LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM 2021-2022
The Legislative Platform for the City of Riverside was developed in uniformity with the City Council approved Envision Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan. This platform applies to legislative priorities at both State and Federal levels of government. Legislative priorities are categorized under the umbrella of the City Council’s six strategic priority areas. The cross-cutting threads of Community Trust, Equity, Fiscal Responsibility, Innovation, and Sustainability & Resiliency are recurring themes throughout the Legislative Platform that help shape the City of Riverside’s advocacy efforts.
The legislative priorities for the City of Riverside are as follows:
1. Arts, Culture & Recreation : Riverside seeks resources and supports opportunities to provide diverse community experiences and personal enrichment opportunities for people of all ages.
2. Community Well-Being: Riverside seeks resources and tools to promote the safety of City residents, elevate the community’s preparedness and resiliency to address and recover from natural and human -caused disasters, and to provide diverse and affordable housing opportunities to protect and enhance the City’s quality of life.
3. Economic Opportunity : Riverside supports activities and opportunities that will help develop a skilled workforce and grow the local economy.
4. Environmental Stewardship: Riverside seeks funding and supports opportunities to maximize sustainability initiatives including local resource recovery and renewable energy production.
5. High Performing Government: Riverside supports opportunities that will help ensure the financial health of the City and leverage public tax dollars for maximum local benefit.
6. Infrastructure, Mobility and Connectivity: Riverside seeks funding and opportunities to mitigate the disproportionate share of negative impacts on the City related to national goods movement as well as to implement Complete Streets design principles to safely accommodate all users, including cars, buses, bicyclists and pedestrians.
The City of Riverside strongly promotes local control for cities and will support or oppose legislation based on whether it impacts local control over City revenues, land use, community development and other municipal activities.
Areas of focus are described in this document, but due to the dynamic nature of the policy making process, additional issues are likely to arise throughout the legislative session. The overarching principles in this Legislative Platform will provide guidance to direct staff as these additional issues require attention. Any policy issues that are not addressed in the platform will be brought before the City Council for consideration prior to the City taking action on an item.
2 Arts, Culture & Recreation
Riverside seeks resources and supports o pportunities to provide diverse community experiences and personal enrichment opportunities for people of all ages.
1.1 Advocate for resources to ensure completion of the
rehabilitation of Harada House.
1.11 Pursue opportunities to help make Riverside a cultural and ethnic hub in the Southern California region.
1.2 Identify and pursue funding opportunities for local and regional park projects, including the development
and improvement of trail systems and preservation of
the natural settings of parks.
1.12 Identify and pursue funding opportunities for the Eastside Library.
1.3 Identify and pursue funding opportunities for the
development and operation of the Arlington Youth
Innovation Center, including funding for STEM
programming, video, and film production.
1.13 Identify and pursue funding opportunities that support the Civil Rights Institute, including the addition of a Civil Rights Walk on Main Street, Outdoor Sculpture Park, and efforts to advance DEI and increase its accessibility for persons of all abilities.
1.4 Identify and pursue funding to expand workforce
development opportunities the Youth Opportunity
Center, including summer apprenticeship programs for
at-risk youth and Project BRIDGE, which provides social service programs, referrals, mentoring and
recreational activities for gang- involved and at -risk youth and their families.
1.14 Identify and pursue funding opportunities that support the Cesar Chavez building renovation project for the arts academy and exhibition hall.
1.5 Identify and pursue funding opportunities to
address deferred maintenance and capital
improvement projects for City parks and facilities.
1.15 Identify and pursue funding opportunities for the
expansion of the Sister City program.
1.6 Advocate to restore the California Library Services Act (CLSA) funding to the full 100% level, which would
provide an additional $146,000 for Inland Library
System members to allocate to services such as e-
resources, material delivery and internet connectivity.
1.16 Identify and pursue funding opportunities that support wilderness parks within the City (Sycamore Canyon, Box Springs, etc.) and open space acquisition/protection.
1.7 Support legislation that provides funding to local
governments and nonprofits to develop educational,
artistic, and cultural programs and events.
1.17 Identify and secure funding for completing the renovation and expansion of the Museum of Riverside’s main museum
building.
1.8 Support legislation, resources, funding
opportunities and efforts to provide and sustain public art projects.
