ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: City Manager Item No: C6
Prepared by: Angela Baggett, Management Analyst Meeting Date: February 14, 2023 Approved by: Amanda Lee, Acting City Manager Agenda Location: Consent Calendar SUBJECT: 2023 CITY LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the 2023 Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives.
CORRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: All goals.
PRIOR ACTION: On January 11, 2022, approved the Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5-0).
On January 12, 2021, approved the Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5-0).
For a complete list of prior City Council actions, please see Exhibit 3.
STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: Each year, there are a number of issues before the State Legislature and U.S. Congress that impact local governments. City Council approval of a designated Legislative Platform enables staff to act in support of or in opposition to proposed legislation or policy that is covered by the platform without taking each item before the City Council for an approved position. Through the adoption of the legislative platform, staff can respond in a timely manner to pending legislation and have the City’s position considered during legislative hearings. Using broad policy guidelines allows the City to support legislation that consistently advocates local control, stronger law enforcement, and reduced regulation of local agencies, while opposing measures that would reduce City autonomy or impose greater restrictions or requirements on local governments, such as unfunded mandates.
The City’s Legislative Platform covers a variety of topics, including protection of local control, funding sources and authority, local government finance, law enforcement, water management, fire safety, and housing and labor relations. During the legislative session, the City took positions on seventeen bills. The City took seven positions of opposition, and ten support positions. Topics of bills covered included planning and zoning, organic waste, clean energy, and employment mandates. The City also provided letters of support for grants for regional projects and issues.
Each year, thousands of bills are introduced into the Legislature. Staff uses legislative tools provided by the League of California Cities to stay abreast of legislation that may affect the City. Staff places an emphasis on several high-priority legislative objectives that align with City Council Goals and are followed at a higher level throughout the year.
Staff recommends adoption of the 2023 Legislative Platform.
AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
02/14/2023 C6 Page 1 of 14
This item was removed from the agenda. To be brought back to Council February 28, 2023.
MEETING DATE: February 14, 2023 PAGE 2
SUBJECT: 2023 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the staff recommendation.
EXHIBITS:
1. 2023 Legislative Platform Updated Clean Copy
2. 2023 Legislative Platform Redlined
3. Prior City Council Actions
02/14/2023 C6 Page 2 of 14
1 CITY OF VISTA
2023 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
For the purpose of the Legislative Platform, the term "City" includes the City of Vista, the Vista Community Development Commission, Buena Sanitation District, and the Joint Powers Financing Authority. The City supports efforts that promotes its ability to accomplish the City Council's goals and objectives and which support the effective provision of City services to residents. The City of Vista opposes efforts which reduce local control or local funding sources, and supports efforts which provide greater local control and/or local funding options. Any legislative proposals that would increase taxes or fees, or impose a revenue enhancement upon our citizens, will be placed upon the agenda for City Council consideration prior to any staff action. This platform is a general listing of legislative issues of concern to the City.
CORE POLICY ISSUES
Local Control
a. Advocate efforts that enhance local control of resources, programs, and tools that allow the City to address the needs and concerns of its residents, and oppose any efforts that preempt local authority.
b. Support efforts that reflect a positive, collective, and cohesive approach to regional solutions, as long as local control is maintained.
c. Oppose efforts that would negatively impact the infrastructure, public health and safety, community development, equitable community services, cultural integrity and environmental programs and other local city efforts to maintain and enhance the quality of life in Vista.
Local Finance and Revenues
a. Support legislative and budget measures that protect and enhance its existing funding sources, revenue base and control over local government budgeting. b. Oppose efforts to shift local funds to the county, state or federal governments, diminish its revenue base or impose new mandates that are unfunded or inadequately funded. c. Oppose any efforts that negatively impact the City's fiscal viability by adding further financial burden through unfunded mandates or other means.
d. Oppose any efforts to increase reporting requirements related to locally raised revenues. e. Oppose any efforts to reduce or redirect the City's current revenues. f. Oppose efforts that would reduce local discretion over local revenues, taxes,fees and other funding sources.
g. Oppose efforts that would reduce the City's ability to use debt financing and traditional government financing instruments for the purchase or construction of public purpose improvements, and support the enactment of revenue measures and fees that close the gap between the tax revenue from development and the cost of providing city services.
EXHIBIT 1
02/14/2023 C6 Page 3 of 14
2 h. Support state legislation and funding that preserve and improve the safety, security, cultural resources, infrastructure, and well-being of our residents,workers, businesses, and visitors. i. Oppose efforts that either increase the City's liability or decrease outside parties' liability concerning municipal finances.
j. Support a statutory or constitutional redistribution of property tax revenues that more equitably reflects local government responsibilities.
k. Support efforts to allow access to Redevelopment Bond Proceeds issued in 2011.
I. Oppose efforts that negatively impact limiting the City's immunity from tort claims.
SPECIFIC ISSUES
Homelessness & Housing
a. Support efforts to establish a permanent funding source for the development, rehabilitation and preservation of affordable housing. Advocate for efforts to review and reduce state- mandated regulations on housing development.
b. Support efforts that provide flexibility and give the City greater authority in meeting the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) requirements.
c. Support efforts that provide funding and resources to assure local governments have the ability to address the needs of the homeless in their communities, and protects the City's ability to preserve public safety and livability
d. Support efforts to develop Federal and State participation and financial support for creative programs to provide adequate, affordable housing (home ownership, rental opportunities, rehabilitation and homeless assistance)for the elderly, handicapped, public sector employees, and low-income persons throughout the community.
e. Oppose legislation that penalizes a city if units identified in the Regional Housing Need Assessment(RHNA) are not constructed.
f. Support legislation that addresses the complex issues of homelessness from a regional perspective that employ best practice strategies to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness by: preventing homelessness of those at risk; providing emergency and supportive housing; expanding affordable permanent housing; and promoting self-empowerment through counseling,job training, and other supportive services.
Public Safety
Fire Safety
a. Support efforts that promote national fire code development using an open, consensus- based process.
b. Support efforts to create a funding mechanism for a regional fire department in San Diego County that does not diminish the ability of cities to provide essential services and mechanisms that increase reimbursement funding for Medicare and Medi-Cal programs. c. Oppose any negative impacts resulting from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, specifically supporting efforts to minimize financial impact on Emergency Medical Services. 02/14/2023 C6 Page 4 of 14
3 d. Support efforts that increase state and federal funding for local law enforcement, fire suppression, wildfire prevention, hazardous materials mitigation, and Emergency Medical Services. e. Support innovative health and safety efforts that improve access to primary and preventive care and decrease use of emergency departments.
f. Support legislation that provides funding support for disaster preparedness, including:
earthquake preparedness, fire prevention and response, Homeland Security, hazardous material response, and other local disaster relief activities. g. Oppose any efforts that take away the ability of local agencies to choose their emergency response providers, increase EMS costs, or increase EMS reporting requirements. Support innovative efforts and pilot programs that enable emergency providers to control costs. h. Support state and regional efforts to improve interoperability of voice and data communications equipment.
Law Enforcement
i. Support measures that provide funding to local agencies for training, effective disaster preparedness, homeland security, and emergency planning. j. Oppose efforts that would impede local law enforcement from addressing crime problems and recovering costs resulting from a crime committed by a guilty party. k. Support efforts that strengthen local law enforcement, including: prevention of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; effective abatement of illegal land uses and illegal businesses; the sharing of criminal history information between states; registration of sex offenders; the provision of a greater share of seized assets to localities; cost recovery from the guilty party when alcohol or drugs are present; increased sentences for criminals involved in activities such as violence, gangs, narcotics, and human trafficking or repeated offenses.
I. Support legislation that would provide increased funding to public safety agencies to enhance training to address community needs such as mental health and homelessness.
Fiscal Responsibility
a. Actively seek grants for various projects that are consistent with the council goals and needs of the community.
b. Support the protection of existing local funding sources and the authorities that provide funding to the City of Vista.
c. Oppose statewide attempts to preempt local budgetary control or remove the ability of a local government Fiscal Responsibility.
d. Support full cost reimbursement to the City for all Federal, State or County mandated programs. e. Advocate and support strategies for managing debt and optimizing funds byjudiciously spending, earning, and generating funds without placing undue hardship on its residents.
A Cleaner Vista/Climate and Environmental Responsibility a. Support measures to increase the water supply or improve water quality within the region and that encourage voluntary water conservation.
02/14/2023 C6 Page 5 of 14
4 b. Support measures that serve to protect and enhance the City's natural resources, air quality, open space and parklands, and clean water, and attainment of resource efficiencies such as energy conservation.
c. Support federal resources that will afford greater ability to adopt energy efficient technologies and implement conservation strategies through grants and other funding mechanisms. d. Support legislation that retains and/or provides local flexibility in determining how best to meet state sustainability and energy efficiency standards.
Parks & Recreation
a. Support legislation and funding the serves to foster and promote an engaged and connected community.
b. Support legislation that provides adequate and consistent funding to support the acquisition, development, and operation and maintenance requirements of recreation, parks and community services agencies at the local, State, and Federal levels. c. Support legislation that provides funding to support public art, both performing and visual. d. Support legislation that provides funding or otherwise promotes programs to address and increase the level of physical activity among our community's residents.
