TITLE
Recommendation to respectfully request City Council approval of the 2021 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 and funding priorities for the coming session. This document provides policy direction to staff on State issues, allowing the City to take positions on legislative proposals and to work with the City’s State legislative delegates to advance priorities adopted by the City Council.
On January 5, 2021, the State Legislation Committee (Committee) met, received staff’s recommended changes for the 2021 State Legislative Agenda, and voted to forward those changes, along with additional changes from the Committee, to the City Council for consideration and adoption. The full draft agenda is attached, and the Committee’s proposed changes are described below:
PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AGENDA CHANGES
Economic Development Section
Objectives
The Committee proposes to amend Objective 8 to emphasize economic inclusion, so that the item reads: “Advance economic and digital inclusion equity for residents, workers and businesses.”
Focus Statements
The Committee has no proposed changes.
City Council Directives
The Committee has no proposed changes.
Public Safety Section
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 Health Section
Objectives
The Committee has no proposed changes.
Focus Statements
The Committee has no proposed changes.
City Council Directives
The Committee proposes adding language regarding support for acquisition of park space. This would be included in a new directive under Objective 2:
• Support policies, legislation and funding to promote the acquisition of underutilized space for the purpose of park and recreational infrastructure.
Education Section
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 Section
Objectives
The Committee has no proposed changes.
Focus Statements
The Committee has no proposed changes.
City Council Directives
The Committee proposes items under Objective 1 that align with the implementation of the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and the improvement of air quality:
• Support policies, legislation, and funding in alignment with the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), Los Angeles County’s Community Climate Action Plan, and the State’s climate change initiatives.
• Support policies, legislation, and funding to reduce air pollutants adversely impacting the environment and population's wellbeing while ensuring equitable access to healthy air quality.
Local Control Section
Objectives
The Committee proposes to include language to support the City’s fiscal resiliency, which is reflected in an expanded Objective 4: “Monitor legislation related to City revenues to bolster fiscal resiliency.”
Focus Statements
Related, the Committee proposes to add a Focus Statement emphasizing the need for resources and funding for the City’s financial resiliency during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, the Committee recommends a Focus Statement to continue engagement with the State Lands Commission: “Support ongoing collaboration with the State Lands Commission and State Legislature to explore new funding sources to support City priorities.”
City Council Directives
The Committee has no proposed changes.
COVID-19 Advocacy Strategy
The Committee proposes to emphasize economic recovery. Language will be added to the “Relief Funding Priorities” section to underscore the need for resources to implement the City’s Economic Recovery Strategy, upon approval of the City Council, and to support the City’s fiscal resiliency through investments in new and resilient industries for job creation and opportunities to lift families out of poverty.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
REX RICHARDSON,
VICE MAYOR, NINTH DISTRICT
CHAIR, STATE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE