CC MIN 05172022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Assistant to the City Manager Becky Hopkins reported on the City's Legislative Framework and advised the City's legislative focus areas for 2022 include COVID-19 recovery, housing, fiscal sustainability, fostering economic prosperity, infrastructure, protecting local control, creating a safer and secure community, sustainable development, and regional collaboration. Assistant to the City Manager Hopkins reported City staff and advocates from Townsend Public Affairs and the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) reviewed 79 bills for position-taking. Townsend Public Affairs Senior Associate Andres Ramirez reported on many of its advocacy efforts on behalf of the City, including federal and State budget requests, submitting letters with the City's stated positions, monitoring legislation, and engaging elected officials. Mr. Ramirez reported the State projects a $90 billion surplus and much of this money will go out as grants for one-time projects. He reported, in consultation with the Interim City Manager and in consideration of the Council's priorities list, the City will focus its requests on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) mitigation funding. He reported Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan put forward a $3 million request as one of her top priority requests to help fund the City's PFAS combatting efforts. He advised $2 million towards the City's PFAS efforts also made the request list from Congressman Eric Swalwell for a federal appropriation. He advised the City continues to work with Senator Dianne Feinstein on possible funding for the Interstate 680 and Sunol Boulevard interchange project. Assistant to the City Manager Hopkins reported the housing bills being presented are ones where the recommendation is to oppose with comments and staff is looking for Council feedback. Director of Community Development Ellen Clark stated staff has concerns about Assembly Bill 916's elimination of discretionary review for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) and raises the maximum height of ADUs to 18 feet. She reported AB 1850 impacts how cities can acquire non-deed restricted housing and convert it to deed-restricted. She reported AB 2011 expands the "by right" approval ability for affordable and mixed-income residential projects from only its proximity to mass transit to also include proximity to major road corridors. She reported AB 2053 would create a new State agency with the ability to construct public housing projects. Director Clark reported AB 2063 would waive fees for affordable housing units with a density bonus. She advised there are concerns about unclear language in addition to the potential lost fee revenue for cities. She reported AB 2097 would prohibit cities from imposing minimum parking requirements for projects within a half mile of mass transit. She advised AB 2097 is similar to Senate Bill 1067 also on this list. She reported AB 2221 excessively truncates the timeline for an ADU. She reported AB 2234 could lead to cities facing litigation under the Housing Accountability Act. She reported AB 2334 greatly expands existing housing density bonus law to include areas not only near mass transit. She reported SB 897 would raise the height limit for an ADU to 25 feet and remove the sunset provision. She reported SB 930 has been narrowed since first introduced but is still unsatisfactory as it relates to the proposed new category of extremely-low income housing. Councilmember Testa requested changing to support for SB 1457, noting the bill comes with funding to create a first-time homebuyer program. In response to Councilmember Testa, Mr. Ramirez noted he has a good relationship with Senator Hertzberg's senior staff and will convey Councilmember Testa's thoughts on SB 1457. He confirmed Councilmember Testa said to support SB 1457 with amendments in the Legislative Subcommittee and the opposition in the staff report is a mistake. City Council Minutes Page 11 of 16 May 17,2022