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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2022 0302 CCSA REG ITEM 10ECITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA City Council Meeting of March 2, 2022 ACTION APPROVED STAFF RECOMMENDATION, INCLUDING ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 2022-4079. (ROLL CALL VOTE: 4:1, COUNCILMEMBER POLLOCK DISSENTING). BY A. Hurtado. E. Consider Resolution Supporting the Brand-Huang-Mendoza Tripartisan Land Use Initiative. Staff Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2022-4079 expressing support for the Brand-Huang-Mendoza Tripartisan Land Use Initiative. (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) (Staff: Carlene Saxton, Community Development Director) Item: 10.E. MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Carlene Saxton, Community Development Director Brian Chong, Assistant to the City Manager DATE: 03/02/2022 Regular Meeting SUBJECT: Consider Resolution Supporting the Brand-Huang-Mendoza Tripartisan Land Use Initiative BACKGROUND At its February 2, 2022 meeting, the City Council directed staff to prepare an agenda item for City Council consideration regarding potentially supporting the Brand-Huang- Mendoza Tripartisan Land Use Initiative (“Initiative”). If successful, the Initiative would provide that city and county land use and zoning laws would override conflicting state laws (with a few exceptions described later). The Initiative is a response to continued efforts by the State of California to mandate one-size-fits-all approaches to land use decisions that were historically within the purview of local governments. Some recent examples of passed state legislation that usurped local control of zoning and land use include: SB 9 (2021): Required cities and counties to approve housing developments containing two residential units and urban lot splits ministerially (over the counter), with no discretion to reject them. The bill essentially forces the City to approve up to four housing units on lots in single-family zones. AB 725 (2020): Required cities to ensure that at least 25 percent of their moderate-income housing be allocated to multi-family housing. SB 13 (2019): For accessory dwelling units, prohibited cities from requiring parking requirements, dwelling size limits, owner-occupancy requirements, and from collecting certain impact fees. SB 330 (2019): Prohibited downzoning through General Plan Amendments or Specific Plans; prohibited design standards that increase cost; and created a “preliminary” housing project application at which point development fees are generally frozen for 2.5 years. Extended through 2030 by SB 8 (2021). Item: 10.E. 182 Honorable City Council 03/02/2022 Regular Meeting Page 2 AB 1763 (2019): For 100%-affordable projects within ½-mile of a major transit stop, prohibited cities from establishing maximum densities. AB 68 (2019): For accessory dwelling units, prohibited cities from establishing minimum lot size requirements. In addition to these measures, there are dozens of other more extreme land use and zoning usurpation bills proposed in the State Assembly and State Senate that have been introduced and are active in the current legislative session. The Initiative is named for proponents Mayor Bill Brand of Redondo Beach, Councilmember Peggy Huang of Yorba Linda, and Councilmember Jovita Mendoza of Brentwood. The Initiative was filed with the California State Attorney General’s Office on November 1, 2021, and proponents are currently collecting signatures to qualify it for the November 2022 statewide election. Because the Initiative would be a Constitutional Amendment, proponents must collect 997,139 signatures of California registered voters (equal to 8% of the total votes cast for Governor in the last gubernatorial election) to qualify for the ballot. DISCUSSION The full text of the Initiative is provided as Attachment 1, Exhibit A. A brief summary prepared by the Attorney General of California, is provided at Attachment 2. In short, the Initiative would provide that city and county land use zoning laws (including local housing laws) override all conflicting state laws. If passed, the Initiative would restore nearly all land use and zoning authority to local governments that have land use jurisdiction over the proposed development site. The Initiative provides three exceptions for specific topics deemed of “statewide concern”. In these specific cases, existing state laws would continue to override local laws: 1)The California Coastal Act of 1976; 2)The siting of power plants; and, 3)Development of water, communication, or transportation infrastructure projects. Further, the Initiative would prevent the state legislature and local legislative bodies from passing laws invalidating voter-approved local land use or zoning initiatives. For Moorpark and Ventura County, this translates to additional protection for SOAR (Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources) initiatives passed by voters because it would prevent the state from passing a law to invalidate them. Finally, the Initiative would prevent the state from withholding funding to local governments based on their implementation of the Initiative. 