CITY OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
2023 State Legislative Platform
Attachment B
Part I - Guiding Principles
1) Preserve Local Funding
The City supports the protection of existing state and local funding sources and the authorities that provide revenues to the City of Pasadena. Such areas include the protection of state-shared revenues, assets of the former redevelopment agency, development impact fees, and the ability to collect compensation for the use of the public right-of-way or City-owned facilities. The City opposes any new mandates that are unfunded and/or inadequately funded.
2) Preserve Local Authority
The City supports local decision-making authority and opposes preemption of local control. Cities are voluntarily created by the residents of a community to provide local self-government and to make decisions at a local level to best meet the needs of the community. Each community has unique needs and characteristics that are best met by policies set by its local governing body. Recently, several pieces of high- profile legislation have been introduced, which serve the purpose of superseding local discretion and land use controls generally established to maintain the immediate community's quality of life standards. Statewide efforts to remove the ability to set policy at the local level should be opposed, while promoting legislation that allows flexibility in the City's effort to cost-effectively meet water and energy goals and mandates. The City supports efforts that help municipalities maintain local control for reasonable development standards of land use regulation for housing, including accessory dwelling units and single family-zoned properties. The City opposes efforts that would threaten local decision-making authority to oversee local revenue-raising measures and resources for critical services and infrastructure.
Part II - Legislative Priorities
Pandemic Response
Direct and timely aid is the only way communities such as Pasadena are able to respond to a global pandemic such as COVID-19 and maintain continuity for vital services in areas such as public health, public safety, utility services, and outreach to the City's most vulnerable residents. The City supports legislation and state actions that would provide:
1) Direct fiscal assistance to local governments of all population sizes to address the catastrophic loss of revenue resulting from a global pandemic and similar natural disasters;
2) Direct fiscal assistance to local health jurisdictions to support 1 .) expanded epidemiological fimctions such as case investigation, contact tracing, testing, and vaccine distribution, and 2) services that support family and child physical and 1 3)
mental health and wellness harmed by a pandemic, including access to food and housing, access to primary and preventive care services, and safety; and Direct fiscal assistance to publicly owned utilities to credit delinquent utility bills for their customers.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact:
Finance Department: (626) 744-4355
Housing Department: (626) 744-8300
Public Health Department: (626) 744-6000
Water and Power Department: (626) 744-4409
Early Childhood Education
Improved access to high-quality, early childhood education, including pre-school, will help develop meaningful early learning solutions that support young children and their families. It is vital for early child education programs to have consistent, well-funded and diverse resources at the federal, state and local level. The City is supportive of legislation and funding to improve access to early learning and care so that young children, especially those from low- and middle-income families, can flourish during this critical childhood developmental period.
For more information about City positions on this topic please contact:
City Manager's Office: (626) 744-4333
Housing Department: (626) 744-8300
Library Department: (626) 744-4066
Parks, Recreation and Community Services: (626) 744-4386 Public Health Department: Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health Program: (800) 304-0015 Abatement of Nuisance Liquor Stores
Several nuisance liquor stores in the City have been cited for illegal activities including selling alcohol and tobacco products to minors. With the passage of SB 148 (Scott) a process exists to commence the elimination of nuisance liquor stores and the associated impacts from the affected communities. The City continues to request our legislators to initiate legislation that would provide local government with more control over the abatement of nuisance liquor stores.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the City Attorney's office at (626) 744-4141.
Density Bonus Law
The City supports changes to the current State Density Bonus law that will restore local control. These changes should allow cities to maximize their ability to protect local quality of life and retain the unique character of their communities. The City supports special consideration in meeting the State Density Bonus law for cities like Pasadena that have consistently invested in affordable housing projects/programs. Cities that have achieved appropriate housing goals, demonstrated commitments to affordable housing, complied with zoning requirements, and incentivized transit-oriented development, etc. should not be penalized by the imposition of state law, which diminishes local authority. The City 2023 State Legislative Platform2
supports compliant cities being granted relief and/or flexibility in response to the State Density Bonus law with greater regulatory attention focused on non-compliant jurisdictions to address their affordable housing needs.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact:
Housing Department: (626) 744-8300
Planning and Community Development Department: (626) 744-6833 Technology
The City supports legislative initiatives and funding to promote the use of data and technology to create efficiencies, promote economic development, enhance public safety, improve transportation and mobility, improve sustainability, enhance municipal quality of life factors, and help solve other civic challenges.
The City supports:
Legislation regarding cybersecurity and information sharing reform, as well as state resources to assist local government in meeting the challenges ofcybersecurity.
State efforts to encourage investment in expanding fiber optic technology to homes and local government input in the distribution of financial incentives to meet community- specific needs.
Legislation to ensure funding for communities to offer accessible public, educational, and governmental (PEG) programming; cities' rights to collect and audit franchise fee payments; and, for the use of PEG funds for non-capital expenditures such as operations and online support.
Legislative initiatives and funding to advance economic and digital inclusion and equity for all constituents, including access to computers, high-speed internet, and similar technology; and to provide training in computer, cybersecurity, and technology skills.
Policies, legislation, and funding to increase the number of households and businesses which have access to low-cost or free high-speed and reliable Internet as well as low- cost or free quality, Internet-enabled technology devices and technical support.
Policies, legislation, and grants that treat Internet access as an eligible utility for State housing vouchers and other subsidies.
Policies, legislation, and funding that ensure transparency, accountability and nondiscrimination of data, content, and algorithms.
The City opposes:
Legislative and regulatory efforts to curb the ability of local governments to charge telecommunication providers fair and reasonable compensation for the use and maintenance of public rights-of-way.
Any state intrusion into local permitting and zoning laws with respect to siting of telecommunications facilities.
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Any legislation that would further diminish the City's ability to make future decisions to offer telecommunication services directly.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Information Technology Department at (626) 744-4220.
Workers Compensation
Recent improvements to the workers' compensation system were the result of many individual efforts seeking to resolve specific issues. The system needs additional work to continue to move toward fair and equitable programs.
The City supports legislation that would control medical and legal costs. The City opposes legislation that would repeal the recent workers' compensation reforms, or that would exempt public safety employees from those reforms.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the City Attorney's office at (626) 744-4141.
