HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2019 0306 CCSA REG ITEM 09CCITY OF MOORPARK,
CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
of 3/6/2019
ACTION Continued to Regular
meeting of March 20, 2019.
BY B.Garza
C. Consider Adoption of the City’s 2019 Legislative Platform. Staff
Recommendation: Review and adopt the draft 2019 Legislative Platform.
Item: 9.C.
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Brian Chong, Assistant to the City Manager
DATE: 03/06/2019 Regular Meeting
SUBJECT: Consider Adoption of the City’s 2019 Legislative Platform
SUMMARY
The City last updated its Legislative Platform in 2015. Staff recommends that the City
Council review and adopt an updated 2019 Legislative Platform to guide the City’s
legislative and intergovernmental activities.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The City maintains a Legislative Platform to facilitate the City’s quick response to
county, state, and federal legislation and proposals in a proactive manner, since
legislation and proposals can often move quickly through legislative bodies, with
insufficient time for the City Council to take a formal action on a particular project or
piece of legislation. In such instances, the Mayor (or Mayor Pro Tem or City Manager,
in the Mayor’s absence) is authorized by the Legislative Platform to sign
correspondence expressing the City’s position on pending legislation or projects without
formal City Council action. If a project or piece of legislation pertains to a topic not
included in the Legislative Platform, then the City Council must authorize such
correspondence. Even in these instances, the Legislative Platform can serve as a
guide for the City Council when it considers such matters on an ad hoc basis.
City staff routinely monitors state and county legislation for potential impacts to the City
and, to a lesser extent, monitors federal legislation. During the State of California’s
most recent 2017-2018 Legislative Session, for example, staff tracked nearly 100 bills,
and the City took positions on 16 of them. Additionally, the City took positions and
provided feedback on numerous administrative-level decisions made by state and
county agencies, such as those related to the state’s cannabis regulations.
Item: 9.C.
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The City has not updated its Legislative Platform since 2015, which is provided as
Attachment 1. While the City’s major overarching legislative goals and concerns have
not changed significantly, some old issues have concluded, and some new issues have
arisen. In developing the 2019 update to the Legislative Platform, all City departments
reviewed the Platform to identify issues of concern, the Administration, Finance and
Public Safety Standing Committee reviewed the Platform, and staff has compared the
City’s Legislative Platform to that of the League of California Cities, the County of
Ventura, and other cities throughout the region. Additionally, the Legislative Platform
has been reformatted to match the categorization and format of the League of California
Cities Legislative Platform, which will facilitate easier updates in the future.
Proposed Updates
Because the Legislative Platform has been reformatted and renumbered, the proposed
updates cannot be shown in an easy red-lined format. Rather, all substantive changes
are shown in Attachment 2 as follows:
• Deletions are shown in strikethrough
• Additions are shown in bold
• Notes regarding amended items are in (parentheses) at the end of the item
Attachment 3 is a clean copy of the draft 2019 Legislative Platform.
As part of the 2019 update, staff also recommends changes to the procedures for
addressing matters not included in the City’s Legislative Platform. The 2015 Platform
suggested that the Administration, Finance, and Public Safety Committee could
periodically review such items for recommendation to the City Council. As proposed,
the draft 2019 Legislative Platform would allow any of the City Council Standing
Committees to review legislation for a recommendation to the City Council. As a
hypothetical example, a proposed bill may divert street maintenance funding to provide
additional funding for bicycle lanes. This matter would be more appropriately reviewed
by the City’s Transportation and Public Works Committee than the Administration,
Finance, and Public Safety Committee. The City Manager would have the authority to
determine whether a proposed action warrants review by a Standing Committee, or if it
should proceed directly to the City Council for consideration.
Also new in the draft 2019 Legislative Platform is the City’s participation in the annual
League of California Cities Legislative Action Day, held in April of each year in
Sacramento. The event includes in-person updates from the League of California Cities
and its lobbyists representing cities’ interests, panel discussions of critical
contemporaneous issues, meetings with the City’s representatives in the State
Assembly (currently Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin) and State Senate (currently
Senator Henry Stern), and other networking opportunities. Participation will further
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bolster the City’s abilities to successfully lobby state officials in the City’s interest. The
annual cost of participating in Legislative Action Day is approximately $400 per person.
The draft Legislative Platform proposes that the City participate in Legislative Action
Day in 2019 and then consider whether the City should again participate in future years.
If approved by the City Council, staff will absorb the costs of participating in 2019 into
the City’s existing FY 2018/19 Budget.
Review by the Administration, Finance, and Public Safety Committee
The Administration, Finance, and Public Safety Committee reviewed the draft 2019
Legislative Platform on February 21, 2019, and recommended that the City Council
approve the draft 2019 Legislative Platform, as amended by the Committee. The
amendments have already been incorporated into Attachments 2 and 3
Review by the City Council
The City Council may add, delete, or amend any tenets of the City’s 2019 Legislative
Platform during the City Council meeting. However, it should be noted that overly
specific matters may be written too strictly to have the desired effect; matters should be
just specific enough so that staff will understand the intent.
An issue’s exclusion from the Legislative Platform does not construe that the City will
not have a position on a particular issue. In recent years, the City Council has
considered matters not addressed in the Legislative Platform, such as a ban on the use
of anticoagulant rodenticides, naming of a highway for fallen firefighter Ryan Osler, and
Proposition 6 (Repeal of SB 1 transportation funding).
FISCAL IMPACT
Amending the points contained in the City’s Legislative Platform will not have a direct
fiscal impact to the City. Staff estimates the cost of participating in the League of
California Cities Legislative Action Day at $400 per person. If approved, funding for the
trip in April 2019 will be absorbed into the City’s existing FY 2018/19 Budget.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Review and adopt the draft 2019 Legislative Platform.
Attachment 1 – 2015 Legislative Platform
Attachment 2 – Draft 2019 Legislative Platform (Showing Edits)
Attachment 3 – Draft 2019 Legislative Platform
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ATTACHMENT 1
CITY OF MOORPARK
2015 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Adopted - May 6, 2015
The City of Moorpark has developed the following Legislative Program to allow the City to
respond to state and federal legislation in a proactive manner since legislation can often
move quickly through the legislature. Whenever possible, the Mayor (or Mayor Pro Tem in
the Mayor’s absence) is authorized to sign correspondence expressing the City's position
on pending legislation consistent with the Legislative Program and/or other positions
approved by the City Council. If a measure is time sensitive, the City Manager (or
designee) is authorized to sign correspondence that is consistent with the Legislative
Program or has been approved by the City Council. The Finance, Administration and
Public Safety (FAPS) Committee will also periodically review legislation for
recommendation to the City Council.
Staff monitors the League of California Cities’ Publications and other sources to identify
pending legislation that may impact the City. Letters expressing the City's position will be
drafted for the Mayor's signature, and copies will be distributed to each Councilmember.
Pending legislation not addressed by the Legislative Program, or staff recommendations
that deviate from the Legislative Program, will be agendized for (FAPS) Committee review
and City Council consideration.
PLATFORM STATEMENTS
1. Local Government Finance
A. Oppose legislation that eliminates or restricts the taxing authority of cities
over development; weakens existing Government Code Section 66000 fee
authority; and redefines any development tax, condition, or other monetary
charge as development fees.
