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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2006-056 RESOLUTION NO. 2006-056 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ADOPTING THE 2006 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM WHEREAS, Council Policy 300-01, dated January 1987, provides for the adoption of a City Legislative Program; and WHEREAS, the Legislative Program represents the City Council's position on items likely to be acted upon by the State Legislature, Congress, or administrative agencies; and WHEREAS, by adopting a Legislative Program at the beginning of each two-year legislative session and amending it at mid-term, Chula Vista is able to take a proactive role in sponsoring, supporting, or opposing bills related to the City's various legislative priorities; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to adopt an updated 2006 Legislative Program to guide staff and the City's legislative consultant throughout the coming legislative session. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City ofChula Vista does hereby adopt the 2006 Legislative Program as set forth in Exhibit" A". BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff and the Legislative Committee are hereby authorized to implement this program. Presented by Approved as to form by /J (~.~. ~/ /tkY~-;>, Ore:. Y~#il- David D. Rowlands, Jr. City Manager ~~~\\ Ann Moore . City Attorney Resolution No. 2006-056 Page 2 PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista, California, this 21st day of February 2006 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers: Castaneda, Chavez, McCann, Rindone and Padilla NAYS: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None ATTEST: ~ li;~aJi k Stephen C. Padilla, Mayor ~ ~l:utlu~~ Susan Bigelow, MMC, Cit lerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ) CITY OF CHULA VISTA ) I, Susan Bigelow, City Clerk of Chula Vista, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2006-056 was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting of the Chula Vista City Council held on the 21st day of February 2006. Executed this 21st day of February 2006. ~- ;tu 'J. ~ W [)>-- Susan Bigelow, MMC, Cit lerk - .-" Resolution No. 2006-056 Page 3 2006 CHULA VISTA LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM A. Economic Development. 1. Support effons Ur. a. Enhance California's overall business climate with particular emphasis on streamlined regulations and reduced costs of doing business (including the reactivation of Revenue and Taxation Code section 5108 personal property tax rebates). b. Strengthen existing business attraction and retention programs including: Enterprise Zones, Recycling Market Development Zones and California Infrastructure Bank. c. Continue and! or enhance funding of State and Federal Economic Development agencies, including: i. California Trade and Commerce Agency ii. U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) iii. US. Housing and Urban Development (BUD) Communily Development Block Grant and Economic Development Initiative d. Create new business assistance programs with eligibilily criteria for which Chula Vista would qualify. e. Create or enhance programs which support cros&-border commerce and Chula Vista import! export companies. f. Increase the flexibility of the Use of HUD Community Development Block Grant funds as they relate to general economic development projects and programs. g. Continue the Conununily Reinvestment Act and accoUntability to small businesses development programs. h. Provide incentives for communities to establish sustainable economic development that minin:rizes the impact to natural resources and provides quality jobs that complement local and regional economic prosperily. B. Energy. 1. Support measures that a. Assist the City and its energy consumers in meeting the priorities outlined in the Cily Energy Strategy and Action Plan as they compliment the state "loading order:' energy conservation, distributed generation, renewable and best available clean fossil fuel generation, reliable and complimentary transmission arid distribution. b. Require the Public Utilities Commission to implement the intent and spirit of AB 117 (statutes of 2002) regarding "community aggregation" and "public purposes goods fees". i. Reasonably limit the time in which CCA customers are exposed to Investor Owned Utility energy procurement practices, including but not limited to the Customer Responsibilily Surchage (CRS). ii. Allow cities and counties to receive intervener compensation for participation in issues before the CPUC that affect Community Choice Aggregation customers. 