SR 07-18-2023 11A
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 18, 2023
Agenda Item: 11.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David White, City Manager, City Manager's Office
Subject: Approval of the City of Santa Monica Legislative Platform for Fiscal Years
2023-2025
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve the attached 2023 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 2023-2025;
2. Provide feedback to inform City staff’s competitive procurement process for new
State and Federal representative and lobbying service to be undertaken in fall
2023; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a first modification to
agreement #10693 in the amount of $25,000 with Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer
& Lange for state legislative advocacy services for the City Manager's Office.
This will result in a five-year agreement with a new total amount not to exceed
$273,021.
4. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section
15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Executive Summary
In order to advocate for its interests and objectives before the State and Federal
governments in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., the City retains consultant teams—
currently, Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange (SYASL) and The Ferguson Group
as State and Federal lobbyists, respectively—who represent the City at these levels of
government.
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These representatives serve to:
• further the City’s legislative objectives in Congress, the State legislature
and before state and federal agencies;
• monitor, provide feedback on, and seek to influence pending and
proposed legislation;
• identify and advocate for funding opportunities through appropriations and
grants; and
• liaise with elected officials and their staffs to advocate for the City’s
positions and funding opportunities.
Both firms, in collaboration with senior City staff, have developed updated legislative
agendas to guide the City’s legislative and policy advocacy over the upcoming FY2023 -
25 biennial budget cycle. Maintaining legislative platforms at both the federal and state
level serves to clarify City policies, create additional transparency, and enable staff to
rapidly weigh in on matters of legislative importance with the backing of Council’s
adopted positions.
In addition, the five-year terms of the contracts for both SYASL and The Ferguson
Group for representative and lobbying services for the City will expire in December
2023. Staff intends to undertake a competitive Request for Proposals process in the fall
for these services going forward, and is seeking Council input and feedback on priorities
to inform this process.
Finally, staff is seeking limited additional budgetary authority for SYASL to continue
providing state legislative advocacy services through December 2023, to align with
previous Council authorization for a five-year contractual term.
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Discussion
Legislative Platform Updates
Starting in 2016, on an annual or biannual basis, staff has presented Council with
comprehensive Federal and State legislative agendas drafted based on Council’s
adopted budgetary and community priorities, previously adopted positions, and direction
with respect to specific bills or policies introduced at the state and federal levels.
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 seven years, the State and Federal Legislative Agendas first adopted in
2016 and updated regularly since have guided the City’s legislative advocacy and
created additional transparency for the City’s state and federal policy advocacy work.
Staff is putting forward for the Council’s review and approval updated versions of those
State and Federal Legislative Agendas (Attachments A & B) to align our advocacy with
the Council’s priorities for the FY2023-25 biennial budget adopted at a special meeting
on March 11, 2023. These adopted priorities will dictate how programs are funded and
additional funds are expended across the City, and therefore staff is recommending —
consistent with past practice—that we align our legislative advocacy with those
priorities, which are as follows:
• Addressing Homelessness: Prevent housed Santa Monicans from
becoming homeless and increase the supply of affordable housing, address
the behavioral health needs of vulnerable individuals and advocate for
regional capacity to address homelessness.
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• Clean & Safe Santa Monica: Create an atmosphere marked by clean and
safe public spaces and neighborhoods, including parks for recreation and
leisure activities.
• Cultivate Economic Recovery & Expand Community & Cultural
Offerings: Cultivate economic opportunity and recovery and invest in
community and cultural amenities and programs for all community
members, focused on expanding opportunities for youth, teens and seniors.
• Racial Justice, Equity & Social Diversity: The City of Santa Monica
acknowledges the effects of generational and institutional racism and
discrimination, and its consequences that continue to impact
our residents and businesses. These lessons of our history cannot be ignored.
The City is committed to advancing racial equity and social diversity to
improve the wellbeing of people who live, work, learn, play, and do business
in our City and create a community where differences in life outcomes cannot
be predicted by race, class, gender, disability or other identities. Everyone in
Santa Monica must have an opportunity to thrive.
• Sustainable & Connected Community: Ensure that City policies and
programs enhance our resources, prevent and remedy harm to the natural
environment and human health, and benefit the social and economic
wellbeing of the community for the sake of current and future generations.
Adoption of the agendas is a public statement by the Council of its legislative priorities
at the state and federal level. This action, combined with consultation of positions
adopted by statewide and national advocacy organizations such as the League of
California Cities, National League of Cities, and U.S. Conference of Mayors, allows staff
to review and adopt positions on legislative items of particular concern to Santa
Monica.
