Attachment B
CITY OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
20342025 State Legislative Platform
Part I - Guiding Principles
1) Preserve Local Funding
The City of Pasadena 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 coinmunity. Each community has unique needs and characteristics that are best met by policies set by its local governing body. RecentlyEvery year, several pieces of high-profile legislation have beenare 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.^ The City-wbtte promotesiag legislation that allows flexibility in the City's efforts 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 praperties. 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 aslike Pasadena are able to respond to a global pandemic such as CO VID-19 and maintain continuity for vital services in areas such aslike 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:
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^
Direct fiscal assistance to local health jurisdictions to support expanded epidemiological functions such as case investigation, contact tracing, testing,-aHd 1 vaccine distribution, and services that support family and child physical, 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 affected 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 childhood 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 and Information Services 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, 2005) 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 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 Qeffice 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 and ^programs. Cities that have achieved appropriate housing goals, demonstrated commitments to affordable housing, 29342025 State Legislative Platfonn2
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 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 of cybersecurity.
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) prograinming; 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, Intemet-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.
-Policies, legislation, and funding that promotes responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) use in government services, ensuring AI is developed and deployed transparently, with clear accountability, and without bias.
The City opposes:
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•Legislative and regulatory efforts to curb the ability of local governments to charge telecommunication providers fairly and reasonablye compensation for the use and maintenance of public rights-of-way.
Any state intmsion into local pennitting and zoning laws with respect to siting of telecommunications facilities.
Any legislation that would further dimmish 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 estate or federal law. Each year the state legislature introduces numerous 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 sueh-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 determining 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.
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* 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 sendees and community-based services. Therefore, the City has an interest in promoting an employment enviromnent in Pasadena that protects government resources while promoting the health, safety, and welfare of workers by ensuring that they receive a reasonable wage for the work they perform. The City has taken a position to supporthas established 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 j&om 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-ef Pasadena. The City would support legislation that allows for the_state to reimburse labor at the minimum wage required by the city in which the work is perfonned.
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 individualspeople experiencing homelessness that reside within their jurisdictions either directly or through the financial support of homeless ser/ice 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 fimding opportunities to assist municipalities in providing creative and permanent supportive housing solutions for tbe-people experiencing homelessness.
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For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact atthe 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 and 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 the production of 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 throughThis approach provides 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:
• Complete Street policies that support pedestrian and bicycle facilities to reduce the potential of crashes resulting in death and serious injuries.
Disabled parking policy reform to ensure future local efforts comply with ADA, allow access for the disabledpeople with disabilities, 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. 30342025 State Legislative Platform6
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Transportation Department at (626) 744-7664. To leam more about the Safe System Approach visit https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafeSystem.
Expanded Health Coverage
In Pasadena, approximately 6% of residents do not have health insurance. People who are uninsured and underinsured face significant barriers torn 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 supports legislation to improve health coverage in a comprehensive maimer 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 debfc 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 drug companies accountable by ensuring that people are not overcharged for prescription dmgs or discriminated against for pre-existing conditionsi-afid^
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.
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Mental Health and Behavioral Health
Although the City of Pasadena is not a provider of comprehensive direct mental health and behavioral health services, the City supports legislation that enhances and improves mental and behavioral health services. 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 fmitfully 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 eCity 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 framen'orks and tools that-eae 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 improve mental health and behavioral health services, including substance use disorders, by:
Reducing the time needed for residents to get an appointment or otherwise access desired services.
Improving crisis care support systems.
Ensuring mental health benefit parity with physical health services.
Creating new frameworks, support stmctores, 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 -fe^-first responders to engage safely with people living with mental illness.
.Encouraging age-appropriate mental health education.
• For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Public Health Department at (626) 744-6000.
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 for fulfilling their roles, as well as identifying local mechanisms to support healthcare quality. The City offers limited emergency and safety net healthcare services that interact with the larger private and public health care system: pre-hospital emergency medical services in 30342025 State Legislative Platform8
the Fire Department and immunization, HIV testing, and tuberculosis treatment services in the Public Health Department.
The City supports legislation to enhance protections and care for skilled nursing facility (11SNF-11) residents by strengthening state regulation of SNF 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 enviromnent for individuals who care for them.
