SR 04-27-2021 8A
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: April 27, 2021
Agenda Item: 8.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Lane Dilg, Interim City Manager, City Manager's Office, Administration
Subject: Approval of Annual Legislative Platform
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached 2021 State and Federal
Legislative Agendas, which detail both the City’s historic legislative priorities and
emerging concerns, aligned with the Council’s adopted community and budget priorities
for FY 2021-2023.
Summary
Through its Federal and State lobbyists – The Ferguson Group and Shaw Yoder Antwih
Schmelzer & Lange – the City works to:
• further its legislative objectives in Congress, the State legislature and before
state and federal agencies,
• monitor legislation and appropriations opportunities, and
• liaise with elected officials and their staffs to advocate for the City’s position and
funding opportunities, including the recent $29.3 million received as part of the
American Rescue Plan Act.
Both firms, in collaboration with senior staff, have developed updated legislative
agendas to guide the City’s legislative advocacy throughout the coming years. Having
legislative platforms at both the federal and state level serves to clarify City policies,
create additional transparency, and enable staff to quickly weigh in on matters of
legislative importance.
Discussion
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In 2016, staff commenced the process of presenting Council with comprehensive
Federal and State legislative agendas drafted based on Council’s previously adopted
positions and their five strategic goals for the City and reflective of bills introduced that
legislative session. Previously, Council had been presented with proposed Federal
Legislative Agendas for their consideration and approval, which included broad
statements of support or opposition to programs, policies or concepts legislated by the
federal government. Additionally, the Council had taken positions on proposed state
legislation of interest to Santa Monica both when presented by staff in packages or on a
case-by-case basis. Over the last five years, those Agendas first adopted by Council in
2016 and updated annually have guided the City’s legislative actions and created
additional transparency for the City’s legislative advocacy work.
Staff is recommending approval of updated versions of those Agendas to align our state
and federal legislative advocacy with the Council’s community and budget priorities for
the Fiscal Years 2021-2023 biennial budget adopted at the March 13, 2021 Special
meeting. These priorities were informed by perspectives from more than 3,000
community members and the City's values of accountability, equity, inclusion,
innovation, resilience, safety, and stewardship. Additionally, they will dictate how
programs are funded and additional funds are expended across the City, so it is only
fitting to align our legislative advocacy with those priorities.
The City’s proposed 2021 State and Federal Legislative Agendas (Attachments A & B)
were compiled from the Council’s historic actions and positions on specific bills. Major
changes for 2021 are a focus on policy priorities aligned with the Council’s top budget
priorities:
• Addressing Homelessness: Prevent housed Santa Monicans from becoming
homeless; address the behavioral health needs of vulnerable individuals; and
advocate for regional capacity to address homelessness.
• Clean and Safe Santa Monica: Create an atmosphere marked by clean and
safe public spaces and neighborhoods.
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• Equitable and Inclusive Economic Recovery: Cultivate equitable and inclusive
economic opportunity and recovery, including access for all community members
to educational, employment, and economic resources and opportunities, and
create a community where differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by
race, class, gender, disability or other identities.
The proposed agendas have been updated to articulate past actions on specific bills
and established City policies in general terms as well as propose policy positions based
on current legislation and Council’s recently adopted budget priorities. Adoption of the
agendas is a public statement by the Council of its legislative priorities. This action,
combined with the existing authority to act in concurrence with the League of California
Cities’ position, allows staff to act quickly on legislative items of particular concern to
Santa Monica.
Furthermore, the agendas include an update to several emerging policy priorities,
including support for reforming policing practices and improving accountability and
transparency among law enforcement agencies. This includes pursuing legislative
changes to the hiring and training practices of law enforcement personnel with the
ultimate goal of ending racial profiling, preventing use of excessive force, and
dismantling systemic racism within the criminal justice system. In addition, the City
Council is committed to pursuing reforms to ensure that every citizen is treated with the
utmost respect, and in a fair and equal manner, independent of a person’s race,
national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. This goes beyond the criminal
justice system, as the Council seeks to support legislation that would end systemic
racism in employment practices, procurement, and housing and land use practices.
