AGENDA
City of Monte Sereno
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
City Council
7:00 PM
Monte Sereno City Council Chambers -
18041 Saratoga- Los Gatos Road,
Monte Sereno, CA 95030
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Page
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
ORDERS OF THE DAY
The Mayor, or a majority of the Council by vote, may change the order of business, except for public hearings on the agenda for a set time.
ANNOUCEMENTS
PRESENTATIONS
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Persons wishing to address the Council on any matter of City business not listed on the agenda may do so at this time. Each speaker will normally be allotted three minutes, subject to the Mayor or a majority of the Council’s ability to limit the amount of time allocated to speakers based on the number of speakers and the need for expedient administration of City business in light of the number and length of items on the agenda.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Copies of communications have been provided to Council for review prior to this meeting. Council Members desiring to read or discuss any written communication may do so at this time. No action may be taken except to place a particular item on a future agenda for Council consideration.
CONSENT CALENDAR
It is recommended that all items listed below be acted on simultaneously unless separate discussion and/or action is required by a Councilmember. One public comment period will be provided, although speakers speaking on more than one item may be allocated additional time by the Mayor or a majority of the Council.
1. Approve the Minutes of the March 5, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting Staff recommends approval of the Minutes of the March 5, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting.
Staff Report -SR-22-148 - Pdf
5 - 9
2. Approve Warrant List Dated March 19, 2024 in the amount $79,495.79 Staff recommends the City Council approve the Warrant List Staff Report - SR-24-052 - Pdf
10 - 12
PUBLIC HEARINGS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
3. Authorize Councilmember Mekechuk to Represent the City on Issues Related to the San Jose Water General Rate Case U168W Affecting Water Rates for 2025-2027
Staff recommends the Council Authorize Councilmember Mekechuk to Represent the City on Issues Related to the San Jose Water General Rate Case U168W Affecting Water Rates for 2025-2027.
Staff Report - SR-24-042 - Pdf
13 - 14
4. Annual Council Goal Setting Session for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 After Monte Sereno City Council discussion, the Council should identify 15 - 32
goals for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and may select and categorize work items consistent with those goals Council would like to pursue in Fiscal Year 2024-2025
Staff Report - SR-24-051 - Pdf
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
This time is set aside to allow Councilmembers serving on Council committees or appointed by the City to serve on the boards, commissions or committees of other agencies to present a verbal report on the activities of the respective boards, commissions or committees on which they serve. No discussion or action may be taken other than to place the matter on a future agenda.
Craig
Monte Sereno Youth Commission
Santa Clara County Library JPA
Ellahie
Cities Association – Board of Directors
Cities Association – Legislative Action Committee
Cities Association - Cities Selection Committee
Turner
West Valley Sanitation District
Wolsheimer
Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority
Santa Clara Valley Water District Commission
Association of Bay Area Governments
League of California Cities Peninsula Division
West Valley Mayors & Managers
Mayors of Santa Clara County
Mekechuk
Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee West Valley Clean Water Authority
West Valley Solid Waste Management Authority
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
This time is set aside to allow Councilmembers to make brief announcements or reports on the Councilmember’s own activities. No discussion or action may be taken other than to place the matter on a future agenda.
5. 2024 Bill Introduction Webinar PPT 33 - 86
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
This time is set aside to allow Councilmembers to make a specific request for an item to be placed on a future agenda. No discussion or other action may be taken.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
6. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL- EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9
Case Name: Padgett v. Curtis Wright, et al.- United States District Court, Northern District of California- San Jose Division
Case No.: 5:04-cv-03946
Staff Present: City Attorney, City Manager
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
ADJOURN
* All items on the agenda are subject to action/or change by the City Council In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk (408) 354-7635. If requested of the City Clerk, agendas and documents in the agenda packet can be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability.
Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II]
STAFF REPORT
Meeting: City Council - Mar 19 2024
Agenda Heading: CONSENT CALENDAR
Staff Contact: Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
Department: City Clerk
Title: Approve the Minutes of the March 5, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting Recommendation(s):
Staff recommends approval of the Minutes of the March 5, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting.
Fiscal Impact:
There are no unbudgeted fiscal impacts with this agenda item.
Public Noticing:
The City Council’s agenda was posted at City Hall and the agenda and this report appear on the City’s website.
Attachments:
03-05-24 Regular Meeting Minutes DRAFT
MONTE SERENO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
7:00 p.m.
March 5, 2024
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
At approximately 7:01 p.m., Mayor Wolsheimer called the meeting to order.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Deputy Chief Mark Shumate lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present – Chambers: Councilmember Turner, Councilmember Mekechuk, Councilmember Ellahie, Vice Mayor Craig and Mayor Wolsheimer Present – Remote: None
Absent: None
Staff: City Clerk Gonzalez-Langarica, City Manager Leonardis, City Attorney Powell
Staff – Remote: Finance Officer Samoranos
ORDERS OF THE DAY
None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Wolsheimer announced the passing of long time Monte Sereno resident, William McCollin.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Santa Clara County Fire Department Presentation by SCCFD Deputy Chief Dennis Lollie and SCCFD Deputy Chief Mark Shumate.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
2. Approve the Minutes of the February 20, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
3. Approve Warrant List Dated March 5, 2024 in the amount $289,128.50
4. Accept the Treasurer's Report for the Period Ending December 31, 2023
5. Approval of Amendment to Employment Agreement of City Manager Steven Leonardis Increasing His Salary
Mayor Wolsheimer opened the Consent Calendar for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Wolsheimer closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Mekechuk to approve Items #2 and #5 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Vice Mayor Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed. (5-0)
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Craig to approve Items #3 and #4 on the Consent Calendar. Seconded by Mayor Wolsheimer.
VOTE: Motion passed. (2-0-1-1 Abstain: Mekechuk)
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
6. Accept the FY 2023-24 Mid-Year Budget Report
City Manager Leonardis provided a staff report and answered questions from the Council.
Discussion ensued.
Mayor Wolsheimer opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Mayor Wolsheimer closed Public Comment.
MOTION: Motion by Councilmember Turner to Accept the FY 2023-24 Mid-Year Budget Report. Seconded by Vice Mayor Craig.
VOTE: Motion passed. (4-0-1 Abstain: Mekechuk)
COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REPORTS
Vice Mayor Craig stated nothing to report.
Councilmember Ellahie requested by the next meeting City Attorney Powell could provide an update on the Cities Associations JPA.
Councilmember Turner stated nothing to report.
Councilmember Mekechuk shared that the only meetings that have occurred since the last report were with Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Executive Committee, and the Audit Committee.
Councilmember Mekechuk reported that the Audit Committee approved the financial statements and lastly, he shared he was elected Chair of the Audit Committee. Councilmember Mekechuk shared that Girish Balachandran’s last day as CEO of Silicon Valley Clean Energy will be on March 31,
2024, and New CEO Monica Padilla’s first day will be April 1, 2024. There will be a dinner event held March 13, 2024 before the 7:00pm meeting.
Mayor Wolsheimer shared that he attended the West Valley Mayors meeting last week along with City Manager Leonardis. Mayor Wolsheimer shared the main topic of discussion was the Housing Element. Mayor Wolsheimer also shared he brought up Highway 9 and spoke specifically to the Mayors of Saratoga and Los Gatos to discuss if a collaboration could be done to help increase awareness and form a team to approach Caltrans to see what can be done regarding the trees off Highway 9. Lastly, he shared that Monte Sereno will be hosting the West Valley Mayors and Managers meeting in May and November.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Councilmember Ellahie stated the City of San Jose had its Housing Element approved, they are now trying to figure out if whether the Building Remedy applies or not.