There are more than 1,200 licensed beds in the 14 skilled nursing facilities located in Pasadenathe City that are licensed and regulated by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The health and safety of this medically frail population is entirely dependent on the quality of health care provided by privately-owned skilled nursing ^SNF operators and their staff, and the ability ofthe-Galifomia Department of Public Health CDPH 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 facilitySNF accountability, increase state capacity to investigate complaints, and improve state capability to respond to crises through:
Eiihanced resident and family education to promote understanding of their legal rights.
Provision of adequate medical oversight by a licensed physician in each skilled nursing facility SNF.
Expanded requirements for professional qualifications to ensure facilities are operated by skilled individuals with a commitment to serving our aging population.
Strengthened Sstate regulatory authority over management and contracting practices to ensure residents receive the services and resources they pay for at a fair price.
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.
Improved Sstate 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.
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For more infomiation about City positions on this topic, please contact the City Attorney's Oeffice at (626) 744-4141.
Incorporate the Region's Needs in Emerging Climate Change and Sustainability Programs
As state €climate €change legislation is being developed and implemented, the City-ef Pasadena supports legislation that;
^Provides funding for infrastmcture needed to support Transit Oriented Communities (TOCs) and multi-modal toransportation solutions.
.Supports efforts to encourage smart, sustainable, and equitable growth and TOCs that preserve the authority of local agencies.
.Supports initiatives that promote demand management and other greenhouse gas reduction strategies.
^Support legislative efforts that aAdvocates for the connection between sustainable community strategies and funding for the projects and programs needed to support increased non-auto travel.
SB 7^13 (Stcinbcre, 2013) indicateG^ as of July 1, 2020, that auto delay in the fonn of Level of Sendee (LOS), can no longer be considered an environmental impact under the California Enviromnental Quality Act (CEQAoutlined in the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR). In lieu of LOS, OPR proposed the use of Vehicle 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.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Transportation Department at (626) 744-7664.
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 dmg 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 within Pasadena, wethe City believes that, like any other home or business, weit should have some say overlocal control over thetf placement of residential group homes within the community.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the 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 20342025 State Legislative Platfonn10
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-additiefi^Regarding Pasadenathe City'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 Oeffice 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 coimnitted.
Support legislatiefi-aHd-Provide funding to reduce and prevent gun violence, crimes, dmg use, gang violence, and to promote public outreach and intervention programs that specifically divert juveniles from the criminal justice system.
Support legislatiee-aadProvide resources to reduce recidivism, help-rehabilitate recidivist offenders, develop additional diversion programs and expand funding for these efforts.
Encourage disaster preparedness and emergency planning, 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
The City Sstrongly supports legislation to allow local governments to collect sales taxes on remote sales, such as online and catalog purchases based on the delivery address. 30342025 State Legislative Platfonn11
For more information 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 California Public Employees' Retirement System (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 burdens placed on local jurisdictions for managing these products at their end^-of^-life by shifting these responsibilities to the product manufacturers.
As such, the City adopted an EPR Resolution in 2010 and also, which included expanding product stewardship efforts, and updated key initiatives in the City's Zero Waste Strategic Plan to-a»d extended producer responsibility as a key initiative in the City's Zero Waste Strategic Plan, which outlinesm the City's path to achieving Zzero Wwaste by the year 2040 through 19 waste reduction strategies. California has set a statewide goal of a 75% percent reduction in organics disposed by 2025, which continues to is drivingdrive 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^ Additional programs the City supports include:
Public Education: The City supports educational programs for the public To minimize recycling contamination levels, educate the public about packaging materials currently accepted in municipal curbside recycling programs, and encourage them to verifyication_of resin codes on plastic materials before recycling, and minimization of recycling contamination levels.
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Standardization of Recycling Labeling: The City wiU-supports 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 wijj-supports legislation aimed at reducing disposable products and packaging, including product and disposal bans for environmentally problematic materials. Legislation that doesshould not overly burden municipalities with data capture, reporting, and enforcement, which doesbut should include reasonable phase^-out periods4s44eal.
Extended Producer RcQponoibility (EPPQEPR Initiatives: TheOt^sSupports EPR initiatives to place a shared responsibility for end-of-life product management on the producers, and all entities involved in the production 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.
Organics processing: Effective January 1, 2022, SB 1383_(Lara^2016) required California cities to recycle their organic waste, which inelttdesincluding food waste.
The City is supportive of seeking County, State and Federalsupports funding and permitting support assistance to help facilitate local and regional organics processing capacity and fund additional related program costs.
