City of San Leandro
2024 State Legislative Platform and Policy Guidance
For review by City Council: January 8, 2024
The City of San Leandro’s state legislative agenda for 2024 is designed to reflect the adopted priorities and policy direction of the Mayor and City Council with input from the City Administration. This strategic agenda includes advocating for legislation, regulations, and funding that is consistent with the City’s adopted priorities. It is informed by the City Council’s prior year adopted legislative platform, and has been updated for 2024 to reflect new or emerging policy issues.
This agenda is designed to provide standing authority for the Mayor and members of the City Council, City staff, or the City’s legislative advocate to take action on pending legislative matters on behalf of the City of San Leandro when time or other constraints preclude bringing such matters before the City Council in advance. Such actions could include issuing letters on behalf of the City, expressing the City’s position in policy committee hearings, attending or scheduling meetings, or otherwise advocating for actions that are consistent with the policy language contained herein. This document is also designed to provide the public and the City’s advocates a better understanding of the Mayor and City Council’s policy preferences regarding a variety of legislative and intergovernmental issues that might arise during the course of the year.
This report is two sections:
1. City Specific State Legislative Priorities for Recommended Action, and
2. General Policy Priorities for Ongoing Monitoring or Advocacy
1. City Specific State Legislative Priorities for Recommended Action Below is a list of specific legislative priorities for the city. Direct advocacy with the Governor, the Legislature, State agencies, and other organizations will be generally focused on these areas.
The Legislature will maintain its focus on recent policy priorities, including: housing supply and affordability, homelessness and behavioral health, climate resiliency, transportation & infrastructure, governance & transparency, emergency preparedness and other topics.
Transportation, Public Works, and Technology
• Autonomous Vehicles. Monitor legislation and regulations for the development and operation of autonomous vehicles and support efforts to develop a consistent statewide framework that supports innovation and protects public safety.
• Closing the Digital Divide. Support efforts to address the digital divide, including efforts to fund public access to high-speed internet.
• East 14th Street, and Other State Right-of-Way Pavement Conditions. Advocate for administrative or legislative solutions that would improve the pavement condition of East 14th Street throughout the entirety of San Leandro. The East 14th street right-of-way is a state highway so maintenance is currently the responsibility of the California Department of Transportation.
Support efforts to improve the pavement conditions of other State rights-of-way in San Leandro, including Davis Street and Doolittle Drive.
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructure. Support efforts and funding programs that provide greater flexibility and opportunities to enhance and build out electric vehicle infrastructure, particularly near multifamily housing units or other areas that could yield positive benefits to the community.
Support efforts and funding programs for affordable ownership or leasing of electric vehicles. • Extended Producer Responsibility and Zero Waste Programs. Support efforts to enhance and fund programs that advocate zero-waste practices, recycling and/or Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) among product manufacturers, retailers and grocery stores for products that can be recycled, including pharmaceuticals, to ensure safe and proper disposal.
City of City of San Leandro 2024 State Legislative Platform & Policy Guidelines Page 2 of 8 • Illegal Dumping & Graffiti Abatement. Support legislative efforts that provide for greater penalties or consumer-based incentives to reduce the amount of illegal dumping, waste disposal, and graffiti.
• Public Utilities, Public Safety Power Shut-offs, Wildfire Liability and Vegetation Management. Monitor legislation regarding wildfire liability. Following some of the most destructive wildfires in California history, the State is expected to implement new plans to improve disaster preparedness. Support funding to off-set local costs or other mitigation efforts associated with public safety power shut-offs. Support opportunities to allow cities greater access to funding opportunities for vegetation management and fuel load reduction. Monitor proposals that would transition investor-owned utilities into customer-owned/publicly governed utilities. • Railroad Safety. Support funding opportunities and advocate for projects that will increase public safety in proximity to railroad tracks and rail crossings. • Reclaimed/Recycled Water Projects. Support legislation that advances the use of recycled or reclaimed water while meeting the needs of local agencies, especially during times of drought.
Related efforts could include support for permitting, construction, or maintenance of recycled water pipelines or water storage and distribution systems. Support efforts that would facilitate the distribution of recycled water for irrigation and other non-potable uses, and allow municipalities to pursue water purveyor rights.
• Recycling Programs. Support legislation to extend incentives for both household and commercial recycling efforts. Oppose legislation that hampers recycling efforts or reduces incentives to recycle.
