 Guiding Principles of Legislative Platform ................................................................................................ 2 2023-2024 Legislative Priorities ................................................................................................................ 3 2023-2024 Policy Position Statements ..................................................................................................... 6
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Overview of the City of Chula Vista
Incorporated in 1911, Chula Vista is the second largest city in San Diego County both in population and land area, with a population of 277,220 and land area of approximately 52 square miles.
Chula Vista is a global leader in sustainability and embracing new technologies to enhance the safety and quality of life for its residents. It became a charter member of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) in the early 1990s, completed a greenhouse gas inventory in 1996 and adopted its first CO2 reduction plan in 2000, making it the first city in San Diego County to adopt a climate action plan. It also has led the way with early action on developing transit-oriented neighborhoods, an innovative and sustainable plan to develop the Chula Vista Bayfront, and was one of the first cities in the nation to create a smart city plan to integrate technology to better serve and protect our residents and to ensure that City businesses and all City residents have universal access to high quality internet and technology.
The cornerstone of meeting those goals is to establish a four-year university and an innovation district that will act as a regional economic engine to make Chula Vista and the South Bay a global hub for cinematic arts, green technology, emerging autonomous technology, and building a binational economy.
This Legislative Platform provides a foundation for the City of Chula Vista Legislative Program to help Chula Vista advance its interests with California policy makers, agency representatives, industry leaders and others.
This platform also is intended to be a living document that will be updated by staff periodically as circumstances and goals change but the foundation will focus on efforts to enhance our city and the quality of life for our residents.
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Guiding Principles of Legislative Platform
The Legislative Platform is a tool to protect, promote, and guide our City’s interests on priority issues and legislative/regulatory matters that may impact the City at the state and federal level. The guiding principles and broad policy statements allow City staff and legislative advocates to address legislative and regulatory issues in a timely and directed manner, without precluding City Council consideration of additional legislative matters arising throughout the year.
With the continued growth of the City and planned development in the future, the City’s Legislative Platform is aimed at securing legislative policies and resources that will help the City manage this growth, fund critical infrastructure needs, keep the City safe, and maintain and enhance the quality-of- life residents have come to expect.
1) Maintain Local Control
• Support efforts that preserve and protect our local authority to enact policy pertaining to local affairs. Oppose measures that seek to preempt local control without the concurrence of the City. 2) Promote Fiscal Responsibility
• Support efforts that promote fiscal stability, predictability, and financial independence. Support efforts that preserve and promote the City’s revenue base. Oppose efforts that mandate costs with no guarantee of local reimbursement or offsetting benefits, or that shift local funds to the county, state or federal government without offsetting benefits. 3) Promote Economic Development
• Support efforts that provide local governments with the tools necessary to bolster economic development and efforts streamlining initiatives that would enhance our ability to attract and retain businesses as well as encourage business expansion and job retention. 4) Support Funding Opportunities
• Support efforts that allow the City to compete for its fair share of regional, state and federal funding including competitive grants and other funding programs. Support efforts that promote dedicated funding streams at the regional, state and federal levels allowing our City to maximize local revenues, offset and leverage capital expenditures, and maintain our goals and standards.
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2023-2024 Legislative Priorities
1. Secure an exemption from the Surplus Lands Act (AB
1486) for the Chula Vista University and Innovation
District project.
For over 30 years, the City has persistently pursued the acquisition and development of two major employment
centers, the 535 -acre Chula Vista Bayfront
Redevelopment project and the acquisition of almost 400 acres in the eastern area of the City for a new binational multi-institutional University and Innovation District
project.
AB 1486 (Ting), the Surplus Lands Act, enacted on
January 1, 2021, has severely hampered our three
decades of efforts to develop a Unive rsity and Innovation District, as envisioned by the 2018 adopted Environmental Impact Report and Specific Plan Area. The bill has compromised the City’s ability to negotiate the development of a new self -sustaining model of education for South Bay and regi onal residents on property long set aside for this purpose by requiring affordable housing be prioritized for the entire site above the intended University and Innovation District uses.
It is critical that AB 1486 (Ting) be amended to exempt the Chula Vista University and Innovation District project so we can pursue our efforts to create jobs and new educational opportunit ies for residents of the South Bay and the San Diego region.
2. Secure support and agreement with the State and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to eliminate the toll-only operation of State Route 125.
During the 2021 -2022 Legislative session, Senator Ben Hueso secured $20 million for SANDAG to dedicate to the outstanding debt on the State Route 125 (SR -125) toll road, or Sout h Bay Expressway (SBX).