Employee Compensation and Terms of Employment
The City supports local control over employment decisions not already preempted by State law. Each year the legislature introduces niunerous bills, which have the effect of eroding local control over employment, including such things as compensation and benefits, collective bargaining agreements, and employee rights and privileges. Inasmuch as each city is unique, it is important to maintain local control over the discretionary nuances of employment that are not already regulated by state or federal law or regulation.
The City opposes legislation that would preempt local control over employment, compensation and benefits, collective bargaining, and employee rights and privileges.
More specifically, the City opposes any bill to establish citizen compensation commissions or committees, or such compensation commissions or committees of combined membership with private citizens and any other persons or entities, when said commission or committee is charged with regulating local decision making with regard to compensation of local officials or employees. The City also opposes any bill that would limit local control over detennining its own pension plans, pension financing, or the right to contract with the State Public Employment Retirement System for appropriate pension formulae and benefits available under state law. The City will continue to be proactive in tracking changes to the recently passed pension reform bill, to protect and enhance the positive aspects of the recent changes and to ensure the maximum flexibility in local decision making for the City and its employees.
Minimum Wage
The City finds that income inequality is a substantial economic and social issue facing Pasadena. When employees do not receive a sufficient wage for their labor, the community and taxpayers bear associated costs in the form of increased demand for taxpayer-funded services, including emergency medical services, homeless shelters, and other social services and community-based services. Therefore, the City has an interest in promoting an employment enviroiunent in Pasadena that protects government resources while promoting the health, safety, and welfare of workers by 2023 State Legislative Platform4
ensuring they receive a reasonable wage for the work they perform. The City has taken a position to support a minimum wage that is more aggressive than the state.
The City supports legislation that would provide funding and support to cities that established a minimum wage different from the state-mandated minimum wage, in regards to enforcement and wage theft.
Additionally, an unintended consequence of having a minimum wage different from the state-mandated wage relates to reimbursements from state funds. For example, non- profits who received state funds will only be reimbursed for hours worked at the state- mandated minimum rate and not at the higher minimum wage set by the City of Pasadena. The City would support legislation that allows for state to reimburse labor at the minimum wage required by the city in which the work is performed.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Human Resources Department at (626) 744-4366.
Support for Affordable Housing
The City has implemented an aggressive and creative program to maximize the use of resources for the creation of housing for very low, low and moderate-income individuals and families, including the implementation of an effective Citywide inclusionary housing ordinance.
The City supports legislation that would provide additional resources for the development of affordable housing programs and/or expand code enforcement programs to protect existing housing stock. The City supports legislation that would require municipalities to provide assistance to homeless individuals that reside within their jurisdictions either directly or through the financial support of homeless service agencies that provide services within or directly adjacent to their jurisdictions. The City supports legislation reforming the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") to make development of affordable housing projects less costly and faster while minimizing legal exposure. The City opposes new regulations that would create cumbersome processes or other obstacles to the provision of homeless services, as well as any new legislation that would abridge or limit local regulatory mechanisms designed to increase affordable housing production (e.g., inclusionary housing programs). The City supports the creation of funding opportunities to assist municipalities in providing creative and permanent supportive housing solutions for the homeless.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact at Housing Department: (626) 744-8300.
Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA)
The City also supports measures that give municipalities more opportunities to provide input in the development of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process.
The City also supports changes to state law that recognizes the production and protection of all housing types in the City for the State's RHNA purposes. This includes counting 2023 State Legislative Platform5
production all types of residential and group care uses (where there is long-term residence), as well as converting covenanting market-rate housing to covenanted affordable housing.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact:
Housing Department: (626) 744-8300
Planning and Community Development Department: (626) 744-6833 Roadway Safety
The City supports the "Safe System Approach" to reduce collisions resulting in serious injuries and fatalities. It does so through a holistic view of the road system that helps anticipate human mistakes and minimizes the harm caused to those involved when crashes occur.
The City believes speed limits should be established at the local level based on knowledge of roadway segments, local context, goals, engineering judgment, and the Safe System Approach principles. This includes supporting technologies, strategies and policies that advance local road safety.
The City supports:
• Disabled parking policy reform to ensure future local efforts comply with ADA, allow access for the disabled, and preserve local control on how parking revenues are allocated toward accessibility improvements in public parking facilities and in the public right of way.
Parking enforcement officer safety via penalties against individuals who physically assault officers engaged in parking enforcement activities, and by allowing City employees responsible for parking enforcement to have confidentiality protection for their home addresses with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Legislative efforts that preserve local citation autonomy and enforcement of state law.
The City opposes:
• Any state efforts to mandate citation fine forgiveness, as this would threaten local funding and would remove local authority. The City is appropriately positioned to determine the need and details of such a program for its community.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Transportation Department at (626) 744-7664. To learn more about the Safe System Approach visit https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafeSystem.
Expanded Health Coverage
In Pasadena, one in ten residents does not have health insurance. People who are uninsured and underinsured face significant barriers in obtaining needed health services, often leading to needless death, disability, and increased cost of care. Social, economic, racial, and ethnic factors also contribute to significant health disparities. To address these issues, the City 2023 State Legislative Platform6
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supports legislation to improve health coverage in a comprehensive manner provided adequate funding and cost controls are in place.
The City supports' enhancement to state sponsored health care mechanisms consistent with the set of principles approved in October 2009 by the Pasadena City Council to guide comprehensive health care reform:
Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for families, individuals, businesses and government;
Retain coverage for behavioral health services (mental health and substance abuse treatment);
Protect families from bankruptcy or debt, because of health care costs; Guarantee choice of doctors, hospitals and health plans and the choice of a private or public health care plan;
•Invest in prevention and wellness;
Improve patient safety and quality of care for all Americans; Maintain coverage when someone changes or loses a job;
Assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans; End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions; Eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in government health programs; Hold insurance and dmg companies accountable by ensuring that people are not overcharged for prescription drugs, or discriminated against for pre-existing conditions; and
Support public hospitals and other providers in the health care safety net so that those who fall through the cracks of expanded health coverage may still receive care, and so that surge capacity is available in case of public health emergencies; and so that the cultural competencies achieved by providers serving diverse populations are preserved and enhanced in a reformed health care system.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Public Health Department at (626) 744-6000.
