Office of the Mayor
City of Santa Rosa
100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Room 10
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
September 9, 2022
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor, State of California
1021 O Street, Room 6620
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 2234 (Rivas) Postentitlement Phase Permits—REQUEST FOR VETO
Dear Governor Newsom:
On behalf of the City of Santa Rosa, I write in opposition of AB 2234 (Rivas) and request you veto the legislation, which would establish time limits for approval related to postentitlement permits and requires the online permitting of these permits. AB 2234 would create practical concerns for the ability of local governments, including the City of Santa Rosa, to effectively review applications and would impose costly mandates for electronic permitting on cities without providing state funding to offset these costs.
The bill would require approving postentitlement permits and notifying the applicant of a project within 30 business days of the application being complete for housing projects with 25 units or fewer; or 60 business days of the application being complete for housing projects with 26 units or more. The bill also specifics a timeline for an appeals process for these decisions.
The City is facing challenges with hiring staff and securing resources to meet state mandates surrounding development services, such as the mandates proposed in this legislation. Many local departments within the City are charged with reviewing development projects. Some departments are also facing the challenges of hiring staff, including in our Building Division and Planning and Economic Development Department.
We need state resources and support to support education and training within the entire development field, from design professionals, construction and trades along with local government positions. Further, other departments within the City would be impacted by this legislation such as the Fire Department and Water Department. Overall, the City supports efforts to encourage and streamline the approval of responsible development in Santa Rosa. This bill is not the right strategy to attach unattainable mandates in state law related to housing and development.
For these reasons, the City of Santa Rosa requests you veto on AB 2234. Should you have any questions please contact our legislative advocate, Sharon Gonsalves, with the Renne Public Policy Group, at (916) 974- 9270.
Sincerely,
Chris Rogers, Mayor