1.9 Support legislation and opportunities to enhance
the creative economy and create jobs in creative
industries.
1.10 Support legislation to enhance education and
ethnic studies programs.
3 Community Well-Being
Riverside seeks resources and tools to promote the safety of its residents, elevate the community’s preparedness and resiliency to address and recover from natural and human -caused disasters, and to provide diverse and affordable housing opportunities to protect and enhance the City’s quality of life.
PUBLIC SAFETY
2.1 Advocate for additional funding to support regional fire prevention activities and opportunities to increase flexibility of existing non-traditional funding sources to allow uses toward fire prevention activities (i.e., regional watershed funding).
2.11 Support the expansion and development of tools and increased criminal sanctions to deter vandalism crimes, including more stringent graffiti laws to stiffen penalties and hold parents accountable for acts committed by
juveniles.
2.2 Advocate for additional funding to support the Federal Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, which is also a State Resource (California Task Force 6).
2.12 Seek funding to expand programs for gang prevention, intervention, and enforcement.
2.3 Advocate for additional resource s for the State of California Water Rescue Team, which includes the City of Riverside, to procure updated equipment and train personnel.
2.13 Expand funding and resources for emergency response to develop technology infrastructure.
2.4 Support the development of policies and protocols for sending and receiving Mutual Aid for National Disasters.
2.14 Support funding and legislation to help local
jurisdictions implement Senate Bill 1421 (Peace Officers:
Release of Records).
2.5 Support amendments to the State Fire Code that limits developers’ ability to build in Very High Fire Severity Zones (VHFSZ).
2.15 Support legislation and funding opportunities to
support public safety employees with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) obtained from on-the-job experiences.
2.6 Support policies and practices to assist local governments with disposing of fireworks.
2.16 Support the development and expansion of
earthquake early warning systems , as well as predictive modeling/early warning systems for wildfires, extreme
heat/cold, and other natural hazards.
2.7 Support funding opportunities to provide Racial Profiling Training PC 13519.4.
2.17 Pursue funding opportunities that support the City and UCR/CE-CERT Innovation Corridor as well as Riverside's Arts & Innovation District(s).
2.8 Advocate for resources to support the expansion of the Police Department’s Wellness Program to address issues and stressors related, but not limited to, mandated overtime, additional work assignments due to staff shortage, and COVID -19 related stressors.
2.18 Pursue funding opportunities that support the
pedestrian, bicycle, and transit infrastructure and
connections throughout the City, including the Connecting Five Points Plan which addresses health inequit ies within the City.
2.9 Support efforts and legislation to ensure full local government funding and protection in the implementation of all services resulting from the passage of Assembly Bill 109 (2011) and Proposition 47 (2014).
2.19 Support legislation and funding that promotes
expansion of public transportation services and reduces vehicle miles traveled.
2.10 Support legislation that will ensure officer safety and protection against false/unfounded allegations.
2.20 Pursue funding mechanisms to improve resiliency and response programs for building safety.
4 HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
2.1.1 Advocate for additional funding to expand
programs that provide mental health services for
homeless population.
2.1.7 Support efforts that expand opportunities to develop affordable housing on former Redevelopment Agency -
owned properties.
2.1.2 Identify and pursue funding opportunities to
expand homeless services programs and assist cities
with homeless encampment clean ups and related
damage to the built and natural environments.
2.1.8 Support legislative fixes to address challenges with the California Surplus Land Act (AB 1486), which requires local agencies to offer affordable housing developers first right of refusal
on the sale of surplus property, and
mandates 15% of housing units built by private developers on City surplus property be used for affordable housing.
2.1.3 Support efforts and legislation to expand
tenant protections for people experiencing
hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis.
2.1.9 Identify and pursue funding opportunities for the creation of an Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD). The purpose of the facility will be to serve the population being released from the State Patten Mental Hospital and
returned to the County to serve long-term.
2.1.4 Support efforts to modernize the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that preserves
the law’s original intent while preventing abuse for
purposes unrelated to environmental protection.
2.1.10 Support legislative efforts that address service resistant people struggling with homelessness.
Particularly, those suffering from mental health and/or substance abuse challenges that prevent them from
making self-benefiting decisions.