Councilmember Mekechuk requested a report be presented in the next meeting to discuss the appointing of a spokesperson for the next California Public Utilities Commission meeting. Back in 2021 Councilmember Mekechuk was authorized by the City Council to speak on behalf of the City of Monte Sereno.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Leonardis reported the shed for the NICP was received and is located on the side of the garage. City Manager Leonardis also reported the City of Monte Sereno is scheduled to run the ad to solicit the bids for the Community Center beginning this Friday.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Ellahie expressed he would like to have the Community Center as an ongoing agenda item. He would like to have a status report on that next meeting, as he considers it would be good to keep getting feedback on it and make sure it keeps moving forward. Councilmember Ellahie also shared he would like to know the status of the Housing Element from the City.
Mayor Wolsheimer made a friendly reminder to the Council to submit to City Manager Leonardis their suggested goals for the upcoming Annual Council Strategic Goal Setting Session.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Wolsheimer opened the item for Public Comment. With no one wishing to speak, Public Comment was closed. City Council adjourned to Closed Session at approximately 7:53 p.m.
6. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9
Case Name: Padgett v. Curtis Wright, et al. - United States District Court, Northern District of California - San Jose Division
Case No.: 5:04-cv-03946
Staff Present: City Manager Leonardis, City Attorney Powell
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
The City Council reconvened to Open Session at approximately 8:58 p.m. with Mayor Wolsheimer, Vice Mayor Craig, Councilmember Ellahie, and Councilmember Turner present. (Councilmember Mekechuk left the meeting at approximately 8:45 p.m.)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Mayor Wolsheimer stated that there were no reportable actions.
ADJOURN
Mayor Wolsheimer adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:59 p.m.
Evert Wolsheimer, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica, City Clerk
STAFF REPORT
Meeting: City Council - Mar 19 2024
Agenda Heading: CONSENT CALENDAR
Staff Contact: Reynold Samoranos,
Department: Finance Manager
Title: Approve Warrant List Dated March 19, 2024 in the amount $79,495.79 Recommendation(s):
Staff recommends the City Council approve the Warrant List
Fiscal Impact:
There are no unbudgeted fiscal impact with this agenda item.
Public Noticing:
The City Council's agenda was posted at City Hall and this agenda and this report appear on the City's website.
Attachments:
2024 03 19 Warrants List
CITY OF MONTE SERENO
REGISTER OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
AS OF THESE DATES:
March 19, 2024
CHECK
NO. TO FOR AMOUNT ACCOUNT
NO.
20749 MissionSquare - 301546 Funding 457 Plan - Payroll cycle ending February 15, 2024 1,176.00 01-660 149
20750 MissionSquare - 301546 Funding 457 Plan - Payroll cycle ending February 29, 2024 1,226.00 01-660 149
20751 ABAG Power Purchasing
Pool FY 2024 Levelized Charge Natural Gas plus FY 2023 True-up 373.31 01-705 20752 Abodu Inc. Refund 2023-0292 - Overpayment ADU Fee Discount on 17504 Vineland 3,538.38 01-236
20753 Alamo Landscaping &
Maintenance Landscape maintenace at City Hall - February 2024 580.00 01-860 20754 Alana Consulting, LLC Building Hourly Services (01/29/2024 to 2/25/2024) ($6958) and e-Permit Development ($6900) 13,857.50 01-765
20755 Bay Cities Joint Power
Insurance
General Liability Claims December 2023 ($1453) and January 2024 ($2275) 3,728.00 01-540
20756 City of Campbell -
Finance Department West Valley Solid Waste Mgmt 3rd Quarter FY 2024 7,023.93 01-522 20757 COMCAST Internet services for City Hall 106.67 01-720 20758 Corodata Records
Management Inc.
Standard record storae carton, 3" Blueprint Tube Carton and Plan Carton 60.42 01-710
20759 Crystal Springs Water Co Drinking water services 8.00 01-710 20760 Fastrak Invoice
Processing Dep Bridge tolls 7.00 01-740
20761 Frontier Communications Dedicated landline for City Hall 55.97 01-720 20762 Gary Kohlsaat Architect,
Inc.
MEP Consultant fees for Community Center Project ($11091) and Construction documents phase 85% completion on
Community Center Project ($12750).
23,840.82 01-815
20763 Heidi's Commercial
Cleaning Cleaning services for City Hall plus cleaning supplies 750.00 01-860 20764 IRBIS Refund building permit fees on Permit #2023-0180 - 15527 Equestrian Way 224.62 01-236
20765 Metropolitan
Transportation Co StreetSaver Annual Subscription 1,000.00 01-745 20766 Ridley Master Legal services for Padgett case 1,621.50 01-427 20767 Silicon Valley Animal
Control 4th Quarter FY 2023-24 Animal Control Services 8,287.50 01-585 20768 State Compensation Ins
Fund Workers' Comp Insurance premium 822.74 01-642
20769 Steven Leonardis Snacks for City Hall ($79) and lunch meeting with Curtis Wright ($123). 202.18 01-710 01-740
1 of 2 Page 11 of 86
CITY OF MONTE SERENO
REGISTER OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
AS OF THESE DATES:
March 19, 2024
CHECK
NO. TO FOR AMOUNT ACCOUNT
NO.
20770 Virtual Project Manager Capital Improvement Cloud Based Software System Management 1,000.00 12-845
20771 Wells Fargo Bank
Office Supplies ($741); Postage ($258); Lunch Meetings ($635) Truck Exps ($104); League of California ($725); Software license renewal ($476); Tuff Shed for Emergency Disaster Center; City Hall building maintenace and repairs ($956); Traffic Safety Signs ($352); Office phone service ($317) and Zoom ($87).
9,625.52
01-745
01-811
01-816
01-860
01-740
01-720
01-710
01-711
20772 RICOH USA, INC. Black and White / colored copies (12/01/2023 to 02/29/2024) 379.73 01-725 TOTAL WARRANT LIST $79,495.79
I, REYNOLD SAMORANOS, FINANCE OFFICER DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE
PROCEEDING ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND FOUND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF.
2 of 2 Page 12 of 86
STAFF REPORT
Meeting: City Council - Mar 19 2024
Agenda Heading: NEW BUSINESS
Staff Contact: Steve Leonardis,
Department: City Manager
Title: Authorize Councilmember Mekechuk to Represent the City on Issues Related to the San Jose Water General Rate Case U168W Affecting Water Rates for 2025-2027
Recommendation(s):
Staff recommends the Council Authorize Councilmember Mekechuk to Represent the City on Issues Related to the San Jose Water General Rate Case U168W Affecting Water Rates for 2025-2027.
Background Information:
San Jose Water is regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and serves over one million customers in the San Jose, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga communities. Every three years, San Jose Water is required by law to file a General Rate Case (GRC) application to adjust water rates. The proposed rate adjustments must be reviewed and approved by the CPUC, following a robust and transparent process that spans about 12 months.
On January 2, 2024, San Jose Water filed a General Rate Case (GRC) application U168W to adjust water rates for the years 2025-2027. The application requests authorization to increase rates charged for water service by $55,196,000 or 11.11% in 2025, by $22,041,000 or 3.99% in 2026, and by $25,809,000 or 4.49% in 2027.
Information about the San Jose Water GRC application for 2025-2027 is available on their web site at:
https://www.sjwater.com/GRC2025#:~:text=If%20our%20rate%20request%20is,%25)%20to% 20%24131.12%20in%202027.