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More specifically, in practice, as legislation is introduced in the U.S. Congress and the
California state legislature that is of relevance to Santa Monica, the City’s federal and
state representatives use the legislative agendas to develop recommended positions on
each bill—typically either a “Support,” “Oppose,” or a “Watch” (i.e. monitor without
supporting or opposing) position. On any bill that is a close call or where more input is
needed or there are particular sensitivities or strong City implications at play, the
representatives refer the bill to City staff for further analysis and feedback. The
representatives then draft letters of support or opposition, as appropriate, that are
reviewed by City staff and signed by the Mayor on behalf of the Council to submit to the
City’s elected representatives as well as relevant authors and legislative committees for
particular bills. The City’s representatives or City staff at times weigh in further to
advocate for the City’s legislative positions through meeting with legislators or agency
officials and providing testimony at committee hearings. In addition to legislative
advocacy related to particular bills at the state and federal levels, the City’s
representatives use the adopted agendas to inform advocacy for and pursuit of
resources that advance the City’s priorities and positions, in the form of grants or
legislative appropriations.
Direction for Federal and State Representative Procurement
The current contracts for the City’s federal and state representative and lobbyist
services—held by The Ferguson Group and SYASL, respectively—were approved by
the Council in 2018 for a term of five years, and both expire in December 2023.
Consistent with past practice, staff will be initiating an open competitive procurement
process for these services this fall via separate Requests for Proposals (RFP) for both
the federal and state representative portfolios. The City has retained both of its current
consultants for these services for decades, with SYASL having provided state lobbyist
services to the City since 1986 and The Ferguson Group federal services since 1994. In
response to increased inquiries regarding advocacy services and evolving priorities of
individual Councilmembers, staff is seeking Council feedback in advance of embarking
on this RFP process to identify the best state and federal representatives for the City
into 2024 and beyond. In particular, staff are seeking input on:
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• Priority areas of policy expertise and relationships desired in state and
federal representatives;
• Importance of in-person meetings and engagement opportunities, both in
the City of Santa Monica and when Councilmembers travel to Sacramento or
Washington, D.C, for conferences or other official business; and
• Frequency and nature of correspondence and reporting desired on
legislative advocacy and outcomes.
Should Council desire an expanded scope of representative and lobbyist services
beyond what is currently budgeted (approximately $45,000 -50,000/year each for state
and federal services), future tradeoffs would need to be identified to support increased
potential contract costs.
Additional Budget Authority for SYASL
The City’s current contract with SYASL for state representative services was executed
on December 6, 2018 and currently expires on June 30, 2023. The contract, however, is
authorized through December 5, 2023 based on the Council’s prior authorization to
enter into a five-year term. Thus, City staff can use the existing contract authority to
extend the contract from its current expiration on June 30, 2023 to December 5, 2023.
However, because the City will have expended nearly all of the allocated budget that
Council approved in 2018 (not-to-exceed $248,021) following payment of SYASL’s June
2023 invoice, a small amount of additional budget authority is needed to continue
payment to SYASL and ensure that these services are not interrupted pending the
outcome of the competitive procurement described above.
Accordingly, staff is recommending that the Council authorize allocation of $25,000 from
existing funds in the Professional Services account for SYASL to continue providing
legislative advocacy services through December 2023.
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Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
06/12/18 (Attachment C) Most recent Award of Contracts for State and Federal Lobbying
Services
04/27/21 (Attachment D) Prior Approval of Legislative Platforms
Environmental Review
The contract modification is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to
Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. The contract is covered by the
common sense exemption which states that CEQA does not apply, “where it can
be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a
significant effect on the environment.” The modification will allow the City to continue
to utilize its state legislative representative services. Therefore, it can be seen with
certainty that the agreement would not result in adverse physical impacts on the
environment, and as such, is categorically exempt from CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the General Fund to increase
the amount of the agreement with Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange for state
legislative advocacy services for the City Manager's Office through December 5, 2023.
Agreement Modification Request
Agreement #
Current Authorized
Amount
FY 2023-24
Modified Request
Amount
Dept # Total Revised
Contract Amount
10693 $248,021 $25,000 01200009.552010 $273,021
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
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Prepared By: Anuj Gupta, Assistant City Manager
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council
B. 2023-25 Federal Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council
C. June 12, 2018 Staff Report for Award of Contracts for St ate and Federal
Lobbying Services (Web Link)
D. April 27, 2021 Staff Report for Approval of Legislative Platform (Web Link)
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City of Santa Monica
State Legislative Platform
2023 Update – DRAFT
ATTACHMENT A
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Packet Pg. 976 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA
2023 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
The City of Santa Monica, California is an innovative, progressive and diverse beachfront
community of approximately 93,000 residents on the Southern California coast.
