HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 05-25 Approving 2025-26 Legislative PlatformRESOLUTION NO. 05-25
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA
ADOPTING THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM FOR THE
2025-2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
THE CITY COUNCIL
City of Morro Bay, California
WHEREAS, the State Legislature convenes a Legislative Session for a two-year period to
introduce and pass legislation; and
WHEREAS, the City engages with elected members of the Legislature to support and oppose
measures that impact the City; and
WHEREAS, to enhance the City's engagement with the State Legislature and lawmaking
process, the City has embarked to develop a public Legislative Platform containing positions and
objectives of the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the Legislative Platform serves as the City's guide to engaging in the State
legislative process and represents the City Council's position on current and future issues that have
the potential to directly or indirectly impact the city.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Morro Bay,
California, the Legislative Platform for the 2025-2026 Legislative Session is adopted, as set forth in
Exhibit A.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Morro Bay at a special meeting
thereof held on this 28th day of January 2025 on the following vote:
AYES:
Wixom, Eckles, Edwards, Luffee
NOES:
Landrum
ABSENT:
None
ABSTAIN:
None
RECUSE:
None
0) V31T--,
CARLA WIXOM, Mayor
ATTEST:
71!"Ayt-
YWA SWANSON, City Clerk
Resolution No. 05-25
Exhibit A
CITY OF MORRO BAY
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
2025
Purpose of the Legislative Platform
This document serves as the City of Morro Bay's guide to engaging in the State and Federal
legislative process. The 2025 City of Morro Bay's Legislative Platform represents the City
Council's position on current or future issues that have the potential to directly or indirectly impact
the City.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
PRESERVE LOCAL CONTROL
Preserve and protect the City's powers, duties, and prerogatives to enact local legislation
and policy direction concerning local affairs and oppose legislation that preempts local
authority. Local agencies should preserve and enhance authority and accountability for
revenues raised and services provided.
II. PROMOTE FISCAL STABILITY & ECONOMIC VITALITY
Support measures that promote fiscal stability, predictability, financial independence, and
preserve or enhance the City's revenue base and maximum local control over local
government budgeting. Oppose measures that shift local funds to the county, state, or
federal governments and/or make cities more dependent on the county, state, or federal
governments for financial stability, such as mandated costs with no guarantee of local
reimbursement or offsetting benefits.
III. SUPPORT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Support opportunities that allow the City to compete for its fair share of regional, state,
and federal funding, and that maintain current funding streams and support fiscal
sustainability. Funding opportunities may include competitive grant and funding programs
as well as dedicated funding streams and financing options at the regional, state, and
federal levels that allow the City to maximize local revenues, offset and leverage capital
expenditures, and maintain City goals and standards. Funding priorities include, but are
not limited to: local law enforcement, fire and life safety, marine safety, parks development,
recreation, urban development, open space, land use, local zoning, building safety,
accessibility, road resurfacing, transportation, transit (bicycle lanes, sidewalks, trails, etc.),
pedestrian safety, utility undergrounding, public works projects, community services,
community development, sustainable communities, water infrastructure, water
conservation and recycling, water reliability, water quality, waste management and
Resolution No. 05-25
Exhibit A
recycling, public safety, disaster preparedness and prevention, wildfire mitigation, fuel
modification, clean air, renewable energy concepts, greenhouse gas emissions reduction
strategies, technology improvements, group and sober living homes, addressing
homelessness, and affordable housing.
POLICY STATEMENTS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
Support:
1. The use of incentives to encourage local government action, rather than the imposition of
state, federal, or regional mandates upon local governments, as well as federal mandates
on the state.
2. Efforts to grant greater flexibility to local governments in creating new revenue sources for
infrastructure projects.
1. Efforts to reimburse the City for providing services to nonresidents associated with beach
access such as marine safety, police, fire, or other emergency services, beach waste
disposal, and maintenance of restroom facilities.
2. Efforts to allocate grant funding to local governments to build capacity and plan for federal
and state initiated renewable energy development projects and programs intended to
respond to sea level rise, and climate change adaptation.
