2024 Q2 Legislative Action Summary
Below is a summary of the actions that were taken during 2024 Q2 as they align with the City of Santa Clara’s 2024 Legislative Advocacy Positions (LAPs), guiding principles for legislative advocacy, approved City policies (e.g., City Council Goals and Priorities), and/or Council action.
Council Pillar: Deliver and Enhance High-Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
• April 29, 2024 Letter of support for the City’s FY 25 Community Project Funding Requests to Congressman Khanna
Community Services LAP
• June 7, 2024 Letter requesting protection of California Library Services program funding to Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, and Budget Chairs Scott Weiner and Jess Gabriel
Energy Legislation, Regulations and Issues
• April 25, 2024 Letter of support for LS Power Grid California, LLC’s Power the South Bay Project application to the California Public Utilities Commission • May 29, 2024 Letter of support for Northern California Power Agency’s Lodi Hydrogen Project to the California Energy Commission
Public Safety LAP
• June 24, 2024 Letter of support for SB 926 (Wahab) – Safeguarding Against Digitized Misrepresentation to Chair Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee
• June 24, 2024 Letter of support for SB 933 (Wahab) – Child AI Safety to Chair Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee
Sustainability and Environmental Protection LAP
• May 23, 2024 Letter of support for AB 2236 (Bauer-Kahan) – Solid waste:
reusable grocery bags: standards: plastic film prohibition to California State Legislature
• May 23, 2024 Letter of support for SB 1053 (Blakespear) – Solid waste: reusable grocery bags: standards: plastic film prohibition to California State Legislature
Multiple Legislative Priorities
• April 11, 2024 Cities Association of Santa Clara County Legislative Action Committee Discussion Bills
• May 9, 2024 Cities Association of Santa Clara County Legislative Action Committee Discussion Bills
• June 13, 2024 Cities Association of Santa Clara County Legislative Action Committee Discussion Bills
• June 24, 2024 Letter of support for World Cup 2026 Security Funding to Congressman Ro Khanna
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● www.SantaClaraCA.gov Mayor
Lisa M. Gillmor
April 29, 2024
The Honorable Ro Khanna
United States House of Representatives
306 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
RE: Letter of Support for the Fiscal Year 2025 Community Project Funding Requests from the City of Santa Clara
Dear Representative Khanna:
On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to you, and your staff, for your leadership and support. We appreciate the opportunity to work with your office to bring investments and improvements to residents, businesses, and visitors in our region.
I also want to highlight the City of Santa Clara’s community project funding requests for the Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Appropriations process and respectfully request your support. Our projects specifically seek to increase regional transportation opportunities, provide our community with expanded access to mental health professionals, and create safe streets for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The City’s top priority projects are:
1. Silicon Valley Hopper On-Demand Microtransit Shuttle - $2,508,828 The City of Santa Clara has partnered with the City of Cupertino to implement an on - demand micro-transit shuttle project, known as Silicon Valley Hopper, to serve those who live and work in Cupertino and Santa Clara. With support from a California State Transportation Agency State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant, the goal is to continue Cupertino’s existing On -Demand Micro-Transit Shuttle Project and expand service into Santa Clara with a fleet of zero-emissions vehicles. Service is being designed to focus on offering improved and affordable connections between local Caltrain, Amtrak, VTA stations to job centers and other key destinations in Cupertino and Santa Clara while providing increased transit access for disadvantaged communities, high poverty zones, and senior populations. The implementation of Silicon Valley Hopper service in Santa Clara will be completed in two phases. The first phase, which launched in November 2023, provides service for the southern half of Santa Clara for a period of two years. The requested funding would allow for the second phase of service to be implemented in Santa Clara, which will extend the program for an additional two years and expand service into northern Santa Clara.
2. 24/7, 365 Mental Health/Crisis Response Coverage - $1,935,500 The Santa Clara Police Department’s Community Response Team (CRT) manages a caseload of "quality of life" issues and offenses. The team addresses and responds to the most concerning societal issues facing our community today, including homelessness, mental health cris es, and human trafficking. The CRT has also taken a leading role in The Honorable Ro Khanna
Re: Letter of Support for the Fiscal Year 2025 Community Project Funding Requests from the City of Santa Clara
April 29, 2024
community policing and building a collabor ative network inside and outside of law enforcement as reflected by its implementation of a Special Needs Awareness Program (SNAP) to provide first responders with important information when responding to calls for service that involve individual s who may have a memory disorder, hearing impairment, autism or other behavioral disability. Participation in SNAP is voluntary and confidential and allows family members/caregivers to provide a picture of the individual, details related to their condition and instructions on how to best interact with that person. The CRT also oversees the department’s oversight of businesses regulated by City, State, and federal laws including inspections and corresponding investigations and is a liaison to Santa Clara University for student education and enforcement on a variety of issues including drug/alcohol use and neighbor relations. The funding requested would allow the CRT to expand services to provide mental health/crisis response coverage 24 -hours a day, 365 days a year.