Historically, the City Council’s key legislative priorities have been focused in the following policy
areas:
§ Affordability
§ Addressing Homelessness
§ Climate Change
§ Keeping Neighborhoods Safe
§ Enhancing Mobility and Access
§ Engaged and Thriving Community
On March 11, 2023, the Santa Monica City Council held a special session to set community
priorities for the next two years to guide the biennial (FY2023-25) budget adopted in June 2023.
The City Council selected the following priorities to guide City policy and budgetary decisions:
Addressing Homelessness: Prevent housed Santa Monicans from becoming homeless and
increase the supply of affordable housing; 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, including parks for recreation and leisure activities.
Cultivate Economic Recovery & Expand Community and Cultural Offerings: Cultivate economic
opportunity and recovery and invest in community and cultural amenities and programs for all
community members, focused on expanding opportunities for youth, teens and seniors.
Racial Justice, Equity, and Social Diversity: The City of Santa Monica acknowledges the effects
of generational and institutional racism and discrimination, and its consequences that continue
to impact our residents and businesses. These lessons of our history cannot be ignored. The
City is committed to advancing racial equity and social diversity to improve the wellbeing of
people who live, work, learn, play, and do business in our City and create a community where
differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by race, class, gender, disability or other
identities. Everyone in Santa Monica must have an opportunity to thrive.
Sustainable and Connected Community: Ensure that City policies and programs enhance our
resources, prevent and remedy harm to the natural environment and human health, and
benefit the social and economic wellbeing of the community for the sake of current and future
generations.
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Packet Pg. 977 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
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These 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 and permanent supportive
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 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.
§ Support legislation that allows for appropriate data sharing between municipalities and
treatment providers.
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Packet Pg. 978 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
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§ Support legislation that safeguards against the criminalization of homelessness.
§ 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 that would allow for the establishment of community paramedicine
programs.
§ 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.
§ Support the Care Act, which creates a new pathway to deliver mental health and
substance use disorder services to the most severely impaired Californians to help
prevent them from falling into homelessness or incarceration.
HOUSING
§ Support legislation and resources that would provide housing and other services for
veterans at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration site.
§ Oppose legislation related to homelessness rooted in approaches other than a housing-
first 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 and permanent supportive 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.
§ Support legislation that would call for the zoning and building of affordable housing on
surplus or underutilized 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.
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Packet Pg. 979 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
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§ 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 and state programs that create an inventory of potentially
seismically vulnerable buildings and/or provide funding resources for the seismic retrofit
of such properties.
§ Support legislation that prohibits discrimination in housing based on veteran or military
status.
§ Support legislation that repeals Article 34 of the State Constitution.
§ Support legislation that incentivizes the supply of social housing and co-housing in the
state.
§ Support legislation that incentivizes and streamlines the process to construct accessible
dwelling units.
§ Support legislation that promotes the production of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in
the Coastal Zone by removing onerous parking requirements in existing laws and
regulations.
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.
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Packet Pg. 980 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
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§ Support legislation that prohibits a law enforcement agency from authorizing the use of
a carotid restraint or choke hold.
§ 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.
§ Support legislation that improves California’s existing conceal-carry weapon laws to
address recent U.S. Supreme Court Decision in New York Rifle and Pistol Association v
Bruen by ensuring that those carrying firearms in public are law-abiding citizens who do
not pose a danger to themselves or others; are at least 21 years of age; and identify
certain areas where guns may not be carried.
§ Support legislation and resources that support the behavioral health needs and
wellbeing of public safety personnel.
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.
CULTIVATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY & EXPAND COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL OFFERINGS
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, including securing budget
resources to improve existing city infrastructure.
§ 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.
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Packet Pg. 981 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
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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.
§ Support legislation that provides local governments more flexibility in permitting
outdoor dining and entertainment to support local business and community needs.
§ Support legislation that streamlines the process and provides incentives for small
businesses to open and expand operations in California while maintaining local control.
§ Support legislation and funding resources to streamline state and local permitting
processes for cannabis businesses while maintaining local control.
§ Support legislation to provide greater protections to businesses in California regarding
third-party Americans with Disability Act frivolous claims and lawsuits.
§ Support legislation to allow municipalities to adopt and incentivize local purchase
preferences in support of buying local, small businesses and minority-owned businesses.
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.
§ 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.
