2023 Q2 Legislative Action Summary
Below is a summary of the actions that were taken during 2023 Q2 as they align with the City of Santa Clara’s 2023 Legislative Advocacy Positions (LAPs), guiding principles for legislative advocacy, approved City policies (e.g. City Council Goals and Priorities), and/or Council action. The letters and bill analysis are attached to this document.
April 4, 2023 Council Approval
• April 14, 2023 Letter of Support to Assembly Member Evan Low RE: ACA 5
Housing LAP
• June 22, 2023 Letter of support to Assembly Member Ash Kalra RE: AB 1469 – Valley Water - Assisting Unsheltered People
Public Safety LAP
• May 15, 2023 League of California Cities Letter to Assembly Leadership RE:
action needed on fentanyl and substance use-related legislation
Legislative Guiding Principle: “Protect and/or increase local government discretion”
• June 28, 2023 Letter of support to State Senator Ben Allen, Chair of Senate Committee on Environmental Quality RE: AB 1594 – Medium- and heavy-duty zero emission vehicles: public agency utilities
• June 28, 2023 Letter of opposition to State Senator Aisha Wahab RE: AB 1637 – Local government: internet websites and email addresses
Multiple Legislative Priorities
• Bill analysis for April 13, 2023 Cities Association Legislative Action Committee Meeting
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Mayor
Lisa M. Gillmor
Councilmembers
Kathy Watanabe, District 1
Raj Chahal, District 2
Karen Hardy, District 3
Kevin Park, District 4
Suds Jain, District 5
Anthony J. Becker, District 6
April 14, 2023
The Honorable Evan Low
California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Room 6110
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support for ACA 5 – Marriage Equality
Dear Assemblymember Low,
The City of Santa Clara is pleased to support Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 5, which would amend the California Constitution relating to marriage equality.
According to the 2020 census, California has the most same -sex couples living together than any state, almost 135,900, of which roughly 85,100 are married. In addition, with Senate Bill 179 (Chapter 853, Statutes of 2017) allowing for the third gender cate gory of non -binary to be added to legal documents in the state since 2019, it is important to expand the legal definition of marriage within our constitution beyond that of only the union between man and woman.
LGBTQ+ individuals are already subjected to many forms of discrimination and marginalization, leading to heightened rates of mental illness, suicidality, hate crimes, homicides, homelessness, poverty, and more. In addition, since 2022, the LGBTQ+ community has remained the target of over 300 bills introduced across the country, intending to strip them of their rights and visibility.
A recent decision by the federal government creates uncertainty in the future for California’s equality measures. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court published its decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, which overturned the court’s previous rulings in Roe v. Wade and Casey v.
Planned Parenthood of Pennsylvania. If the Supreme Court rules to overturn the precedents set in Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex marriages in California could be at risk.
The City of Santa Clara has long recognized the contributions of LGBTQ+ members to our community.
There are many LGBTQ+ households within the City, and LGBTQ+ individuals have served and continue to serve as City employees, Commissioners, and Councilmembers. For years, the City has celebrated Pride month each June through events hosted by the City library and by holding an annual Pride flag raising event. The City’s Code of Ethics and Values recognizes that a significant aspect of ethical behavior is to extend equal opportunities to all members of our community, and it would be unconscionable to withhold one of the most important rights in our Constitution from LGBTQ+ individuals.
ACA 5 would amend the California Constitution relating to marriage equality to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ Californians.
For these reasons, the City of Santa Clara supports ACA 5.
City of Santa Clara
The Center of Wh:Jt:'s Possible
The Honorable Evan Low
Support for ACA 5 – Marriage Equality
April 14, 2023
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Mayor
Lisa M. Gillmor
Councilmembers
Kathy Watanabe, District 1
Raj Chahal, District 2
Karen Hardy, District 3
Kevin Park, District 4
Suds Jain, District 5
Anthony J. Becker, District 6
June 22, 2023
The Honorable Ash Kalra
Member, California State Assembly
State Capitol, 1020 O Street, Suite 4610
Sacramento, CA 95814
S
ubject: AB 1469 (Kalra) Valley Water – Assisting Unsheltered People – SUPPORT D
ear Assemblymember Kalra:
O
n behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I would like to express our strong support for AB 1469, which makes changes to the Santa Clara Valley Water District Act to allow the agency to do more to assist unsheltered people living along creeks and streams, including providing housing or improved outcomes for unsheltered individuals.
