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2016 LQ Legislative Policy GuideLegislative Policy Guide City of La Qu i nta vrAr 62aw-a — GEM of the DESERT — 2u16 Legislative Policy Guide The Legislative Policy Guide is a tool for the City to navigate through the legislative landscape. This document details the City's policy positions on priority issues and provides a comprehensive approach to allow staff to take immediate action on pressing legislation under City Council direction. The guide identifies legislative trends and active legislation that may have an impact on the City's interests and affairs, and supplements other Council -established goals and policies. It is intended to be updated on a regular basis. Guiding Principles I. Enhance Local Authority The City of La Quinta is a charter city that supports legislation aimed at preserving local authority. Additional regulation or mandates that undermine local control are detrimental to quality service delivery. II. Sustain Fiscal Responsibility The City of La Quinta has been able to successfully maneuver through redevelopment dissolution and economic downturn through prudent, disciplined spending and cost- effective stewardship of City resources. Therefore, the City supports measures that promote fiscal stability. III. Foster Economic Development The City of La Quinta generally supports legislative efforts designed to foster economic development tools and funding options for effective service delivery. IV. Promote Health and Wellness The City of La Quinta actively seeks to promote a healthy and vibrant community that provides various recreational activities and opportunities for residents to enjoy the unique benefits of La Quinta. V. Support Public Safety The City of La Quinta strongly supports community safety by providing high quality law enforcement and fire services and maintaining health and safety standards for its residents. VI. Encourage Preservation of Environment The City of La Quinta is a thriving desert oasis that supports a proactive and thoughtful stance regarding the enhancement and conservation of the desert environment that surrounds us including the Salton Sea. In 2015, the City of La Quinta continued its mission to sustain long-term financial stability, regardless of the challenging economic environment. Healthcare, retail, and hospitality industries continued to thrive as the City's major economic base, while the biggest drivers of the local economy were tourism and the retail industry. Health and wellness became a City hallmark through increased programing, culminating with the grand opening of the La Quinta Wellness Center. 2015 was another successful year for the City. This year's legislation continues to be fraught with challenges, as the Redevelopment Agency dissolution remains unresolved. Last year's legislative efforts materialized as Governor Brown signed SB 107, which sought to streamline the dissolution of Redevelopment by providing for an annual Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS) process, ability to petition for a final and conclusive ROPS determination, repayment of city/agency loans and many other provisions. A great concern last year was AB 278, which sought to require cities under 100,000 population to conduct district based elections. AB 278 has recently been amended and AB 2220 has been introduced to allow Cities to "voluntarily" enact district based elections without having to go to their voters. r 1 Brief Analysis and Trends: 2015 IN REVIEW AND THE FUTURE OF 2016. California's current drought continues to be a priority for Governor Brown and the California Legislature. On January 17, 2014 Governor Brown issued an executive order B-29-15, which requires the State Water Resources Control Board ("Water Board") to enact a statewide 25% reduction in potable urban water usage through February 28, 2016. These restrictions require water suppliers to California's cities and towns to reduce usage as compared to the amount used in 2013. Transportation funding will continue to be a top priority for the 2016 legislative session. On June 19, 2015 Governor Brown convened an extraordinary session on transportation funding calling for a plan to generate $3.6 billion annually. LEGISLATION IMPACTING US The public policy landscape is constantly changing and it is incumbent on the City to stay up to date on the latest developments. Anticipating the effects emergent legislation may have on the community is therefore imperative. Below is a short outline of impact in three key areas. TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS Senate Democrats Transportation Plan: • SB 1X (Beall) Aims to increase transportation revenues for 5 years and raise $2.8-3.6 billion annually to focus on the preservation and maintenance of existing systems. • The Assembly Speaker's transportation Plan proposes $10 billion for transportation infrastructure $2 billion per year over the next 5 years —starting in 2015-16. The Speaker's Transportation Plan: • $1 billion per year by returning truck Weight Fees to transportation instead of using them to repay general obligation debt. • $200 million per year for transportation funding by accelerating repayment of transportation loans. • $800 million per year in new net funds for transportation by establishing a new Road User Charge. POST REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY DISSOLUTION AB 2492 expands upon AB2 (Chapter 319 Statutes of 2015) which Authorizes the creation of a Community Revitalization Investment Authority (CRIA) at the local level which intends to improve conditions leading to increased employment opportunities, including reducing high crime rates, repairing deteriorated and inadequate infrastructure, and developing affordable housing. AB2492 proposes to authorize the median household income requirements contained in AB2 to be made with a combination of census tracts and census block groups. Our legislative advocates, Joe A. Gonsalves & Son, are sponsoring AB 806, which will be an "gut & amend" in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee to enable local governments to enter into loan agreements, sale agreements, lease agreements, or other agreements to create, retain, or expand new jobs. In addition, AB 806 will enable cities to acquire properties and sell, lease and/or transfer such properties to further economic development. Utilization of SB 107, In February the City submitted its annual ROPS and we will continue to work towards a last and final determination as well as repayment of our city/agency loans.2 Authorizes the creation of a Community Revitalization. PUBLIC SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT Medical Marijuana: AB 21 (Wood) amends the recently enacted Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act ("MMRSA"), to clarify the authority of cities and counties to regulate medical marijuana cultivation in their jurisdictions. Specifically, AB 21 deletes a provision of the MMRSA that grants the Department of Food and Argicultre ("DFA"), beginning March 1, 2106, sole