183 Honorable City Council 03/02/2022 Regular Meeting Page 3 The Initiative has already been endorsed by several dozen California cities and regional planning entities, including the nearby Cities of Camarillo, Simi Valley, and Burbank, as well as the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), of which the City is a member. Consistency with City’s Legislative Platform On February 16, 2022, the City Council adopted an updated Legislative Platform for the City, which included Section 5.1: 5.1 Support efforts that are consistent with the doctrine of “local control” and the local exercise of police powers, through planning and zoning processes, over local land use.” Support for the Initiative is consistent with this tenet of the City’s Legislative Platform. Adoption of the proposed resolution (Attachment 1) would state the City’s official position in support of the Initiative and direct staff to register the City as an endorser for the Initiative’s advertising literature and website (ourneighborhoodvoices.com). Adoption of the proposed resolution does not obligate the City to expend funds to support either the signature gathering effort or, if the initiative qualifies for the November 2022 ballot, to support passage. FISCAL IMPACT There is no direct fiscal impact to the City associated with taking a position on the proposed Initiative. In the event that the Initiative is approved by California voters, the Initiative would better safeguard the City’s ability to collect impact fees from future developments. COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE This action does not support a current strategic directive. STAFF RECOMMENDATION (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) Adopt Resolution No. 2022-___ expressing support for the Brand-Huang- Mendoza Tripartisan Land Use Initiative. Attachment 1: Resolution No. 2022-___ Exhibit A: Text of the Initiative Attachment 2: Initiative Summary by California Attorney General 184 ATTACHMENT 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-___ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE BRAND-HUANG-MENDOZA TRIPARTISAN LAND USE INITIATIVE TO AMEND ARTICLE XI OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO PROTECT LOCAL CONTROL OF LAND USE AND ZONING DECISIONS WHEREAS, the State of California in recent years has proposed, passed, and signed into law a number of bills usurping the authority of local jurisdictions to determine for themselves the land use policies and practices that best suit each city and county and instead imposing “one size fits all” mandates that fail to take into account the unique needs and differences of local jurisdictions across the State; and WHEREAS, the ability of local jurisdictions to themselves determine zoning densities and requirements, parking requirements, housing plans and programs, and which types of development require review beyond ministerial approval is a matter of critical importance to the City of Moorpark and many other municipalities; and WHEREAS, on February 16, 2022, the City Council adopted the City’s 2022 Legislative Platform, which included direction for the City to “Support efforts that are consistent with the doctrine of ‘local control’ and the local exercise of police powers, through planning and zoning processes, over local land use,” and the Initiative is consistent with the City’s 2022 Legislative Platform; and WHEREAS, the City Council considered a staff report, dated March 2, 2022, regarding the Brand-Huang-Mendoza Tripartisan Land Use Initiative (Initiative). NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Moorpark hereby determines that local government entities are best able to assess and responds to the unique needs of their respective communities and hereby objects to the proliferation of State legislation that would deprive them of that ability. SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Moorpark expresses its support for the Brand-Huang-Mendoza Tripartisan Land Use Initiative, attached hereto as Exhibit A, to amend Section XI of the California State Constitution to provide that local land use and zoning laws override conflicting state laws. SECTION 3. The City council directs staff to register the City’s support as an endorser with the proponents of the Brand-Huang-Mendoza Tripartisan Land Use Initiative. 185 Resolution No. 2022-___ Page 2 SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the book of original resolutions. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of March 2022. ________________________________ Janice S. Parvin, Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Ky Spangler, City Clerk Exhibit A: Text of the Brand-Huang-Mendoza Tripartisan Land Use Initiative 186 58277666.v2 SECTION 1. The people of the State of California find and declare all of the following: (a)The circumstances and environmental impacts of local land use decisions vary greatly across the state from locality to locality. (b)The infrastructure required to maintain appropriate levels of public services, including police and fire services, parklands and public open spaces, transportation, water supply, schools, and sewers varies greatly across the state from locality to locality. (c)Land use decisions made by local officials must balance development with public facilities and services while addressing the economic, environmental, and social needs of the particular communities served by those local officials. (d)Thus, it