3. The reimbursement of local governments for state of emergency related expenses,
including the need for essential public safety service overtime, personal protective
equipment, and small business relief.
Oppose:
1. State or federal efforts to "borrow" local revenues to balance its budget.
2. Legislation that would eliminate or reduce the City's franchise fee revenues.
3. Underfunded federal and state mandates.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Employee Relations
Support:
1. Opportunities that improve access to and reduce the cost of healthcare for public
employers.
2. Streamlining the Workers' Compensation system to make it easier for employers and
employees to navigate while still controlling employer costs and protecting employees.
Oppose:
1. Measures that reduce local control over employee relations issues.
2
Resolution No. 05-25
Exhibit A
2. Legislation mandating new or enhanced local government employee benefits.
3. Proposals that create an additional financial burden on, or threaten the viability of, the
California Public Employees' Retirement System (CaIPERS).
4. Redundant or unnecessary proposals that require excessive human resources burdens
without sufficient reimbursement.
5. Legislation that creates unnecessary burdens on or limits the City's ability to decide
employment issues, including collective bargaining, binding arbitration, leave and benefits.
6. The expansion of property interests in public employment (as established in Skelly v. State
Personnel Board, 15 Cal. 3d 194, 539 P.2d 774, 124 Cal. Rptr. 14 (1975)) and procedural
requirements that hinder or increase the public costs of effective performance
management, including legislation that obstructs management rights and disciplinary
measures.
Information Technology
Support:
1. Proposals and programmatic or discretionary funding programs that promote
cybersecurity and protect local governments against cyber-attacks.
Open Meetings & Transparency
Support
1. Legislation that considers alternative methods of meeting public notice requirements and
considers remote participation in and online access to public meetings.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Housing & Land Use
Support:
1. Efforts to strengthen the legal and fiscal capability of local agencies to prepare, adopt, and
implement plans for orderly growth, development, and conservation of local planning
areas.
2. Funding and policy modifications that require additional resources for the City be deployed
by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to ensure uniformity
within the housing element compliance and review process.
3. Efforts to provide resources for the City to meet its affordable housing needs and
requirements.
4. Policies and regulations that require additional transparency and local stakeholder input
within the Regional Housing Needs Determination (RHND) process.
5. Initiatives involving county, state, and federal governments to protect existing resources,
reduce and prevent homelessness, and strengthen state and local partnerships to connect
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Resolution No. 05-25
Exhibit A
individuals with the care they need through coordinated care systems that provide access
to wraparound services, including mental health and substance use treatment, and
ongoing dedication of County Mental Health Services Act funds, for persons experiencing,
or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
6. Efforts to incentivize the exemption of the coastal zone from land use restrictions or by -
right streamlining of development.
7. Retaining local control and authority in placing restrictions or regulations on residential
units for tourist or transient occupancy use.
8. Maintaining local control over the establishment and operation of group homes and sober
living homes.
9. Streamlining permit processes for Accessory Dwelling Units.
10. Local control to enforce short-term rental regulations.
Oppose:
1. Legislation, proposals, or regulations that impose regional, state, or federal growth,
development, or land use planning standards within the City.
2. Legislation that reduces or removes local control over zoning and other land use methods.
3. Efforts that remove local regulatory authority on energy or communication infrastructure
development.
Regional Governance
Support:
1. Proposals encouraging regional, sub -regional, or countywide cooperation in planning
urban development strategies, especially those that provide funding for effective
implementation of agreed -upon goals.
2. Measures to achieve fair and proportionate representation on countywide and regional
boards.
CLIMATE CHANGE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Support:
1. Opportunities that address sustainable development practices, including "green building",
"smart streets", and microgrid resiliency, and that provides financial and technical support
to the local government in implementing such practices.
2. Measures that maintain and enhance local decision -making authority in the development
and implementation of environmental strategies.
3. Opportunities that improve transportation infrastructure, including, but not limited to,
improving traffic safety, reducing congestion, vehicle charging infrastructure, and
supporting noise abatement.