• Smart City Technologies. Support efforts that provide funding or technical assistance for cities that are implementing smart city technologies designed to improve public safety, quality of life, public access to data, or government efficiency.
• Traffic Signal Synchronization. Support legislation or regulatory efforts to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by providing funding for traffic signal synchronization and related actions that reduce traffic and pollution.
• Undergrounding of Utilities/Rule 20A. Support the approval and funding of projects that would lead to the undergrounding of utility lines, and support the exploration of related regional approaches. The Public Utilities Commission oversees Rule 20A, a program that establishes an electric tariff for related work. Support common sense reforms to this program that would streamline or otherwise help to facilitate undergrounding projects. • Use of State Highways. Support efforts that would facilitate the use of overweight trucks to transport goods from local San Leandro businesses to and from the Port of Oakland on routes that utilize state highways.
• Vehicle Miles Traveled Legislation. Monitor new legislation or regulatory efforts with a greater focus on Road Usage Charges (RUC), including the State’s RUC pilot program to study the potential for RUC as an alternative to the gas tax.
• Water Quality Measures/Trash Capture Devices. Support legislation, regulations, and budget proposals that will provide support and resources to purchase and install trash capture devices or other efforts to address storm water runoff and/or protect water quality.
Housing, Land Use & Environmental Protection
• Affordable Housing. Support efforts to facilitate the development and construction of affordable housing, particularly permanent supportive housing for those who are unhoused. Monitor any proposed legislation, regulations, or statewide guidelines to ensure they meet the needs of the City of San Leandro and the region. Support protections for tenants, and other similar topics. • Broadband Infrastructure. Support legislation or funding opportunities that would expand public and private access to broadband, including the development of related infrastructure. Advocate City of City of San Leandro 2024 State Legislative Platform & Policy Guidelines Page 3 of 8 for funding opportunities and infrastructure in both urban and rural areas with varying levels of need, so that jurisdictions are not excluded from the benefits of better internet speeds based solely on urban density or other demographics.
• Cannabis Regulations. Support San Leandro’s adopted regulatory programs. Support administrative actions or legislation that balances the interests of the cannabis industry while providing cities with the flexibility and tools to maintain local oversight, protect public safety, and deter unpermitted cultivation or unlicensed cannabis-related activities. Support common sense reforms to the statewide tax structure for the industry. • Cellular/Wireless Infrastructure. Monitor efforts to change or restrict the ability of local governments to regulate cellular infrastructure. Support efforts that speed the delivery of 5G networks, while opposing legislation that unduly restricts the ability of local governments to regulate aesthetics, community standards, and negotiated revenue collection. • CEQA Reform. Support legislation that makes common sense reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act, including the reduction in time delays or excessive litigation, while ensuring pertinent environmental protections remain in place. Support efforts that would allow local agencies to set criteria for traffic impact levels-of-service based upon locally adopted General Plans and/or other local requirements.
• Climate Adaptation and Resilience. Support efforts to adapt to sea-level rise, including vulnerability assessment and adaptation strategies, wetlands restoration, bioswales and other green infrastructure, levee construction, or other similar structural resilience measures. Support efforts to address extreme heat, wildfire and drought, including communication or provisions to community partners, and education. Support prioritization of frontline communities in planning and implementation of adaptation strategies, and efforts towards a just transition, including practicing community-led governance and decision-making. Support holistic frameworks that look at interconnected problems.
• Climate Change Mitigation. Support action on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions to assist in meeting adopted State, regional or local goals to address the ongoing climate emergency, including via an equity lens. Support legislation to remove regulatory barriers and provide financial support for electrification of buildings and natural gas or other infrastructure that reduces emissions. Support policies and legislation that tie job centers, transit, and affordable housing together to reduce commute times and potential displacement of frontline communities. • Community Choice Aggregation and Clean/Renewable Energy. Support efforts to secure funding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including, but not limited to: clean energy, energy efficiency improvements, and electric vehicle infrastructure. Support the success of Ava Community Energy (formerly known as East Bay Community Energy Authority), including efforts to create public/private partnerships, incentives, and investment in clean energy and battery storage.
• Creek Walk, East Bay Greenway, and other Bicycle/pedestrian projects. Support legislation, regulations, and budget proposals that would provide funding opportunities or other support for the development of greenway projects, bicycle and pedestrian projects, and other modes of active transportation.
