HomeMy WebLinkAbout20 LEGISLATIVE REPORT-SENATE BILL (SB) 1445TUSTIN Agenda Item 20
_` ~'~; Reviewed:
--~ ~ , _ AGENDA REPORT City Manager
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MEETING DATE: JULY 6, 2010
TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: LEGISLATIVE REPORT -SENATE BILL (SB) 1445
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill (SB) No. 1445 would impose an additional fee of $1 on motor vehicle
registration statewide. Fee revenue would be used to fund SB 375 regional planning
activities. One percent (1 %) of the fee revenue would be used to support the Planning
Advisory and Assistance Council (PAAC). This bill would also revise the membership of
the PAAC and create new duties for the PAAC which would involve greater coordination
among local governments, regional governments, state departments, and the Strategic
Growth Council.
Attached is a draft letter of opposition to SB 1445, based largely on the imposition of an
additional fee for SB 375 planning activities, which could be delayed until the economy
improves. A copy of SB 1445 is included as Attachment A to this report.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council direct staff to transmit the attached letter of opposition to the author
of SB 1445 and to the Governor if the bill is passed by the legislature.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Senate Bill 1445 would impose a $1 motor vehicle registration surcharge that would be
collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles and, after deducting its administrative
costs, would be transmitted to the PAAC and regional planning agencies. No impact to
the City's General Fund is anticipated at this time.
DISCUSSION:
Existing Law
Existing law provides for the following:
• Requires metropolitan planning agencies to adopt regional transportation plans,
which must include a sustainable communities strategy (SCS) designed to achieve
specified targets for greenhouse gas emission reduction.
SB 1445
July 6, 2010
Page 2
• Established the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the PAAC, which is an
advisory panel within the OPR responsible for various land use planning related
activities.
• Created the Strategic Growth Council, which recommends policies to encourage the
development of sustainable communities and provides agencies with data to assist
in planning sustainable communities.
• Established a basic vehicle registration fee of $34, plus a $22 surcharge for the
California Highway Patrol, and authorized surcharges for various special programs.
• Distinguished a fee from a tax in that a fee pays for a specific service and project
and cannot exceed the reasonable cost of providing the service or projects that the
fee funds.
Proposed Law
SB 1445 would do the following:
• Change the designated membership of the Planning Advisory and Assistance
Council (PAAC) and would require that the PAAC work with the Strategic Growth
Council and other agencies to facilitate the implementation of regional blueprint
plans.
• Require the PAAC to report to the Legislature on specified regional performance
measures and on the manner in which state agencies are implementing the 5-year
infrastructure plan.
• Require the vehicle registration fee imposed by Section 9250 of the Vehicle Code to
be increased by an additional one dollar ($1) until January 1, 2016.
• Require that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) deposit 1 % of the net
revenues into the PAAC Fund and distribute the remaining revenues to specified
regional planning agencies for the purpose of developing and implementing a
sustainable communities strategy, regional blueprint plan or rural transportation plan
element to identify land use strategies to reduce the use of motor vehicles and to
achieve the regional greenhouse emission reduction target. The revenues also
would be used to provide grants to agencies to implement a regional blueprint plan.
• Mandate that a Metropolitan Planning Organization that is jointly preparing an SCS
with a Council of Governments (COG) share all revenue it receives and expend that
revenue in accordance with an agreement between the two agencies.
• Require that the Southern California Association of Governments distribute a share
of revenues to a county transportation commission or subregional COG that has
elected to prepare a subregional sustainable communities strategy.
• Require that the revenues be shared with the local air quality management district to
assist agencies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Provide that an SCS and an alternative planning strategy (APS) shall both be
considered a regional blueprint plan.
SB 1445
July 6, 2010
Page 3
SB 1445 is similar to SB 406, which was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger last
year. The Governor noted that the imposition of the new fee should be subject to voter
approval. The $1 vehicle registration fee increase proposed by SB 1445 would be
imposed on a statewide basis over the next five (5) years. SB 406, on the other hand,
would have allowed regional planning agencies to adopt a resolution to impose a new
fee of $1 or $2 on motor vehicles registered in that jurisdiction.
Issues
SB 1445 would provide regional agencies with funding for SB 375 planning activities by
imposing a new statewide vehicle license surcharge. Californians already pay several
license surcharges for freeway emergencies, abandoned cars, vehicle theft programs,
and some regional air quality efforts. Adding another vehicle license surcharge may not
make sense given the current economic climate.