3. Pruneridge Avenue Complete Streets Project - $2,300,000 The City of Santa Clara adopted the Pruneridge Avenue Complete Streets Plan in 2022 to implement buffered bicycle lanes along the Pruneridge Avenue corridor in Santa Clara.
This east-west roadway is an important part of the County of Santa Clara’s cross -county bicycle corridor network and connects schools and employment centers to and from the region. The project will remove portions of travel lanes along Pruneridge Avenue to complete this important cross-county bicycle network and enhance intersections along the corridor with pedestrian improvements such as quick -build curb extensions, ADA curb ramps, and pedestrian signal enhancements. The funding that is requested will support the City’s construction of this priority bicycle and pedestrian improvement project in Santa Clara.
Thank you for your consideration in championing these projects to help secure community project funding that will support the efforts of the City and benefit the region and State of California.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● www.SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
June 7, 2024
The Honorable Mike McGuire
Senate President Pro Tempore
1021 O Street, Suite 8518
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Robert Rivas
Speaker, California State Assembly
1021 O Street, Room 8330
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Scott Wiener
Chair, Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review
1021 O Street, Suite 8620
Sacramento, CA 95814
The Honorable Jesse Gabriel
Chair, Assembly Committee on Budget
1021 O Street, Room 8230
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Protect California Library Services Program Funding: Lunch at the Library Program and the California Library Services Act
Dear Senate President Pro Tempore McGuire, Assembly Speaker Rivas, and Budget Chairs Senator Wiener and Assembly Member Gabriel:
On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I urge the Legislature to protect investments made to programs in the California Library Services, as you deliberate on the final FY 2024-25 State Budget. Specifically, two important programs under the purview of the C alifornia State Library – the Lunch at the Library program and the California Library Services Act. Unfortunately, these programs were targeted for cuts in the Joint Legislative Budget Plan.
The Lunch at the Library program (Program) provides free meals for children during the summer, while school is out of session. This Program is vital to reduce child hunger, as according to the Food and Research Action Center, only 1 in 6 California children who qualify for free or reduced- price lunch receive summer meals. During Summer 2023, California public libraries worked with community partners to serve over 271,000 meals to children and teens at public library meal sites and community meal sites. This included 183 public library meal sites and library staff bringing pop-up library and enrichment services to 412 community meal sites. This Program is not only vital to combat child hunger – it also provides enrichment services for families. In Governor Newsom’s May Revise, the Governor proposed to eliminate all funding, a total of $5.5 million, from the). We greatly appreciate the restoration by the Legislature of $3 million ongoing funding for the Program in the Joint Package. We ask that the Legislature considers fully funding this Program to ensure participation throughout the State.
Additionally, Governor Newsom proposed a 50 percent reduction to the California Library Services Act (CLSA), which would take the funding from the $3.6 million baseline down to $1.8 million. The CLSA aims to strengthen library services across the State, promoting access, equity, and quality in public library offerings. We ask that the Legislature consider full ongoing funding for CLSA.
Re: Protect California Library Services Program Funding: Lunch at the Library Program and the California Library Services Act
June 7, 2024
The City of Santa Clara is concerned if w e are not able to draw these valuable state resources then it will negatively impact our ability to service the community, and would potentially result in the elimination of local program offerings. Additionally, the loss of state funding could be compounded as it would limit our ability to receive additional funding through our library consortium, Pacific Library Partnership, in the form of training, technology grants and other activities and most certainly we will see an impact in our ability to use our shared resource (materials exchange) services through LINK +.
The City understands the financial constraints under which the state budget is being crafted; however, these are vital services to our community that need to be protected by ongoing State Budget funding.
The City of Santa Clara appreciates your consideration of continued full funding for these key programs impacting California Library Services.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● www.SantaClaraCA.gov Mayor
Lisa M. Gillmor
April 25, 2024
Lucy Marton
Senior Project Manager
LS Power Grid California, LLC
[email protected]
Sent via E-Mail
RE: Power Santa Clara Valley Project
Dear Mrs. Marton,
I am writing to you today in support of LS Power Grid California, LLC (“LS Power”) and the Power the South Bay Project, also known as the Newark to NRS HVDC Project (the “Project”). We understand this letter will be included in an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (“CPCN”) submitted by LS Power to the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) that would authorize the construction of the Project. This infrastructure upgrade is extremely critical for the City of Santa Clara, and I am pleased to participate in this public process.