is in the best interests of the state and local communities for these complex decisions to be made at the local level to ensure that the specific, unique characteristics, constraints, and needs of those communities are properly analyzed and addressed. (e)Gentrification of housing adjacent to public transportation will reduce or eliminate the availability of low or very low income housing near public transit, resulting in the loss of access by low or very low income persons to public transit, declines in public transit ridership, and increases in vehicle miles travelled. (f)The State Legislature cannot properly assess the impacts upon each community of sweeping centralized and rigid state land use rules and zoning regulations that apply across the state without regard to community impacts and, as a result, statewide land use and zoning will do great harm to local communities with differing circumstances and concerns. (g)Community development should not be controlled by state planners, but by local governments that know and can address the needs of, and the impacts upon, local communities. Local initiatives approved by voters pertaining to land use and zoning restrictions should not be nullified or superseded by the actions of any local or state legislative body. (h)Numerous state laws that target communities for elimination of zoning standards have been enacted, and continue to be proposed, that eliminate or erode local control over local development and circumvent the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), creating the potential for harmful environmental impacts to occur. (i)The purpose of this measure is to ensure that all decisions regarding local land use controls, including zoning law and regulations, are made by the affected communities in accordance with applicable law, including but not limited to CEQA (Public Resources Code § 21000 et seq.), the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Government Code §§ 12900 – 12996), prohibitions against discrimination (Government Code § 65008), and affirmatively furthering fair housing (Government Code § 8899.50). This constitutional amendment would continue to provide for state control in the coastal zone, the siting of a power plant that can generate more than 50 megawatts of electricity, or the development or construction of water, communication or transportation infrastructure projects which the Legislature declares are matters of statewide concern and are in the best interests of the state. For purposes of this measure, it is the intent that a transportation infrastructure project shall not include a transit-oriented development project that is residential, commercial, or mixed-use. EXHIBIT AResolution No. 2022-____ Page 3 187 58277666.v2 SECTION 2. Section 4.5 is added to Article XI of the California Constitution, to read: SEC. 4.5. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), in the event of a conflict with a state statute, a county charter provision, general plan, specific plan, ordinance or a regulation adopted pursuant to a county charter, that regulates the zoning, development or use of land within the boundaries of an unincorporated area of the county shall be deemed a county affair within the meaning of Section 4 and shall prevail over a conflicting state statute. No voter approved local initiative that regulates the zoning, development or use of land within the boundaries of any county shall be overturned or otherwise nullified by any legislative body. (b) A county charter provision, general plan, specific plan, ordinance or a regulation adopted and applicable to an unincorporated area within a county, may be determined only by a court of competent jurisdiction, in accordance with Section 4, to address either a matter of statewide concern or a county affair if that provision, ordinance, or regulation conflicts with a state statute with regard to only the following: (1) The California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code), or a successor statute. (2) The siting of a power generating facility capable of generating more than 50 megawatts of electricity and the California Public Utilities Commission has determined that a need exists at that location that is a matter of statewide concern. (3) The development or construction of a water, communication or transportation infrastructure project for which the Legislature has declared in statute the reasons why the project addresses a matter of statewide concern and is in the best interests of the state. For purposes of this paragraph, a transportation infrastructure project does not include a transit-oriented development project, whether residential, commercial, or mixed-use. (c) No modification to appropriations for state funded programs shall occur, and no state grant applications or funding shall be denied as a result of the application of this section. No benefit or preference in state appropriations or grants shall be given to an entity that opts not to utilize the provisions of this section. (d) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. SECTION 3. Section 5.5 is added to Article XI of the California Constitution, to read: SEC. 5.5. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), in the event of a conflict with a state statute, a city charter provision, general plan, specific plan, ordinance or a regulation adopted pursuant to a city charter, that establishes land use policies or regulates zoning or development standards within the boundaries of the city shall be deemed a municipal affair within the meaning of Section 5 and shall prevail over a conflicting state statute. No voter approved local initiative that regulates the zoning, development or use of land within the boundaries of any city shall be overturned or otherwise nullified by any legislative body. (b) A city charter provision, general plan, specific plan, ordinance or a regulation adopted pursuant to a city charter, may be determined only by a court of competent jurisdiction, in accordance with Section 5, to address either a matter of statewide concern or a municipal affair Resolution No. 2022-____ Page 4 188 58277666.v2 if that provision, ordinance, or regulation conflicts with a state statute with regard to only the following: (1) The California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code), or a successor statute. (2) The siting of a power generating facility capable of generating more than 50 megawatts of electricity and the California Public Utilities Commission has determined that a need exists at that location that is a matter of statewide concern. (3) The development or construction of a water, communication or transportation infrastructure project for which the Legislature has declared in statute the reasons why the project addresses a matter of statewide concern and is in the best interests of the state. For purposes of this paragraph, a transportation infrastructure project does not include a transit-oriented development project, whether residential, commercial, or mixed-use. (c) No modification to appropriations for state funded programs shall occur, and no state grant applications or funding shall be denied as a result of the application of this section. No benefit or preference in state appropriations or grants shall be given to an entity that opts not to utilize the provisions of this section. (d) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. SECTION 4. Section 7 of Article XI of the California Constitution is amended to read: SEC. 7. (a) A county or city may make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary, and other ordinances and regulations not that are not, except as provided in subdivision (b), in conflict with general laws. A county or city may not supersede or otherwise interfere with any voter approved local initiative pertaining to land use or zoning restrictions. (b) A county or city general plan, specific plan, ordinance or regulation that regulates the zoning, development or use of land within the boundaries of the county or city shall prevail over conflicting general laws, except for only the following: (A) A coastal land use plan, ordinance or regulation that conflicts with the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code), or a successor statute. (B) An ordinance or regulation that addresses the siting of a power generating facility capable of generating more than 50 megawatts of electricity and the California Public Utilities Commission has determined that a need exists at that location that is a matter of statewide concern. (C) An ordinance or regulation that addresses the development or construction of a water, communication or transportation infrastructure project for which the Legislature has declared in statute the reasons why the project addresses a matter of statewide concern and is in the best interests of the state. For purposes of this subparagraph, a transportation infrastructure project does not include a transit- oriented development project, whether residential, commercial, or mixed-use. Resolution No. 2022-____ Page 5 189 58277666.v2 (c) No modification to appropriations for state funded programs shall occur, and no state grant applications or funding shall be denied as a result of the application of this section. No benefit or preference in state appropriations or grants shall be given to an entity that opts not to utilize the provisions of this section. (d) The provisions of this subdivision are severable. If any provision of this subdivision or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. Resolution No. 2022-____ Page 6 190 November 1, 2021 Initiative 21-0016 (Amdt. 1) The Attorney General of California has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure: PROVIDES THAT LOCAL LAND-USE AND ZONING LAWS OVERRIDE CONFLICTING STATE LAWS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Provides that city and county land-use and zoning laws (including local housing laws) override all conflicting state laws, except in certain circumstances related to three areas of statewide concern: (1) the California Coastal Act of 1976; (2) siting of power plants; or (3) development of water, communication, or transportation infrastructure projects. Prevents state legislature and local legislative bodies from passing laws invalidating voter-approved local land-use or zoning initiatives. Prohibits state from changing, granting, or denying funding to local governments based on their implementation of this measure. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Fiscal effects of the measure depend on future decisions by the cities and counties and therefore are unknown. (21-0016A1.) ATTACHMENT 2 191