Additional information, including the document submitted and public comment submitted, is available on the CPUC web site at:
https://apps.cpuc.ca.gov/apex/f?p=401:56::::::
In order to represent Monte Sereno residents in protesting these rate increases, staff recommends that the Council authorize Councilmember Mekechuk to provide oral and written testimony on behalf of the city based on parameters set by Council.
Fiscal Impact:
There are no unbudgeted fiscal impacts with this agenda item.
Public Noticing:
The City Council’s agenda was posted at City Hall and the agenda and this report appear on the City’s website.
STAFF REPORT
Meeting: City Council - Mar 19 2024
Agenda Heading: NEW BUSINESS
Staff Contact: Steve Leonardis,
Department: City Manager
Title: Annual Council Goal Setting Session for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Recommendation(s):
After Monte Sereno City Council discussion, the Council should identify goals for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and may select and categorize work items consistent with those goals Council would like to pursue in Fiscal Year 2024-2025
Background Information:
The City Council of Monte Sereno meets every fiscal year to establish a work plan prior to adopting its annual budget. This process is known as council’s Annual Goal Setting Session.
Monte Sereno City Council decides how best to allocate city resources to provide service delivery to Monte Sereno residents. Upon completion of the public hearing, the city manager will work with city staff to establish the annual operating budget in conjunction with the work plan established by council. Throughout the coming fiscal year (FY 2024-2025), Monte Sereno City Council and city staff work together to complete the workplan and adapt and update the workplan to achieve established goals.
Analysis:
In 2017, Monte Sereno adopted a “City Council Role, Vision and Values Document” (Attachment 1). The City Council Role, Vision and Values Document has been used as a prelude to the annual goal setting session since 2017. Council values listed as Integrity and Professionalism, Transparency and Openness, Performance Accountability, Effective and Efficient Services, Fiscal Responsibility and Quality of Life for all Residents help guide Monte Sereno City Councilmembers’ in achieving goals.
Council Vision is written “The Monte Sereno City Council will continue to strengthen community and promote a strong sense of unity. Monte Sereno City Council strives to maintain the unique character and beauty of Monte Sereno and aspires to lead regionally as a desirable place to reside.”
Council instructed staff to update the Vison and Values document in 2020 to make the statement more inclusive, by adding language to the last paragraph as stated: “We promote
In November of 2020, Monte Sereno City Council adopted a Code of Conduct Policy. This policy is included in the report (Attachment 2).
In Fiscal 2023-2024, The Monte Sereno City Council established five goal categories derived from the Monte Sereno General Plan. These categories are as follows:
1. Quality Public Services
2. Community Character
3. Enhanced Mobility
4. Community Safety
5. Environmental Sustainability
In each category of the FY 2023-2024 goals, there existed a subcategory of tasks or actions for Monte Sereno City staff to complete. Provided is a summary (Attachment 3) of this report of the goals, subcategories, and status of completed work items for FY 2023-2024. To date, significant progress has been achieved in completing the FY 2023-2024 work plan. There are “in progress” work items which may be delivered soon. The work plan is an evolving document.
For this year’s goal setting session, Monte Sereno City staff recommends continuing adoption of the same “top level goals” derived from the Monte Sereno General Plan. Subcategories of Fiscal Prudence, Governance/Operations and Community Engagement are listed under Quality Public Services. The purpose of these subcategories is to further define goals outside the spectrum of a land use document.
Attachment 4 represents a “starter list” for council to begin discussion to add new goals. These work items can be modified, eliminated, or pursued as drafted based on results of Monte Sereno City Council discussion.
When completed, the proposed new list of Items chosen by council can be merged with the previous carry over items. Items marked in yellow highlights are carry over items and may remain scheduled for continued pursuit in 2024-2025. Items lined out are accomplishments to be removed from the list Proposed work items are included in Attachment 5. These documents are provided as examples for discussion purposes and support subcategories of goals. Work items brought forth by staff, the public and councilmembers during FY-2023-2024 are included in the list. Attachment 6 contains correspondence from the public.
Fiscal Impact:
Depending on adoption of goals, Monte Sereno City Council will have to direct associated budget adjustments before adoption of the Annual City of Monte Sereno Budget by June 18, 2024.
Alternatives:
1. Adopt proposed goals and work items.
2. Modify goals and work items and adopt those modifications.
3. Take no action on goals and related items in this report.
Conclusion:
Monte Sereno City Council has an opportunity to create a solid work plan for FY 2024-2025 whilst meeting goals and objectives and enhancing service delivery to residents.
Accomplishing a successful work plan each fiscal year will allow The City of Monte Sereno to achieve progress towards all five guiding principles (goals) in the Monte Sereno General Plan in a fiscally responsible way. Those principles are Quality Public Service, Community Character, Enhanced Mobility, Community Safety, and Environmental Sustainability.
Public Noticing:
The City of Monte Sereno’s council meeting agenda was posted on the bulletin board outside of Monte Sereno City Hall and the agenda with this staff report can be accessed on The City of Monte Sereno’s website located at www.montesereno.org.
Attachments:
Council Role, Mission, Vision and Values - updated for 2022final Council Code of Conduct Policy
FY23-24 Council Goals strike through
Starter List
Attachment 5
Public Letters
Monte Sereno City Council Role, Mission, Vision & Values:
Updated: March 2022
Overview
A Monte Sereno City Council Ad Hoc Committee on Governance developed the Role, Vision, and Value statements below in 2017. Monte Sereno City Council updated the items in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 at their Annual Goal Setting Sessions.
Monte Sereno Council Role
The Monte Sereno City Council is the governing body of the City of Monte Sereno, vested with policy, fiduciary, legislative and quasi-judicial authority. The City Council of Monte Sereno operates under a Council-Manager form of government. Monte Sereno voters elect five councilmembers at large. Those councilmembers direct policy, which is implemented by the City Manager of Monte Sereno. The Monte Sereno City Council serves all of Monte Sereno, establishing policy and making decisions designed to benefit the community. As part of its leadership role, Monte Sereno City Council advocates, regulates, forms partnerships, provides direction, and monitors achievement. Members of the Monte Sereno City Council lead in their roles and responsibilities through relationships they have with each other, the public, and city staff, and by following all applicable regulations, ordinances, and laws. Monte Sereno City Councilmembers adhere to and model the Monte Sereno Council Mission, Vision & Values.
Monte Sereno Council Mission
The Mission of the City of Monte Sereno is to provide high-quality services to residents in an efficient, transparent, and fiscally responsible manner that preserves and enhances the unique residential character of Monte Sereno, protects natural resources, minimizes resident impacts to the environment, and protects and enhances the health, safety, mobility, and welfare of residents.
Monte Sereno Council Vision
The Monte Sereno City Council will continue to strengthen community and promote a strong sense of unity. Monte Sereno City Council strives to maintain the unique character and beauty of Monte Sereno and aspires to lead regionally as a desirable place to reside.
Monte Sereno Council Values
▪ Integrity and Professionalism: The Monte Sereno City Council shall work together to serve the community by respecting and trusting each other. We honor our word and keep our commitments. We seek to earn the public’s trust and confidence. We accept responsibility and take ownership for our actions.
▪ Transparency and Openness: We listen to all ideas and viewpoints. We establish clear direction, priorities and clearly communicate intentions and expectations. The Monte
Sereno City Council decision-making process is transparent, open, and available to all participants equally and without exception.
▪ Performance Accountability: We act in the best interest of the City of Monte Sereno. We set measurable performance goals, which support the priorities of the City of Monte Sereno and our individual work groups.
▪ Effective and Efficient Services: We deliver effective and efficient services both internally and through partnerships with other agencies to maximize City of Monte Sereno resources.