As the Mayor of the City of Santa Clara, I understand the Project is needed to meet electric reliability needs in the South Bay area, providing a robust new electrical connection within the South Bay area. The City of Santa Clara is expecting to continue its electrical load growth with new data centers , commercial, and residential developments. The Project will allow for more efficient and increased transfer capability of electricity within the area, which is critical to the City in achieving its electrification goals and providing clean affordable reliable electric service. As the State of California struggles to meet its goals of reducing greenhouse gases by 40% through 2030, we are proud that our area will continue to push forward on meeting the challenges of climate change.
I am also pleased that the Project will provide jobs and economic stimulus during Project construction as well as increases in tax revenues throughout the life of the new infrastructure.
I appreciate LS Power’s willingness to proactively engage and work together with our City Council, City departments, the Santa Clara community, and Santa Clara County to discuss preliminary Project plans. I support the advancement of this P roject for review by the CPUC, believe that this Project will benefit residents and businesses in my city, and look forward to a continued partnership with LS Power.
Sincerely,
Lisa Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● www.SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
May 29, 2024
California Energy Commission
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Subject: Support for NCPA’s Lodi Hydrogen Project
Dear Commission Agreement Officer,
The City of Santa Clara dba Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is pleased to express our support of the Northern California Power Agency’s participation in the California Energy Commission’s solicitation for Large-Scale Centralized Clean Hydrogen Production (H2CENTRAL). NCPA’s Lodi Hydrogen Project is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate and deploy clean hydrogen technologies to reduce emissions in both the transportation and electricity generation sectors. We are dedicated to contributing to the success of this important initiative as a participant in the Lodi Energy Center (LEC) and Member of NCPA.
We recognize NCPA’s leadership role in establishing centralized renewable clean hydrogen production, delivery infrastructure, and storage facilities in central California. By developing a hydrogen production facility at a site near the Lodi Energy Center and near the Interstate 5 corridor, the project offers dual benefits of providing conveniently located hydrogen supply for the transportation sector, as well as the opportunity to blend hydrogen as part of the LEC’s operations.
The Lodi Hydrogen Project is included as a Tier 1 project in the state’s Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES). State funding will be key to the deployment of this critically important technology.
The LEC, constructed in 2012, was the first combined-cycle natural gas power plant in the nation to use fast start technology, making it an extremely flexible resource capable of operating to support the integration of intermittent renewable energy resources on the grid. The plant has 13 project participants, including public power utilities, special districts, and the State of California. The plant has a hydrogen-capable turbine in place today that can operate on a blend of up to 45% hydrogen and natural gas.
As the R&D work on this project proceeds, NCPA
plans to increase the amount of blending that will occur at the LEC with the long-term goal of eliminating the use of natural gas as a fuel source at this facility.
In calendar year 2023, SVP has a peak load of 669 MW and the peak is expected to double by 2030 due to the growth of commercial and data center developments. SVP has a 25.75% participant share of the Lodi Energy Center. SVP also participates in other NCPA natural gas power plant and owns 2 in-town natural gas power plants. The success of LEC’s use of hydrogen will help inform SVP’s own conversion of natural gas power plant to clean hydrogen in the future.
California Energy Commission
Subject: Support for NCPA’s Lodi Hydrogen Project
May 29, 2024
The Lodi Hydrogen Project will enable NCPA and SVP to continue its contribution to California's clean energy goals, support grid reliability, and continue providing low-cost power.
We look forward continuing our work with NCPA to create a more resilient, effi cient, and sustainable energy future for our community.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● www.SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
June 24, 2024
The Honorable Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, Chair 1020 N Street, Room 162
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: SB 926 (Wahab) – Safeguarding Against Digitized Misrepresentation
Dear Chair Bauer-Kahan,
On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I am writing to express our support for SB 926, Safeguarding Against Digitized Misrepresentation, which expands current revenge porn law by prohibiting the unauthorized creation and distribution of artificially created sexually explicit images with the intention of causing serious emotional distress to the person depicted in the image.
The City of Santa Clara is supportive of legislation that addresses crime trends and assists individuals in crisis, which SB 926 aims to do.
With the advancement of computer technology and its availability to the public, there has been an increase in the use of technology to create realistic explicit images of individuals and as result, there has been an increase in the spread of artificially c reated images distributed across the internet. Existing law protects victims when sexually explicit images or videos of them are spread without their consent; however, it does not cover artificially created images. SB 926 will extend that protection to ins tances in which those images are digitally created, altered, or computer - generated.
The creation and spreading of artificially altered sexually explicit images of individuals can lead to the potential for exploitation, harassment, and defamation. There are also noted mental health repercussions for the victims, who are overwhelmingly young women. SB 926 takes proactive steps to limit digital harassment and exploitation and reduce potential harm for Californians. There is a pressing need for this legislation.
