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Agenda Report
March 13,2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Legislative Policy Committee (March 7,2023)
FROM: Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE FEDERAL & STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORMS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2023
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the proposed action is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 21065 of CEQA and Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), and 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines and, as such, no environmental document pursuant to CEQA is required; and
2. Approve the Federal Legislative Platform and the State Legislative Platform for calendar year 2023.
LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE RECOMMEDATIONS:
At the March 7, 2023 meeting of the Legislative Policy Committee, the Committee approved the staff recommendations. Additionally, the Committee recommended amending both platforms to note that 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. Lasty, the Committee noted its intent to revisit the platforms later this year to discuss potential changes to the documents' structure and tone to further support city priorities with unified, proactive advocacy.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Each year, the City Council through the Legislative Policy Committee is asked to adopt legislative platforms for both the state and federal governments. The platforms are guiding documents that streamline the position taking process by conveying to legislators, policymakers, and the public where the City stands on important policy issues and legislative discussions. Staff prepares the document revisions in coordination with City departments and its state and federal lobbyists. The Committee I
MEETING OF03/13/2023AGENDA ITEM NO.18
2023 Federal & State Legislative Platforms
March 13, 2023
reviews the platforms based on staff recommendations, which often include revised terminology, emerging industry trends, and new funding priorities. Upon City Council approval, the platforms assist the City Manager's Office, Mayor, City lobbyists and staff to respond quickly to the rapidly changing nature of legislative proposals ("bills") throughout the year. A notable addition to both platforms is a dedicated section to the State Route 710 Northern Stub Relinquishment.
BACKGROUND:
The City Manager's Office oversees Pasadena's legislative activities, and works with departments, City lobbyists as well state and federal elected officials to respond to impactful bills.
The Federal and State Legislative Platforms ("platforms") are guiding documents that identify City positions on fundamental legislative issues critical to Pasadena, such as safeguarding local decision-making authority. The platforms streamline the position taking process by providing staff and City lobbyists with clear direction to advocate on these matters. The platforms help ensure the City's timely response to support, remain neutral or oppose legislation that might impact the City's ability to operate effectively.
The platforms also convey to legislators, policymakers, and the public where the City stands on important policy issues and legislative discussions.
Every fall, City lobbyists attend one-on-one meetings with department directors to discuss updates to the platforms. The meetings include a review of the previous year's legislative activities and a discussion of potential bills for the upcoming legislative sessions. From these discussions, staff prepares the platform recommended revisions for Legislative Policy Committee review and City Council adoption.
Please Note: The platforms can be amended at any time. The annual update is intended to capture the bulk of recommended updates known at that time. If unanticipated legislative issues arise, the platforms can be revised during the year to add, remove, or modify language, as needed.
Upon City Council approval, the platforms assist the City Manager's Office, Mayor, City lobbyists and staff to respond quickly to the rapidly changing nature of legislative proposals throughout the year.
This year marks the first year of the 2023-2024 legislative session. Key policy issues will continue to focus on affordable housing, public health, and climate change.
Legislative Action Process with the Platforms
Using the Council-approved platforms as a resource, the City Manager's Office works closely with City lobbyists to continue day-to-day oversight of and response to legislative matters as follows:
2023 Federal & State Legislative Platforms
March 13,2023
• Communicate City positions to Pasadena's legislators and other government offices, as needed.
• Work with City departments, League of California Cities, National League of Cities, U.S Conference of Mayors, and other local government/professional associations to identify, analyze and recommend positions on impactful bills; If a recommended position is consistent with the platforms, staff may draft a position letter for the Mayor's signature. If the Mayor is not available, staff may prepare a position letter for the Vice Mayor's signature. The City Manager, Assistant City Managers and department directors may also sign position letters, as needed;
Send copies of signed position letters to bill authors, the City's state and federal elected officials, League of California Cities, City lobbyists and other stakeholders, as deemed appropriate;
Occasionally, the City may choose not to send its own letter, but instead include the City name on a coalition letter of agencies sharing a mutual position on a bill.
In this instance, a signature might not be necessary, but staff must still confirm if a position is consistent with the platforms prior to joining a coalition; Communicate matters of legislative importance to the Committee and City Council through periodic updates;
Participate in proposing and drafting bill amendments, as needed; and • Participate and attend legislative briefings and meetings to actively engage and stay apprised of trends and upcoming legislation.
Federal Legislative Platform for 2023
With the Biden Administration entering its third year, staff anticipates continued legislative activity across numerous federal policy issues. The federal platform reflects changes to address some of these issues and eliminates language no longer needed.
The following highlights, by major category, some of the new platform items and topics recommended for 2023.
A. State Route 710 Northern Stub Relinquishment (new section):
1) This is a dedicated section, which includes support for federal and state funding toward 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.
2023 Federal & State Legislative Platforms
March 13,2023
B. American Rescue Plan Act, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 1) Recommending removal of this section as both laws have since gone into effect.
C. Pandemic Response (Previously COVID-19 Response):
1) Revised the title and text to reflect legislative needs in response to global pandemics in general. COVID-19 is noted as an example.
