TITLE
Recommendation to respectfully request the City Council approve the 2020 State Legislative Agenda as recommended by the State Legislation Committee.
DISCUSSION
Each year the City Council adopts a State Legislative Agenda, which outlines the City’s State Legislative priorities for the coming year. This document provides policy direction to staff on State legislative issues, and allows the City to support, oppose or work with State elected officials on advancing priorities adopted by the City Council.
At the State Legislation Committee (Committee) meeting on December 17, 2019, the Committee voted to forward staff’s recommended changes for the 2020 State Legislative Agenda to the City Council for consideration and adoption. The Committee did not have any changes to the 2020 State Legislative Agenda.
Proposed Legislative Agenda Changes
ABOUT LONG BEACH
The Committee proposes to revise the section on the Port of Long Beach:
Located at the Port, Long Beach Container Terminal at Middle Harbor will be the world’s first zero emissions terminal operation. The Port is investing over $4 billion to improve its infrastructure and create additional jobs through projects like the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement and Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility.
The revised paragraph would state:
The Port of Long Beach is undertaking multiple programs to enhance competitiveness and environmental sustainability. Over the next 10 years, the Port will invest more than $2 billion in capital improvements, including $1 billion in projects that will expand on-dock rail use and minimize cargo truck trips on local roads and freeways. The Port is currently engaged in $150 million worth of projects to demonstrate the effectiveness of zero-emissions cargo-handling and power-storage equipment.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Objectives
The Committee has no proposed changes.
Focus Statements
The Committee has no proposed changes.
City Council Directives
The Committee has no proposed changes.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Objectives
The Committee has no proposed changes.
Focus Statements
The Committee proposes to remove the following focus statement:
Monitor cannabis legislation to support clear enforcement of local cannabis regulations.
City Council Directives
Objective 4. Strengthen the public’s trust through accountability, open communication, community inclusion and transparency.
The Committee proposes to add Item (h) Support policies and legislation that allows public safety officer applicants to be permanent residents of the State and not necessarily naturalized citizens.
EDUCATION
Objectives
The Committee has no proposed changes.
Focus Statements
The Committee has no proposed changes.
City Council Directives
The Committee has no proposed changes.
SUSTAINABLE & LIVABLE CITIES
Objectives
The Committee proposes to add Objective 8:
8. Support clear enforcement of local cannabis regulations.
Focus Statements
The Committee has no proposed changes.
City Council Directives
Objective 2. Support efforts to improve stormwater management, and recreational water quality.
The Committee proposes to revise Item (i) to read as follows:
Consider support of legislation, initiatives and policies initiated and/or advocated by the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners, on behalf of the Long Beach Water Department.
Objective 4. Support affordable housing policies consistent with the City’s adopted Housing Element.
The Committee proposes to add Item (g) Sponsor or support policies and legislation that streamlines the eminent domain process for supportive and homeless housing that would reduce regulatory costs and litigation related to addressing the housing and homelessness crisis.
Objective 8. Support clear enforcement of cannabis regulation.
The Committee proposes to add the following items:
a) Support policies, legislation and grants that increase funding or enforcement authority and tools for local jurisdictions to identify, deter and enforce against illegal cannabis activity.
b) Support State legislation that further clarifies cannabis laws in order to enable clear local enforcement of State law and advancements towards banking on behalf of cannabis.
c) Support policies, legislation and grants that provide consumers, parents and youth with health and safety information related to cannabis use.
LOCAL CONTROL
Objectives
The Committee has no proposed changes.
Focus Statements
The Committee has no proposed changes.
City Council Directives
Objective 4. Monitor legislation related to City revenues.
The Committee proposes to add Item (j) Support policies and legislation that sustain financial well-being for the City.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
REX RICHARDSON
COUNCILMEMBER, NINTH DISTRICT, CHAIR
STATE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE