Susana Alcala Wood, City Attorney Jorge Oseguera, City Auditor Mindy Cuppy, City Clerk Howard Chan, City Manager John Colville, City Treasurer Law and Legislation Report
915 I Street, 1st Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2022-00070 April 19, 2022 Consent Item 02
Title: Legislative Advocacy Correspondence
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Receive and file.
Contact: Consuelo Hernandez, Director of Governmental Affairs, (916) 808-7395, [email protected], Office of the City Manager
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Legislative Advocacy Correspondence_March 2022
Date Bill/Subject Author Description of Issue Position Notes 3/24/2022 SB 1369 Wieckowski Adaptive Reuse Projects: By-Right: Funding Support Senate Governance and Finance
Committee
3/22/2022 SB 1370 Pan Alcoholic Beverages: Licensees Support Senate Governmental Organization
Committee
3/22/2022 SB 907 Pan Electronic Benefits Transfer Systems: Farmers' Markets Support Senate Human Resources Committee 3/22/2022 AB 2120 Friedman Transportation Finance: Federal Funding: Bridget Support Assembly Transportation Committee 3/17/2022 AB 1858 Wicks Substandard Buildings Support
Assembly Housing and Community
Development Committee
3/17/2022 AB 1939 Rivas Pupil Instruction: Science Requirements: Climate Change Support Assembly Education Committee 3/14/2022 AB 2142 Gabriel
Income Taxes: Exclusion: Turf Replacement Water Conservation Program Support
Assembly Revenue and Taxation
Committee
3/8/2022 SB 1065 Eggman Abandoned and Derelict Commercial Vessels Support Senate Natural Resources and Water
Committee
2/20/2022
SJRRC/SJJPA Valley
Rail Program
San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) and San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) grant application requesting funding to continue expansion of the SJRRC/SJJPA Valley Rail Program Support 1/18/2022 AB 1400 Kalra California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act Support Assembly Appropriations Committee 1/11/2022 SB 513 Hertzberg Homeless Shelter Grants: Pets and Veterinary Services Support 12/27/2021 AB 1400 Kalra California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act Support 11/16/2021
Comments on proposed Disadvantaged Community Designation, CalEnviroScreen 4.0
Support with
concerns
9/20/2021 SB 792 Glazer Sales and use tax: reporting: retailers Request for
Governor signature
Position Letters 2021-2022
9/17/2021 AB 122
Boerner
Horvath Vehicles: required stops: bicycles
Request for
Governor signature
9/14/2021 AB 970 McCarty Electric vehicle charging stations: permit approvals Request for
Governor signature
9/14/2021 AB 1443 McCarty Mental health: involuntary treatment Request for
Governor signature
8/31/2021 SB 222 Dodd Water Rate Assistance Program Support 8/12/2021 AB 988 Bauer-Kahan Mental health: 988 crisis hotline Support Governmental Organization
Committee
8/12/2021 AB 988 Bauer-Kahan Mental health: 988 crisis hotline Support Health Committee 8/12/2021 SB 222 Dodd Water Rate Assistance Program Support if amended 7/1/2021 AB 970 McCarty Electric vehicle charging stations: permit approvals Support 6/30/2021 AB 1443 McCarty Mental health: involuntary treatment Sponsor 6/29/2021
Support of San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission’s (SJRRC) application for $25 million from USDOT’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program Support
6/25/2021 AB 122
Boerner
Horvath Vehicles: required stops: bicycles Support
6/25/2021 SCR 51 Pan Sacramento Municipal Utility District: zero-carbon emissions goal Support Coalition letter 6/16/2021 AB 777 McCarty State property: transfer: housing Support 6/7/2021 H.R. 3404 Rep. Huffman The FUTURE Western Water Infrastructure Drought Resiliency Act Support 6/7/2021 Cannabis state budget request Support
5/26/2021 Transportation state budget request Support
5/26/2021 CA Child Savings Accounts state budget request Support Coalition letter 5/17/2021 SB 210 Wiener Automated license plate recognition systems: use of data Opposition 5/4/2021 State Historic Tax Credit Program state budget request Support 4/22/2021 AB 777 McCarty State property: transfer: housing Support 4/20/2021 AB 859 Irwin Mobility devices: personal information Oppose Unless
Amended Coalition letter
4/13/2021 Independent Live Venues state budget request Support 4/13/2021 Green Means Go state budget request Support
4/13/2021 AB 1443 McCarty Mental health: involuntary treatment Sponsor AB 43 Friedman Setting speed limits to enhance traffic safety Support 4/12/2021 AB 550 Chiu The Safe Streets and Work Zones Act of 2021 Support 4/12/2021 AB 1500 Garcia
