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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-018 RESOLUTION NO 2006-018 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATASCADERO ESTABLISHING THE CITY LEGISLATIVE ACTION PROGRAM AND PRIORITIES FOR 2006 WHEREAS, the mayor objective of the City Council is to adopt an aggressive legislative program which strengthens local government, promotes City goals and defends the City against legislative actions by State and Federal governments that would weaken local government and/or take away traditional revenue sources, and WHEREAS, it is vital to the fiscal health and the self determination of the City to effectively communicate with State Legislators and Federal representatives in order to favorably influence State and Federal legislation, regulations and grant requests, and WHEREAS, the League of California Cities conducts a legislative analysis and advocacy program on behalf of cities for State issues and mayor Federal issues, and WHEREAS, the County has a direct impact upon the quality of life in Atascadero, it is imperative that the City maintain quality communications and WHEREAS, the City desires to be proactive and involved in the governmental decision making processes directly affecting the City legislative priorities identified in Exhibit "A", the League of California Cities legislative priorities identified in Exhibit "B", and other selected issues as may from time to time be recommended by the League of California Cities, and WHEREAS, a key component of the City's Legislative Action Program is face to face meetings between City representatives and elected officials at the Federal, State, and County levels, and coordination with similar efforts made by other local government entities, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Atascadero does hereby establish the Legislative Action Priorities for 2006, as set forth in the attached Exhibit "A", and authorizes staff to take positions on legislation generally consistent with the Legislation Action Priorities and such other resolutions and recommendations of the League of California Cities as may be from time to time presented to the City BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that City staff is directed to schedule meetings, as appropriate and convenient, with our Congressional, State Senate and State Assembly representatives to discuss and promote the City's legislative program, and to continue efforts to improve communications and relationships with the County Board of Supervisors and north county cities to further our interests in land use and other relevant issues City of Atascadero Resolution No.2006-018 Page 2 of 8 On motion by Council Member Clay and seconded by Council Member Luna, the foregoing Resolution is hereby adopted by the following roll call vote AYES Council Members Clay, Luna, Pacas and Mayor O'Malley NOES None ABSENT Council Member Scalise ABSTAIN None ADOPTED February 14, 2006 AO�F AT DERO, CA Tom O'Malley, Mayo,,, ATTEST 01W,1UL )W Marcia McClure Torgerson, C.M.C. City Clerk APPROV AS Patrick ity Attorney City of Ataseadero Resolution No.2006-018 Page 3 of 8 EXHIBIT A CITY OF ATASCADERO CITY LEGISLATIVE ACTION PRIORITIES FOR 2006 FEDERAL PRIORITIES • Obtain all funding entitled to the City from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in response to the San Simeon Quake, specifically funding for the Administration Building. • Oppose any telecommunications legislation that takes away a City's right to franchise with local cable television providers or takes away franchise fee revenues. • Require full funding of federally mandated programs • Promote continued and increased funding sources for streets and transportation • Obtain new funding sources to expand housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income families. • Support legislation that provides regulatory relief to local government in complying with the Fair Labor Standards Act and overtime provisions for exempt employees • Support legislation to increase the availability of grant funding to replace aging infrastructure of all types, e g. streets, bridges, water and sewer systems, etc • Support legislation which assists welfare reform to work in a positive way and provides funding for the social service programs of local non-profit organizations • Support legislative action to retain the existing process of local judicial review of land use decisions, thus avoiding preemptory, premature intrusion of federal courts into matters best known to local authorities at the local level • Oppose mandatory social security for newly hired local governmental employees • Promote federal efforts toward preservation of open space, coastal resources, signature land forms, wetlands, and other natural resources or areas threatened by development (Position must be reviewed by Council prior to any action) • Support legislation that encourages research and development by businesses through tax credits or other incentive programs • Support legislation that grants monies to local agencies, educational institutions and non- profit corporations to provide incubator services to new and small businesses dedicated to developing new technologies City of Atascadero Resolution No.2006-018 Page 4 of 8 • Support funding for national and international tourism promotion • Support continued funding for CDBG at or above recent levels and with more discretion available to local agencies • Support continued funding for Federal block grants for local law enforcement and encourage legislation that distributes homeland security money to all agencies based on need and not simply on proximity to large urban areas. • Support a sustainable energy policy STATE PRIORITIES FINANCE • Support efforts to protect the City from loss of revenues due to State mandates • Support legislation that strengthens opportunities for local fiscal independence • Support legislation that returns ERAF funds, state mandated reimbursements, and any other revenues owed to the City • Support efforts to "protect, preserve and reform" local government revenue sources" • Support legislation that protects Proposition 42 funds and ensures that gasoline sales tax is