Legislative Agenda

2006 ADOPTED LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Purpose

The goal and intent of the SBCCOG is one of voluntary cooperation among cities for the collective benefit of the cities in the South Bay of Los Angeles County. SBCCOG serves as an advocate in representing the members of the SBCCOG at the Regional, State and Federal levels on issues of importance to the South Bay. It also serves as a forum for the review, consideration, study, development and recommendation of public policies and plans with regional significance.

Overriding Principles

SBCCOG believes that cities must be able to control matters within their own jurisdictions. Therefore, the SBCCOG will take positions on proposed legislation, rules and/or regulations that affect cities' local control. Additionally, the SBCCOG will take positions on issues that directly affect the South Bay. And, when local decisions affect neighboring communities, the SBCCOG supports local governments working collaboratively and regionally to address regional issues.

Issues Of Common Concern and Areas of SBCCOG Commitment

The areas of interest that the SBCCOG will monitor are as follows:

Fiscal Impact - SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Maintain the protections that are provided in Proposition 1A.
2. Encourage the use of state incentives for local government action rather than mandates and penalties.
3. Support State legislation that secures a reliable revenue base to cities.
4. Support legislation requiring the state and federal governments to provide full cost reimbursement to cities for all unfunded or underfunded mandated programs and for all programs resulting in revenue losses.
5. Seek funding for regional projects and inter-agency cooperation.
6. Oppose paying for data from other governmental agencies that is free to the public.
7. Oppose paying additional fees for law enforcement services.
8. Support legislation to ensure that sales tax revenues are collected on Internet transactions and distributed to cities.
9. Maintain and protect redevelopment funding for cities.
Transportation & Transit - SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Protect and enhance current funding levels and flexibility for existing State and Federal transportation revenues and programs
2. Support the immediate halt to transfers to the State General Fund of dedicated State transportation funds and the timely return of all previous loans.
3. Seek and support legislative measures that will increase the funding for street and highway capital improvements, maintenance, and traffic management systems.
4. Seek and support State legislative measures that will increase the funding for local and regional transit systems.
5. Oppose any proposals that could reduce or divert transportation revenues for other purposes or reduce program splits.
6. Continue to support AB2766 vehicle license fee funding in the South Coast Air Basin to the AQMD, the cities and the Mobile Source Reduction Committee.
7. Support federal funding to help pay for infrastructure investments and air pollution reduction measures related to goods movement in the L.A. Basin.
8. Support specialized funding for goods movement projects of international and national significance that are beyond the funding ability or responsibility of local and state transportation programs and budgets - ex. a 'freight factor' in distribution of federal funds.
9. Support legislation that alleviates the local impacts of freight traffic to and from the ports and L.A. airport.
10. Support legislation to finance cost effective conversion of public transit fleets to alternative fuels.
11. Support the authority of cities to manage the public right-of-way and receive compensation for its use.
Aviation - SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Regional Airport Issues
  1. Support legislative or administrative policies that promote a 'regional' approach to airport development and usage
  2. Oppose diversion of regional revenue sources for LAX growth mitigation projects
  3. Support sufficient time for public review of all documentation relating to the LAX renovation, specifically those that affect ground access and local communities.
  4. Preserve municipal airport airspace and use for emergency preparedness and disaster response
2. FAA
  1. Work with the federal government to take into account single noise events as a means to augment accepted methodologies that average noise exposure levels.
  2. Work with FAA in redesign and use of Southern California airspace to minimize South Bay overflights of commercial aircraft and to increase altitudes of necessary overflights.
  3. Support development and implementation of quieter aircraft technology
Economic Development - SBCCOG is committed to:
1. L.A. Air Force Base
  1. Support legislative efforts which promote the work of the L.A. Air Force Base and the Regional Alliance
2. Support empowerment of enterprise zones and economic development initiatives
3. Support legislation to ensure sufficient funding to continue to operate one-stop employment and training centers.
4. 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.
Land Use - SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Oppose additional land use mandates, penalties and controls by the state and federal governments that interfere with land use decisions which should remain the exclusive province of local government
2. Support funding and legislation for innovative and flexible approaches to housing creation
3. Support legislation that provides incentives for well-planned mixed-use development and affordable housing including funding assistance for infrastructure construction.
4. Support revisions to the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) and Housing Element processes which take into consideration more local government input
5. Support legislation that streamlines the environmental review process for mixed-use infill development.
6. Support funding and incentives for programs that promote locating services and facilities locally, reducing the need to travel
7. Support legislation which establishes funding and incentives for programs which encourage walking, biking, transit and other alternative forms of transportation to serve local needs including pilot projects for neighborhood vehicles.
8. Support legislation which promotes the inclusion of amenities for alternative forms of transportation including bus shelters, better customer information, safe paths and waiting areas, etc.
9. Support funding for landscaping projects along public rights of way as well as traffic calming devices in neighborhoods.
10. Support legislation that promotes and provides incentives for environmentally responsible design and construction.
Environment - SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Air Quality Protection
  1. Support revisions to the composition of the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board of Directors to give the western portion of Los Angeles County cities the opportunity to elect a representative from a city other than the City of Los Angeles as included in Bill # (to be inserted)
  2. Support mobile source emission reduction activities to improve the environment without adverse impact on the local economy.
  3. Support air emission reductions related to goods movement including those deriving from the ports.
  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.
2. Coastal Protection
3. Solid Waste (AB 939 issues)
  1. Support the Los Angeles County Integrated Waste Management Task Force in their effort to address existing deficiencies in the State Disposal Reporting System as well as other AB939 matters.
  2. Support legislation that promotes recycling and expands the market for recycled materials.
  3. Support legislation that promotes source reduction measures without creating an unfunded mandate.
  4. Support removing impediments to the adoption of conversion technologies to help municipalities meet and exceed their requirement to divert 50% of their solid waste away from landfills.
4. Water Protection
  1. Support state and federal funding legislation for local storm water and NPDES Programs
  2. 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
  3. Support incentives the use of reclaimed water.
  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
  5. Support legislation and cooperative efforts to ensure adequate water supplies for Southern California and to protect and enhance regional groundwater resources and watersheds.
5. Open Space
  1. Support funding and legislation for the designation and preservation of open space and preservation and restoration of natural resources
Energy - SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Conservation and Supply
  1. Support establishment of a mechanism to oversee the fair and competitive allocation of funds for energy efficiency and other public good programs (e.g. self-generation and enewables) such that local governments have the opportunity and sufficient funding to implement programs that best meet the needs of their communities.
  2. Support legislation and/or programs that provide money to local governments for energy conservation programs
  3. Support legislation and regulations that ensure adequate energy supply to prevent future price volatility and poor system reliability.
2. Right of Way
  1. Support change to Rule 20B projects to allow municipal or resident ownership of electrical wires.
  2. Promote ways to further encourage utility companies to find innovative and exoeditous ways to implement utility undergrounding projects in accordance with the CPUC mandate.
Telecommunications – SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Support the establishment of a “level playing field' – the equitable regulatory and taxation framework for all companies seeking to provide communications services to communities.
2. Support legislation which protects the ability of cities to franchise telecommuncations companies as now allowed under state laws, i.e. to require public, educational and governmental (PEG) access to new networks, including PEG equipment, funding and support.
3. Oppose Federal mandates that would interfere with municipal revenue and rights of way authority.
Area Code – SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Seek implementation by the Public Utilities Commission of the Bowen legislation which calls for the institution of technology-based area codes
2. Support efforts to reduce demand and increase the life of area codes including recycling of numbers and employing new technologies.
3. Support legislation for the adoption of inventory guidelines.
4. Oppose efforts to split 310 area code or overlay unless demand requires it
5. Support universal 10 digit dialing.
Public Safety and Homeland Security - SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Support cooperative efforts among the South Bay cities on emergency preparedness and hometown security
2. Support maintenance of existing South Bay health care facilities for emergency response with adequate funding and staffing.
3. Support the availability of adequate broadcast spectrum as well as interoperability for public safety personnel for South Bay and others in the county.
4. Support adequate funding for preparedness for areas that may be affected due to incidents that may occur at the ports or LAX.
5. Support more resources for focused South Bay EOC network with the county.
6. Support funding for improved public safety programs, specifically the State Grants that have, over the years, provided police departments with the funds necessary to support technology improvements which make law enforcement more efficient and delay the hiring of new personnel.
7. Support legislation that allows cities to use new technology such as photo radar enforcement without placing unnecessary and costly burdens on them.
8. Support funding for all hazards, not just terrorism and encourage comprehensive all- hazards planning
Employee Relations - SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Support reform of the Workers Compensation laws to reduce employers' costs.
2. Support efforts to reduce costs of health care coverage for public employees.
3. Support legislation that reduces and/or controls the increasing costs of contributions to PERS.
4. Support the League of California Cities' position against binding arbitration for public safety employees
Elections – SBCCOG is committed to:
1. Support the ability of general law cities to conduct all mail ballot elections.
School Issues
1. Support educational reform within LAUSD that maintains and does not diminish the independence or the representation on the LAUSD governing board of the 28 cities and the County unincorporated areas within the boundaries of the LAUSD
2. Oppose any proposal or legislation that would result in the elimination of elected officials on the LAUSD governing board