As the only tolled freeway in San Diego County, SBX toll road operations make it difficult to attract and retain employees and disproportionally affects lower income workers in the South Bay. Elimination of toll-only operations on the SBX will incentivize businesses to locate in Chula Vista and the South Bay region, an area long neglected. Early retirement of the SBX toll facility debt also will alleviate transportation congestion on the region’s freeways by more fully utilizing existing capacity along South Bay freeways and arterials during high commute times and reduce regional vehicle miles traveled (VMT) with the creation of employment centers in the surrounding South Bay region.
Staff will continue to work with SANDAG, state agencies like Caltrans, and other stakeholders to achieve elimination of debt by as soon as 2027 and remove toll-only operations on the SBX.
New Legislative Priorities
• Promote the ongoing development
on the Chula Vista Bayfront
including, but not limited to,
creation and funding of open
space, parks, and business
development.
• Secure state funding to allow the
redevelopment of Harborside Park
to incorporate community input
and feedback and meet the needs
of the surrounding community.
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3. Promote the ongoing development on the Chula Vista Bayfront including, but not limited to, creation and funding of open space, parks, and business development.
Construction is underway on the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center, a catalyst project for the redevelopment of the 535 -acre Chula Vista Bayfront. As envisioned in the Bayfront Master Plan, public access is a cornerstone of the development and that includes open space and new parks . The City will continue to seek funding opportunities to bring residents and visitors outdoor spaces to enjoy our Bayfront.
Also important to the sustainability of the project is the creation of employment opportunities through the development of new businesses and expan sion of existing businesses. Within the Bayfront masterplan area, Chula Vista has one long-established cardroom, Seven Mile Casino . Seven Mile contributes substantially to the local economy by providing jobs and generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual license revenues for the City. As Seven Mile continues to explore table grow th to expand their business and redevelop their properties, and with the moratorium on table growth expiring in 2023, the City will advocate for the ability of local governments to authorize existing licensed cardrooms to expand the number of tables operated.
4. Secure state funding to allow the redevelopment of Harborside Park to incorporate community input and feedback and meet the needs of the surrounding community.
In August of 2022, the City Council authorized a temporary closure of Harborside Park due t o serious public health and safety concerns. The City’s ability to maintain the park for public use had become a tremendous challenge as the need for offering services to the unsheltered population continued to increase at the park. The proximity to Harborside Elementary, local businesses and the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency made the need to address the increase in illicit behavior and criminal activity even more urgent.
During the temporary closure, City staff has conducted an extensive outreach effort in the local community to learn about their needs and develop long-term solutions informed by their input.
While input has been plentiful, one common theme and idea is consistently expressed. The community would like to have recreational opportunities in a safe environment like th ose offered at a recreation center. Currently there are no indoor facilities at Harborside Park. A recent example is the renovation of Loma Verde Recreation Center which can serve as the foundation for the design and planning of a recreational center at Harborside Park. State funding and support will allow the City to deliver a much - needed facility to a community that is eager for recreation but cur rently has limited access to local recreational facilities.
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5. Assistance in obtaining State and/or Federal funds for Grade Separations at major railroad/transit crossings.
With construction underway on the Bayfront project and more people coming to Chula Vista to enjoy our bayfront and to work and live in our city , mobility and the flow of people and goods to and from Chula Vista is becoming increasingly critical . Because of this, it is essential that we continue to expand and increase frequency of our public transit system. In order to do so, grade separations along the Blue Line Trolley are urgently needed at Palomar Street, F Street, H Street, and E Street. Palomar Street has been identified by SANDAG as vitally needed to reduce congestion in the western part of Chula Vista and was ranked in the top two most urgently needed grade separations within the entire MTS trolley system. The City already has invested over $3 million for planning and design of the Palomar Street grade separation project. Ideally, the state would provide funding to complete this project as it did for the City of San Diego for its trolley system at Park Boulevard and Harbor Drive grade crossings.
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2023-2024 Policy Position Statements
The following categories of policy position statements are broad and are not intended to be all- inclusive. They are intended to be used as a reference tool and guideline for the City’s advocacy efforts.