The City Council has taken the position that SB 375 planning activities should be
discontinued until the economy and the corresponding employment rate improve
significantly. At that time, local governments will also need significant new funding
resources for the planning and infrastructure necessary to implement sustainable
communities strategies. For example, the costs to local governments to update their
general and specific plans and corresponding zoning ordinances are likely to exceed
over one million dollars for amedium-size or larger city.
SB 1445 merely facilitates coordination, requiring more consultation, inserting more
officials on the PAAC, and commissioning more reports to the Legislature. SB 1445
further entangles state, regional, and local officials without a clear outcome.
Attached for the Council's consideration is a copy of SB 1445 along with a draft letter of
opposition. Staff will continue to monitor SB 1445 and report back to the Council as
needed. Should this bill pass and move on to the Governor for signature, Council
concurrence with this matter would also include Council authorization to forward a letter of
opposition to the Governor.
Scott Reekstin Elizabeth A. Binsack
Senior Planner Community Development Director
Attachments: A: SB 1445
B: Draft Letter of Opposition to Senator DeSaulnier
S:\Cdd~CCREPORTSB 1445.doc
ATTACHMENT A
SB 1445
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 13, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 26, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 13, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 24, 2010
SENATE BILL
No. 1445
Introduced by Senator DeSaulnier
February 19, 2010
An act to amend Section 65040.6 of, and to add and repeal Section
65080.6~e of, the Government Code, to amend Section 75125 of the
Public Resources Code, and to add and repeal Section 9250.20-fie of
the Vehicle Code, relating to planning.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1445, as amended, DeSaulnier. Planning.
(1) Existing law creates the Strategic Growth Council consisting of
the Director of State Planning and Research, the Secretary of the Natural
Resources Agency, the Secretary for Environmental Protection, the
Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, the Secretary of
California Health and Human Services, and one public member
appointed by the Governor. Existing law specifies the powers and duties
of the council with respect to identification and review of activities and
programs of member agencies that may be coordinated to improve
certain planning and resource objectives and associated matters,
including provision of financial assistance to support the planning and
development of sustainable communities. Existing law requires the
council to report to the Legislature not later than July 1, 2010, and every
year thereafter, on the financial assistance provided.
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This bill would instead provide for an initial reporting date of July 1,
2012. The bill would require the council to coordinate certain of its
activities with the Planning Advisory and Assistance Council.
(2) Existing law creates the Planning Advisory and Assistance
Council in the Office of Planning and Research in the Governor's office,
with a specified membership appointed by the Director of State Planning
and Research consisting of representatives of cities, counties, each
regional planning districts, and Indian tribes and bands, from persons
nominated by those entities. Existing law requires the council to provide
advice on certain planning matters, including the preparation of state
long-range goals and policies, and evaluation of the planning functions
of various state agencies.
This bill would delete the reference to regional planning districts and
instead require 7 of the council's members to be appointed from the
governing boards of specified regional planning organizations. The bill
would also provide for the appointment of one member each from the
California Transportation Commission, the State Air Resources Board,
the State Energy Conservation and Development Commission, the
Speaker of the Assembly, and the Senate Committee on Rules. The bill
would expand the duties of the council by requiring it to work with the
Strategic Growth Council and various regional and local agencies to
facilitate the implementation of regional blueprint plans, and to develop
and propose recommendations to the Strategic Growth Council and
certain state agencies in order to facilitate coordination between regional
blueprint plans, state growth and infrastructure plans, and programs
that facilitate the implementation of regional blueprint plans. The bill
would also require reports by the council to the Legislature on specified
matters.
(3) Existing law requires certain transportation planning activities
by designated regional transportation planning agencies, including
development of a regional transportation plan. Certain of these agencies
are designated under federal law as metropolitan planning organizations.
Existing law requires metropolitan planning organizations to adopt a
sustainable communities strategy, subject to specified requirements, as
part of a regional transportation plan, which is to be designed to achieve
certain targets established by the State Air Resources Board for the
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and light
trucks in the region.
This bill, until January 1, 2016, would increase the registration fee
imposed by the state on the registration of each vehicle by $1, and
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require the Department of Motor Vehicles, after deducting its
administrative costs, to ~'~a:.e deposit 1% of the net revenues from
the fee increase into the Planning Advisory and Assistance Council
Fund, which would be created by the bill, and to make those funds
available to the Planning Advisory and Assistance Council, upon
appropriation by the Legislature. The remaining net revenues would
be distributed to designated transportation planning agencies based on
the number of vehicles registered within the jurisdiction of each agency.