We strive to set a standard of excellence.
▪ Fiscal Responsibility: We conduct short and long-range strategic budgeting and financial planning to maximize service delivery and to build the economic stability of the City of Monte Sereno. We practice sound fiscal management to protect our financial resources. • Quality of Life for all Residents: We are committed to continually enhancing the quality of life in Monte Sereno. We safeguard the value and economic vitality of our community. We promote inclusiveness and non-discrimination.
I. Provide Quality Public Services
A. Maintain Fiscal Prudence
1. Investigate and consider road impact fees
2. Assess viability of Neighborhood Improvement Projects to fund focused improvements with limited scope
3. Update the 5-year Capital Improvement Project
4. Plan the Green Stormwater Infrastructure project required by State law
5. Consider funding a 2023-23 Capital Improvement Budget that may include:
a) Pavement improvement project of $300,000
b) Community Center of additional $600,000
c) Green Stormwater Infrastructure project of $125,000
d) City vehicle for City Staff of $45,000
e) City-wide storm drain catch basin cleaning of $100,000
6. Review and amend City of Monte Sereno Financial Policies a) Review and amend, if required, the City of Monte Sereno’s investment policy b) Consider migration to a biannual budget from an annual budget process/cycle B. Improve Governance and Operations
1. Hire a City Engineer/Public Works person
2. Review, evaluate, and select a new financial reporting system for the City of Monte Sereno’s general accounting system
3. Run more efficient City Council meetings
4. Host a City Council study session with an external facilitator C. Engage Community Members
1. Build Monte Sereno’s Community Center
2. Provide posted office hours for the City Manager
3. Review and improve the City of Monte Sereno website with easier access to historical minutes and recordings
4. Develop and implement a survey of residents in Monte Sereno
5. Develop a Veteran’s Memorial
II. Maintain Community Character
A. Update General Plan
B. Consider updating the SB-9 ordinance
C. Review and assess alternatives to offering affordable housing in Monte Sereno D. Improve sidewalk and wall/fence with historic Billy Jones Railway location 18041 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road
Monte Sereno, California 95030-4299
Telephone: 408.354.7635
Fax: 408.395.7653
www.cityofmontesereno.org
III. Enhance Mobility for Residents
A. Update the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the City of Monte Sereno IV. Maintain Community Safety
A. Provide safe evacuation routes throughout the City of Monte Sereno including:
1. Assess evacuation routes for blockage due to fallen trees from public and private property
2. Review Monte Sereno’s tree ordinances to allow easy removal of dangerous trees from private property
B. Consider an additional NICP for Monte Sereno
C. Update the City of Monte Sereno Wireless Ordinance
V. Enhance Environmental Sustainability
A. Promote low-water and low-fire landscaping alternatives for residents B. Encourage water conservation and support the move to lower carbon emissions in Monte Sereno
I. Quality Public Services
A. Fiscal Prudence
1. ____________________________________________________________ B. Governance/Operations
1. _______________________________________________ _____________ C. Community Engagement
1. _____________________________________________________________ II. Community Character
A. ________________________________________________________________ III. Enhanced Mobility
A. ________________________________________________________________ IV. Community Safety
A. ________________________________________________________________ V. Environmental Sustainability
A. ______ __________________________________________________________ 18041 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road
Monte Sereno, California 95030-4299
Telephone: 408.354.7635
Fax: 408.395.7653
www.cityofmontesereno.org
Attachment 5
1) Installation of Flock Cameras citywide
2) Complete the Community Center with Grant Funding
3) Highway 9 Safety Improvements
a) Increase awareness of the fire/wind danger related to poorly maintained vegetation
b) Work with Los Gatos and Saratoga to create a joint committee c) Involve State Senator Becker, Assemblymember Pellerin, Caltrans and others d) Look into available grant funding
4) Fiber Internet in Monte Sereno – Can we sponsor, encourage, and negotiate with providers to provide faster internet speeds to residents 5) Recruit more CERT members – Email and social media campaign – Explain CERT role and benefits of taking CERT classes – Goal is to add 10 members in 2024-2025 6) Finalize evaluation of the LGMSPD contract options
7) Update/upgrade the City of Monte Sereno financial system to better facilitate internal financial controls
From: Tony Jeans
To: Diana Perkins
Cc: Burton Craig; Steve Leonardis; Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica Subject: Re: Flock Cameras
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024 12:25:38 PM
Attachments: Strategic Goals 32024 - Flock Cameras.pdf
Diana:
Can you please add this to the Meeting Agenda for next week? Thanks
Tony
On Mar 13, 2024, at 10:15 AM, Steve Leonardis <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Vice Mayor and Tony Jeans,
I wanted to connect both of you prior to our upcoming council meeting regarding Strategic Goals selection. Each of you has expressed interest in Flock cameras for our goal category of Public Safety.
Tony, I know you have done some research in conjunction with officer Hoyt of LGMPD. If you wish to connect with Vice-Mayor Craig above to discuss more details, please do so.
Thank you
Steven Leonardis
City Manager
T.H.I.S. DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT P.O.Box 1518, Los Gatos, CA 95031 Tel: 408.354.1863 Fax: 408.350.1823
City of Monte Sereno
18041 Saratoga Los Gatos Rd
Monte Sereno, CA 95031
Attn: City Council
March 13th, 2024
Strategic Goals 2024/5
Flock Cameras for the City
Members of the Council:
Speaking to the City Manager, it has come to my attention that you are planning to discuss ‘strategic goals’ for the City over the upcoming year. The timing could not be better as a number of Monte Sereno residents I have spoken to have become increasingly concerned over the rise in break-ins over the last few years in Monte Sereno neighborhoods. We would like you to make safety of the community your #1 Strategic Goal.
I was one of a group of Withey/Beck/Hernandez/Ridgecrest residents who attended a presentation by Sergeant Bill Hoyt at the Los Gatos Police Operations building at 15900 Los Gato Blvd on March 5t at 6pm focusing on the use of Flock Cameras to enhance security in local communities. We had expressed an interest in installing one or two in our neighborhood and wanted his advice – from a police operations perspective. It was most illuminating.
From our original goal of focusing on micro-communities, the discussion turned to how neighborhood safety could be enhanced if Flock Cameras were installed strategically throughout Monte Sereno as they have been in Los Gatos and most jurisdictions in the Bay Area. This approach would allow police to dispatch police to neighborhoods when cars on ‘Hotlists’ are detected entering the City.
Sergeant Hoyt provided a suggested list of a dozen or so Flock camera locations he might suggest that would cover almost all of Monte Sereno. I would ask that the City Council act to spend some of our Property Tax dollars on enhancing the safety of the City residents. I am attaching a map of that list – to be used as the basis of a plan.
I am under the assumption that you (as Council members) are familiar with the ways in which Flock cameras can be used, but Sergeant Hoyt could provide a refresher if you need one. The cost is approximately $3k per camera per year.
In the meantime – Please Do Not Wait on this. This is a Must! Thank you
Tony Jeans
Cc: Withey/Beck Neighborhood
Map data ©2024 Google 1000 ft
Monte Sereno
C
D
E
F
A
B
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10
11 - EXISTING FLOC CAMERAS INSTALLED AS PART OF LOS GATOS SYSTEM A-F
1-11 - LOCATIONS PROPOSED BY LGMSPD FOR FLOC CAMERAS TO ENABLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BETTER PROTECT MONTE SERENO RESIDENTS - EXISTING FLOC CAMERAS INSTALLED PRIVATELY IN MONTE SERENO
From: Lionel Allan
To: Evert Wolsheimer; Burton Craig; Rowena Turner; Javed Ellahie; Bryan Mekechuk Cc: Steve Leonardis; Gloisy Gonzalez-Langarica; Kirsten Powell Subject: Flock cameras
Date: Friday, March 15, 2024 11:00:07 AM
Dear Council
Yesterday I attended a program on community policing presented by the LGMS Police Department. One of the most valuable things I learned was the effectiveness of the Flock cameras that the town of LG has placed in a ring around the town, monitoring license plates of all vehicles entering LG. And LG has done so in a manner that successfully addressed concerns about these cameras regarding citizen privacy, according to Detective Sargent Bill Hoyt, who is the Officer in charge of Flock cameras for the Police Department.