2.1.5 Support efforts to strike Article 34 from the
State Constitution to make it easier to build
inclusive and affordable housing for all California
residents.
2.1.11 Support efforts to modernize the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions that
facilitate housing and mixed -use development within
incorporated cities.
2.1.6 Support funding to build a new mental health
hospital as part of the Riverside University Health
System Campus.
2.1.12 Support legislative efforts to require County
Detention Centers to provide host cities with timely data regarding prisoner releases.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
2.2.1 Support efforts to boost medical
reimbursement payments and update distribution
formulas provided through programs such as Medi -
Cal to ensure an equitable distribution to the Inland
Region.
2.2.5 Support legislation and revenue sources to
more effectively allow cities to establish public
health departments in order to more effectively
address the unique needs of locales.
2.2.2 Support efforts to expand medical facilities in
Inland areas, including the creation of a regional
strategic medical services plan and development of
a hospital at UCR to coincide with medical school.
2.2.3 Support funding for programs to improve
health and behaviors relat ed to obesity and heart
disease.
2.2.4 Support legislation to amend AB 626 which
allows Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations
(MEHKO). The current bill limits verifiable gross
annual sales with a cap of $50,000/annually.
5 Economic Opportunity
Riverside supports legislation and opportunities that will help develop a skilled workforce and grow the local economy.
3.1 Support economic recovery programs that assist
businesses experiencing hardship due to the COVID -19
pandemic.
3.12 Increase state and federal support for post -graduation workforce training initiatives and programs.
3.2 Advocate for resources that moderni ze existing
economic development programs in-light-of COVID-19 and
spur economic recovery, job growth and California
competitiveness.
3.13 Provide funding for a region-wide employer engagement model that supports talent development and retention for high-growth middle skilled jobs.
3.3 Support efforts to bring California into compliance with the Federal Opportunity Zone program.
3.14 Advocate for a funding mechanism for alternative (not K- 12 or higher education) vocation -based workforce
development p rograms, such as beginning /next generation farmer training, others.
3.4 Advocate for programs and funding to create jobs and develop a workforce in high tech and green transportation and green technology industries.
3.15 Implement policies that weigh environmental effects against economic opportunity so the overall quality of life of the affected populations is not adversely impacted.
3.5 Update state funding formulas to ensure that the Inland Empire receives its fair share of monies for state programs such as medical reimbursements, non -profits, and
educational institutions.
3.16 Support funding and legislation for the Development of a new Urban Forest Management Plan that better addresses environmental concerns while providing a mechanism to
reduce the devastation caused by annual California fires.
3.6 Support additional funding for the University of
California, Riverside to increase enrollment and meet the needs of the C ity and region including legislation
supporting comprehensive fair share agreements with host communities to be prepared as a condition of approval of long range development plans.
3.17 Advocate for a funding mechanism to assist small
businesses in their implementation of climate adaptation/ mitigation activities.
3.7 Support programs and opportunities to increase the
number, rate, and diversity of undergraduates in STEM
disciplines.
3.18 Identify funding opportunities for the City to develop an implementation plan for the Arts & Innovation District Master Plan.
3.8 Strengthen vocation and life skill focused curriculum (CTE) in public K -12 education that includes high school graduation credits for technical skills, career training and job shadowing programs. Include a basic credit and
personal finance management class as a graduation
requirement.
3.19 Support funding and legislation for short -term low interest loans to assist small and medium size businesses to help recover from COVID-19 impacts.
3.9 Funding for vocation -based workforce training and
apprenticeship programs delivered by non- profit
organizations and non -traditional public -school based programs. Note: this funding is not the same funding as those already allocated for public schools’ CTE programs.
3.20 Support opportunities to revitalize the local agriculture industry and connect Citrus Park to the greenbelt.
3.10 Expand medical and other allied health education
programs as early as high school to address the region’s shortage of health care professionals.
3.21 Support legislation and opportunities to bring back a modern replacement for redevelopment that is focused on infrastructure and affordable housing.
3.11 Identify funding opportunities for development along the Santa Ana River (identified by the Santa Ana River Working Group)
6 Environmental Stewardship
Riverside seeks funding and supports opportunities to maximize sustainability initiatives including local resource recovery and renewable energy production.