Water, Wildfire, Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2022
4/1/2021 AB 859 Irwin Mobility devices: personal information Oppose Unless
Amended
3/30/2021 SB 369 Pan
Flood control: Yolo Bypass Cache Slough Partnership Multibenefit Program Support
2/3/2021 AB 122
Boerner
Horvath Vehicles: required stops: bicycles Support
Letter to California High-Speed Rail Authority re draft 2020 Business Plan Support
2/3/2021 SB 323 Caballero Local government: water and sewer service: legal actions Support Coalition letter with the Assn of CA
Water Agencies (ACWA) and others
2/3/2021 SB 45 Portantino
Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2022 Support
Coalition letter with other water
agencies
1/26/2021 AB 80/SB 91
Assembly &
Senate Budget
Committees COVID-19 relief: tenancy: federal rental assistance Support December 2020 AB 15 Chiu COVID eviction protection Support 12/15/2020
Letters to Dept. of Public Health asking that essential water services workers be included in Phase 1-B vaccine distribution
Regional Water Authority and
California Municipal Utilities Assn
coalition letters
12/14/2020
Letter to CA Air Resources Board requesting Sacramento be included in year 3 of the AB 617 Community Air Protection Program
915 I Street New City Hall 5th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814-2604
[email protected] O: 916.808.7005 F: 916.264.7680
March 8, 2022
Senator Henry Stern
Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water
1021 O Street, Room 3220
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE:SB 1065 (EGGMAN) ABANDONED AND DERELICT COMMERCIAL VESSELS –
SUPPORT
Dear Senator Stern:
On behalf of the City of Sacramento, I write in support of SB 1065 (Eggman). This bill will help keep our waterways clean, safe, and address the harm that commercial abandoned and derelict vessels (CADV) cause by creating a statewide program to fund the inventory, removal, and destruction of these vessels as well as a Coordinating Council to provide program oversight and coordination of removal efforts.
Unlike recreational vessels, such as ski, fishing and house boats, a statewide program does not exist to fund the removal and destruction of CADVs. State and local agencies have to rely on cooperation by vessel owners, lengthy legal approaches such as trespass and nuisance abatement actions, and limited federal actions . To give an example of the scope of this issue, Sacramento has disposed of 20 vessels in the past 12 months, with an additional four pending disposal.
The limitations and disjointed federal, state and local authorities and responsibilities coupled with no ongoing funding is a significant impediment to addressing this problem.
SB 1065 addresses this issue by creating a statewide program and Coordinating Council of federal, state and local agencies that will identify, prioritize and fund the actual removal of CADVs from California’s waterways.
Without a program and ongoing funding, CADVs will continue to cause environmental harm and damage to California’s water quality, habitat, and ecosystems. For these reasons, the City of Sacramento requests your support for SB 1065. If you would like to discuss our support further, please contact Consuelo Hernandez, Director of Governmental Affairs, at 916 -808-7395 or [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jay Schenirer
Chair, Law and Legislation Committee
March 14, 2022
The Honorable Jacqui Irwin
Chair, Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee
1020 N Street, Room 167A
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 2142 (Gabriel) – Income taxes: exclusion: turf replacement water conservation program – Support
Dear Chair Irwin:
The undersigned organizations are pleased to support AB 2142 (Gabriel). This bill will reinstate an important exemption for turf replacement rebates from gross income in California, aligning it with certain other permanently exempt water efficiency rebates.
The Honorable Jacqui Irwin AB 2142 (Gabriel)
March 14, 2022 • Page 2
The State has permanently exempted some other water efficiency rebates, recognizing their effectiveness in advancing efficiency objectives. Rebates for water efficient toilets and clothes washers, certain plumbing for recycled water, and energy conservation are all permanently exempt from both personal and corporate taxes in California. (Cal. Rev. & Tax Code §§ 17138, 17138.1, 24308.1.) Turf replacement programs, like these other rebates, play an important role in continued water efficiency and conservation efforts.