Our community does not have these cameras, but could install them to be monitored by the LGMS Police Department at a modest cost. And we badly need this protection. While MS is only about 10% of the population of LG, we account for not just 10% of all residential burglaries investigated by our Police Department, but a truly staggering 2/3 of all burglaries.
I respectfully urge the Council to install these Flock cameras to give our residents this needed protection.
Lon Allan
LIONEL M. ALLAN
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Lobbyists
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Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist, Transportation,
Communications, and Public Works
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Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist,
Community Services
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Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist, Housing,
Community, and Economic Development
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Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist, Governance,
Transparency, and Labor Relations
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Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist,
Environmental Quality
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Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist,
Public Safety
[email protected]
Agenda
• Revenue and Taxation
• Transportation, Communications, and Public Works
• Public Safety
• Housing, Community, and Economic Development
• Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations
• Environmental Quality
• Community Services
Strengthening California Cities through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org Revenue and Taxation
Ben Triffo
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-738-9062
Strengthening California Cities through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org Proposed 2024-25 State Budget
Overall, the Governor’s proposed $291.5
billion budget:
• Does not include redirection of city funds
to address state budget shortfalls.
• $38 billion dollar budget deficit.
• Draws upon $13.1 billion in reserves.
Strengthening California Cities through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org But what about the LAO?
The nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office forecasts a $73 billion deficit for FY 2024-25 due to:
• Slower economic growth.
• Large revenue forecast misses in previous years.
• Tax filling extensions.
Strengthening California Cities through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org Balancing the budget
The proposed budget is balanced
with a combination of:
$13.1 billion in reserves
$8.5 billion in spending
reductions
$5.7 billion in internal borrowing
$5.1 billion in delays
$3.4 billion in shifts
$2.1 billion in deferrals
Property taxes
AB 2564 (Boerner) Property Tax Postponement: Senior Citizens and Disabled Citizens Property Tax Postponement Fund.
This measure would reinstate General Fund support for the Senior Citizens and Disabled Citizens Property Tax Postponement Program.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Property taxes
SB 1164 (Newman) Property Taxation: New Construction Exclusion:
Accessory Dwelling Units.
This measure would exempt new ADU construction from property tax assessment for 15 years from the date of completion or until the property is sold.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Sales and use tax
AB 2274 (Dixon) Taxation: Sales and Use Taxes: Exemption: Tax Holiday.
This measure would create sales tax exemptions for personal property purchased during the first weekend in August of each year.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Sales and use tax
SB 1494 (Glazer) Local Agencies: Sales and Use Tax: Retailers.
This measure, as of January 1, 2024, would prohibit a city from entering a sales tax rebate agreement with a retailer. As of January 1, 2030, this measure would make all existing sales tax rebate agreements void and unenforceable.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Sales and use tax
AB 2854 (Irwin) Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law.
This measure is a spot bill dealing with the Bradley-Burns local sales and use tax.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Grants
SB 955 (Seyarto) Office of Planning and Research: Infrastructure Gap-Fund Program.
This measure, upon appropriation, would establish the
Infrastructure Gap-Fund Program at the Office of Planning and Research to provide grants to assist cities and counties with infrastructure projects.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Strengthening California Cities
through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org QUESTIONS?
Ben Triffo
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-738-9062
Strengthening California Cities through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org Transportation,
Communications, and
Public Works
Damon Conklin
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-658-8234
Transportation
SB 915 (Cortese) Autonomous Vehicles: Local Control and Increased Public Safety.
This measure would require an autonomous vehicle (AV) service to obtain approval for local service by the adoption of a local ordinance or resolution. It would also require the establishment of an override system accessible by local law enforcement and first responders in case of an emergency.
Cal Cities Position: Co-Sponsor/Support
AB 1777 (Ting) Autonomous Vehicles.
Intent Language.
AB 1786 (Rodriguez) Autonomous Vehicles.
Intent Language.
Transportation
AB 2286 (Aguiar-Curry) Autonomous Vehicles.
This measure would prohibit the operation of an autonomous vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more without a human safety operator physically present in the autonomous vehicle at the time of operation.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Transportation – advanced clean fleets
AB 2418 (Patterson) Federal Pre-emption.
This measure would allow the federal emissions standards to preempt California’s more restrictive requirements.
AB 2626 (Dixon) 10-Year Delay.
This measure would allow local government a 10-year delay.
AB 3219 (Sanchez) Price Caps.
This measure would establish price caps on the retail sale of ZEVs.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Transportation – advanced clean fleets
SB 1393 (Niello) Appeals Advisory Committee.
This measure would establish an Appeals Advisory Committee to review appeals of denied requests for exemptions.
AB 2266 (Petrie-Norris) Voucher Incentives.
This measure would require the state board to authorize a voucher to be used for the acquisition of any zero-emission vehicle.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Transportation
AB 3005 (Wallis) Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law: Adjustment Suspension.
This measure would authorize the Governor to suspend an adjustment to the motor vehicle fuel tax, thus adversely impacting local revenues to maintain and improve local
transportation projects.
Cal Cities Position: Oppose
Transportation
SB 947 (Seyarto) Department of Transportation: Project Design Changes.
This measure would make the Department of Transportation responsible for additional costs after the project is included in the state transportation improvement program or the state highway operation and protection program.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Permitting
SB 983 (Wahab) Energy: Gasoline Stations and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure.
This measure would require the State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission to conduct a study on retail gasoline fueling stations and alternative fuels infrastructure and prohibit a local government from banning the construction or maintenance of retail gasoline fueling stations or alternative fuel infrastructure.
Cal Cities Position: Oppose Unless Amended
Permitting
SB 1418 (Archuletta) Hydrogen-Fueling Stations: Administrative Approval.
This measure would extend the sunset of the existing requirement for local municipalities to administratively approve applications to install hydrogen-fueling stations. Also, this measure would require the adoption of an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for hydrogen-fueling stations by 2025.
Cal Cities Position: Oppose
Electric bicycles
AB 1773 (Dixon) Electric Bicycles: Restricted Use.
This measure would prohibit, unless authorized by a local municipality, the use of an electric bicycle on boardwalks.
AB 1778 (Connolly) Electric Bicycles: Helmets.
This measure would require a person operating/riding a class 2 electric bicycle to wear a helmet.
AB 2234 (Boener) Electric Bicycles: Safety Program.
This measure would require the Department of Highway Patrol to develop a safety and training program for the use of an electric bicycle.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Electric bicycles
SB 1216 (Blakespear) Transportation Projects: Class III Bikeways.
This measure would prohibit an agency from installing a Class III bikeway or restriping a Class III bikeway on a highway that has a posted speed limit greater than 30 miles per hour and withhold funds from being allocated to a project that creates a Class III bikeway.
AB 2290 (Friedman) Transportation Projects: Class III Bikeways.
This measure would prohibit the allocation of Active
Transportation Program funds for a project that creates a Class III bikeway unless the project is on a residential street with a posted speed limit of 20 miles per hour or less.