Economic Development
a. Support efforts that provide tangible and productive tools to encourage job creation, and economic growth.
b. Support efforts that promote planning, programing, and projects to create infrastructure development.
c. Support legislation that protects competitive neutrality, procurement autonomy, ratepayer affordability, reliability, decarbonization and social equity initiatives of the community.
Traffic/Transportation: Continue to improve the flow of traffic for all forms of travel, reduce congestion, and improve our roads and sidewalks
a. Support legislative measures and funding that serve towards the completion of a network of integrated trails, bikeways, roads, and highways to ensure mobility and access. b. Support a long-term transportation authorization bill that provides dedicated and continuous appropriations of new monies directly to cities to help them plan for the preservation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and development of local infrastructure. c. Oppose transportation proposals that would adversely affect the quality of life in North San Diego County by causing traffic congestion, safety concerns, air pollution, and/or negatively impact equity, social, or environmental justice.
Labor Relations
a. Oppose efforts that would increase the City's liability for unemployment compensation and retirement pensions including reforms that redefine independent contractors. 02/14/2023 C6 Page 6 of 14
5 b. Oppose efforts that would increase employee Workers' Compensation benefits without system reforms to offset increased employer costs, and that would provide presumptive eligibility for the award of Workers' Compensation.
c. Support efforts to modify the federal Fair Labor Standards Act to permit adjustable work schedules to meet the needs of management and labor and to eliminate prospective and retroactive overtime payments.
d. Support efforts to enact pension reform to reduce future labor costs. e. Support efforts that provide more employer flexibility for all aspects of Employer-Employee relations to include subject areas of mandated bargaining and mandating additional components to the 'meet and confer' process.
f. Support measures that promote recruitment efforts and educational practices to advance and retain workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
02/14/2023 C6 Page 7 of 14
CITY OF VISTA
202-23 LEGISLATIVE
PLATFORM
DRAFT
For the purpose of the Legislative Platform, the term "City" includes the City of Vista, the Vista Community Development Commission, Buena Sanitation District, and the Joint Powers Financing Authority. The City supports efforts that promotes its ability to accomplish the City Council's goals and objectives and which support the effective provision of City services to residents. The City of Vista opposes efforts which reduce local control or local funding sources, and supports efforts which provide greater local control and/or local funding options. Any legislative proposals that would increase taxes or fees, or impose a revenue enhancement upon our citizens, will be placed upon the agenda for City Council consideration prior to any staff action. This platform is a general listing of legislative issues of concern to the City.
CORE POLICY ISSUES
Local Control
a. Advocate efforts that enhance local control of resources, programs, and tools that allow the City to address the needs and concerns of its residents, and oppose any efforts that preempt local authority.
b. Support efforts that reflect a positive, collective, and cohesive approach to regional solutions, as long as local control is maintained.
c. Oppose efforts that would negatively impact the infrastructure, public health and safety, community development, equitable community services, cultural integrity and environmental programs and other local city efforts to maintain and enhance the quality of life in Vista.
Local Finance and Revenues
a. Support legislative and budget measures that protect and enhance its existing funding sources, revenue base and control over local government budgeting. b. Oppose efforts to shift local funds to the county, state or federal governments, diminish its revenue base or impose new mandates that are unfunded or inadequately funded. c. Oppose any efforts that negatively impact the City's fiscal viability by adding further financial burden through unfunded mandates or other means.
d. Oppose any efforts to increase reporting requirements related to locally raised revenues. e. Oppose any efforts to reduce or redirect the City's current revenues. f. Oppose efforts that would reduce local discretion over local revenues, taxes,fees and other funding sources.
g. Oppose efforts that would reduce the City's ability to use debt financing and traditional government financing instruments for the purchase or construction of public purpose improvements, and support the enactment of revenue measures and fees that close the gap between the tax revenue from development and the cost of providing city services.
EXHIBIT 2
02/14/2023 C6 Page 8 of 14
h. Adveeate State and Federal funding that supperls Gity infrastruGture and other prejeGts.
Support state legislation and funding that preserve and improve the safety, security, cultural resources, infrastructure, and well-being of our residents,workers, businesses, and visitors. i. Oppose efforts that either increase the City's liability or decrease outside parties' liability concerning municipal finances.
j. Support a statutory or constitutional redistribution of property tax revenues that more equitably reflects local government responsibilities.
k. Support efforts to allow access to Redevelopment Bond Proceeds issued in 2011.
I. Oppose efforts that negatively impact limiting the City's immunity from tort claims.(moved from previously listed under Risk management).