1 Resolution No. 2006-056 Page 4 c. Confirm and implement local options to control and fund energy and conservation programs. . d. Enhance the City's ability to support the State "loading order" by removing barriers and providing incentives that allow the City to work with residents and businesses to enter into distributed generation agreements without having to pay stranded transmission or distribution charges. e. Increase incentives and remove barriers for developing local photovoltaic, wind and other "green" alternative energy resources. f. Ensure transmission of energy is done through new or existing local generation sources and! or renewable sources. Note: There is a growing movement to import energy from out of state that is generated using fossil fue1s a:nd other non~renewab1e sources. This has kmg-tenn impacts on air qua1ity as weD as fiscal imphcat:i0n9 related to traI15mission congestion charge imposed on ChuJa Visla and other local tatep.y.... i. Work with host jurisdiction in an open, transparent and inclusive process to "invest," ratepayer dollars in a reliable transmission grid that respects their quality of life and sustainability goals not focused just on lowest cost g. Retire and decommission the older more polluting single cycle power plants as soon as possible. h. Reduce and remove costly Reliability Must Run (RMR) status from older less efficient power plants whenever possible, and ensure that RMR is removed or transferred in an environmentally just manner that reflects local impacts. i. Implement efficiency-enhancing technologies (such as combined cycle generation) that improve consumer choice and! or enhance competition among energy providers, particularly in service territories primarily dependent on Investor Owned Utilities. j. Work with local host jurisdictions in an open, transparent and inclusive process to re- power and! or relocate older plants with new, more efficient, less polluting facilities. k. Provide local incentives to participate in siting new generation facilities by preserving local land use authority, supporting the broad application of local Utility User tax ordinances, ensuring that local mitigation affeds the area of local impact and implement an open, transparent and inclusive local public process. 1. Remove barriers and provide incentives to allow local government to develop landfill based renewable energy resources for sustainable local environmental and economic development opportunities. m. Promote local government participation in green credits and emission trading to ensure an environmentally just application. 2. Oppose measures that a. Impinge on or restrict the City's ability to exercise land use review! control with respect to the generation or transmission of power and restrict the local and state commitment to an open, transparent and inclusive process. b. Erode the City's ability to acquire! generate power from alternative sources or enter into aggregation and! or distributed generation arrangements. 2 .J Resolution No. 2006-056 Page 5 c. Impose municipal departing load charges and other municipal exit fees, as well as attempts to regulate or limit municipal rights under the state constitutiDn. d. Would allDw the Public Utilities Corrurrission or Investor Owned Utilities to limit local participation in the use/ allocatiDn of Public Purpose Goods Fees. C. EnvirDnmental Protection. 1. Support efforts to: a. Require an environmental impact repDrt (EIR) for large projects/utility mergers. b. Actively pursue and obtain non-general fund revenues to acquire, preserve, restore and maintain a sustainable regional watershed through cDnservation, planning of Chula Vista wetlands, riparian habitat and multi-species habitat, open space, greenbelts, rivers, streams and trails. c. Fund planning and land acquisitiDn fDr Natural CDmmunity Conservation plans. d. Obtain funds for comprehensive envirDnmental management planning for San Diego Bay. e. Prohibit the granting of new leases fDr Dil and gas develDpment in state-owned coastal waters off San DiegD County. f. Promote the installation and use of water/ energy conserving fixtures in new & existing buildings. g. Obtain funding fDr water conservation to include the CDnstruction of reclaimed water distribution systems, and fixture and irrigation system new COnstructiDn, renovatiDn and retrofit. h. Encourage post-<:cnsumer recycled product use in manufacturing, residential and business applications through incentives, educations, promotions, etc. i. Ensure long-term agreements that provide recycling incentives and/ Dr profitable markets for a broader range of products than are currently recycled. j. Require "disposal warning" labeling on household hazardous materials, which reduce the use of toxic materials, and which promDte nDntoxic alternatives to present materials. k. Require minimum content standards for use of recycled materials in manufacturing processes. 1. PrDvide funding for envirDnmental enterprise incentives, specifically Recycling Market Development Zones (RMDZ). Note: The RMDZ progI3IIl has been extended through 2006. ChuJa Vista and the City of San Dieg<> have a signed MOD for an RMDZ partnership. I'rog<aIn is being implemented. m. Continue to expand the number of advance disposal fees and aCCDmpanying block grant programs that allocate funds for local gDvernment to provide efficient, effective and convenient recycling, and safe disposal options for resjdents and small busirlesses. Particularly, funding for convenient and ccst effective SDllIce reductiDn and disposal options fDr conditional exempt small quantity generators fDr hazardDus, universal and electrDnic wastes. 3 Resolution No. 2006-056 Pa e 6 n. Enact a statewide landfill ban on designated recyclables. g Note: This would eru:ourage development of new feedstock capacity and strengthenl stabilize long-term markets. . o. Reauthorize the Federal Water Resources Act, including provisions to raise the reimbursement limit and provide reimbursement for construction expenditures. Note: With a revised reimlnusement funi~ Chula Vm could be eJ;giIie fur up to an additionel $5 millioo fur further improvements along the Telegraph Canyon Creek BoocI control channel. p. Modify the Clean Water Act to give the City of San Diego an exemption ITom current "mass emission reduction'l requirements. q. Impacts associated with the construction and maintenance of drainage facilities in urban areas should be allowed to receive miti"ation credit for the inclusion of "Best Manal>ement Practices" to off-set iml'acts to sensitive species. Note: At P'"..en~ the City may be zequjred Ie purchase mitige.tion land amounting Ie as m..m as Jour tUnes the project size. r. Grant local agencies authority to file appeals with the State Water Quality Control Board (SWQCB) concerning actions by a Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). s. Ad vance the use of low-emission and zero-emission vehicles through market Incentives, credits, rebates, public/private partnerships and other innovative solutions. l Create incentives for renewable power generation and distribution. u. Create incentives for energy-efficient building programs. w. Develop and apply a standardized state/national definition of "greenpower". x. Require "truth in labeling" with respect to green power generators and providers. y. Improve the coordination of State, Federal and local agency responses to air quality controL energy and environmental protection. z. Continue to establish a cost effective and efficient process for local governments and large generators to document green house gas emissions as a regulated pollutant and provide local incentiv~ for public-private partneIShips. aa. Provide State or Federal funding to construct facilities to capture and treat the flow of raw sewage entering San Diego &om Tijuana. bb. Encourage development of environmentally sound techniques for treating hazardous waste to reduce its volume and eliminate any toxicity without infringing on home rule authority over the decision of whether (or when) to implement such techniques. ce. Provide funding fTom State, Federal or outside sources to study the water quality/toxic pollution in San Diego Bay. dd. Encourage development of water resource facilities and make improvements to the delta without imposing unfunded mandates on local governments. ee. Provide financial assistance to construct new and upgrade existing secondary treatment facilities in San Diego County. Note: Funds from all SCUtt.. should be pwsued. ff. Improve the efficiency of environmental regulations and enforcement actions of such agencies as: Department of the Interior, Corps of Engineers, Department of Commerce, 4 ..... ~ Resolution No. 2006-056 Page 7 National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdmInistration and Environmental Protection Agency. gg. Provide for streamlined environmental permitting processes for public works projects that are included within an adopted multiple species conservation plan that is in conformance with the State's Natural Community Conservation Program. 2. Oppose efforts to: a. Nullify or weaken the current climate change treaty (Kyoto Protocol) that requires the United States to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 7% from 1990 levels by 2010. D. Fiscal Support/Home Rule. 1. Support efforts that a. Permit retention and control by local governments of a greater portion of revenue generated by Federal, State, and local taxes, fees and fines (e.g. vehicle code fines). b. Require the Federal government and State to reimburse local governments for all mandated costs or regulatory actions or that allow cities to cease performance of unfunded mandates. c. Retain maximum flexibility in the administration of Article XllIB, XIllC and XIllD of the state constitution (XllIB: the Gann Initiative-local expenditures are limited by population growth and CPI factors; XIllC & D: Proposition 218). d. Expand local autonomy or the nome rule authority to govern municipal affairs. e. Enhance the quality of urban life by funding the creation, improvement, or expansion of parks, libraries, community services and infrastructure, such as roads, flood controL etc. f. Provide State/Federal funding for construction or renovation of public buildings such as comnturri.ty centers, libraries, civic center, etc. g. Expand the sales tax base to include mail order sales/home shopping sources, intemet- based commerce. h. Provide that cities and school districts can issue general obligation debt with a majority vote instead of the current 2/'!rvote requirement. i. Ensure that, upon dismantling of the South Bay power plant, the City/Agency receives in-lieu revenues to replace any monies lost as a result of plant relocation. j. Provide for fiscal reform in the form of greater reliability, certainty, and equitability of state funding for local governments. k. Reallocate sales and property taxes to the benefit of local governments. l Permit government agencies to pass through, to the consumer, the bank fees associated with credit card transactions. Note: The City would be betteI' able to oHer the convenience of credit card usage to area/residents, businesses if Jocal govermnent were not pro1u1ri:t:ed from pass:i.ng these bank cosis to the ccmsumer. m. Protect cities' ability to fund capital improvement projects through tax-exempt bonds. 