4.1 Support legislation and funding to protect the Santa Ana River and other open space within the City from
wildfire threats.
4.12 Support water quality policies and regulatory decisions that are timely, utilize appropriate cost benefit analysis and are based on sound science.
4.2 Support programs and collaborations that help turn
recycling into a profitable business.
4.13 Support the inclusion and development of cost -effective renewable energy in the delivery and treatment of water supplies and wastewater.
4.3 Support policies developed using a Triple Bottom Line framework to ensure that it promote s Environmental
Stewardship, Economic Prosperity, and Social
Responsibility.
4.14 Support voluntary water transfers for both short - and long-term needs while protecting water rights, t he
environment, and local economies.
4.4 Implement innovative, market -based approaches for
meeting environmental standards such as cap- and-trade
program, habitat conservation plans, and incentives for voluntary impact reductions.
4.15 Support the implementation of a long -term water use efficiency 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.
4.5 Advocate for the development of a new Forest
Management Plan that better addresses environmental
concerns while providing a mechanism to reduce the
devastation caused by annual California fires.
4.16 Support policies that treat recycled water as a resou rce and not a waste.
4.6 Support funding opportunities for programs and
projects to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions,
achieve renewable energy mandates, and assist with the
greening of the City’s fleet and facilities.
4.17 Support incentives for self -generation of green energy sources.
4.7 Support funding for local jurisdictions to secure solid waste tracking software such as Recyclist or Minerva.
4.18 Support efforts to improve air quality in the Inland Empire region.
4.8 Advocate to delay penalties for local agencies and
commercial operators seeking to comply with SB 1383.
4.19 Identify and pursue opportunities to fund fixed and non - fixed transit infrastructure and projects within the City and connecting the City to the neighboring cities and the region.
4.9 Advocate for broader definitions for renewable
portfolio standard (RPS) generation sources; focus on
carbon free and how to handle new technologies such as
hydrogen; create incentives instead of developing a
resource that doesn’t count toward RPS goals.
4.20 Identify and support funding opportunities for a Food Digester for Clean Energy Production. This resource would allow the C ity
to expand facilities and meet requirements
mandated by Senate Bill 1383.
4.10 Support cost-effective policies to reduce GHGs in the electricity system and in local communities.
4.21 Support legislation and funding opportunities to help the City address deferred maintenance within its sewer system.
4.11 Support the procurement of renewable resources
with the flexibility to choose which resources best meet each utility’s needs.
4.22 Support legislation and funding opportunities for
decarbonization technology and statues allowed for renewable fuels, zero emission and closed loop technology
7 High Performing Government
Riverside supports opportunities that will help ensure the financial health of the City and leverage public tax dollars for maximum local benefit.
5.1 Advocate for policy changes to update the cost recovery mechanism for California Public Records Act requirements to include costs associated with documents that are digital in nature.
5.11 Support legislation that promotes and addresses
diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.
5.2 Support opportunities to bring back Advance Debt
Refunding, which allows states, local governments, and
other eligible issuers to refinance their existing debt at the lowest possible costs when market conditions favor
refinancing.
5.12 Support legislatio n that promotes an investment tax credit for advanced manufacturing facilities that start construction before 2026 and a production tax credit for eligible components that would begin to phase down in 2027.
5.3 Support legislation that promotes and protects
retention of local point of sale revenues.
5.13 Support efforts to assist CalPERS with innovative
investment strategies aimed at generating a higher than 7% rate of return.
5.4 Protect local government revenues from State takings or borrowings.
5.14 Provide continued support for the March Joint Powers Authority as it endeavors to promote regional economic
development through the reuse of surplus lands.
5.5 Protect local governments from new regulations which increase the cost of providing municipal services without a proportionate benefit to local communities.
5.15 Support opportunities that promote the Ontario
International Airport.
5.6 Discourage any l egislation that would promote
regularity approaches or mandates that transfer state
responsibilities to local agencies without requisite funding sources.
5.16 Support the Riverside Transit Authority and Riverside County Transportation Commission’s efforts to promote
further investment in bus and passenger rail service.
5.7 Support increased local control over funding received from the state and efforts that allow the Ci ty to be a direct recipient of state funding.
