Santa Monica City Council
March 8, 2025

CITY OF SANTA MONICA, CA

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
2025-2026
The City of Santa Monica, California is an innovative, progressive, and diverse beachfront community of approximately 93,000 residents on the Southern California coast.

Historically, the City Council’s key legislative priorities have been focused in the following policy areas:
 Affordability
 Addressing Homelessness
 Climate Change
 Keeping Neighborhoods Safe
 Enhancing Mobility and Access
 Engaged and Thriving Community
This document continues a focus on the following priorities:
• Addressing Homelessness: Prevent housed Santa Monicans from becoming homeless and increase the supply of affordable housing, address the behavioral health needs of vulnerable individuals and advocate for regional capacity to address homelessness. • Clean & Safe Santa Monica: Create an atmosphere marked by clean and safe public spaces and neighborhoods, including parks for recreation and leisure activities. • Cultivate Economic Recovery & Expand Community & Cultural Offerings: Cultivate economic opportunity and recovery and invest in community and cultural amenities and programs for all community members, focused on expanding opportunities for youth, teens and seniors.
• Racial Justice, Equity & Social Diversity: The City of Santa Monica acknowledges the effects of generational and institutional racism and discrimination, and their consequences that continue to impact our residents and businesses. These lessons of our history cannot be ignored. The City is committed to advancing racial equity and social diversity to improve the wellbeing of people who live, work, learn, play, and do business in our City and creating a community where differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by race, class, gender identity, disability or other identities.

Everyone in Santa Monica must have an opportunity to thrive. • Sustainable & Connected Community: Ensure that City policies and programs enhance our resources, prevent and remedy harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefit the social and economic wellbeing of the community for the sake of current and future generations.

The City’s priorities are reflected in the policy positions outlined below for engagement in federal policy and regulatory initiatives and to secure resources (e.g., grants, authorizations and appropriations) to invest in priority projects and programs.

Attachment I

ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS
Homelessness
• Support legislation and secure federal resources, either directly or in partnership with other entities, that address and prevent homelessness with innovative strategies that maintain and expand the inventory of affordable housing; protect low-income renters from discrimination and eviction; promote income stability; provide direct services and varied housing options for people experiencing homelessness or at high risk of homelessness including veterans, older adults and people with disabilities; • Support funding for alternatives to incarceration for adults and youth, regardless of housing status;
• Support legislation to ensure individuals are utilizing Housing First when offered suitable housing options and seeks to minimize individuals declining these resources when they are offered.
• Support legislation that allows for data sharing between municipalities and treatment providers;
• Support legislation that safeguards against the criminalization of homelessness; • Support legislation that expands and increases flexibility of affordable housing funding to allow for construction of varied housing types in one development, such as transitional housing paired with permanent supportive housing; • Support legislation that expands and increases flexibility of affordable housing funding to provide for development of in-patient and higher need beds to ensure individuals are not placed into permanent supportive housing due to lack of other adequate housing options.

