DATE:
February 14, 2023
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
City Manager’s Office
TITLE: Adoption of Legislative Platform for 2023
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Legislative Platform to guide the City’s regional, State, and Federal legislative advocacy efforts for 2023.
BACKGROUND
On January 24, 2023, the City Council held a Study Session to provide input on the proposed Legislative Platform to guide the City’s legislative advocacy during the 2023 legislative session.
The Study Session memo is included as Attachment 1 to this Council report.
Staff and Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG), the City’s legislative advocacy consultant, developed the proposed Legislative Platform based on input received during in -depth meetings with City Councilmembers and key staff from all City departments held from November through December 2022. The platform consists of 11 issue areas with 120 Policy statements, reflecting the most important legislative issues discussed during these meetings (Attachment 1).
ANALYSIS
2023 Legislative Platform
At the Study Session on January 24, a majority of the Council indicated support for the following:
• The addition of one new policy statement to support legislation that lowers thresholds for bond measures, including measures to support and fund affordable housing.
• Adding a footnote to the Policy C.16. statement indicating that support is contingent on whether the City Council determines that the replacement requirements are feasible within the Tenant Displacement Response Strategy.
Adoption of Legislative Platform for 2023
February 14, 2023
• The modification of the Policy D.8. statement to include language for advocating for modifications in requirements and additional funding that promote increase d ability for child-care options in urban settings.
• The addition of a policy statement that supports waiving tax assessments for tenant or facade improvements for small businesses.
Staff reviewed the applicability of this policy statement at the State level and determined that tax assessments for new construction, remodeling, and repair for small businesses are regulated by the County Office of the Assessor and would not be impacted by a change in policy at the State level. Additionally, normal maintenance and repair, such as replacing a window or typical storefront remodeling, are not considered new construction and do not cause a change in the tax assessment. Based on this information, staff does not recommend adding this proposed policy statement to the Legislative Platform.
Staff has incorporated the changes summarized above in Attachment 2 (red -line version) and Attachment 3.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the Legislative Platform program for 2023.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not adopt the Legislative Platform for 2023.
2. Modify the Legislative Platform for 2023.
3. Provide other direction.
Adoption of Legislative Platform for 2023
February 14, 2023
PUBLIC NOTICING
Agenda posting with copies to State Senator Josh D. Becker (District 13), State Assemblymember Marc Berman (District 24), and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (District 18).
Prepared by:
Christina Gilmore
Assistant to the City Manager
Approved by:
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager/
Chief Operating Officer
CG/1/CAM
608-02-14-23CR
202680
Attachments: 1. January 24, 2023 Study Session Memo
2. Legislative Program Platform for 2023 (Red-line)
3. Legislative Program Platform for 2023