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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2005 0420 CC REG ITEM 10CMOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM 10 • G• CITYOPMI666"aK, CALIFORNIA Meeting /. rw, TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Hugh R. Riley, Assistant City Manager DATE: April 8, 2005 (City Council Meeting of 4/20/05) SUBJECT: Approve Proposed Legislative Agenda for Ventura County Council of Governments DISCUSSION The Ventura Council of Governments (VCOG) has a Draft Legislative Agenda for consideration by the VCOG Board on May 12 2005. This draft document is attached for the City Council's approval. The primary objective for establishing a Legislative Agenda is to allow the organization to respond to the need for support or opposition to specific state or federal legislation in a timely manner. The Legislative Agenda attempts to address only those issues that are clearly of a regional concern and not contain such detail so as to create conflict between member agencies that may have differing views. The VCOG is seeking final approval from each member agency as to what should be included. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approve Legislative Agenda for Ventura Council of Governments. Attachments: Legislative Agenda - VCOG 000.1.4, 4 PROPOSED VCOG ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR 2005 (revised based on comments received) (Attachment 2. Proposed Legislative Agenda presented at the March Board meeting) Puipose 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. Process 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. 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. 1 a ►-+ 000-L. r J r 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 p i le ter- fiseal independenee to eities t a (Camarillo Board comment 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 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. 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. 2 OO�A �0 . 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. C. Support legislation that eliminates the current Regional Housing Needs Allocation process and defines a more equitable process to determine a "fair share" of new housing needed to respond to growth trends in the region. 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. 3 000-d- i 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. 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 50% 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. Support 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 4 ..A. w OOO 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. 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 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 5 000':3 the local bargaining table. 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. 6 U00.1av®