• Dredging. Support efforts to identify funding for the dredging of recreational marinas, or efforts that support navigation transportation improvements, including local ferry service. • Earthquake Preparedness. Support increased funding for “brace and bolt” and seismic retrofit projects in private residences and commercial structures, including funding to mitigate unsafe “soft story” construction. Support efforts that would expand access to earthquake insurance. • Greenhouse Reduction Fund. Support the active implementation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions disclosures and the cap-and-trade program to fund programs for energy and waste reduction, renewable energy, and battery storage.
City of City of San Leandro 2024 State Legislative Platform & Policy Guidelines Page 4 of 8 • Just Transition and Jobs. Support efforts and legislation around transitioning fossil fueldependent industries to renewable energy and the regenerative economy. Related efforts could include: supporting workers in declining sectors, and working with relevant partners to invest in High-Road workforce development programs and infrastructure, which aim to create economically resilient communities by focusing first and foremost on equity and high-paying quality jobs. • Local Control of Land Use Decisions. Oppose legislation that excessively pre-empts local control of land use authority, while reasonably balancing statewide or regional housing goals. • Mobile Home Parks. Support efforts that would protect mobile home park residents, including related efforts to address public safety and site conditions, and addressing or preventing displacement.
• Open Lands. Support efforts for carbon sequestration and healthy soils in open lands, particularly in conjunction with SB1383. Support controlled treatment burns in open spaces and forests to reduce wildfire intensity. Support efforts to rematriate public lands to indigenous people. • PFAS Source Control. Support policies and legislation to control sources of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the environment and limit human exposure. Support efforts to improve understanding of the sources of these harmful “forever chemicals”, including scientific funding, as well as labeling/reporting requirements. Support regulations to limit the negative impacts of PFAS, including product bans where suitable alternatives can be identified. • Shoreline Development. Support efforts or funding opportunities that would assist in the successful redevelopment of San Leandro’s shoreline area. • Sharing Economy. Support legislation that enhances the ability of local governments to fairly regulate sharing economy services such as ride share and short-term rentals to protect public safety, ensure tax & fee collection, and adequate supply of rental housing stock. • Urban Trees. Support efforts and funding for ongoing maintenance of urban trees and expansion of urban canopy and green spaces, including installing irrigation systems, as well as pruning trees, removing dead trees, and planting trees.
Law Enforcement & Public Safety
• Automated Speed Enforcement. Support greater flexibility related to traffic responsibility and enforcement duties, such as the use of automated enforcement or traffic cameras designed and implemented with an equity impact assessment.
• Body Cameras. Support legislation addressing best practices for the use of police body-worn cameras, while balancing the needs of the public and law enforcement personnel. • De-escalation Training & Funding. Support efforts that would provide additional funding or training opportunities for law enforcement and public safety personnel on tactics designed to defuse or de-escalate interactions with potentially violent individuals and/or persons suffering from mental health issues or crises.
• Disaster Prevention and Recovery. Seek additional funding and expand the definition of programs eligible for grant funding for disaster recovery and prevention. • Drones. As the use and need for drones expands, so does the discussion on local control and privacy. Monitor any new legislation and support efforts to ensure local needs are adequately addressed.
• First Amendment and Protest Policing. Support efforts to provide training and support for law enforcement agencies so that they may effectively protect public safety during protests and/or free speech events.
• Human Trafficking. Support statewide efforts to address the issue of human trafficking and provide support for local law enforcement efforts to do the same.
City of City of San Leandro 2024 State Legislative Platform & Policy Guidelines Page 5 of 8 • Prisons. Support efforts to reduce incarceration times when appropriate and/or shift criminal penalties to civil penalties for certain low-level crimes while ensuring accountability and restorative justice as core values balanced by victims’ rights. Support investment in rehabilitation programs to improve outcomes for individuals who were previously incarcerated.
Library Services
• Literacy. Support administrative actions or legislation that seeks to provide cities and counties with direct funding or other support needed to provide literacy services to the public. • Local History. Support efforts that would provide additional funding or training opportunities for library and museum staff related to local history. Support efforts that would provide funding for exhibits, historical resources collections, and artifact and cultural preservation. • Native Peoples. Support funding to assist in recognizing indigenous peoples and their resilience, including support for their cultural history, traditions, and societal contributions. Support funding for cultural literacy programs and sharing indigenous ecological knowledge. • Public Art. Support administrative actions or legislation that seeks to provide cities and counties with direct funding or other support needed to provide public art, including visual or performing arts.
