HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2005 1221 CC REG ITEM 09CTO: 1
FROM:
i
DATE:
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
ITEM
9.G.
CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
of /? -o? / - d2006-'
ACTION: /ice a ..mod g4
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ig of 12/21/05)
SUBJECT: Consider Draft Ventura Council of Governments Annual
Legislative Agenda for 2006
DISCUSSION
The attached Draft Ventura County of Governments (VCOG) Legislative
Agenda for 2006 is presented to the City Council for its
consideration.
RECOMMENDATION
Consider and approve the Draft VCOG Annual Legislative Agenda for
2006 and provide comments for presentation to VCOG members by Chair
Hunter.
Attachment:
Draft VCOG Annual Legislative Agenda for 2006
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Honorable City Council
December 21, 2005, Regular Meeting
Page 2
ATTACHMENT
DRAFT VCOG ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR 2006
Purpose
The goal and intent of VCOG is one of voluntary cooperation among
cities and the county of Ventura for their collective benefit. In
this regard, VCOG serves as an advocate in representing the members
of VCOG at the regional, state and federal levels on issues of
mutual importance to the Ventura County area. It also can serve as
a forum for the review, consideration, study, development and
recommendation of public policies and plans with regional
significance.
Overriding Principles
VCOG believes that cities and counties must be able to control
matters within their own jurisdictions. Therefore, VCOG will take
positions on proposed legislation, rules and /or regulations that
affect local control. Additionally, VCOG will take positions on
issues that directly affect the county area. And, when local
decisions affect neighboring communities, VCOG supports local
governments working collaboratively and regionally to address
regional issues.
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Staff will monitor the League of California Cities' Priority Focus,
California State Association of Counties' positions as well as
other sources to identify pending legislation that may impact the
member entities.
A Legislative Subcommittee of the VCOG Administrative Committee
shall be created composed of the following three members: Chair,
Chair Elect and Immediate Past Chair. The Chair (or Chair Elect in
the Chair's absence) is authorized to sign correspondence
expressing VCOG's position on pending legislation consistent with
the Legislative Program and /or other positions approved by the
Governing Board provided that such correspondence has been sent to
the Legislative Subcommittee for their review with a deadline for
their comments but not less than 24 hours before it is finalized.
Copies of all correspondence will be distributed to each Governing
Board member and their jurisdiction and a Legislative Report will
be provided at Board meetings.
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Honorable City Council
December 21, 2005, Regular Meeting
Page 3
Pending legislation not addressed by the Legislative Agenda, member
requests or staff recommendations that deviate from the Legislative
Agenda will be agendized for VCOG Governing Board consideration.
This policy will be reviewed each year with the adoption of the
Legislative Agenda.
Issues of Common Concern and Areas of VCOG Commitment
I. Fiscal Impact - VCOG is committed to:
A. Maintain the protections that are provided in Proposition
lA to protect local revenues from seizure by the state.
B. Oppose preemption of local authority.
C. Support measures that result in greater stability and
predictability in local government budgeting.
D. Support legislation requiring the state and federal
governments to provide full cost reimbursement to cities
and counties for all unfunded or underfunded mandated
programs and for all programs resulting in revenue losses.
E. Encourage the use of state incentives for local
government action rather than mandates and penalties.
II. Transportation & Transit - VCOG is committed to:
A. Support legislation that would provide additional
resources to cities and counties to finance local
transportation systems, facilities, and improvements.
B. Protect and enhance current funding levels and local
authority for existing State and Federal transportation
revenues and programs.
C. Support the immediate halt to transfers to the State
General Fund of dedicated State Transportation funds and
the timely return of all previous loans.
D. Support the authority of cities and county to manage the
public right -of -way and receive compensation for its use.
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Honorable City Council
December 21, 2005, Regular Meeting
Page 4
III. Economic Development - VCOG is committed to:
A. Support legislation that gives cities and counties
resources to finance economic development efforts, such as
business attraction, retention, and growth, as well as
marketing and tourism.
B. Support the retention of the Naval Base Ventura County.
C. Support legislation to ensure sufficient funding to
operate one -stop employment and training centers.
D. Oppose efforts to cut funding for Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) programs and other publicly funded
community services and workforce assistance programs to
serve low - income and /or other disadvantaged residents.
E. Support legislation that reforms reporting requirements
for redevelopment agencies by simplifying the process and
eliminating reporting confusion.
IV. Land Use - VCOG is committed to:
A. 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.
B. Support legislation that strengthens local control to
prepare, adopt, and implement plans for orderly growth,
development, beautification, and conservation of local
planning areas, including, but not limited to, regulatory
authority over zoning, subdivisions, annexations, and
redevelopment areas.
