CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
Ma
rch 31, 2025
T
O: City Council
Board of Directors, Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8 Board of Trustees, Simi Valley Library
FROM: Office of the City Manager/Executiv e Director/Officer SUBJECT: APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council/Board of Directors/Board of Trus tees adopt the attached 2025 Legislative Platform (Exhibit A, p.4) as proposed.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
The City Council adopted a Legis lative Platform in 2023 to serve as the guiding policy document for the City when determ ining whether a position should be taken on proposed legislation at the State and Federal levels that may impact the City and, if so, the nature of that position. In 2014, the City Council directed staff to review and update the Legislativ e Platform in 2015 and biennially thereafter to ensure alignment with the Council’s evolving priorities. Accordingly, the proposed 2025-2 027 Legislative Platform repr esents the next two-year iteration of this ongoing process.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
A Legislative Platform is an es sential tool enabling staff to evaluate propos ed legislation. It provides a structured framework for deciding whether to draft and submit letters of support or opposition to legislators. This approach allows staff to proactively manage the City’s legislative program and address issues within its jurisdiction that could significantly affect its interests . For topics not addressed within the platform, staff will refer these matters to the City Council for review, enabling the City to determine and c ommunicate an official stance.
Minor grammatical revisions were applied throughout the document to enhance readability and precis ion. These updates improve clarity while preserving the policy items' original intent and substance.
Following a thorough review of the 2023 Legislative P latform, staff recommends amendments in the following areas for inclusion in the 2025 Legislative Platform.
AGENDA ITEM NO.
Consent (3)
• Introduction and Organization: The introduction statement was moved to the first page, followed by the table of contents. Subsections were added under each policy category in the table of contents to help readers identify specific content areas within the Legislative Platform more easily.
• Section VIII. Public Safety : The Public Protection section was updated to Public Safety, adding a dedicated area for Emergency Preparedness to strengthen disaster readiness and response efforts. This section includes funding for emergency communication systems, wildfire prevention and mitigation, disaster resilience infrastructure, and mental health crisis intervention. It also reflects the addition of content related to the opioid and fentanyl epidemic, providing support for education, intervention, treatment, and criminal justice programs. It includes enhanced penalties for retail theft, additional funding for Proposition 36 implementation, expanded law enforcement resources to combat organized retail crime, and stronger opposition to legislation that seeks to remove qualified immunity for peace officers while reaffirming accountability standards.
• Section IX. Transportation and Public Works : Introduces support for Cap- and- Trade reauthorization, which will occur soon, including funding for E lectric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure expansion and incentives for EV adoption. Added new provisions for transportation project funding, alternative fuel investments, and regional transit improvements to enhance sustainable mobility. Strengthens local control over speed limits, street design, and multimodal transportation planning while supporting expanded EV charging infrastructure and related funding opportunities. • Section VI. Community Development: Expands advocacy for RHNA reform, explicitly opposing housing production mandates while supporting greater flexibility in Housing Element compliance and the ability for cities that meet affordable housing goals to self -certify Housing Elements. Additionally, it reinforces local control over zoning and land use decisions, including regulating group home facilities. • Section VII. Homelessness: Strengthens policy support for Proposition 1 funding and implementation for mental health services, transitional housing, and long- term housing solutions. It also emphasizes "wrap-around" services, including job training, mental health and substance use treatment, and case management to support long- term stability and self-sufficiency.
The f
ollowing alternatives are available to the City Council/Board of Directors/Board of Trustees:
1. Adop
t the attached 2025 Legislative Platform as proposed;
2. Reques
t additional amendments to the 2025 Legislative Platform and adopt the document with amendments.
2 3
Staff recommends Alternative No. 1.
SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL/BOARD MOTION
I move to approve and adopt the attached 2025 Legislative Platform as proposed.
SUMMARY
The City Council adopted a Legislative Platform in 2023 to serve as the guiding policy document for the City when determining whether a position should be taken on proposed legislation at the State and Federal levels that may impact the City and, if so, the nature of that position. In 2014, the City Council directed staff to review and update the Legislative Platform in 2015 and biennially thereafter to ensure alignment with the Council’s evolving priorities. Accordingly, the proposed 2025-2027 Legislative Platform represents the next two-year iteration of this ongoing process.
