Title
Recommendation to Adopt the Legislative Program for 2016. (City Manager 2110)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Interim City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Adopt the Legislative Program for 2016
BACKGROUND
Many cities and counties annually adopt a legislative program to guide the agency’s legislative advocacy efforts during the year. Adoption of such a program enables both the City Council and staff to react quickly to most legislative issues as they arise and ensures that there is a formal City position on a variety of legislative matters.
The City Council last adopted a legislative program in December 2013. That program, which was shared with the City’s state and federal representatives, guided City Council and staff advocacy efforts during the 2014 legislative session.
DISCUSSION
The issues included in the proposed 2016 legislative program have been identified by Department Heads as key issues for Alameda, in addition to issues that the League of California Cities is tracking, and other matters that have arisen in the Legislature and Congress that can be expected to resurface in the future. Issues that develop mid-year and are not covered by the legislative program will be brought back to City Council for consideration.
In order to provide staff with the flexibility to respond quickly to legislative alerts from the League of California Cities and other government advocates, the recommended legislative program contains an overarching statement of support for local control as well as positions on broad government-related issues.
The following describes the City of Alameda 2016 Legislative Program:
General Principle
The City of Alameda opposes any legislation or regulations that preempt local authority, negatively affect the City’s budget, or impose unfunded mandates on the City. The City supports the use of incentives to encourage local government action, rather than the imposition of mandates.
Base Reuse
Legislation and policies that preserve Alameda’s interests related to base reuse, clean-up, and conveyance.
• Promote construction of a Seaplane Lagoon ferry terminal and expansion/improvement of Bay Area wide water transit with an emphasis on ferry service in Alameda.
• Continue work for Veterans Affairs federal construction funding.
• Seek federal transportation funds.
• Work with Army Corps of Engineers on shoreline stabilization and seek funds for implementation.
• Promote funding of environmental clean-up and expedited property conveyance.
• Support efforts to create and enhance financing tools, such as tax increment financing, for the funding of parks and infrastructure.
Redevelopment
Legislation that assists cities to address issues stemming from the State of California’s dissolution of Redevelopment in 2011.
• Support legislative efforts, commonly referred to as Redevelopment 2.0, to provide a funding mechanism and other strategies to promote economic development and affordable housing programs.
• Support legislation regarding the unwinding of redevelopment that maximizes the former redevelopment agency’s flexibility and authority regarding enforceable obligations, implementation of DDA’s, etc.
Land Use
Local government land use and revenue authority is critical to the federal-state-local partnership efforts to advance community and economic development and must be preserved.
• Oppose legislation that would remove or limit local government land use authority.
• Support incentives that assist local governments in integrating new growth into existing communities, and develop and implement transportation, land use and building policies that encourage maximum use of resources and lower energy consumption.
Transportation
Measures that reduce or help alleviate on-island traffic concerns and safety.
• Webster/Posey Tube and Broadway/Jackson traffic improvements.
• State, County, and Federal transportation funding for:
o Stable and reliable revenue streams for transportation reconstruction and maintenance that is available for local priorities and transportation needs.
o City-wide transportation plan.
o Fruitvale Lifeline Bridge and other egress off of the Alameda island.
o Greenhouse gas reduction.
• Funding for bicycle, pedestrian and trail improvements.
Public Safety and Homeland Security
Legislation that funds and provides resources for police and fire services, disaster preparedness, and resiliency.
• Funding and resources for disaster preparedness, prevention, recovery, and response for all-hazard threats.
• Maintain federal investment in resources critical to enabling local law enforcement to adequately provide public safety such as the Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) program funding.
• Maintain full federal funding for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) grant programs and retain the local cost share waiver for the AFG program.
• Maintain state/federal Ground Emergency Medical Transport (GEMT) supplemental reimbursement program. The program provides additional funding to eligible entities that provide GEMT services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
• Funding for marine debris removal.
Parks and Open Space
Legislation that supports the development, expansion, and maintenance of Alameda parks.
• Local funding allocation in State Park Bonds.
• State, County, and Federal funding for park development and maintenance.
• San Francisco Bay Trail and Shoreline trail development.
Revenue and Taxation
Support legislation that has a positive financial impact on the City.
• Economic, business and job development.
• Local Control - Support legislation that will prevent State redirecting or taking away local revenue sources.
• E-Commerce - Support legislation that will help local governments recover taxes from remote sellers.
• Increase grant funding opportunities with reduced local match requirement.
• Reduce burdensome financial reporting.
Employee Relations
Promote attraction and retention of qualified employees in the workforce.
• Maintain decisions about health and retirement benefits at the local level.
• Assistance with Public Employees Retirement Systems (PERS) and other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) liabilities.
Environment
Legislation that promotes environmental protection and sustainability, such as resource and energy efficiency, water quality and conservation.
• Resources to assist local governments in developing and implementing energy efficiency and conservation strategies that maximize available resources, reduce costs, expand community access and protect public health.
• Support the plastic bag ban and the transition from single use bags to reusable bags.
• Promote and fund recycling efforts.
• Energy efficiency
o Funding and resources to promote and implement energy efficiency.
o Oppose energy efficiency procurement targets that create additional utility mandates, guidelines and reporting protocols.
o Support regulations and communication programs that directly impact customer decisions regarding energy efficiency investments by focusing on customer needs.
o Reinforce the principles of cost-effectiveness and feasibility to ensure that adopted codes and standards do not adversely impact the energy efficiency industry.
o Provide incentives to customers in the least energy efficient buildings by funding below-code energy savings such as insulation and window upgrades.
o Consider the value of avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy efficiency and demand reduction resources to better align the energy efficiency policies with GHG policies.
• Oppose legislation that ignores the role of the customer and holds utilities responsible for factors beyond their control.
• Climate Adaptation
o Funding and resources for local agencies to address sea level rise and flood protection.
o Funding to implement drought tolerant, Bay-Friendly landscape (medians and passive park areas).
o Funding for recycled water infrastructure on the main island.
• Storm water program funding
• Access to cap and trade revenues through appropriations for transportation, sustainable communities, and affordable housing.
Affordable Housing
Legislation that supports funding and development of affordable housing.
• Support legislation and proposals that provide incentives and resources to expand local efforts that integrate housing, transportation and land use and assist in the reorganization and replacement of existing infrastructure to support California's growing population.
• Support legislation and proposals that promote tax-increment and other financing mechanisms for the provision of affordable housing;
• Support initiatives that expand financial resources for affordable housing development, such as a permanent source of revenue for the State Housing Trust Fund, increased access to State bond funds for below market rate loans, grants for special needs housing, and, loans and loan guarantees to preserve rental housing for long-term affordable use.
• Support full funding for the National Housing Trust Fund, HOME and the CDBG programs and legislation that promote innovation and flexibility for the administration of Housing programs including the Moving to Work program, statutory waivers and an increase in the cap that restricts the use of project based housing choice vouchers.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from the adoption of the 2016 Legislative Program.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action does not affect the municipal code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This presentation does not require environmental review because it is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). CEQA Guidelines, section 15378(b).
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Legislative Program for 2016.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Interim Assistant City Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director