Mental Health and Behavioral Health
The World Health Organization defines mental health as: "A state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community." Several barriers to mental health care, including stigma, cost or access to appropriate care make it difficult for many individuals to achieve their best mental health.
To address these issues, the city supports legislation to improve access to programs and services for mental and behavioral health. Additionally, the City supports legislative efforts that puts mental health on par with physical health services and offers frameworks and 2023 State Legislative Platform7
tools that can help people with mental health and substance use disorders get care and support.
The City supports efforts for reforming state policies and enhancing programs that improves mental health and behavioral health services, including substance use disorders, by:
Improving crisis care support systems
Ensuring mental health benefit parity with physical health services Creating new frameworks, support structures, and other innovative programs, including court ordered services, to help people with mental health and substance use disorders get the support and care they need
Modernizing and updating mental health definitions
Supporting and expanding the mental health and behavioral health workforce Training for first responders to engage safely with people living with mental illness Encouraging age-appropriate mental health education
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Skilled Nursing Facilities
Although the City of Pasadena does not license, regulate, or operate primary care, long- term care, or acute care hospital facilities, healthcare access and quality are key factors in improving quality of life for Pasadena residents. As such, the City is committed to exploring ways to hold federal and state regulatory agencies accountable to fulfilling their roles, as well as identifying local mechanisms to support healthcare quality. The City does operate limited healthcare services that interact with the larger private and public health care system: pre-hospital emergency medical services in the Fire Department and immunization, HIV testing, and tuberculosis treatment services in the Health Department.
The City supports legislation to enhance protections and care for skilled nursing facility ("SNF") residents by strengthening state regulation ofSNF oversight and increased financial transparency and accountability. The City opposes legislation that would lead to a decline in SNF resident health outcomes and quality of experiences. Additionally, the City believes state policy reform should better protect SNF residents and improve the working environment for individuals who care for them.
There are 1,201 licensed beds in the 15 skilled nursing facilities located in Pasadena that are licensed and regulated by the California Department of Public Health. The health and safety of this medically frail population is entirely dependent on the quality of health care provided by privately-owned skilled nursing facility operators and their staff, and the ability of the California Department of Public Health to inspect, cite, and regulate them.
The City supports legislation that assures the quality of health care provided at these facilities meets or exceeds state and federal (U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) regulatory standards and is delivered ethically, responsibly, and equitably. The City supports enhancement of state mechanisms to promote skilled nursing facility accountability, increase state capacity to investigate complaints, and improve state capability to respond to crises through:
Enhanced resident and family education to promote understanding of their legal rights;
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Provision of adequate medical oversight by a licensed physician in each skilled nursing facility;
Expanded requirements for professional qualifications to ensure facilities are operated by skilled individuals with a commitment to serving our aging population; Strengthened State regulatory authority over management and contracting practices to ensure residents receive the services and resources they pay for at a fair price; •
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Improved accountability by increasing fines and penalties for violations of state requirements;
Increased liability for poor quality of care that causes harm or death to residents; and Improved State capacity to investigate complaints and capability to respond to crises.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Public Health Department at (626) 744-6000.
Protection of Children Against Sexual Predators
Although the Police Department continues to monitor registered sex offenders, not all released offenders comply with registration requirements. The failure of offenders to register places an additional strain on Police Department resources due to the resultant need for investigations and the issuance of warrants. The City supports legislation to increase periods of incarceration for people who commit sex crimes against children, as well as additional law enforcement tools to track sex registrants after they are released from prison.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the City Attorney's office at (626) 744-4141.
Incorporate the Region's Needs in Emerging Climate Change and Sustainability Programs
As Climate Change legislation is being developed and implemented, the City of Pasadena supports legislation that provides funding for infrastructure needed to support Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) and multi-modal transportation solutions. Support efforts to encourage smart growth and TOC that preserve the authority of local agencies. Support initiatives that promote demand management and other greenhouse gas reduction strategies. Support legislative efforts that advocate for the connection between sustainable coinmunity strategies and funding for the projects and programs needed to support increased non-auto travel. SB 743 (2013) indicates as of July 1, 2020, that auto delay in the form of Level of Service (LOS), can no longer be considered an environmental impact under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and as outlined in the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR). In lieu of LOS, OPR proposed the use ofVehicle- Miles of Traveled (VMT) as the replacement metric. In line with SB 743, the City adopted the use ofVMT for analyzing transportation impacts under CEQA in 2015. 2023 State Legislative Platform9
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Group Homes
The City supports legislation that would provide increased oversight by the state and/or reduce the potential for over-concentration of group homes within a defined geographic area. The City has concerns regarding residential care facilities that serve as "sober living" homes. Since federal law classifies recovering drug and substance abusers as handicapped and allows unrestricted location of group homes for the handicapped, local governments have little control over the placement of these sober living facilities in their communities.
While the City does not oppose the presence of residential group homes in Pasadena, we believe that, like any other home or business, we should have some say over their placement within the community.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact at Housing Department: (626) 744-8300.
Inverse Condemnation Law Clarification
The City supports an implementation law to give public entities guidance on the types of "public improvements" that are considered subject to inverse condemnation laws, rather than just traditional rights of action under the Government Claims Act. More specifically, trees should not be considered a public improvement as to do so would have the potential of eliminating the urban forest. In addition, regarding Pasadena's electric and water infrastructure, the City believes that inverse condemnation law and strict liability should not be applied if its locally owned utility adheres to current safety and operational standards.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the City Attorney's office at (626) 744-4141.
Public Safety
The City of Pasadena's Police and Fire Departments and City Prosecutor's Office are dedicated to excellence as critical and effective public safety agencies. The City supports legislation and funding to improve the safety, security, and quality of life for all Pasadena residents, businesses and visitors. Specifically, the City supports legislation that aims to:
• Ensure public safety through the assistance and rehabilitation of individuals challenged with mental illness and/or substance abuse, and resources for these efforts to increase awareness, public education, and training opportunities. • Enhance state and regional initiatives to address homelessness and mental health crisis care, as well as grant programs that provide direct funding to cities to implement local strategies.
Prevent and reduce crime by assisting and providing supportive services for individuals in need, and holding those accountable for crimes committed.
Support legislation and funding to reduce and prevent gun violence, crimes, drug use, gang violence, and to promote public outreach and intervention programs that specifically divert juveniles from the criminal justice system. 2023 State Legislative Platform10
Support legislation and resources to reduce recidivism, help rehabilitate recidivist offenders, develop additional diversion programs and expand funding for these efforts. • Encourage disaster preparedness and emergency plaiming, including funding opportunities for emergency operations centers, emergency management training and facilities, backup generators, fire safety equipment and maintenance inspections, vegetation management, and increased staffing needs.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact:
City Prosecutor's Office: (626) 744-4141
Finance Department: (626) 744-4355
Fire Department: (626) 744-4655
Police Department: (626) 744-4501
Sales and Use Tax
Strongly supports legislation to allow local goveriiments to collect sales taxes on remote sales, such as online and catalog purchases based on the delivery address. California alone loses over $4 billion annually in uncollected sales and use taxes on remote sales.
For more infonnation about City positions on this topic, please contact the Finance Department at (626) 744-4355.
California Public Employees' Retirement System
The City supports a state pension system that is well funded, stable, and transparent. Recent efforts by the CalPERS Board of Directors and its staff have indicated that they are willing to undertake additional risk to achieve unrealistic investment targets, while seeking legislation to conduct such transactions in closed session without public reporting or disclosure. The City opposes any efforts to take on additional risk in an effort to preserve or increase an unsustainable discount or investment return rate. This includes efforts to take on additional leverage/debt to achieve such rates. Additionally, the City opposes legislation that would increase or expand CalPERS' ability to make investment decisions in closed session without complete transparency.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Finance Department at (626) 744-4355.
Solid Waste Resource Management
The City of Pasadena is committed to waste reduction and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which is an important strategy for redesigning problematic waste products and packaging. This approach would also reduce the financial and environmental biirdens placed on local jurisdictions for managing these products at end of life by shifting these responsibilities to the product manufacturers.
As such, the City adopted an EPR Resolution in 2010 and also included expanding product stewardship efforts and extended producer responsibility as a key initiative in the City's Zero Waste Strategic Plan, which outlines the City's path to achieving Zero Waste by the year 2040 through 19 waste reduction strategies. California has set a statewide 2023 State Legislative Platform11
goal of a 75 percent reduction in organics disposed by 2025, which is driving the City's solid waste management plan for the next several years.
Additionally, in November 2018, China implemented a Green Sword Policy that drastically lowered the contamination level of accepted items and eliminated the import of mixed plastics and unsorted paper. These changes have affected the entire recycling market and have forced recycling programs to change to meet market demands:
• Public Education: To minimize recycling contamination levels, educate the public about packaging materials currently accepted in municipal curbside recycling programs, and encourage them to verify resin codes on plastic materials before recycling.
Standardization of Recycling Labeling: The City will support legislation at the state and federal levels aimed at standardizing the resin code labeling on plastic packaging to make it easier to locate on the item and easier for the consumer to read.It is necessary for the labeling to be easily read by using a sufficient text size and locating the resin code in a standard location on the item. This will facilitate the proper sorting of plastics by consumers and processors and minimize contamination levels of recycled material.
Product and disposal bans: The City will support legislation aimed at reducing disposable products and packaging, including product and disposal bans for environmentally problematic materials. Legislation that does not overly burden municipalities with data capture, reporting, and enforcement, which does include reasonable phase out periods is ideal.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Initiatives: Support EPR initiatives to place a shared responsibility for end-of-life product management on the producers, and all entities involved in the product chain, instead of passing costs along to the general public or municipalities. Initiatives should encourage product design changes that minimize a negative impact on human health and the environment at every stage of the product's lifecycle.
• Recycling and Organics Infrastructure Development: Seek county, state and federal funding and permitting support to help to facilitate local and regional organics processing capacity.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Public Works Department at (626) 744-7311.
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Part III - Fundins Priorities
State Route 710 Northern Stub Relinquishment:
Through the City's collaborative multi-year effort with Caltrans, the California Transportation Commission approved the relinquishment of the State Route 710 Northern Stub transportation network in June 2022 and transferred ownership of the 60-acre area to the City in August 2022. Going forward, the City will work with community stakeholders to identify future land uses and to define the local street network. The City is supportive state and federal funding for this project, which will include restoration efforts in line with the City's Complete Streets Policy, provisions for local mobility, neighborhood connectivity, and opportunities for development in line with the City's General Plan Guiding Principles.
For more information about City positions on this topic please contact the City Manager's Office: (626) 744-4333.
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension: Azusa to Montclair
The third phase of the Gold Line that will extend the line from the City ofAzusa to the City ofMontclair and should continue to relieve congestion in the area and provide a greater modal choice for residents in the San Gabriel Valley. The City supports funding and/or legislation that would expedite this completion.
Pasadena Transit
Pasadena Transit is one of the largest locally funded fixed route transit systems in Los Angeles County. This bus system connects 1.6 million annual trips to the regional transit network and is an essential transportation option allowing Pasadena to achieve its mobility goal of being a City where people can circulate without a car. As a locally funded transit agency in Los Angeles County, Pasadena is precluded by state statute from directly receiving most state and federal transit funds. The options for access to state and federal funding, either formula or grant based, are extremely limited and the few that are available are met with significant competition. To advance the City's commitment to providing safe and accessible transit, legislative and funding priorities are as follows:
Open up state funding opportunities to operators that are not included in any state (or federal) formula funding - for both capital and operating funds. Funding needs include a transit operations maintenance facility, buses/infrastmcture, and operating funds to seciire and expand services.
For more information about City positions on these topics, please contact the Transportation Department at (626) 744-7664.
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Utility
The City is supportive of state level funding for investments in water and energy infrastructure that may have immediate and long lasting impacts on both the environment and the economy. This includes investments and other funding opportunities to address aging water infrastructure (such as pipeline replacement and upgrades), non-potable water and supply projects, new wells, seismic retrofits, water quality treatment, storm water management, power plant emissions retrofits, replacements of old inefficient generators with ultra-low emissions high efficiency generators, constmction of transmission lines to access renewable resources, smart grid implementation, energy storage, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and building electrification.