_______________________________
Heather Sumagaysay,
Deputy City Manager
Prepared by: Heather Sumagaysay, Deputy City Manager
INDEX
Exhibit A – 2025-27 Legislative Platform………………………………………………………4
LEGISLATIVE
PLATFORM
LEGISLATIVE
PLATFORM
2025 – 2027
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Table of Contents
Introduction and Purpose
Introduction and Purpose
The City of Simi Valley maintains a Legislative Platform to facilitate the City’s expeditious response to county, state, and federal legislation in a proactive manner, since legislation can often move quickly through legislative bodies, with insufficient time for the City Council to take formal action. The Legislative Platform further serves as a guide for the City Council to consider legislative affairs on an ad hoc basis.
Whenever possible, the Mayor (or Mayor Pro Tem or City Manager, in the Mayor’s absence) is authorized to sign correspondence expressing the City’s position on pending legislation, consistent with the City’s Legislative Platform and/or other positions on pending legislation consistent with prior City Council actions.
City staff monitors state and county legislation for potential impacts to the City. Federal legislation may also be brought to staff’s attention by the League of California Cities, Ventura Council of Governments, or other professional organizations for fi elds such as engineering, water, finance, community development, or public safety.
City positions on pending legislation on topics not included in the Legislative Platform require a vote of the City Council. Nothing in the Legislative Platform is intended to preclude consideration of any legislation by the City Council, regardless of whether it is included in the Legislative Platform.
City positions in support of legislation on a specified topic shall be construed as opposition to something that shall do the opposite, and the reverse is also true. For example, if the Legislative Platform supports increased funding for libraries, it also inherently opposes decreased funding for libraries.
The City may participate in legislative-focused events hosted by the League of California Cities that include updates from the League of California Cities and its lobbyists representing cities’ interests, panel discussions of critical issues, meetings with the City’s representatives in the State Assembly and State Senate, and other networking opportunities. The City’s elected officials and City staff may also participate on the League’s Policy Committees, which focus on specific policy areas. Staff communicates regularly with elected officials and their representatives to address issues that arise in the City that may best be resolved with legislative action.
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Table of Contents
1. General Governance .................................................................................. X
1. Local Control
2. Workers’ Compensation
3. Unemployment Compensation
4. Labor Relations
5. State and Local Government Relations
6. Pension Reform
7. Telecommunications
8. Business Establishments/Licenses
9. Economic Development
10. Litigation Reform
11. Open Meeting Law (Brown Act)
2. Local Government Finance ........................................................................ X
1. State-Federal Mandated Programs
2. Long TermLong-Term Financing of Local Agencies
3. Revenues, Fees, and Taxes
3. Public ProtectionSafety .............................................................................. X
1. Crime
2. Drugs
3. Marijuana Regulation
4. Homeland Security
5. Emergency Preparedness
4. Transportation and Public Works ............................................................... X
1. Transportation
2. Vehicles
3. Solid Waste and Recycling
4. Public Works
5. Resources and Environment ...................................................................... X
1. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
2. Water
3. Storm Drain and Sewer
4. Air Quality
5. Energy
6. Utilities
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6. Community Development ........................................................................... X
1. Housing
2. Land Use
3. Successor Agencies
7. Homelessness ........................................................................................... X
8. Public Library ............................................................................................. X
9. The Arts, Cultural Resources, Historic Preservation .................................. X
10. Animal Services ......................................................................................... X
11. Military Service........................................................................................... X
1. Veterans’ Services
2. Military Spouses
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Introduction and Purpose
The City of Simi Valley maintains a Legislative Platform to facilitate the City’s expeditious response to county, state, and federal legislation in a proactive manner, since legislation can often move quickly through legislative bodies, with insufficient time for the City Council to take formal action. The Legislative Platform further serves as a guide for the City Council to consider legislative affairs on an ad hoc basis.
Whenever possible, the Mayor (or Mayor Pro Tem or City Manager, in the Mayor’s absence) is authorized to sign correspondence expressing the City’s position on pending legislation, consistent with the City’s Legislative Platform and/or other positions on pending legislation consistent with prior City Council actions.
City staff monitors state and county legislation for potential impacts to the City. F ederal legislation may also be brought to staff’s attention by the League of California Cities, Ventura Council of Governments, or other professional organizations for fields such as engineering, water, finance, community development, or public safety.
City positions on pending legislation on topics not included in the Legislative P latform require a vote of the City Council. Nothing in the Legislative Platform is intended to preclude consideration of any legislation by the City Council, regardless of whether it is included in the Legislative Platform.
