HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB 1445--OPPOSEOffice of the City Council
July 7, 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.
Mayor Jerry Amante • Mayor Pro Tem John Nielsen • Doug Davert Jim Palmer Deborah Gavello
300 Centennial Way, Tustin, CA 92780 • (714} 573-301Q • www.tustinca.org
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.
cerely,
Jer A ante
M or
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
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