5.17 Support regional collaboration on the Riverside
Transmission Reliability Project (RTRP) to improve regional reliability for emergency operations by providing a s econd connection to the statewide grid system.
5.8 Promote efforts to ensure local jurisdicti ons receive their full allocation of state and federal funding.
5.9 Discourage any legislation that would provide
retroactive CalPERS benefits or reduce any of the Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) regulations.
5.10 Support legislative remedies that provide additional fiscal sustainability for agencies to fund CalPERS costs.
8 Infrastructure, Mobility & Connectivity
Riverside seeks funding and opportunities to mitigate the disproportionate share of negative impacts on the City related to national goods movement as well as to implement Complete Streets design principles to safely accommodate all users, including cars, buses, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
6.1 Support funding opportunities for Riverside
Transmission Reliability Project (RTRP). This would
include project improvements such as going
underground.
6.11 Advocate to the Public Utilities Commission to
include broadband as a Lifeline Program to assist low-
income families with obtaining internet service to
access distance learning programs.
6.21 Support efforts to establish grants, low -
interest loans, or other funding for the benefit of
renewable resource projects – organics recycling,
recycled water production, biosolids beneficial
reuse
6.2 Advocate for opportunities to expand the use
of SB1/Gas Tax funds to be used for various
transportation efforts such as roadway widening,
light rail projects, and programs that reduce
vehicle miles traveled and roadway degradation.
6.12 Advocate for additional flexibility for cell tower mandates to preserve character in historic districts
through opportunities that include, but are not
limited to, co-location and setbacks.
6.22 Support legislation which would provide
funding or other credits for renewable energy
projects, particularly those focusing on bio -
methane use
6.3 Provide flexibility on SB1 funds to remove the
requirement that agencies achieve a Pavement
Condition Index (PCI) score of 80 before allowed to
use the funds for other transportation purposes.
6.13 Revise California Vehicle Code 40215 (c)(1) - to
include "telephonic, video, and/or web conferencing"
as an option for administrative hearings.
6.23 Support Funding opportunities to develop
Class A Biosolids
6.4 Increase federal and state investment in
transportation infrastructure that will support the
regional economy, reduce traffic congestion, and
ease movement of people and goods throughout
the region.
6.14 Temporarily suspend CEQA requirements on
roadway widening projects to help mitigate costs and
reduce project timeframes in order to offset lower
SB1 and Gas Tax revenues agencies are receiving due
to COVID.
6.24 Support state legislative action to developed
equitable RIN credit value for RNG produced from
landfill diverted organics
6.5 Support opportunities to expand design -build
and public -private partnerships (P3) to maintain
aging infrastructure and integrate new
technologies.
6.15 Consider a “Transportation Utility Fee” similar to other states that w ould require business and
residential property owners to pay an agency for
utilizing the roadways to help fund roadway
improvement projects.
6.25 Promote environmentally sound local
recycling of biosolids.
6.6 Direct a portion of cap -and-trade revenues to
roads in major freight corridors, which will improve
road conditions and traffic flow and reduce fuel
consumption and GHG emissions.
6.16 Incentivize agencies to use Reclaimed Asphalt
Material (RAP) through gr ants and other
opportunities so agencies can deploy and test this
material on local and collector roads.
6.26 Advocate against county biosolids recycling
land application bans, while advocating
environmentally sound and beneficial biosolids
practices.
6.7 Promote the use of technology in our roads and
highways as a means of reducing congestion,
improving air quality, and incorporating the
adoption of new technologies such as autonomous
vehicles.
6.17 Advocate for legislation that forces 5G
companies to share equipment/facilities to minimize
impacts to agencies and reduce unnecessary
equipment.
6.27 Reduce traffic injuries and fatalities through an
expanded driver education and recurring licensure
testing/training program.
6.8 Encourage private sector investments to
develop state-of-the-art broadband capabilities for
businesses and residents – specifically in
underserved communities.
6.18 Support the availability of funding for water and
wastewater service providers and biosolids
producers to address PFAS and other contaminants
of emerging concern
6.28 Continue to seek an alternative to the 85th
percentile standard for speed surveys and allow
local agencies more flexibility in the establishment
of enforceable speed zones.