City positions in support of legislation on a specified topic shall be construed as opposition to something that shall do the opposite, and the reverse is also true. For example, if the Legislative Platform supports increased funding for libraries, it also inherently opposes decreased funding for libraries.
The City may participate in legislative focused events hosted by the League of California Cities that include updates from the League of California Cities and its lobbyists representing cities’ interests, panel discussions of critical issues, meetings with the City’s representatives in the State Assembly and State Senate, and other networking opportunities. The City’s elected officials and City staff may also participate on the League’s Policy Committees which focus on specific policy areas. Staff communicates on a regular basis with elected officials and th eir representatives to address issues that arise in the City that may best be resolved with a legislative action.
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2023 2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
I. GENERAL GOVERNANCE
1. Local Control
a. a. Support legislation that protects local control and funding of vital community services including, but not limited to, improving public safety, land use planning, increasing transportation infrastructure investments, fair and community friendly environmental regulations, and transparency in public meetings the development of transparency measures of public meetings and other public disclosure requirements that are shared equally between elected and appointed officials at both the City and State governments.
2. Workers’ Compensation
a. Oppose legislation that would increases Workers' Compensation benefits that will result in additional employer costs.
b. Support legislation that would reforms the Workers' Compensation system to eliminate system abuse and limit presumptive eligibility claims for benefits.
c. Support legislation that would reform the Workersreforms the Workers' Compensation process to incentivize employees returning to work, creating a disincentive for those that do not return to available modified duty or alternate positions.
3. Unemployment Compensation
a. Oppose legislation that would increases employer liability for unemployment compensation or that would reduce local discretion.
4. Labor Relations
a. Oppose legislation that would impedes local administration of labor relations, and legislation that would require, impose, or expand compulsory binding arbitration for public employees.
b. Oppose legislation that would imposes state-mandated compulsory mediation or fact finding processes that are not mutually agreed upon by the local public agency and its employee organizations.
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c. Oppose legislation that would increases the cost of benefits, the cost of administering benefits, or mandate that a specialized occupational group benefit be provided to all employees.
d. Oppose legislation that reduces local control over public employee disputes and/or imposes regulations from an outside governmental agency or special interest group.
e. Oppose legislation that requires the use of City employees rather than allowing a City to have the flexibility to determine the most efficient means of providing a service, including contracting out.
f. Support legislation that will maintains the confidentiality of personnel matters.
5. State and Local Government Relations
a. Oppose legislative efforts that restricts the City from representing itself, including using contract representation, on issues of importance before State agencies and commissions.
b. Oppose state legislation that imposes onerous reporting or compliance burdens on cities, including laws that limit local authority over economic development incentives and land use decisions .
a.c. Support efforts of neighboring agencies and organizations who seek to accomplish initiatives that align with the City Council’s goals and objectives, Legislative Platform, City programs and projects, and other compatible proposals at the discretion of the City Council.
6. Pension Reform
a. Support legislation for pension reform that will reduces long-term costs for participating agencies, provide long- term financial stability and sustainability, and allow agencies to continue to be effective locally in recruiting and retaining a skilled, quality work force.
b. Support investment strategies that balance the short and long- term ability of CalPERS CalPERS's short—and long-term ability to meet its financial commitments to its members.
c. Support legislative objectives that maximize returns on investmentsinvestment returns and don’t limit investments to social and environmental mandated interests.
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7. Telecommunications
a. Support the legislation that preserves local government authority of cities to zone and plan for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure and the ability to maintain and manage the public right-of- way.
b. Support legislation that preserves the authority of cities to collect fair market fees for the use of local government infrastructure from telecommunications providerscities' authority to collect fair market fees from telecommunications providers for the use of local government infrastructure.
b.c. Oppose regulations and legislation that erodes or eliminates local government authority regarding the siting of cellular communications towers or transmission sites.
c.d. Support the authority of local government to retain full control over the time, place, and manner for the use of the public right of way in providingof using the public right of way to provide telecommunications services, including the appearance and aesthetics of equipment placed within it.
d.e. Support legislation that would preserves public, educational , and government (PEG) television channel funding and programming support by video service providers, such as: payments to local government of utility franchise fees, PEG fees, and facility/equipment grants; and furnishing public access production facilities.
8. Business Establishments/Licenses
a. Oppose legislation that restricts or weakens a city’s ability to license and/or regulate smoking areas, marijuana dispensaries, alcoholic beverage licenses, massage establishments, or adult-oriented business establishments.
b. Support legislation that enhances local control to license and/or regulate smoking areas, marijuana dispensaries, alcoholic beverage licenses, massage establishments, or adult-oriented business establishments.
9. Economic Development
a. Support legislation that would provides State or Federal aid and assistance in the development of local and regional economies.
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b. Support legislation that would provides resources and mechanisms to local governments to finance economic development efforts.
c. Support legislation that would provides local officials more discretion in the use of State and Federal funds.
d. Support legislation that will provide tools and incentives to support job creation and retention, such as Infrastructure Financing Districts, awarding of direct grants to fund the development of infrastructure that results in the creation and retention of jobs, the elimination of matching dollar requirements for economic development and infrastructure state grants; the provision of grants funding for infrastructure planning and design and the creation of economic development strategies ; and allowing cities the maximum flexibility in the use of state funds toward local priorities that support job creation.
e. Support legislation that provides additional tools to cities to provide business development and retention and job creation to generate economic stimulus.
f. Support legislation that expands enterprise zones to assist city economic development.
g.f. Support legislation that enacts and expands state tax incentives that assist City economic development and community revitalization efforts.
10. Litigation Reform
a. Support legislation that would limits local governments' exposure to lawsuits.
b. Support legislation that would develops statutory provisions calling for the reimbursement of all public entity attorney's fees, and defense costs and expenditures incurred in the successful defense of lawsuits.
b.c. Oppose legislation that limits local government's power to negotiate indemnification protections in public contracts.
11. Open Meeting Law (Brown Act)
a. Support legislation that recognizes the need to conduct the public’s business in public and that extends the application of the Brown Act to the State.
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b. Oppose legislation claiming to enhance open and public meetings that in practice unnecessarily complicates the ability of a local governing body to do the public’s business through unproductive restrictions.
c. Support legislation that supports alternative methods of meeting public notice requirements, and enhances them, through the use of cost effective and innovative, technology friendly methods of communication.
II. LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
1. State-Federal Mandated Programs
a. Oppose legislation that fails to provide adequate funding or creates a negative cash position for the City for State and Federal ly mandated programs.
b. Oppose measures that mandate procedures that would make local government more dependent on the State for financial stability.
c. Support legislation that protects local control and funding of vital community services including, but not limited to, improving public safety, land use planning, increasing transportation infrastructure investments, fair and community friendly environmental regulations, and the development of transparency measures of public meetings and other public disclosure requirements that are shared equally between elected and appointed officials at both the City and State governments.
2. Long Term Financing of Local Agencies
a. Oppose legislation that shifts revenue from local government to the State, or another agency, for any purpose or reduces local discretion in the use of local government revenues.
b. Support legislation that further protects local government revenue from being taken, confiscated, shifted, diverted, or otherwise used to fund State government, or another agency’s, operations and responsibilities.
3. Revenues, Fees, and Taxes
a. Support legislation that maintains or provides funding mechanisms to provide better service (i.e., streets and roads infrastructure, economic development related programs, water and sewer infrastructure).
b. Oppose legislation that does not preserve and protect the existing situs- based sales tax under Bradley Burns 1% base.
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c. Oppose legislation that would changes the property tax collection method or formula that would result in less property tax to local governments.
d. Oppose legislation that would transfers a local government’s reserves, or designated reserves, to the State or other agency, or reduces a local government’s revenue due to the level of reserves it maintains.
e. Oppose legislation that would reduces or eliminate critical local programs and services as a result of State budget cuts (i.e., public safety, transportation, streets and roads).
f. Support legislation that would amends the State Constitution Article XIIID, Section 6.C, to include storm drain fees among the list of types of fees that are exempt from the voting requirements imposed by Proposition 218.
g. Support legislation that provides State and local authority for cities to collect their fair allocation of sales tax on Internet or other remote transactions.
h. Support legislation that returns motor vehicle license fees to local governments without any offsets to existing local revenues.
i. Support legislation to collect the full amount of local transient occupancy tax from online sales of lodginglodging sales.
j. Oppose legislation that threatens a local government's right to receive compensation for use of its public right-of-way including, but not limited tousing its public right -of-way, including gas, electricity, refuse, and cable and video providers.
k. Oppose legislation that would eliminates any development fee or tax , including excise taxes.
l. Support legislation where the state must provide full and prompt reimbursement to all local agencies for all state mandatedthat requires the state to fully and promptly reimburse all local agencies for all state- mandated programs and/or infractions and losses associated with local revenue shifts.
m. Oppose legislation that restricts the ability of the City to transfer revenue from a utility or other enterprise activity to the City’s general fund.