Health
• Support legislation and secure federal resources that support mental health care (e.g., access to psychiatric facilities, behavioral health care treatment, and mobile and streetbased services). • Support legislation that expands the definition of “gravely disabled” and allows for additional flexibility in conservatorship as a tool in mental health care treatment, behavioral health care treatment, or substance use treatment to ensure individuals are not discharged to the streets;
• Secure federal resources for education and training of paramedics and other emergency medical service personnel and uniformed officers in their ability to be responsive to those individuals experiencing homelessness and living in our community, including how to utilize the expanded criteria under SB43;
• Support legislation to reform mental health and substance use disorder treatment access, including legislation that destigmatizes and normalizes behavioral health as part of primary health care to be covered by public and private health plans; • Support legislation to increase federal funding that is flexible for building varied housing options to support individuals as they move through the spectrum of behavioral health services;
• Support legislation that removes barriers to and expands the availability of mental health and substance use disorder treatment;
• Support legislation to expand funding to provide adequate mental, behavioral health, and substance use treatments for youth, as well as funding to cover construction costs to develop these services where lacking and funding staff positions related to these areas within schools or via service providers;
Housing/Tenant Protection
• Support legislation and expand funding resources to provide for the creation of safe, decent and affordable housing to meet the City’s diverse needs and contribute to the well-being of all residents;
• Support legislation that allocates funding to provide services to individuals who have housing vouchers but are unable to find eligible housing; • Support legislation that secures additional federal resources for HUD-funded affordable housing programs (e.g., HOME, Section 8);
• Support legislation to allocate federal resources and regulatory support for the “Preserving our Diversity” (POD) program;
• Support legislation to expand funding to provide support to housing unstable individuals to cover basic needs such as food and medicine;
• Support legislation to prevent CalFRESH benefits being reduced for unstably housed individuals receiving support for basic necessities;
• Support legislation and secure federal resources to provide housing opportunities combined with effective and ample supportive services, including healthcare services. • Support legislation to increase the funding for the Section 8 Housing Voucher program and increase the payment standards.
• Support legislation to expand HUD voucher types to allow more flexibility for allowable Area Median Income (AMI) to support individuals who are above the 80-100% AMI range but are still rent burdened;
• Support legislation to expand affordable housing funding to provide housing to a broadened demographic, including individuals who are above the 100% AMI level, as well as a broadened array of housing types;

CLEAN AND SAFE SANTA MONICA
• Support legislation and secure federal resources that enhance law enforcement and emergency services to maintain a safe environment and quality of life for City residents and visitors.
• Support legislation that provides funding for debris removal for structures burned following a wildfire
• Support legislation that would provide resources to local governments to respond and remove graffiti from and litter from Interstate Highways. • Support legislation that provides funding and resources to implement improved security measures for major transportation corridors (eg. Interstate freeways) to increase safety and reduce unauthorized access.
• Support legislation to provide full funding for the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant; additional funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program; the Byrne/Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) programs as well as integrated public safety communications systems.
• Support legislation authorizing providing federal resources to support the Police Department’s current and ongoing equipment needs (i.e., real-time crime center, tablets, in-car camera system, mobile command center equipment, forensic equipment, records management and system updates, and data tracking systems). • Support legislation that provides resources to provide mental health training for public safety officers and first responders and to hire mental health professionals to support local law enforcement activities in the community.
• Support legislation that provides federal resources to cover costs of implicit bias and cultural training for sworn and non-sworn personnel.
• Support legislation and federal resources that promote the safety and constitutional rights of our citizens and bring greater transparency and accountability to law enforcement.
• Support legislation and secure federal resources that advances the model of community-based 21st century policing.
• Support common sense gun safety legislation including a ban on assault weapons, ghost guns and high-capacity magazines and a requirement for a federal background check before the purchase of a gun or high-capacity ammunition. • Support legislation and federal funding for the advancement of the Safe Systems Approach and the realization of Vision Zero, to end crashes resulting in fatal or severe injuries, through infrastructure, policy, enforcement, education, and vehicle safety standards.
• Support legislation that provides federal resources for mobile crisis intervention programs or other alternate dispatch strategies that provide response to mental health or addiction crises where public safety is not at risk
• Support legislation to provide federal funding for community paramedic and Mobile Integrated Health(MIH) initiatives which play a critical role in addressing behavioral health, supporting vulnerable adults , and assisting individuals with substance use challenges.

CULTIVATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY & EXPAND COMMUNITY & CULTURAL OFFERINGS • Support legislation that provides for new direct, flexible emergency fiscal relief for all cities, with an equitable funding formula not solely calculated by population size. • Support legislation that would provide federal resources to assist localities in high-speed broadband, and public space projects, and /workforce development. • Support legislation that provides flexible funding and specific set-asides for tourism and hospitality sectors, including businesses in these sectors and their workers. • Support legislation that creates opportunities for and invests in artists and other creative workers.
• Support legislation/seek funding that supports working families in regard to securing affordable, high-quality childcare.
• Support legislation that provides financial stabilization to local childcare providers to remain operational.

