14 - Laserfiche WebLink

BACKGROUND In 2016, the City Council adopted for the first time a Legislative Platform that outlined guiding principles, goals and strategies, with a recommendation for federal, state and local priorities, and a recommendation for positions on pending legislation. In 2018, in an effort to better position the City's advocacy efforts, the 2016 Legislative Platform was updated into a Legislative Framework with recommended annual Legislative Focus Areas. Each year since then, the City Council Legislative Subcommittee is asked to review and discuss state and federal legislation and determine policy positions for recommendation to the City Council. DISCUSSION On April 7, 2023, the City Council Legislative Subcommittee met and reviewed the City's Legislative Framework and 2023 Focus Areas, which together will serve as a policy document to guide the City's advocacy efforts and assist staff in evaluating legislation and policy issues. The Legislative Framework includes guiding principles that represent the City's overall legislative interests. The 2023 Legislative Focus Areas were developed by considering the current political landscape at the federal and state level in addition to current regional and local issues. The Focus Areas do not preclude the City from responding to any legislation outside of these Focus Areas, and City staff will prepare position letters for the Mayor's signature as needed throughout the legislative session to respond to any bills of concern if in alignment with the City's adopted Legislative Framework. The Subcommittee and staff recommend the following Focus Areas for 2023. An overarching theme for each focus area is the City's ability to retain local control and decision making. Housing • Support, promote, protect affordability in the housing stock. • Support a balanced approach to housing solutions that consider housing, jobs and transportation together. • Support protection of impact fees. • Support the preservation of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) provisions that protect the environment and local control. Fiscal Sustainability • Oppose local, regional, state, or federal mandates that are unfunded or partially funded. • Oppose measures that seek to limit the City's abilities to adopt revenue measures. • Support effective options for cities to address unfunded pension liabilities that will ensure that cities remain financially stable and are able to provide services to their residents. Page 2 of 4