• Public Programming. Support efforts that would provide additional funding or training opportunities for library and museum staff related to programming best practices. Support efforts that would provide additional funding for multicultural, generational, intergenerational, youth, teen, adult, STEM, workforce development, and arts programming.
Health & Human Services
• Early Childhood Education. Monitor any administrative actions or legislation regarding early childhood education. It is anticipated that the Governor will seek to increase funding for services like prenatal care, pre-kindergarten, and home visits.
• Health Care. Monitor any administrative actions or legislation regarding single-payer health care.
California has done significant work expanding Medi-Cal access and implementing the Affordable Care Act. Support legislation that seeks to restrain costs. • Homelessness. Support administrative actions or legislation that seeks to provide cities and counties with direct funding or other support needed in response to conditions that contribute to homelessness. Funding is needed to provide additional tools and support to maintain access to support services, treatment, operations and services for permanent supportive housing, jobs, or efforts to address encampments. Funding is needed to support City/County efforts for more facilities, beds, and services to address mental health needs of individuals. • Improved Access to Health Care. Support efforts to protect or expand health care coverage to all populations. Improve health and wellness opportunities through funding for park amenities that provide access to low cost, localized, affordable fitness equipment in parks. • Indigenous Peoples. Support legislation or other administrative actions that assist or otherwise recognize indigenous peoples, history, culture, and land in California. Support the recognition of Indigenous People’s Day in San Leandro.
• LGBTQ+ Protection. Support efforts that would promote protections for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning community. Support legislation that would further regulate or expand restrictions on conversion therapy, consistent with prior City Council policy City of City of San Leandro 2024 State Legislative Platform & Policy Guidelines Page 6 of 8 direction. Oppose legislation that would prevent transgender people from using bathrooms based solely on the basis of sex or gender assigned at birth. • Mental Health. Support efforts to address mental health and emotional well-being of individuals and at-risk populations. Support legislation that strengthens mental health services designed to address and/or prevent homelessness in at-risk populations. Closely monitor the Care Court implementation. Support and fund the implementation of an alternative 911 emergency response program.
• Racial Equity. Support efforts and legislation that seeks to address racial injustice or inequities as may be identified by the State Legislature.
• San Leandro Hospital. Support the successful operation and financial sustainability of San Leandro Hospital.
• Safety Net Services and Support for Seniors. Support efforts that would expand safety net services for those most in need, including low-income residents and senior populations. Monitor legislation that seeks to support/protect seniors from scams. • Tobacco Control. Support statewide efforts to reduce tobacco usage, including implementation of the statewide flavor ban that was adopted as part of Senate Bill 793 (2020).
Public Finance & Administration
• Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1 (ACA 1). Support ACA 1, which may appear on the November 2024 California statewide ballot. If authorized by voters, it would lower the voter approval threshold from two-thirds to 55% to raise certain taxes for local governments to build public infrastructure, affordable housing, and permanent shelter for the homeless. • Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13 (ACA 13). Support ACA 13, which may appear on the November 2024 California statewide ballot. If authorized by voters, it would require future ballot measures that increase voter approval requirements to also pass by the same threshold. It would also preserve the right of local governments to place advisory questions on the ballot asking voters their opinions on issues.
• Cap & Trade Funding. Support projects, programs, and/or other regulations that would facilitate the successful disbursement of funding from the State’s Cap-and-Trade program for City programs and efforts.
• Financial Reporting Requirements. Support common sense reforms to statewide financial reporting requirements to maintain public trust and availability of data while eliminating redundancy and unnecessary burdens on local governments. • Local Elections. Monitor election reform initiatives and oppose efforts that could negatively impact the City of San Leandro. Monitor efforts that could impact San Leandro’s current system of ‘from district’ elections. Oppose efforts seeking to restrict local control over the City’s election system, including rank choice voting.
• Local Sales Tax/Online Sales. Closely monitor any proposed Constitutional amendments or legislative proposals that would change the distribution of revenues derived under a sales tax imposed pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law • Pension Sustainability. Support legislative or regulatory efforts that would ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) while balancing prior commitments that have been made to public employees. • Public Records. Support the intent of the California Public Records Act, including efforts to assist the public in requests for access to government records. Oppose efforts that create unnecessary or unreasonable administrative burdens as well as new unfunded mandates for local agencies.