SPECIFIC ISSUES
Homelessness & Housing
a. Support efforts to establish a permanent funding source for the development, rehabilitation and preservation of affordable housing. Advocate for efforts to review and reduce state- mandated regulations on housing development.
b. Support efforts that provide flexibility and give the City greater authority in meeting the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) requirements.
c. Support efforts that provide funding and resources to assure local governments have the ability to address the needs of the homeless in their communities, and protects the City's ability to preserve public safety and livability
d. Support efforts to develop Federal and State participation and financial support for creative programs to provide adequate, affordable housing (home ownership, rental opportunities, rehabilitation and homeless assistance)for the elderly, handicapped, public sector employees, and low-income persons throughout the community
e. Oppose legislation that penalizes a city if units identified in the Regional Housing Need Assessment(RHNA) are not constructed.
f. Support legislation that addresses the complex issues of homelessness from a regional perspective that employ best practice strategies to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness by: preventing homelessness of those at risk; providing emergency and supportive housing; expanding affordable permanent housing; and promoting self-empowerment through counseling,job training, and other supportive services.
Dick Managernen+
a. .(moved to
new section)
Law Enfornernent Public Safety
Fire Safety
a. Support efforts that promote national fire code development using an open, consensus- based process.
02/14/2023 C6 Page 9 of 14
b. Support efforts to create a funding mechanism for a regional fire department in San Diego County that does not diminish the ability of cities to provide essential services and mechanisms that increase reimbursement funding for Medicare and Medi-Cal programs. c. Oppose any negative impacts resulting from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, specifically supporting efforts to minimize financial impact on Emergency Medical Services. d. Support efforts that increase state and federal funding for local law enforcement, fire suppression, wildfire prevention, hazardous materials mitigation, and Emergency Medical Services. e. Support innovative health and safety efforts that improve access to primary and preventive care and decrease use of emergency departments.
f. Support legislation that provides funding support for disaster preparedness, including:
earthquake preparedness, fire prevention and response, Homeland Security, hazardous material response, and other local disaster relief activities. g. Oppose any efforts that take away the ability of local agencies to choose their emergency response providers, increase EMS costs, or increase EMS reporting requirements. Support innovative efforts and pilot programs that enable emergency providers to control costs. h. Support state and regional efforts to improve interoperability of voice and data communications equipment.
i. Support measures that provide funding to local agencies for training, effective disaster preparedness, homeland security, and emergency planning.
Law Enforcement
j. Oppose efforts that would impede local law enforcement from addressing crime problems and recovering costs resulting from a crime committed by a guilty party. k. Support efforts that strengthen local law enforcement, including: prevention of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; effective abatement of illegal land uses and illegal businesses; the sharing of criminal history information between states; registration of sex offenders; the provision of a greater share of seized assets to localities; cost recovery from the guilty party when alcohol or drugs are present; increased sentences for criminals involved in activities such as violence, gangs, narcotics, and human trafficking or repeated offenses.
I. Support legislation that would provide increased funding to public safety agencies to enhance training to address community needs such as mental health and homelessness.
Fiscal Responsibility
a. Actively seek grants for various projects that are consistent with the council goals and needs of the community.
b. Support the protection of existing local funding sources and the authorities that provide funding to the City of Vista.
c. Oppose statewide attempts to preempt local budgetary control or remove the ability of a local government Fiscal Responsibility.
d. Support full cost reimbursement to the City for all Federal, State or County mandated programs. e. Advocate and support strategies for managing debt and optimizing funds byjudiciously spending, earning, and generating funds without placing undue hardship on its residents. 02/14/2023 C6 Page 10 of 14
Water Management A Cleaner Vista/Climate and Environmental Responsibility a. Support measures to increase the water supply or improve water quality within the region and that encourage voluntary water conservation.
b. Support measures that serve to protect and enhance the City's natural resources, air quality, open space and parklands, and clean water, and attainment of resource efficiencies such as energy conservation.
c. Support federal resources that will afford greater ability to adopt energy efficient technologies and implement conservation strategies through grants and other funding mechanisms. d. Support legislation that retains and/or provides local flexibility in determining how best to meet state sustainability and energy efficiency standards.
Parks & Recreation
a. Support legislation and funding the serves to foster and promote an engaged and connected community.
b. Support legislation that provides adequate and consistent funding to support the acquisition, development, and operation and maintenance requirements of recreation, parks and community services agencies at the local, State, and Federal levels. c. Support legislation that provides funding to support public art, both performing and visual. d. Support legislation that provides funding or otherwise promotes programs to address and increase the level of physical activity among our community's residents.