For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Public Works Department at (626) 744-731 1.
Part III - Funding Priorities
State Route 710 Northern Stub Area - Reconnecting Communities Through the City's collaborative multi-year effort with the California Department of Transportation (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 Officer (626) 744-4333.
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Metro A Line Foothill Extension: Azusa to Montclair
The City supports funding and/or legislation that would expedite completion ofTthe third phase of the A Line that will extending the line from the City ofAzusa to the City of Montclair and should. This will continue to relieve congestion in the area and provide a Fsustainable 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 tnps (pre-COVID-19) 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 the transition to provide and sustain a zero-emissions transit fleet, including infrastructure and buses as well as a transit operations maintenance facility, buses/infrastructure, and operating funds to secure and expand services.
For more information about City positions on these topics, please contact the Transportation Department at (626) 744-7664.
Utility
The City is supportive of state level funding for investments in water and energy infrastmcture 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 and reservoir replacement and upgrades), water reuse and supply projects, new wells, seismic retrofits, water quality treatment, storm water management, utility modernization (e.g. advanced metering infrastructure), power plant emissions retrofits, replacements of old inefficient generators with-new clean energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions^ constmction of transmission lines to access renewable resources, smart grid implementation, energy storage, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and building electrification. The City's funding priorities include:
Sunset Complex Improvements
Sunset Reservoirs #1 and #2 were constmcted in 1888 and 1900, respectively, and we in need ofneed major repairs and seismic upgrades. Collectively, they store 15.4 million gallons of water and are critical to the City's water system. This project 30342025 State Legislative Platform14
includes a new groundwater treatment facility. 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 fPWP) 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.
Arrovo Seco Pump-Bfeack Project
The County of Los AftgetosLos Angeles County 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 ofstorm-water would improve groundwater conditions for the benefit of several communities in the San Gabriel Valley.
Water Reuse
The Water and Power DepartmentPWP plans to enhance the City's local water supply reliability by developing water reuse projects, which could provide approximately 10 to 25% percent of the City's water demand by delivering additional water supplies for groundwater recharge, new development, landscape irrigation^ and other uses in the future.
Arroyo Seco Canypn Project
The_2009 Station Fire in the Aneeles National Forest 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. PWP is working with state and federal agencies to gather funding for Rrepairs and upgrades to the stream intake structure and spreading basins-are needed to allow capturing ofcapture stormwater mn-off from nearby mountains that will filter into the aquifer and to_recharge the groundwater basin. These improvements will uteaatefy-restore Pasadenathe City's ability to utilize its long-standing surface water rights. Replenishing local groundwater allows for increased local supply resilience and helps optimize the utilization of regional and local water resources^ 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
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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 (PPHD) also serves as a health strategy catalyst, the backbone organization for collective impact at the local and regional level. The Public Health Department PPHD 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, asthiia, and other preventable health conditions, including funding for Community Health Workers (CHWs), or promotores, to reach the most vulnerable individuals in the community.
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 go\remment to provide resources to strengthen the existing public health infrastructure by:
_t)-dDeveloping effective and coordinated community mitigation, preparedness, and response systems for bioterrorism, emergence of new infectious disease threats (such as pandemic influenza and novel coronavims), and other public health emergencies^^
•^supporting the achievement of health equity^, 3) e
•JExamining and addressing environmental influences on health and wellness including climate change_, and 4
.expansion ofExpanding 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.
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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 (HOV) 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 seesupports 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 childhood development, and California Library Services Act (CLSA) (Califomia Libraty Services Act) funds that directly fimdsupport 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 Ser/ices (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:
_Ssupport for other efforts to lower the voter approval threshold for local library bond measures and special taxes to 55% (which could especially benefit Pasadena Library's historic buildings)^
cState Budget infrastructure fundingFunding from the state budget for capital improvements^towards in this year's budget for historic buildings and to address critical life/safety infrastructure needs (which could especially benefit Pasadena's Central Library^
^Repeat public library infi-astmcture funding in following years (which will be essential to meet the demand/need for that type of capital improvement}^ • State Budget fundingFunding from the state budget 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 illnessT- 20342025 State Legislative Platform17
_support for ffunding for early learning programs and servicesf and library after; school programs. Additionally, the City is supportive off _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^T-eter For more information about City positions on this topic, please contact the Library and Infonnation Services 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 theat 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 most disadvantaged 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 diversion and anti-bullying measuresprograms.