B. Oppose any change in revenue allocations that would negatively affect the
City of Moorpark, including but not limited to the redistribution of sales tax,
property tax, transient occupancy tax, and vehicle in-lieu fee.
C. Oppose legislation that restricts or limits a city’s ability to use tax-exempt
debt for the purchase or construction of public purpose improvements.
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Legislative Program
May 6, 2015
D. Oppose any measure that makes local agencies more dependent on the
state for financial stability and policy direction.
E. Support legislation that eliminates cities’ contributions to the Educational
Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) and directs the repayment of past
contributions.
F. Support legislation requiring the state and federal governments to provide full
cost reimbursement to cities for all mandated programs and for all programs
resulting in revenue losses.
G. Support legislation that safeguards existing City revenue sources from
preemption or seizure by the state or county.
H. Support measures that provide greater fiscal independence to cities and
result in greater stability and predictability in local government budgeting.
I. Support efforts that provide greater accountability on the part of counties for
the distribution of funds back to municipalities, including, but not limited to,
fines and forfeitures.
J. Support legislation that protects the ability of local government to recover the
costs of mandated programs through fees that are not subject to Proposition
218.
K. Support the establishment of a constitutionally-protected funding structure for
local government.
L. Support legislation that authorizes a statewide ballot measure to restore the
requirement for a simple majority of voters in a city or county to approve an
increase in taxes or issue general obligation bonds.
M. Support legislation to appropriately collect sales tax generated through e-
commerce by residents and businesses of Moorpark and appropriately
allocates the tax dollars back to the City rather than to a County pool.
N. Support efforts by state government to distribute revenue to local
government in a manner that does not create incentives for commercial
“sprawl” retail development and/or disincentives for residential, industrial,
open space or agricultural land uses.
O. Advocate and join with other Ventura County cities to encourage the Ventura
County Treasurer-Tax Collector to shorten the time to collect property tax
readjustments.
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Legislative Program
May 6, 2015
2. Labor Relations
A. Oppose legislation that would restrict a city’s ability to use its own employees
on public works projects when such projects have previously been advertised
for bid.
B. Oppose legislation that requires the use of city employees rather than
contracting out for services.
C. Oppose any legislation that would grant employee benefits that should be
decided at the local bargaining table.
D. Oppose legislation that removes local authority to determine the level of
benefits to be provided to employees.
E. Oppose legislation that removes or reduces management rights, such as
deciding staffing or service levels, either by direct action or increased liability.
F. Oppose legislation that expands or extends any presumptions of
occupational injury or illness.
G. Oppose any measure that imposes compulsory and binding interest
arbitration.
H. Oppose efforts that reduce local control over public employee disputes or
impose regulations of an outside agency on such disputes.
I. Oppose a mandatory Social Security tax for public employers and public
employees.
J. Support legislation that would reform the Workers' Compensation system to
reduce employer cost through the reduction of system abuse.
K. Support legislation that limits the ability of employees to receive Workers’
Compensation benefits for occupational injuries/illnesses that result from
stress, disciplinary action, or performance evaluation consultations.
L. Support legislation that provides reasonable reform of local government
pension systems and that preserves local control.
3. Transportation
A. Oppose legislation that redirects local transportation funds away from cities.
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May 6, 2015
B. Oppose legislation that limits and/or decreases the existing amount of
retention proceeds withheld from any payment by a public entity to the
contractor on a public project.
C. Support legislation that would provide additional resources to cities to finance
local transportation systems, facilities, and improvements including the Safe
Routes to Schools programs.
D. Support legislation that provides greater flexibility for the use of local
transportation funds for both public transit and street maintenance and
construction purposes.
E. Support legislation that will help reduce non-local commercial vehicle traffic
on SR-118 through the City.
F. Encourage the timely reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act and its
annual appropriations for the safety and enhancement of surface
transportation in the region, including local transit, commuter rail, highway
projects such as: the widening of the SR 118 freeway, the SR 23/US 101
interchange; and local road improvements such as the proposed North Hills
Parkway; and intermodal transportation center development such as the
realignment of the Moorpark Metrolink Station entrance, and to encourage
transit-oriented projects in the downtown area.
4. Environment / Open Space
A. Support legislation that streamlines the state’s environmental review process
and maintains public participation without compromising environmental
quality standards.
B. Support legislation that reduces or eliminates local government's
owner/operator Superfund liability.
C. Support legislation to either consolidate or streamline the federal and state
Clean Air Acts without reducing air quality standards.
D. Support air quality efforts that emphasize use of advanced technologies and
market incentives, including use of alternative fuels and development of an
infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles.
E. Support legislation that reimburses cities for revenue losses stemming from
environmental decisions made without city participation.
F. Support legislation that provides money to local governments for energy
conservation programs.
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Legislative Program
May 6, 2015
G. Support funding and other incentives for local government and private
industry projects and planning strategies to promote sustainability in
infrastructure and operations, greater energy efficiency, lower energy usage,
and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
H. Support funding and legislation for the designation and preservation of open
space and preservation, restoration and enhancement of natural resources.
I. Support legislation that makes funds available to refurbish and improve
parks, and to acquire and maintain open space.
J. Support legislation that exempts from property taxes any City owned property
outside city limits (but within the same County) that is used for open space
preservation purposes.
K. Support legislation and/or programs that provide money to local governments
for energy efficiency and conservation programs.
5. Solid Waste / Recycling / Storm Water / Waste Water / Ground Water
A. Oppose legislation that would restrict or limit local government's ability to
franchise refuse and recycling collection services, to direct municipal solid
waste flow (flow control), or to contractually require haulers to guarantee
achievement of AB 939 / AB 341 goals.
B. Support legislation that provides cities with financial assistance for programs
designed to provide for the safe disposal of solid, hazardous, and special
waste.
C. Support legislation that strengthens cities’ ability to direct municipal solid
waste flow to designated solid waste facilities.
D. Support legislation that streamlines AB 939 / AB 341 tracking and reporting
requirements.
E. Support legislation that would make grants available to local agencies for
programs that encourage the recycling/reclaiming of resources.
F. Support legislation that promotes source reduction measures without
creating an unfunded mandate.
G. Support legislation that promotes recycling and expands the market for
recycled materials.
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Legislative Program
May 6, 2015
H. Support new resource recovery and conversion technologies, such as
bio-diesel from organic waste.
I. Support legislation that implements the concept of extended manufacturer
responsibility for electronic waste and other material types requiring
incentives for recycling.
J. Support legislation that gives cities authority to meet their National Pollution
Elimination Discharge System (NPDES) requirements on a more collective
and regional basis.
K. Support legislation that would eliminate unfunded mandates such as the
water course pollution prevention programs.
L. Support legislation that protects ground water quality.
6. Library Services
A. Oppose legislation that reduces funding for libraries including Public Library
Funds.
B. Support legislation that ensures cities receive a proportionate share of
property taxes upon withdrawal from a county library services district, or any
other county service or district for which property taxes are received.
C. Support legislation that provides financial assistance for local public libraries
without the imposition of new taxes.
D. Support legislation with intent to allow City Operated Libraries (as opposed to
districts) to have an “advisory” commission not a Board as per current law.
7. Telecommunications
A. Oppose efforts to make PEG channels hard to find or navigate to, such as on
an obscure channel or accessible only via several Internet web page menus,
of any lesser signal quality than basic channels, or requiring an additional fee
or device for viewers to access.