The bill would require the transportation planning agencies to use the
funds solely to develop and implement a sustainable communities
strategy, a regional blueprint plan, or a rural transportation plan element
in order to identify land use strategies to reduce the use of motor vehicles
and to carry out transportation-related activities in the strategy, plan,
or plan element and, in the case of an agency preparing a regional
blueprint plan, to provide grants to cities, counties, and congestion
management agencies for planning and projects related to
implementation of the plan. The bill would also provide for sharing of
available revenues between various agencies, as specified.
(4) The bill would also make legislative findings and declarations.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
1 SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
2 (a) Uncoordinated and unplanned growth together with a lack
3 of common goals to effect the public's interest in the conservation
4 and wise use of our lands pose a threat to the environment,
5 sustainable economic development, and the health, safety, and
6 high quality of life enjoyed by residents of this state.
7 (b) The enactment of Senate Bill 375 of the 2007-08 Regular
8 Session (Chapter 728 of the Statutes of 2008) and the establishment
9 of requirements for regional transportation plans to address
10 greenhouse gases can only be successfully implemented if regional
11 and local governments have the tools they need to collaboratively
12 plan for the type of growth that can achieve these goals, and if that
13 collaborative planning is coordinated with the efforts of the
14 Governor's Strategic Growth Council and other state agencies as
15 required by the enactment of Senate Bill 732 of the 2007-08
16 Regular Session (Chapter 729 of the Statutes of 2008).
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(c) The successful development of sustainable communities
strategies as part of regional transportation plans and
implementation of those strategies by the amendment of city and
county general and specific plans will result in significantly
reduced vehicle travel. The reduced travel will reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and air pollution and provide environmental benefits
that mitigate the adverse impacts associated with vehicle use. The
resulting reduction in traffic congestion provides a user benefit to
all vehicle owners which is at least equal in value to a fee of two
dollars ($2) per vehicle annually.
(d) Cooperation between regional and local governments and
air districts is essential to the achievement of the greenhouse gas
emission reductions envisioned in regional transportation plans.
(e) Therefore, it is in the public interest that state residents,
communities, local governments, air districts, and the private sector
cooperate and coordinate with one another in comprehensive,
sustainable land use planning.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature to update the duties and
composition of the Planning Advisory and Assistance Council to
assist in the state's land use planning processes by providing
funding to support the development and implementation for
regional blueprints and related planning and to work with state
agencies providing funding for resource protection and local
infrastructure to facilitate coordination between state planning and
funding decisions and regional blueprints.
SEC. 2. Section 65040.6 of the Government Code is amended
to read:
65040.6. (a) The Planning Advisory and Assistance Council
is hereby created within the office, the membership of which shall
be as follows: three city representatives; three county
representatives; seven representatives of regional planning
organizations; one member of the State Air Resources Board; one
member of the California Transportation Commission; one member
of the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission; one member appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly; one member appointed by the Senate Committee on
Rules; and one representative of Indian tribes and bands which
have reservations or rancherias within California. The city and
county representatives appointed pursuant to this subdivision shall
be selected by the director from nominees submitted by the League
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of California Cities and by the California State Association of
Counties. Representatives of regional planning organizations
appointed pursuant to this subdivision shall be selected by the
director from nominees submitted by the regional planning
organizations set forth in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of
subdivision (b) and from nominees submitted by the California
Association of Councils of Governments for the representatives
set forth in paragraphs (6) and (7) of subdivision (b). The
representative of Indian tribes and bands shall be a member of one
tribe or band, and shall be selected by the director.
Appointment to the advisory council shall be for a term of two
years, provided that the members of the first council shall classify
themselves by lot so that one-half shall serve an initial term of one
year and one-half shall serve an initial term of two years. Vacancies
shall be filled in the same manner provided for the original
appointment.
(b) Seven of the council's members shall be from the governing
body of each of the following:
(1) The Southern California Association of Governments.
(2) The Metropolitan Transportation Commission or the
Association of Bay Area Governments. The person appointed to
the council pursuant to this paragraph shall be a member of the
governing body for both the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments.
(3) The San Diego Association of Governments.