S
anta Clara County is currently experiencing unprecedented increases in the number of unhoused people taking refuge along waterways that run through neighborhoods, parks, and open spaces, as well as through commercial districts and industrial areas. As the regional agency responsible for water supply, flood protection, and the environmental stewardship of creeks and streams, the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) owns hundreds of miles of property along waterways as well as other public lands.
These locations are a preferred refuge for unsheltered people because of their proximity to surface water and the sheltering effects of riparian vegetation, canyons, and creek banks. Valley Water estimated in February 2023 that more than 2,000 unsheltered people were taking refuge on the agency’s properties and easements.
AB
1469 (Kalra) would provide Valley Water with the statutory authorization to use its land and a portion of its general tax revenue to humanely assist unsheltered people living along waterways to provide outreach, transitional housing, or other supportive services through contracts with cities, the County, or non-governmental organizations. The goal is to bring more resources to the table to facilitate solutions to serious environmental and operational impacts of large numbers of unsheltered people living alo ng creeks and streams.
T
he City of Santa Clara strongly supports AB 1469 because it will enable Valley Water to do more to assist unsheltered people taking refuge along waterways, provide more resources to support the efforts of cities, the County, and n on-governmental organizations to address the homelessness crisis in our region, and will give Valley Water the tools it needs to improve water quality and protect sensitive, threatened, and endangered species. We urge the Legislature and the Governor to enact this important legislation.
S
incerely,
L
isa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
1400 K Street, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95814 • 916.658.8200 • calcities.org
May 15, 2023
The Honorable Anthony Rendon
Speaker, California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 8330
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable James Gallagher
Republican Leader, State Assembly
1021 O Street, Suite 4740
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Action Needed on Fentanyl and Substance Use-Related Legislation
Dear Speaker Rendon and Assembly Republican Leader Gallagher,
The League of California Cities (Cal Cities) requests to participate in the upcoming informational hearing on fentanyl and urges the Legislature to take further action this year to address the fentanyl crisis.
Cities are committed to enacting legislative solutions that strike an appropriate balance between community justice and public safety. However delaying additional legislative action another year will undoubtably result in many more lives lost.
Constituents throughout California are relying on their legislators to act swiftly.
Fentanyl poisonings and the rising death toll illustrate a complex issue that requires a multi- faceted and collaborative approach. Cal Cities supports additional funding and resources to address the substance use crisis through appropriate prevention and intervention efforts, educational awareness campaigns, and increased access to life-saving overdose treatment aids such as naloxone.
Cities not only welcome increased collaboration with our state and federal partners, but we truly require it in order to meaningfully address the fentanyl crisis facing our communities.
For these reasons, Cal Cities calls on the Legislature to thoughtfully deliberate on and provide solutions for one of the most pressing issues of our time. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Elisa Arcidiacono at [email protected] or Caroline