B. Oppose any legislation that reduces or restricts local authority to regulate
public right-of-way and receive compensation for its use.
C. Oppose regulations and legislation that erodes or eliminates local
government authority regarding siting of cellular communications towers or
transmission sites.
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Legislative Program
May 6, 2015
D. Support legislation that reinstates effective local regulation of the cable
television industry and other deregulated utilities, including financial
reimbursement for use of public right-of-ways.
E. Support preserving public, education and government ("PEG") television
channels, funding, and programming support by video service providers,
such as: payments to local government of franchise fees, PEG fees, and
facility/equipment grants; and furnishing public access production facilities.
8. General Government
A. Oppose legislation that restricts or weakens a City’s ability to regulate
smoking areas, sale of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices and
products, alcoholic beverage licenses, marijuana dispensaries, or adult-
oriented business establishments.
B. Oppose legislation that increases local government’s exposure to litigation.
C. Oppose efforts to cut funding for Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) programs and other community services and workforce assistance
programs to serve low-income and/or other disadvantaged residents.
D. Support legislation limiting a city’s liability associated with hazardous
recreational activities, such as skateboarding and in-line skating.
E. Support legislation that provides maximum local flexibility in contracting for
services.
F. Support legislation to give non-entitlement cities the same rights as
entitlement cities in CDBG program administration.
G. Support legislation that promotes low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter
programs.
H. Support legislation that holds animal owners accountable for injuries or
property damage caused by animals under their care or control.
I. Support the retention of local First 5 program funding from Proposition 10 to
maintain current service levels and implement the goals of the local First 5
programs.
9. Public Safety
A. Oppose legislation that weakens enforcement of, and penalties for,
commercial truck violations.
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Legislative Program
May 6, 2015
B. Oppose legislation that decreases grant funding for local law enforcement
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
C. Support legislation that promotes the efforts of the Moorpark Police
Department and the Ventura County Fire District to maintain the level of
services consistent in sustaining the City’s rank as one of the nation’s “Safest
Cities”.
D. Support legislation that would provide cities with a greater share of fines and
forfeitures.
E. Support legislation that would provide additional resources for commercial
truck safety inspections and the enforcement of commercial truck vehicle
codes.
F. Support legislation that would provide cities with contract law enforcement a
proportionate share of Proposition 172 sales tax revenues for public safety.
G. Support legislation that increases local law enforcement resources without
increasing taxes.
H. Support legislation that would provide a greater share of seized assets to
cities.
I. Support legislation that allows use of state and federal public safety grants
for maintenance efforts in addition to service increases.
10. Land Use / Planning
A. Oppose county development projects for undeveloped areas in the city’s
area of interest that do not conform to city standards.
B. Oppose legislation that limits city use of eminent domain.
C. Support legislation that reforms annexation law by strengthening cities’
authority over spheres of influence and ensures that fair property tax
agreements can be obtained.
D. Support legislation that provides for shared land use determinations between
counties and cities when the General Plan of the city establishes a planning
area consistent with Government Code provisions.
E. Support legislation that enhances local control and diminishes litigation
surrounding adult entertainment facilities.
F. Support legislation that strengthens local control to prepare, adopt, and
implement fiscal plans for orderly growth, development, beautification, and
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Legislative Program
May 6, 2015
conservation of local planning areas, including, but not limited to, regulatory
authority over zoning, subdivisions, and annexations.
G. Support efforts that are consistent with the doctrine of "home rule" and the
local exercise of police powers, through planning and zoning processes, over
local land use.
H. Support legislation that allows local control over the establishment of medical
marijuana establishments.
11. Housing
A. Oppose legislation that expands the state Department of Housing and
Community Development's review role for local Housing Elements.
B. Oppose legislation that expands the state exemption for second dwelling
units in single family zones.
C. Support legislation that addresses occupancy levels and strengthens cities’
ability to reduce overcrowding in residential housing.
D. Support efforts to develop federal, state, and county participation, financial
support, and incentives for programs that provide adequate, affordable
housing for the elderly, handicapped, and low-income persons throughout
the community.
E. Support Housing Element reform legislation that provides greater local
control and flexibility, simplifies the process, and improves its effectiveness.
F. Support legislation that eliminates the current Regional Housing Needs
Allocation process and defines an equitable process to determine a “fair
share” of new housing needed to respond to growth trends in the region.
G. Support legislation to ensure that property tax valuations for deed restricted
dwelling units with reinforcing Deeds of Trust are based on the Affordable
Sales Price, actually paid by the buyers, rather than based on market value.
H. Support legislation to protect homebuyers from predatory lending by ensuring
that mortgage brokers are effectively regulated and that mortgage loans are
suited to the financial means of the homebuyer.
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Legislative Program
May 6, 2015
12. Successor Redevelopment Agency / Economic Development
A. Support legislation that gives cities resources to finance economic
development efforts, such as business attraction, retention, and growth, as
well as marketing and tourism.
B. Support legislation that would revive redevelopment agencies and/or their
functions such as economic revitalization; affordable housing; blight removal;
infrastructure development; and job creation/retention.
C. Support legislation that simplifies and streamlines the process for creation of
infrastructure financing districts.
D. Support legislation that returns the ability to enact property tax increment
financing or other redevelopment tools to local government.
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ATTACHMENT 2
City of Moorpark
Legislative Platform
March 6, 2019
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City of Moorpark • 2019 Legislative Platform
Table of Contents
Introduction and Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 3
Section 1. Community Services ..................................................................................................................... 4
Section 2. Environmental Quality ................................................................................................................. 5
Section 3. Water ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Section 4. Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations ........................................................................ 7
Section 5. Housing, Community, and Economic Development .................................................................... 8
Section 6. Public Safety ............................................................................................................................... 10
Section 7. Revenue and Taxation ................................................................................................................ 11
Section 8. Transportation, Communication, and Public Works .................................................................. 12
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City of Moorpark • 2019 Legislative Platform
i. Introduction and Purpose
The City of Moorpark developed and maintains a Legislative Platform to facilitate the City’s quick
response to county, state, and federal legislation in a proactive manner, since legislation can often move
quickly through legislative bodies, with insufficient time for the City Council to take a formal action on a
particular piece of legislation. The Legislative Platform further serves as a guide for the City Council to
consider legislative affairs on an ad hoc basis.
Whenever possible, the Mayor (or Mayor Pro Tem or City Manager, in the Mayor’s absence) is
authorized to sign correspondence expressing the City’s position on pending legislation, consistent with
the City’s Legislative Platform and/or other positions on pending legislation consistent with the
Legislative Program or prior City Council actions. The Administration, Finance, and Public Safety (AFPS)
Committee may also periodically review legislation for recommendation to the City Council.
City staff monitors state and county legislation for potential impacts to the City. State or federal
legislation may also be brought to staff’s attention by the League of California Cities, Ventura Council of
Governments, or other professional organizations for engineering, legislative, finance, community
development, public safety, and other professions.
City positions on pending legislation on topics not included in the Legislative Program shall require a
vote of the City Council. If warranted due to complexity, the City Manager may also present pending
legislation to the Administration, Finance, and Public Safety (AFPS) Committee, or other standing
committee as appropriate for the topic, for a recommendation prior to City Council consideration.