Capital improvements to aging parks and recreation facilities, as well as state funding opportunities for facility operations and maintenance costs.
Support mMeasures that maintain and strengthen funding for workforce development initiatives that provide innovative work and school-based programs.
Regarding City parks, Pasadena the City adopted a Gcity^wide 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, neighborhood parks, and maintenance of sports fields and courts. 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 30342025 State Legislative Platfonn18
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. PasadenaThe City 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 Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, with the understanding that the proposal retains existing local land use and regulatoty authorities, fire prevention policies, water rights, and utility infrastmcture systems.
To alleviate the impact of extreme heat conditions within City parks, Pasadena supports funding for shade stmctures 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 infomiation 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 ofthe-lowest cost resources on a real-time basis and effectively integrates renewable resources^ while maintaining system reliability. PasadenaThe City opposes a regionalized electric grid that does not provide real benefits to consumersratepayers, 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 ofCalifomiaT and have a fair carbon policy and carbon tracking to avoid increasing carbon emissions.
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. 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 supports legislation that: 4^
^Improves the availability of renewable energy^).,
^Increases energy efficiencyT^)^
•_fReduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissionsi-4).
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jReduces waste to landfills^-5)^
•_^Reduces the use ofnon-renewable resources in the manufacture ofproductsf^)^ ^Supports green buildings and advances urban planning while protecting wildlife habitats-?),
^Improves opportunities for environmentally beneficial jobs^ S)-e enhances parks and recreational opportunities^-9)^
.ilncreases the urban forest canopy^-40)^
^Increases affordable public transitT44)^
_sSupports cleaner emissions from vehiclesi-43)^
.ilmproves air qualityH^)^
.^Ensures and conserves safe drinking water, and 14)^
_sSupports 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.
The City supports air quality legislation that may include strategies to mitigate emissions as well as port operation legislations, which to reduce air pollution as well asand also relieve traffic congestion. This is best demonstrated through Pasadenathe City'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)GHG reduction and has adopted an aggressive goal, in line with the state's policies and goals, to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 75%to achieve a 75% GHG emissions reduction from 1990 levels by 2030^0F Pasadena Water and Power through PWP, its municipal electric utility. Achieving this goal through a combination of aggressive energy efficiency measures, decreasing use of existing coal commitments while increasing renewable resources, and retrofitting aging resources with modem tecbaology will impose a considerable burden on Pasadenathe City'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/ and 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. The Ggoals of such an approach should include:
Investment in energy efficiency to reduce energy use and consequently reduce GHG emissions.
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_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
wWorkable, affordable, and available solutions for zero-emissions medium; and heavy-duty fleet vehicles^ while continuing to protect public health and safety.
Jnitiatives to reduce greeiihouse gasGHG ecnissions from commercial and residential buildings through incentives and policies that support building electrification.
Modemizationiftg oflthe existing generation fleet_, which willto reduce fuel use and emissions^ while improving reliability.
This integrated approach to GHG reductions willwould 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 (see next section on Cap and Trade}, penalize early voluntary action, or reduce the allocation of Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits.
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 ofcap-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 that qualify under the RPS as zero-carbon resources that should not bear any greenhouse gasGHG compliance burden.
Allocate allowances that help mitigate impacts to Pasadena's comi-ttttftihty- ratepayersPWP customers 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-fa-ade markets to GHG reduction-related activities instead of identifying them as a revenue source for California's General Fund.
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• 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 f^DG^) resources should be included in its renewable portfolio. When classified as a RPS Portfolio Content Category (^PCC") 3 resource, DG is aa-undervalued resource. Additionally, in order to continue fostering the growth ofDG^— 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.
•
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 RP S 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. SinceAs SB 100 (de Leon^ 2018) tswas implemented^_- £ro2osalsjoi_increasingly aggressive RPS legislation is consideredwith higher targets and earlier compliance timelines are being continually introduced.^ tThe City strongly supports legislation that improves procurement flexibility, minimizes over- procurement of energy, and limits stranded investments that could adversely impact reliability, including the utilization ofPasadenathe City's local power plant as-weU asand existing energy procurement contracts.
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Through long standing, strategic, integrated planning processes, the City has maintained sufficient long tenn energy supply resources to meet forecasted retail energy demands and resenre obligations through 2027. As the requirement for renewables increases, fully resourced utilities like Pasadena Water and PowerPWP 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.
