April 6, 2016
Issue #27
Editor's Note
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League Opposes AB 2320, Supports SB 868
Drone regulation in California’s Capitol is rapidly becoming a new battleground for local government. Cities’ regulatory authority is under attack from some groups representing the unmanned aircraft systems industry that prefer to deal with one-size fits all state regulation. The irony is that the industry apparently does not support the most comprehensive of the regulatory drone bills introduced this year, SB 868 by Sen. Hanna Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara).
Action Item, Public Safety, Drones, Legislation
AB 2586 Passes Assembly Transportation and Housing Committee, Moves to Assembly Local Government Committee
Parking has long been one of local government’s core responsibilities and functions. Its regulation is a matter of fundamental local land use planning in areas of high parking concentration. With AB 2586 (Gatto), the state seeks to manage local parking regulations with a permanent extension of a 2013 law that prevented local governments from ticketing cars parked at broken meters and adds new state requirements to local parking policies. The League on Monday, April 4, testified in opposition to AB 2586 in the Assembly Committee on Transportation.
Action Item, Assembly, Senate, Legislation, Transportation
The League strongly urges cities to oppose three pieces of proposed housing legislation. Two threaten to diminish or eliminate input into proposed housing projects in their communities, and one that makes unnecessary, confusing, and costly changes to the redevelopment dissolution process. AB 2501 (Bloom), AB 2522 (Bloom) and AB 2697 (Bonilla) all will be heard next Wednesday, April 13, in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee.
Action Item, Housing, Legislation
Governor Signed $15 Minimum Wage amid Looming Ballot Measures
The nation’s eyes were on California Monday when Gov. Jerry Brown signed landmark legislation to raise California’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by the year 2022. Beginning in 2023, the minimum wage will be annually adjusted using the California Consumer Pricing index. The momentum to come to a legislative agreement on the minimum wage mounted once ballot measures to raise it qualified. By in large cities wage policies for employees under the new law will remain unchanged.
Legislation, Economic Development
June 22, 23 and 24 in Monterey
The League of California Cities® is now accepting registrations for two excellent back-to-back opportunities for Mayors and Council Members of all tenures. The Mayors and Council Members Executive Forum, taking place at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey on June 22-23, will be followed immediately by the Advanced Leadership Workshops at the same location on June 24. There is a separate registration for both events.
Mayors and Council Members, Meetings and Events
Some of the most significant benefits of League membership for cities since 1988 have flowed from the League’s co-sponsorship of the California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA). This program provides a variety of public agencies and developers access to low-cost, tax-exempt financing and economic development tools. CSCDA recently issued $14,000,000 in tax-exempt multifamily affordable housing bonds for the Casa Blanca Apartments in Antioch.
Financial Solutions for CA Cities, Affordable Housing, Economic Development
Submit entries by April 14
The entry deadline to submit your city’s innovative program and compete for statewide recognition is just a week away! The call for entries closes on April 14.
Helen Putnam, League Partners
The League of California Cities’® 2016 Legislative Action Day is coming up on April 27. To prepare and brief local officials on priority bills of interest, the League is also holding a Legislative Action Day Preview webinar on April 20.
Meetings and Events, Legislation, Hot Bills
Last week the California Transportation Commission (CTC) announced the appointment of Susan Bransen as executive director. Bransen assumed the post on Friday, April 1 and replaces Will Kempton who has led the agency since February 2015.
Transportation |