Nothing in the Legislative Platform is intended to preclude consideration of any legislation by the City
Council, regardless of whether it is included in the Legislative Platform.
City positions in support of legislation on a specified topic shall be construed as opposition to something
that shall do the opposite, and the reverse is also true. For example, if the Legislative Platform supports
increased funding for libraries, it also inherently opposes decreased funding for libraries.
ii. Participation in League of California Cities Legislative Action Day
In 2019, the City will participate in the
Legislative Action Day event, hosted by
the League of California Cities in
Sacramento every April. After attending
the 2019 event, the City Council will
make a determination regarding the City’s participation in future years.
The event includes in-person updates from the League of California Cities and its lobbyists representing
cities’ interests, panel discussions of critical contemporaneous issues, meetings with the City’s
representatives in the State Assembly and State Senate, and other networking opportunities.
Participation will further bolster the City’s abilities to successfully lobby state officials in the City’s
interest.
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City of Moorpark • 2019 Legislative Platform
Solid Waste Services
1.1 Oppose legislation that would restrict or limit local government’s ability to franchise refuse and
recycling collection services, to direct municipal solid waste flow (flow control), or to
contractually require haulers to guarantee achievement of AB 939/AB 341 goals.
1.2 Support legislation that streamlines AB 939/AB 341 tracking and reporting requirements.
Support legislation that shifts AB 939 metrics from mathematical accounting toward program
implementation. (UPDATED TO MATCH LEAGUE POSITION)
1.3 Support legislation that provides cities with financial assistance for programs designed to
provide for the safe disposal of solid, hazardous, and special wastes.
1.4 Support legislation that promotes source reduction measures without creating an unfunded
mandate.
1.5 Support legislation that promotes recycling and expands the market for recyclable materials.
Support legislation and efforts to expand the market for recycled materials, including advance
disposal fees, minimum content laws, manufacturer responsibility programs, and recycling
market development zones. (UPDATED TO MATCH LEAGUE POSITION)
1.6 Support new resource recovery and conversion technologies, such as bio-diesel from organic
waste.
1.7 Support legislation that strengthens’ cities’ ability to direct municipal solid waste flow to
designated solid waste facilities. (NO LONGER NEEDED)
1.8 Support legislation that would make grants available to local agencies for programs that
encourage the recycling/reclaiming of resources. (DUPLICATIVE OF 1.3)
1.9 Support legislation that implements the concept of extended manufacturer responsibility for
electronic waste and other material types requiring incentives for recycling. (MERGED WITH 1.5)
Library Services
1.10 Oppose legislation that reduces funds for libraries, including Public Library Funds, and support
legislation that provides financial assistance for local public libraries without the imposition of
new taxes.
1.11 Support legislation that ensures cities receive a proportionate share of property taxes upon
withdrawal from a county library services district, or any other county service or district for
which property taxes are received.
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City of Moorpark • 2019 Legislative Platform
1.12 Support legislation with the intent to allow City operated Libraries (as opposed to districts) to
have an “Advisory” commission, not a Board, as per current law.
1.13 Support legislation that provides financial assistance for local public libraries without the
imposition of new taxes. (MERGED WITH 1.10)
Animal Services
1.14 Support legislation that promotes low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter programs.
1.15 Support legislation that holds animal owners accountable for injuries or property damage
caused by animals under their care or control.
Other Services
1.16 Support funding for local arts activities. (LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
1.17 Support legislation promoting fair exit fees for newly formed municipal utilities receiving
customers that were previously served by investor-owned utilities, and no exit fees for newly
annexed municipal utilities that were never previously served by an investor-owned utility.
(LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
1.18 Support Community Choice Aggregation and measures that further the goals of choice, clean
energy, and affordable rates. (COUNTY OF VENTURA)
1.19 Support a statewide, dedicated funding source for 211 dispatch services, designed to provide
24/7 support to meet public health and human services needs. (COUNTY OF VENTURA)
1.20 Support legislation limiting a city’s liability associated with hazardous recreational activities,
such as skateboarding and in-line skating.
1.21 Support the retention of local First 5 program funding from Proposition 10 to maintain current
service levels and implement the goals of the local First 5 programs.
2.1 Support legislation that streamlines the state’s environmental review process and maintains
public participation without compromising environmental quality standards.
2.2 Support legislation and/or programs that provide money to local governments for energy
efficiency and conservation programs.
2.3 Support legislation that makes funds available to refurbish and improve parks, and to acquire
and maintain open space.
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City of Moorpark • 2019 Legislative Platform
2.4 Support funding and legislation for the designation and preservation of open space and
preservation, restoration, and enhancement of natural resources.
2.5 Support legislation that exempts from property taxes any City-owned property outside city
limits (but within the same County) that is used for open space preservation purposes.
2.6 Support legislation that reimburses cities for revenue losses stemming from environmental
decisions made without city participation.
2.7 Support funding and other incentives for local government and private industry projects and
planning strategies to promote sustainability in infrastructure and operations, greater energy
efficiency, lower energy usage, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
2.8 Support legislation to ban all anticoagulant rodenticides statewide, with exceptions for
emergencies. (RECENT CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION)
2.9 Support legislation that reduces or eliminates local government’s owner/operator Superfund
liability.
2.10 Support legislation to either consolidate or streamline the federal and state Clean Air Acts
without reducing air quality standards.
2.11 Support air quality efforts that emphasize use of advanced technologies and market incentives,
including use of alternative fuels and development of an infrastructure for alternative fuel
vehicles.
2.12 Support legislation and science-based regulation of herbicides, rodenticides, and similarly
used chemically-based compounds. (AFPS STANDING COMMITTEE)
2.13 Support legislation that provides money to local governments for energy conservation
programs. (MERGED WITH 2.2)
3.1 Support development of reasonably achievable, environmentally sound, and cost-effective
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) based on monitoring and sound science. (LEAGUE OF CA
CITIES)
3.2 Support legislation and programs to promote water recycling to better safeguard water
supplies. (LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
3.3 Support legislation that protects ground water quality.
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City of Moorpark • 2019 Legislative Platform
4.1 Oppose any measure that makes local agencies more dependent on the state for financial
stability and policy direction.
4.2 Support legislation that provides maximum local flexibility in contracting for services, and
oppose legislation that requires the use of city employees rather than contractors.
4.3 Oppose legislation that limits and/or decreases the existing amount of retention proceeds
withheld from any payment by a public entity to the contractor on a public project.
4.4 Oppose legislation that would restrict a city’s ability to use its own employees on public works
projects when such projects have been previously advertised for bid.
4.5 Oppose legislation that increases local government’s exposure to litigation.
4.6 Oppose legislation that expands or extends any presumptions of occupational injury or illness.
4.7 Oppose legislation that would grant employee benefits that should be decided at the local
bargaining table.
4.8 Oppose legislation that remove or reduces management rights, such as deciding staffing or
service levels, either by direct action or increased liability.
4.9 Oppose efforts that reduce local control over public employee disputes or impose regulation of
an outside agency on such disputes.
4.10 Support legislation that provides reasonable reform of local government pension systems and
that preserves local control.
4.11 Oppose a mandatory Social Security tax for public employers and public employees.
4.12 Support legislation that would reform the Workers’ Compensation system to reduce employer
cost through the reduction of system abuse.