Cal Cities Position: Concerns
Broadband
AB 1826 (Holden) Digital Equity Franchising Act.
This measure would establish a stronger anti-discrimination standard for cable franchises and expand stakeholder
engagement opportunities during CPUC franchise reviews.
Cal Cities Position: Support
AB 2239 (Bonta) Digital Discrimination.
Intent Language.
AB 3247 (Irwin) Digital Infrastructure Video Competition Act.
Intent Language.
Broadband
AB 2708 (Patterson, J.) Digital Equity Franchising Act.
This measure would expand the annual report generated by the Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy to include the total cost to complete the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network, the total available funding for the statewide openaccess middle-mile broadband network, and the projected completion date for the statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network.
Cal Cities Position: Support
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Damon Conklin
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-658-8234
Strengthening California Cities through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org Public Safety
Jolena Voorhis
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-658-8252
Retail Theft – Assembly legislation
AB 1794 (McCarty) Crimes.
This measure would make changes to retail theft and is currently a spot bill.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
AB 2943 (Rivas and Zbur) Crimes: Shoplifting.
This measure would make several changes to retail theft including aggregation, repeat offenders, and on-line resellers.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Retail Theft – Assembly legislation
AB 1960 (Soria) Sentencing Enhancements: Property Loss.
This measure would create sentencing enhancements for taking, damaging, or destroying property in the commission or
attempted commission of a felony.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
AB 1772 (Ramos) Theft.
This measure would make changes to Proposition 47 including reinstating felony theft with a prior conviction.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Retail Theft – Assembly legislation
AB 1779 (Irwin) Theft: Jurisdiction.
This measure would no longer limit jurisdictional rules for specified theft crimes to criminal action brought by the Attorney General.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Retail Theft – Senate legislation
SB 982 (Wahab) Crimes: Organized Theft.
This measure permanently repeals the sunset date on the organized retail theft statute which is currently January 1, 2026.
Cal Cities Position: Support
SB 1242 (McGuire) Community Correctional Facilities.
This measure is a spot bill that is expected to be amended to address penalties for criminals who start fires in order to engage in retail theft.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Retail Theft – Senate legislation
SB 1416 (Newman) Retail Theft.
This measure increases penalties on professional organized retail theft for large-scale resale schemes.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
SB 820 (Alvarado-Gil) Cannabis: Enforcement: Seizure of Property.
This measure would provide that the civil asset forfeiture provisions, currently applicable to unlicensed manufacturing of alcoholic beverages (i.e., moonshining), to cover unlicensed commercial cannabis activities.
Cal Cities Position: Support
SB 1064 (Laird) Cannabis.
This measure is a spot bill for reform to the permitting process for cannabis.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Cannabis
AB 1168 (Bennett) Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Prehospital EMS.
This measure would clarify a city or fire district’s right to retain its authority over emergency ambulance services if a city or fire district enters into an agreement with a county for the joint exercise of powers for emergency ambulance services.
Cal Cities Position: Sponsor/Support
Emergency services
AB 3171 (Soria) Controlled Substances: Fentanyl.
This measure would increase penalties for the sale or purchase of more than 28.35 grams of fentanyl.
Cal Cities Position: Support
SB 1502 (Ashby) Controlled Substances: Xylazine.
This measure would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to increase criminal penalties for the illicit use of xylazine.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Fentanyl
SB 21 (Umberg) Controlled Substances.
This measure would require a person who is convicted of crimes related to controlled substances to receive a written advisory of the danger of manufacturing or distribution of controlled substances and that, if a person dies because of that action, the distributor can be charged with voluntary manslaughter or murder.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Fentanyl
AB 2034 (Rodriguez) Crimes: Loitering for the Purpose of Engaging in a Prostitution Offense.
This measure would make it a misdemeanor to loiter in a public place with the intent to commit prostitution. This measure would also provide that a person’s clothing shall not solely determine whether a person is loitering.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
SB 357 (Wiener, 2022) reform
AB 1725 (McCarty) Law Enforcement Settlements and Judgments:
Reporting.
This measure would require cities and counties to post financial details about law enforcement use-of-force settlements and judgments on their internet websites, including how much each settlement cost and how the state and municipalities will pay for each settlement.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Public Safety miscellaneous
AB 1814 (Ting) Law Enforcement Agencies: Facial Recognition Technology.
This measure would prohibit a law enforcements agency or peace officer from using facial recognition technology
generated match as the sole basis for probable cause in an arrest, search, or warrant.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Public Safety miscellaneous
AB 2042 (Jackson) Police Canines: Standards and Training.
This measure would require the Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) to develop standards and training guidelines for the use of canines by law enforcement which focus on restricting canine activity. It would also require each law enforcement agency in California, on or before January 1, 2027, to adopt a policy for the use of canines that complies with these standards.
Cal Cities Position: Oppose
Public Safety miscellaneous
AB 3241 (Pacheco) Law Enforcement: Police Canines.
This measure would require the Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) to develop standards and training guidelines for the use of canines by law enforcement by referencing existing law and procedures. It would also require each law enforcement agency in California to adopt a policy for the use of canines that complies with these standards.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Public Safety miscellaneous
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Jolena Voorhis
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-658-8252
Strengthening California Cities through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org Housing, Community, and
Economic Development
Brady Guertin
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-658-8255
Development fees
AB 1820 (Schiavo) Housing Development Projects: Applications.
Fees And Exactions.
This measure would require local agencies to provide an estimate of all taxes and fees within 10 business days of a request from a project applicant during the preliminary application process.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Development fees
SB 937 (Wiener) Development Projects: Permits And Other Entitlements: Fees And Charges.
This measure would limit the ability of local governments to collect mitigation fees to either when a certificate of occupancy is issued, or once construction commences for the projects the fees will be used for. It also prohibits local governments from specific agreements with developers for fee payment.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Development fees
SB 1210 (Skinner) New Housing Construction: Electrical, Gas, Sewer, and Water Service Connections: Charges.
This measure would cap fees for electrical, gas, or water services at 1% of the total building permit value of new housing construction.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Housing element
AB 1886 (Alvarez) Housing Element Law: Substantial Compliance:
Housing Accountability Act.
This measure would allow the Builder’s Remedy to begin as soon as the Department of Housing and Community Development or a court determines a jurisdiction’s housing element is out of compliance.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Housing element
AB 1893 (Wicks) Housing Accountability Act: Housing
Disapprovals: Required Local Findings.
This measure would allow the Builder’s Remedy apply if the Department of Housing and Community Development
determines that a local jurisdiction is not in compliance with Housing Element Law and a proposed development project
provides a minimum of 10% of the units for low-income or very low-income residents. This measure would limit the Builder’s Remedy only to areas zoned for residential and mixed-use development and caps maximum density.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Housing element
AB 2023 (Quirk-Silva) Housing Element Substantial Compliance:
Rebuttable Presumptions.
This measure would make it more difficult for jurisdictions to challenge HCD’s determination that its housing element is not in substantial compliance with the law.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Housing element
SB 951 (Wiener) California Coastal Act of 1976: Coastal Zone: City and County of San Francisco
This measure would require coastal cities to update their Local Coastal Programs during each housing element cycle.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Parking
SB 834 (Portantino) Vehicles: Preferential Parking: Residential, Commercial, or Other Development.
This measure would prohibit local governments from providing local parking privileges to residents and vendors for any development within a half mile of public transit.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Accessory dwelling units (ADU)
SB 1211 (Skinner) Land Use: Accessory Dwelling Units.