Cirrincione at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Claudia Frometa Anthony Otero Jim Ellis
Mayor, Downey Mayor, La Mirada Mayor, Bishop
Juanita Martin Joe Vinatieri Phil Dupper
Mayor, Santa Fe Springs Mayor, Whittier Mayor, Loma Linda
Stephanie Oddo Austin Lumbard Marty Simonoff
Mayor Pro Tem, Laguna Niguel Mayor, Tustin Mayor, Brea
Fred Jung David John Sawver Dale Reynolds
Council Member, Fullerton Mayor, Stanton Council Member, Blythe
Valerie Vandever Brenden Kalfus Dr. Lisa DeForest
Council Member, San Jacinto Council Member, Temecula Mayor, Murrieta
Jessica Alexander Michael Vargas Kevin Bash
Council Member, Temecula Mayor, Perris Mayor Pro Tem, Norco
Bill Zimmerman Crystal Ruiz Adele Andrade
Mayor, Menifee Mayor Pro Tem, San Jacinto Mayor, Alhambra
Ross J. Maza Katherine Lee Gary Boyer
Vice Mayor, Alhambra Council Member, Alhambra Mayor, Glendora
Jeffrey K. Maloney Sasha Renée Pérez H. Manuel Ortiz Council Member, Alhambra Council Member, Alhambra Mayor, Irwindale
Mendell Thompson Michael Allawos Bill Hussey
Mayor Pro Tem, Glendora Council Member, Glendora Mayor, Grand Terrace
Karen Davis David Fredendall Bill Velto
Council Member, Glendora Council Member, Glendora Mayor, Upland
Robert Gonzales Jason Gibbs Konstantine Anthony
Mayor, Azusa Mayor, Santa Clarita Mayor, Burbank
Michael Dacquisto Lisa Kaplan Kris Deiters
Mayor, Redding Council Member, Sacramento Mayor, Red Bluff
Siri Pulipati Patrick Hurton Rosario Rodriguez
Council Member, Council Member, Red Bluff Mayor, Folsom Rancho Cordova
Danny Cartwright Robert Mitchell Rich Lozano
Mayor, Loomis Mayor, Tehama Council Member, Galt
Jay Vandenburg Denise Conrado Trinity Burruss
Mayor, Galt Council Member, Colusa Mayor, Colfax
Linda Budge Sergio Robles Ken Broadway
Mayor, Rancho Cordova Council Member, Elk Grove Mayor, Rocklin
Bill Halldin Alice Dowdin Calvillo Greg Watkins
Council Member, Rocklin Mayor, Auburn Mayor, Shasta Lake
Mike Gallagher Bob Branstrom Bruce Houdesheldt
Mayor, Anderson Council Member, Grass Valley Mayor, Roseville
Tom Sandoval Eddie Flores Frank Gonzalez
Mayor, Pomona Council Member, San Francisco Mayor, Sanger
Daniel Martinez Michael Montelongo James Horn
Mayor Pro Tem, Sanger Council Member, Sanger Mayor, Coalinga
Travis Praden Luis Chavez Lynne Ashbeck
Mayor, Hanford Council Member, Fresno Mayor, Clovis
Silvia Renteria Pam Foley Cindy Silva
Council Member, Firebaugh Council Member, San Jose Mayor, Walnut Creek
Loella Haskew Cindy Darling Brigit Bennington
Mayor Pro Tem, Walnut Creek Council Member, Walnut Creek Mayor, Hesperia
Matt Francois Kevin Wilk Mark Armstrong
Council Member, Walnut Creek Council Member, Walnut Creek Vice Mayor, San Ramon
Carl Anduri Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft Lisa Gauthier
Mayor, Lafayette Mayor, Alameda Mayor, East Palo Alto
Frank Navarro Bruce Barrows Rebeca Armendariz
Mayor, Colton Mayor, Cerritos Council Member, Gilroy
Michael Colantuono Kim Trupiano Steve Jones
City Attorney, Grass Valley Council Member, Clayton Mayor, Garden Grove
Lori Ogorchock Tim Flaherty Zak Schwank
Council Member, Antioch Mayor, Pleasant Hill Mayor, Temecula
Dan Goldstein Jaime Patino Jan Arbuckle
Council Member, Hayward Council Member, Union City Mayor, Grass Valley
Laura Nakamura Gabe Quinto Nancy Young
Council Member, Concord Council Member, El Cerrito Mayor, Tracy
Melanie Bagby Emma Sharif Anna M. Velazquez
Council Member, Cloverdale Mayor, Compton Mayor, Soledad
Lisa Diaz Nash Scott Bauer Laura Bettencourt
Deputy Mayor, San Mateo Council Member, Eureka Mayor, Palmdale
Porsche Middleton Maria de Pilar Avalos Jean Josey
Mayor, Citrus Heights Mayor, South Gate Council Member, Dublin
Brian McCarthy Dave Potter Scott Donaldson
Council Member, Marina Mayor, Carmel-by-the-Sea Mayor, Del Rey Oaks
