MEETING DATE:
JUNE 14, 2016
SUBJECT:
Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2016-8207 - LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Body
Recommendation
Recommendation
ADOPT a resolution taking a position on a pending bill in the State Legislature
Body
Board or Commission Action
Not applicable
Relevant Council Strategic Theme
Planning for the Future
Good Governance
Relevant Department Goal
Support a focused legislative program that ensures the interests of San Marcos residents and businesses are protected and/or enhanced.
Introduction
The City Council adopted Legislative Procedures and the 2016 Legislative Platform to guide the consideration of state and federal bills that affect City operations. In keeping with that direction, this report provides an update on legislative activity and bills with an approved City position. It also makes a recommendation on one legislative position.
Discussion
The State Legislature is now more than halfway through its session. The budget must be passed by midnight tomorrow (June 15), and the summer recess begins on July 1. Legislators return on August 1 for a busy month where all bills must be passed by August 31. The Governor then has until September 30 to sign or veto those bills.
While staff and the City’s legislative advocates have a better idea of which bills are likely to move forward this year, this is also the time period when bills may go through the “gut and amend” process in which the entire contents of the bill are removed and replaced with entirely different provisions. Staff will keep you updated in future Legislative Reports on the status of bills with an approved City position, and may request additional positions on legislation as they move through the final amendment process.
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following position on active legislation:
Governor’s By Right Housing Proposal (OPPOSE)
Governor Brown has introduced a proposal that pre-empts local discretionary land use approvals of some housing developments by making such approvals ministerial actions. Newly constructed structures with two or more dwelling units that are already zoned for housing, and contain at least 5%, 10% or 20% affordable units (depending on affordability and access to transit), must be approved “by right.” This means that the projects cannot have public review, project-level environmental review, or any design review. The Governor’s proposal takes away all local control and prohibits the City from addressing community concerns relating to traffic, parking, appearance, and other development impacts for such projects.
Additional information about this proposal can be found in Attachment A.
Fiscal Impact
Unknown fiscal impacts are associated with the bills in Attachment A. A more thorough analysis of each bill’s implementation requirements is needed to demonstrate total fiscal impact.
Attachment(s)
Attachment A: Status and analysis of pending legislation
Attachment B: Resolution
Prepared by: Michael Gordon, Management Analyst
Approved by: Jack Griffin, City Manager