§ Support legislation that will allow for disabled tenants to swap units in their building if
they have a disability related to mobility and live in a building without an elevator.
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Packet Pg. 982 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
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§ Support legislation that facilitates increased housing production in the City without
undermining the City's adopted affordability and inclusionary requirements.
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.
§ Support legislation that streamlines the process and provides incentives for street
vendors to go through the applicable local permitting process.
COMMUNITY WELLBEING
§ 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 mandates schools to offer one or more courses in mental health
education in middle school or high school.
§ 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 requires the state Department of Public Health to provide opioid
antagonist kits free of charge to as many designated facilities as possible in counties
experiencing an opioid overdose crisis, along with easy to understand instructions on
the administration of the opioid antagonist nasal spray.
§ Support legislation that would require schools (K-12 and Higher Education), stadiums,
concert venues, and amusements parks to maintain doses of naloxone hydrochloride or
other opioid antagonists.
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Packet Pg. 983 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
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§ Support legislation that authorizes a pharmacist to furnish an opioid antagonist
approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, subject to completion of
continuing education on the use of opioid antagonists.
§ 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 allows for the continuation of virtual public meetings to allow
for flexibility and greater participation, particularly during a state of emergency.
§ Support legislation and funding for community broadband and infrastructure
investments in public parks, beaches, libraries and other public facilities, affordable
housing developments and neighborhood commercial districts.
RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY & SOCIAL DIVERSITY
§ Support legislation and resources for the development of restorative justice programs at
the state level and in local communities.
§ Support legislation that would ensure cities and counties provide adequate
opportunities for the development of multi-family mixed-income and affordable housing
within high-opportunity areas, while simultaneously protecting and investing in sensitive
communities at risk of displacement.
§ Support legislation that establishes community anti-displacement and preservation
programs.
§ 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.
§ Support legislation that would implement a single payer universal health care delivery
system.
11.A.a
Packet Pg. 984 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
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§ Support legislation that requires the state Department of Education to finalize the
development of training programs/platforms to support LGBTQ cultural competency
training for teachers and other certificated employees and then require one hour of
training annually for teachers and certificated employees.
§ Support legislation that mandates gender-neutral multi-stall bathrooms.
§ Support legislation to enhance, increase, and expand voting opportunities to eligible
voters throughout the state.
§ Support legislation and state resources to encourage the development and
implementation of cannabis social equity programs designed to enable communities
that were negatively impacted by cannabis criminalization to become legal participants
in the cannabis marketplace.
SUSTAINABLE & CONNECTED COMMUNITY
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.
§ 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.
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Packet Pg. 985 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
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§ 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.
§ Support legislation and funding resources to restore connectivity among communities
that have been separated and negatively impacted by freeway construction.
§ Support legislation that reforms existing state statutes and regulations that impede
community connectivity and removes those barriers, thereby promoting an
environment conducive to attracting investment and fostering economic growth.
§ Support legislation and resources that would provide the maximum share of funding for
local and regional transportation programs.
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§ Support legislation and funding for the expansion of bus service throughout the Big Blue
Bus service area, as well as rail service into the City.
§ Support legislation that would give transit agencies priority access to electricity when
confronted with grid disruptions caused by natural or man-made disasters, rolling
blackouts, utility company “Public Safety Power Shutoffs,” or increasing demand on
California’s electrical grid.
§ Support legislation to reduce or remove demand charges for transit fleet electrification
projects.
§ Support legislation that would require expanding mandatory data requirements for
sharing autonomous vehicle incident data with local government in the interest of
greater public safety.
§ Support legislation to improve the safety of State Route 1 (PCH) and to extend the
beach bike path north from the current terminus at Will Rogers State Beach.
§ Support legislation and resources to transition our Big Blue Bus fleet to a zero-emission
fleet and build out the necessary charging infrastructure.
§ 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 for State to explore building electric vehicle charging infrastructure
on underutilized state property.
§ 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 provides local governments authority to enact “Slow Streets” to
limit vehicular traffic and encourage recreational uses.
§ Support legislation to pilot automated speed enforcement cameras to enhance the
safety of vulnerable roadway users while addressing equity and privacy issues.
§ Support legislation that continues the state’s involvement in the Safe Routes to School
program.
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§ Support legislation to improve speed in bus lanes through the implementation of an
automated bus lane enforcement program.
§ Support legislation that exempts from CEQA 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.
ADDITIONAL PRIORITIES
MISC.
§ 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.
§ Support legislation that provides flexibility to local governments regarding the rules
around meetings held via teleconference.
