CITY OF MORENO VALLEY
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY PLATFORM
CITY OF MORENO VALLEY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY PLATFORM
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PURPOSE............................................................................................................................3 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM .....................................................................................................3 Community..............................................................................................................................3 Economic Development..........................................................................................................5 Environment and Public Health ..............................................................................................5 Fiscal Responsibility ................................................................................................................7 Livability ..................................................................................................................................7 Local Control ...........................................................................................................................8 Public Safety............................................................................................................................9 Public Utilities........................................................................................................................11 Transportation Infrastructure and Mobility..........................................................................12 Innovation .............................................................................................................................13
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PURPOSE
The Legislative Platform outlines the City of Moreno Valley’s positions on priority issues and provides a comprehensive framework that enables staff to take timely action on pressing legislative matters under the City Council's direction. The Platform establishes the City’s legislative priorities and serves as a guide for pursuing regional, state, and federal legislative objectives efficiently and effectively.
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
The City Council approves the Legislative Platform, which establishes the framework for the City of Moreno Valley’s legislative advocacy efforts and provides direction for responding to proposed legislation and regulatory matters that may affect the City and its community. When proposed legislation is consistent with the Legislative Platform, City staff may prepare correspondence for the Mayor’s signature expressing the City’s position, including support, opposition, or a request for amendments. For time-sensitive matters that are consistent with the Legislative Platform, the City Manager or their designee may approve and sign correspondence on behalf of the City. Legislative or policy matters not addressed in the Legislative Platform shall be presented to the City Council for consideration and direction.
The City Manager, or designee, is authorized to implement the Legislative Platform and take timely legislative advocacy actions consistent with the Legislative Platform and City Council policy direction.
The City Manager may make technical or administrative adjustments necessary to address evolving legislative or regulatory developments, provided those adjustments remain consistent with the intent, priorities, and policy direction established by the Legislative Platform. Any substantive amendment to the Legislative Platform shall be presented to the City Council for consideration and direction at a public meeting.
The statements expressed in the approved Legislative Platform reflect official City Council policy and supplement the goals and policies established in other City planning and policy documents, including the City’s General Plan and Momentum MoVal Strategic Plan. Legislative priorities are organized by category to advance the City Council’s objectives and protect the interests of the City of Moreno Valley and its residents. City officials, staff, legislative advocates, and Council Members acting on behalf of the City shall act in accordance with the adopted Platform unless otherwise directed by the City Council at a public meeting. Statements or positions expressed by individual Council Members that are inconsistent with the adopted Platform represent their individual views and do not constitute or modify official City policy. When speaking in an individual capacity, Council Members shall clearly indicate that their views do not represent the City or the City Council.
A. Community: Support legislation, policies, programs, and initiatives that enhance the quality of life and well-being of Moreno Valley residents and strengthen the community.
1. Support legislation and funding to strengthen the capability of local agencies to prepare, adopt, and implement plans for responsible growth, development, zoning, and annexations.
2. Support targeted California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reforms that streamline compliance, reduce costs and litigation, establish reasonable timelines for
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Environmental Impact Report (EIR) challenges, preserve local control and environmental protections, and require unsuccessful challengers to bear associated litigation costs.
3. Support legislation that requires the party or parties that file a challenge to an EIR or NEPA certification to bear all costs associated with the lawsuit when such challenges do not prevail.
4. Support State legislation to establish a new, locally controlled economic development funding program to fill the void created by the elimination of redevelopment agencies.
5. Support State legislation to establish a new, locally controlled affordable housing funding program to fill the void created by the elimination of redevelopment housing set-asides.
6. Support legislation that reimburses the city for all costs associated with meeting State and Federal mandates.
7. Support federal legislation that expands active and reserve operations, increases joint services use, and provides necessary flight crews at March Air Reserve Base (March ARB), and oppose any legislation that would reduce joint services operations or eliminate the base.
8. Support reform of the Endangered Species Act to ensure mandates are fully funded by the imposing authority, economic impacts are considered in any revisions, mitigation requirements are incentive-based, and habitat preservation emphasizes multi-species conservation rather than single species designations.