An additional change for 2021 related to the Federal Agenda, is a restoration to the
scope of work to reflect the increased engagement with the new Biden Administration.
Due to a budget efficiency for FY 19-21, the amount budgeted for the contract with the
Ferguson Group was reduced to $15,000/year from $45,000 and the scope of work was
reduced to only cover three of the six framework priorities. Those included:
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• Affordability
• Climate Change
• Reducing Homelessness
Under existing Council authority, staff has found savings in other line items to restore
the contract to $30,000/year and the Federal Legislative Agenda for 2021 will once
again reflect the totality of priorities established by the current Council.
Next Steps
The Ferguson Group and Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange will continue to
actively monitor legislation and engage on the City’s behalf to effect change in line with
the Council’s adopted Legislative Agendas. Staff will continue to work with both firms to
prepare letters to bill authors, co-sponsors, and members of relevant committees to
communicate the City’s position on said legislation. As always, these platforms can be
amended as emerging priorities or legislation for the Council arise that warrant
immediate Council action or consideration. Staff will return to Council in upcoming years
should a shift in focus warrant an amended legislative agenda for Council’s
consideration.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action.
Prepared By: Stephanie Venegas, Council Office & Legislative Affairs Liaison
Approved
Forwarded to Council
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Attachments:
A. 2021 State Legislative Platform
B. 2021 Federal Legislative Platform
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City of Santa Monica
State Legislative Platform
2021 Update
8.A.a
Packet Pg. 1113 Attachment: 2021 State Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA
2021 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
The City of Santa Monica, California is an innovative, progressive and diverse community
focused on building a sustainable city of wellbeing. However, the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic placed tremendous strain on city services, finances, and residents. As a result of the
pandemic, Santa Monica faced a projected General Fund deficit of $224 million through June
2022. Unlike other municipalities for whom property taxes are a major source of revenue, Santa
Monica relies heavily on revenues, including shopping, tourism, parking, dining, and
entertainment - all heavily impacted by the stay-at-home orders and lack of consumption
brought about by the pandemic. To meet the needs of the community, the City restructured in
scope and size in June 2020, reducing $86.2 million in ongoing costs, reconfiguring
departments, and eliminating over 300 staff positions.
Historically, the City Council’s key legislative priorities have been focused in the following policy
areas:
▪ Affordability
▪ Reducing Homelessness
▪ Climate Change
▪ Keeping Neighborhoods Safe
▪ Enhancing Mobility and Access
▪ Engaged and Thriving Community
On March 13, 2021, the Santa Monica City Council held a special retreat session to set
community priorities for the next two years to guide the biennial (2021 – 2023) budget to be
adopted June 2021. The priorities were informed by perspectives from more than 3,000
community members and the City's values of accountability, equity, inclusion, innovation,
resilience, safety, and stewardship. The City Council selected the following three priorities to
guide City policy and budgetary decisions:
Addressing Homelessness: Prevent housed Santa Monicans from becoming homeless; address
the behavioral health needs of vulnerable individuals; and advocate for regional capacity to
address homelessness.
Clean and Safe Santa Monica: Create an atmosphere marked by clean and safe public spaces
and neighborhoods.
Equitable and Inclusive Economic Recovery: Cultivate equitable and inclusive economic
opportunity and recovery, including access for all community members to educational,
employment, and economic resources and opportunities, and create a community where
differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by race, class, gender, disability or other
identities.
8.A.a
Packet Pg. 1114 Attachment: 2021 State Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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These combined priorities guide City policy and budgetary decisions, and engagement with
state Legislators and the Governor’s Administration on legislative and regulatory matters.
The City’s key priorities are reflected in the policy positions below for state engagement efforts,
including other noted goals and objectives.
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS
HOMELESSNESS
▪ Support legislation and secure resources, either directly or in partnership with other
entities, that address and prevent homelessness with innovative strategies
that maintain and expand the inventory of affordable housing; protect low-income
renters from discrimination and eviction; promotes income stability; provide direct
services and housing to people who are homeless or at high risk of homelessness;
remove barriers to and expand availability of mental health and substance use disorder
treatment; improves service coordination; supports alternatives to incarceration; and
expands and maintains availability of basic needs for food, hygiene and safety
with emphasis placed on highly vulnerable populations including persons living with a
mental health diagnosis, persons with a substance use disorder,
veterans, older adults and persons with disabilities.
