APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NIKKI FORTUNATO BAS
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 915 (DAVE
CORTESE), THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SERVICES DEPLOYMENT AND
DATA TRANSPARENCY ACT, WHICH PR IORITIZES LOCAL CONTROL IN
THE DECISION TO DEPLOY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SERVICES
WHEREAS, On January 9, 2024, Senator Dave Cortese, introduced Senate Bill 915 that empowers local communities, maintains safety for pedestrians, passengers, and other vehicles, and establishes a community-centered approach; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 915 would empower local governments to determine how self-driving vehicles operate in a given area, as well as enforce traffic laws on autonomous vehicle companies by enacting new local ordinances, as needed, in real-time; and WHEREAS, Senate Bill 915 allows each local government to set up its own rules for self- driving vehicles based on the community’s unique needs. Local governments will be able to govern fares on robotaxis and the number of autonomous vehicles on the road. This will manage traffic and reduce the potential for injuries; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 915 has the support of the California League of Cities, California Teamsters Public Affairs Council, California Conference Board of the Amalgamated, Transit Union, and California Labor Federation; and
WHEREAS, Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region International Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 856 was reported saying, “Our streets should not be private laboratories for untested technology. SB 915 is the common-sense measure to ensure autonomous vehicles don't operate in a regulatory vacuum, putting lives at risk. Local communities deserve a say in how these vehicles operate on their streets.”; and
WHEREAS, According to Senator Dave Cortese, “City councils and county boards of supervisors adopt ordinances on any given week, nimbly and with local accountability. SB 915 returns control to the local communities who know their streets best. The emergence of autonomous vehicles is an exciting technological development with massive potential upsides for safety and convenience.
We must ensure this innovative technology rolls out safely. SB 915 strikes the right balance between responsible technology deployment and public safety. Under SB 915, the rules of the road will continue to be established and enforced by the people who live there.” ; and
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2 WHEREAS, Over the last year, driverless vehicles have delayed transport and medical care, blocked emergency vehicles, and interfered during active firefighting and crime scenes. First responders have been forced to relocate their emergency vehicles because of wayward autonomous vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Many communities have expressed concerns over the number of driverless vehicles allowed to operate on their local streets; hours allowed for service/operation; locations of vulnerable populations (e.g. schoolyards); and damage to local streets and roads with heavier than average displacement; and
WHEREAS, These events have sparked a backlash in communities in recent months following a series of traffic snarls and accidents. In one incident, a pedestrian was run over and dragged by a Cruise vehicle after she was struck by another car. The DMV only took disciplinary action, suspending Cruise’s deployment permit, after it became clear that Cruise misled California regulators about the severity of the event; and
WHEREAS, by allowing each city, county, or city and county to adopt a policy for entry into the business of providing autonomous vehicle services which must include and consider: maximum rates for passenger fares (robotaxi), establishment of vehicle caps, establishment of data transparency, establishment of interoperability for emergency responders, a process of ensuring ADA accessibility, and annual inspections for health and safety, SB 915 will go a long way towards repairing the flawed approach that governs the deployment of robotaxis and similar services in California; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the City of Oakland supports Senate Bill 915, “The Autonomous Vehicle Service Deployment and Data Transparency Act” which prioritizes local control in the decision to deploy autonomous vehicle services; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Oakland City Council directs the City Administrator or their designee to distribute this resolution upon its adoption to Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Dave Cortese.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE,
GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the City of
Oakland, California