Sunset Reservoir Improvements
Sunset Reservoirs #1 and #2 were constructed in 1888 and 1900, respectively, and are in need of major repairs and seismic upgrades. Collectively, they store 15.4 million gallons of water and are critical to the City's water system. Project design and planning is currently underway.
Groundwater Contamination in Pasadena Sub-Area
The Raymond Basin groundwater in the Pasadena sub-area has been impacted by perchlorate contamination. Efforts are underway to understand the source of the problem and determine legal responsibility. Pasadena Water and Power has constructed and is operating a treatment plant to address the known contaminants in the plume. Design and construction for additional treatment plants are underway.
The treatment requirements and cost recovery will continue to evolve.
Arroyo Seco Pump-back Protect
The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works ("LACPW") initiated a sediment removal project that will restore reservoir capacity behind Devil's Gate Dam. LACPW is also proposing a related storm water capture project that would include a new pipeline and pumping system to pump storm water held behind the dam up to the PWP owned-and-operated Arroyo Seco infiltration basins for local recharge. Percolation of storm water would improve groundwater conditions for the benefit of several communities in the San Gabriel Valley.
Non-Potable Water
The Water and Power Department plans to enhance the City's local water supply reliability by developing non-potable water projects, which will provide approximately 10 percent of the City's water demand by delivering non-potable water for landscape irrigation and industrial uses in the future.
Arroyo Seco Canyon Project
Events related to the 2009 Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest caused significant damage to PWP's water diversion facilities in the Arroyo Seco Canyon area. Repairs and upgrades to the stream intake stmcture and spreading basins are needed to allow capturing of stormwater mn-off from nearby mountains that will filter into the aquifer and can be accessed during the summer months. These 2023 State Legislative Platform14
improvements will ultimately restore Pasadena's ability to utilize its long-standing surface water rights. It is anticipated the improvements will result in an average increase in recharge to the groundwater basin of about 1,000 acre-feet per year.
Pumping this local groundwater, rather than purchasing imported water will help reduce imported water costs and other environmental impacts associated with imported water. The project will also revitalize a portion of the Arroyo Seco stream, improve ecosystem health, and enhance the experience for recreational users.
For more information about City positions on these topics, please contact the Water and Power Department at (626) 744-4409.
Public Health Services
As one of three cities in the state with its own public health department, the City provides core public health functions including infectious disease surveillance and control, community health assessment and planning, health promotion and policy development, specialty clinical services, and environmental health protection and enforcement activities.
The nationally accredited Pasadena Public Health Department also serves as a health strategy catalyst, the backbone organization for collective impact at the local and regional level. The Public Health Department plays a critical role in identifying and responding to outbreaks of disease and other threats to the public's health, including threats from a bioterrorist incident or other emergency. The City supports continued promotion and community education on the value of immunizations as a method of communicable disease prevention. Additionally, the City supports expanded opportunities for funding to address chronic disease prevention and treatment for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and other preventable health conditions.
The City supports any funding that strengthens core public health capacities in all relevant areas and opposes any cuts to funding. The City also supports the practice of designating the award of specific funds directly to local health jurisdictions, rather than through county distribution processes. The City supports continued state funding to local health department jurisdictions in support of preparedness, response, and recovery activities in the event of an infectious disease outbreak, epidemic or pandemic, and natural or manmade disasters.
The City supports funding opportunities for tobacco use prevention (including tobacco retail enforcement), mental health resources and substance abuse prevention and treatment.
In addition, the City supports funding for city-based collective impact initiatives to improve outcomes for child health (including oral health), wellness, and educational achievement.
Specifically, these efforts include preventing or mitigating the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), reducing racial disparities in infant mortality and maternal perinatal outcomes, or improving the rates of kindergarten readiness among pre-school age children.
The City also encourages the state government to provide resources to strengthen the existing public health infrastructure by: 1) developing effective and coordinated community mitigation, preparedness, and response systems for bioterrorism, emergence of new infectious disease threats (such as pandemic influenza and novel coronavirus), and other public health emergencies, 2) supporting the achievement of health equity, 3) examining 2023 State Legislative Platform15
and addressing environmental influences on health and wellness including climate change, and 4) expansion of behavioral health and substance use prevention and recovery programs.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Public Health Department at (626) 744-6000.
Soundwalls
The process for prioritizing soundwall projects needs to be changed to allow the flexibility to address areas of greatest community concern and highest decibel reading. In 1998, the responsibility for soundwall projects was transferred from Caltrans to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Metro changed the prioritization criteria to focus on high occupancy vehicle (HO V) related projects first, which exhausted all available funding.
Projects of community concern, frequently with higher decibel readings, will not qualify for funding for an unknown number of years. The City would like to see legislation to amend the priority criteria for soundwalls to address areas of community concern.
For more information about City positions on these topics, please contact the Transportation Department at (626) 744-7664.
Public Libraries
The City of Pasadena supports continued funding for California's public libraries including funding to support adult literacy, early child development, and CLSA (California Library Services Act) funds that directly fund California's Cooperative Library Systems located throughout the state, which provide low cost regional continuing education, materials delivery to borrowing libraries, support to local libraries, and negotiated vendor rates.
Maintaining funding at this very basic level ensures no further reduction in federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding, but does not provide adequate support levels for either the California State Libraries or public libraries. Municipal and other local funding entities are called upon to make up the losses incurred by this budget reduction.
In addition, the City of Pasadena supports the California Library Association Legislative Priorities that include: support for other efforts to lower the voter approval threshold for local library bond measures and special taxes to 55% (could especially benefit Pasadena Library's historic buildings); State Budget infrastmcture funding for capital improvements in this year's budget for historic buildings and to address critical life/safety infrastructure needs could especially benefit Pasadena's Central Library; repeat public library infrastructure funding in following years will be essential to meet the demand/need for that type of capital improvement; State Budget funding for additional high speed, high capacity, broadband access for all public libraries in California; funding and resources for compassionate and practical solutions for individuals using libraries that are experiencing homelessness and /or mental illness; support for funding for early learning programs and services; and library afterschool programs. Additionally, the City is supportive of funding for libraries to provide programs and resources to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as those who have lost their jobs or are underemployed, those experiencing mental health issues, needing help with schoolwork, and those experiencing social isolation, etc.
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For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Library department at (626) 744-4066.