▪ Support a balanced approach in addressing homelessness legislatively that considers the
need for assistance and services for people experiencing homelessness while providing
for the health, safety, and welfare of all people in Santa Monica, and advocate for
regional initiatives involving county, state and federal governments to reduce chronic
homelessness.
▪ Support legislation that would provide state resources to address and prevent
homelessness directly to cities.
▪ Seek resources for street based multi-disciplinary outreach and street medicine teams
for those affected by homelessness and behavioral health issues.
▪ Support state investment for homeless services, homelessness prevention, and rapid re-
housing/supportive housing to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness and
the chronically homeless veterans in the City.
▪ Support legislation aimed at reforming the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act so that
individuals who are gravely mentally ill can be placed under a court-ordered
conservatory to prevent harming themselves or others.
▪ Support legislation and resources to replace City’s existing 70-bed shelter and add
permanent supportive housing and services in same replacement facility.
▪ Support legislation that requires the appointment of local educational agencies to
identify homeless youth.
▪ Support efforts to end youth homelessness in the state.
▪ Support legislation and resources that facilitate the expedited identification,
assessment, and linkage of homeless individuals to housing and supportive services.
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Packet Pg. 1115 Attachment: 2021 State Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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▪ Support legislation that allows for appropriate data sharing between municipalities and
treatment providers.
▪ Support legislation that safeguards against the criminalization of homelessness.
HEALTH
▪ Support legislation to strengthen the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act, which provides
for the Judicial Council to appoint legal representation for unrepresented low-income
parties in civil matters involving critical issues affecting basic human needs, including in
unlawful detainer matters.
▪ Support legislation and resources that support mental health (e.g. access to psychiatric
facilities, behavioral health care treatment, and street-based services).
▪ Support legislation and resources for youth mental health services, including suicide
prevention services.
▪ Support legislation that would allow for the establishment of community paramedicine
programs.
▪ Support legislation that mandates requirement on health plans and disability insurers to
cover medically necessary treatment of mental health and substance use disorders
under the same terms and conditions applied to other medical conditions.
▪ Support legislation that would allow first responders to take those experiencing acute
behavioral health crises to alternate destination healthcare facilities.
Support legislation and resources to provide mental health training for public safety officers
and to hire behavioral health and other social work professionals for alternative responses to
non-violent calls for service. HOUSING
▪ Support legislation and resources that would provide housing and other services for
veterans at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration site.
▪ Oppose legislation that does not provide a housing-based solution to homelessness.
▪ Support legislation allowing local governments to utilize state facilities such as armories
to provide emergency housing to the homeless.
▪ Support legislation that exempts from CEQA the construction of emergency shelters,
supportive housing, and affordable housing, including motel and hotel conversions to
transitional housing.
▪ Support legislation and secure resources that provide for the creation and preservation
of affordable housing in the City.
▪ Support legislation and budget resources that fund and support the construction of
affordable housing and permanent supportive housing programs.
▪ Support the expedited CEQA administrative and judicial review procedure established
by the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act for
“environmental leadership development projects” and expands the Act’s eligibility to
include smaller housing projects.
8.A.a
Packet Pg. 1116 Attachment: 2021 State Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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▪ Support legislation that would call for the zoning and building of affordable housing on
surplus state properties.
▪ Oppose legislation that erodes the City’s local autonomy over land-use decisions or
weakens the City’s ability to ensure the future welfare of its residents through local
control of the planning process.
▪ Support legislation that streamlines the RHNA planning process.
▪ Support legislation that establishes a fair and equitable formula for how allocations are
made to localities under the RHNA planning process and seek state resources to fund
the construction of affordable housing in furtherance of those allocations.
▪ Support legislation that creates an inventory of potentially seismically vulnerable
buildings and legislation and resources to retrofit those buildings.
▪ Support legislation that prohibits discrimination in housing based on veteran or military
status.
▪ Support legislation that repeals Article 34 of the State Constitution.