This measure would require local agencies to allow a minimum of two detached, new construction ADUs on a multifamily dwelling unit and allow up to 25% of the existing lot to have ADUs on site. It would also prohibit local governments from requiring off-street parking spaces to be replaced if a carport, covered parking structure, or uncovered parking space is converted to an ADU.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Strengthening California Cities
through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org QUESTIONS?
Brady Guertin
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-658-8255
Strengthening California Cities through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org Governance,
Transparency, and Labor
Relations
Johnnie Pina
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-658-8214
Ralph M. Brown Act
AB 817 (Pacheco) Open Meetings: Teleconferencing: Subsidiary Body.
This measure would remove barriers to entry for appointed and elected office by allowing nondecision-making legislative bodies to participate in two-way virtual teleconferencing without posting their location.
Cal Cities Position: Co-Sponsor/Support
Ralph M. Brown Act
AB 2302 (Addis) Open Meetings: Local Agencies:
Teleconferences.
This measure would clarify, for the purpose of counting meetings attended by teleconference, would define a “meeting” as any number of meetings of the legislative body of a local agency that begin on the same calendar day. The measure would also revise the limits imposed under AB 2449.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Ralph M. Brown Act
AB 2715 (Boerner) Ralph M. Brown Act: Closed Sessions.
This measure would allow matters of cybersecurity to be discussed by a legislative body of a local agency during closed session, provided that any action taken on those matters is done in open session.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Ethics training
AB 2631 (Fong, Mike) Local Agencies: Ethics Training.
This measure would, contingent upon an appropriation for these purposes, require the Fair Political Practices Commission to create, maintain, and make available to local agency officials an ethics training course.
Cal Cities Position: Co-Sponsor/Support
Political Reform Act of 1974
AB 270 (Lee)/ SB 24 (Umberg) Political Reform Act of 1974: Public Campaign Financing.
This measure would place a measure on the November 2024 ballot that would provide voters the opportunity to decide to remove the current prohibition on public financing of campaigns in California.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Political Reform Act of 1974
AB 2041 (Bonta, Mia) Political Reform Act Of 1974: Campaign Funds: Security Expenses.
This measure would lift existing limitations and add needed expansions to how campaign funds may be used for security expenses.
Cal Cities Position: Support
California Public Records Act
AB 1785 (Pacheco) California Public Records Act.
This measure would define “home address” to include an
assessor’s parcel number under the California Public Records Act.
Current law prohibits a state or local agency from posting the home address of any elected or appointed official on the internet without first obtaining the written permission of that individual.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
California Public Records Act
AB 2153 (Lowenthal) California Public Records Act: Public Agency Employees: Notice Requirements: Personnel and Medical
Information.
This measure would require cities, upon receipt of a request for a copy of, or the inspection of, any personnel, medical, or similar records of a city employee or any record that would disclose an employee’s personal identity in connection with the performance of that employee’s work duties, to promptly and prior to the release of the records, provide written notice of the request to that public agency employee.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
California Public Records Act
AB 2283 (Pacheco) Public Records: Employee Personnel Records:
Notice.
This measure would require a public agency that receives a request for the personnel records of one of the public agency’s employees to provide written notice to the employee within 48 hours of receipt of the request.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
California Public Records Act
AB 2439 (Quirk-Silva) Public Records: Owners and Developers.
This measure would require an owner, developer, or their agents who receives public funds from a public agency to perform a public works project to be subject to the act in connection with records that it prepares, owns, uses,
or retains relating to that public works project. It would also require them to establish written guidelines for accessibility of records and make the guidelines publicly accessible.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
California Public Records Act
SB 908 (Cortese) Public Records: Legislative Records: Electronic Messages.
This measure would prohibit an elected or appointed official or employee of a public agency from creating or sending a public record using a nonofficial electronic messaging system unless the official or employee sends a copy of the public record to an official electronic messaging system.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
California Public Records Act
SB 1034 (Seyarto) California Public Records Act: State of Emergency.
This measure would revise the unusual circumstances under which the time limit may be extended to include the need to search for, collect, appropriately examine, and copy records during a state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor when the state of emergency has affected the agency’s ability to timely respond to requests.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Elections
SB 251 (Newman) Candidates’ Statements: False Statements.
This measure would increase the maximum fine for knowingly making a false statement of a material fact in a candidate’s statement from $1,000 to $5,000.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Elections
AB 2355 (Carillo, Wendy) Political Advertisements: Artificial Intelligence.
This measure would require a person, committee, or other entity that creates, originally publishes, or originally distributes a qualified political advertisement to include in the advertisement a specified disclosure that the advertisement was generated, in whole or in part, using artificial intelligence.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Elections
AB 2839 (Pellerin) Elections: Deceptive Media in Advertisements.
This measure would prohibit a person, committee, or other entity from knowingly distributing an advertisement or other election communication that contains certain materially deceptive and digitally altered or digitally created images or audio or video files, with the intent to influence an election or solicit funds for a candidate or campaign. This measure would apply this
prohibition within 120 days of an election and, in specified cases, 60 days after an election.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Labor relations
AB 2421 (Low) Employer-Employee Relations: Confidential Communications.
This measure would prohibit a local public agency employer from questioning any employee, or employee representative
regarding communications made in confidence between an
employee and an employee representative in connection with representation relating to any matter within the scope of the recognized employee organization’s representation.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Labor relations
SB 1116 (Portantino and Durazo) Unemployment Insurance: Trade Disputes: Eligibility For Benefits.
This measure would grant employees unemployment eligibility after two weeks of leaving work to strike.
Cal Cities Position: Pending Oppose
Workers’ Compensation
SB 1205 (Laird) Workers’ Compensation: Medical Benefits.
This measure would make an employee who is working entitled to receive all reasonable expenses of transportation, meals, and lodging to receiving treatment, in addition to one day of temporary disability indemnity, or a percentage of one day of temporary disability indemnity representative of the percentage of the wages lost receiving treatment.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Workers’ Compensation
SB 1346 (Durazo) Workers’ Compensation: Aggregate Disability Payments.
This measure would authorize the Workers’ Compensation
Appeals Board to award temporary disability benefits if a denial of treatment requested by a treating physician is subsequently overturned by independent medical review. In doing so, it would further complicate California’s claims-handling process and create an incentive to unnecessarily challenge Utilization Review (UR) decisions through Independent Medical Review (IMR).
Cal Cities Position: Pending
CalPERS
SB 252 (Gonzalez) Public Retirement Systems: Fossil Fuels:
Divestment.
This measure would prohibit the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) from investing in the 200 largest fossil fuel companies effective on January 1, 2024, and would require the system to divest existing investments in the companies on or before July 1, 2031.
Cal Cities Position: Oppose
Cities Week
ACR 137 (Pacheco) Cities Week
This measure would proclaim the week of April 14, 2024, to April 20, 2024, to be Cities Week, and would encourage all Californians to be involved in their communities and be civically engaged with their local government.
Cal Cities Position: Sponsor
Strengthening California Cities
through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org QUESTIONS?
Johnnie Pina
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-658-8214
Strengthening California Cities through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org Environmental Quality
Melissa Sparks-Kranz
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-658-8232
Air quality
AB 2796 (Alvarez) Equitable Access To Zero Emissions Vehicles Fund.
This measure would establish the Equitable Access to ZeroEmission Vehicles Fund and would make moneys in the fund available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for a new vehicle rebate program. This measure would require the
California Air Resources Board, by July 1, 2025, to establish a program to offer rebates for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles. The measure would require the Board to submit a report to the Legislature every two years describing the rebates and other incentives provided by the fund.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Air quality
AB 1857 (Jackson) State Air Resources Board: Air Quality Regulation: Valleys.
