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LRC 12-10-21 (Special)Legislative Review Committee Approved Minutes December 10, 2021 Page 1 CITY OF CUPERTINO APPROVED MINUTES LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE Friday, December 10, 2021 11:00 AM SPECIAL MEETING ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 11:00 a.m. Present: Vice Mayor Chao, Councilmember Moore, Deputy City Manager Katy Nomura, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) AGENDA REVIEW/ ORDERS OF THE DAY There were no changes to the Orders of the Day APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Subject: Consider approving the October 8, 2021 Legislative Review Committee minutes Recommended Action: Approve the October 8, 2021 Legislative Review Committee minutes Councilmember Moore motioned to approve the October 8, 2021 Legislative Review Committee minutes. Vice Mayor Chao seconded. The motion carried unanimously. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Jennifer Griffin spoke about her concerns on the bills coming out of Sacramento. PUBLIC COMMENT (including comments on all agenda items This item was not conducted as the Chair decided to take public comments on agenda items when the agenda items were discussed. ACTION ITEMS 2. Subject: Legislative Update Recommended Action: Receive legislative update and provide any input TPA explained that at the end of the legislative session, the Governor signed 770 bills that were approved by the legislature and vetoed 66. His veto percentage was 8%, which Legislative Review Committee Approved Minutes December 10, 2021 Page 2 was the lowest veto rate by a Governor since 2003. Overall, 32% of the bills that were introduced last year were signed into law. This upcoming year will be an election year, but it is also a redistricting year, which means that new Assembly and Senate district boundaries will require many members to appeal to new voters outside of their current district. The final redistricting maps will be done in the next couple of weeks and will become effective after the 2022 general election is completed. TPA foresees this next year to include more housing legislation. The Assembly Housing Committee will have a new chair since Assemblymember David Chiu has stepped down to become the City of San Francisco’s District Attorney. This week it was announced that Assemblymember Buffy Wicks from the East Bay will be the new housing chair. Her positions on housing are very similar to the outgoing chair David Chiu. There will most likely continue to be a focus on traditional public safety due to the high- profile smash and grab thefts. There will also be some focus on legislation to address drought and wildfire to increase water conservation, fire prevention, and infrastructure on water delivery. The LAO released their fiscal outlook for the upcoming fiscal year. They estimate that the state could be looking at a budget surplus of $31 billion driven by increased sales and use tax. The Governor will release his proposed budget on January 10. Public Comment: Jennifer Griffin is concerned about the housing bills and the upcoming year. 3. Subject: Discuss Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act Recommended Action: Adopt an oppose position on the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act and authorize the Mayor to send letters to the state legislature TPA explains that this legislation is currently gathering signatures in the effort to qualify for the November 2022 ballot. This constitutional amendment would modify the vote threshold at state and local government levels. For local governments, every tax imposition would need to pass through a 2/3 vote. For the state level, there is already a 2/3 vote requirement, this would strengthen that requirement by also mandating that tax increases needs to be approved at a statewide ballot, in addition to the 2/3 vote by the legislature. Legislative Review Committee Approved Minutes December 10, 2021 Page 3 The proponents of this bill have 180 days to provide 997,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. It is recommended to adopt an oppose position based on the City’s Legislative Platform’s guiding principle on Fiscal Responsibility. The League of California Cities has also taken an oppose position on this bill Public Comment: Jennifer Griffin is concerned about the housing bills and the upcoming year. Action Taken: Councilmember Moore motioned to take an oppose position on Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act and authorize the Mayor to send letters to the local delegation. Vice Mayor Chao seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. 4. Subject: Discuss Statewide Initiative 21-0016 (Local Land Use and Zoning Laws) Recommended Action: Adopt a support position on Statewide Initiative 21-0016 (Local Land Use and Zoning Laws) and authorize the Mayor to send letters to the state legislature TPA explained that this bill is also a constitutional amendment, so it is also currently gathering signatures in the effort to qualify for the November 2022 ballot. This measure would specify that local laws would have authority over conflicting state laws regarding land use and zoning, related to zoning development and local land use initiatives. There are some exceptions for coastal zones, power plants, and areas with water and transportation projects of statewide concerns. There is flexibility for those cities who do want to be subject to the state laws that are passed. Those cities are not required to have local ordinances override those state laws they may agree with. Proponents have until May 2 to gather 997,000 signatures for it to qualify for the general election. The LRC discussed supporting this initiative to retain local control, which is a guiding principle in the Legislative Platform. They mention that is important for cities to be able to make their own choices on zoning, parking, and density. Public Comment: Jennifer Griffin is pleased and hopeful about this constitutional amendment. Action Taken: Councilmember Moore motioned to take a support position on Statewide Initiative Legislative Review Committee Approved Minutes December 10, 2021 Page 4 21-0016 (Local Land Use and Zoning Laws) and authorize the Mayor to send letters to the state legislature. Vice Mayor Chao seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. 5. Subject: Discuss the City’s Draft 2022 Legislative Platform Recommended Action: Discuss the City’s Draft 2022 Legislative Platform and recommend for City Council’s adoption TPA explained that the redlined platform included in the packet includes changes, edits, and suggestions based on conversations with staff and Council. These changes are responses to past legislation related to public safety, sales tax, housing, and transportation. The LRC discussed these changes and added changes to support legislation regarding free or reduced fee transportation for low income and homeless residents as well as adding language that monitors legislation regarding petty theft and use of force. They also added language to support legislation that provides financial coaching to address homeless prevention. Public Comment: Jennifer Griffin supports the legislative platform. Action Taken: Vice Mayor Chao made a motion for the LRC to recommend that the City Council adopt the draft 2022 Legislative Platform with the LRC’s amendments. Councilmember Moore seconded. The motion carried unanimously. FUTURE AGENDA SETTING The next LRC meeting is scheduled for January 21, 2021. This meeting will include a discussion on the State Budget. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:07 p.m.