§ Support legislation that extends the timeline to complete public records requests from
10 calendar days to at least 10 business days to address limited staff resources at the
City level.
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Packet Pg. 988 Attachment: 2023-25 State Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
Memo
TO:City of Santa Monica, CA
DATE:June 23, 2023
DRAFT Federal Legislative Platform (2023-2025)
The following priorities set by the Santa Monica City Council for 2023-2025 will guide legislative activities in
Washington, D.C. to advance the City of Santa Monica’s interest at the federal level. The priority areas include:
Addressing Homelessness: Prevent housed Santa Monicans from becoming homeless and increase the supply
of affordable housing, address the behavioral health needs of vulnerable individuals and advocate for regional
capacity to address homelessness.
Clean & Safe Santa Monica: Create an atmosphere marked by clean and safe public spaces and
neighborhoods, including parks for recreation and leisure activities.
Cultivate Economic Recovery & Expand Community & Cultural Offerings: Cultivate economic opportunity and
recovery and invest in community and cultural amenities and programs for all community members, focused
on expanding opportunities for youth, teens and seniors.
Racial Justice, Equity & Social Diversity: The City of Santa Monica acknowledges the effects of generational
and institutional racism and discrimination, and its consequences that continue to impact our residents and
businesses. These lessons of our history cannot be ignored. The City is committed to advancing racial equity
and social diversity to improve the wellbeing of people who live, work, learn, play, and do business in our City
and create a community where differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by race, class, gender,
disability or other identities. Everyone in Santa Monica must have an opportunity to thrive.
Sustainable & Connected Community: Ensure that City policies and programs enhance our resources, prevent
and remedy harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefit the social and economic
wellbeing of the community for the sake of current and future generations.
The priorities are reflected in the policy positions outlined below for the City to engage in federal legislative
and regulatory initiatives and resource opportunities (e.g., grants, authorizations and appropriations) that
support key projects and programs.
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 maintain and expand the
inventory of affordable housing and permanent supportive 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.
ATTACHMENT B 11.A.b
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Federal Legislative Platform - Santa Monica, CA 2023-2025 2
• Support legislation that safeguards against the criminalization of homelessness.
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).
• Support legislation and secure federal resources to address housing opportunities combined with
effective supportive services, including health care services, such as the permanent supportive
housing model.
• 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 federal programs that are critical to the City’s police and fire departments,
including the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant, the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
Grant, the Byrne/Justice Assistance Grants (JAG), and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).
• Secure federal resources to support the Santa Monica 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 to support fire and paramedic services, fire prevention, urban search and
rescue, and hazardous material response.
• 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 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.
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Packet Pg. 990 Attachment: 2023-25 Federal Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
Federal Legislative Platform - Santa Monica, CA 2023-2025 3
CULTIVATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY & EXPAND COMMUNITY &
CULTURAL OFFERINGS
• Secure federal resources for transportation and water infrastructure, environmental remediation,
energy efficiency and resiliency projects under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and
the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) programs.
• Support legislation that would provide federal resources to assist localities in high-speed broadband,
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/seek funding that supports working families with regards to securing affordable,
high-quality childcare.
RACIAL JUSTICE, EQUITY & SOCIAL DIVERSITY
• 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.
• Support sustained investments in key HUD programs to address the underlying systemic shortage of
rental homes affordable to low-income renters.
• Support legislation that promotes equal opportunity and treatment for people of all races and
addresses systematic racism against African Americans.
• Support legislation to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
program.
• 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.
• Support legislation and resources for local governments to achieve equity and geographic balance
when planning for resilience projects that will reduce impacts caused by climate change and natural
hazards.
• Support legislation and resources to remove, retrofit or mitigate transportation infrastructure that
creates barriers to community connectivity, including to mobility, access, or economic development.
• Support legislation and resources for local governments to address the divide in access to affordable,
high-speed, broadband internet to support residents and businesses.
SUSTAINABLE & CONNECTED COMMUNITY
• 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 2030.
• 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.
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Packet Pg. 991 Attachment: 2023-25 Federal Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)
Federal Legislative Platform - Santa Monica, CA 2023-2025 4
• 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.
• 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)
• 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 for Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission and Buses and
Bus Facilities Grant Programs.
• Support continued funding of the Federal Highways Program especially the Surface Transportation
Program and 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 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).
For more information:
Charmayne Anderson
Partner
The Ferguson Group
(202) 261-6016
canderson@tfgnet.com
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Packet Pg. 992 Attachment: 2023-25 Federal Legislative Platform DRAFT for City Council [Revision 2] (5649 : Approve Legislative Platform)