El
Resolution No. 05-25
Exhibit A
4. Funding opportunities to local government that support infrastructure projects that mitigate
or otherwise address climate change impacts, including but not limited to sea level rise,
coastal erosion, tsunami and flood impacts, and other issues.
Air Quality and Climate Change
Support:
1. Opportunities that provide continued funding and incentives to cities to work together to
improve air quality while balancing the reduction of emissions with impacts on business.
2. Additional funding and regulatory flexibility for cities to comply with existing regulations
and legislation requiring zero -emission fleet conversion
Energy Infrastructure and Resources
Support:
1. Measures that expand access to resources for local governments to plan clean energy
projects which may include offshore wind and energy storage projects.
2. Legislation or budget appropriations at the State that ensures safe operation of Diablo
Canyon Power Plant to continue to provide safe, affordable, and clean energy.
Oppose:
1. Measures that reduce local control over the development of offshore wind energy and
storage, and other clean energy projects.
Solid Waste
Support:
1. Measures that maintain and enhance local authority and economic flexibility to regulate
solid waste and recyclables.
2. Measures that provide flexibility for local jurisdictions to meet mandated short-lived climate
pollutant goals set by the State through SIB 1383 (Lara, 2016) and other legislation.
Oppose:
1. Additional redundant solid waste regulations without coordinated support and funding from
the State and waste haulers.
Coastal Protection
Support:
1. State and federal administrative and legislative efforts aimed at the safe removal,
transport, and interim and/or long-term storage of nuclear waste from the Diablo Canyon
Power Plant.
2. State and federal legislation and programs to protect the City's shoreline, including those
which provide financial and technical assistance to coastal communities to address sea
level rise, develop resilient infrastructure, protect the designated marine protected areas
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Resolution No. 05-25
Exhibit A
and marine conservation areas, and protect beach water quality and prevent stormwater
runoff.
Water Supply
Support:
1. Measures that increase the availability of, and funding for, water reuse technologies, water
recycling, local water storage, and other water supply technologies.
2. Measures to increase water supply and improve water quality in the region, including
drought relief legislation.
3. Efforts that require the inspection, and possible repair, of sewer laterals at the time of sale
in residential, commercial, and industrial areas.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Parks, Recreation and Open Space
Support:
1. The promotion of access to joint use of schools, parks and open space, and the
development of streets and trails that encourage physical activity and healthy living.
2. Opportunities that maintain the equitable use of public and open spaces and facilities
within the City by all members of the community.
3. Working with county, state, and federal officials in the establishment of regional, state, and
federal parks as well as open space while preserving local control and land management
for future infrastructure projects.
4. Efforts to address issues of liability related to earth movements, mudflows, fire, and other
natural disasters involving publicly owned open space, parkland, and conservation areas.
5. Encouraging wildfire insurers to cover properties in all Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
Oppose:
1. Efforts to limit the City's ability to enforce parking rules and regulations and recover the
costs of implementation and maintenance.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Support:
1. Policies that promote a sustainable and resilient economy that can help communities like
Morro Bay withstand economic environment fluctuations, and measures that advocate for
existing and new local and visitor serving retail uses, attracting and retaining jobs for small
local businesses. .
A
Resolution No. 05-25
Exhibit A
2. Opportunities that encourage affordable commercial space and downtown revitalization
efforts.
Oppose:
1. Legislation that imposes undue restrictions on local land -use authority or limits the city's
ability to implement economic development initiatives tailored to community needs.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Support:
1. Measures that encourage community safety and well-being.
2. Efforts that promote pedestrian and bicycling safety, including safe use of electronic
bicycles (e-bikes), and safe trail use.
3. Opportunities that increase the amount of grant funding for local law enforcement, fire
suppression, mitigation and prevention, marine safety, and disaster preparedness
initiatives.
4. Efforts that discourage drivers from operating motor vehicles while under the influence of
drugs or alcohol and maintain state funding to operate sobriety checkpoints.
5. Opportunities that waive or streamline permitting provisions of the Coastal Act for standard
or routine fuel modification projects that intend to slow or prevent the spread of wildfires.
