HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4195
City of Palo Alto (ID # 4195)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Study Session Meeting Date: 10/21/2013
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Study Session with Senator Jerry Hill
Title: Potential List of Topics for the Study Session with Senator Jerry Hill
From: City Manager
Lead Department: City Manager
Potential List of Topics for the Study Session with Senator Jerry Hill
1. End of Session Wrap Up (Senator Hill)
2. Future of CEQA Reform Legislation
3. Legislation to Reduce Voter Approval Thresholds for Infrastructure Projects
4. CA High Speed Rail Authority – Anticipated Direction
5. AB 1229 Governor Veto – Future Tools for Cities to Build Affordable Housing
6. Preserving Local Control (Note: Above average number of bills introduced this year
(such as SB7 Prevailing Wage, SB311 Local Election, Charter Amendments, AB325
Housing Element Litigation, SB562 Economic Development Subsidies, SB537 Impasse
Procedures, etc. taking away local control)/Trend in Coming Years?
7. Perspective on “Covered California” (CA new "health insurance marketplace" created to
meet the requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act.)
8. Looking Ahead to the 2014 Legislative Session - Challenges and Opportunities
9. Other Topics
Special Notes:
The City would like to congratulate Senator Jerry Hill on his appointment to the Senate
Environmental Quality Committee on March 6, 2013, to replace Senator Michael Rubio.
In addition the City would like to thank Senator Hill for his leadership on:
Water issues relating to the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency, including
the approval in the last session of Assembly Bill 2167, which allowed the BAWSCA
agencies, including Palo Alto, to prepay funds owed to San Francisco with annual savings
to the BAWSCA agencies of $3.4 million.
City of Palo Alto Page 2
The timely completion of the Water System Improvement Program to ensure the City
continues to receive high quality, reliable water from the San Francisco Regional Water
System.
Several proposals to reduce the $11 billion water bond. The City was pleased to support
the League of Cities Resolution on the water bond prioritizing water conservation,
ground water recharge and reuse of stormwater and urban runoff.
SB 557 (Peninsula Protection Act). This bill enacted into law further assurances
regarding a potential future High Speed Rail Blended System on the Peninsula.