Title
Recommendation to Approve the 2017 Legislative Agenda for the City of Alameda. (City Manager 2110)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Approve the 2017 Legislative Agenda for the City of Alameda
BACKGROUND
For the last several years the City has adopted a Legislative Agenda to guide the City’s legislative advocacy efforts during the year. By adopting a Legislative Agenda, both staff and the City Council are able to react quickly to most legislative issues as they arise and ensure there is a formal City position on a variety of legislative matters.
The City Council last adopted a Legislative Agenda on November 3, 2015, and prior to that adopted a Legislative Agenda on December 3, 2013. This 2017 Legislative Agenda was reviewed by City Department Heads and includes their feedback on legislative priorities. Following City Council adoption, the City’s 2017 Legislative Agenda will be shared with our State and Federal representatives, and will be a road map for our advocacy efforts in coordination with our State and Federal lobbyists during the 2017 legislative session.
Important Dates
• February 17, 2017: Last day for bills to be introduced in the State legislature
• April 6-April 17: State legislature spring recess
• June 15: State budget bill must be passed by midnight
• July 21-August 21: State legislature summer recess
• September 15: Last day for any bill to be passed in the State legislature, interim recess begins on adjournment
A draft Legislative Agenda was presented to the City Council on February 21, 2017. Council provided feedback, which was incorporated into this version. The additions and deletions are shown as underlined or striked through respectively.
DISCUSSION
The issues in the 2017 Legislative Agenda have been identified by City Department Heads and Council as key issues for Alameda. This legislative agenda includes the top priorities the City Council established at a priority setting workshop, issues that the League of California Cities is currently tracking, and other matters that have arisen in the Legislature and Congress that can be expected to resurface in the future. Any issues that develop mid-year and are not covered by the Legislative Agenda, or are of significant and urgent nature, will be brought back to City Council for consideration.
The following outlines the City of Alameda Legislative Agenda:
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.
As a Sanctuary City, the City Council has directed the City Manager to report on a regular basis all requests or mandates from the federal government for the use of City resources to the City Council for advice and direction, or report the absence of such requests or mandates. The City of Alameda supports efforts to provide pro bono and other low cost services to residents who are immigrants and refugees.
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 and project completion.
• Seek transportation, park, green space, and infrastructure 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.
• Support efforts to retain MARAD ships in Alameda.
• Seek funding for dredging at MARAD (United States Maritime Administration) Alameda-based facility as it may relate to Homeland Security.
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 and workforce 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 when 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.
• Maintain local control over marijuana cultivation and sales following the passage of Prop 64 in 2016.
• Promote local control over drone regulations.
Support actions that minimize noise impacts from commercial planes on the City’s residents.
Transportation
Measures that reduce or help alleviate on- and off-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 Alameda island.
o Greenhouse gas reduction.
• Funding for bicycle, pedestrian and trail improvements.
• Support pedestrian and bike access for the “last mile,” enabling residents to get to BART and other methods of commuting.
• Support the 2017 League of California Cities priority to increase funding for critical transportation and water infrastructure through providing additional state and federal funding and local financing tools - such as reducing the vote threshold for local initiatives - to support California’s economy, transportation (streets, bridges, trade corridors, active transportation and transit) and water related needs (supply, sewer, storm water, flood control, beach erosion, etc.) including maintenance and construction. In addition, support appropriate streamlining of storm water regulations and CEQA to avoid duplication and reduce litigation.
Public Safety and Homeland Security
Legislation that funds and provides resources for police and fire services, disaster preparedness, and resiliency.
• Seek 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.
• Continue and enhance funding for Estuary/marine debris removal.
• Support efforts to improve patient care and reduce costs through an alternate destination project, where patients who are suffering from minor cuts or illnesses are asked by a trained paramedic if they can be transported to an urgent care center instead of an emergency room for treatment.
• Support the 2017 League of California Cities priority to address public safety impacts of reduced sentencing laws, protect local priorities in the implementation of AUMA, and preserve city rights to deliver emergency medical services through tools and resources needed to respond to recent changes in statewide criminal sentencing policies and protecting local priorities during development of regulations and legislation to implement the Adult Use of Marijuana Act. In addition, continue to preserve city rights to deliver emergency medical services.
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 and the development of a new regional park at the Northwest Territories in Alameda Point.
Revenue and Taxation
Support legislation that has a positive financial impact on the City.
• Economic, business and job development.
• E-Commerce - Support legislation that will help local governments recover taxes from remote sellers.
• Local Control - Support legislation that will prevent State from redirecting or taking away local revenue sources.
• Increase grant funding opportunities with reduced local match requirement.
• Support State efforts that would reduce the vote threshold for local initiatives.
• Maintain and when necessary defend funding allocations, particularly as it relates to Sanctuary City status.
• 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 Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) liabilities.
• Assistance with California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) 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 efforts to expand the ban.
• Promote and fund recycling and landfill diversion efforts.
• Funding and resources to promote and implement energy efficiency.
• 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, including efforts to treat storm water fees like sewer fees and bring additional resources to support green infrastructure planning and projects.
• 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 and workforce 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 efforts that address the most vulnerable in Alameda and increase positive outcomes with the mentally ill and our homeless population.
• Support the 2017 League of California Cities priority to develop realistic responses to the homeless crisis through increasing state and federal funding and support to provide additional shelter and services to California’s homeless, and advance the recommendations of the CSAC-League Homelessness Task Force.
• 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.
• Support the 2017 League of California Cities priority to improve the affordability of workforce housing and secure additional funds for affordable housing by increasing state and federal financial support, reducing regulatory barriers, and providing additional incentives and local financial tools to address the affordability of workforce housing and increase the availability of affordable housing.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from the adoption of the 2017 Legislative Program. However, pursuing these agenda items are intended to defend as well as promote the City’s financial stability.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action does not affect the Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not a project and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378 and 15060.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the 2017 Legislative Agenda for the City of Alameda.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Henry, Public Information Officer
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director