5 Resolution No. 2006-056th Industrial D I tB d P 8 n. Iric.Tease e eve opmen on cap. age o. Promote cooperative purchasing opportunities for local government, (i.e. master agreements, California Multiple Award Schedules, State price lists) along with opportunities to process and disseminate bids via electronic means. 2. Oppose efforts to: a. Restrict the use of, or reallocate, city revenues such as Vehicle License Fee funds, Transient Occupancy Tax revenues, and Business Lkense Tax revenues. b. Exempt residential users from the Utility users tax. c. Reallocate fines and forfeitures to the detriment of cities. d. Repeal Gas Tax exemption for local agencies. e. Reallocate sales and property tax revenue to the detriment of cities. f. Limit cities' authority to enact or impose mobilehome or residential rent control g. Limit cities' authority to: enact and assess fees to recover the full cost of providing user- specific services; recover the full costs of assessment district maintenance; license or lease use of any property within the jurisdiction of the City by telecommunication companies, utilities or cable providers. h. Infringe on home rule authority to act on local budget and fiscal matters or other municipal affairs, Or to impose unfunded mandates onto local government. i. Overhaul the California Public Records Act in a way that would: restrict cities' control of the means of access to information assets (e.g. computer databases, proprietary software), limit cost recovery for providing such access, Or violate the privacy of the parties from whom the data was collected. j. Limit imposition of franchise fees, taxes, or other compensation for use of public right-of- way; local rate regulation; operational oversight; or right-of-way controJs on cable or satellite television operators and other telecommunications providers and utilities. k. Preclude cities from collecting Utility users tax (UUI) revenue on cellular or digital telephone use when negotiating UUT agreements. E. General Government. 1. Support efforts to: a. Subject the State Legislature to the same requirements for public meetings, advance agenda, etc. as are currently imposed on cities through the Brown Act b. Limit to 1 % the amount of adnrinistrative costs the Board of Equalization may charge to administer 10caJ sales taxes such as San Diego's half-<:ent sales taxes for transportation and justice facility construction. c. Facilitate increases in Open Space District assessments by an amount not to exceed the Consumer Price Index (CPl) or higher if increased costs are beyond the control of local governments (e.g. imposed by water districts). 6 Resolution No. 2006-056 Page 9 d. Provide funding for the selection of Chula Vista as the site of a new collaborative campus includin" participants such as the University of California. California State University. Southwestern cone~e iU1d 'Derhaps an international university. e. Provide funding for Chula Vista's SMART Community program, alternative fuels programs, and other technology-based projects. f. Fund school facility construction programs without increasing the fiscal burden of local government g. Garify the authority of school districts to impose facilities fees established by Ch. 887, Statutes of 1986 (AB2926). h. Maintain Chula Vista's central position in the 40" Senate District and 79" Assembly District i. Coordinate Federal Coast Zone Management Act, Environmental Protection Agency (EP A) regulations and State Coastal Zone Act, in an effort to eliminate duplicate efforts. 2. Oppose efforts to: a. Mandate clistJ:ict elections in a!1 cities and/ or school districts. b. Impose border crossing fees on the U.S.jMexico international border. c. Impose greater restrictions on local government through amendment of the Brown Act. d. Divide cities among multiple Congressional, State or Supervisorial districts. F. Housing & Community Development. 1. Support efforts to: a. Exclude redevelopment agencies from competitive bidding statutes and fair market value restrictions for resale of public properties to permit joint deve10pment of public facilities by private developers upon findings of public benefit b. Extend the following three Federa! Low-Income Housing Programs: i. Mortgage Credit Certificate Program for low/moderate income home buyers; ii. Tax Credits for Jaw income housing programs; and, iii. Continue funding for HUD HOME and HOPE Programs. c. Change Federal banking regulations to exempt banks from having to count financing or Letters of Credit for low income housing in their risk capital limit calculations. d. Provide additional or enhanced State/Federal or other assistance to first-time homebuyers, including efforts to increase funding for the City's Mortgage Credit Certificate program. e. Support principles for housing element reform legislation as recommended by the SANDAG Housing Element Advisory Committee and approved by the SANDAG Board. f. Prevent the loss of affordable housing units through federa! funding for acquisition of at- risk units by non-profit agencies; and special section 8 subsidies for affected low-income tenants. g. Encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution measures as opposed to costly and time consuming litigation in condominium and townhouse construction defect cha!1enges. 7 Resolution No. 2006-056 10 Note: The proliferation of lawsuit> over aDeged oonsl:ruc:tIDn defects has led to a subitantial withdrawal from Page condominium/townhouse construction by the deveJopment industry throughout California. These attached homes are a critical eleInent in the fust.1::ime home buyer market. h. Develop Federal and State participation and financial support fur programs to provide adequate housing fur the elderly, handicapped and low-income persons throughout the community. i. Maintain and create lax incentives for private revitaIization of existing commercial, industrial and housing resources where such assistance benefits the City. j. Allow local jurisdictions to adopt the International Residential Code as an alternative to state-mandated codes as a means of reducing the cost of new housing. Note, waning factions in the building industry are manipulating =t state codes in a power struggle. This addition to the Legislative Program is suggested as a meB.IIS of neutra..J:izir\g that power struggle while stiII. meeting the safety needs of the public. 2. Oppose efforts to: a. Grant the State or Federal government approval Dr veto authority in the implementation of local redevelopment and rehabilitation projects. b. Prohibit any state agency from making subventions, financing, insurance or any other kind of assistance, available to any city Dr county that has in effect any rent control measure. G. Land Use Planning. 1. Support efforts that: a. Strengthen local governments' powers and capacity to prepare, adopt and implement plans and programs for orderly growth, development, beautification, and conservation of their planning areas. b. Are consistent with the doctrine of 'home rule" and the local exercise of police powers, through the planning and zoning processes, over local land use. c. Expand the land use, conservation, and growth management policies of municipalities to the unincorporated territories within their spheres of influence. d. Broaden local government's power to require developers and subdividers to provide the on-site and off-site faciIities and infrastructure needed by their projects. e. Maximize the authority of the City to exercise local control over general plan decisions. f. Require special districts and school districts, including community colleges, to adopt facility master plans which are consistent with City and County general plans and growth management programs, and to adopt five year capital improvement programs and financing plans which are consistent with their facility master plans. g. Limit Coastal Commission authority over land use decisions outside the Coastal Zone, including those that are tied to Federal permits such as Habitat Conservation Plans and Incidental Take Permits pursuant to the Federal Endangered Species Act. h. Provide local government incentives and funding priority for facilitating smart growth principles in their planning programs. 2. Oppose efforts to: 8 Resolution No. 2006-056 Page 11 a. Abridge local governments' ability to effectively plan, or regulate local land use including: amendments' tD the laws governing the local agency formation commission (LAFCO); legislation which would financially overburden local governments in their efforts tD amend planning policy, regulate land use through removal of incompatible developments, redevelop blighted areas, or annex territDries which are within a city's spheres of influence. b. Site airports that would adversely impact the Chula Vista area. c. Politicize the adoption of State Mandated Building and Life Safety Codes. d. Introduce major changes tD Building, Energy or Accessibility code requirements without providing sufficient time and resources for local government and industry training. H. library. 1. Support efforts tD: a. Provide continued, augmented or full funding for the: California Public Library Fund (PLF), Library of California and California Library Services Act (ClSA), including Transaction Based Reimbursements, literacy programs and library services for all age groups. b. Provide for continued and/or augmented funding of the Federal Library Services and T echnoJogy Act. c. Fund library construction and/ or renovation. d. Provide programs at both the State and Federal level that guarantee for libraries the largest possible discount in rates for telecommunication services, internal connections and access to the Internet. e. Preserve existing provisions that exempt libraries from having tD act as censors of literature or information. 1. Parks & Recreation. 1. Support efforts tD: a. Provide State/Federal funding for such City programs as those supporting: the arts, child care, after school programs, gang prevention and diversion, and drug prevention and intervention in a community-based recreation setting. b. Provide funds for construction of new parks as well as renovation of deteriorating park and recreation facilities. c. Support SB 153, the California Oean Water, Oean Air, Safe Neighborhood and Coastal Protection Act of 2006. d. Provide state funding for new construction as well as renovation of parks and recreation facilities, and expansion of recreation facilities and parks in underserved areas. e. Provide State and Federal funding for City programs such as those supporting: after school programs, youth health and fitness, gang prevention and diversion, the arts, childcare, and drug prevention and intervention in a community-based recreation setting. 9 . Resolution No. 2006-056 J. PagpJ~c Employer-Employee Relations. 1. Support efforts to: a. Protect the rights of cities to establish conditions of employment, including hours, wages, employee benefits, the meet-and-<:cmfer process, appeal procedures, and management rights. b. Reform California Workers' Compensation Program to reduce public costs and tighten restrictions. c. Amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to ensure that executive, administrative and professjonal employees still qualify as exempt 2. Oppose efforts to: a. Impose restrictions on the scope and authority of charter cities to conlrol their own health plans or retirement systems. b. Mandate the inclusion of local government employees in the Social Security System and/or Medicare. c. Increase workers' compensation benefits without also making need~d. reforms. d. Mandate changes, impose limitations, and/or other benefit plans, wages, hours, or working conditions that are properly determined through the meet- and-<:onfer process. e. Mandate binding arbitration in public employee disputes. f. Reduce local control over public employee disputes and impose regulations of an outside agency (such as PERB). g. ProhI'bit employers from testing employees or employment applicants for illegal substances. K. Public Uability. 1. Support efforts to: a. Change the legal principal of )oint and several liability" to protect the City against "deep pocket" liability. b. Reinforce public entity design and discretionary act immunity. c. Prohibit recovery by a plaintiff for injury where those injuries were caused as a result of avoiding a police pursuit d. Minimize governmenlal financial exposure to frivolous lawsuits and improve liability protection for governmental agencies and their personnel. e. Expand the existing list of "hazardous activities" so that public entities and public employers are not liable for Injuries to any individua1(s) who participate in these activities (e.g. skateboarding, rollerblading). 2. Oppose efforts to: a. Further erode government immunity. 10 Resolution No. 2006-056 Page 13 b. Force the City to accept risks it would not normally accept in the ordinary course of business (e.g. mandating acceptance of below-grade or low-grade sureties on performance bonds or labor and materials bonds). f. Repeal Proposition 213 (1996) that prevents uninsured motorists from collecting damages, other than property damages, through litigation. Note: Trial lawyers Assoc. hopes to repeal this measure protecting cities, a.mcmg others, from W'ldue liability. L. Public Safety. 1. Supporte!forts to: a. Strengthen present State and Federal laws that give local governments the power to further restrict or regulate prostitution. b. Increase penalties for the manufacture or sale for profit of dangerous drugs. c. Prolu"bit the sale and brandishing of replica or facsimile firearms. d. Toughen drunk driving Jaws, penalties or enhancements. e. Strengthen the City's ability to regulate public displays of material that is harmful to minors. f. Legalize alternative methods of police enforcement activities. g. Provide greater authority for police or other 10cal agencies to control graffiti, curfews, jUvenile crime and alcoholic beverage control h. Provide funding for local public safety staffing, programs or equipment, as well as programs that foster interdepartmental or inter-agency cooperation. i. Develop a uniform "junk gun" ban that does not restrict the type of weaponry used by off-duty law enforcement officers. j. Protect local governments' ability to establish/ determine the level of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) provided within their own boundaries. k. Provide reimbursement to local government for "first responder" costs associated with pre- hospital treatments such as those provided by local fire department perso!!IIe1. 1. Increase municipal funding for the removal of abandoned vehicles. 2. Oppose efforts to: a. Preempt local public safety ordinances. b. Reduce State/Federal funding for public safety programs. c. Reduce or impair the authority of local agencies to control graffiti, curfews, juvenile crime and other public safety issues. d. OIange/ remove date, and/ or shift to the employer, the burden of proof related to all illness presumptions. M. Public Works & Transportation. 1. Support efforts to: 11 Resolution No. 2006-056. '. . P 14 a. ProVide funding to complete missmg freeway links (e.g. SR-l25 and 1-905) and other age critical transit corridors or transportation projects. Note: Construction of the Sweetwater segment of SR.-125 has begun. It is in the Oty's best interest to ensure that completion of the project remalI\ a high priority for the State. b. Reduce municipal cos1s associated with CalTrans projects. c. Allow local agencies flexibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide the greatest benefit to the local disabled population, rather than committing 5Ca1ce resources to achievement of 2% maximum sidewalk and driveway slopes. d. Revise speed limit laws to allow for radar enforcement of residential street speed limits (e.g. at levels below the 85th percentile as determined by a traffic study). e. Require CaITrans to allow cities an exemption from CalTrans' public work project requirements if that required work is a result of improper maintenance on CaITrans' part or, require CalTrans to pay for such additional work if it is included as part of a local agency's public works project. f. Amend PUC regulanons to prohibit utilities from locating cables directly into concrete sidewalks and require said cables to be placed 24'-36' below sidewalk sutfaces. Note: Engineering and Public Worl<s staff report an on-going problem. in finding telephone cables embedded in the concrete sidewalks. Sidewalk reconstruction becom~ virtually impossible without damaging the cable lines. g. Exempt all city vehicles and transit drivers from the Biennial Inspection of TermirIaIs program requirements for "drivers hours of service' during emergencies, similar to the exemption granted to gas and electric companies. Note: This program was intended to regulate the times that commercial truck drivers spend on the road" but has no exemptUms for city vehicIes other than those operated by the Fire Department It unnecessarily restricts city public worl<s vehicles and hamper.; local governments' ability to respcmd to emergency situations such as flooding or earthquake damages. . h. Increase the priority given to public works facility funding from State and Federal sources to projects (including but not limited to roads, bridges and light-rail transit facilities) that are linked to implementation of "smart growth" policies (e.g. jobs/housing balance, transit oriented development, etc.) i. Allow cities to collect fees for use of the public right of way from currently exempt users such as telecommunications companies. j. Provide funds to assist cities in meeting the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements. k. Provide fair share aIlocation of clean water grants and bond funding to communities in southern CaIifornia. Note: A disproportionate share of these funds currently go to narthem CaIi!omia. 1. SuP~rt efforts to require public and private utilities to design. locate and screen utility cabinets. boxes. pedestals and backflow preventors adiacent to the public right-of-way in aestheticallv acceptable manner to locaI iurisdictions. m. Place a ~eater emphasis on providin~ infrastructure funding- to cities that do 'smart I!towth' plannin~. 2. Oppose Efforts to: a. Further restrict development impact fees for roads, bridges, and public facilities levied against developers of property. 12 Resolution No. 2006-056 Page 15 b. Further restrict fees and assessments levied against individuals or entities receiving a special benefit N. Redevelopment. 1. Support efforts to: a. Amend the State Community Development law to allow a jurisdiction to combine tax increment from all projects for use in a specific project b. Extend the life ofIedevelopment project areas, as well as the time during which debt may be incurred or issued in those project areas. c. Facilitate the formation of Business Improvement Districts and extend the life of those distIicts. d. Increase funding! incentives to redevelop brownfieId projects e. Provide funding for the Chula Vista Nature Center. f. Facilitate the recommissioning, redesign or relocation of the San Diego 1.J:nifEd Part District South Bay Power Plant and assist with the redevelopment of this bayfront property. g. Allow certain land uses under the State Tidelands Act that are conducive to providing jobs in the "high tech industry". 2. Oppose efforts to: a. Discontinue State supplemental subvention for redevelopment agencies. b. Further control or restrict the use of tax increments in redevelopment projects. c. Reduce the number of San Diego Unified Port District Commissioners and! or require commissioners to be elected members of the city council that they represent 13