Bob White Mike LeBarre Bill Peake
Mayor, Greenfield Mayor, King City Mayor, Pacific Grove
Kimbley Craig Ian Oglesby Laura Hoffmeister
Mayor, Salinas Mayor, Seaside Mayor, Concord
Chaps Poduri Yvette Brooks Jen Cavenaugh
Council Member, Pacific Grove Council Member, Capitola Mayor, Piedmont
Kris Deiters Rita Xavier Tami Trent
Mayor, Red Bluff Council Member, San Pablo Mayor, Fortuna
Scott Perkins Deborah B. Penrose Oscar Flores
Council Member, San Ramon Mayor, Half Moon Bay Mayor, Lynwood
J Francisco Zermeño C Kathy Watanabe Inga Miller
Council Member, Hayward Council Member, Santa Clara Mayor, Orinda
Elizabeth Mackay Kelly Schellong Juan Gonzalez
Council Member, Blue Lake Council Member, Crescent City Mayor, San Leandro
Janani Ramachandran Pa'tanisha Pierson Marie Blankley Council Member, Oakland Council Member, Brentwood Mayor, Gilroy
Xouhoa Bowen Mike McCorriston David Torres
Council Member, San Leandro Vice Mayor, Dublin Mayor, Montebello
Alicia Weintraub Justin Massey Ray Pearl
Mayor Pro Tem, Calabasas Mayor Pro Tem, Hermosa Beach Mayor, Westlake Village
Larry Weber Richard Montgomery Chris Anstead
Council Member, Hidden Hills Mayor, Manhattan Beach Mayor, Agoura Hills
Michael Kemps Lauren Meister Doug Stewart
Council Member, Council Member, Council Member,
Palos Verdes Estates West Hollywood Malibu
Laura McCorkindale John Heilman Kelly Honig
Council Member, Council Member, Council Member
Hidden Hills West Hollywood Westlake Village
Chelsea Lee Byers Ed Albrecht John Cruikshank
Council Member, Council Member, Mayor Pro Tem
West Hollywood Calabasas Rancho Palos Verdes
Illece Buckley Weber Raymond A. Jackson Brianne Zorn
Mayor Pro Tem, Agoura Hills Mayor, Hermosa Beach Mayor, Martinez
Paul Grisanti Valerie Arkin Jon Froomin
Council Member, Malibu Council Member, Pleasanton Mayor, Foster City
Tessa Rudnick Susan Candell Rick Denison
Mayor Pro Tem, El Cerrito Council Member, Lafayette Mayor, Yucca Valley
Debbie Ruddock Flor Nicolas Andrew White
Council Member Mayor, Chief of Police
Half Moon Bay South San Francisco Martinez
Evert Wolsheimer Mary K. Bier John Dutrey
Vice Mayor, Monte Sereno Council Member, Pacifica Mayor, Montclair
Sam Hindi Leslie Marden Ragsdale Lisa Motoyama
Council Member, Foster Council Member, Hillsborough Mayor, El Cerrito
Al Royse Daniel Furtado Stacey Mattina
Council Member, Hillsborough Council Member, Campbell Mayor, Lakeport
Steve Woehleke Chris Pimentel Lula Davis-Holmes
Council Member, Moraga Mayor Pro Tem, El Segundo Mayor, Carson
Lance Giroux Carol Pirsztuk Drew Boyles
Council Member, El Segundo Council Member, El Segundo Mayor, El Segundo
Ryan Baldino Albert Vera Julian A. Gold
Council Member, El Segundo Mayor, Culver City Mayor, Beverly Hills
Göran Eriksson Beatriz Dieringer Gleam Davis
Council Member, Culver City Council Member, Rolling Hills Mayor, Santa Monica
Damon L. Alexander John M. Erickson Phil Brock
Council Member Council Member, Council Member,
San Bernardino West Hollywood Santa Monica
Dan O'Brien Barbara Ferraro David Shapiro
Council Member, Culver City Mayor, Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor, Calabasas
Steve Napolitano Brad Halpern Sirley Cuevas
Council Member, Council Member, Mayor Pro Tem
Manhattan Beach Westlake Village Lawndale
James R. Bozajian Marianne Riggins Lula Davis-Holmes Council Member, Calabasas Council Member, Malibu Mayor, Carson
Rhonda Hofmann Gorman Pat Kearny Alex Vargas
Council Member, Lawndale Council Member, Lawndale Mayor, Hawthorne
Lili Bosse Sharona R. Nazarian Robin Grundmeyer
Council Member, Beverly Hills Council Member, Beverly Hills Mayor, Norco
Jeremy Wolf Angie Reyes English Linda Evans
Council Member, Agoura Hills Mayor Pro Tem, Hawthorne Mayor, LA Quinta
Bernadette Suarez William Uphoff Joseph DeConinck
Council Member, Lawndale Mayor Pro Tem, Lomita Mayor, Blythe
