ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: City Manager Item No: C8
Prepared by: Imelda M. Huerta, Assistant City Manager Meeting Date: February 27, 2024 Approved by: John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Consent Calendar SUBJECT: 2024 CITY LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the 2024 Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives.
CORRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: All goals.
PRIOR ACTION: On February 13, 2024, directed staff to bring back the 2024 Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives with the addition of Universal Health Care (No vote taken).
On February 28, 2023, approved the Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5-0).
On January 11, 2022, 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: On February 13, 2024, staff brought forward the annual Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives for approval by the City Council. The updated Legislative Platform included the following additions:
•Public Safety Section
o Support programs that help ensure public safety through the assistance and rehabilitation of individuals challenged with mental and/or substance abuse illnesses and increase awareness and training opportunities.
•A Cleaner Vista/Climate and Environmental Responsibility Section o Support legislation and funding that would help the City meet the goals of the Climate Action Plan (CAP), including GHG reduction.
•Economic Development Section
o Advocate for measures that support the City’s continued efforts to retain and promote local businesses and for removal of regulations that impose excessive requirements or restrictions that hinder the success of these enterprises.
o Support legislation and funding that helps the City of Vista provide residents with equitable access to City programs and services.
o Support legislation that increases access to quality, affordable early care and education child care in the region.
AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
Approved the 2024 Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives.
Vote: 3-1-1 (Mayor Franklin opposed; Green abstained).
MEETING DATE: February 27, 2024 PAGE 2
SUBJECT: 2024 CITY LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
The additions were based on positions taken previously and Council discussions and priorities.
The City Council discussed the updated Legislative Policy Objectives and directed staff to bring back an option for Universal Health Care. The following recommendation was made at the meeting:
•Support efforts for universal health care at the State and Federal level.
Staff will include the approved verbiage on the updated 2024 Legislative Platform under the Economic Development section.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the staff recommendation.
EXHIBITS:
1.2024 Legislative Platform Updated Clean Version
2.2024 Legislative Platform Redlined
3.Prior City Council Actions
02/27/2024 C8 Page 2 of 14
CITY OF VISTA
2024 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. 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.
02/27/2024 C8 Page 3 of 14
EXHIBIT 1
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. l)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.
02/27/2024 C8 Page 4 of 14
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
a)Oppose efforts that would impede local law enforcement from addressing crime problems and recovering costs resulting from a crime committed by a guilty party. b)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.
c)Support legislation that would provide increased funding to public safety agencies to enhance training.
d)Support programs that help ensure public safety through the assistance and rehabilitation of individuals challenged with mental and/or substance abuse illnesses and increase awareness and training opportunities.
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.
02/27/2024 C8 Page 5 of 14
e)Advocate and support strategies for managing debt and optimizing funds by judiciously 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.
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. e)Support legislation and funding that would help the City meet the goals of the Climate Action Plan (CAP), including GHG reduction.
f)Parks & Recreation
g)Support legislation and funding the serves to foster and promote an engaged and connected community.
h)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. i)Support legislation that provides funding to support public art, both performing and visual. j)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 procurement autonomy and public procurement best practices, ratepayer affordability, reliability, decarbonization and social equity initiatives of the community.
d)Advocate for measures that support the City’s continued efforts to retain and promote local businesses and for removal of regulations that impose excessive requirements or restrictions that hinder the success of these enterprises. e)Support legislation and funding that helps the City of Vista provide residents with equitable 02/27/2024 C8 Page 6 of 14
access to City programs and services.
f)Support legislation that increases access to quality, affordable early care and education childcare in the region.
g)Support efforts for universal health care at the State and Federal level.
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. b)Oppose efforts that would increase employee Workers' Compensation benefits without system reforms to offset increased employer costs.
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 that provide more flexibility for all aspects of Employer-Employee relations. e)Support measures that promote recruitment efforts and educational practices to advance and retain workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
02/27/2024 C8 Page 7 of 14
CITY OF VISTA
20234 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. 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.
02/27/2024 C8 Page 8 of 14
EXHIBIT 2
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. l)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.
02/27/2024 C8 Page 9 of 14
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
a)Oppose efforts that would impede local law enforcement from addressing crime problems and recovering costs resulting from a crime committed by a guilty party. b)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.
c)Support legislation that would provide increased funding to public safety agencies to enhance training.
c)d) Support programs that help ensure public safety through the assistance and rehabilitation of individuals challenged with mental and/or substance abuse illnesses and increase awareness and training opportunities.
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.
02/27/2024 C8 Page 10 of 14
e)Advocate and support strategies for managing debt and optimizing funds by judiciously 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.
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. e)Support legislation and funding that would help the City meet the goals of the Climate Action Plan (CAP), including GHG reduction.
e)f) Parks & Recreation
f)g) Support legislation and funding the serves to foster and promote an engaged and connected community.
g)h)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. h)i) Support legislation that provides funding to support public art, both performing and visual. i)j) 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 procurement autonomy and public procurement best practices, ratepayer affordability, reliability, decarbonization and social equity initiatives of the community.
d)Advocate for measures that support the City’s continued efforts to retain and promote local businesses and for removal of regulations that impose excessive requirements or restrictions that hinder the success of these enterprises. e)Support legislation and funding that helps the City of Vista provide residents with equitable 02/27/2024 C8 Page 11 of 14
access to City programs and services.
c)f) Support legislation that increases access to quality, affordable early care and education child care in the region.
g)Support efforts for universal health care at the State and Federal level. d)
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. b)Oppose efforts that would increase employee Workers' Compensation benefits without system reforms to offset increased employer costs.
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 that provide more flexibility for all aspects of Employer-Employee relations. e)Support measures that promote recruitment efforts and educational practices to advance and retain workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
02/27/2024 C8 Page 12 of 14
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS
On February 13, 2024, directed staff to bring back the 2024 Legislative Platform and Legislative Policy Objectives with the addition of Universal Health Care (No vote taken).
On February 28, 2023, approved the 2023 Legislative Platform and Policy Objectives (Vote: 5- 0).
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). 02/27/2024 C8 Page 13 of 14
EXHIBIT 3
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).
Between 1989 and 2003, the City Council acted on an annual basis approving a legislative platform.
02/27/2024 C8 Page 14 of 14