licensing authority for medical marijuana cultivation applications in any city of county that lacks land use regulations or ordinances regulating or prohibiting the cultivation of marijuana, either expressly or otherwise under the principles of permissive zoning, or chooses not to administer a conditional permit program pursuant to MMRSA. On February 3, 2016, Governor Brown signed AB 21 (Wood) into law. Since AB 21 was passed as an "urgency", the bill takes effect immediately. Governor's Sentencing Reform Initiative: On January 27, 2016, Governor Brown joined law enforcement and other leaders to announce support for the amended "Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016," an initiative he purports will protect and enhance public safety reduce wasteful spending on prisons, improve rehabilitations and prevent federal courts from ordering the release of prisoners. Final amendments to the initiative, which is expected to appear on the November 2016 ballot, have not been filed. The Initiative: • Authorizes parole considerations for nonviolent inmates wo complete the full sentence for their primary offense. • Allows inmates to earn credits for good behavior, education and rehabilitative achievement. • Requires judges rather than prosecutors to decide whether juveniles as young as 14- years-old should be tried as adults. Environment Salton Sea: AB 1095 requires, on or before March 31, 2016, the Natural Resources Agency shall submit to the Legislature a list of shovel -ready Salton Sea restoration projects, including information regarding project costs and project completion timelines, "shovel -ready" means those projects that are in either the final planning, environmental review, or permitting phase. Policy Positions ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • The City of La Quinta supports economic development policies and funding mechanisms that foster a hospitable and thriving business environment. • In light of budget shortfalls, the City supports public - private development opportunities that encourage economic activity and promote health and wellness within the City. • The City supports retaining financial flexibility and authority with regard to redevelopment dissolution matters. • Opposes measures that would make the City more dependent on the State for financial stability. • Supports legislation that facilitates the recoupment of City costs derived from State and Federal mandates. FINANCE • The City of La Quinta is a charter city that relies on contract services to provide efficient service delivery. • Opposes any change in revenue allocations which would negatively affect local governments. • Opposes any action that would preempt local control over locally imposed taxes and other funding sources. HOUSING • Supports legislation that develops programs to increase housing opportunities to meet growth demand in our area. • Supports legislative efforts that provide incentives to local governments and private developers to develop additional housing opportunities including affordable housing for low income and disabled seniors, adults, and veterans. ENVIRONMENT • The City of La Quinta supports the preservation of our environment. • Supports financial incentives for water reuse and legislation that encourages the treatment of municipal wastewater for non -potable reuse and promote the development of reasonable regulations to encourage and maximize the responsible use of reclaimed water as an alternative to California's fresh water supply. TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE • The City of La Quinta supports measures that provide financing tools for increasing effective, clean transportation. • Supports clean energy alternatives that are adequately funded. • Supports State clean energy programs that are financially viable and direct funding to local government to invest in clean energy. • The City of La Quinta supports developing vital infrastructure and streamlining the local, state, and federal process for infrastructure development in order to better meet local needs. • Supports legislation that strengthens local authority over land use and infrastructure development. PUBLIC SAFETY • The City of La Quinta generally supports legislation that strengthens local law enforcement and safeguards communities. • Supports measures aimed at providing sustained support for law enforcement to deal with the additional supervision and enforcement requirements of State -mandated realignment provisions. • Opposes expansion of "early release" for offenders without necessary mechanisms in place for local law enforcement to provide corresponding services. TOURISM • The City of La Quinta strongly supports attracting tourism. • Supports efforts that help promote the City's hospitality, parks and recreation, health and wellness offerings, and entertainment venues. • Supports working closely with public and private agencies to help boost advertisement and other means of garnering tourism. • Supports measures that provide funding for parks and recreation programs. Monthly Overview of Legislative Calendar for Below is an overview that summarizes major legislative events and key dates that occur month to month, and following is the 2016 Legislative Calendar created by the Office of the Secretary of the Senate. January: The previous year's laws go into effect during this month. Legislature reconvenes to discuss the new year of legislation ahead, and all bill requests must be submitted before the end of the month. Budgets must be submitted by the Governor during the beginning portion of the month. February: The last day for bills to be introduced occurs at the end of February. March: Spring Recess occurs at the end of the month. March 17 - March 28, 2016. May: The beginning of this month marks the last day for policy committees to hear and report to fiscal committees regarding fiscal bills being introduced. Policy committees must also report non -fiscal bills by the middle of the month. Policy committees are given their last day to meet before convening in June near the end of this month, and report Floor bills for their house. June: Floor session conducted in the beginning of the month, the last day for bills to be passed out of the house of origin occurs, and the committee meetings resume. All budgets must be passed by middle of month. July: The last day for policy committees to meet and report bills occurs during the month before Summer Recess begins. July 1 - August 1, 2016. August: Legislature reconvenes from Summer Recess. The last day for fiscal committees to report bills to the floor occurs at the end of the month. Floor session begins at the end of the month as well. September: The last day to amend bills on the Floor occurs at the beginning of the month, with the last day for each house to pass bills occurring in the middle of the month. Interim Study Recess begins shortly after. September 30th Last day for Governor to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature before Sept. 1 and in the Governor's possession on or after Sept. 1.