4.13 Support legislation that limits the ability of employees to receive Workers’ Compensation
benefits for occupational injuries/illnesses that result from stress, disciplinary action, or
performance evaluation consultations.
4.14 Support alternative methods of meeting public notice requirements and enhancing them
through the use of cost effective and innovative, technology friendly methods of
communication. (LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
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4.15 Support modifying the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) to provide cities more flexibility to
remedy a potential CVRA lawsuit by converting to a rank-choice voting (RCV) method.
(LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
4.16 Oppose legislation that requires the use of city employees rather than contracting out for
services. (MERGED WITH 4.2)
Land Use/Planning
5.1 Support efforts that are consistent with the doctrine of “home rule” and the local exercise of
police powers, through planning and zoning processes, over local land use.
5.2 Support legislation that strengthens local control to prepare, adopt, and implement fiscal plans
for orderly growth, development, beautification, and conservation of local planning areas,
including, but not limited to, regulatory authority over zoning, subdivisions, and annexations.
5.3 Support local discretion in the assessment, collection, and usage of development fees.
(LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
5.4 Oppose legislation that restricts or weakens a City’s ability to regulate smoking areas, sale of
tobacco products and electronic smoking devices and products, alcoholic beverage licenses,
marijuana dispensaries, or adult-oriented business establishments.
5.5 Oppose legislation that limits cities’ use of eminent domain.
5.6 Support legislation that reforms annexation law by strengthening cities’ authority over spheres
of influence and ensures that fair property tax agreements can be obtained.
5.7 Oppose county development projects for undeveloped areas in the City’s area of interest that
do not conform to City standards.
5.8 Support legislation that provides for shared land use determinations between counties and
cities when the General Plan of the city establishes a planning area consistent with Government
Code provisions.
5.9 Support legislation that enhances local control and diminishes litigation surrounding adult
entertainment facilities. (COVERED BY 5.1)
5.10 Support legislation that allows local control over the establishment of medicinal marijuana
establishments. (STATE ALREADY DID THIS; COVERED BY 5.1)
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Housing
5.10 Oppose legislation that expands the state Department of Housing and Community
Development’s review role for local Housing Elements.
5.12 Support legislation that addresses occupancy levels and strengthens cities’ ability to reduce
overcrowding in residential housing.
5.13 Support efforts to develop federal, state, and county participation, financial support, and
incentives for programs that provide adequate, affordable housing for the elderly, handicapped,
and low-income persons throughout the community.
5.14 Support Housing Element reform legislation that provides greater local control and flexibility,
simplifies the process, and improves its effectiveness.
5.15 Support legislation that eliminates the current Regional Housing Need Allocation process and
defines an equitable process to determine a “fair share” of new housing need to respond to
growth trends in the region.
5.16 Support legislation to ensure that property tax valuations for deed restricted dwelling units with
reinforcing Deeds of Trust are based on the Affordable Sales Price, actually paid by the buyers,
rather than based on market value.
5.17 Support legislation to protect homebuyers from predatory lending by ensuring that mortgage
brokers are effectively regulated and that mortgage loans are suited to the financial means of
the homebuyer.
5.11 Oppose legislation that expands the state exemption for second dwelling units in single family
zones. (STATE ALREADY DID THIS; COVERED BY 5.1)
Economic Development/Redevelopment
5.18 Support legislation that gives cities resources to finance economic development efforts, such as
business attraction, retention, and growth, as well as marketing and tourism.
5.19 Support legislation that would revive redevelopment agencies and/or their functions such as
economic revitalization, affordable housing, blight removal, infrastructure development, and job
creation/retention. (COVERED BY MODIFIED 5.21)
5.20 Support legislation that simplifies and streamlines the process for creation of infrastructure
financing districts. (COVERED BY MODIFIED 5.21)
5.21 Support legislation that returns the ability to enact property tax increment financing or other
redevelopment tools to local government. Support the enactment and expansion of tax
increment financing authority for economic development, infrastructure, and community
revitalization. (UPDATED TO MATCH LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
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5.22 Support efforts to protect local military bases from closure and the work of the Regional
Defense Partnership 21st Century (RDP-21). (COUNTY OF VENTURA)
6.1 Oppose legislation that weakens enforcement of, and penalties for, commercial truck violations.
6.2 Support legislation that would provide additional resources for commercial truck safety
inspections and the enforcement of commercial truck vehicle codes.
6.3 Support legislation that promotes the efforts of the Moorpark Police Department and the
Ventura County Fire District to maintain the level of services consistent in sustaining the City’s
rank as one of the nation’s “Safest Cities.”
6.4 Support legislation and additional state and federal legislation crafted to ensure that first
responders can perform their duties during emergency response operations without
interference from unmanned aerial systems/drones. (LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
6.5 Support efforts to construct an additional fire station serving the northeastern portion of
Moorpark. (AFPS COMMITTEE)
6.6 Support development of wildland fuel management programs to decrease impacts to public
health and safety resulting from wildland-urban interface fires. (LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
6.7 Oppose legislation that would shift the costs or liability of wildfire emergency response to
local governments. (STAFF)
6.8 Support legislation that increases local law enforcement resources without increasing taxes.
6.9 Oppose legislation that decreases grant funding for local law enforcement Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS). Protect funding for state Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) and
federal Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) funding. (UPDATED TO MATCH LEAGUE OF
CA CITIES)
6.10 Support legislation that allows use of state and federal public safety grants for maintenance
efforts in addition to service increases.
6.11 Support legislation that would provide cities with contract law enforcement a proportionate
share of Proposition 172 sales tax revenues for public safety.
6.12 Support legislation that would provide cities with a greater share of fines and forfeitures.
6.13 Support legislation that would provide a greater share of seized assets to cities.
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7.1 Support measures that provide greater fiscal independence to cities and result in greater
stability and predictability in local government budgeting.
7.2 Oppose any change in revenue allocations that would negatively affect the City of Moorpark,
including but not limited to the redistribution of sales tax, property tax, transient occupancy tax,
and vehicle in-lieu fees.
7.3 Oppose legislation that eliminates or restricts the taxing authority of cities over development;
weakens existing Government Code Section 66000 fee authority; and redefines any
development tax, condition, or other monetary charge as development fees.
7.4 Support legislation requiring the state and federal governments to provide full cost
reimbursement to cities for all mandated programs and for all programs resulting in revenue
losses.
7.5 Support legislation that protects the ability of local government to recover the costs of
mandated programs through fees that are not subject to Proposition 218.
7.6 Support legislation that safeguards existing City revenue sources from preemption or seizure by
the state or county.
7.7 Oppose legislation that restricts or limits a city’s ability to use tax-exempt debt for the purchase
or construction of public purpose improvements.
7.8 Support legislation that eliminates cities’ contributions to the Educational Revenue
Augmentation Fund (ERAF) and directs the repayment of past contributions.
7.9 Support the establishment of a constitutionally-protected funding structure for local
government.
7.10 Support efforts that provide greater accountability on the part of counties for the distribution of
funds back to municipalities, including, but not limited to, fines and forfeitures.
7.11 Advocate and join with other Ventura County cities to encourage the Ventura County Treasurer-
Tax Collector to shorten the time to collect property tax readjustments.