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III. PUBLIC PROTECTIONSAFETY
1. Crime
a. Support legislation that strengthens State anti -graffiti laws and enhances consequences for those convicted of vandalism.
b. Support legislation that increases authority and resources devoted to cities for abatement of graffiti and other acts of public vandalism.
c. Support legislation that would protects the public from crime.
d. Support legislation that provides for additional funding sources dedicated toadditional funding for public safety programs, including (911 systems, interoperability, fire suppression , medical response, mental health response), services, and personnel.
e. Support legislation that aims to strengthen local law enforcement efforts to prevent crime and prosecute those committing a crime.
f. Support legislation that would supports reimbursement by the federal government for the costs associated with incarcerating deportable criminals.
g. Support legislation that would enhances local control over public nuisances including adult entertainment facilities, problem alcohol establishments, and properties where illegal drugs are sold.
h. Support legislation that provides tools for the comprehensive and collaborative management of sex offenders, including tools for tracking the location of sex offenders within local jurisdictions so long as any state mandated program provides full reimbursement to the local agencies.
i. Support legislation that provides funding for implementing Proposition 36 and enhances penalties for retail theft committed by individuals or organized retail theft groups, while also increasing resources for law enforcement response efforts.
j. Oppose legislation that limits local control over the use of Asset Forfeiture Funds, ensuring these resources remain available for public safety and crime prevention efforts.
k. Oppose legislation that seeks to remove qualified immunity for peace officers, provided their actions are objectively reasonable given the 15 12
circumstances, to ensure law enforcement personnel can perform their duties without fear of undue liability while maintaining accountability and public trust.
2. Drugs
a. Support legislation that gives local government the power to restrict or regulate the sale, manufacture, and use of alcohol and marijuana.
b. Support legislation that would provides a greater share of seized assets to localities.
c. Support legislation that provides local government the power to determine whether anti-opiate medication should be deployed in a given community, and who has the authority to administer it.
c.d. Support legislation that provides resources for education, intervention, treatment, and criminal justice programs related to the opioid and fentanyl epidemic.
3. Marijuana Regulation
a. Support legislation that enhances and protect s maximum local regulatory, land use, and enforcement authority in relation to medical and adult use cannabis businesses.
b. Support legislation that recognizes and affirms the authority of cities as it relates to the location, operation, and establishment of medical and adult use cannabis businesses, including deliveries of cannabis.
4. Homeland Security
a. Support legislation that would provide funding to local governments for Homeland Security measures.
b. Support legislation that would require Federal law enforcement agencies to communicate with local law enforcement officials as threats become known.
5. Emergency Preparedness
a. Support legislation that provides additional funding for emergency communication interoperability, fire suppression, wildfire prevention and 16 13
mitigation, disaster resilience infrastructure, and mental health crisis intervention to enhance community safety and rapid response capabilities.
b. Support legislation that protects wildfire prevention and response efforts, including funding for vegetation management, defensible space programs, fire-resistant infrastructure, fire hazard reduction zone mapping, and community education initiatives to reduce wildfire risk and enhance resilience.
c. Support expanded resources for emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, including grants for local governments to enhance emergency operations plans, conduct community drills, improve evacuation routes, and provide public education on disaster readiness.
a. Oppose legislation that imposes unfunded mandates or shifts the financial burden of wildfire emergency response onto local governments, ensuring the state and federal governments are responsible for funding large-scale disaster response and recovery efforts.
IV. TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS
1. Transportation
a. Oppose legislation that directs local transportation funds away from cities.
b. Oppose legislation that limits and/or decreases the amount of money local public agencies can withhold from a contractor prior to completion of a project.
c. Support legislation that appropriates State and Federal funds to city and regional governments for transportation projects, including funds for the preservation and maintenance of streets and roads.
d. Support legislation or grant opportunities that provide funding for developing or enhancing alternative vehicle fueling infrastructure. This would support transportation funding by all system usersthat would support transportation funding by all users of the system, rather than a gasoline tax, which is a declining revenue source.