David Bradley Paul Seo Joe Kalmick
Council Member Council Member Council Member
Rancho Palos Verdes Rancho Palos Verdes Seal Beach
John Mirisch Lester Friedman Janet Jernigan
Council Member, Beverly Hills Vice Mayor, Beverly Hills Mayor, Needles
Wes Speake Jackie Peterson Debra Jones
Council Member, Corona Council Member, Hemet Mayor, Victorville
Timothy J Sheridan Linda Krupa Steve McLean
Council Member, Lake Elsinore Council Member, Hemet Mayor, Jackson
Jan Pye Ted Weill Elena Baca- Santa Cruz
Council Member Council Member Council Member
Desert Hot Springs Rancho Mirage Moreno Valley
Colleen Wallace Steve Sanchez Frank Garcia
Mayor Pro Tem, Banning Council Member, LA Quinta Mayor, Maywood
Kathleen Fitzpatrick Waymond Fermond Robert Mitchell Council Member, LA Quinta Council Member, Indio Mayor, Tehama
Deborah McGarrey John Peña Betty Celano
Council Member, LA Quinta Council Member, LA Quinta Treasurer, Tehama
Hilary Hodge Bob Branstrom Scott Nassif
Vice Mayor, Grass Valley Council Member, Grass Valley Mayor, Apple Valley
Tom Ivy Haven Caravelli Felipe Perez
Council Member, Grass Valley Council Member, Grass Valley Mayor, Firebaugh
Jim Bacquet Karen Hammers Terry A. Sayre
Council Member, Tehama Council Member, Tehama Mayor, Tulare
Hurschell Himes Dennis A. Mederos Hung Wei
Council Member, Tehama Council Member, Tulare Mayor, Cupertino
Stephen C. Harrell Elizabeth Orona Paula Perotte
Council Member, Tulare Mayor Pro Tem, Solvang Mayor, Goleta
Michelle Shoresman Eric Friedman Eli Beckman
Council Member, Council Member, Council Member,
San Luis Obispo Santa Barbara Corte Madera
Billy Summers Diana Rich Kate Colin
Council Member, St. Helena Council Member, Sebastopol Mayor, San Rafael
Paul Dohring Tina Arriola Cat Moy
Mayor, St. Helena Council Member, Vallejo Mayor, Fairfield
Stephen Zollman Eric Hall Jim Wickham
Council Member, Sebastopol Vice Mayor, St. Helena Mayor, Mill Valley
Peter Bregenzer Rachel Farac Kevin McDonnell
Council Member, Vallejo Council Member, Novato Mayor, Petaluma
Barbara Coler David Hagele Steve Burdo
Vice Mayor, Fairfax Vice Mayor, Healdsburg Mayor, San Anselmo
Dennis Pocekay Samantha Rodriguez Beth Painter
Council Member, Petaluma Mayor, Rohnert Park Vice Mayor, Napa
Holli Their Walt Stanish Ariel Kelley
Council Member, Tiburon Vice Mayor, Rio Vista Mayor, Healdsburg
Sandra Lowe Chance Cutrano Becky A. Shevlin
Mayor, Sonoma Mayor, Fairfax Mayor, Monrovia
Steve Martin Carrie Broggie Lily Mei
Mayor, Paso Robles Council Member, Fillmore Mayor, Fremont
Teresa Cox Teresa Keng Aaron Tiedemann
Vice Mayor, Fremont Council Member, Fremont Mayor, Albany
Raj Salwan Jesse Arreguin Victor Gordo
Council Member, Fremont Mayor, Berkeley Mayor, Pasadena
Marisol Rubio Mark Turner Eduardo Montesino
Council Member, San Ramon Mayor, Morgan Hill Mayor, Watsonville
Vanessa Quiroz Scott Funk Jay Vandenburg
Council Member, Watsonville Mayor Pro Tem, Gonzales Mayor, Galt
Derek Timm Andrew Sandoval Paul Sandhu
Council Member, Scotts Valley Council Member, Salinas Vice Mayor, Galt
Kevin Papineau Rich Lozano Shawn Farmer
Council Member, Galt Council Member, Galt Council Member, Galt
L. Dennis Michael Eunice M. Ulloa Karen Goh
Mayor, Rancho Cucamonga Mayor, Chino Mayor, Bakersfield Naresh Solanki Lynda P. Johnson Janelle Osborne
Mayor Pro Tem, Cerritos Council Member, Cerritos Mayor, Lompoc
Chuong Vo Frank Aurelio Bob Woten
Council Member, Cerritos Council Member, Cerritos Mayor, Live Oak
Karen Bright Natalia Alarcon Jeramy Chapdelaine
Mayor, Grover Beach Council Member, Carpinteria Vice Mayor, Live Oak
Heather Moreno John Hamon Robert Pullen-Miles
Mayor, Atascadero Mayor Pro Tem, Paso Robles Mayor, Lawndale
Isaiah Wright Ray Altman Tasha Cerda
Mayor, Crescent City Council Member, Crescent City Mayor, Gardena
Kevin McNamee Ashley Hernandez James T. Butts, Jr.