7.12 Support efforts by state government to distribute revenue to local government in a manner that
does not create incentives for commercial “sprawl” retail development and/or disincentives for
residential, industrial, open space, or agricultural land uses.
7.13 Support legislation that authorizes a statewide ballot measure to restore the requirement for a
simple majority of voters in a city or county to approve an increase in taxes or issue general
obligation bonds. Support legislation to authorize a simple majority of the voters in a city or
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county to establish local priorities, including the right to increase taxes or issue general
obligation bonds. (UPDATED TO MATCH LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
7.14 Support legislation to appropriately collect sales tax generated through e-commerce by
residents and businesses of Moorpark and appropriately allocates the tax dollars back to the
City rather than to a County pool. Support legislation to ensure tax proceeds collected from
Internet sales be allocated to the location where the product is received by the purchaser.
(UPDATED TO MATCH LEAGUE OF CA CITIES).
7.15 Oppose efforts to cut funding for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs and
other community services and workforce assistance programs to serve low-income and/or other
disadvantaged residents.
7.16 Support legislation to give non-entitlement cities the same rights as entitlement cities in CDBG
program administration.
Transportation
8.1 Support legislation that will help reduce non-local commercial vehicle traffic on SR-118 through
the City.
8.2 Oppose efforts to increase truck size or weight. (STAFF)
8.3 Oppose legislation that redirects local transportation funds away from cities. Support enhanced
autonomy for local transportation decision-making, and pursue transportation policy changes
that move more dollars and decisions to local policy leaders. (UPDATED TO MATCH LEAGUE OF
CA CITIES)
8.4 Support legislation that would provide additional resources to cities to finance local
transportation systems, facilities, and improvements, including the Safe Routes to Schools
programs.
8.5 Encourage the timely reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act and its annual
appropriations for the safety and enhancement of surface transportation in the region, including
local transit, commuter rail, highway projects such as the widening of the SR 118 Freeway, the
SR 23/US 101 interchange, and local road improvements such as the proposed North Hills
Parkway, and intermodal transportation center development such as the realignment of the
Moorpark Metrolink Station entrance, and to encourage transit-oriented projects in the
downtown area. (STAFF UPDATES)
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Telecommunications
8.6 Support efforts to provide for the improvement of broadband availability, accessibility,
competition, and performance in the city and in Ventura County.
8.7 Oppose any legislation that reduces or restricts local authority to regulate public right-of-way
and receive compensation for its use.
8.8 Oppose regulations and legislation that erodes or eliminates local government authority
regarding siting of cellular communications towers or transmission sites.
8.9 Support legislation that reinstates effective local regulation of the cable television industry and
other deregulated utilities, including financial reimbursement for use of public right-of-ways.
8.10 Support preserving public, education, and government (PEG) television channels, funding, and
programming support by video service providers, such as payments to local government of
franchise fees, PEG fees, and facility/equipment grants, and furnishing public access production
facilities.
8.11 Oppose efforts to make PEG channels hard to find or navigate to, such as on an obscure channel
or accessible only via several Internet web page menus, of any lesser signal quality than basic
channels, or requiring an additional fee or device for viewers to access.
Public Works
8.12 Support efforts to develop funding policies and incentives at the state and federal level to
ensure funding for the maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of public infrastructure.
(COUNTY OF VENTURA)
8.13 Oppose efforts to shift legal costs and liability away from design professionals and contractors
to local governments. (LEAGUE OF CA CITIES)
8.14 Support legislation that gives cities the authority to meet their National Pollutant Elimination
Discharge System (NPDES) requirements on a more collective and regional basis.
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ATTACHMENT 3
City of Moorpark
Legislative Platform
March 6, 2019
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City of Moorpark • 2019 Legislative Platform
Table of Contents
Introduction and Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 3
Section 1. Community Services ..................................................................................................................... 4
Section 2. Environmental Quality ................................................................................................................. 5
Section 3. Water ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Section 4. Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations ........................................................................ 6
Section 5. Housing, Community, and Economic Development .................................................................... 7
Section 6. Public Safety ................................................................................................................................. 9
Section 7. Revenue and Taxation ................................................................................................................ 10
Section 8. Transportation, Communication, and Public Works .................................................................. 11
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City of Moorpark • 2019 Legislative Platform
i. Introduction and Purpose
The City of Moorpark developed and maintains a Legislative Platform to facilitate the City’s quick
response to county, state, and federal legislation in a proactive manner, since legislation can often move
quickly through legislative bodies, with insufficient time for the City Council to take a formal action on a
particular piece of legislation. The Legislative Platform further serves as a guide for the City Council to
consider legislative affairs on an ad hoc basis.
Whenever possible, the Mayor (or Mayor Pro Tem or City Manager, in the Mayor’s absence) is
authorized to sign correspondence expressing the City’s position on pending legislation, consistent with
the City’s Legislative Platform and/or other positions on pending legislation consistent with the
Legislative Program or prior City Council actions. The Administration, Finance, and Public Safety (AFPS)
Committee may also periodically review legislation for recommendation to the City Council.
City staff monitors state and county legislation for potential impacts to the City. State or federal
legislation may also be brought to staff’s attention by the League of California Cities, Ventura Council of
Governments, or other professional organizations for engineering, legislative, finance, community
development, public safety, and other professions.
City positions on pending legislation on topics not included in the Legislative Program shall require a
vote of the City Council. If warranted due to complexity, the City Manager may also present pending
legislation to the Administration, Finance, and Public Safety (AFPS) Committee, or other standing
committee as appropriate for the topic, for a recommendation prior to City Council consideration.
Nothing in the Legislative Platform is intended to preclude consideration of any legislation by the City
Council, regardless of whether it is included in the Legislative Platform.
City positions in support of legislation on a specified topic shall be construed as opposition to something
that shall do the opposite, and the reverse is also true. For example, if the Legislative Platform supports
increased funding for libraries, it also inherently opposes decreased funding for libraries.
ii. Participation in League of California Cities Legislative Action Day
The City is expected to participate in the
annual Legislative Action Day event,
hosted by the League of California Cities
hosts in Sacramento every April. The City
should budget for up to two staff
members, the Mayor, and the four City Councilmembers annually, although not all are expected to
attend every year.
The event includes in-person updates from the League of California Cities and its lobbyists representing
cities’ interests, panel discussions of critical contemporaneous issues, meetings with the City’s
representatives in the State Assembly and State Senate, and other networking opportunities.
Participation will further bolster the City’s abilities to successfully lobby state officials in the City’s
interest.
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City of Moorpark • 2019 Legislative Platform
Solid Waste Services
1.1 Oppose legislation that would restrict or limit local government’s ability to franchise refuse and
recycling collection services, to direct municipal solid waste flow (flow control), or to
contractually require haulers to guarantee achievement of AB 939/AB 341 goals.
1.2 Support legislation that shifts AB 939 metrics from mathematical accounting toward program
implementation.
1.3 Support legislation that provides cities with financial assistance for programs designed to
provide for the safe disposal of solid, hazardous, and special wastes.
1.4 Support legislation that promotes source reduction measures without creating an unfunded
mandate.
1.5 Support legislation and efforts to expand the market for recycled materials, including advance
disposal fees, minimum content laws, manufacturer responsibility programs, and recycling
market development zones.
