REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve City Position on Proposed League of California Cities’ 2015 Annual Resolutions
Report
BACKGROUND
The City has received the League of California Cities’ (League) Annual Conference Resolutions Packet (Attachment 1); this year, there are four resolutions presented for consideration by the League policy committees and membership. Staff has reviewed the resolutions and is recommending a position consistent with City policy. This report provides guidance on how to vote on the issues as they pertain to City business for Councilmembers who serve on policy committees, on the resolutions committee, or as the City’s voting delegate/alternates.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.3.1 Legislative Management - Goals and Policies, Goal 7.3C: Participate in intergovernmental activities, including national, state, and regional groups, as a means to represent the City’s interests, influence policy and legislation, and enhance awareness.
Council Policy 7.4.14 Legislative Advocacy Positions: City business is defined as all matters directly related to service delivery, or otherwise contributing to the City’s operational success.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
N/A
DISCUSSION
This report transmits the League’s Annual Conference Resolutions Packet (Attachment 1) which contains the proposed resolutions to be considered at the League’s Annual Conference in San Jose in late September. Below are descriptions of each resolution, followed by staff analysis and recommendations. Staff recommendation options are: Support, Oppose, No Staff Recommendation, or Take No Position. While the meaning of Support and Oppose recommendations are clear, “No Staff Recommendation” and “Take No Position” are clarified as follows:
• No Staff Recommendation - Consistent with past practice, staff does not provide analysis or make recommendations on measures that do not impact City business as defined in Council Policy 7.4.14, Legislative Advocacy Positions.
• Take No Position - Despite a measure’s ability to impact City business, Staff may recommend that Council abstain from taking a position. This recommendation to remain neutral on an issue may be made for a variety of reasons (e.g., ballot language is not clear; the pros and cons of the business impact cancel each other out; etc.). When this option is recommended, the reason will be explained in staff’s analysis.
Any resolution submitted to the General Assembly must be concurred in by five cities or by city officials from at least five or more cities; the concurring cities and/or officials are noted for each resolution.
Resolution #1 League Bylaw Amendment
This Resolution seeks to streamline the succession process when filling a vacancy for the office of President of the Board of Directors. It would allow for the League bylaws to be amended, allowing the Immediate Past President to fill an unexpected vacancy in the office of President for the remainder of the vacating President’s term. Changes to League bylaws require a 2/3 vote of the General Assembly.
Concurrence: N/A (proposed by League Board of Directors, concurrence not required).
Related City Policy: N/A
Office of the City Manager (OCM), City Clerk Division Analysis: Staff believes that League Bylaw Amendments for the succession of officers to fill vacancies is a personal decision each voting League member should decide for themselves. It would not be appropriate for staff to advise on this matter.
Recommended Position: NO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Resolution #2 Overconcentration of Alcohol & Drug Treatment Facilities
This Resolution calls for the Governor and the Legislature to work with the League and other stakeholders to explore options to address overconcentration of alcohol and drug abuse recovery and treatment facilities in residential neighborhoods while respecting important legal rights of patients and legal obligations of public entities, avoid the creation of institutional settings when multiple facilities are concentrated in a single location, and determine the appropriate balance between not-for-profit (including county) facilities and for-profit facilities in residential neighborhoods.
Concurrence: Cities of Artesia; Duarte; La Canada; Flintridge; Lakewood; Lomita; and Pico Rivera. City Officials: Los Angeles Council Member Mitchell Englander.
Related City Policy: Council Policy 1.0 Long-term Advocacy Positions - Land Use and Transportation, 1.2 (2): Support provisions to allow group and residential care homes within the City, but allow local control or participation if possible over concentration of such uses.
Community Development Department (CDD) Analysis: City policy favors local control and/or participation in the siting of group and residential care homes and is concerned about possible over-concentration of such uses. The proposed resolution asks the Legislature to explore options for better coordination between various state agencies and the affected local jurisdiction related to siting and permitting of such facilities.
Recommended Position: SUPPORT
Resolution #3 Residential Rentals, Support for SB 593 (McGuire)
This Resolution seeks to highlight and increase support for SB 593 (McGuire), which is pending in the Legislature. SB 593, titled the Thriving Communities and Sharing Economy Act, seeks to bolster local efforts to regulate and collect transient occupancy taxes from the temporary rental of residential houses, condominiums, rooms, and apartments for tourists and transient use. The League is currently in support of this legislation.
Concurrence: Cities of Healdsburg; Mammoth Lakes; Napa; Piedmont; Santa Cruz; Santa Monica; and Sonoma.
Related City Policy:
• General Plan, Policy LT-4.4: Preserve and enhance the high-quality character of residential neighborhoods.
• General Plan, Policy LT-4.1: Protect the integrity of the City’s neighborhoods; whether residential, industrial or commercial.
Community Development Department (CDD) Analysis: This Resolution is consistent with various City policies regarding preservation of a variety of housing types, including rental housing, much of which is being converted to transient occupancy (lodging) uses (or could be in the near future if this issue is not addressed), further exacerbating the existing shortage of available and affordable rental housing. In addition, the resolution encourages the Legislature to pass the proposed SB 593 which simply enables cities to enforce their existing laws and/or establish new ones to address impacts of the new sharing economy, while not placing any mandatory requirements on cities to do so.
Recommended Position: SUPPORT
Resolution #4 Compensation for Prolonged Electrical Power Outages
This Resolution calls upon the Governor and the Legislature to work with the League of California Cities to enact legislation or to otherwise compel Southern California Edison (SCE) to create a program to automatically provide direct compensation to its customers affected by a prolonged electrical power outage under specified circumstances.
Concurrence Requirement: Cities of Hermosa Beach; Lomita; Palos Verdes Estates; Rolling Hills; and Rolling Hills Estates.
Related City Policy: N/A
Department of Public Works (DPW) and Environmental Services (ESD) Analysis: This resolution is specific to Southern California Edison and is not relevant to the City of Sunnyvale.
Recommended Position: TAKE NO POSITION
FISCAL IMPACT
The resolutions will not have a direct fiscal impact on the City.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the resolution positions as recommended by staff:
|
Resolution |
City Position |
|
1. League Bylaw Amendment |
No Staff Recommendation |
|
2. Overconcentration of Alcohol & Drug Treatment Facilities |
Support |
|
3. Residential Rentals, Support for SB 593 (McGuire) |
Support |
|
4. Compensation for Prolonged Electrical Power Outages |
Take No Position |
2. Amend and approve the resolution positions as recommended by staff.
3. Take no action on the resolution positions at this time.
4. Other action as directed by Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Approve the resolution positions as recommended by staff.
Staff recommendations are consistent with City Policy and provide Councilmembers who serve on policy committees, on the resolutions committee, or as the City’s voting delegate/alternates, guidance on how to vote on the issues as they pertain to City business.
Prepared by: Catlin Ivanetich, Acting Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Kent Steffens, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENT
1. League of California Cities Annual Conference Resolutions Packet