V. Housing - VCOG is committed to:
A. Support efforts to develop multi - jurisdictional (federal,
state, county, city) participation, financial support, and
incentives for programs that provide adequate, affordable
housing for the elderly, handicapped, and low - income
persons throughout the community as well as required
infrastructure construction.
B. Support Housing Element reform legislation that provides
greater local control and flexibility, simplifies the
process, and improves its effectiveness.
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Honorable City Council
December 21, 2005, Regular Meeting
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C. Support legislation that eliminates the current Regional
Housing Needs Allocation process and defines a more
equitable process to
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D. Support legislation that streamlines the environmental
review process for mixed -use infill development without
compromising environmental quality standards.
E. Support legislation that promotes and provides incentives
for environmentally responsible design and construction.
VI. Environment - VCOG is committed to:
A. Support legislation that streamlines the state's
environmental review process and maintains public
participation without compromising environmental quality
standards.
B. Air Quality Protection
1. Support mobile source emission reduction activities to
improve the environment without adverse impact on local
economy.
2. 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.
3. Support port air emission reductions.
4. Support the development of a federal action plan for
reducing air pollution from those sources solely under
federal control such as ships and planes which are
increasingly affecting the ability to reach local air
quality attainment.
C. Solid Waste
1. Support legislation that provides cities and counties
with financial assistance for programs designed to
provide for the safe disposal of solid, hazardous, and
special waste.
2. Support legislation that promotes source reduction
measures without creating an unfunded mandate.
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December 21, 2005, Regular Meeting
Page 6
3. Support legislation that promotes recycling and expands
the market for recycled materials as well as making
grants available to local agencies for programs that
encourage the recycling /reclaiming of resources.
4. Support new resource recovery and conversion
technologies, such as bio- diesel from organic waste,
including removing impediments to the adoption of
transformation or conversion technologies to help
municipalities and the county meet and exceed their
requirement to divert 500 of their solid waste away from
landfills.
5. Oppose legislation that would restrict or limit local
government's ability to franchise refuse and recycling
collection services, to direct municipal or county solid
waste flow (flow control), or to contractually require
haulers to guarantee achievement of AB 939 goals.
6. Sr+--- Initiate legislation that streamlines AB 939
tracking and reporting requirements.
D. Water Protection
1. Support legislation and cooperative efforts to ensure
adequate water supplies for Southern California and to
protect and enhance regional groundwater resources and
watersheds.
2. Support state and federal funding legislation for local
storm water and NPDES programs as well as incentives for
the re -use of reclaimed water.
3. Support regulations for local agencies to carry out the
NPDES mission that are practical and capable of being
implemented including taking into account economic
considerations.
4. Support scientific investigation and implementation, as
funding permits, of reasonable, cost - effective, and
proven best management practices (BMP) and best available
technologies (BAT) to mitigate storm water pollution to
the maximum extent practicable.
E. Natural Resources
1. Support funding and legislation for the designation and
preservation of open space and preservation, restoration
and enhancement of natural resources.
Honorable City Council
December 21, 2005, Regular Meeting
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2. Support legislation and /or programs that provide money to
local governments for energy efficiency and conservation
programs.
VIII. Public Safety and Homeland Security - VCOG is committed to:
A. Support legislation that increases local law enforcement
resources including providing cities and counties with a
greater share of fines and forfeitures.
B. Support funding for improved public safety programs,
specifically the State Grants that have provided police
departments with the funds necessary to support technology
improvements increasing efficiency. This includes grants
that support homeland security, grants through the Office
of Traffic Safety, as well as other grants that support the
hiring of law enforcement personnel.
C. Support legislation that would provide additional
resources for commercial truck safety inspections and the
enforcement of commercial truck vehicle codes.
D. Support legislation that allows use of state and federal
public safety grants for maintenance efforts in addition to
service increases.
E. Support maintenance of existing health care facilities
within the county for emergency response with adequate
funding and staffing.
F. Support funding for all hazards, not just terrorism and
encourage comprehensive All Hazards planning.
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IX. Labor Relations - VCOG is committed to:
A. Oppose legislation that would restrict a local
government'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 or
county employees rather than contracting out.
C. Oppose any legislation that would grant employee benefits
that should be decided at the local bargaining table.
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Honorable City Council
December 21, 2005, Regular Meeting
Page 8
D. Support legislation that would reform the Workers'
Compensation system to reduce employer cost through the
reduction of system abuse.
E. Oppose any measure that imposes compulsory and binding
interest arbitration.
F. Oppose efforts that reduce local control over public
employee disputes or impose regulations of an outside
agency on such disputes.
IX. General Government - VCOG is committed to:
A. Support legislation limiting the county and a city's
liability associated with hazardous recreational
activities, such as skateboarding and in -line skating.
B. Support legislation that makes funds available to
refurbish and improve parks.
C. Oppose legislation that increases local government's
exposure to litigation.
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