IncludingQualifying all renewable distributed generation DG resources as Portfolio Content CategoryPCC 1 (PCC 1) resourcesunder the RPS program, 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 extefidsfurther expands California Energy Commission (^CEC^) jurisdiction over gPublicly oOwned yUtilities (^POUs1'). 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.
Targets must be practical 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. Rather, the City-aftd encourages elimination ofPCCs as increases to RPS targets are contemplated in order to maximize available resources and efficiencies.
Utility Operations
Cyber and Physical Security
PasadenaThe City 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 conta-ol systems. 30342025 State Legislative Platfomi23
Resulatory Reportins
PasadenaThe City 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 PowerPWP, 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 that support regional and local priorities as a sustainable option to manage California water resources that support regional and local priorities.
Low-Income 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.
PrQposition 218 Reform
The City supports efforts to reform Proposition 218 reform efforts in order 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 stmctures, prevent cost shifts 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 218"), 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^-bitf-tThe strict proportionality and other provisions of Proposition 218, however, constrain the ability of local water agencies to finance recycled water and storm-water infi-astmcture through typical, ratepayer-funded infrastructure 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.
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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. The City supports the creation of an appropriate source ofSstate 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 ratepayersPWP customers^ to fund iniSrastructure 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 infrastmcture to transport at least 6,000 cubic-feet-per- second of water for the State Water Project (SWP), 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 ofinfrastmcture projects that provide long-term benefits to California and its inhabitants.
Protection of the State Water Project and Colorado River Supplies The State Water Project ("SWP")SWP and Colorado River supplies are the primary drinking water source for more than 19 million Southern Califomians. Currently, the majority ofPasadenathe City's water supply is imported from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (^MWD^), which is primarily SWP and Colorado River supplies. The City supports funding opportunities and legislation that will improve reliability, access and affordability of both sources.
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 -The City seeks funding for the rehabilitation of^these reservoir facilities, which will increase the water system's reliability and water quality.
Water Resources
PasadenaThe City supports local control and determination of water resource selection priorities consistent with reliability, water quality, and sustainability objectives.
PasadenaThe City opposes legislation and regulations that mandate specific selection criteria or priorities for water resource selection. The CityPWP has developed a Water System and Resources Plan, which will establish strategies for managing Pasadena's local and imported water resources.
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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. PasadenaThe City 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
The City opposes legislation and regulations that mandate specific water conservation targets or mechanisms that do not take these factors into account, including overall cost impacts. 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 PWPthe Water and Power Department, the City promotes the use ofdrought-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 local water management system.
Environmental Planning
The City supports administrative or legislative action to streamline permitting processes and improve the clarity and workability ofCEQA. Specifically, the City supports efforts to streamline provisions that would result in meaningful reform.
Greywater
The City supports expanding the utilization ofgreywater 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.
Groundwater and Surface Water
The City supports legislation and regulation that promote responsible groundwater and surface water management while recognizing existing water rights, including:
• Land use policies that preserve and protect groundwater recharge basins.
Increased use ofstorm-water and recycled water for the recharge ofgroundwater basins in a manner that does not degrade groundwater quality.
Science-based policies that protect people from the impacts ofgroundwater contamination.
Integrated Resional Water Manaeement Plan f'lRWMP")
The City supports the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP), which is-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 30342025 State Legislative Platform26
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.
Water Reuse
The City supports legislation, regulatory policyregulation, and funding to encourage and support California's use of water reuse as an alternative water supply. The City promotes water reuse as a resource rather than a-waste and supports funding opportunities for access to water reuse supplies^ and for the implementation and construction of a water reuse distribution system. PasadenaThe City opposes legislation and regulations that mandate targets or use of specific water reuse sources.
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 structure 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-Energy 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 nexus initiatives that promote sustainability, support the local economy, and improve quality of life:
• Policies that recognize and support the significant impact that water conservation, water use efficiency, and water recycling can have in reducing greenhouse gasGHG emissions.
Federal and state funding for water-energy conservation projects and programs., including greenhouse gasGHG reductions (e.g., the Governor's drought package and cap^-and-fa-ade 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.
•_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 relyiance on diverse water sources to help ensure long-term sustainability. 30342025 State Legislative Platform27
For more information about City positions on these topics, please contact the Water and Power Department at (626) 744-4409.
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