Economic Development
a. Support efforts that provide tangible and productive tools to encourage job creation, and economic growth.
b. Support efforts that promote planning, programing, and projects to create infrastructure development
c. Support legislation that protects competitive neutrality, procurement autonomy, ratepayer affordability, reliability, decarbonization and social equity initiatives of the community.
Traffic/Transportation: Continue to improve the flow of traffic for all forms of travel, reduce congestion, and improve our roads and sidewalks
a. Support legislative measures and funding that serve towards the completion of a network of integrated trails, bikeways, roads, and highways to ensure mobility and access. b. Support a long-term transportation authorization bill that provides dedicated and continuous appropriations of new monies directly to cities to help them plan for the preservation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and development of local infrastructure. c. Oppose transportation proposals that would adversely affect the quality of life in North San Diego County by causing traffic congestion, safety concerns, air pollution, and/or negatively impact equity, social, or environmental justice.
02/14/2023 C6 Page 11 of 14
Labor Relations
a. Oppose efforts that would increase the City's liability for unemployment compensation and retirement pensions including reforms that redefine independent contractors. b. Oppose efforts that would increase employee Workers' Compensation benefits without system reforms to offset increased employer costs, and that would provide presumptive eligibility for the award of Workers' Compensation.
c. Support efforts to modify the federal Fair Labor Standards Act to permit adjustable work schedules to meet the needs of management and labor and to eliminate prospective and retroactive overtime payments.
d. Support efforts to enact pension reform to reduce future labor costs. e. Support efforts that provide more employer flexibility for all aspects of Employer-Employee relations to include subject areas of mandated bargaining and mandating additional components to the 'meet and confer' process.
f. Support measures that promote recruitment efforts and educational practices to advance and retain workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
02/14/2023 C6 Page 12 of 14
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS
On January 11, 2022, approved the 2022 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5-0).
On January 12, 2021, approved the 2021 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5-0).
On January 14, 2020, approved the 2020 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5-0).
On January 22, 2019, approved the 2019 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5-0).
On December 12, 2017, approved the 2018 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5- 0).
On January 24, 2017, approved the 2017 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5-0).
On January 10, 2017, approved the updated Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives with the addition of the word "voluntary" prior to "water conservation" in the Water Management section and the exception of the statement under the Housing section, which will be modified and brought back for City Council approval (Vote: 5-0).
On January 13, 2015, approved the 2015 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 4-1, Campbell opposed).
On January 14, 2014, approved the 2014 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 4-1, Campbell opposed).
On January 8, 2013, approved the 2013 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote:
5-0).
On February 22, 2011, approved the 2011 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5- 0).
On January 26, 2010, approved the 2010 Legislative Platform (Vote: 5-0).
On February 24, 2009, approved the 2009 Legislative Platform (Vote: 5-0).
On February 12, 2008, approved the approved the 2008 Legislative Platform and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2008-32, approving the submittal of Federal appropriations requests for Federal Fiscal Year 2009 (Vote: 4-0, Campbell absent).
On February 13, 2007, approved the 2007 Legislative Platform with amendments (Vote: 4-0, Campbell absent).
On February 14, 2006, approved the 2006 Legislative Platform (Vote: 4-0, Campbell absent).
On January 25, 2005, approved the 2005 Legislative Platform with amendments (Vote: 5-0).
On January 27, 2004, approved the 2004 Legislative Platform with amendments (Vote: 5-0).
On January 28, 2003, approved the 2003 Legislative Platform with amendments (Vote: 5-0).
EXHIBIT 3
02/14/2023 C6 Page 13 of 14
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS
Between 1989 and 2003, the City Council acted on an annual basis approving a legislative platform.
02/14/2023 C6 Page 14 of 14
CITY OF VISTA C A L I F 0 R N I A
City Council
Legislative Platform 2023
February 14, 2023
CITY OF VISTA
C6 . Legislative Platform 2023
Each year, there are a number of issues before the State Legislature and U .S . Congress that impact local governments. City Council approval of a designated Legislative Platform enables staff to act in support of, or in opposition to, proposed legislation or policy that is covered by the platform without taking each item before the City Council for an approved position .
CITY OF VISTA
C6 . Legislative Platform 2023
Core Policy Issues:
• Local Control
• Local Finance and Revenues
Specific Issues:
• Homelessness & Housing
• Public Safety
• Fire Safety
• Law Enforcement
• Fiscal Responsibility
• A Cleaner Vista/Climate and Environmental Responsibility • Parks & Recreation
• Economic Development
• Traffic/Transportation: Continue to improve the flow of traffic for all forms of travel, reduce congestion, and improve our roads and sidewalks • Labor Relations
CITY OF VISTA