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2. Vehicles
a. Support legislation that promotes maximum city control of local streets and the road system, including the ability to plan and implement electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure to meet local needs..
b. Support legislation that promotes vehicle speed limits that are designated and enforced designated and enforced vehicle speed limits with consideration of street design, neighborhood characteristics, adjacent land use, and mix of transportation mode usage.
b.c. Support the reauthorization of Cap- and-Trade funding and other state and federal programs that provide dedicated funding for EV infrastructure expansion, incentives for EV adoption, and investments in sustainable transportation solutions.
3. Solid Waste and Recycling
a. Support legislation that promotes long- term, cost beneficial cost- beneficial recycling and conversion technologies.
b. Oppose legislation that restricts or limits a local government’s ability to franchise refuse and recycling collection services.
c. Oppose legislation that restricts or limits a local government's ability to direct municipal solid waste flow.
d. Oppose legislation that restricts or limits a local government's ability to contractually require haulers to guarantee the achievement of AB 939/AB 341 and SB 1383 goals.
e. Support legislation that provides cities with financial assistance for programs designed to provide for the safe disposal safely dispose of solid, hazardous, and special wastes.
f. Support legislation that promotes source reduction measures without creating an unfunded mandate.
g. Support new resource recovery and conversion technologies, such as bio-diesel from organic waste. and digester gas (methane) recovery and reuse, to enhance sustainability and reduce waste.
h. Support legislation and efforts to expand the market for recycled materials, including advance disposal fees, minimum content laws, 18 15
manufacturer responsibility programs, and recycling market development zones.
4. Public Works
a. Support legislation that would allow the City increased discretion for awarding contracts.
b. Support legislation that promotes innovative ways of contracting for public projects allowing for award based on best value while providing full and open competition/supports flexibility for public private partnerships to enhance public works funding.
V. RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
1. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
a. Support legislation that amends the CEQA permit and review process to be more efficient.
b. Support legislation that increases local government discretion during the CEQA process.
c. Oppose legislative changes to CEQA that would unfairly burden cities.
d. Oppose legislation that would limits a local agency’s ability to challenge the aesthetic impact of a project under CEQA.
2. Water
a. Support legislation that would provides the Fox Canyon Ground Water Management Agency necessary tools to manage and protect the ground water system.
b. Support legislation that would provides Southern California with a more stable and reliable water supply, including expanded water storage projects. and improve infrastructure for conveyance storage capacity, flexibility, and reliability of clean water, including the Delta Conveyance Project and expanded water storage projects.
c.
d.b. Support legislation that would provides economic incentives and funding to develop alternative local water resources.
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e.c. Support legislation that would advances the opportunity for local governments to provide reclaimed/recycled water as an alternate water source.
f.d. Support legislation that would addresses the conflict of interest requirements and the ten percent rule that governs the State and Regional Water Quality Control Board.
g. Support legislative efforts to provide financial and technical assistance for the development of local water supply enhancement projects that promote resource sustainability including , but not limited to, groundwater desalination, recycled water , water conservation measures, and distribution system interconnection projects designed to reduce dependence on the imported water supply from the Bay Delta.State Water from the Sacramento- San Joaquin Delta Delta or Colorado River.
h.e. Support legislation that would makes it easier for cities to fund and comply with new and increasingly stringent storm water quality permit requirements.
i.f. Support legislation that comprehensively evaluates water supply in relation to housing production with the State.
3. Storm Drain and Sewer
a. Support legislation to provide funding for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit compliance and other mitigation measures and projects to reuse, divert, or treat urban runoff.
b. Oppose legislation that imposes more stringent requirements on storm drain runoff without providing funding and/or consideration of the feasibility of monitoring and mitigation of such requirements.
c. Support legislation that the capacity of existing sewer and water lines can be considered when granting a permit for the construction of housing, e.g., ADUs and SB9 units.
c.d. Support legislation to provide funding for replacement of end of life pipe in sanitary collection systems to mitigate leakage.
4. Air Quality
a. Oppose legislation that mandates State and Federal air quality regulations and programs that are not fully funded.
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b. Oppose legislation that restricts the authority of cities to establish local air quality standards and programs that are stricter than federal and state standards.
c. Oppose legislation that restricts the land use authority of local cities.
d. Support funding and/or a graduated implementation timeline for cities for the mandatory transition of fleet and heavy dutyheavy-duty vehicles to electric vehicles
e. Support tax credits, grants, loans and other incentives to assist the public, businesses, and local agencies that invest in energy efficient equipment and technology, and fuel efficient, and other incentives to assist the public, businesses, and local agencies in investing in energy- efficient equipment and technology and fuel-efficient vehicles.
5. Energy
a. Support legislation that would provides funding for alternative energy sources, energy efficiency, and conservation measures.
b. Support legislation that would supports tax credits, grants, loans and other incentives to assist the public, businesses, and local agencies that invest in energy efficient equipment and technology, and fuel efficient, low emission vehicles.
c. Oppose legislation that would preempts the ability of a city to deny a land use permit or restrict its ability to issue a conditional use permit for the siting of a hazardous waste facility.
d. Support legislation which that protects the rights of cities to use cap and trade revenues and other funding sources for activities to increase innovation, such as funding for transit efficiency and air quality projects, to implement actions to decrease emissions.
e. Support legislation that comprehensively evaluates energy polices in relation to current and future demand, including housing production.
6. Utilities
a. Support the constitutional right of municipal utilities to operate outside the jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
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b. Oppose any legislation that would erodes the ability of municipal utilities to operate, or place them under PUC control.
d.e. Support legislation that enhances the public power options available to cities.
e.f. Support Community Choice Aggregation and measures that further the goals of choice, clean energy, and affordable rates.
f.g. Support funding for local governments for energy resiliency.
g.h. Support legislation or rule changes at the California Public Utilities Commission that hold Investor- Owned Utilities financially responsible to local governments, businesses, and residents for imposing Public Safety Power Shutoffs in the community. Financial liability can include but is not limited to liability for traffic accidents due to the de- energization of traffic signals, loss of revenues and productivity for businesses and employees, loss of food, and the irreparable damage, or failure of, appliances.
h.i. Support legislation or rule changes at the California Public Utilities Commission that hold Investor- Owned Utilities to the rates set by the California Public Utilities Commission and rates cannot unilaterally change due to market conditions.
VI. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
1. Housing
a. Oppose legislation that restricts local discretion in the use of housing funds or meeting local housing needs without local input .
b. Support legislation that addresses occupancy levels and strengthens a local government's ability to reduce overcrowding in residential housing.
c. Support legislation to develop State and Federal financial support and incentives for programs that provide adequate, affordable housing for the elderly, disabled, and low -income persons throughout the community.
d. Support Housing Element reform legislation that increases local control and flexibility, simplifies the process, improves effectiveness, and limits 22 19
the California Department of Housing and Community Development's review role.
e. Support legislation that defines an equitable process to determine regional housing needs.
f. Support legislation that permits cities to regulate group home facilities and residential care facilities in residential neighborhoods, including the application of zoning, building, and safety standards.
g. Support legislation that requires State and County licensing agencies to confer with the City before issuing a license for a community care facility.
h. Support Federal funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) for community development, affordable housing, neighborhood improvement, and economic development needs.
i. Oppose reductions to formula funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program.
j. Support legislation that provides local government with community revitalization tools and funding mechanisms.
k. Support legislation that implements comprehensive reforms to the housing element process that address conflicts between local growth projections and state regional housing need numbers; resolves problems associated with the distribution of RHNA units within a council of governments; achieves improvements to the housing element review process; develops a neutral dispute resolution process and fair enforcement alternatives to deal with disputes over questions of compliance; requires state laws and policies that affect housing land use to be internally consistent; establishes additional legal protections to local agencies that approve affordable housing and that establish local proactive affordable housing policies; and authorize communities that achieve quantifiable affordable housing production levels to self -certify their housing elements without being subject to state review.
l. Oppose legislation that mandates housing production quotas or imposes punitive measures on cities for failing to meet RHNA allocations, recognizing that cities facilitate but do not construct housing. Oppose legislation or mandates that create requirements or punitive impacts for a city to produce housing, as cities do not construct housing.
m.l. Support legislation that assist s in providing financing for affordable housing, including the development of fiscal tools and incentives to assist local governments in their efforts to encourage housing and 23 20
finance the infrastructure to support housing, as well as establishing an ongoing state commitment for funding affordable housing.
n.m. Support legislation that maintains cities as the enforcement authority for mobile home regulation.
o.n. Support legislation that preserves existing mobile home parks as a source of affordable housing.
p. Oppose legislation that provides for allocated housing units as a mandated production requirement (given that cities do not construct housing).
o. Support legislation that provides that the construction of ADUs can be counted toward an individual City’sallows the construction of ADUs to be counted toward an individual city’s RHNA allocation.
q.p. Oppose legislation that requires cities to amend its permitting process and programs without any funding available for reimbursement.