9. Support legislation to address substandard housing.
10. Support legislation to provide cities with funding to assist the unhoused.
11. Support ADU and JADU legislation, including standardized plans and permitting processes for ADUs.
12. Support legislation that aims to streamline development impact fees for Accessory Dwelling Units in an effort to reduce costs for property owners and increase housing unit production.
13. Support housing bills that work to reduce barriers to housing supply.
14. Support measures that encourage pedestrian-oriented and walkable communities through street connectivity, accessible mass transit, and mixed-use development.
15. Support legislation to improve the Housing Element review process and require HCD to provide clear guidance and technical assistance on Housing Element Updates.
16. Support reform measures for housing law that:
a. Streamline state approval of housing elements;
b. Set reasonable minimum performance standards for all local governments.
c. Emphasize local control in implementing the Real Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA).
d. Emphasize local control over implementation of housing projects, oppose "by-right" housing legislation.
B. Economic Development: Support legislation, policies, and initiatives that promote job creation, business attraction, and business expansion to foster economic prosperity for Moreno Valley businesses and residents. Oppose legislative proposals or executive actions that impede the City’s economic growth and development.
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1. Support creation and enhancement of tools and resources to facilitate economic development.
2. Support the elimination of barriers to the development of commercial, industrial, housing, and brownfield redevelopment.
3. Oppose measuresthat would unnecessarily increase Moreno Valley businesses’ exposure to litigation.
4. Support legislation that will enhance Moreno Valley’s job climate and help local businesses thrive.
5. Support full funding for workforce and career and technical education.
6. Support improved business access to capital via avenues such as regulations, small business financing programs, and access to private loans.
7. Support legislation for fast-tracking tenant improvement reviews.
C. Environment and Public Health: Improve the environment and promote public health to create a more sustainable community.
1. Support revisions to grant eligibility requirements to allow funding to upgrade water systems serving disadvantaged communities to preclude violations of drinking water standards/regulations.
2. Support legislation that provides resources and funding to local governments for the implementation of environmental and public health bills.
3. Support the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, its processes, and funding.
4. Support legislation to fund stormwater infrastructure improvements and compliance with stormwater quality regulations.
5. Support legislation that clarifies that stormwater facilities are not deemed sewer systems under any bill.
6. Support funding for programs that reduce waste sent to landfills.
7. Oppose waste management requirements that would put local jurisdictions at risk of not meeting waste diversion requirements or that create additional unfunded mandates.
8. Support legislation that funds the increase of the urban forest canopy and its preservation.
9. Support state and federal funding for residential, business, and municipal energy efficiency projects.
10. Support state and federal climate change legislation and programs that are practical, incentive-based, and cost-effective for businesses, residents, and local government.
11. Oppose legislation that would burden local governments with high costs and/or impractical requirements.
12. Support state legislation and regulatory initiatives to strengthen local government’s ability to set local policies relating to “sustainability,” including, but not limited to, building standards and land use planning.
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13. Support legislation and funding to create a sustainable and stable water supply, encourage conservation of water resources, and reduce urban runoff pollution.
14. Promote local control over land use, to include the ability to make decisions regarding secondary residential units, which can greatly affect the character of neighborhoods.
15. Support state and federal climate and air quality regulations that are practical, clearly defined, and within the operational control of local agencies, including municipal fleets and facilities.
16. Oppose regulatory actions that shift compliance responsibility from regulated entities to local governments for third-party or contracted operations, including but not limited to private fleets operating under municipal contracts or franchise agreements.
17. Support policies that preserve a clear distinction between municipal fleet compliance obligations and those of independent contractors, ensuring that local agencies are not held accountable for fleet operations they do not own, manage, or control.
18. Oppose regulatory requirements that impose ongoing monitoring, verification, or enforcement responsibilities on local agencies for contractor compliance with state environmental regulations without providing funding, resources, or authority to administer such programs.
19. Oppose regulatory actions that create indirect liability for local agencies related to emissions compliance of private entities, including requirements tied to franchise agreements, long-term contracts, or service delivery models.