allocated to local governments for transportation projects COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT • Oppose mandated State approval of local General Plan Elements, such as implementing and compliance with State General Plan Housing element law • Promote funding sources to encourage the retrofitting of non-reinforced masonry buildings. • Promote realistic housing requirements in the Housing Element. • Promote the concept of Urban Growth Boundaries • Promote the City of Atascadero's Principles for Smart Growth as adopted by the City Council 1%W 0 Promote State assistance to meet affordable housing goals City of Atascadero Resolution No.2006-018 Page 5 of 8 • Support legislation that maintains redevelopment agencies and their ability to reform commercial areas and finance affordable housing. PUBLIC SAFETY • Preserve City's authority to investigate police misconduct • Preserve City's authority to establish emergency medical service levels • Increase City authority to regulate group homes for juvenile offenders • Continue support for disaster preparedness/earthquake preparedness • Support efforts to secure higher levels of cost recovery for DUI's • Support efforts to expand the scope of parental responsibility for crimes committed by minors • Support efforts to provide the Governor with authority to override the parole board when anyone convicted of a violent offense is proposed to be released on parole • Preserve the authority of local control on issuance of concealed weapons permits • Retain budget commitments for Public Safety supplemental funding—State COPS program • Support legislation to help curb underage drinking • Support another ABC inspector to work on minor/alcohol issues • Support legislation enhancing penalties for inmate offenses at the State Hospital • Oppose new or increased state fees for state provided law enforcement service • Support legislation enhancing Megan's Law or regulating the movement of registered sex offenders TRANSPORTATION • Change Gas tax laws to allow local tax for transportation purposes based on a majority vote of the public • Increase transportation funding (including transit,bicycles, others) 1%W • Support issuance of bonds for roads, highways and other transportation infrastructure investments and ensure that a portion of funding raised from bonds is allocated to local government for local road projects. City of Atascadero Resolution No.2006-018 Page 6 of 8 • Support Cal Trans to complete the Highway 41/Highway 101 Interchange PERSONNEL/EMPL0YEE RELATIONS • Preserve the fiscal integrity of PERS • Support reforms to PERS consistent with the League of Cities position that protects the defined benefit system and ensures that any changes or reforms to the system do not create a two-tiered system, but focus on the real issues and concerns (i e. medical retirements, board composition, investment policy,rate smoothing) • Oppose binding arbitration and expansion of the "Peace Officers' Bill of Rights" • Oppose legislation that curtails management rights • Monitor employee healthcareibenefit changes • Oppose any legislation that removes a local agency's ability to establish contract terms, wages, or other terms of employment. PUBLIC WORKS • Better define "qualified"bidders in public contracts bidding • Redefine prevailing wages as "average" local wages • Streamline Federal and State process for funding street projects • Obtain grant funding for seismic retrofit projects (buildings, bridges, etc ) PARKS AND RECREATION • Support recreational programming,particularly for youth within the City • Support funding for- protection of natural resources (e g., the Lake), open space, and parks development • Support funding for rehabilitation of existing parks • Support efforts at the state level for another park and open space bond measure • Obtaining grant funding for the preservation of historic buildings City of Atascadero Resolution No.2006-018 Page 7 of 8 • Seek rapid completion of the trail along Atascadero Creek UTILITIES • Provide funding for reclaimed water programs • Support legislation to enhance local government's ability to comply with solid waste requirements • Support legislation to increase availability of grant funding for replacement of aging infrastructure • Support legislation to eliminate mandatory penalties for violations of NPDES Requirements and returning discretionary control to the Regional Water Quality Control Board Executive Officers. (Repeal SB 709) • Support legislation which will enhance market development for recycled materials • Support legislation to exempt cities from liability for leakage of hazardous waste discharged to POTW's from sewers • Support legislation promoting the responsible and cost-effective reuse of biosolids • Support legislation to streamline the state regulatory permit process through the use of general permits COUNTY PRIORITIES • Protect Atascadero water resources, and continue to support the Nacimiento Pipeline Project • Develop consistency between the City and County General Plans, particularly to emphasize the concepts that (1) urban development should be municipal, and (2) unincorporated areas shall remain rural, agricultural, or open space in character • Create a North County Government Center in Atascadero • Improve regional solid waste management • Improve regional pubic transportation and how funding for such transit is calculated • Develop cooperative approaches for providing services on a regional basis **AW • Discuss and resolve issues on the City periphery, such as conversion of agricultural zoning to residential subdivision and industrial use, allowing increases in density in residential and City of Atascadero Resolution No.2006-018 Page 8 of 8 industrial areas, allowing substantial development beyond the City's urban reserve line and giving greater credence to and respecting the integrity of the City's planning process • Continue to work with other cities to convince the County that urban-like development should take place within the boundaries of cities, and not in the unincorporated areas — and especially not within the urban growth boundaries of cities • Support construction of an expanded public library in the downtown area �r