Support legislation and federal resources for cities impacted by the expected increase in visitors due to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY & SOCIAL DIVERSITY • Support legislation that assures everyone the right to equal treatment in all government-sponsored benefits or funded programs.
• Support legislation to protect the civil, fair housing, and equitable employment rights of all persons.
• Support legislation that promotes equal opportunity and treatment for people of all races and addresses systematic racism against African Americans. • Support legislation to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
• Support legislation that calls for comprehensive immigration reform and border security that is thoughtful in manner and guided by our nation's principles of due process, human rights, accountability, and equal protection for all under the law. • Support legislation that promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion and stands firmly against homophobia and transphobia.

SUSTAINABLE & CONNECTED COMMUNITY
• Support legislation and secure resources for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and protection and preservation of our environment and public health. • Support legislation and secure federal resources to enhance the City’s continued investment in renewable energy, green buildings, green public transit and infrastructure, to meet the City’s carbon neutrality goal. • Support legislation and secure federal resources that allow for the creation of sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure, including reuse, treatment, conservation and sustainability, in order to reach the City’s water self-sufficiency goal. • Support legislation and secure federal resources that assist local governments in developing and implementing energy efficiency, conservation, and generation strategies that maximize available resources, reduce costs, and expand community access. • Support legislation and secure federal resources that assist municipalities in their composting, recycling and waste reduction efforts to reach the City’s zero waste goal. • Support legislation and secure resources that assist municipalities in their sustainable procurement, extended producer responsibility and circular economy efforts • Support legislation and secure federal funding that support community resiliency efforts regarding climate change, sea level rise, biological and radiological events. • Support federal incentives that assist local governments in developing and implementing transportation, land use and building policies that encourage maximum use of resources and lower energy consumption.
• Support legislation and secure federal resources to increase usage of green modes of transportation among residents and visitors through infrastructure projects (such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities and transit facility enhancements) and supportive programs (such as safe routes to school and Vision Zero). • Support continued funding of the Federal Highways Program especially the Highway Bridge Rehabilitation Program.
• Support legislation to secure federal rsoursces for roadway maintenance. • Support legislation to provide funding for ADA upgrades (accessible pathway) along the Pier.
• Secure federal resources to adapt infrastructure for Smart City needs (signaling system, transit signal priority, parking system, data sensors, security cameras, autonomous vehicles).
• Support federal resources to expand EV infrastructure, including parking structures and charging stations, and to incentivize property owners to install EV infrastructure in single-family and multi-family dwellings.
• Support legislation that ensures local governments can continue, without preemption, their efforts to electrify buildings and secure resources for alternative energy solutions, such as solar plus storage, to enhance emergency preparedness, community resiliency, and public facility EVs and charging infrastructure.

For more information:

Charmayne Anderson
Partner
The Ferguson Group
(202) 261-6016
[email protected]
City of Santa Monica
State Legislative Platform
2025-2026

CITY OF SANTA MONICA
2025-2026 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
The City of Santa Monica, California is an innovative, progressive, and diverse beachfront community of approximately 93,000 residents on the Southern California coast.

Historically, the City Council’s key legislative priorities have been focused in the following policy areas:
 Affordability
 Addressing Homelessness
 Climate Change
 Keeping Neighborhoods Safe
 Enhancing Mobility and Access
 Engaged and Thriving Community
This document continues a focus on the following priorities:

Addressing Homelessness: Prevent housed Santa Monicans from becoming homeless and increase the supply of affordable housing; address the behavioral health needs of vulnerable individuals; and advocate for regional capacity to address homelessness.

Clean and Safe Santa Monica: Create an atmosphere marked by clean and safe public spaces and neighborhoods, including parks for recreation and leisure activities.

Cultivate Economic Recovery & Expand Community and Cultural Offerings: Cultivate economic opportunity and recovery and invest in community and cultural amenities and programs for all community members, focused on expanding opportunities for youth, teens and seniors.

Racial Justice, Equity, and Social Diversity: The City of Santa Monica acknowledges the effects of generational and institutional racism and discrimination, and their consequences that continue to impact our residents and businesses. These lessons of our history cannot be ignored. The City is committed to advancing racial equity and social diversity to improve the wellbeing of people who live, work, learn, play, and do business in our City and creating a community where differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by race, class, gender identity, disability or other identities. Everyone in Santa Monica must have an opportunity to thrive.

