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make these benefits complicated, if not impossible, to access. The budget thus states that continued strategic and targeted use of CEQA exemptions will be an important component of making affordable housing production more objective, aligning key definitions and administrative processes, and reducing costs and time spent in CEQA litigation. DISCUSSION The City of Pleasanton has an adopted Legislative Framework that outlines the guiding principles that guide the City's legislative advocacy efforts. Each year, the City Council Legislative Subcommittee affirms the Legislative Framework and identifies Focus Areas for the current legislative cycle and brings them forward to the City Council for adoption. Staff reviewed the Governor's proposed Housing Accountability Unit and vetted it through the adopted framework, specifically, the guiding principles on Housing and Protect Local Control. These guiding principles are shown below. Housing. The City supports legislation that seeks balanced solutions which consider housing, jobs, and transportation together. The City supports legislation that provides, promotes and protects affordability in the housing stock. The City supports legislation that is context-sensitive, that does not take a one size fits all approach and allows the City to exercise its local control developing locally- appropriate plans that meet State objectives in a manner that is compatible with existing community character. The City supports legislation that provides funding and resources for infrastructure and services in tandem with new housing production mandates. Protect Local Control. The City supports legislation and policies that protects and ensures the City's ability and authority to exercise local control, enable excellent public services and protect and enhance the quality of life for Pleasanton residents and businesses, and supports efforts to streamline regulations that simplify the City operations and opposes efforts to erode the City's authority to control its own affairs. The Housing Accountability Unit as proposed seeks to facilitate production of affordable housing through monitoring, technical assistance, and enforcement of existing housing production laws. HCD would also act as an ombudsman and help local governments navigate and comply with state housing laws and make sufficient progress toward their Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). As such, this budget measure aligns with our City's Legislative Framework. With it's focus on producing affordable housing and providing technical assistance to help local governments make progress towards their RHNA allocations it aligns with the City's Guiding Principle on Housing. With the volume of housing bills being signed into law each year, additional support to cities and counties for assistance in implementation of these laws through technical assistance would be a benefit to the City. This budget measure does not impede upon the City's local control. The City complies with all State Page 3 of 4