Mayor, Thousand Oaks Council Member, Live Oak Mayor, Inglewood
Lakhvir Ghag Rodney Tanaka John Moreno
Council Member, Live Oak Council Member, Gardena Mayor, Calexico
Eric Alegria Paulette Francis Gloria D. Gray
Council Member, Mayor Pro Tem, Council Member
Rancho Palos Verdes Gardena Inglewood
Mark Henderson Wanda Love Tracy Martinez
Council Member, Gardena Council Member, Gardena Mayor, Del Mar
Alex Padilla Eloy Morales, Jr. Esther Sanchez
Council Member, Inglewood Council Member, Inglewood Mayor, Oceanside
Mike Donovan Michelle Metschel Bill Wells
Council Member, Coronado Council Member, El Cajon Mayor, El Cajon
Michelle Metschel Ron Morrison John Minto
Council Member, El Cajon Mayor National City Mayor, Santee
Alexander Pedersen Donna Lind John McCann
Council Member, Capitola Council Member, Scotts Valley Mayor, Chula Vista
Mike Nelson Ray Barragan Matthew Serratto
Mayor, Atwater Mayor, Chowchilla Mayor, Merced
Michael Restuccia Pat Nagy George Carr
Mayor, Ripon Mayor, Gustine Mayor, Hughson
Sonny Dhaliwal Lisa Craig Gary Singh
Mayor, Lathrop Mayor Pro Tem, Lodi Mayor, Manteca
Cherilyn Bairos Michael Clauzel Charlie Goeken
Mayor, Oakdale Mayor, Patterson Mayor, Waterford
Casey Graham Konstantine Anthony Dan Brotman
Mayor, Newman Mayor, Burbank Mayor, Glendale
Debra L. Garnes Keith Mashburn Tami Trent
Mayor, Rio Dell Mayor, Simi Valley Mayor, Fortuna
Chad Givens John Irish Goodwin Monica Malano
Mayor, Shafter Vice Mayor, Colma Mayor, Artesia
Ana Valencia Rich Rollins Sarah Schaefer
Mayor, Norwalk Mayor, Port Hueneme Mayor, Arcata
Randall Putz Javier John Dutrey David Pittman
Mayor, Big Bear Lake Mayor, Montclair Mayor, Oroville
Eric Smith Nancy Santana Madison Davis
Vice Mayor, Oroville Council Member, Live Oak Mayor, Brisbane
Shawn Webber Tracy Johnstone John Franklin
Council Member, Oroville Council Member, Oroville Mayor, Vista
Krysi Riggs Valerie Munoz Charlie Klinakis
Council Member, Oroville Mayor Pro Tem, La Puente Mayor, La Puente
David Argudo Nadia Mendoza Karla Brown
Council Member, La Puente Council Member, La Puente Mayor, Pleasanton
Gabriel Quinones Martine Watkins John Marchand
Council Member, La Puente Council Member, Santa Cruz Mayor, Livermore
Jeff Nibert Melanie Burkholder Michael Hannon
Council Member, Pleasanton Council Member, Carlsbad Mayor, Newark
Brian Pepin Gil Rebollar George Nava
Council Member, Poway Council Member, Brawley Mayor, Brawley
Jewel Edson Katie Burnworth Santos Garcia
Council Member, Solana Beach Mayor, Imperial Mayor, Madera
Gilberto Manzanarez Blanca Mendoza-Navarro Susan Harvey Council Member, Calexico Council Member, Selma Mayor, Cotati
Bruce Deutsch Lisa Gillmor Jose A. Moran
Council Member, Dunsmuir Mayor, Santa Clara Mayor, Livingston
Eric Knight Ben Ford Paul Joiner
Vice Mayor, Yountville Council Member, Cotati Mayor, Lincoln
Michael E. Silva Sonia Carter Scott Robertson
Council Member, Vacaville Council Member, El Centro Mayor, Selma
Camilo Garcia Kevin Lincoln Mark Salinas
Council Member, Calexico Mayor, Stockton Mayor, Hayward
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Mayor
Lisa M. Gillmor
Councilmembers
Kathy Watanabe, District 1
Raj Chahal, District 2
Karen Hardy, District 3
Kevin Park, District 4
Suds Jain, District 5
Anthony J. Becker, District 6
June 28, 2023
The Honorable Ben Allen
Chair, Senate Committee on Environmental Quality
1021 O Street, Room 3230
Sacramento, CA 95814