Sustainable and Connected Community: Ensure that City policies and programs enhance our resources, prevent and remedy harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefit the social and economic wellbeing of the community for the sake of current and future generations.

The priorities are reflected in the policy positions outlined below, which also includes other noted goals and objectives separately identified, but consistent with City priorities, to guide engagement with state Legislators and the Governor’s Administration on legislative and regulatory matters.

ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS

HOMELESSNESS
 Support legislation and secure resources, either directly or in partnership with other entities, that address and prevent homelessness with innovative strategies that maintain and expand the inventory of affordable and permanent supportive housing; protect low-income renters from discrimination and eviction; promotesincome stability; provide direct services and varied housing options for people experiencing homelessness or at high risk of homelessness.
 Support funding for alternatives to incarceration for adults and youth, regardless of housing status.
 Support legislation to ensure individuals are utilizing Housing First when offered suitable housing options and seeks to minimize individuals declining these resources when they are offered.
 Support legislation that allows for data sharing between municipalities and treatment providers;
 Support legislation that safeguards against the criminalization of homelessness;  Support legislation to expand and add flexibility for affordable housing funding to allow for construction of varied housing types in one development, such as transitional housing paired with permanent supportive housing;  Support legislation to expand affordable housing funding to provide for development of in-patient and higher need beds to ensure individuals are not placed into permanent supportive housing due to lack of other adequate housing options.
 Support a balanced approach in addressing homelessness legislatively that considers the need for assistance and services for people experiencing homelessness while providing for the health, safety, and welfare of all people in Santa Monica, and advocate for regional initiatives involving county, state, and federal governments to reduce chronic homelessness.
 Support legislation that would provide state resources to address and prevent homelessness directly to cities.
 Seek resources for street based multi-disciplinary outreach and street medicine teams for those affected by homelessness and behavioral health issues.  Support state investment for homeless services, homelessness prevention, and rapid re- housing/supportive housing to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness and the chronically homeless veterans in the City.  Support legislation aimed at reforming the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act so that individuals who are gravely mentally ill can be placed under a court-ordered conservatory to prevent harming themselves or others.
 Support legislation that requires the appointment of local educational agencies to identify homeless youth.
 Support efforts to end youth homelessnessin the state.  Support legislation and resources that facilitate the expedited identification, assessment, and linkage of homelessindividuals to housing and supportive services.  Support legislation that allows for appropriate data sharing between municipalities and treatment providers.
 Support legislation that safeguards against the criminalization of homelessness.  Support legislation to strengthen the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, which provides for the Judicial Council to appoint legal representation for unrepresented low-income parties in civil mattersinvolving critical issues affecting basic human needs, including in unlawful detainer matters.
 Support legislation that would allow for the establishment of community paramedicine programs.
 Support legislation that would allow first responders to take those experiencing acute behavioral health crises to alternate destination healthcare facilities.  Support legislation and resources to provide mental health training for public safety officers and to hire behavioral health and other social work professionals for alternative responses to non-violent calls for service.
 Support the Care Act, which creates a new pathway to deliver mental health and substance use disorder services to the most severely impaired Californians to help prevent them from falling into homelessness or incarceration.  Oppose legislation addressing homelessness that fails to prioritize a housing-first approach as the foundation for effective and sustainable solutions.

