Agenda Item #15.1
For Council Meeting of January 28, 2024
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JASON NUTT, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT: 2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTIONS
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Office that the Council, by two resolutions, adopt the City’s 2025 State Legislative Platform.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
City staff have identified state legislative priorities in a proposed 2025 state legislative platform for consideration by the City Council. Defined priorities, approved by the City Council, will help communicate the City’s state legislative and funding priorities to the California State Legislative Delegation, Legislature, regional and state agencies.
BACKGROUND
To prepare for these legislative and advocacy activities, City staff has worked with various City departments and identified state legislative priorities for the proposed 2025 state legislative platform. The priorities focus efforts in the following core areas:
Wildfire Prevention and Recovery, Hazard Mitigation and Resiliency Administration, Human Resources and Risk Management
Governmental Transparency and Public Access
Economic Development
Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability
Water Quality and Water Supply
Land Use-Planning and Housing
Homelessness
Recreation and Parks
Public Safety and Police
Fire and Emergency Services
Transportation; and
Public Works and Utilities
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On February 13, 2024, the Council adopted the 2024 State Legislative Platform.
On January 24, 2023, the Council adopted the 2023 State Legislative Platform.
On January 11, 2022, the Council adopted the 2022 State Legislative Platform.
ANALYSIS
The statements outlined in the proposed 2025 State Legislative Platform (Exhibit A) intend to help communicate the City’s state legislative and funding priorities to the California State Legislative Delegation, Legislature, regional and state agencies.
City staff, in coordination with the City’s state lobbyist team, will monitor state legislation and administrative or regulatory proposals, taking appropriate action, when necessary, in alignment with the approved 2024 State Legislative Platform and in compliance with the City’s existing Legislative Advocacy Council Policy No. 000-40 to advance and/or safeguard the City’s priorities in Sacramento.
City staff are proposing two resolutions to adopt the 2025 State Legislative Platform. In the first resolution Council will again consider approving a specific policy statement related to wildfire insurance. There remains ongoing discussions regarding potential solutions to the state’s insurance issues, especially related to access to coverage in fire prone areas. In 2023, the Council directed staff to add in a specific policy statement supporting action to protect the City’s residents related to access to wildfire insurance and fair market rates for that insurance. In 2024, the Council adopted similar language regarding access to insurance in fire prone areas.
Similar to last year, due to a conflict of interest, one Councilmember will be recusing from the vote on this policy related to wildfire insurance. To allow the Councilmember to vote on the balance of the platform, we have segmented this item into two resolutions as permitted under applicable Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) regulations. In the second resolution Council will consider approving the balance of the state legislative platform.
FISCAL IMPACT
Not applicable.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the proposed action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In the alternative, the proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution 1
Resolution 2
Exhibit A – 2025 State Legislative Platform (Partial List) Exhibit B – 2025 State Legislative Platform (Complete)
PRESENTER
Jason Nutt, Assistant City Manager
2025 STATE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
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