2024 State
Legislative Platform
City Council Meeting
January 30, 2024
Lon Peterson, Chief of Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Scott Alonso, Government Affairs Officer
Sharon Gonsalves, Renne Public Policy Group
Presented by:
• Outlines the City’s state policy and project priorities to the public, state legislative delegation, and state
agencies.
• Provides guidance and direction to City staff and state representatives regarding City’s state funding and
policy priorities.
Purpose of State
Legislative Platform
Introduction
About Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG)
• Hired by the City in 2021 to manage our state advocacy efforts in Sacramento.
• Specializing in critical legislative and regulatory issues facing local government—representing cities, special districts and local government trade associations across the State.
• Decades of advocacy experience, including prior work with Cal Cities and Capitol Staff in Housing, Transportation, and Natural Resources. • Technical expertise in Land Use, Transportation, Public Safety, Governmental Operations, Revenue and Taxation.
• Proven track record in securing funding opportunities and negotiating multiple water, park, housing and transportation bonds. 4 State Bills
The City formally positioned on 28 pieces of legislation Tracked 1,490 bills
The City achieved the desired outcome on 13 of those
measures (This does not include 2 years that will
continue to move in 2024)
Grants
Advised City-Wide Grants Committee
Helped Secure $21.5 million in grant funding
2023 Highlights
Proposed 2024 State Priorities
Wildfire Prevention and Recovery,
Hazard Mitigation & Resiliency
6 • Support policy and funding need outlined in the City’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan and General Plan.
• Support efforts to minimize the frequency and impact of electric utility power shutoffs intended to reduce wildfire risk. • To fund hazard mitigation projects, such as wildfire hardening, seismic upgrade,
and flood protection measures, including those
identified in a FEMA-approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Administration, Human Resources
and Risk Management
7 • Support legislation and policies promoting efforts to advance workplace diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Advocate for efforts to maintain fiscal solvency concerning unfunded pension and retiree healthcare liability.
• Monitor proposed policies related to the use of artificial intelligence technology pertaining to ethical considerations, privacy, and emerging technologies, with an emphasis on use in government operations.
Governmental Transparency and
Public Access
8 • Support funding that assists with enhanced public access to public meetings for community members.
• Support legislation to permit the City to provide electronic copies of documents to satisfy the California Public Records Act requirements.
• Support efforts to empower local jurisdictions to eliminate hate speech at public meetings.
Economic Development
9 • Support funding mechanisms for economic development tools, including infrastructure investment, housing, childcare, and other needs critical to a foundation of equitable economic resiliency. • Support equitable program for the continued disbursement of sales and use taxes, which reflect local impacts on various communities.
• Support economic development initiatives that preserve and enhance a favorable business climate and maintain and grow the business tax base.
Environment, Climate Change &
Sustainability
10 • Enact mitigation measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit the effects of climate change and enhance local and regional planning for climate resilience, including wildfire mitigation and water conservation
• Increase funding for municipal, residential, and commercial electric vehicle charging stations, electrical infrastructure upgrades, and the purchase of clean fleet vehicles.
• Advocate for funding opportunities focused on coordinating sustainable planning in transportation, housing, and economic development.
Water Quality and Water Supply
11 • Increase the availability of, and funding for, water infrastructure improvements (including seismic upgrades, flood protection, and fire hardening)
• Continue to provide funding for Groundwater Sustainable Agencies and implementation of Groundwater Sustainability Plans
• Advocate for funding and support to continue the operation of the diversion facilities at the Potter Valley Project to protect water supply resiliency and fisheries.
• Continue to support and work with a coalition of water agencies to advocate for continued support and appropriations to the Department of Water Resources’ Atmospheric Rivers program.
Housing and Land-Use Planning
12 • Support legislation and housing measures to preserve and rehabilitate existing affordable housing.
• Support efforts to create funding opportunities that are provided to local jurisdictions through statewide or regional bond efforts. • Support legislation that minimizes CEQA review of environmental impacts related to additional density for housing projects that involve density bonus consistent with State law.
13 • Sustain and increase funding for the development and ongoing operations of permanent supportive housing, including resources to finance the development of new units and resources to provide long-term sustainability for supportive services.
• Increase state funding to prevent and reduce homelessness in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County.
• Provide resources to address the mental health and
alcohol/substance use needs of persons experiencing
homelessness.
• Allow local flexibility and/ or state funding mechanisms for safe parking programs to transition the City’s most vulnerable residents to permanent housing.
Homelessness
14 • Advocate for non-competitive per capita funding measures offered through the Natural Resources Agency, State Parks and
Recreation to benefit the City’s parks and recreation capital improvement projects.
• Fund the Housing Related Parks Program offered through the Department of Housing and Community Development.
• Oppose policies that will erode funding for vital regional and community services that negatively impact Californian's access to parks, open space, bike lanes, after-school programming, youth services, senior services, food programs, and facilities that promote physical activity, protect natural resources, and strengthen safety and security.
Recreation and Parks
15 • Strengthen community-oriented public safety policies, including funding for hiring police officers, violence prevention programs and gun violence prevention funding/initiatives, such as policies addressing growing issues surrounding 3D printing and selling of ghost guns.
• Increase funding that will help local governments with improving community policing and rebuilding community trust through officer training and mental health first response for crises involving mental illness, homelessness, and addiction, such as the inRESPONSE program; and support programs like the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
• Support policies to increase accountability and transparency of law enforcement agencies and personnel.
Public Safety
16 • Encourage regional collaboration and deployment of resources to maximize firefighting efforts, including hiring firefighters, emergency operations personnel and paramedics.
• Support policies and regulatory efforts to improve the coordination when public safety shut-off (PSPS) events occur between customers, regulators, government officials, and public safety partners.
• Advocate for local control of emergency medical and ambulance services, including pre-hospital care and transport.
Fire and Emergency Services
17 • Increase funding for local transportation projects, including road resurfacing projects, local transit operating and capital projects, transit fare subsidy programs, zero-emissions buses and charging infrastructure, adding bicycle lanes, sidewalks and trails throughout the city where appropriate, programs that facilitate development-oriented transit and transit-oriented development and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Advocate for policies aimed at equitable access for transportation system users and equitable transportation funding for
disadvantaged communities.
• Support policies and regulatory efforts to preserve net neutrality and increase the funding for broadband, including middle and last- mile expenditures.
Transportation and Public Works
18 • Enable local governments’ efforts to receive direct and flexible funding related to the COVID-19 pandemic or a state public health emergency, including funding for public transportation systems, affordable housing, homelessness prevention, rental and utility assistance programs.
• Advocate for assistance to communities to help with emergency response operations related to a public health emergency, vaccine distribution and testing.
Public Health
19 The Communications & Intergovernmental Relations Office recommends that the Council, by resolution, adopt the City’s 2024 State Legislative Platform.
Recommendation
Questions?