Affordable Housing
The City of Pasadena supports the creation of a permanent source of state funding for affordable housing to replace the housing funds lost through the dissolution of redevelopment. The City will maintain due diligence by tracking and analyzing potential impacts from any proposed redevelopment legislation.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact at Housing Department: (626) 744-8300.
Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
The City's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department sponsors a variety of programs for some of the City's neediest neighborhoods and families. It also serves as the primary liaison to the Pasadena Unified School District. Working in tandem with other City departments, some important state actions to support include increased resources for:
After-school and childcare programs.
Programs that improve recreational opportunities in the community, including those that recognize the impacts of strict water conservation measures on recreational facilities.
Parks, recreation, health and fitness programs.
Gang-related initiatives and anti-bullying measures.
Capital improvements to aging parks and recreation facilities, as well as state funding opportunities for facility operations and maintenance costs.
Support measures that maintain and strengthen funding for workforce development initiatives that provide innovative work and school-based programs.
Regarding City parks, Pasadena adopted a Citywide Park Master Plan that identified a need for parkland across the City as well as acquiring open space. There are 26 parks in the City of Pasadena. There are multiple unfunded park projects in the City's Capital Improvement Budget. These projects include implementing park master plans for our regional, community, and neighborhood parks. In addition, the City is also home to the Arroyo Seco.
The Arroyo Seco is on the western edge of the City of Pasadena and extends eight miles through the City. This segment is a part of a longer 22-mile corridor that makes up the entire Arroyo Seco, a major tributary of the Los Angeles River. It is the City's largest natural open space and physically described as a deeply cut canyon linking the San Gabriel Mountains to the Los Angeles River. Pasadena supports legislation that directs state bond funds to assist with the completion of park projects and the acquisition of additional parkland and open space.
Rim of the Valley
The City supports the National Park Service proposal to protect additional lands and habitats in the area by adding the "Rim of the Valley" corridor to the existing Santa 2023 State Legislative Platform17
Monica ^/[ountams National Recreation Area, with the understanding that the proposal retains existing local land use and regulatory authorities, fire prevention policies, water rights, and utility infrastructure systems.
To alleviate the impact of extreme heat conditions within City parks, Pasadena supports funding for shade structures to cover play equipment, bleachers and other park amenities.
The City seeks funds to accommodate park patrons who are precluded from using parks during bouts of extreme heat.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department at (626) 744-4386.
Part IV - Energy and Water Legislative Priorities
Electricity Markets
The City of Pasadena supports energy and regional transmission market design that results in the use of the lowest cost resource on a real-time basis and effectively integrates renewable resources, while maintaining system reliability. Pasadena opposes a regionalized electric grid that does not provide real benefits to consumers, unduly burdens California consumers, or has a governance structure that marginalizes or underrepresents California's interests. The western regional transmission market should fairly allocate transmission costs to avoid exposing California consumers to billions of dollars in costs for new transmission built outside of California, and have a fair carbon policy and carbon tracking to avoid increasing carbon emissions by allowing out of state coal to displace cleaner natural gas resources.
Environmental Stewardship
The City seeks to increase its role in promoting environmental stewardship and urban sustainability through activities such as the endorsement of the United Nations Green Cities Declaration, the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and the adoption of the Urban Environmental Accords Action Plan.
The City supports legislation that: 1) improves the availability of renewable energy; 2) increases energy efficiency; 3) reduces greenhouse gas emissions; 4) reduces waste to landfills; 5) reduces the use ofnon-renewable resources in the manufacture of products; 6) supports green buildings and advances urban planning while protecting wildlife habitats; 7) improves opportunities for environmentally beneficial jobs; 8) enhances parks and recreational opportunities; 9) increases the urban forest canopy; 10) increases affordable public transit; 11) supports cleaner emissions from vehicles; 12) improves air quality; 13) ensures and conserves safe drinking water, and 14) supports sustainable urban watershed and wastewater planning and implementation. The City also supports renewable energy derived from sustainable resources such as wind, geothermal (steam), landfill gas (methane produced from. decomposing waste), solar, and hydroelectric facilities that can be cost- effectively procured for residents and businesses.
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The City supports air quality legislation that may include strategies to mitigate emissions as well as port operations, which reduce air pollution as well as relieve traffic congestion.
This is best demonstrated through Pasadena's use of alternative fuel vehicles for the City transit service and the recognition that more state attention should be focused on the ports and the movement of goods.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction
The City fully embraces greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and has adopted an aggressive goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 75% from 1990 levels by 2030, for Pasadena Water and Power, its municipal electric utility. Achieving this goal through a combination of aggressive energy efficiency, decreasing use of existing coal commitments while increasing renewable resources, and retrofitting aging resources with modem technology will impose a considerable burden on Pasadena's electric ratepayers. In addition, the City Council declared a climate emergency on January 30, 2023, and set a goal to source 100% of Pasadena's electricity from carbon free sources by 2030.
The City believes that statewide policy should take a holistic/integrated approach to achieving GHG reductions and focus on overall GHG reduction goals in lieu of the current "piecemeal" approach of individual resource-specific mandates like the current Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) targets. An integrated approach to achieving GHG reductions is the most direct way to impact climate change. Goals include:
66. Investment in energy efficiency to reduce energy use and consequently reduce GHG emissions.
Adoption of electric vehicles and supporting infrastmcture to reduce vehicle emissions, which continue to be the largest contributor to GHG emissions.
Additionally, the City supports workable, affordable, and available solutions for zero emissions medium and heavy-duty fleet vehicles, while continuing to protect public health and safety.
Initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commercial and residential buildings through incentives and policies that support building electrification.
Modernizing the existing generation fleet, which will reduce fuel use and emissions, while improving reliability.
This integrated approach to GHG reductions would result in a more cost-effective path to a low carbon electric energy sector that maintains reliability, integrates renewable resources, and provides economic and air quality benefits in communities across the State of California.
The City opposes GHG emissions reduction legislation that would add financial risk, create regulatory uncertainty, impact participation in the Cap and Trade Program, penalize early voluntary action, or reduce the allocation of Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits. 2023 State Legislative Platform19
Cap and Trade
The City supports the policy of administratively providing free emission allowances to retail electric utilities in proportion to their expected future emissions and to recognize potential impacts to the utility sector from transportation electrification initiatives. The City advocates for legislation that decreases the burden of cap and trade regulations with meaningful cost containment strategies, or that minimizes the duplicative burden of state and federal regulations on California consumers. The City further advocates for efforts to consolidate, coordinate, and streamline associated data reporting.