California is in its second drought within a decade and it is critical for the state to continue to invest in both immediate conservation and ongoing water efficiency as we adapt to climate change. Water efficiency incentive programs are an effective tool in this effort. For example, since 1990, The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET) has invested more than $840 million in rebates and other conservation incentives, resulting in an estimated water savings of nearly 3.5 million acre feet, enough to provide water for more than 10 million households.
Even when the state is not facing drought conditions, California has made a commitment to “Conservation as a California Way of Life” through the enactment of SB 606 (Hertzberg, 2018) and AB 1668 (Friedman, 2018). As part of that commitment, the Administration is in the process of establishing a water use objective for urban water agencies that will create numeric goals that each agency must meet, and incentive programs will be key to its success.
Taxing water efficiency rebates is a disincentive for households to participate in these critical programs.
Even with incentives, most households will need to invest a significant amount of their own income to replace lawns with drought-tolerant landscaping. And taxing these rebates is an especially significant barrier for low-income households who participate in these programs.
California Law previously exempted turf rebates from taxable income, but those provisions were allowed to sunset in December 2019. Part of the rationale at that time was that California was not in a drought, but the environment is changing rapidly due to the impacts of climate change and it is important that the State’s public policy reflects this changing reality.
For these reasons, the undersigned organizations respectfully request your “Aye” vote when the bill is heard in the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation.
Sincerely,
Jennifer M. Capitolo
Executive Director
California Water Association
Danielle Blacet
Deputy Executive Director
California Municipal Utilities Association
Justin Skarb
Director of Community Affairs & Government Relations
California Water Service
Derek Dolfie
Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist
League of California Cities
Jessica Gauger
Director of Legislative Advocacy & Public Affairs
California Association of Sanitation Agencies
Rosario Cortes Kapeller
Senior Legislative Respresentative
California Special Districts Association
Gary Link
Legislative Affairs Director
Northern California Water Association
Sean Bothwell
Executive Director
California Coastkeeper Alliance
The Honorable Jacqui Irwin AB 2142 (Gabriel)
March 14, 2022 • Page 3
Garry Brown
Founding Director
Orange County Coastkeeper
Inland Empire Waterkeeper
Coachella Valley Waterkeeper
Charles Wilson
Executive Director
Southern California Water Coalition
Nicole Sasaki
Staff Attorney
San Francisco Baykeeper
Mary Ann Dickinson
CEO
Dickinson Associates
Adel Hagekhalil
General Manager
Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California
Gary Arant
General Manager
Valley Center Municipal Water District
Donald M. Zdeba
General Manager
Indian Wells Valley Water District
Paul Helliker
General Manager
San Juan Water District
Greg Thomas
General Manager
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District
John Bosler
General Manager/CEO
Cucamonga Valley Water District
John Mura
General Manager/CEO
East Valley Water District
Peter Sanchez
General Manager-Secretary
Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District
Jessaca Lugo
City Manager
City of Shasta Lake
Chris Rogers
Mayor
City of Santa Rosa
Krista Bernasconi
Mayor
City of Roseville
William Busath
Director
City of Sacramento, Department of Utilities
Robert Grantham
General Manager
Rancho California Water District
Paul A. Cook, P.E.
General Manager
Irvine Ranch Water District
Steven J. Elie
Board President
Inland Empire Utilities Agency
Anthony Goff
General Manager
Calleguas Municipal Water District
Dan Muelrath
General Manager
Diablo Water District
Matthew Litchfield
General Manager
Three Valleys Municipal Water District
Thomas A. Love
General Manager
Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District
Paul E. Shoenberger, P.E.