1.6 Support new resource recovery and conversion technologies, such as bio-diesel from organic
waste.
Library Services
1.7 Oppose legislation that reduces funds for libraries, including Public Library Funds, and support
legislation that provides financial assistance for local public libraries without the imposition of
new taxes.
1.8 Support legislation that ensures cities receive a proportionate share of property taxes upon
withdrawal from a county library services district, or any other county service or district for
which property taxes are received.
1.9 Support legislation with the intent to allow City operated Libraries (as opposed to districts) to
have an “Advisory” commission, not a Board, as per current law.
Animal Services
1.10 Support legislation that promotes low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter programs.
1.11 Support legislation that holds animal owners accountable for injuries or property damage
caused by animals under their care or control.
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Other Services
1.12 Support funding for local arts activities.
1.13 Support legislation promoting fair exit fees for newly formed municipal utilities receiving
customers that were previously served by investor-owned utilities, and no exit fees for newly
annexed municipal utilities that were never previously served by an investor-owned utility.
1.14 Support Community Choice Aggregation and measures that further the goals of choice, clean
energy, and affordable rates.
1.15 Support a statewide, dedicated funding source for 211 dispatch services, designed to provide
24/7 support to meet public health and human services needs.
1.16 Support legislation limiting a city’s liability associated with hazardous recreational activities,
such as skateboarding and in-line skating.
1.17 Support the retention of local First 5 program funding from Proposition 10 to maintain current
service levels and implement the goals of the local First 5 programs.
2.1 Support legislation that streamlines the state’s environmental review process and maintains
public participation without compromising environmental quality standards.
2.2 Support legislation and/or programs that provide money to local governments for energy
efficiency and conservation programs.
2.3 Support legislation that makes funds available to refurbish and improve parks, and to acquire
and maintain open space.
2.4 Support funding and legislation for the designation and preservation of open space and
preservation, restoration, and enhancement of natural resources.
2.5 Support legislation that exempts from property taxes any City-owned property outside city
limits (but within the same County) that is used for open space preservation purposes.
2.6 Support legislation that reimburses cities for revenue losses stemming from environmental
decisions made without city participation.
2.7 Support funding and other incentives for local government and private industry projects and
planning strategies to promote sustainability in infrastructure and operations, greater energy
efficiency, lower energy usage, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
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2.8 Support legislation to ban all anticoagulant rodenticides statewide, with exceptions for
emergencies.
2.9 Support legislation that reduces or eliminates local government’s owner/operator Superfund
liability.
2.10 Support legislation to either consolidate or streamline the federal and state Clean Air Acts
without reducing air quality standards.
2.11 Support air quality efforts that emphasize use of advanced technologies and market incentives,
including use of alternative fuels and development of an infrastructure for alternative fuel
vehicles.
2.12 Support legislation and science-based regulation of herbicides, rodenticides, and similarly
chemically-based compounds.
3.1 Support development of reasonably achievable, environmentally sound, and cost-effective Total
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) based on monitoring and sound science.
3.2 Support legislation and programs to promote water recycling to better safeguard water
supplies.
3.3 Support legislation that protects ground water quality.
4.1 Oppose any measure that makes local agencies more dependent on the state for financial
stability and policy direction.
4.2 Support legislation that provides maximum local flexibility in contracting for services, and
oppose legislation that requires the use of city employees rather than contractors.
4.3 Oppose legislation that limits and/or decreases the existing amount of retention proceeds
withheld from any payment by a public entity to the contractor on a public project.
4.4 Oppose legislation that would restrict a city’s ability to use its own employees on public works
projects when such projects have been previously advertised for bid.
4.5 Oppose legislation that increases local government’s exposure to litigation.
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4.6 Oppose legislation that expands or extends any presumptions of occupational injury or illness.
4.7 Oppose legislation that would grant employee benefits that should be decided at the local
bargaining table.
4.8 Oppose legislation that remove or reduces management rights, such as deciding staffing or
service levels, either by direct action or increased liability.
4.9 Oppose efforts that reduce local control over public employee disputes or impose regulation of
an outside agency on such disputes.
4.10 Support legislation that provides reasonable reform of local government pension systems and
that preserves local control.
4.11 Oppose a mandatory Social Security tax for public employers and public employees.
4.12 Support legislation that would reform the Workers’ Compensation system to reduce employer
cost through the reduction of system abuse.
4.13 Support legislation that limits the ability of employees to receive Workers’ Compensation
benefits for occupational injuries/illnesses that result from stress, disciplinary action, or
performance evaluation consultations.
4.14 Support alternative methods of meeting public notice requirements and enhancing them
through the use of cost effective and innovative, technology friendly methods of
communication.
4.15 Support modifying the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) to provide cities more flexibility to
remedy a potential CVRA lawsuit by converting to a rank-choice voting (RCV) method.
Land Use/Planning
5.1 Support efforts that are consistent with the doctrine of “home rule” and the local exercise of
police powers, through planning and zoning processes, over local land use.
5.2 Support legislation that strengthens local control to prepare, adopt, and implement fiscal plans
for orderly growth, development, beautification, and conservation of local planning areas,
including, but not limited to, regulatory authority over zoning, subdivisions, and annexations.
5.3 Support local discretion in the assessment, collection, and usage of development fees.
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City of Moorpark • 2019 Legislative Platform
5.4 Oppose legislation that restricts or weakens a City’s ability to regulate smoking areas, sale of
tobacco products and electronic smoking devices and products, alcoholic beverage licenses,
marijuana dispensaries, or adult-oriented business establishments.
5.5 Oppose legislation that limits cities’ use of eminent domain.
5.6 Support legislation that reforms annexation law by strengthening cities’ authority over spheres
of influence and ensures that fair property tax agreements can be obtained.
5.7 Oppose county development projects for undeveloped areas in the City’s area of interest that
do not conform to City standards.
5.8 Support legislation that provides for shared land use determinations between counties and
cities when the General Plan of the city establishes a planning area consistent with Government
Code provisions.
Housing
5.10 Oppose legislation that expands the state Department of Housing and Community
Development’s review role for local Housing Elements.
5.12 Support legislation that addresses occupancy levels and strengthens cities’ ability to reduce
overcrowding in residential housing.
5.13 Support efforts to develop federal, state, and county participation, financial support, and
incentives for programs that provide adequate, affordable housing for the elderly, handicapped,
and low-income persons throughout the community.
5.14 Support Housing Element reform legislation that provides greater local control and flexibility,
simplifies the process, and improves its effectiveness.
5.15 Support legislation that eliminates the current Regional Housing Need Allocation process and
defines an equitable process to determine a “fair share” of new housing need to respond to
growth trends in the region.
5.16 Support legislation to ensure that property tax valuations for deed restricted dwelling units with
reinforcing Deeds of Trust are based on the Affordable Sales Price, actually paid by the buyers,
rather than based on market value.
5.17 Support legislation to protect homebuyers from predatory lending by ensuring that mortgage
brokers are effectively regulated and that mortgage loans are suited to the financial means of
the homebuyer.
Economic Development/Redevelopment
5.18 Support legislation that gives cities resources to finance economic development efforts, such as
business attraction, retention, and growth, as well as marketing and tourism.
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5.19 Support the enactment and expansion of tax increment financing authority for economic
development, infrastructure, and community revitalization.