Administrative Services
General Area of Review: Elections, Ralph M. Brown Act, Public Records Act, Political Reform Act, conflict of interest, insurance, tort reform and open and transparent government. • Support legislation to allow alternative methods of meeting publi c notice requirements and enhancing them with cost effective, innovative, user friendly methods of communication • Support efforts to improve liability protection for governmental agencies and their personnel, minimize governmental exposure to frivolous laws uits, and c reate policies that allow cities to equitably manage risks in providing services and maintaining city facilities- (newly added) • Support legislation and policies that clarify new conflict of interest and reporting requirements for elected officials- (newly added)
Community Services
General Area of Review: Parks, recreation, libraries, cultural arts, youth, community and human services programs.
• Support funding efforts to construct or renovate parks and recreation facilities in aging/ under resourced areas of the city
• Support park bond measures that provide per capita and competitive grants for park and recreation facility development and renovation
• Support funding for after -school art and recreational programs promoting the arts and ph ysical exercise
• Support funding for access opportunities for all residents to physical activity, proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle options
• Support funding efforts to connect libraries to the same statewide, high -speed, broadband backbone for the K-12 system, UC, CSU and community colleges • Support fully funding the California Public Library Fund and eliminate financial penalties to municipal libraries experiencing budget reductions
• Guarantee libraries the largest possible discount in rates for telecommu nication services, internal connections, and Internet access
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• Support library bond measures that provide per capita and competitive grants for library facility construction and renovation
• Support efforts to fund after -school library programs to provide safe options for students to study and engage in activities during critical afternoon hours • Support legislation that prohibits discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or immigration status
Education and Economic Development
General Area of Review: Education, innovation, employment creation, business attraction and retention and other efforts related to economic development.
• Support legislative efforts to assist our city to attract businesses and industry that will advance responsible Economic Development to strengthen Chula Vista’s position as a national leader in embracing new technologies and environmental innovation • Secure legislative support and funding from the State of California to continue the development of Chula Vista’s University-Innovation District
• Secure an exemption from the Surplus Lands Act (AB 1486) for the City’s University project • Promote local purchasing, hiring and workforce training that create qualit y career opportunities and living wages for the local workforce
• Provide startup funding for economic development programs/partnerships • Fund extending advanced telecommunications, smart grid energy, sustainable water supply and transportation infrastructure that helps develop quality jobs in under resourced communities • Promote opportunities for public art funding and encourage programs that tie arts and culture to economic development
• Strengthen and/or add tools to promote redevelopment of economically distressed areas
Employee Relations
General Area of Review : Labor relations, employee relations and other matters related to human resources.
• Support efforts to protect and enhance cities’ ability to establish conditions of employment, including hours, wages, benefits, the meet -and-confer process, appeal procedures and management rights
• Support efforts to reform the California Workers’ Compensation Program to reduce public costs • Oppose efforts for mandated binding arbitration in public employee disputes
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Environmental Quality
General Area of Review : Air, water supply and water quality, climate change, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), integrated waste management, hazardous materials, coastal issues, and utilities. • Support programs and rate s tructures that expand access to solar and other clean energy technologies, particularly for renters and other under resourced community members • Support programs that provide incentives for energy and water saving upgrades • Support legislative efforts to str engthen San Diego Community Power, the City’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, to provide more affordable and clean electricity options • Create new and sustainable funding opportunities to support local habitat preservation, water conservation, water reuse and recycling efforts
• Oppose new leases for oil/gas development in state-owned coastal waters off San Diego County • Oppose restrictions on local jurisdictions’ authority and ability to adopt environmental policies and codes exceeding state or federal standards
• Reinforce local control of telecommunications, energy, and water services through franchise agreements or other mechanisms
• Support reauthorization of the C alifornia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Public Goods Charge, and legislation that provides local funding to complement environmental and economic sustainability
• Clean up Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act (DIVCA) legislation • Monitor for impacts on water quality standards and storm water discharge requirements (AB 377) • Promote smart growth incentive programs, reward agencies that promote sustainable practices such as energy conservation, renewable resources, green buildings and the reduction of CO2 emissions.