For these reasons, the City of Santa Clara supports SB 926.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● www.SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
June 24, 2024
The Honorable Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, Chair 1020 N Street, Room 162
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: SB 933 (Wahab) Child AI Safety – SUPPORT
Dear Chair Bauer-Kahan:
I am writing on behalf of the City of Santa Clara to express our support of SB 933, which prohibits individuals from possessing and distributing explicit, abusive, images of children that have been generated by artificial intelligence.
The City of Santa Clara is supportive of legislation that addresses crime trends and assists individuals in crisis, which SB 926 aims to do.
According to the Stanford Internet Observatory's 2023 report there are thousands of explicit and abusive images of children hidden within popular AI image-generators. These images make it easier to create explicit and abusive content. Current law does not expressly prohibit the possession or distribution of AI-generated explicit images of actual children.
SB 933 is addressing the pressing issue of AI-generated explicit, abusive images of children, clarifying the law to provide effective safeguards. The bil l's solutions are straightforward and impactful, aiming to regulate AI-generated images, create a more secure digital environment for children, and protect children and teens.
For these reasons, the City of Santa Clara supports SB 933 (Wahab).
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● www.SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
May 23, 2024
California State Legislature
1021 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: AB 2236 (Bauer-Kahan) Solid waste: reusable grocery bags: standards: plastic film prohibition – SUPPORT
Dear Legislature,
On behalf of the below city and county officials, we write in strong support AB 2236 (Bauer - Kahan), which ends the use of thicker plastic bags in grocery stores and convenience stores and reduces California’s dependency on plastic. In 2014, California passed the nation’s first ban on plastic bags. SB 270 (Padilla) required all plastic bags used in grocery, convenience, and retail stores that include grocery, to be reusable. After a decade under SB 270, it has become clear that California has not eliminated plastic grocery bags. The standards for reusable bags have resulted in exempt bags that are still made of thicker plastic, high-density polyethylene, or HDPE.
However, relatively few consumers re-use these exempt plastic bags for shopping. Investigative reports found that even when the bags were returned to the store for recycling, many still found their way to landfills.
1 CalRecycle’s statewide residential disposal reports suggest that over 5 billion bags in this category may have been landfilled in 2021, marking a significant reversal from several years of declining disposal. Since 2018, plastic bag waste by weight in California actually increased from 139,00 tons to 231,000 tons, which is the highest level on record. 2 AB 2236 would eliminate the existing exemption of plastic film bags and require grocery and certain retail stores to no longer provide these bags to their cust omers. Further, AB 2236 increases standards for reusable bags to ensure they are not replaced by a new version of an HDPE bag with plastic film material, or a non -plastic bag that can be easily damaged and is not durable. Lastly, AB 2236 increases the recyclability standard of paper bags to be made from 50% post-consumer recycled materials.
Given that cities are preempted by SB 270 from banning thick plastic bags, cities have had to bear the financial and logistical burden of managing this issue, without having the power to
1 Gutman, M., Simon, E., Park, C., Simpson, T., Kofsky, J., Schlosberg, J., Brooksbank, T., Yamashita, S., & Kim, S. R. (2023, May 23). We put dozens of trackers in plastic bags for recycling. Many were trashed. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/put- dozens-trackers-plastic-bags-recycling-trashed/story?id=99509422 2 Sokolow, L., Meiffren-Swango, C., and Engstrom, J. (2024, January). Plastic Bag Bans Work. https://pirg.org/california/edfund/resources/plastic-bag-bans-work/ Re: Re: AB 2236 (Bauer-Kahan) Solid waste: reusable grocery bags: standards: plastic film prohibition –
SUPPORT
May 23, 2024
address it on a local level. Most -if not all- of California recycling centers do not even accept HDPE bags for recycling. The Los Angeles Times reached out to municipal and city recycling centers across the state and were “unable to find a single one that accepts HDPE bags for recycling.”3
From production to disposal, plastic waste is detrimental to the environment and human health.
Plastics are primarily made from fossil fuels, and the extraction and refinement of fossil feedstocks for plastics release an array of toxic substances into the air and water, including known carcinogens and neurotoxins.
4 Upon disposal, plastic does not biodegrade, and toxic chemicals released from plastics damage soil quality and leeches into groundwater. Plastic bags are one of the most found pollutants in our seas5, and marine life ingests microplastics that are detrimental to their health. 6 Therefore it is necessary to curb California’s plastic production as much as possible to preserve our environment and health.