This measure would require the California Air Resources Board to adopt regulations to improve air quality in population centers located in valleys and would require each local air district to implement those regulations with regard to stationary sources located within its jurisdiction. This measure would make these requirements inoperative on January 1, 2029, and would require the Board, on or before January 1, 2030, to submit a report to the Legislature and specific Legislative Committees describing any air quality improvements resulting from those regulations.
Cal Cities Position: Oppose Unless Amended
Climate change
AB 2372 (Bains) Greenhouse Gas Emissions: State Board: Report.
This measure would require the California Air Resources Board to report to the Legislature by 2030, instead of 2035, an evaluation of the feasibility and tradeoffs of achieving the policy goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least 85% below the statewide limit by 2045.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Climate change
AB 2409 (Papan) Office of Planning and Research: Permitting Accountability Transparency Dashboard.
This measure would require the Office of Planning and Research, on or before January 1, 2026, to create and maintain, a permitting accountability and transparency dashboard on their internet website. This measure would require the dashboard to include a display for each permit to be issued by specified state agencies for all covered projects with an estimated cost of $100 million or more.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Solid waste and recycling
SB 972 (Min) Methane Emissions: Organic Waste Landfills.
This measure would require CalRecycle to strengthen statewide efforts to support local jurisdictions to remove organic waste from landfills and reduce methane emissions. The measure would require CalRecycle to develop procedures to allow local jurisdictions to request assistance and would also require CalRecycle to report back to the Legislature on the progress of diverting organic waste from landfills by 2028 and how to better align organic waste efforts with the state’s other climate goals and policies by 2031.
Cal Cities Position: Sponsor/Support
Solid waste and recycling
SB 1046 (Laird) Organic Waste Reduction: Program Environmental Impact Report: Composting Facilities.
This measure would require CalRecycle to prepare a program environmental impact report that streamlines the process with which local jurisdictions can develop and site small and medium compost facilities for processing organic waste.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Solid waste and recycling
AB 2346 (Lee) Organic Waste Regulations: Procurement of Recovered Organic Waste Products.
This measure would authorize local jurisdictions to be credited for the procurement of recovered organic waste products through an agreement with a direct service provider. This measure would also authorize local jurisdictions to count towards their procurement targets, compost produced and procured from community composting operations, on-farm compost operations, and home compost operations.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Disaster preparedness
AB 2330 (Holden) Endangered Species: Routine Fuel Management Activities.
This measure would streamline permits for local agencies to remove vegetation and perform fuel management activities in fire hazard severity zones adjacent to urban communities. This measure would also require the state to overlay existing critical habitat maps with fire hazard severity zone maps to help local and state officials identify and streamline the necessary permits.
Cal Cities Position: Sponsor/Support
Energy
AB 1999 (Irwin) Electricity: Fixed Charges.
This measure would repeal the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) authority to develop, no later than July 1, 2024, an income-graduated fixed charge, with no fewer than three income thresholds. This measure would permit the CPUC to not exceed a $5 fixed charge per residential customer per month for low-income customers enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program and $10 fixed charge per residential customer per month for all other customers.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Water
AB 3121 (Hart) Urban Retail Water Suppliers: Written Notice:
Conservation Order: Dates.
This measure would revise the dates when the State Water Resources Control Board may issue written notices and
conservation orders if an urban retail water supplier is not meeting their urban water use objective.
Cal Cities Position: Support If Amended
Water
SB 1330 (Archuleta) Urban Retail Water Suppliers: Water Use.
This measure would require the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt the Department of Water Resources (DWR)
recommended variances such as seasonal population or water used to irrigate vegetation for fire protection to incorporate into an urban retail water suppliers overall urban water use objective.
This measure would require DWR to update data for outdoor landscapes once every ten years. This measure would allow an urban retail water supplier to submit annual reports to the state on a calendar or fiscal basis. This measure would require an urban retail water supplier to describe the water demand management measures it is taking to achieve its urban water use objective by January 1, 2030.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Strengthening California Cities
through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org QUESTIONS?
Melissa Sparks-Kranz
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-658-8232
Strengthening California Cities through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org Community Services
Caroline Grinder
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-580-5075
Housing and homelessness budget request
Cal Cities has called on the Governor and the Legislature to create a permanent, dedicated funding stream of $3 billion annually to address homelessness and construct more affordable housing.
Cal Cities has also engaged on:
AB 1657 (Wicks) The Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2024.
This measure would place a $10 billion bond measure on the November 2024 ballot to spur the production of affordable and supportive housing.
Cal Cities Position: Support
Recovery housing
AB 2081(Davies) Substance Abuse: Recovery and
Treatment Programs.
This measure would require an operator of a licensed
drug and alcohol treatment facility to publicly
disclose on its website any legal, disciplinary, or other enforcement action brought by the Department of Health Care Services, including the date and nature of the violation.
Cal Cities Position: Co-sponsor/Support
Recovery housing
AB 2121 (Dixon) Community Care Facilities.
This measure would require the Department of Health Care Services to notify cities when a new license for a drug and alcohol treatment facility is approved within their jurisdiction. This measure would also implement distance requirements between these licensed facilities and between other group homes licensed by other state departments.
Cal Cities Position: Sponsor/Support
Recovery housing
AB 2574 (Valencia) Alcoholism or Drug Abuse Recovery or Treatment Facilities.
This measure would codify existing case law from 2019 (City of Dana Point v. New Method Wellness, Inc.), which determined that unlicensed recovery homes operating as part of a licensed treatment facility located elsewhere may be considered unlawful business use within a residential zone.
Cal Cities Position: Sponsor/Support
Recovery housing
SB 913 (Umberg) Health.
This measure would augment state licensing efforts by requiring the Department of Health Care Services to adopt a process that would allow cities to request approval to conduct site visits of unlicensed sober living homes based on the city's reasonable belief that the home is providing one or more nonmedical services requiring licensing and would allow the city attorney to enforce compliance with existing state licensing laws.
Cal Cities Position: Sponsor/Support
Recovery housing
SB 1334 (Newman) Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Licensing.
This measure would authorize local jurisdictions to require a use permit or conditional use permit for any recovery residence that services seven or more residents. This measure would also allow local jurisdictions to require recovery residences to be located at least 1,000 feet from another state-licensed alcohol or drug recovery facility or recovery residence.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Behavioral health
SB 1017 (Eggman) Available Facilities for Inpatient and Residential Mental Health or Substance Use Disorder Treatment.
This measure would require the State Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with the State Department of Public Health and the State Department of Social Services, to develop a solution to collect, aggregate, and display information regarding the availability of inpatient and residential mental health or substance use disorder treatment. This measure would require the solution to be operational by January 1, 2026.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Measures to keep an eye on
AB 2207 (Reyes) State Boards and Commissions: Representatives of Older Adults.
This measure would add representatives from organizations that serve or advocate for older adults to numerous state boards and commissions.
SB 26 (Umberg) Mental Health Professions: CARE Scholarship Program.
This measure would establish a scholarship program to increase the behavioral health workforce needed to implement the CARE Act.
SB 37 (Caballero) Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Act.
This measure would administer a housing subsidy program for older adults and adults with disabilities experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
Cal Cities Position: Pending
Strengthening California Cities
through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org QUESTIONS?
Caroline Grinder
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
[email protected] • 916-580-5075 CONFERENCE AND EXPO LONG BEACH, CA OCTOBER 16-18, 2024
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Strengthening California Cities
through Advocacy and Education Follow us www.calcities.org
THANK YOU
Jason Rhine
Director of Legislative Affairs
[email protected]