6. Measures that help jurisdictions plan for, and address, the effects of sea -level rise and
mitigation, and decrease damage from flooding, shoreline erosion, and impacts from
increasingly destructive storms.
7. Opportunities that support wildfire prevention, preparedness, and recovery, including
home hardening, enhancing defensible space, and brush management. In addition to
hazard mitigation assistance to prevent floods and landslides by wildfires damaged.
8. Legislation that increases the penalties associated with the sale or purchase of fentanyl.
Oppose:
1. Legislation that places burdensome restrictions on law enforcement and limits their ability
to protect public safety.
PUBLIC WORKS
Support:
1. Opportunities to increase funding for local transportation projects including road
resurfacing projects; adding bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and trails throughout the city; and
enhancing pedestrian safety.
2. Efforts that support increased state and federal funding of transportation improvements
with regional or sub -regional benefits for all modes of transportation and greater
discretionary authority to expend available transportation funds and local jurisdiction over
transportation -related issues.
0
Resolution No. 05-25
Exhibit A
3. Opportunities that would provide funding for undergrounding of utilities.
4. The equitable distribution of state, federal, and regional funding formulas of funds at the
local level.
5. Support legislation efforts that allow for a future, voter -approved, SLOCOG transportation -
specific measure to be waived from the 2% local sales tax limit.
HARBOR — WATERFRONT
Support:
1. Efforts to support continued public access to marinas, state tidelands, waterfront facilities,
and marine resources.
2. Measures that recognize economic contributions of ports and harbors to state and federal
economies, through maritime trade, maritime industries, ecotourism, cruise ships and
commercial fishing.
3. The continuation of the Tidelands Trust Grant
4. Efforts allowing ports and harbors to establish or designate local control over special -use
areas for vessels or related recreational equipment of a specific type or use.
5. Efforts to advocate for environmentally compliant commercial and recreational fishing,
which is essential to the fabric of working ports and harbors.
6. Efforts to develop fishery infrastructure for commercial fishermen.
7. Efforts to sustain the ecological health of aquatic biological systems, including fish,
shellfish, and marine mammals.
8. Measures to enhance local authority over recovery and disposition of wrecked, derelict,
abandoned, non -operable or non -seaworthy crafts.
9. Physical alternatives or grant/additional funds for disposal of marina -generated household
wastes or treated building materials.
10. Efforts to ensure seabird protection while allowing ports and harbors to undertake
maintenance operations and control or abate nuisance fowl.
11. Efforts to fund oil -spill prevention and response in ports and harbors.
12. Efforts to fund recycling and/or disposal options for waste oil and other byproducts of
maritime activities or vessel maintenance.
13. Measures to simplify permitting and other requirements associated with sediment
management, beach nourishment, and beach berm and dune construction.
E:3
Resolution No. 05-25
Exhibit A
14. Opportunities to enhance policies and funding for dredging small -craft ports and harbors,
including environmentally feasible disposition of dredged materials and/or the use of
dredged materials for beach nourishment.
15. Initiatives that benefit marine infrastructure needs including Maritime Infrastructure Banks,
maintenance dredging of Morro Bay Harbor, expanded ocean dredge disposal sites, and
development of new upland dredge disposal and reuse sites.
16. Programs and/or grants that benefit and protect small ports and harbors.
17. Opportunities for low -interest loan funds for development of harbor infrastructure facilities.
18. Expanding and/or increasing the budget of the State's Surrendered and Abandoned
Vessel Exchange (SAVE) program.
19. Efforts that fund construction and/or maintenance of boat -launching facilities.
20. Funding opportunities for equipment, training and other resources utilized by Harbor Patrol
Officers.
21. Programs that utilize the California Division of Boating and Waterways as an educational
vehicle for boating and harbor management programs.
Oppose:
1. Any action that would prohibit the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers from realizing its obligation
to dredge the Morro Bay Harbor.
2. Efforts to redirect funds historically utilized by the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund,
as described in the harbors and Navigation Code.
3. Efforts to reallocate or divert funds from the intended purposes of the State Harbors and
Watercraft Revolving Fund, as described in the California Harbors and Navigation Code.
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