Subject: AB 1594 (E. Garcia) Medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles:
public agency utilities – Support
Dear Senator Allen,
On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I write in support of AB 1594 (Garcia). AB 1594 (Garcia) is a narrowly tailored solution that will ensure that our city-owned fleet which includes publicly owned electric, water, and wastewater utilities have a pathway to procure zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles everywhere feasible, while maintaining our ability to rely on our fleets to provide reliable service and respond to emergencies.
Our agency relies on highly specialized medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to respond to emergencies, restore service, and prevent disruptions. One example is the mutual aid that the City’s electric utility, Silicon Valley Power (SVP), provided to the City of Redding during the Carr Fire in July 2018. It is important for the language to reflect the operational realities under which POUs, water agencies, and other essential public service providers operate. Utility crew members may be swapped out but the vehicles remain and continue to be used for the next shift of workers. 70% of SVP’s fleet are MD-HD vehicles, those types of vehicles are used for restorative power operations during fires, storms, and other emergency events.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB), pursuant to Governor Newsom’s issued Executive Order N-79-20, recently adopted a rule that requires publicly owned utilities to purchase increasing volumes of medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs starting next year. The rule intends to contain reasonable accommodations for publicly owned utilities where the utility can show with evidence that there is no ZEV commercially available or capable of meeting the utility’s needs.
However, publicly owned utilities can only access accommodations for replacement vehicles that are 13 years or older. This is problematic because due to their high use, many utility vehicles need to be replaced every 7-10 years. Without providing reasonable flexibility, the rule hampers the ability of publicly owned utilities to reasonably compare the service capabilities of a ZEV to the vehicle being replaced, which impacts a utility’s ability maintain service, respond to emergencies, and provide mutual aid assistance when needed.
AB 1594 (Garcia) will help the state meet its ZEV goals in a manner that accounts for the essential services agencies like ours provide to our communities. The bill would ensure that regulations such as the CARB rule referenced above recognize the diversity of fleet size, terrain, and climate, and authorize public agency utilities to purchase replacements for
AB 1594
June 28, 2023
traditional utility specialized vehicles that are at the end of life when needed to maintain reliable service and respond to major foreseeable events, including, but not limited to, severe weather, wildfires, natural disasters, and physical attacks. Specifically, the bill will authorize a public agency to determine whether a comparable ZEV is available for purchase without regard to the model year of the vehicle being replaced and in consideration of daily usage capabilities and foreseeable emergency response and mutual aid assistance needs. Local agencies should have the discretion and flexibility to determine how to replace its fleet based on availability and need.