CLEAN AND SAFE SANTA MONICA
PUBLIC SAFETY
▪ Support legislation and resources available to local first responders in the event of
wildfires, earthquakes, and other events.
▪ Support legislation to authorize superior courts to develop and implement mental
health courts, which may operate as a pre-trial diversion program or a deferred entry of
judgment program.
▪ Supports legislation that restricts the manufacture, importation, and sale of any device
capable of converting an ammunition-feeding device into a high capacity magazine.
▪ Support legislation that will require a person to apply to obtain, from the Department of
Justice, a unique serial number or other mark of identification prior to manufacturing or
assembling a firearm in order to restrict the use of “ghost guns”.
▪ Support legislation that restricts the quantity of firearms and ammunition sold in this
state, including expanding the list of persons prohibited from purchasing a firearm;
prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from purchasing a firearm; requiring
background checks of those wishing to purchase a firearm; and supporting additional
taxes on retailers who sell firearms or ammunition.
▪ Support legislation that would create the crime of organized retail theft and other
proposed reforms to Proposition 47 of 2014.
▪ Support legislation that maintains local control on cannabis cultivation, distribution, and
sales within the City.
▪ Support legislation that seeks to eradicate human trafficking.
▪ Support legislation that prohibits a law enforcement agency from authorizing the use of
a carotid restraint or choke hold.
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Packet Pg. 1117 Attachment: 2021 State Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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▪ Support legislation that will have the state Department of Justice review local use-of-
force policies upon the request of local law enforcement agencies.
▪ Oppose legislation that proposes unfunded mandates on training for officers.
▪ Support legislation that promote alternatives to incarceration and that aim to end
systemic racism and disparities in the treatment of people of color within the criminal
justice system.
▪ Support legislation and initiatives that seek to reform the criminal justice system’s
sentencing guidelines and practices that have disproportionately impacted people of
color.
PARKS AND OPEN SPACE
▪ Support legislation and resources to protect the City’s beaches.
▪ Support legislation that bans smoking and vaping on state beaches and parks.
▪ Support legislation and resources to protect existing parks, wetlands, community open
spaces, and coastal resources.
▪ Support legislation that provides funding for rehabilitation, development, and capital
improvements of local parks and community facilities.
▪ Support legislation and bond measures that provide per capita grants to local
governments to fund parks and capital improvements, as well as recreation programs
that enhance the quality of life for residents.
EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
DIRECT RELIEF FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
▪ Support legislation or regulatory efforts to ensure that local governments can provide
essential city services in a safe and efficient manner.
▪ Support legislation that allocates state revenues to backfill local government losses due
to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding should be determined with an equitable funding
formula not solely calculated by population size.
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
▪ Support legislation that provides funding and other resources to aid in the recovery of
the tourism and hospitality sectors, including businesses in these sectors and their
workers.
▪ Support legislation and administrative efforts to provide regulatory flexibility to allow
local businesses to re-open in a safe manner.
TENANT PROTECTION/ACCESS TO HOUSING
▪ Support legislation that provides rent relief to commercial and residential tenants
impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
▪ Support legislation and resources for eviction prevention, including legal aid.
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Packet Pg. 1118 Attachment: 2021 State Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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▪ Support legislation that protects local governments’ ability to regulate transient
residential hosting platforms.
▪ Support legislation that increases the renter’s tax credit.
▪ Support legislation that amends or repeals the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.
▪ Support legislation that increases tenant protections and eliminates the incentive for
property owners to remove rent control eligible properties from the rental market
through the Ellis Act or other means.
▪ Support legislation and secure resources to advance local efforts to advance the goals of
the Fair Housing Act including ending the historic racial discrimination in housing and to
satisfy Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing.
▪ Support legislation and secure resources that expand diverse opportunities for
affordable home ownership and allow for the transition from renters to owners by
residents.
▪ Support legislation that increases equitable and affordable housing access, with a
particular focus on areas that historically excluded diverse populations and affordable
housing.
▪ Oppose legislation that seeks to mandate increased housing production in the City
without providing affordability requirements to ensure that increased production does
not further exacerbate the affordability crisis in housing.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
▪ Support legislation to implement any new or alternative approaches to replace
redevelopment funding mechanisms.