General Manager
Mesa Water District
The Honorable Jacqui Irwin AB 2142 (Gabriel)
March 14, 2022 • Page 4
Grant Davis
General Manager
Sonoma County Water Agency
Erik Hitchman
General Manager
Walnut Valley Water District
Ed Stevenson
General Manager
Alameda County Water District
Nina Jazmadarian
General Manager
Foothill Municipal Water District
Stephen L. Cole
Assistant General Manager
Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency
Jim Barrett
General Manager
Coachella Valley Water District
CC: The Honorable Jesse Gabriel
Members, Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee
915 I Street New City Hall 5th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814-2604
[email protected] O: 916.808.7005 F: 916.264.7680
March 17, 2022
Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell
Chair, Assembly Committee on Education
Legislative Office Building
1020 N Street, Room 159
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 1939 (Rivas) PUPIL INSTRUCTION: SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS: CLIMATE CHANGE – SUPPORT
Dear Assemblymember O’Donnell:
On behalf of the City of Sacramento (“City”), I am writing in support of AB 1939. AB 1939 would require the science area of study for grades 1-6 and 7-12 to include an emphasis on the causes and effects of climate change and on the methods to mitigate and adapt to climate change, beginning no later than the 2023–24 school year. Additionally, starting with the graduating class of the 2027–28 school year, at least one required science course for high school graduation would include material on the causes and effects of climate change and methods to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The City’s work to address the causes and impacts of climate change relies on current and future residents and employees who are aware of and motivated to address climate change.
The City is currently updating its Sacramento Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), first adopted in 2012, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to impacts related to climate change. The City conducts an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) produced by the Sacramento community to track Sacramento's progress towards its climate action goals. The most recent 2016 inventory counted emissions produced from residential and commercial electricity and natural gas usage, transportation, water delivery, wastewater treatment, and solid waste within City limits and found that greenhouse gas emissions have decreased since 2005 and 2011.
The City met its 2020 climate goal in 2016. Per capita emissions have decreased over 26%, demonstrating that even though the City has grown substantially since 2005, emissions have decreased at a more rapid rate. Now, the City is working on an updated Climate Action Plan to help the community reach even more aggressive climate targets in line with State goals, including carbon neutrality (0 MT CO2e), by 2045.
The City sees science education as a key component when it comes to implementing local policies and achieving its aggressive climate change goals at the local and state levels. Climate change is already negatively impacting our water supplies, water quality, sea level rise, wildfire, air quality and much more. AB 1939 would ensure that millions of students learn about the causes and effects of climate change throughout their basic education career. This will undoubtedly bring about positive results related to heightened awareness of the causes and effects of climate change, and increased potential that these students would modify their actions/behaviors to make more climate change conscious decisions as they prepare themselves to enter society and make life- long choices.
For the reasons stated above, the City is pleased to support AB 1939. Should you have any questions about our support of this bill, please contact Consuelo Hernandez, Director of Governmental Affairs, at 916-808-7395 or
[email protected].
Sincerely,
Jay Schenirer
Chair, Law and Legislation Committee
915 I Street New City Hall 5th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814-2604
[email protected] O: 916.808.7005 F: 916.264.7680 March 17, 2022
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
Chair, Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development 1020 N Street, Room 156
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 1858 (QUIRK-SILVA) SUBSTANDARD BUILDINGS - SUPPORT Dear Assemblymember Wicks:
On behalf of the City of Sacramento (City), I write to express our support for AB 1858.
AB 1858 would extend existing inspections and code enforcement to buildings used for human habitation, regardless of zoning, and improve tenant protections when buildings are deemed unsafe.
Existing law allows a local enforcement agency to seek the appointment of a receiver for substandard or dangerous residential properties. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code 17980.7, after a property owner has had a reasonable amount of time to repair these substandard and/or dangerous properties, the City may petition the superior court to appoint a receiver to take action to bring the property back into compliance with the law. This law arguably does not apply to commercial properties. Instead, cities are required to seek relief pursuant to a civil action which can often take years; all while the commercial property is allowed to languish in its current condition, causing harm to the nearby residents’ health and safety. Allowing the City to seek a receiver pursuant to a 17980.7 petition would bring quick relief to the neighbors whose properties are near the substandard and/or dangerous commercial properties.
In addition, the bill makes the following changes to existing law:
1) A
llows for 17980.7 receiver powers to be extended to receivers appointed under other provisions of law.
2) Allows a court to order adequate tenant relocation benefits based on principles of equity if the existing method of calculation does not meet the needs of the tenant. 3) Allows the order appointing a receiver to remain in effect during appeal absent an extraordinary writ from the appellate court.
4) Allows the receiver to recover money owed to the enforcement agency.