D. Early Childhood Education:
1) Added improved access to pre-school to the description of early childhood education priorities.
E. Utilities:
1) Added language noting that 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. 2) Added energy storage to the description of support for increased federal investments in utility infrastructure projects. 3) Removed language regarding hydraulic fracturing.
4) Added support for an annual appropriation for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program at the Department of Energy.
F. Transportation:
1) Added support for efforts to reduce traffic collisions that cause serious injuries and fatalities This includes progress toward new technologies, strategies and policies that advance local road safety. 2) Removed outdated language regarding the State Route 710 Freeway.
G. Technology:
1) Revised the section to reflect legislative priorities including cybersecurity, fiber optic technology, and equitable access to high- speed internet.
H. Parks, Recreation and Community Services:
1) Added support for funding and resources for City park shade structures to cover play equipment, bleachers, and other park amenities.
The Federal Legislative Platform (Attachment A) incorporates all the above recommendations.
2023 Federal & State Legislative Platforms
March 13, 2023
State Legislative Platform 2023
Historically, most legislative proposals occur at the state level. As a result, staff from previous years restructured the state platform into four sections: Guiding Principles, Legislative Priorities, Funding Priorities, and Water and Power Legislative Priorities.
Similar to the federal platform, staff is also recommending a dedicated section regarding the State Route 710 Northern Stub Relinquishment. This language is recommended in the funding priorities section.
The following highlights, by major category, new platform items/topics as well as some updated narrative for 2023.
I. Guidina Principles Section:
A. Preserve Local Authority:
1) Added language to oppose efforts that would threaten local decision- making authority to oversee local revenue-raising measures and resources for critical services and infrastructure.
II. Leflislative Priorities Section:
A. Pandemic Response (Previously COVID-19 Response):
1) Revised the language to reflect legislative needs in response to global pandemics in general. COVID-19 is noted as an example.
B. Early Childhood Education:
1) Added improved access to pre-school to the description of early childhood education priorities.
C. Technology:
1) Revised the section to reflect legislative priorities including cybersecurity, fiber optic technology, and equitable access to high-speed internet.
D. Roadway Safety (new section):
1) Added support for efforts to reduce traffic collisions that cause serious injuries and fatalities This includes progress toward new technologies, strategies and policies that advance local road safety. 2) Added support for legislation that would help mitigate disabled parking placard abuse.
3) Added support for legislation that preserves local parking citation autonomy.
I. Fundinq Priorities Section:
2023 Federal & State Legislative Platforms
March 13, 2023
A. State Route 710 Northern Stub Relinquishment (new section):
1) This is a dedicated section, which includes support for federal and state funding toward 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.
2) Note: Removed outdated language in another section regarding prior City efforts to remove the 710 stub from the State Highway System.
B. Pasadena Transit:
1) Added support for funding opportunities to transit operators that are not included in any state or federal formula funding. Includes funding opportunities toward a transit operations maintenance facility, buses/infrastructure, and operating funds to secure and expand local transit services.
C. Utility:
1) Added non-potable water and supply projects, new wells, seismic retrofits, to the description of utility funding priorities.
D. Public Health Services:
1) Added funding for tobacco use prevention programs (including tobacco retail enforcement), to the description of public health funding priorities.
E. Parks Recreation and Community Services:
1) Added support for funding and resources for City park shade structures to cover play equipment, bleachers, and other park amenities.
IV. Energy and Water Legislative Priorities:
A. Hydraulic Fracturing:
1) Removed language.
B. Greenhouse Gas Reduction:
1) Added language noting that 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. 2) Added support for workable, affordable, and available solutions for zero emissions medium and heavy-duty fleet vehicles.
3) Updated language to reflect support for initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commercial and residential buildings through incentives and policies that support building electrification. 2023 Federal & State Legislative Platforms
March 13,2023
C. Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS):
1) Added support for including large hydropower as an eligible resource under the RPS program.
D. Protection of the State Water Project
1) Added the Colorado River to the title and description to convey support for protecting both water supply sources.
The State Legislative Platform (Attachment B) incorporates all the above changes.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
Approval of the subject recommendation represents a continuation of the annual policy/practice of establishing federal and state legislative platforms as the advocacy strategies for regional, legislative, and funding request priorities supported by the City of Pasadena.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The action proposed herein is an administrative action (general policy making) that would not cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Therefore, the proposed action is not a "project" subject to CEQA, as defined in Section 21065 of CEQA and Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines. Since the action is not a project subject to CEQA, no environmental document is required.
2023 Federal & State Legislative Platforms
March 13,2023
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommendations to approve the 2023 Federal and State Legislative Platforms will have no fiscal impact to the City. Funds for the legislative advocates/lobbyists are included in the City Council's annual operating budget.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID REY^S^"
Acting Assistant City Manager
Prepared by:
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JENNIFER GUESS
Acting Customer Relations Manager,
Water and Power Department
Approved by:
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MIGUEFMARQUEZ
City Manager
Attachments:
Attachment A - Federal Legislative Platform
Attachment B - State Legislative Platform