20. Support legislation that limits the reach of the State Water Quality Control Board to written law and not interpretation.
21. Support legislation that provides local agencies with reasonable implementation timelines and flexibility for compliance with state vehicle fleet requirements.
D. Fiscal Responsibility: Maintain fiscal stability and ensure responsible and prudent management of City assets and resources.
1. Support legislation that protects and preserves existing City revenues, including local sales tax, property tax, and voter-approved utility taxes.
2. Oppose actions that erode local revenue authority or reduce City revenues without full offset through mandate relief or stable replacement funding.
3. Oppose unfunded mandates and new fees imposed on municipalities and support full reimbursement for state and federal mandates.
4. Support regulatory and grant reform that increases flexibility, reduces administrative costs, and favors block grants over categorical funding.
5. Support workers' compensation reform to reduce employer exposure to frivolous claims.
6. Support sustainable and fiscally responsible public employee retirement systems that balance employee retirement security with the long-term financial stability of local governments.
7. Oppose legislation that increases pension benefits, pensionable compensation, retirement formulas, or other retirement liabilities without adequate funding or
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consideration of the long-term fiscal impacts on local governments.
8. Support TORT reform legislation establishing proportional liability for public agencies, so local governments are responsible only for their share of fault rather than the full cost of a judgment, protecting taxpayer dollars for essential services.
E. Livability: Enhance the quality of life for Moreno Valley residents by strengthening neighborhoods, promoting educational opportunities, preserving community services and facilities, and supporting arts and cultural opportunities.
1. Oppose state budget reductions that will reduce Community Services District revenues.
2. Support funding for childcare, including after-school programs.
3. Support legislation that would provide funding for recreation and youth programs.
4. Support legislation and funding for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of public facilities, parks, and open space.
5. Support legislation and funding for policies and programs that promote the overall health and wellness of families, veterans, seniors, and youth in the City.
6. Support legislation that provides additional funding to train and re-train individuals to enhance the local workforce by matching job-seeker skills with job opportunities.
7. Support State legislation to strengthen local government’s ability to set local policies relating to homelessness.
8. Support legislation that provides additional funding for homelessness solutions.
9. Support policies and partnerships that strengthen collaboration between the City, local school districts, and institutions of higher education to advance workforce development, youth engagement, career pathways, and community enrichment initiatives.
F. Local Control: Preserve the City’s authority to address local needs and priorities while protecting local revenues and resources.
1. Support legislation that strengthens Home Rule and oppose legislation that preempts local authority.
2. Support the application of the Brown Act to the State Legislature to the same extent that it applies to local government.
3. Oppose state legislation mandating binding arbitration.
4. Oppose any legislation that would grant, to the State or County, any zoning or other land use controls in municipalities.
5. Support efforts to establish local control over placement of group homes within the City and require the state to disclose to cities the categories of placements that include sex offenders who would be placed in the homes.
6. Oppose any legislation or regulations that would limit the local government’s review process and collection of fees for placement of communication facilities within public rights of way, specifically small cell facilities
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7. Support legislation that preserves the local authority to regulate wireless telecommunication facilities or other uses on public property and collect any applicable revenues.
8. Oppose state regulatory actions that interfere with local procurement authority or limit a city’s ability to select qualified contractors based on best value, including regulations that effectively restrict contractor eligibility based on state-imposed compliance frameworks beyond the City’s direct control.
9. Support legislation that preserves local authority and flexibility in the delivery of police, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services.
10. Oppose legislation that unnecessarily restricts the ability of local governments to establish public safety policies and service levels responsive to local needs.
11. Support policies that promote employee health, safety, wellness, and workplace protection while maintaining the ability of local agencies to deliver public services effectively.
12. Support legislation that provides local agencies additional flexibility in responding to Public Records Act requests, including reasonable response timelines, the ability to recover costs for extensive or commercial-use requests, and tools to address abusive or bad-faith requests that impose significant administrative burdens on local government resources.