AB 1858 could be an important tool for the City to respond to dilapidated commercial and industrial buildings being used as housing. For that reason, we respectfully request your support of the bill. Should you have any questions about our support of AB 1858 please contact Consuelo Hernandez, Director of Governmental Affairs, at 916-808-7395 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Jay Schenirer
Chair, Law and Legislation Committee
915 I Street New City Hall 5th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814-2604
[email protected] O: 916.808.7005 F: 916.264.7680
March 22, 2022
Assemblymember Laura Friedman
Chair, Assembly Committee on Transportation
1020 N Street, Room 112
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 2120 (WARD) TRANSPORTATION FINANCE: FEDERAL FUNDING:
BRIDGES - SUPPORT
Dear Assemblymember Friedman:
On behalf of the City of Sacramento (City), I write to express our support for AB 2120.
AB 2120 would ensure a fair and needs-based allocation of bridge formula funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). These funds would help close the significant gap between what is needed to repair and replace deteriorated local bridges and the $300 million per year currently available statewide.
Specifically, AB 2120 would apply California’s historic formula from the prior federal Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program to the distribution of bridge formula funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), allocating 55% to local projects. AB 2120 would also require the state to maintain its current commitment of flexible federal highway funding to local bridges. Taken together, these changes would increase federal funding available to local bridges from approximately $300 million annually to approximately $800 million annually.
California has over 12,000 locally-owned bridges—more than 4,300 of which need costly repairs. Despite a typical design life of 75 to 100 years, nearly one-fifth of local bridges are at least 80 years old. There is a significant disparity in the condition of state and local bridges, with 11.5% of local bridges in poor condition compared to only 3.3% of state bridges. At the current rate of funding, the percentage of local bridges in poor condition will climb to above 50% within the next 20 years. Simply preventing further decay in local bridge conditions would require nearly $800 million each year—an increase of approximately $500 million annually. Note that the majority of climate friendly active transportation and transit trips take place on local bridges.
As one example of the need for additional local bridge funding, the Cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento are currently awaiting funding for the I Street bridge project, which will replace 5 obsolete and structurally deficient bridges. The I Street bridge project provides a vitally needed connection as there are currently no locally owned bridges between the two cities. The only available crossings are freeway and train bridges, making local trips circuitous and generating unnecessary VMT. The project provides biking and walking facilities which are extremely limited on existing crossings.
The new bridge will also create new opportunities for transit, emergency access, and economic development. Funds have been programmed and environmental clearance is complete, making the project “shovel ready”. However, a lack of sufficient bridge funds is delaying the obligation of construction funding, which could jeopardize the project as costs in the construction industry continue to rise.
AB 2120 would help address a critical need in the Sacramento region and statewide.
For that reason, we respectfully request your support of the bill. Should you have any questions about our support of AB 2120, please contact Consuelo Hernandez, Director of Governmental Affairs, at 916-808-7395 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Jay Schenirer
Chair, Law and Legislation Committee
915 I Street New City Hall 5th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814-2604
[email protected] O: 916.808.7005 F: 916.264.7680
March 22, 2022
Senator Melissa Hurtado
Chair, Senate Committee on Human Services
1020 N Street, Room 521
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 907 (PAN) ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER SYSTEMS: FARMERS’
MARKETS
Dear Senator Hurtado:
On behalf of the City of Sacramento (City), I write to express our support for SB 907, which would establish a non-competitive grant program to expand access to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) services at all certified farmers’ markets across California.
Farmers’ markets are an important source of low-cost, fresh fruits and vegetables for Californians in need of food assistance and increasing EBT access at farmers’ markets will improve nutritional opportunities in areas of California where food deserts are prevalent. Additionally, for small and mid-sized farming operations, farmers’ markets provide an important economic opportunity – a viable, local outlet for the sale of their produce.
SB 907 would establish a non-competitive grant program, jointly developed by the Department of Social Services and the Department of Food and Agriculture, to support EBT access and staffing at farmers’ markets. Grant funding could also be used to scale and improve EBT processes at existing farmers’ markets, establish EBT access at new certified markets in under-served low-income communities, assist non-certified farmers’ markets with certification, and develop nutrition education programs and outreach efforts to local communities.