HOUSING
 Support increase in funding from the state to develop affordable housing.  Support increase in funding from the state to rehabilitate aging and dilapidated buildings into affordable housing.
 Support legislation and resources that would provide housing and other services for veterans at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration site.  Support legislation allowing local governments to utilize state facilities such as armories to provide emergency housing to the homeless.
 Support legislation that exempts from CEQA the construction of emergency shelters, supportive housing, and affordable housing, including motel and hotel conversions to transitional housing.
 Support legislation and secure resources that provide for the creation and preservation of affordable housing and permanent supportive housing in the City.  Support legislation and budget resources that fund and support the construction of affordable housing and permanent supportive housing programs.  Support the expedited CEQA administrative and judicial review procedure established by the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act for “environmental leadership development projects” and expands the Act’s eligibility to include smaller housing projects.
 Support legislation that would call for the zoning and building of affordable housing on surplus or underutilized state properties.
 Support legislation that streamlines the RHNA planning process.  Support legislation that establishes a fair and equitable formula for how allocations are made to localities under the RHNA planning process and seek state resources to fund the construction of affordable housing in furtherance of those allocations.  Support legislation and state programs that create an inventory of potentially seismically vulnerable buildings and/or provide funding resources for the seismic retrofit of such properties.
 Support legislation that prohibits discrimination in housing based on veteran or military status.
 Support legislation that repeals Article 34 of the California State Constitution.  Support legislation that incentivizes the supply of social housing and co-housing in the state.
 Support legislation that incentivizes and streamlines the process to construct accessible dwelling units.
 Support legislation that promotes the production of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in the Coastal Zone by removing onerous parking requirements in existing laws and regulations.
 Support legislation that exempts all urban infill housing development from CEQA.  Support legislation to increase the debt service when cities are developing affordable housing on a city-owned sites.
 Support legislation, and seek amendments to proposed legislation, that recognize the achievements of Pro-Housing Designated Cities by upholding local autonomy over land-use decision and excluding these cities form onerous new regulations, provided they remain in compliance with their HCD-approved housing plans.

CLEAN AND SAFE SANTA MONICA

PUBLIC SAFETY
 Support legislation and resources available to local first responders in the event of wildfires, earthquakes, and other events.
 Support legislation to authorize superior courts to develop and implement mental health courts, which may operate as a pre-trial diversion program or a deferred entry of judgment program.
 Supports legislation that restricts the manufacture, importation, and sale of any device capable of converting an ammunition-feeding device into a high-capacity magazine.  Support legislation that will require a person to apply to obtain, from the Department of Justice, a unique serial number or other mark of identification prior to manufacturing or assembling a firearm in order to restrict the use of “ghost guns”.  Support legislation that restricts the quantity of firearms and ammunition sold in this state, including expanding the list of persons prohibited from purchasing a firearm; prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from purchasing a firearm; requiring background checks of those wishing to purchase a firearm; and supporting additional taxes on retailers who sell firearms or ammunition.
 Support legislation that maintains local control on cannabis cultivation, distribution, and sales within the City.
 Support legislation that seeks to eradicate human trafficking.  Support legislation that prohibits a law enforcement agency from authorizing the use of a carotid restraint or choke hold.
 Support legislation that will have the state Department of Justice review local use-offorce policies upon the request of local law enforcement agencies.  Support legislation that promotes alternatives to incarceration and that aim to end systemic racism and disparities in the treatment of people of color within the criminal justice system.
 Support legislation and initiatives that seek to reform the criminal justice system’s sentencing guidelines and practices that have disproportionately impacted people of color.
 Support legislation that improves California’s existing conceal-carry weapon laws to address the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in New York Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen by ensuring that those carrying firearms in public are law-abiding citizens who do not pose a danger to themselves or others; are at least 21 years of age; and identify certain areas where guns may not be carried.
 Support legislation and resources that support the behavioral health needs and wellbeing of public safety personnel.
 Support legislation that requires adequate funding and resources accompany any proposed training mandates for officers.

PARKS AND OPEN SPACE
 Support legislation and resources to protect and expand access to the City’s beaches.  Support legislation that bans smoking and vaping on state beaches and parks.  Support legislation and resources to protect existing parks, wetlands, community open spaces, and coastal resources.
 Support legislation that provides funding for rehabilitation, development, and capital improvements of local parks and community facilities.
 Support legislation and bond measures that provide grants to local governments to fund parks and capital improvements, as well as recreation programs that enhance the quality of life for residents.

CULTIVATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY & EXPAND COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL OFFERINGS

DIRECT RELIEF FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
 Support legislation or regulatory efforts to ensure that local governments can provide essential city services in a safe and efficient manner, including securing budget resources to improve existing city infrastructure.
 Support legislation that allocates state revenues to backfill local government loses due to major disruptions or significant emergencies, like pandemics, wildfires, and other disasters. Funding should be determined with an equitable funding formula not solely calculated by population.

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
 Support legislation that provides funding and other resources to aid in the recovery of the tourism and hospitality sectors, including businesses in these sectors and their workers, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic or recent wildfires.  Support legislation and administrative efforts to provide regulatory flexibility to allow local businesses to re-open in a safe manner.
 Support legislation that provides local governments more flexibility in permitting outdoor dining and entertainment to support local business and community needs.  Support legislation that streamlines the process and provides incentives for small businesses to open and expand operations in California while maintaining local control.  Support legislation and funding resources to streamline state and local permitting processes for cannabis businesses while maintaining local control.  Support legislation to provide greater protections to businesses in California regarding third-party Americans with Disability Act frivolous claims and lawsuits.  Support legislation to allow municipalities to adopt and incentivize local purchase preferencesin support of buying local, small businesses and minority-owned businesses.

TENANT PROTECTION/ACCESS TO HOUSING
 Support legislation that provides rent relief to commercial and residential tenants impacted by major disruptions or significant emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or recent wild fires.
 Support legislation and resources for eviction prevention, including legal aid.  Support legislation that protects local governments’ ability to regulate transient residential hosting platforms.
 Support legislation that increases the renter’s tax credit.  Support legislation that amends or repeals the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.  Support legislation that increases tenant protections and eliminates the incentive for property owners to remove rent control eligible properties from the rental market through the Ellis Act or other means.
 Support legislation and secure resources to advance local efforts to advance the goals of the Fair Housing Act including ending the historic racial discrimination in housing and to satisfy Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.
 Support legislation and secure resources that expand diverse opportunities for affordable home ownership and allow for the transition from renters to owners by residents.
 Support legislation that increases equitable and affordable housing access, with a particular focus on areas that historically excluded diverse populations and affordable housing.
 Support legislation that facilitates increased housing production in the City without undermining the City's adopted affordability and inclusionary requirements.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
 Support legislation to implement any new or alternative approaches to replace redevelopment funding mechanisms.
 Support legislation that protects the City’s transient occupancy tax revenues.  Support legislation that strengthens and expands ongoing revenuesfor the City.  Support legislation and resources that will provide tangible and productive tools and incentives to support job creation and retention.
 Support legislation to increase the amount of state tax credits for qualified expenditures of motion pictures in California.
 Support legislation that creates opportunities for and invests in artists and other creative workers.
 Support legislation that streamlines the process and provides incentives for street vendors to go through the applicable local permitting process.  Support legislation and resources to support and encourage partnerships with public schools, colleges, universities, and local municipalities to expand workforce development efforts, with a focus on career pathways and employment in high growth sectors.
 Support legislation that protects and reinforces local authority over taxes and fees, ensuring cities maintain the ability to address community needs effectively

COMMUNITY WELLBEING
 Support legislation and resources that support mental health (e.g., access to psychiatric facilities, behavioral health care treatment, and street-based services).  Support legislation and resources for youth mental health services, including suicide prevention services.
 Support legislation that mandates schools to offer one or more coursesin mental health education in middle school or high school.
 Support legislation that mandates requirement on health plans and disability insurers to cover medically necessary treatment of mental health and substance use disorders under the same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions.  Support legislation that requires the state Department of Public Health to provide opioid antagonist kits free of charge to as many designated facilities as possible in counties experiencing an opioid overdose crisis, along with easy-to-understand instructions on the administration of the opioid antagonist nasal spray.  Support legislation that would require schools (K-12 and Higher Education), stadiums, concert venues, and amusements parks to maintain doses of naloxone hydrochloride or other opioid antagonists.
 Support legislation that authorizes a pharmacist to furnish an opioid antagonist approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, subject to completion of continuing education on the use of opioid antagonists.
 Support legislation and resources for school and college facility maintenance and construction.
 Support legislation and resources, including bonding authority for library construction and maintenance.
 Support legislation that encourages partnerships between libraries and local school districts.
 Support legislation and resources encouraging the provision of accessible, affordable, high-quality childcare.
 Support legislation and resources to expand the development of quality before- and after-school programs.
 Support legislation that provides for aging with dignity.  Support legislation and resources for local arts activities and historic preservation in community life.
 Support legislation and funding for the restoration and/or enhancement of arts programs in public schools.
 Support legislation that allows for the continuation of virtual public meetings to allow for flexibility and greater participation, particularly during a state of emergency.  Support legislation and funding for community broadband and infrastructure investments in public parks, beaches, libraries and other public facilities, affordable housing developments and neighborhood commercial districts.  Support legislation to address the issue of noise pollution caused by illegally modified or otherwise out of compliance exhaust systems.

RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY & SOCIAL DIVERSITY
 Support legislation and resources for the development of restorative justice programs at the state level and in local communities.
 Support legislation that would ensure cities and counties provide adequate opportunities for the development of multi-family mixed-income and affordable housing within high-opportunity areas, while simultaneously protecting and investing in sensitive communities at risk of displacement.
 Support legislation that establishes community anti-displacement and preservation programs.
 Support legislation that limits the circumstances under which local law enforcement officials can interact with and assist federal immigration officials and oppose the use of local resources to aid in federal immigration enforcement efforts.  Support legislation and resources to increase consumer protection efforts, including preventing predatory lending.
 Support legislation that would implement a single payer universal health care delivery system.
 Support legislation that requires the state Department of Education to finalize the development of training programs/platforms to support LGBTQ cultural competency training for teachers and other certificated employees and then require one hour of training annually for teachers and certificated employees.  Support legislation that mandates gender-neutral multi-stall bathrooms.  Support legislation to enhance, increase, and expand voting opportunities to eligible voters throughout the state.
 Support legislation and state resources to encourage the development and implementation of cannabis social equity programs designed to enable communities that were negatively impacted by cannabis criminalization to become legal participants in the cannabis marketplace.

SUSTAINABLE & CONNECTED COMMUNITY

CLIMATE CHANGE/SUSTAINABILITY
 Support legislation and secure resources for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and protection and preservation of our environment.
 Secure resources to enhance the City’s continued investment in renewable energy, sustainable procurement, green buildings, green public transit and infrastructure, and socially and environmentally responsible businesses to meet our climate goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.
 Support legislation and secure resources that would allow for the creation of sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure that is more resilient with a smaller impact on the environment.
 Support legislation and funding for transportation electrification including electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
 Support a climate resiliency bond that will provide funding for wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, improving ocean water quality, addresses sea-level rise, and provides parks funding.
 Supports legislation and resourcesto address the issue ofsea-level rise.  Support legislation and resources that assist local governments in developing and implementing energy efficiency and conservation strategies that maximize available resources, reduce costs, expand community access, and protect public health.  Support legislation that ensures local governments can continue, and not be preempted in, their efforts to achieve economic improvements through increased energy efficiency and conservation plans that seek to decrease carbon emissions.  Support legislation that calls for the elimination ofsingle use plastics.  Support legislation that assists municipalities in their recycling and waste reduction efforts and incentivizes efforts to increase the market for recycling.  Support legislation and regulatory efforts that call for building electrification.  Support legislation regarding Extended Producer Responsibility programs.  Support legislation and regulatory efforts that strengthen storm water pollution control standards.
 Support legislation strengthening the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.  Support the ability of local governments to implement Community Choice Aggregation for the purchase of electricity and oppose legislation that would place new burdens and requirements on the establishment of CCAs and/or procurement activities of CCAs.  Support legislation that expands the use of solar energy systems on residential and commercial properties.
 Support legislation focused on water re-use, wastewater treatment, water conservation, and stormwater quality improvements.
 Support legislation and resources that assist local governments in developing and implementing transportation, land use and building policies that encourage maximum use of resources and lower energy consumption.
 Support legislation that would authorize the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board to impose a transaction and use tax within the district to supplement existing revenues to improve and protect air quality.
 Support legislation and revenues for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.  Support legislation and regulatory actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and trucks.
 Support efforts to incentivize outdoor water-efficiency programs including droughtfriendly landscaping, while preserving local control.  Support legislation requiring manufacturers to be responsible for safe disposal or for reuse of their products and by-products.
 Support resources for the California Green Business Program to develop standards for local green business certification programs.
 Oppose legislative efforts to impose a statewide water tax or fee.