• Develop new funding source to cover all additional Local Agency costs in order to comply with new State and Regional Water Quality Control Board Stormwater Permits since new permit requirements create unfunded mandates
• Support legislation that eliminates regulatory and processin g barriers for projects that enhance or restore biological habitats
• Exempt stormwater fees from the restrictions of Proposition 218
Housing and Homeless Services
General Area of Review : Land use, development, annexation, and incorporation, building standards, economic development, redevelopment and enterprise zones, mobile home, and sign regulations. • Support new affordable housing development opportunities and preservation of existing affordable housing
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• Support legislativ e efforts to enhance funding for homeless services, outreach, prevention, and assistance
• Support City’s operations of a bridge shelter for unsheltered individuals • Support efforts to assist first-time home buyers and promote pathways to home ownership • Support opportunities for the development of workforce housing and permanent supportive housing and programs
• Support equitable distribution of housing funds from regional, state, or federal agencies • Support efforts to preserve and enhance mobile home livability • Promote and facilitate funding for historic preservation • Support public health and age friendly livability initiatives • Support efforts that ensure major changes to Building, Energy or Accessibility code requirements are given enough time and resources for local government and industry training • Fund construction of needed infrastructure, parks, libraries, and other civic/public safety programs • Support legislation that preserves the authority of local agencies to regulate short -term rentals- (newly added)
Public Safety
General Area of Review : Law enforcement, fire and life safety, emergency communications, emergency services, disaster preparedness, and nuisance abatement. • Support efforts to reinstate Federal Community Oriented Polic e Services (COPS) and St ate Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) grant programs • Increase employment opportunities through the California Firefighter Joint Apprenticeship Program
• Fund emergency preparedness measures, particularly those related to wildland fire and fund minimizing fuels in wildland interface areas
• Support efforts to prohibit drone operations that prevent or interfere with firefighting efforts • Expand the availability of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in higher occupancy structures • Support funding for activities that will reduce drowning incidents • Continue funding for "front-line" law enforcement for AB 109 compliance • Provide adequate resources to support public safety response to the mental health crisis involving the unsheltered population
• Oppose efforts to allow unlicensed fire protection contractors to install fire protection systems • Oppose efforts to preempt local public safety ordinances • Oppose any efforts to impose upon police department the responsibility to enforce federal immigration laws
• Support legislation that preserves local control over medical and adult -use cannabis businesses, and enhances and protects maximum local regulatory, land use, and enforcement authority in relation to such businesses- (newly added)
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Revenue and Taxation
General Area of Review: Finance administration, taxation reform, general revenue, special revenue, and revenue sources at the federal, state, and local levels. • Provide grant distribution criteria that includes a per capita component in addition to merit-based programs
• Oppose unfunded mandates and legislation that reduce local control or abridge home rule authority
• Oppose any repeal of Gas Tax exemption for local agencies • Oppose efforts to preclude cities from collecting Utility Users Tax, includ ing revenue on cellular or digital telephone use
• Protect or enhance local government revenue resources including sales, property and use taxes, Citizens' Option for Public Safety (COPS), and Booking Fees • Support reducing the vote threshold for special use taxes and bonds from 66.6% to 55% • Support the establishment of a federal Marketplace Fairness Act and oppose any efforts to roll back the 2018 Wayfair decision
• Oppose efforts to limit cities’ ability to impose franchise fees, taxes, etc. , on cable or satel lite television or other telecommunication operations and services • Advocate for the ability of local governments to authorize their existing licensed cardrooms to expand the number of tables they operate- (newly added)
Transportation, Telecommunication and Public Works
General Area of Review : Transportation, construction, telecommunications, and general public works related areas.
• Support legislation that allows for opportunity to pay off bonds for SR 125 prior to 2043 provided capital, overhead costs and non -operating expenses can be minimized and toll revenues are allocated to debt service.
• Support and promote transferring maintenance of SR 125 to Caltrans when SR 125 outstanding debt is paid off and toll-only access has ended
• Support efforts to allow local agencies flexibility in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide the greatest benefit to the disabled population, and provide protection from third party lawsuits
• Oppose elimination of Rule 20A Utility Undergrounding Program • Support efforts to fund programs to provide high-speed Internet to lower income residents • Support efforts for funding for priority infrastructure projects including drainage and other improvements to the storm drain system
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• Support efforts for funding the region’s top priority rail grade separation project on Palomar Street at Industrial Boulevard
• Oppose any further restrictions on the use of multi-year renewable contracts • Support legislation to reduce municipal costs associated with Caltrans projects • Supports efforts (or legislation) that enhance traffic safety on city streets for all modes of transportation (AB 43)
• Oppose efforts to preempt local authority with the goal of assisting the wireless industry in the expansion of broadband access by allowing access to City infrastructure including light poles, traffic poles, etc. While SB 556 purports to preempt local authority with the goal of assisting the wireless industry in the expansion of broadband access, it fails to set any requirements for the wireles s industry to expand broadband facilities or close the digital divide • Support efforts to expedite disbursement of Proposition 84 funds to local governments • Support efforts to protect dedicated transportation and public transit funds • Support funding and legislation that encourages utilities undergrounding- (newly added)