G. Public Safety: Promote the general safety of all City residents.
1. Support legislation and funding that enhances local public safety services and strengthens the ability of local agencies to protect residents, businesses, and property.
2. Support legislation that increases the minimum distance between schools and sites where registered sex offenders can reside.
3. Support legislation that prohibits any sex offender from residing with a child who was a victim of a sex offender.
4. Support legislation that increases penalties for traffic violations in school zones.
5. Support measures that would establish tougher penalties for graffiti vandals and strengthen cities’ ability to be compensated for damages.
6. Oppose unfunded mandates that impose additional public safety costs or administrative burdens on local governments.
7. Support collaborative approaches among local, regional, state, and federal agencies that enhance community safety.
8. Support programs, policies, and resources that enhance crime prevention and enforcement, emergency preparedness, disaster resilience, and local flexibility to address community public safety needs.
9. Support legislation and funding that enhances local and regional emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.
10. Support effective mutual-aid systems and coordination among local, state, and federal emergency response agencies, including timely and adequate reimbursement for disaster response and mutual-aid activities.
11. Support investments in wildfire prevention, vegetation management, hazard mitigation, community resilience, and other measures that reduce risks to life and
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property.
12. Support state and federal assistance to help communities prepare for and recover from fires and other natural or human-caused disasters.
13. Support policies that appropriately consider fire protection, emergency access, evacuation, and public safety in land-use and infrastructure decisions.
14. Support legislation that increases public safety through educational initiatives.
15. Support legislation that increases public safety through state and federal block grants.
16. Support legislation to prohibit the manufacture, import, sale, and use of dangerous synthetic substances, including those that mimic marijuana, methamphetamine, and heroin.
17. Oppose legislation to expand “early release” for low-risk serious and violent offenders without an increase in sustained funding to ensure responsible supervision by parole agents and for local agencies that provide post-release supervision.
18. Support legislation to conduct an independent study on the true impact of crime throughout the state, including an analysis of FBI Crime Reports both before and after the passage of any statutory changes.
19. Support legislation and funding to assist local law enforcement in reducing crimes, not limited to illicit drugs, burglary, assault, domestic violence, and sobriety checkpoints.
20. Support legislation to grant more local control for cities to regulate zoning for massage therapy businesses.
21. Support state legislation and regulatory reform that strengthens local government authority to regulate electric bicycles, electric scooters, and other micromobility devices, including enhanced safety standards, enforceable age and helmet requirements, speed limitations, and clear accountability mechanisms to protect pedestrians, motorists, and riders.
22. Support legislation and funding that strengthen fire prevention, wildfire mitigation, and all-hazard mitigation planning.
23. Support legislation to increase the safety of public safety officers, including code enforcement, park rangers, parking control, etc., within the scope of their duties.
24. Support legislation to utilize unmanned aerial vehicles (drone pilots) to assist public safety officers in their daily operations.
25. Support technical assistance and funding to help residents and the City comply with defensible space requirements.
H. Public Utilities: Preserve local authority over municipally owned utilities, including ratesetting, while promoting reasonable and voluntary compliance with California Energy Commission (CEC) reporting requirements.
1. Support legislation that establishes and preserves the role of cities in energy decisions for municipal utilities, including activities relating to electricity generation, supply, demand, and conservation.
2. Oppose legislation that preempts the authority and self-regulatory principles of municipal utilities.
3. Support legislation that requires cost-effective, technologically feasible, and technology-neutral criteria for the procurement of additional renewable energy
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resources or energy storage.
4. Support efforts to include Distributed Generation (customer-sited generation) as a “Category 1” renewable resource.
5. Support efforts to include out-of-state renewable resources, including wind, solar, and geothermal facilities, as part of a utility’s renewable resource portfolio to comply with the State’s renewable energy mandates.
6. Support legislation and funding that strengthens the resilience and reliability of municipal utility infrastructure, including grid hardening, wildfire risk reduction, undergrounding where feasible, and protection against cyber and physical threats.
7. Support regulatory flexibility that allows municipally owned utilities to implement innovative rate structures, distributed energy resources, battery storage, and emerging technologies in a manner that ensures long-term financial stability and equitable treatment of customers.