The City recognizes that there are huge gaps where healthy food choices aren’t available. At the beginning of the pandemic, the City launched the Food Justice Task Force, a group of food access advocates and local, state, federal leaders. The goals of the Task Force include ensuring that our most vulnerable communities recover in an equitable manner and that our City has sufficient, healthy, and accessible food for all.
The City has allocated $1.5 million to this effort. Farmers’ market match programs support the City’s efforts by encouraging people to come to farmers’ markets, which provide healthy food opportunities for people on EBT and support local businesses and farms.
The grant program established under SB 907 will help improve access to healthy foods for all California families, regardless of income, as well as increase the number of farmers’ markets throughout the state. We believe that every Californian should have equal access to local, affordable nutritious food. For those reasons, we respectfully request your support of the bill. Should you have any questions about our support of SB 907, please contact Consuelo Hernandez, Director of Governmental Affairs, at 916-808- 7395 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Jay Schenirer
Chair, Law and Legislation Committee
915 I Street New City Hall 5th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814-2604
[email protected] O: 916.808.7005 F: 916.264.7680
March 22, 2022
Senator Bill Dodd
Chair, Senate Committee on Governmental Organization
1020 N Street, Room 584
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 1370 (PAN) ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: LICENSEES - SUPPORT
Dear Senator Dodd:
On behalf of the City of Sacramento (City), I write to express our support for SB 1370.
The City is a strong supporter of the new downtown headquarters for Capital Public Radio (CapRadio) at 1010 8
th Street. CapRadio’s relocation from the campus of
Sacramento State University to downtown Sacramento will help to jumpstart the revitalization of our downtown and bring additional investments to our downtown urban core.
SB 1370 is an important bill as it will allow CapRadio’s unique needs to comply with the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) regulations. The new CapRadio headquarters will also include a downtown venue for live news reporting, arts, music, public affairs programs, and events which will be called Cap Radio Live, including concessions support. Specifically, free public events in this space will be supported in part by concessions revenue and this bill will help ensure that all of the events are free for both visitors and residents of the City of Sacramento.
SB 1370 is needed to help Cap Radio receive its license from the State ABC given the unique public service mission and needs of Cap Radio. For that reason, we respectfully request your support of the bill. Should you have any questions about our support of SB 1370, please contact Consuelo Hernandez, Director of Governmental Affairs, at 916- 808-7395 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Jay Schenirer
Chair, Law and Legislation Committee
915 I Street New City Hall 5th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814-2604
[email protected] O: 916.808.7005 F: 916.264.7680
March 24, 2022
Senator Anna Caballero
Chair, Senate Committee on Governance and Finance
State Capitol, Room 407
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 1369 (WIECKOWSKI) ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECTS: BY-RIGHT: FUNDING - SUPPORT
Dear Senator Caballero:
On behalf of the City of Sacramento (City), I write to express our support for SB 1369.
SB 1369 would permit adaptive reuse of commercial, office, public, and industrial buildings with an occupancy of 25% or less for housing by right. Adaptive reuse would be limited to residential units only or mixed use with at least two-thirds of the building designated for residential use. One additional story may be added to the roof of an existing building. No more parking than that which is on the existing site may be required.
California is facing both a housing and a climate crisis. Adaptive reuse is a strategy to preserve and enhance existing neighborhoods and address both crises. With the pandemic leading to more remote work for those who previously occupied office buildings and an accelerated shift from brick and mortar shopping to online shopping, adaptive reuse uses space that could otherwise be empty and lead to the deterioration of neighborhoods. By providing housing in buildings previously used for non-residential purposes, adaptive reuse also avoids displacement of any existing residents. In addition, adaptive reuse can work well in communities of all sizes.
In the City, reuse of non-residential structures for housing purposes is allowed by right except for industrial areas. The exclusion on industrial land is due to the potential for land use conflicts and negative economic development impacts, something the legislature may want to consider as SB 1369 moves forward. Overall, SB 1369 would create more housing opportunities statewide which puts less pressure on our limited stock.
SB 1369 would help address the state’s housing crisis and keep neighborhoods from deteriorating. For these reasons, we respectfully request your support of the bill. Should
you have any questions about our support of SB 1369, please contact Consuelo Hernandez, Director of Governmental Affairs, at 916-808-7395 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Jay Schenirer
Chair, Law and Legislation Committee