MOBILITY AND ACCESS
 Support legislation and resources that will improve and enhance mobility throughout the City and the region while ensuring access to a range of equitable transportation options for our residents. This includes local control of our shared mobility programs, ensuring a robust and efficient public transit system, and encouraging active transportation.
 Support legislation and funding resources to restore connectivity among communities that have been separated and negatively impacted by freeway construction.  Support legislation that reforms existing state statutes and regulations that impede community connectivity and removes those barriers, thereby promoting an environment conducive to attracting investment and fostering economic growth.  Support legislation and resources that would provide the maximum share of funding for local and regional transportation programs.
 Support legislation and funding for the expansion of bus service throughout the Big Blue Bus service area, as well as rail service into the City.  Support legislation that would give transit agencies priority access to electricity when confronted with grid disruptions caused by natural or man-made disasters, rolling blackouts, utility company “Public Safety Power Shutoffs,” or increasing demand on California’s electrical grid.
 Support legislation to reduce or remove demand charges for transit fleet electrification projects.
 Support legislation that would require expanding mandatory data requirements for sharing autonomous vehicle incident data with local government in the interest of greater public safety.
 Support legislation to improve the safety of State Route 1 (PCH) and to extend the beach bike path north from the current terminus at Will Rogers State Beach.  Support legislation and resources to transition our Big Blue Busfleet to a zero-emission fleet and build out the necessary charging infrastructure.  Support legislation to create a Division of Active Transportation within the California Department of Transportation and other efforts to prioritize pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
 Support legislation to protect SB 1 (2017) transportation fund from being diverted for other uses.
 Support legislation and resources to streamline and incentivize the deployment of zeroemission passenger vehicles and the build-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.  Support legislation for State to explore building electric vehicle charging infrastructure on underutilized state property.
 Support legislation and resources for the maintenance and upgrade of pedestrian bridges and the beach bike path.
 Support legislative efforts to reduce traffic fatalities through the use of alternate methodologies for determining speed limits.
 Support legislation and resources for traffic enforcement and pedestrian safety.  Support legislation that provides local governments authority to enact “Slow Streets” to limit vehicular traffic and encourage recreational uses.  Support legislation to pilot automated speed enforcement cameras to enhance the safety of vulnerable roadway users while addressing equity and privacy issues.  Support legislation that continues the state’s involvement in the Safe Routes to School program.
 Support legislation to improve speed in bus lanes through the implementation of an automated bus lane enforcement program.
 Support legislation that exempts from CEQA various transit-related projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities projects, transit prioritization projects, and projects for the institution or increase of new bus rapid transit, bus, or light rail service on existing public rights of-way or existing highway rights-of-way.  Support legislation that restores and strengthens local governments' authority over parking enforcement, including towing, and the management of fines and fees for parking citations, enabling cities to effectively address local parking needs  Oppose legislation that would restrict local control over the operation of shared mobility devices in the City, including a City’s ability to collect the data necessary to maintain safe, equitable program operations and to effectively manage the public right of way, with appropriate privacy safeguards in place.

ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES
MISC.
 Support legislation that bans the importation, sale, or intent to sell of any part or product of an exotic animal, regardless of when the parts or dead body were imported.  Support legislation that prohibits the unnecessary and harmful practice of the declawing of animals in the state of California.
 Support legislation that promotes the humane and effective management of rodent populations, prioritizing methods that minimize harm to animals and the environment  Support legislation that provides flexibility to local governments regarding the rules around meetings held via teleconference.
 Support legislation that extends the timeline to complete public records requests from 10 calendar days to at least 10 business days to address limited staff resources at the City level.