2. Land Use
a. Oppose legislation, or other agency actions, that would usurp local control of land use decision-making.
b. Oppose legislation that would imposes State mandates or procedures that are contrary to local development standards.
c. Support legislation that protects local zoning as a function of cities.
f. Support legislation that provides for the continuation of the State Williamson Act contracts.
g. Support legislation that would supports the filming industry in the City.
h. Oppose legislation that would preempts the ability of the City to deny a land use permit or restrict the City’s ability to issue a conditional use permit for the sitingCity from denying a land use permit or restrict the City’s ability to issue a conditional use permit for the sitting of a hazardous waste facility.
i. Support legislation that the proposed use of a project site ( e.g., parking garage vs. residential development) should be the determining factor in the proposed cleanup level of a site.
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3. Successor Agencies
a. Oppose legislation that reduces the amount of Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund (RPTTF) revenues allocable to successor agencies.
b. Oppose legislation that shifts revenue from successor agencies to the State.
c. Oppose legislation that authorizes other agencies to assess successor agencies for services rendered.
d. Oppose legislation that prohibits a successor agency from repaying loans from a city that were provided to the agency for a lawful purpose.
e. Support legislation that simplifies the process for the creation of infrastructure financing districts.
f. Support legislation that allows infrastructure financing districts and other use of tax increment funds not be tied to high unemployment or low incomeuses of tax increment funds to be untied to high unemployment or low-income areas.
g. Support legislation that allows cities that loaned redevelopment agencies funds and have achieved their Finding of Completion to be repaid 100% exclusive of a housing set aside requirement.
VII. HOMELESSNESS
1. Homelessness
a. Support legislation that would makesmake funding and other resources available ensuring to help assure that local governments have adequate resources for shelter programs, supportive services, and homelessness prevention efforts.the capacity to address the needs of the homeless in their communities.
b. Support legislation that would encourage increases state and federal funding for mental health services, transitional housing programs, and long-term housing solutions, including the implementation and expansion of Proposition 1 funding to help local governments address homelessness and needs effectively in the community.state and federal funding to be designed to reflect responsibilities imposed by State and Federal law.
c. Support legislation that requires “ wrap around” services, including job training, mental health and substance use treatment, and case 25 22
management—as part of housing programs to promote long- term stability and self-sufficiency. job training, be provided in housing programs for the homeless so individuals have the tools to be successful long term.
VIII. PUBLIC LIBRARY
1. Library Services
a. Oppose legislation that reduces funding for public libraries, including Public Library funds, and support legislation that provides financial assistance for local public libraries without the imposition ofimposing new taxes.
b. Support legislation that ensures cities receive a proportionate share of property taxes upon withdrawal from a county library services district, or any other county service or district for property taxes are received.
d. Support legislation that provides financial assistance for local public libraries.
e. Support legislation with the intent to allow City operated Libraries (as opposed to districts) to have an “advisory” commission, not a Board as per current law.
IX. THE ARTS, CULTURAL RESOURCES, HISTORIC PRESERVATION
1. The Arts
a. Support legislation for continued state funding that recognizes the role that local arts activities and historic preservation have in community life.
X. ANIMAL SERVICES
1. Animal Services
a. Support legislation that promotes low -cost or no- cost spay and neuter programs.
b. Support legislation that holds animal owners accountable for injuries or property damage caused by animals under their care or control.
XI. MILITARY SERVICE
1. Veterans’ Services
a. Support legislation and funding to increase accessibility to Veterans’ Services in Simi Valley and the surrounding area.
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b. Support legislation that makes it easier for Military Veterans to work in California, including the transfer of out of Stateout-of-State licenses and certifications for a temporary period during a tour of duty or to obtain a permanent license in their field.
2. Military Spouses
a. Support legislation that makes it easier for military spouses to work in California, including the transfer of out of State licenses and certifications for a temporary period during a tour of duty or to obtaintransferring out of State licenses and certifications for a temporary period during a tour of duty or obtaining a permanent license in their field.
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