For these reasons, we support AB 2236 to reduce plastic waste in California by closing the exempt bag loophole at grocery stores and retail grocers to further a sustainable future.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
3 Carrol, Tom. (2024, Feb 21). Did California’s plastic bag ban make plastic waste a bigger problem? Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/environment/plastic-bag-ban-waste-404-123 4 The Plastics Production Problem. Center for Biological Diversity. (n.d.). https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/plastic- production/index.html
5 Merran, J. (Ed.). (2018, June). Building A Clean Swell: 2018 Report. Ocean Conservancy. https://oceanconservancy.org/wp- content/uploads/2018/06/FINAL-2018-
ICC-REPORT.pdf
6 Understanding plastic pollution and its impact on lives. United Nations. (2023, June 5). https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/may-2023/understandingplastic-pollution-and-its-impact- lives#:~:text=Unlike%20other%20materials%2C%20plastic%
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2200 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● www.SantaClaraCA.gov Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
May 23, 2024
California State Legislature
1021 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: SB 1053 (Blakespear) Solid waste: reusable grocery bags: standards: plastic film prohibition – SUPPORT
Dear Legislature,
On behalf of the below city and county officials, we write in strong support SB 1053 (Blakespear), which ends the use of thicker plastic bags in grocery stores and convenience stores and reduces California’s dependency on plastic. In 2014, California passed the nation’s first ban on plastic bags. SB 270 (Padilla) required all plastic bags used in grocery, convenience, and retail st ores that include grocery, to be reusable. After a decade under SB 270, it has become clear that California has not eliminated plastic grocery bags. The standards for reusable bags have resulted in exempt bags that are still made of thicker plastic, high-density polyethylene, or HDPE.
However, relatively few consumers re-use these exempt plastic bags for shopping. Investigative reports found that even when the bags were returned to the store for recycling, many still found their way to landfills.
1 CalRecycle’s statewide residential disposal reports suggest that over 5 billion bags in this category may have been landfilled in 2021, marking a significant reversal from several years of declining disposal. Since 2018, plastic bag waste by weight in California actually increased from 139,00 tons to 231,000 tons, which is the highest level on record.2
SB 1053 would eliminate the existing exemption of plastic film bags and require grocery and certain retail stores to no longer provide these bags to their custom ers. Further, SB 1053 increases standards for reusable bags to ensure they are not replaced by a new version of an HDPE bag with plastic film material, or a non -plastic bag that can be easily damaged and is not durable. Lastly, SB 1053 increases the recyclability standard of paper bags to be made from 50% post-consumer recycled materials.
Given that cities are preempted by SB 270 from banning thick plastic bags, cities have had to bear the financial and logistical burden of managing this issue, without hav ing the power to address it on a local level. Most -if not all- of California recycling centers do not even accept HDPE
1 Gutman, M., Simon, E., Park, C., Simpson, T., Kofsky, J., Schlosberg, J., Brooksbank, T., Yamashita, S., & Kim, S. R. (2023, May 23). We put dozens of trackers in plastic bags for recycling. Many were trashed. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/put- dozens-trackers-plastic-bags-recycling-trashed/story?id=99509422 2 Sokolow, L., Meiffren-Swango, C., and Engstrom, J. (2024, January). Plastic Bag Bans Work. https://pirg.org/california/edfund/resources/plastic-bag-bans-work/ Re: SB 1053 (Blakespear) Solid waste: reusable grocery bags: standards: plastic film prohibition –
SUPPORT
May 23, 2024
bags for recycling. The Los Angeles Times reached out to municipal and city recycling centers across the state and were “unable to find a single one that accepts HDPE bags for recycling.”3
From production to disposal, plastic waste is detrimental to the environment and human health.
Plastics are primarily made from fossil fuels, and the extraction and refinement of fossil feedstocks for plastics release an array of toxic substances into the air and water, including known carcinogens and neurotoxins.
4 Upon disposal, plastic does not biodegrade, and toxic chemicals released from plastics damage soil quality and leeches into groundwater. Plastic bags are one of the most found pollutants in our seas5, and marine life ingests microplastics that are detrimental to their health. 6 Therefore it is necessary to curb California’s plastic production as much as possible to preserve our environment and health.
For these reasons, we support SB 1053 to reduce plastic waste in California by closing the exempt bag loophole at grocery stores and retail grocers to further a sustainable future.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Gillmor
Mayor
City of Santa Clara
3 Carrol, Tom. (2024, Feb 21). Did California’s plastic bag ban make plastic waste a bigger problem? Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/environment/plastic-bag-ban-waste-404-123 4 The Plastics Production Problem. Center for Biological Diversity. (n.d.). https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/plastic- production/index.html
5 Merran, J. (Ed.). (2018, June). Building A Clean Swell: 2018 Report. Ocean Conservancy. https://oceanconservancy.org/wp- content/uploads/2018/06/FINAL-2018-
ICC-REPORT.pdf
6 Understanding plastic pollution and its impact on lives. United Nations. (2023, June 5). https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/may-2023/understandingplastic-pollution-and-its-impact- lives#:~:text=Unlike%20other%20materials%2C%20plastic%
1 April 11, 2024 Cities Association
Legislative Action Committee Meeting
Bill Summary and Positions
Bill Number Summary City Position LAP
SB 1164
(Newman)
Creates additional incentives for
the construction of Accessory
Dwelling Units (ADUs) and
exempts new ADU construction
from immediate property tax
assessments.
No Action Not specifically
addressed within
Housing LAP
AB 2814
(Low)
Prohibits a person from entering
the curtilage of a home with the
intent to commit theft of a
package shipped through the
mail or delivered by a public or
private carrier. This measure
also makes a violation of this
prohibition punishable as either
a misdemeanor or a felony.
Support Public Safety LAP
(Support legislation that
addresses crime trends)
AB 1820
(Schiavo)
Proposes that developers can
request a preliminary fee and
exaction estimate for a project,
and that a local agency must
provide it within 20 business
days. If the fees that are
imposed by an agency, other
than the city or county, the
developer must request the
estimate from that agency. AB
1820 also adds the requirement
that upon final approval of a
housing development project, a
public agency must provide the
developer with an itemized list
and total sum of all applicable
fees and exactions within 20
business days. For development
fees imposed by an agency
other than a city or county. This
measure also requires that the
development proponent to
request the final sum total
amount of all fees and exactions
imposed by the agency that will
apply to the project. This bill
No Action Not specifically
addressed within
Housing LAP
Legislative Action Committee – Bill Summary and Positions April 11, 2024
Bill Number Summary City Position LAP
applies to all cities, including
charter cities.
AB 1886
(Alvarez)
Clarifies the intent of the
Builder's Remedy, by specifying
that if a City or County fails to
comply with State housing law
as determined by the California
Department of Housing and
Community Development a
housing project can be
accelerated with limited
restrictions.
Oppose Housing LAP
(Oppos
e measures that
reduce local control over
land use/planning)
SB 21
(Umberg)
SB 21, also known as
Alexandra’s Law, establishes
the California Fentanyl
Admonishment, which is a tool
to help law enforcement in the
prosecution of fentanyl
trafficking and related deaths.
Support Public Safety LAP
(Support legislation that
addresses crime trends)
AB 1779
(Irwin)
Existing law defines certain
types of theft, and
jurisdictionally limits prosecution
of specific types of criminal
actions brought by the Attorney
General. AB 1779 removes this
limitation and allows other
parties to prosecute. In these
cases, the prosecution must
provide written evidence that all
district attorneys in the affected
counties agree to the trial
location. If a district attorney
does not agree, the case must
be returned to the jurisdiction
where the offense took place.
Support Public Safety LAP
(Suppor
t legislation that
addresses crime trends)
SB 1095
(Becker)
Enacts various changes to the
Manufactured Homes Act, State
Housing Law, and the Davis-
Sterling Common Interest
Development Act to ensure that
electric residential appliances
can be installed in and approved
for residences, manufactured
homes, and residences in
common interest developments,
and directs the Department of
Housing and Community
Support Sustainability and
Environmental Protection
LAP
(Support legislation that
removes barriers to the
electrification of
buildings)
Legislative Action Committee – Bill Summary and Positions April 11, 2024
Bill Number Summary City Position LAP
Development to promulgate
related regulations.
SB 1130
(Bradford)
Expands eligibility for an
existing electric utility bill
discount program to households
with fewer than three members
and requires specified reporting
by electrical corporations about
enrollment in the program.
Watch While this bill fits within
the Energy Legislation
Regulations and Issues
LAP, as currently
drafted, does not impact
Santa Clara residents or
SVP customers. This bill
would prescribe changes
for the big 3 IOUs. Bills
that prescribe changes
goes against our LAP
guiding principles.
AB 1999
(Irwin)
Repeals the income-graduated
utility rate charge structure for
residents serviced by IOUS.
This measure would instead
reinstate the CPUC’s maximum
fixed rates of $10 per residential
customer account per month for
customers not enrolled in the
CARE program and $5 per
residential customer account
per month for customers
enrolled in the CARE program.
Watch Energy Legislation
Regulations and Issues
LAP
(Mon
itor PGE’s rate-
making and regulatory
activities)
AB 1772
(Ramos)
Existing law, the Safe
Neighborhoods and Schools
Act, enacted by Proposition 47,
defines and prohibits an act of
shoplifting and prohibits
prosecution for an act of
shoplifting under any other law.
