CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
January 16, 2024 {{section.number}}h
APPROVAL OF THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE POLICY GUIDELINES AND FOCUSED
LEGISLATIVE GOALS
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt amendments to the City of Coronado Legislative Policy Guidelines and the City’s Focused Legislative Goals for 2024.
BACKGROUND:
The Legislative Policy Guidelines set forth the City’s policy on legislative issues and provide direction to staff and legislative advocates. They are utilized as a guideline to develop appropriate positions and forward position letters to members of the California Legislature or the U.S. Congress in urgent situations, as a timely response is often critical in impacting whether a bill is passed or defeated in a committee.
Staff reviews the Policy Guidelines annually and presents any recommended changes to the guidelines based upon shifting legislative priorities of the City and/or CalCities (previously the League of California Cities), which advocates for member cities at the State level.
ANALYSIS:
Staff proposes minor edits to the City’s 2024 Legislative Policy Guidelines, which are included in Attachment 2 in redline form. They include:
• Language supporting legislation for a State income tax exclusion of retirement pay received by uniformed services members from the federal government during the taxable year. Support an additional State income tax exclusion of income annuity payments received by a surviving spouse of a member of the uniformed services (page 5).
• General language supporting legislation that would help law enforcement address crime and recover costs from those committing crimes (page 8). • Support legislation that explores innovation efforts and pilot programs that enable emergency providers to control costs (page 9).
• Support legislation that would reduce the amount of time City emergency medical and ambulance services must wait at hospitals until patients can be released from their care (page 9).
• Support legislation that would allow local governments to establish reasonable controls and regulations over electric bikes and other electric modes of transportation (page 12). • Support legislation that provides authority to the International Boundary and Water Commission to accept funding from other State and Federal agencies to fund improvements to sewage infrastructure (page 16).
• Support reform legislation of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process to provide cities with more flexibility meeting State housing law and more direct authority into the methodologies used to assign housing units to respective cities (page 18). • Oppose legislation that penalizes a city if units identified in the Regional Housing Need Assessment (RHNA) are not constructed (page 18).
In an effort to provide additional focus to the assessment of the 4,000 pieces of legislation typically introduced during the State legislative session, staff has also provided a policy document as Attachment 1 that outlines four areas of continuing importance for the City. These include improving beach water quality, increasing infrastructure funding, increasing the supply and affordability of housing while retaining local decision-making, and supporting fiscal sustainability.
Staff seeks City Council feedback on these four focus areas. New for 2024 is a statement opposing the “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act” which would jeopardize the ability of state and local governments in California to levy taxes and fees to support critical services. The measure is scheduled to appear on the November 2024 ballot.
Staff will continue to focus legislative analysis on bills of specific interest to Coronado or which are highly important to local government in general. Staff will continue to seek clarification from the Council when there is a discrepancy between the City of Coronado’s Legislative Policy Guidelines and a proposed position or request for support on a measure. In addition, in accordance with Council Policy #26, Legislative correspondence signed by the Mayor shall be presented to the full City Council, subject to agenda deadlines, at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting as a non-action item under the Agenda Heading of written communications.
Staff has also included a copy of CalCities 2024 Legislative Policy Priorities as adopted by their board for reference.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for adopting the 2024 Legislative Policy Guidelines or Focused Legislative Goals.
ALTERNATIVE:
The City Council may make any desired changes to the Legislative Policy Guidelines.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT:
Not Applicable.
PUBLIC NOTICE:
No notice required.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. City Focused Legislative Goals for 2024
2. City 2024 Legislative Policy Guidelines - Redlined
3. CalCities 2024 Legislative Priorities
Submitted By: City Manager's Office / Tony Winney