For these reasons, the City of Santa Clara supports AB 1594 (Garcia). Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
cc: The Honorable Eduardo Garcia, Chair, Assembly Committee on Utilities & Energy The Honorable Lena Gonzalez, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● SantaClaraCA.gov Mayor
Lisa M. Gillmor
Councilmembers
Kathy Watanabe, District 1
Raj Chahal, District 2
Karen Hardy, District 3
Kevin Park, District 4
Suds Jain, District 5
Anthony J. Becker, District 6
June 28, 2023
The Honorable Aisha Wahab
State Senator, 10th District
1021 O Street, Suite 7330
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: AB 1637 (Irwin) Local government: internet websites and email addresses - OPPOSE
Dear Senator Wahab,
On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I write in opposition to AB 1637. The bill requires local governments to ensure that their public-facing internet websites and email addresses use a ".gov" or ".ca.gov" domain name no later than January 1, 2026. While our City’s website and email addresses are already compliant with this bill, our municipally-owned electric utility, Silicon Valley Power (SVP) utilizes a “www.siliconvalleypower.com” address. The utility made the conscious decision to utilize a “.com” domain to encourage residents and businesses to see SVP as a service provider as opposed to another government authority.
SVP prioritizes the safety and security of our assets and users with measures to protect everyone from nefarious cyber actors. We've taken a proactive approach to address cyber security and online threats on our platforms. For example, SVP’s website already uses Secure Socket Layers (SSL) on the public facing website regardless of which domain it is using.
We understand the Legislature’s concerns regarding the potential benefits of using a “.gov” or “.ca.gov” domain. While the utilization of a “.gov” or “ca.gov” domain may provide some local agencies with a specific advantage, there are also numerous issues and costs associated with migrating to a new domain such as reviewing all marketing collaterals, program materials and documents, network/domain authentications within the organization before the transition can be made. In addition, the conversion would require significant and costly efforts to re-establish certificate programs and authentication with other partner agencies that would also be going through this change.
In our view, AB 1637 is duplicative for public utilities under the Federal Government's North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) jurisdiction. The Northern California Power Agency (NCPA), which we are a member of, chairs the Compliance Committee at the NERC.
Their leadership in the Compliance Committee is a testament to our commitment to ensuring regulations are met, standards are upheld, and cybersecurity remains robust.
NCPA and publicly owned utilities have established clear NERC guidelines that we strictly adhere to. While federal cybersecurity regulations are already in place, it is important to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and ensure that any additional measures are delivered thoughtfully and effectively.
AB 1637
June 28, 2023
While we appreciate the intended goal of this measure and are mutually sensitive to cyber vulnerabilities, a website domain such as “.gov” does not, in itself, provide any unique benefit or protection. True cybersecurity resilience is only accomplished through implementing multiple layers of security to protect a webpage or domain’s sensitive data which is available to all domain types.
It's important to recognize that local agencies are in the best position to determine how to allocate resources when it comes to cybersecurity and should have the discretion to make these decisions at the local level. What works for one local agency may not work for another.
For these reasons, the City opposes AB 1637. We appreciate your consideration on this issue and recommend allowing local agencies’ transition to a “.gov” or ".ca.gov" domain name to remain voluntary and keeping the decision-making at the local government level.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
1 April 13, 2023 Cities Association
Legislative Action Committee – Bill Analysis
Legislative Action Committee Meeting
Item 2. Continue Discussion on Valley Water Bills
Bill Number Summary Recommended
Position
Legislative Priority Alignment
AB 939
(Pellerin)
This bill would authorize
Santa Clara Valley Water
District to utilize revenue
from ad valorem taxes or
assessments to help pay
for bonds issued by the
District. Additionally, the
bill would allow the District
to repay bonds from net
revenues, as opposed to
gross revenues, of its
water system. The bill
also makes additional
changes to the District’s
enabling act related to
borrowing limits, extending
existing director
compensation levels, and
other minor changes.
Support Water Supply and Conservation
LAP: Support efforts to
establish alternative funding
sources for water infrastructure
and improved water quality
projects.
AB 1469
(Kalra)
This bill would authorize
Santa Clara Valley Water
District to assist
unsheltered people living
along streams, in riparian
corridors, or otherwise
within the district’s
jurisdiction, in consultation
with cities and Santa Clara
County, to provide
solutions or improve
outcomes for unsheltered
individuals.
Support Housing LAP: Support
legislation and efforts that
provide increased access to
resources to address the needs
of the most vulnerable residents
through shelter, supportive
housing, and homelessness
prevention services.