▪ Support legislation that protects the City’s transient occupancy tax revenues.
▪ Support legislation that strengthens and expands ongoing revenues for the City.
▪ Oppose legislation that undermines and preempts local authority over local taxes and
fees.
▪ Support legislation and resources that will provide tangible and productive tools and
incentives to support job creation and retention.
▪ Support legislation to increase the amount of state tax credits for qualified expenditures
of motion pictures in California.
▪ Support legislation that creates opportunities for and invests in artists and other
creative workers.
COMMUNITY WELLBEING
▪ Support legislation that limits the circumstances under which local law enforcement
officials can interact with and assist federal immigration officials and oppose the use of
local resources to aid in federal immigration enforcement efforts.
▪ Support legislation and resources to increase consumer protection efforts, including
preventing predatory lending.
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Packet Pg. 1119 Attachment: 2021 State Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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▪ Support legislation and resources for school and college facility maintenance and
construction.
▪ Support legislation and resources, including bonding authority for library construction
and maintenance.
▪ Support legislation that encourages partnerships between libraries and local school
districts.
▪ Support legislation and resources encouraging the provision of accessible, affordable,
high quality childcare.
▪ Support legislation and resources to expand the development of quality before- and
after-school programs.
▪ Support legislation that provides for aging with dignity.
▪ Support legislation and resources for local arts activities and historic preservation in
community life.
▪ Support legislation and funding for the restoration and/or enhancement of arts
programs in public schools.
▪ Support legislation that would implement a single payer universal health care delivery
system.
▪ Support legislation that mandates gender-neutral multi-stall bathrooms.
ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES
CLIMATE CHANGE/SUSTAINABILITY
▪ Support legislation and secure resources for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
and protection and preservation of our environment.
▪ Secure resources to enhance the City’s continued investment in renewable energy,
sustainable procurement, green buildings, green public transit and infrastructure, and
socially and environmentally responsible businesses to meet our climate goal of being
carbon neutral by 2050.
▪ Support legislation and secure resources that would allow for the creation of sustainable
water and wastewater infrastructure that is more resilient with a smaller impact on the
environment.
▪ Support legislation and funding for transportation electrification including electric
vehicle charging infrastructure.
▪ Support a climate resiliency bond that will provide funding for wildfire prevention, safe
drinking water, drought preparation, improving ocean water quality, addresses sea-level
rise, and provides parks funding.
▪ Supports legislation and resources to address the issue of sea-level rise.
▪ Support legislation and resources that assist local governments in developing and
implementing energy efficiency and conservation strategies that maximize available
resources, reduce costs, expand community access, and protect public health.
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Packet Pg. 1120 Attachment: 2021 State Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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▪ Support legislation that ensures local governments can continue, and not be preempted
in, their efforts to achieve economic improvements through increased energy efficiency
and conservation plans that seek to decrease carbon emissions.
▪ Support legislation that calls for the elimination of single use plastics.
▪ Support legislation that assists municipalities in their recycling and waste reduction
efforts and incentivizes efforts to increase the market for recycling.
▪ Support legislation and regulatory efforts that call for building electrification.
▪ Support legislation regarding Extended Producer Responsibility programs.
▪ Support legislation and regulatory efforts that strengthen storm water pollution control
standards.
▪ Support legislation strengthening the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.
▪ Support the ability of local governments to implement Community Choice Aggregation
for the purchase of electricity and oppose legislation that would place new burdens and
requirements on the establishment of CCAs and/or procurement activities of CCAs.
▪ Support legislation that expands the use of solar energy systems on residential and
commercial properties.
▪ Support legislation focused on water re-use, wastewater treatment, water conservation,
and stormwater quality improvements.
▪ Support legislation and resources that assist local governments in developing and
implementing transportation, land use and building policies that encourage maximum
use of resources and lower energy consumption.
▪ Support legislation that would authorize the South Coast Air Quality Management
District Board to impose a transaction and use tax within the district to supplement
existing revenues to improve and protect air quality.
▪ Support legislation and revenues for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
▪ Support legislation and regulatory actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from
passenger cars and trucks.