8. Support targeted reform of RPS energy requirements in California. The legislative goal of balancing renewable energy sources on an hourly basis will increase customer costs.
9. Support legislation allowing renewable hydrogen to serve as part of the resources considered for RPS-eligible energy.
10. Support targeted reform of procurement policies, allowing cost to be a deciding factor for professional services. Cost is often the only verifiable and static portion of a professional services proposal.
11. Oppose legislation that attempts to tax municipal revenue bonds necessary to fund the investment in critical electric utility infrastructure.
12. Support measures that ensure rates are designed to reflect the cost of serving customers and make certain all customers are treated fairly, and the needs of the community are met.
13. Support efforts to develop and implement appropriate financial assistance (incentives) for cost-effective energy conservation and energy efficiency programs.
I. Transportation Infrastructure and Mobility: Promote safe, efficient, and accessible transportation infrastructure that enhances mobility, supports economic development, and accommodates the movement of people and goods.
1. Support efforts to improve the roadway and aesthetics along State Route 60 between Interstate 215 and Interstate 10.
2. Support State Route 60 Improvements east of Interstate 215. The increase of commerce and economic growth requires improved highways in and around Moreno Valley and through the “Badlands.”
3. Support increased roadway connectivity between Moreno Valley and neighboring jurisdictions, particularly in the City’s northern and eastern ends, to support economic development activity in Moreno Valley.
4. Support legislation to increase funding for jurisdictions to repair, maintain, and replace state and local transportation infrastructure.
5. Support legislation that increases the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users.
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6. Support continued and increased funding for competitive safety and active transportation grant programs, including the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A), and support streamlining the application and delivery process for local agencies.
7. Support privatization of Caltrans projects to allow rapid construction of priority projects.
8. Oppose legislation that would eliminate or restrict the use of federal, state, or regional funding for local transportation projects.
9. Support efforts to establish a high-speed rail route along the Interstate 215 corridor in concert with the cities of San Bernardino, Riverside, and other nearby cities.
10. Support external funding for the mitigation and construction of the Cactus Drainage Channel.
11. Support legislation that createsfunding to fill the increasing gap from the reduced Gas Tax for local transportation projects.
12. Oppose legislation that pushes the cost for high-speed rail projects onto the local governments.
13. Support legislation and funding for truck route infrastructure, freight corridor improvements, and mitigation of goods-movement impacts on local communities, including participation in state and federal freight funding programs such as the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program.
14. Support legislation and funding for improving evacuation route capacity, roadway resiliency, and emergency access to protect public safety in areas subject to wildfire and other emergency risks.
15. Support funding for traffic signal modernization, adaptive signal timing, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) infrastructure to improve corridor efficiency and reduce congestion.
16. Support funding for electric vehicles and zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure to support state and local clean transportation goals.
17. Support legislation and partnerships that establish formal coordination mechanisms between cities, regional agencies, and Caltrans to identify and implement locally driven transportation solutions and corridor-level improvements that reduce congestion.
18. Support legislation that reaffirms local agencies' authority to recover street maintenance and repair costs associated with providing essential public services, including solid waste, recycling, and green waste collection, through service-related rates, fees, and franchise agreements.
J. Innovation: Promote flexible, technology-driven, and forward-thinking approaches that enhance City services, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen community engagement.
1. Support legislation and funding that expands local government flexibility to pilot innovative service delivery models and alternative operational frameworks.
2. Support the responsible integration of emerging technologies, including digital platforms, data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence, to improve efficiency, transparency, and customer service.
3. Support modernization of state and federal regulations to allow local governments to
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adopt innovative procurement, contracting, and public-private partnership tools.
4. Support funding for smart city infrastructure, broadband expansion, cybersecurity protection, and digital equity initiatives.
5. Support policies that encourage intergovernmental collaboration, data sharing, and performance-based governance to drive measurable outcomes.
6. Support workforce development initiatives that equip municipal employees with the skills necessary to implement and manage innovative technologies.