The City supports cap-and-trade market designs that:
Acknowledge renewable resources as zero-carbon resources that should not bear any greenhouse gas compliance burden.
Allocate allowances that help mitigate impacts to Pasadena's community- ratepayers while providing incentives for utilities to move to lower GHG emission portfolios.
Provide flexible compliance mechanisms such as banking and borrowing of allowances.
Allocate funds generated from cap-and-trade markets to GHG reduction-related activities instead of identifying as a revenue source for California's General Fund. • Support increasing participation under the cap and trade program to include multiple sectors of the economy, and multiple jurisdictions; foreign and domestic.
Distributed Generation
The City believes that Distributed Generation ("DG") should be included in its renewable portfolio. When classified as a RPS Portfolio Content Category ("PCC") 3 resource, DG is an undervalued resource. Additionally, in order to continue fostering the growth of DG - particularly solar, it is important that DG customers share in the costs of maintaining safe and reliable grid operation. Net Energy Metering policies and "Feed-In" tariffs should be designed to reflect operating costs to ensure that those that benefit from the grid contribute to its buildout and maintenance.
The City supports legislation and regulations providing local control and support for:
Equitable rate design and tariffs.
Balance of state and local policy implementation and ratepayer equity.
Cost-effective storage integration.
Cost-effective zero carbon distributed generation and cogeneration projects, standards, permitting and local regulatory requirements for connecting resources to the local distribution system.
Ratepayer protections from deceptive or misleading sales practices by third-party leasing companies.
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Energy Efficiency and Demand Reduction
The City believes that energy efficiency and demand reduction programs provide significant energy savings and peak demand reduction. The City supports funding opportunities and incentives for the evaluation and initiation of new cost-effective demand reduction programs to offset residential and commercial energy use and costs.
Renewable Portfolio Standard
The City of Pasadena supports California's goal of achieving 60% RPS by 2030,but cautions against continued increases in RPS requirements at the expense of electric reliability. RPS procurement requirements should not limit procurement choices and must also consider the unique circumstances, existing commitments, and customer needs of each utility. As SB 100 (de Lean 2018) is implemented and as increasingly aggressive RPS legislation is considered, the City strongly supports legislation that improves procurement flexibility, minimizes over-procurement of energy, and limits stranded investments that could adversely impact the utilization of Pasadena's local power plant as well as existing energy procurement contracts.
Through long-standing, strategic, integrated planning processes, the City has maintained sufficient long-term energy supply resources to meet forecasted retail energy demands and reserve obligations through 2027. As the requirement for renewables increases, fully-resourced utilities like Pasadena Water and Power could be forced to "dump" energy purchased or generated from resources financed with tax- exempt municipal bonds, or strand publicly-financed assets.
The City supports:
Broader strategies for compliance and considerations for market and operational challenges so that RPS legislation can meet intended environmental goals, protect ratepayers from unnecessary economic impacts, and provide fully-resourced utilities an alternative to opting out ofRPS compliance.
Including all renewable distributed generation as Portfolio Content Category 1 (PCC-1) resources considering California's increasingly aggressive RPS climate.
Including large hydropower as an eligible resource under the RPS program.
Accessing a broader renewable market that is the most cost-effective and feasible way for utilities to meet California's ambitious mandates while protecting ratepayers.
The City opposes:
•RPS legislation that extends California Energy Commission ("CEC") jurisdiction over Publicly Owned Utilities ("POU"). Local elected governing bodies, such as the City Council, are best positioned to determine the appropriate means for local utilities to achieve GHG reductions.
RPS or GHG reduction targets that would adversely impact electric reliability, including any prohibitions on using natural gas-fired generation as necessary to 2023 State Legislative Platform21
mitigate electric transmission and distribution system constraints. Targets must be practical to so that utilities are able to protect both ratepayer funds and public safety while encouraging environmental protection.
Specific RPS targets or carve-outs for specific technologies, and encourages elimination of PCCs as increases to RPS targets are contemplated in order to maximize available resources and efficiencies.
Utility Operations
Cyber and Physical Security
Pasadena supports a risk-based approach to prioritizing assets that need to be protected and opposes mandatory compliance with "one size fits all" security regulations that circumvent local control of City assets. The City supports the development of standard guidelines and best business practices to reduce vulnerabilities in cyber and physical security, and utility industrial control systems.
Reeulatory Reportins
Pasadena has a history of conservation efforts through the use of electronic correspondence and regulatory reporting. The City supports efforts to eliminate unnecessary and duplicative reporting requirements, and streamline regulatory reporting and data submittals to multiple state regulatory agencies, while still ensuring meaningful public transparency.
Green Job Training
The City is committed to energy efficiency and environmental quality and constantly explores opportunities to integrate green skills and certifications into existing traditional utility jobs. In collaboration with Pasadena Water and Power, the City enthusiastically promotes career pathway programs and job training for green industries, including smart grid and solar industries.
Water Financing
The City supports the use of statewide bonds as a sustainable option to manage California water resources that support regional and local priorities.
Low- IncQme_Water Rate Assistance
Water service is a critical "lifeline" service and affordability is a central element to water access. When costs make water unaffordable, it can pose serious health and safety issues. The City supports locally administered low-income water rate assistance programs, and legislation that would enable public agencies, at their discretion, to develop and implement lifeline water rates for low-income households.
Proposition 218 Reform
The City supports Proposition 218 reform efforts to enhance the ability of public water agencies to finance storm water and recycled water infrastructure, provide flexibility for the establishment of conservation-based tiered rate structures, prevent cost shifts 2023 State Legislative Platform22
from one customer group to another, and allow public agencies - at their discretion, to implement lifeline water rates for low-income households.
In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 218 ("Prop 2 18"), which added Article XIII D to the California Constitution. Section 6 of the Article requires that water rates for any class of water users be proportionate to the cost of providing that service. The City believes public water agencies should be accountable for the revenues they generate through rate setting, and that revenues should be commensurate with the costs of providing service, but the strict proportionality and other provisions of Proposition 218 constrain the ability of local water agencies to finance recycled water and stonn water infrastructure through typical, ratepayer-funded infrastmcture financing methods. This issue is compounded, both by environmental regulations under the Clean Water Act that make it increasingly necessary to capture and manage storm water, and California's historic drought requiring utilization of all available water sources.
Public Goods CharseAVater Tax
The City opposes efforts to mandate a state water public goods charge unless funds remain within the local community, while it supports the creation of an appropriate source of State funding (e.g. the General Fund) for sensible and long-term solutions to address statewide water needs.
The City also supports beneficiary pays methodologies to prevent taxes or fees, particularly those imposed on Pasadena's community-ratepayers, to fund infrastructure improvements or the costs of other water-related policies.
Water Infrastructure
Delta Conveyance
The City supports Delta Conveyance enhancement, as part of a comprehensive approach for making California's water supply reliable and sustainable. This includes updating the State's aging infrastructure to transport at least 6,000 cubic-feet-per- second of water for the State Water Project, promoting the effective management of water supply, and respecting the protective measures of the Delta ecosystem. The City supports state and federal funding for water ecosystem projects that are cost-effective.
Direct beneficiaries and "cost causers" should share in the funding of infrastructure projects that provide long-term benefits to California and its inhabitants.
Protection of the State Water Project and Colorado River The State Water Project ("SWP") and Colorado River are the primary drinking water source for more than 19 million Southern Californians. Currently, the majority of of Pasadena's water supply is imported from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ("MWD"), which is dependent on the SWP supplies and Colorado River.
The City supports funding opportunities and legislation that will improve reliability, access and affordability of both sources.
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Reservoir Rehabilitation
The City identified its reservoir facilities as being vulnerable to seismic damage in the event of an earthquake occurring in the Sierra Madre fault system. Funding will be sought for the rehabilitation these reservoir facilities, which will increase the water system's reliability and water quality.
Water Resources
Pasadena supports local control and determination of water resource selection priorities consistent with reliability, water quality, and sustainability objectives. Pasadena opposes legislation and regulations that mandate specific selection criteria or priorities for water resource selection. The City developed a Water System and Resources Plan, which will establish strategies for managing Pasadena's local and imported water resources.
Conservation and Water Use Efficiency
The City of Pasadena supports statewide policies and funding that maximize efficient water use and reduce water waste in California while reflecting local conditions, demand hardening, and historic conservation efforts. Pasadena supports a long-term conservation framework that recognizes California's climate diversity, past investments by water suppliers, and is based on an integrated water management approach including projects that both improve water supply reliability and reduce water demands. Pasadena opposes legislation and regulations that mandate specific water conservation targets or mechanisms that do not take these factors into account. The City also supports water use efficiency requirements being applied proportionally across all water-use sectors.
Drought
The City believes state and federal tax incentives should encourage customer participation in drought relief efforts. Through the Water and Power Department, the City promotes the use of drought-tolerant landscaping and supports state funding for turf replacement programs. Short-term emergency conservation regulations should be based on current regional hydrologic conditions and the actual needs of the water management system.
Environmental Planning
The City supports administrative or legislative action to streamline permitting processes, and improve the clarity and workability of CEQA. Specifically, efforts to streamline provisions that would result in meaningful reform.
Greywater
The City supports expanding the utilization of greywater as an alternative to potable water for irrigation and landscaping purposes. Fundamental to this expansion are standards for commercial and residential greywater systems developed with the concurrent goals of protecting public health and water quality. 2023 State Legislative Platfonn24
Groundwater and Surface Water
The City supports legislation and regulation that promote responsible groundwater and surface water management while recognizing existing water rights:
•Land use policies that preserve and protect groundwater recharge basins.
Increased use of storm water and recycled water for the recharge of groundwater basins in a manner that does not degrade groundwater quality.
Science-based policies that protect people from the impacts of groundwater contamination.
Intesrated Resional Water Manasement Plan ("IRWMP")
The City supports the IRWMP as a regional planning effort that will address water supply and water quality needs and objectives by integrating strategies and projects that may include water conservation and recycling, desalination, conjunctive use, flood management, storm water and urban runoff quality, wastewater quality, habitat restoration and protection, wetland enhancement and creation, recreation, open space, sustainable urban watershed, and other water resources management initiatives.
Non-Potable Water
The City supports legislation, regulatory policy, and funding to encourage and support California's use ofnon-potable water as an alternative water supply. The City promotes non-potable water as a resource rather than a waste and supports funding opportunities for access to non-potable water supplies and for the implementation and construction of a non-potable water distribution system. Pasadena opposes legislation and regulations that mandate targets or use of specific non-potable water sources.
Non-Potable Water for Direct Potable Reuse
The City promotes consolidation and simplification of non-potable water statutes and supports the development of uniform non-potable water criteria for direct potable reuse.
Safe Drinkins Water
Regulations on safe drinking water are becoming increasingly stringent on local jurisdictions associated with water departments, and on local and regional water districts. The City supports funding opportunities for contaminated groundwater treatment facilities in order to comply with water quality regulations. The City also supports legislation that revises water quality testing standards based on scientific data as well as legislative and regulatory activities that will help ensure a fair and balanced compliance and enforcement stmcture for potable and related water discharges.
Additionally, the City supports legislation to address constituents of concern for drinking water through reasonable protocols and sound, science-based standards.
Water-Enerev Nexus
The City recognizes the interdependence of water and power. Water deliveries depend on sustainable electric power, while power assets rely on sustainable water deliveries.
The City supports water-energy initiatives that promote sustainability, support the local economy, and improve quality of life:
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Policies that recognize and support the significant impact that water conservation, water use efficiency, and water recycling can have in reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
Federal and state funding for water-energy conservation projects and programs including greenhouse gas reductions (e.g., the Governor's drought package and cap and trade funds);
• Policies that recognize hydropower as a domestic source of climate-friendly renewable energy that also benefits flood control, water supply, air quality, and the economy; and
Energy intensity policies and programs that recognize the need for water utilities to have flexibility in defining supply portfolios that both address local and regional needs, and reliance on diverse water sources to help ensure long-term sustainability.
For more information about City positions on these topics, please contact the Water and Power Department at (626) 744-4409.
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