5.20 Support efforts to protect local military bases from closure and the work of the Regional
Defense Partnership 21st Century (RDP-21).
6.1 Oppose legislation that weakens enforcement of, and penalties for, commercial truck violations.
6.2 Support legislation that would provide additional resources for commercial truck safety
inspections and the enforcement of commercial truck vehicle codes.
6.3 Support legislation that promotes the efforts of the Moorpark Police Department and the
Ventura County Fire District to maintain the level of services consistent in sustaining the City’s
rank as one of the nation’s “Safest Cities.”
6.4 Support legislation and additional state and federal legislation crafted to ensure that first
responders can perform their duties during emergency response operations without
interference from unmanned aerial systems/drones.
6.5 Support efforts to construct an additional fire station serving the northeastern portion of
Moorpark.
6.6 Support development of wildland fuel management programs to decrease impacts to public
health and safety resulting from wildland-urban interface fires.
6.7 Oppose legislation that would shift the costs or liability of wildfire emergency response to local
governments.
6.8 Support legislation that increases local law enforcement resources without increasing taxes.
6.9 Protect funding for state Citizens’ Option for Public Safety (COPS) and federal Community
Oriented Police Services (COPS) funding.
6.10 Support legislation that allows use of state and federal public safety grants for maintenance
efforts in addition to service increases.
6.11 Support legislation that would provide cities with contract law enforcement a proportionate
share of Proposition 172 sales tax revenues for public safety.
6.12 Support legislation that would provide cities with a greater share of fines and forfeitures.
6.13 Support legislation that would provide a greater share of seized assets to cities.
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7.1 Support measures that provide greater fiscal independence to cities and result in greater
stability and predictability in local government budgeting.
7.2 Oppose any change in revenue allocations that would negatively affect the City of Moorpark,
including but not limited to the redistribution of sales tax, property tax, transient occupancy tax,
and vehicle in-lieu fees.
7.3 Oppose legislation that eliminates or restricts the taxing authority of cities over development;
weakens existing Government Code Section 66000 fee authority; and redefines any
development tax, condition, or other monetary charge as development fees.
7.4 Support legislation requiring the state and federal governments to provide full cost
reimbursement to cities for all mandated programs and for all programs resulting in revenue
losses.
7.5 Support legislation that protects the ability of local government to recover the costs of
mandated programs through fees that are not subject to Proposition 218.
7.6 Support legislation that safeguards existing City revenue sources from preemption or seizure by
the state or county.
7.7 Oppose legislation that restricts or limits a city’s ability to use tax-exempt debt for the purchase
or construction of public purpose improvements.
7.8 Support legislation that eliminates cities’ contributions to the Educational Revenue
Augmentation Fund (ERAF) and directs the repayment of past contributions.
7.9 Support the establishment of a constitutionally-protected funding structure for local
government.
7.10 Support efforts that provide greater accountability on the part of counties for the distribution of
funds back to municipalities, including, but not limited to, fines and forfeitures.
7.11 Advocate and join with other Ventura County cities to encourage the Ventura County Treasurer-
Tax Collector to shorten the time to collect property tax readjustments.
7.12 Support efforts by state government to distribute revenue to local government in a manner that
does not create incentives for commercial “sprawl” retail development and/or disincentives for
residential, industrial, open space, or agricultural land uses.
7.13 Support legislation to authorize a simple majority of the voters in a city or county to establish
local priorities, including the right to increase taxes or issue general obligation bonds.
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7.14 Support legislation to ensure tax proceeds collected from Internet sales be allocated to the
location where the product is received by the purchaser.
7.15 Oppose efforts to cut funding for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs and
other community services and workforce assistance programs to serve low-income and/or other
disadvantaged residents.
7.16 Support legislation to give non-entitlement cities the same rights as entitlement cities in CDBG
program administration.
Transportation
8.1 Support legislation that will help reduce non-local commercial vehicle traffic on SR-118 through
the City.
8.2 Oppose efforts to increase truck size or weight.
8.3 Support enhanced autonomy for local transportation decision-making, and pursue
transportation policy changes that move more dollars and decisions to local policy leaders.
8.4 Support legislation that would provide additional resources to cities to finance local
transportation systems, facilities, and improvements, including the Safe Routes to Schools
programs.
8.5 Encourage the timely appropriations for the safety and enhancement of surface transportation
in the region, including local transit, commuter rail, highway projects such as the widening of
the SR 118 Freeway, and local road improvements such as the proposed North Hills Parkway,
and intermodal transportation center development such as the realignment of the Moorpark
Metrolink Station entrance, and to encourage transit-oriented projects in the downtown area.
Telecommunications
8.6 Support efforts to provide for the improvement of broadband availability, accessibility,
competition, and performance in the city and in Ventura County.
8.7 Oppose any legislation that reduces or restricts local authority to regulate public right-of-way
and receive compensation for its use.
8.8 Oppose regulations and legislation that erodes or eliminates local government authority
regarding siting of cellular communications towers or transmission sites.
8.9 Support legislation that reinstates effective local regulation of the cable television industry and
other deregulated utilities, including financial reimbursement for use of public right-of-ways.
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8.10 Support preserving public, education, and government (PEG) television channels, funding, and
programming support by video service providers, such as payments to local government of
franchise fees, PEG fees, and facility/equipment grants, and furnishing public access production
facilities.
8.11 Oppose efforts to make PEG channels hard to find or navigate to, such as on an obscure channel
or accessible only via several Internet web page menus, of any lesser signal quality than basic
channels, or requiring an additional fee or device for viewers to access.
Public Works
8.12 Support efforts to develop funding policies and incentives at the state and federal level to
ensure funding for the maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of public infrastructure.
8.13 Oppose efforts to shift legal costs and liability away from design professionals and contractors to
local governments.
8.14 Support legislation that gives cities the authority to meet their National Pollutant Elimination
Discharge System (NPDES) requirements on a more collective and regional basis.
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Consider Adoption of the City’s
2019 Legislative Platform
City Council
March 6, 2019
Purpose of Legislative Platform
• Facilitates quick response to county, state, and federal legislation
• Authorizes Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, City Manager to sign
correspondence without formal City Council action
• Serves as a guide for City Council when considering legislation
on an ad hoc basis
• During the most recent 2017-2018 Legislative Session
- Staff tracked nearly 100 state bills
- City took positions on 16 state bills
- City commented on numerous administrative-level matters
Legislative Platform Updates
• Format changes to match the League of California Cities format
• Procedural Changes
- Allow any standing committee to review legislation, not
just Administration, Finance, and Public Safety Committee
• Participation in the League’s annual Legislative Action Day
• Updates to issues based on reviews:
- City staff
- Administration, Finance and Public Safety Standing Committee
- League of California Cities Platform
- Other cities’ and county’s platforms
Platform Categories
Review by AFPS Committee
• The Administration, Finance, and Public Safety Committee
reviewed the Platform prior to the City Council meeting and
recommends approval
Review by City Council
• City Council may add/delete/amend the tenets of the Platform
• Generally avoid overly specific matters that may be written too
strictly to have the desired effect
• Non-inclusion in the Platform does not preclude future City action
Recommendation
• Review and adopt the 2019 Legislative Platform
Consider Adoption of the City’s
2019 Legislative Platform
City Council
March 6, 2019