(4) The Sacramento Area Council of Governments.
(5) The San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council.
(6) A metropolitan planning organization or council of
governments that is not identified in paragraphs (1) to (5),
inclusive.
(7) A regional transportation planning agency, as defined in
Section 65080, that is neither a metropolitan planning organization
nor a council of governments.
(c) The council shall provide such advice as may be necessary
to assist the office in discharging the requirements of Sections
65040 to 65040.4, inclusive. In particular, the council shall:
(1) Assist the office in the preparation of the state long-range
goals and policies, in the manner specified in subdivision (a) of
Section 65040.
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(2) Evaluate the planning functions of the various state agencies
involved in planning, in the manner specified in subdivision (c)
of Section 65040.
(3) Make appropriate decisions and provide such advice and
assistance as may be required by federal statute or regulation in
connection with any federal program administered by the office.
(4) Work with the Strategic Growth Council, created pursuant
to Section 75121 of the Public Resources Code, regional agencies,
such as metropolitan planning organizations or councils of
governments, and with cities and counties to facilitate the
implementation of regional blueprint plans.
(5) Develop and propose recommendations to the Strategic
Growth Council, created pursuant to Section 75121 of the Public
Resources Code, the Department of General Services, the State
Allocation Board, the Department of Housing and Community
Development, the Department of Transportation, the California
Transportation Commission, and any other state agencies that
affect land use, housing, or transportation in order to facilitate
coordination between regional blueprint plans, state growth and
infrastructure funding plans, and programs that facilitate the
implementation of regional blueprint plans.
(6) Receive reports, including, but not limited to, a copy of the
five-year infrastructure plan described in Section 13102.
(7) Report to the Legislature, in consultation and coordination
with the Strategic Growth Council, created pursuant to Section
75121 of the Public Resources Code, on the manner in which state
agencies are implementing the requirements of Chapter 1016 of
the Statutes of 2002.
(8) Report to the Legislature on regional performance measures,
evaluating the progress of each region of the state in improving
results for its residents in employment, environmental protection,
education, housing, mobility, and other criteria as determined by
the council. The council shall provide the Legislature with updates
to the report periodically, as the council determines is required.
(d) The council shall meet on call of the director of the office,
who shall convene at least two council meetings during each year.
(e) Council members shall serve without compensation, but
they may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in connection
with their duties.
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1 SEC. 3. Section 65080.6 is added to the Government Code, to
2 read:
3 65080.6. (a) All revenue received pursuant to Section 9250.20
4 of the Vehicle Code shall be used by the metropolitan planning
5 organization, the council of governments, or a county transportation
6 planning agency solely to develop and implement a sustainable
7 communities strategy, a regional blueprint plan, or a rural
8 transportation plan element that is consistent with the guidelines
9 developed by the Department of Transportation for regional
10 blueprints, in order to identify land use strategies to reduce the use
11 of motor vehicles in its jurisdiction and carry out applicable
12 transportation-related activities in the strategy, plan, or plan
13 element, and thereby to achieve the greenhouse gas emission
14 reduction target as specified in Section 65080, and to provide
15 grants to cities, counties, cities and counties, and congestion
16 management agencies for planning and projects related to the
17 implementation of a regional blueprint plan.
18 (b) A metropolitan planning organization that is jointly preparing
19 a sustainable communities strategy with a council of governments
20 shall share all revenue it receives and expend that revenue in
21 accordance with an agreement between the two agencies.
22 (c) The Southern California Association of Governments
23 (SCAG) shall distribute a share of revenues received pursuant to
24 Section 9250.20 of the Vehicle Code to a county transportation
25 commission or subregional council of governments that has elected
26 to prepare a subregional sustainable communities strategy pursuant
27 to Section 65080. The share of each eligible agency shall be
28 computed after deducting from total revenues available to SCAG
29 pursuant to Section 9520.20 of the Vehicle Code the costs incurred
30 by SCAG for preparing the regionwide sustainable communities
31 strategy pursuant to Section 65080, and then, with respect to those
32 remaining revenues, allocating the revenues based on the amount
33 of fees collected from motor vehicles registered within the
34 jurisdiction of each eligible agency.
35 (d) The metropolitan planning organization, the council of
36 governments, or a county transportation commission and a
37 subregional council of governments jointly preparing a subregional
38 sustainable communities strategy, may, pursuant to an agreement
39 with the local air quality management district that has responsibility
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over the jurisdiction, share revenues received pursuant to this
section with the local air quality management district.