▪ Support efforts to incentivize outdoor water-efficiency programs including drought-
friendly landscaping, while preserving local control.
▪ Oppose legislative efforts to impose a statewide water tax or fee.
▪ Support legislation requiring manufacturers to be responsible for safe disposal or for
reuse of their products and by-products.
▪ Support resources for the California Green Business Program to develop standards for
local green business certification programs.
MOBILITY AND ACCESS
▪ Support legislation and resources that will improve and enhance mobility throughout
the City and the region while ensuring access to a range of equitable transportation
options for our residents. This includes local control of our shared mobility programs,
ensuring a robust and efficient public transit system and encouraging active
transportation.
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Packet Pg. 1121 Attachment: 2021 State Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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▪ Support legislation and resources that would provide the maximum share of funding for
local and regional transportation programs.
▪ Support legislation and funding for the expansion of bus service and light rail service in
the City.
▪ Oppose legislation that would restrict local control over the operation of shared
mobility devices in the City, including a City’s ability to collect the data necessary to
maintain safe, equitable program operations and to effectively manage the public right
of way, with appropriate privacy safeguards in place.
▪ Oppose legislation that will restrict local government control over parking enforcement
(including towing) and the payment of fines and fees for parking citations.
▪ Support legislation to create a Division of Active Transportation within the California
Department of Transportation and other efforts to prioritize pedestrian and bicyclist
safety.
▪ Support legislation to protect SB 1 (2017) transportation fund from being diverted for
other uses.
▪ Support legislation and resources to streamline and incentivize the deployment of zero
emission passenger vehicles and the build-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
▪ Support legislation and resources for the maintenance and upgrade of pedestrian
bridges and the beach bike path.
▪ Support legislative efforts to reduce traffic fatalities through the use of alternate
methodologies for determining speed limits.
▪ Support legislation and resources for traffic enforcement and pedestrian safety.
▪ Support legislation that continues the state’s involvement in the Safe Routes to School
program.
▪ Support legislation to improve speed in bus lanes through the implementation of an
automated bus lane enforcement program.
▪ Support legislation that exempts from CEQA, until 2023, various transit-related projects
such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities projects, transit prioritization projects, and
projects for the institution or increase of new bus rapid transit, bus, or light rail service
on existing public rights of-way or existing highway rights-of-way.
MISC.
▪ Support legislation to enhance, increase, and expand voting opportunities to eligible
voters throughout the state.
▪ Support legislation that bans the importation, sale, or intent to sell of any part or
product of an exotic animal, regardless of when the parts or dead body were imported.
▪ Support legislation that prohibits the unnecessary and harmful practice of the declawing
of animals in the state of California.
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Packet Pg. 1122 Attachment: 2021 State Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA, CA
2021 FEDERAL AGENDA
The City of Santa Monica, California is an innovative, progressive and diverse community
focused on building a sustainable city of wellbeing. However, the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic placed tremendous strain on city services, finances, and residents. As a result of the
pandemic, Santa Monica faced a projected General Fund deficit of $224 million through June
2022. Unlike other municipalities for whom property taxes are a major source of revenue, Santa
Monica relies heavily on revenues, including shopping, tourism, parking, dining, and
entertainment - all heavily impacted by the stay-at-home orders and lack of consumption
brought about by the pandemic. To meet the needs of the community, the City restructured in
scope and size in June 2020, reducing $86.2 million in ongoing costs, reconfiguring
departments, and eliminating over 300 staff positions.
On March 13, 2021, the Santa Monica City Council held a special retreat session to set
community priorities for the next two years to guide the biennial (2021 – 2023) budget to be
adopted June 2021. The priorities were informed by perspectives from more than 3,000
community members and the City's values of accountability, equity, inclusion, innovation,
resilience, safety, and stewardship. The City Council selected the following three priorities to
guide City policy and budgetary decisions:
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS: Prevent housed Santa Monicans from becoming homeless;
address the behavioral health needs of vulnerable individuals; and advocate for regional
capacity to address homelessness.
CLEAN AND SAFE SANTA MONICA: Create an atmosphere marked by clean and safe public
spaces and neighborhoods.
EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC RECOVERY: Cultivate equitable and inclusive economic
opportunity and recovery, including access for all community members to educational,
employment, and economic resources and opportunities, and create a community where
differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by race, class, gender, disability or other
identities.
The City’s priorities are reflected in the policy positions outlined below for federal engagement
and advocacy efforts, including other noted goals and objectives.
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS
HOMELESSNESS
• Support legislation and secure federal resources, either directly or in partnership with
other entities, that address and prevent homelessness with innovative strategies that
8.A.b
Packet Pg. 1123 Attachment: 2021 Federal Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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maintain and expand the inventory of affordable housing; protect low-income renters
from discrimination and eviction; promote income stability; provide direct services and
housing to people who are homeless or at high risk of homelessness; remove barriers to
and expand availability of mental health and substance use disorder treatment; improve
service coordination; support alternatives to incarceration; and expands and maintains
availability of basic needs for food, hygiene and safety with emphasis placed on highly
vulnerable populations including persons living with a mental health diagnosis, persons
with a substance use disorder, veterans, older adults and people with disabilities.
• Support legislation that allows for data sharing between municipalities and treatment
providers.
• Support legislation that safeguards against the criminalization of homelessness.
• Support legislation that exempts permanent supportive housing under the National
Environmental Policy Act.
HEALTH
• Support legislation and secure federal resources that support mental health care (e.g.,
access to psychiatric facilities, behavioral health care treatment, and mobile and street-
based services).
• Support legislation that expands the definition of “gravely disabled” and allows for
additional flexibility in conservatorship as a tool in mental health care treatment.
• Secure federal resources for education and training of paramedics and other emergency
medical service personnel in their ability to be responsive to those homeless individuals
living in our community.
• Support legislation to reform mental health and substance use disorder treatment
access, including legislation that destigmatizes and normalizes behavioral health as part
of primary health care to be covered by public and private health plans.
HOUSING/TENANT PROTECTION
• Support legislation and secure resources that provide for the creation of safe, decent
and affordable housing to meet the City’s diverse needs and contribute to the well-
being of all residents. This includes individuals who have housing vouchers that cannot
find eligible housing.
• Secure federal resources for HUD-funded affordable housing programs (e.g., HOME,
Section 8).
• Secure federal resources and regulatory support for the “Preserving our Diversity” (POD)
program.
• Support legislation and secure federal resources to address housing opportunities
combined with effective supportive services, including health care services.
• Support legislation and secure federal resources to prevent evictions from households
that are delinquent on rent payments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
8.A.b
Packet Pg. 1124 Attachment: 2021 Federal Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))
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• Seek a legislative solution to Section 8 payments standard issue.
CLEAN AND SAFE SANTA MONICA
• Support legislation and secure federal resources that enhance law enforcement and
emergency services to maintain a safe environment and quality of life for City residents
and visitors.
• Secure federal resources for City personnel to keep community surroundings clean from
litter, graffiti, and debris.
• Seek full funding for the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant; additional funding for the
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program; the Byrne/Justice Assistance
Grants (JAG) programs as well as integrated public safety communications systems.
• Secure federal resources to support the Police Department’s equipment needs (i.e.,
tablets, in-car camera system, mobile command center equipment, forensic equipment,
records management, and data tracking systems).
• Secure federal resources to provide mental health training for public safety officers and
first responders and to hire mental health professionals to support local law
enforcement activities in the community.
• Secure federal resources for education and training of paramedics and other emergency
medical service personnel in their ability to be responsive to community needs.
• Secure federal resources for implicit bias and cultural training for sworn and non-sworn
personnel.
• Support legislation and federal resources that promote the safety and constitutional
rights of our citizens and bring greater transparency and accountability to law
enforcement.
• Support legislation and secure federal resources that advances the model of
community-based 21st century policing.
• Support common sense gun safety legislation including a ban on assault weapons, ghost
guns and high-capacity magazines and a requirement for a federal background check
before the purchase of a gun or high capacity ammunition.
• Secure federal resources for mobile crisis intervention programs or other alternate
dispatch strategies that provide response to mental health or addiction crises where
public safety is not at risk.
EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
• Support legislation that provides for new direct, flexible emergency fiscal relief for all
cities, with an equitable funding formula not solely calculated by population size.
• Support legislation that provides for continued federal relief and federal resources for
small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic such as the Paycheck Protection
Program and Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance payments.
8.A.b
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• Support legislation that provides expanded federal relief for basic needs assistance for
working families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic such as SNAP, expanded UI
benefits, etc.
• Support legislation that would provide federal resources to assist localities in
rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic by investing in infrastructure such as water,
high-speed broadband, affordable housing, transportation and public space projects,
and workforce development.
• Support legislation that provides flexible funding and specific set-asides for tourism and
hospitality sectors, including businesses in these sectors and their workers.
• Support legislation that creates opportunities for and invests in artists and other
creative workers.
• Support legislation that promotes equal opportunity and treatment for people of all
races and addresses systematic racism against African Americans.
• Support legislation/seek funding that supports working families in regard to securing
affordable, high-quality childcare.
• Support legislation that provides financial stabilization to local childcare providers to
remain operational.
• Seek reimbursement from FEMA for emergency measures taken by the City as a result
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES
CLIMATE CHANGE & THE ENVIRONMENT
• Support legislation and secure resources for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
and protection and preservation of our environment.
• Secure federal resources to enhance the City’s continued investment in renewable
energy, sustainable procurement, green buildings, green public transit and
infrastructure, to meet the City’s climate goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.
• Support legislation and secure federal resources that allow for the creation of
sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure that is more resilient with a smaller
impact on the environment to reach the City’s water self-sufficiency goal.
• Support legislation and resources that assist local governments in developing and
implementing energy efficiency and conservation strategies that maximize available
resources, reduce costs, expand community access and protect public health.
• Support legislation that ensures local governments can continue, and not be preempted
in, their efforts to achieve economic improvements through increased energy efficiency
and conservation plans that seek to decrease carbon emissions.
• Support legislation that assists municipalities in their recycling and waste reduction
efforts.
• Support legislation that calls for building electrification.
• Secure federal resources for alternative energy/solar plus storage for emergencies.
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• Secure federal resources for public facility electric vehicles (EVs) and charging
infrastructure.
• Support legislation that assists community resiliency efforts regarding climate change,
sea level rise, biological and radiological events.
• Support federal incentives that assist local governments in developing and
implementing transportation, land use and building policies that encourage maximum
use of resources and lower energy consumption.
• Support legislation and resources focused on water and wastewater infrastructure –
reuse, treatment, conservation and sustainability (i.e., Sustainable Water Supply
Program)
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
• Support legislation that assures everyone the right to equal treatment in all
government-sponsored benefits or funded programs.
• Support legislation to protect the civil, fair housing, and equitable employment rights of
all persons.
IMMIGRATION REFORM
• Support legislation that calls for comprehensive immigration reform and border security
that is thoughtful in manner and guided by our nation's principles of due process,
human rights, accountability, and equal protection for all under the law.
MOBILITY & ACCESS
• Support legislation and secure resources to strengthen the City’s transportation services
and enhance mobility alternatives for all residents and visitors, including vehicular, bus,
rail, and non-motorized modes of travel (e.g., pedestrian, bicycle, scooter).
• Support continued funding of the Federal Highways Program especially the Highway
Bridge Rehabilitation Program.
• Maintain federal resources secured for “Pier Bridge” project in preparation for Summer
2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
• Secure federal resources including directed funding or grants for roadway maintenance.
• Secure federal resources for projects defined as transportation alternatives, including
on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure for improving non-driver
access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, and safe routes to schools.
• Secure federal resources for ADA upgrades (accessible pathway) along the Pier.
• Secure federal resources to support EV infrastructure (e.g., parking structures, charging
stations) and incentivize property owners to install EV infrastructure in both single-
family and multi-family dwellings.
• Secure federal resources to adapt infrastructure for Smart City needs (signaling system,
parking system, data sensors, security cameras, autonomous vehicles).
8.A.b
Packet Pg. 1127 Attachment: 2021 Federal Legislative Platform [Revision 1] (4367 : Annual Legislative Platform Updates (90 minutes))