6.9 Prompt permitting by local government
requests for the placement of infrastructure
related to the expansion, construction, and
implementation of advanced broadband networks,
including the development of 5G Network.
6.19 Support legislation which provides fu nding for
water recycling and reuse
6.29 State level examination of the potential for
local agencies to enact roadway “trench cut fees”
to recover roadway repair costs.
6.10 Acknowledge broadband internet as a
necessary utility and provide financial incentives
that create a more equitable provision of
broadband internet to communities that lack
access.
6.20 Support legislation which provides funding for
new or expanded facili ties to support SB 1383
implementation
6.30 Expand State resources to facilitate
infrastructure supporting connected and
autonomous vehicles including traffic signal
modifications, DSRC equipment, and signal
communications infrastructure.
9 6.31 Provide non -competitive funding for
municipalities to combat roadway speeds
through systemic traffic calming.
6.41 Identify funding to address crossover
impacts for MS4 (stormwater) permit
requirements.
6.51 Support efforts that improve water system
governance statewide including consolidations
and regional solutions when appropriate.
6.32 Identify funding to help implement solid
waste mandates from AB 341 and AB 1826;
modify processes for green waste.
6.42 Identify funding for building ADA
improvements, including buildings, parks, and
rights of way.
6.52 Support the protection of local property tax
revenue and the maintenance of critical reserve
accounts for use by publicly owned water
utilities.
6.33 Identify funding for Air Resources Board
mandates, including equipment replacements
and incentives to eliminate biomethane
combustion flares.
6.43 Identify funding for priority transportation
projects:
6.53 Local control of water rights utilization;
provide incentives for agencies to create
conjunctive use programs.
6.34 Identify funding to prepare for Governor
Newsom’s mandate to sell only zero- emission
vehicles by 2035.
6.44 Support improvements in the transfer
approval process that reduce the amount of time
for obtaining state agency approval of temporary
water transfers, including the development of
template agreements.
6.54 Support funding for the development of
more water reservoirs and purchase a fleet of
aircraft to fight fires.
6.35 Identify funding to implement State Water
Board regulations in a reasonable manner.
6.45 Support CAISO regionalization efforts that
can be achieved without statutory changes, such
as further expansion of the Energy Imbalance
Market (EIM) and consideration of other steps
such as the Enhanced Day-Ahead Market (EDAM)
functionality proposed by the CAISO. Also
support establishing a Market Advisory
Committee and Regional State Commi ttee to
enhance collaboration with other states.
6.55 Seek funding for energy infrastructure
projects that promote alternative energy
sources.
6.36 Identify funding to help replace turf with
different vegetation that was mandated to be
removed from medians caused from the 2015
State drought mandate
6.46 Oppose policies that choose specific
technologies or energy procurement mandates
since those policies are likely to lead to increased
customer costs and create stranded assets.
6.56 Identify potential funding for self -
generation and micro grid options
6.37 Identify funding to help improve aging
irrigation systems throughout the C ity with
more efficient systems.
6.47 Support policies that allow POUs to design
understandable rates that reflect costs and meet
community needs while ensuring both
generating and non- generating customers are
treated fairly.
6.57 Identify potential funding for new types of
energy storage.
6.38 Identify funding to help maintain our
existing urban forest that is being plagued by
age and environmental changes such as insects,
water, and pollutants.
6.48 Support policies that allow POUs to develop
and maintain customer interconnec tion
protocols and requirements designed to
promote grid, worker, and customer safety,
which also contribute to local air quality
improvements, and which provide certainty for
customers.
6.39 Identify funding to help increase plantings
of trees and vegetation throughout the City and
to replace aging and dying material that will
better enhance and improve the environment.
6.49 Support technology neutral, commercially
viable energy storage policies.
6.40 Identify funding to help support homeless
cleanups and in particular around critical City
infrastructure and sewer and storm discharge
outfalls to the Santa Ana River.
6.50 Oppose forced procurement of long -
duration energy storage (LDES), inclu ding
pumped-hydro, through the CAISO or other state
agencies that may have the ability to assign costs
to POUs and their customers. Like all resource
decisions, those decisions relevant to LDES
should always be made independently by each
POU and their lead ership, and state policies
should reflect this autonomy in decision-making.