(e) All revenue received by the local air quality management
district pursuant to subdivision (d) shall be used to assist local and
regional goverrunents in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Appropriate assistance includes, but is not limited to, all of the
following:
(1) Assistance in the development of a subregional sustainable
communities strategy.
(2) Assistance in the development of local greenhouse gas
emission inventories.
(3) Assistance in the development of greenhouse gas emission
reduction strategies in general plans.
(4) Development of and assistance with CEQA guidelines and
review of greenhouse gas emissions in CEQA analyses.
(5) Consultation and development of local climate action plans.
(6) Project-specific consultation work to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from local transportation and land use decisions.
(f) For purposes of this section, a sustainable communities
strategy and an alternative planning strategy shall both be
considered to be a regional blueprint plan.
(g) This section shall become inoperative on Janzrary 1, 2016,
and, as of~January 1, 2017, is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2017,
deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and
is repealed.
SEC. 4. Section 75125 of the Public Resources Code is
amended to read:
75125. The council shall do all of the following:
(a) Identify and review activities and funding programs of
member state agencies that maybe coordinated to improve air and
water quality, improve natural resource protection, increase the
availability of affordable housing, improve transportation, meet
the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
(Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health
and Safety Code), encourage sustainable land use planning, and
revitalize urban and community centers in a sustainable manner.
At a minimum, the council shall review and comment on the
five-year infrastructure plan developed pursuant to Article 2
(commencing with Section 13100) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of
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Division 3 of the Government Code and the State Environmental
Goals and Policy Report developed pursuant to Section 65041 of
the Government Code.
(b) Recommend policies and investment strategies and priorities
to the Governor, the Legislature, and to appropriate state agencies
to encourage the development of sustainable communities, such
as those communities that promote equity, strengthen the economy,
protect the environment, and promote public health and safety,
consistent with subdivisions (a) and (c) of Section 75065.
(c) Provide, fund, and distribute data and information to local
governments and regional agencies that will assist in developing
and planning sustainable communities.
(d) Manage and award grants and loans to support the planning
and development of sustainable communities, pursuant to Sections
75127, 75128, and 75129. To implement this subdivision, the
council may do all of the following:
(1) Develop guidelines for awarding financial assistance,
including criteria for eligibility and additional consideration.
(2) Develop criteria for determining the amount of financial
assistance to be awarded. The council shall award a revolving loan
to an applicant for a planning project, unless the council determines
that the applicant lacks the fiscal capacity to carry out the project
without a grant. The council may establish criteria that would allow
the applicant to illustrate an ongoing commitment of financial
resources to ensure the completion of the proposed plan or prof ect.
(3) Provide for payments of interest on loans made pursuant to
this article. The rate of interest shall not exceed the rate earned by
the Pooled Money Investment Board.
(4) Provide for the time period for repaying a loan made
pursuant to this article.
(5) Provide for the recovery of funds from an applicant that fails
to complete the project for which financial assistance was awarded.
The council shall direct the Controller to recover funds by any
available means.
(6) Provide technical assistance for application preparation.
(7) Designate a state agency or department to administer
technical and financial assistance programs for the disbursing of
grants and loans to support the planning and development of
sustainable communities, pursuant to Sections 75127, 75128, and
75129.
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1 (e) In making recommendations pursuant to subdivisions (a)
2 and (b) and in providing data and information pursuant to
3 subdivision (c), the council shall consult with and coordinate its
4 recommendations with the Planning Advisory and Assistance
5 Council created pursuant to Section 65040.6 of the Government
6 Code.
7 (f) No later than July 1, 2012, and every year thereafter, provide
8 a report to the Legislature that shall include, but is not limited to,
9 all of the following:
IO (1) A list of applicants for financial assistance.
11 (2) Identification of which applications were approved.
12 (3) The amounts awarded for each approved application.
13 (4) The remaining balance of available funds.
14 (5) A report on the proposed or ongoing management of each
15 funded project.
16 (6) Any additional minimum requirements and priorities for a
17 project or plan proposed in a grant or loan application developed
18 and adopted by the council pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section
19 75126.
20 SEC. 5. Section 9250.20 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
21 9250.20. (a) Effective July 1, 20I I, the fee imposed by Section
22 9250 shall be increased by an additional one dollar ($1).
23 (b) After deducting its administrative costs, the department shall
24 ~ deposit 1 percent of the net revenues received from the
25 additional fee imposed pursuant to this section into the Planning
26 Advisory and Assistance Council Fund, which is hereby created
27 in the State Treasury, and shall make the funds available to the
28 Planning Advisory and Assistance Council, upon appropriation
29 by the Legislature, to perform the functions specified in subdivision
30 (c) of Section 65040.6 of the Government Code.
31 (c) The department shall distribute the remaining revenues from
32 the fee increase to metropolitan planning organizations, councils
33 of governments outside of metropolitan planning organizations,
34 and transportation planning agencies in areas outside of
35 metropolitan planning organizations or councils of governments
36 in accordance with Section 65080.6 of the Government Code,
37 based upon the amount of fees collected from motor vehicles
38 registered within each jurisdiction.
39 (d) This section shall become inoperative on January 1, 2016,
40 and, as of January 1, 2017, is repealed, unless a later enacted
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1 statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2017,
2 deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and
3 is repealed.
O
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ATTACHMENT 6
Draft Letter of Opposition to Senator
DeSaulnier
July z, 2010
State Senator Mark DeSaulnier
State Capitol, Room 2054
Sacramento, CA 95814
SUBJECT: SB 1445 -LETTER OF OPPOSITION
Dear Senator DeSaulnier:
On behalf of the Tustin City Council, I wish to express our opposition to Senate Bill
1445. SB 1445 would do the following:
• Change the designated membership of the Planning Advisory and Assistance
Council (PAAC) and would require that the PAAC work with the Strategic Growth
Council and other agencies to facilitate the implementation of regional blueprint
plans.
• Require the PAAC to report to the Legislature on specified regional performance
measures and on the manner in which state agencies are implementing the 5-year
infrastructure plan.
• Require the vehicle registration fee imposed by Section 9250 of the Vehicle Code
to be increased by an additional one dollar ($1) until January 1, 2016.
• Require that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) deposit 1 % of the net
revenues into the PAAC Fund and distribute the remaining revenues to specified
regional planning agencies for the purpose of developing and implementing a
sustainable communities strategy, regional blueprint plan or rural transportation
plan element to identify land use strategies to reduce the use of motor vehicles
and to achieve the regional greenhouse emission reduction target. The revenues
also would be used to provide grants to agencies to implement a regional blueprint
plan.
• Mandate that a Metropolitan Planning Organization that is jointly preparing an SCS
with a Council of Governments (COG) share all revenue it receives and expend
that revenue in accordance with an agreement between the two agencies.
• Require that the Southern California Association of Governments distribute a
share of revenues to a county transportation commission or subregional COG that
has elected to prepare a subregional sustainable communities strategy.
• Require that the revenues be shared with the local air quality management district
to assist agencies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Provide that an SCS and an alternative planning strategy (APS) shall both be
considered a regional blueprint plan.
SB 1445 Oppose
July 7, 2010
Page 2
The City of Tustin opposes SB 1445 for the following reasons:
• SB 1445 would provide regional agencies with funding for SB 375 planning
activities by imposing a new statewide vehicle license surcharge. Californians
already pay several license surcharges for freeway emergencies, abandoned cars,
vehicle theft programs, and some regional air quality efforts. Adding another
vehicle license surcharge may not make sense given the current economic
climate.
• The City Council has taken the position that SB 375 planning activities should be
discontinued until the economy and the corresponding employment rate improve
significantly. At that time, local governments will also need significant new funding
resources for the planning and infrastructure necessary to implement sustainable
communities strategies. For example, the costs to local governments to update
their general and specific plans and corresponding zoning ordinances are likely to
exceed over one million dollars for amedium-size or larger city.
• SB 1445 merely facilitates coordination, requiring more consultation, inserting
more officials on the PAAC, and commissioning more reports to the Legislature.
SB 1445 further entangles state, regional, and local officials without a clear
outcome.
If you or your staff has any questions regarding the City's position, I can be reached at
(714) 573-3010.
Sincerely,
Jerry Amante
Mayor
cc: Senator Darrell Steinberg
Larry McCallon, Southern California Association of Governments
Lacy Kelly, League of California Cities -Orange County Division
Tustin City Council
William A. Huston
Elizabeth A. Binsack
S:\Cdd\Scott\legislation\SB 1445 position letter (oppose).doc