AB 1772 revises the definition of
shoplifting to require an intent to
steal retail property or
merchandise.
Support Public Safety LAP
(S
upport efforts to reform
Prop 47)
AB 2619
(Connolly)
Repeals Net Energy Metering
(NEM) 3.0 and prohibits the
imposition of charges, taxes,
and fees that would further
hamper the solar industry,
while restoring the incentives
for residential solar projects
that have helped increase
Watch Energy Legislation
Regulations and Issues
LAP
(Monitor the
development of new
market initiatives…which
may result in new
energy-related products
Legislative Action Committee – Bill Summary and Positions April 11, 2024
Bill Number Summary City Position LAP
solar adoption in California and
generate clean energy for the
grid.
and changes to electric
grid operations)
AB 817
(Pacheco)
Allows, until January 1, 2026, a
subsidiary body of a local
agency to teleconference
without meeting all of the
teleconferencing requirements
of the Ralph M. Brown Act
(Brown Act).
Support Emergency Management
LAP
(Support the temporary
suspension of certain
time-specific statutory
and meeting
requirements…)
AB 1794
(McCarty)
Under current law, if the value of
all property taken over the
course of distinct but related
acts motivated by one intention,
general impulse, and plan
exceeds $950, those values
may be aggregated into a single
charge of grand theft. This bill
would clarify that those values
may be aggregated even though
the thefts occurred in different
places or from different victims.
The bill would also, declarative
of existing law, provide that
circumstantial evidence may be
used to prove that multiple
thefts were motivated by one
intention, general impulse, and
plan. The bill would, until
January 1, 2030, also authorize
counties to operate a program
to allow retailers to submit
details of alleged shoplifting
directly to the county district
attorney through an online portal
on the district attorney’s internet
website.
Support Public Safety LAP
(Support legislation that
addresses crime trends
and attempts to curb
illegal activity, including
but not limited to, illegal
street racing and
sideshow activity, thefts
from automobile
burglaries, and
organized retail thefts, all
of which are growing
trends in our region.)
1 May 9, 2024 Cities Association
Legislative Action Committee Meeting
Bill Summary and Positions
Bill Number Summary City Position LAP Alignment
SB 21 (Umberg) Requires a defendant charged with
certain fentanyl related charges to
complete a substance education or
treatment program. Defendants
successfully completing such a
program may be eligible to have
the court set aside their sentence.
No Action Topic not covered in City’s
Public Safety LAP
AB 1779 (Irwin) Permits the consolidation of
specified theft charges, as well as
associated offenses, occurring in
different counties into a single trial
if the district attorneys in all
jurisdictions agree.
Support Public Safety LAP –
“Support legislation that
addresses crime trends and
attempts to curb illegal
activity, including but not
limited to, illegal street
racing and sideshow
activity, thefts from
automobile burglaries, and
organized retail thefts, all of
which are growing trends in
our region.”
SB 1095
(Becker)
Modifies current law to facilitate the
installation of electric water
heaters, space heating systems,
and appliances in manufactured
homes.
Support Sustainability and
Environmental Protection
LAP – “Support legislation
that provides residents with
incentives for undertaking
decarbonization activities...”
AB 1772
(Ramos)
Requires DOJ to report to the
Legislature the number of
misdemeanor convictions for a
crime of theft from a retail
establishment during the declared
COVID state of emergency.
Support Public Safety LAP –
“Support legislation that
addresses crime trends and
attempts to curb illegal
activity, including but not
limited to, illegal street
racing and sideshow
activity, thefts from
automobile burglaries, and
organized retail thefts...”
Legislative Action Committee – Bill Summary and Positions May 9, 2024
Bill Number Summary City Position LAP Alignment
AB 1794
(McCarty)
Specifies that taking from multiple
places and victims may be
aggregated so a defendant may be
charged with grand theft. Also
authorizes each county to operate
a CAL-Fast Pass Program so retail
stores can submit investigative
reports to prosecutors.
Support Public Safety LAP –
“Support legislation that
addresses crime trends and
attempts to curb illegal
activity, including but not
limited to, illegal street
racing and sideshow
activity, thefts from
automobile burglaries, and
organized retail thefts...”
AB 3209
(Berman)
Allows a court to issue a restraining
order prohibiting a person from
being present on the grounds, or
adjacent parking lot, of a retail
establishment upon petition or at
sentencing for certain retail
offenses.
Watch While this bill appears to
align with the Public Safety
LAP, staff would like
additional time to review
and analyze this bill.
AB 817
(Pacheco)
Allows, until January 1, 2026, a
subsidiary body of a local agency to
teleconference without meeting all
of the teleconference requirements
currently in the Brown Act.