City of City of San Leandro 2024 State Legislative Platform & Policy Guidelines Page 7 of 8 • Revenue Protection. Oppose attempts to decrease, restrict, or eliminate City revenue sources, or to restrict local authority over the use of City funds. Support efforts to improve the stability or sustainability of local revenues.
• Utility User Taxes. Support legislation or regulations that would provide cities with the flexibility and authority to collect or increase Utility User Taxes (UUTs). Oppose any proposals that seek to limit or restrict the City’s use of UUTs.
• Workers’ Compensation & Disability Retirement Reform. Support efforts to reform the state workers’ compensation program and similar efforts regarding disability payments to control costs and to reduce potential abuse, while balancing important worker protections. • Proposition 13 Reform. Monitor efforts to reform Proposition 13, including the protection of local revenues and ensuring that property tax revenues keep pace with the inflation in costs to provide basic public services. Support efforts to create a “split-roll” taxation system that would allow commercial properties to be taxed at current market rates.
2. Policy Priorities for Ongoing Monitoring or Advocacy Monitor legislative activity and/or or advocate on behalf of the City of San Leandro's interests in the following broad policy areas:
• Public Safety
o This includes policy topics such as disaster preparedness, wildfire efforts, proposals to provide local law enforcement with additional support, school resource officers or joint use efforts with school districts, prevention and intervention funding for at-risk youth, funding for alternative 911 emergency response programs and units, 911 call centers, public safety answering points (PSAPs), POST mandates, AB 109 realignment implementation, stolen vehicles, mental illness counseling services, juvenile justice programs, technology enhancements and support, crisis intervention and suicide prevention, new training opportunities, or other related programs. • Transportation
o This includes policy topics such as goods movement, safe routes to school funding, local road repair, regional transportation funds, street signs, curb paintings, and other efforts to support regional transportation programs. • Economic Development
o This includes policy topics such as redevelopment dissolution, measures providing for new tax increment financing opportunities, infrastructure financing districts, efforts to encourage local job creation, new business investment, and other related topics.
• Infrastructure
o This includes policy topics such as funding for roads, sewers, storm drains, parks and other public works, engineering, or maintenance responsibilities. • Health & Human Services
o This includes general policy topics related to health and human services matters affecting the residents of San Leandro and could include: safety net services, homelessness and hunger, childcare, and community health facilities, among others.
• Housing and Land Use
o This includes policy topics such as creating new or enhancing existing sources of funds for affordable housing including permanent supportive City of City of San Leandro 2024 State Legislative Platform & Policy Guidelines Page 8 of 8 housing, encouraging housing development for a range of income levels, and efforts to protect local authority or oppose unfunded mandates, and other similar topics.
• Quality of Life
o This includes policy topics such as the development of funding sources for parks, urban waterways, multi-lingual outreach, kindergarten readiness programs, project literacy, veterans, homework/technology centers, library capital improvement needs, after school sports, park/playground equipment, and other quality of life programs.
• Constitutional Modifications
o This includes policy topics such as measures that would impact local governments, such as lowering the voter threshold to 55% for various bond issuances and local taxes.
• Protecting Local Control
o The City of San Leandro values its ability and authority to exercise local control, provide excellent public services, and protect and enhance the quality of life for San Leandro residents, businesses, and visitors, and supports efforts to streamline regulations that simplify the job of running the City’s operations and opposes efforts that erode the City’s authority to control its own affairs while balancing statewide goals and needs, particularly related to housing.
• This also includes policy topics such as measures or budget actions which could potentially impact the operations of, or services provided by, the City of San Leandro.
• Technology
o This includes policy topics such as efforts to expand access to fiber optic/broadband infrastructure for community residents, businesses, or schools, energy efficiency projects like LED streetlights and residential/commercial retrofits, as well as efforts to support technological innovation in San Leandro and the region.
• Climate Protection and Resilience
o This includes topics such as climate change, clean energy efforts, waste reduction, water recycling and re-use, building electrification, resilience to heat, wildfire, and storm events, and renewable energy development. • Parks and Open Space
• This includes priority funding and per capita funding for park improvement projects in communities that meet certain demographic requirements, such as those deemed to be underserved or disadvantaged. Per capita funding addresses a backlog of needs while avoiding onerous competitive funding processes. Support priority funding/per capita funding for park improvements that expand public use/access on school sites and that include joint use agreements between cities and school districts.
Process for Reporting
In addition to regular progress reports, annual reports on these and other efforts to support the City’s legislative agenda will be provided to the City Council and City staff.