Support Emergency Services LAP –
“Supports the temporary
suspension of certain time-
specific statutory and
meeting requirements and
flexibility to adjust city
services as needed to
mitigate, prepare, respond
to, and recover from any
future all-hazard
emergencies.”
SB 1037
(Wiener)
Allows the Attorney General to
assess fines against local agencies
to enforce the adoption of housing
element revisions or to enforce any
state law that requires local
agencies to ministerially approve a
housing development project.
Oppose Housing LAP – “Oppose
efforts to reduce local,
state, and/or federal
funding for affordable
housing, rehabilitation of
substandard housing, new
park facilities,
neighborhood
improvements,
and public services, such
as public safety and
emergency response.”
SB 1130
(Bradford)
Expands eligibility for an existing
electric utility bill discount program
and requires electric utilities to
report on program enrollment.
Watch While this bill fits within the
Energy Legislation
Regulations and Issues
LAP, as currently drafted,
does not impact Santa
Clara residents or SVP
customers.
Legislative Action Committee – Bill Summary and Positions May 9, 2024
AB 1999 (Irwin) Repeals previous legislative action
that allowed for electric utilities to
assess fixed rate charges based on
an income-graduated basis.
Not Applicable
This legislation
was not heard
by a policy
committee and
is ineligible for
additional
consideration
this session.
Not Applicable
1 June 13, 2024 Cities Association
Legislative Action Committee Meeting
B
ill Summary and Positions
Bill Number Summary City Position LAP Alignment
AB 2513
(Pellerin)
This bill prohibits a person from
selling or offering for sale a gas
stove that is manufactured or sold
online on or after January 1, 2025,
or sold in a store on or after
January 1, 2026, unless that gas
stove contains a specified warning
label.
No Action The City’s LAPs do not
cover this topic.
SB 1130
(Bradford)
This bill expands eligibility for an
existing electric utility bill discount
program to households with fewer
than three members and requires
specified reporting by electrical
corporations about enrollment in
the program.
Watch While this bill fits within the
Energy Legislation
Regulations and Issues
LAP, as currently drafted,
does not impact Santa
Clara residents or SVP
customers as it is only
applicable to the 3 large
Investor Owned Utilities.
1500 Warburton Avenue ● Santa Clara, CA 95050 ● Phone: 408-615-2210 ● Fax: 408-241-6771 ● www.SantaClaraCA.gov City Manager’s Office
June 24, 2024
The Honorable Ro Khanna
United States House of Representatives
306 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Khanna:
On behalf of the City of Santa Clara, I am writing in support of the San Francisco Bay Area World Cup 2026 and the 11 American Host Cities’ security needs, specifically their programmatic/language request of a $50,000,000 per city plus-up ($620,000,000 total) in the Homeland Security Preparedness Grants Account of the Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
The San Francisco Bay Area World Cup 2026 matches will take place at Levi’s Stadium in the City of Santa Clara. Levi’s Stadium is owned by the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, a joint powers authority that was established to provide for the development and operation of the Stadium and whose governing Board is the Santa Clara City Council. As the agency responsible for public safety oversight of the event venue, the City of Santa Clara is working closely with the Bay Area Host Committee to coordinate public safety planning and deployment for these events.
Lasting almost six weeks with daily fan fests of 500,000+ in attendance, Super Bowl-scale matches attended by world leaders, and various other activities, the comprehensive safety, counterterrorism, planning and operational responsibility for each host city is enormous. A record number of 48 teams will play 104 matches throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, six of which will be played here in Santa Clara.
Specifically, every World Cup Host Committee and surrounding local governments that will be supporting the tournament are required to provide, among other things: Training and readiness exercises; staff background checks; cybersecurity defense; incremental policing and security at airports; infrastructure, policing, equipment, and medical needs at fan fests and stadiums; policing, contract security, fire, EMS, medical support, and associated overtime for each; Subject: (World Cup Host City – San Francisco Bay Area) – Application for World Cup 2026 Critical Security Funding – Programmatic and Language Request for FEMA Grant Programs for FY2025
The Honorable Ro Khanna
Re: (World Cup Host City – San Francisco Bay Area) – Application for World Cup 2026 Critical Security Funding – Programmatic and Language Request for FEMA Grant Programs for FY2025 June 24, 2024
security at transportation hubs (other than the airport); security in FIFA venues and training facilities; and additional perimeter security at hotel facilities.
Hosting FIFA World Cup is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and we are committed to ensuring the safety of World Cup attendees and our community. It is critical to have the full support of the federal government as all eyes around the world are watching our country and Santa Clara.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jōvan D. Grogan
City Manager
City of Santa Clara