Honorable Mayor and Members of the Hermosa Beach City Council Regular Meeting of September 24, 2019
Title
DESIGNATION OF VOTING DELEGATE & ALTERNATE FOR
THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES 2019 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
AND
CONSIDERATION OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
ANNUAL CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS
(Assistant to the City Manager Nico De Anda-Scaia)
Body
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Designate a Voting Delegate and an alternate for the League of California Cities Annual Business Meeting scheduled for Friday, October 18, at the Long Beach Convention Center; and
2. Authorize the City Council’s Voting Delegate to support the League of California Cities two General Assembly Resolutions.
Body
Background:
The League of California Cities (League) Annual Conference is scheduled from October 16 through October 18, 2019 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. The Conference includes the Annual Business Meeting, where the League membership considers and takes action on resolutions that establish League Policy.
The League’s bylaws stipulate that each city is entitled to one vote on matters affecting municipal or League policy. Therefore, in order to vote at the Annual Business Meeting, the League has requested cities to designate by city council approval a voting delegate and up to two alternates to represent their respective cities. In addition, proof of designation which reflects the action taken by council is required (See Attachment 2).
The City Council is also encouraged to review annual League of CA Cities conference resolutions and determine a City position on them so that the designated Voting Delegate may most effectively represent and convey the City’s position on these matters.
Analysis:
Policy development is a vital and ongoing process within the League. The principal means for deciding policy on the important issues facing cities and the League is through the League’s eight standing Policy Committees and the Board of Directors. The process allows for timely consideration of issues in a changing environment and assures city officials the opportunity to both initiate and influence policy decisions. Annual conference resolutions constitute an additional way to develop League policy, and help guide cities and the League in its efforts to improve the quality, responsiveness, and vitality of local government in California.
This year, there are two resolutions for consideration by the League’s membership. Each resolution has been reviewed by City staff to identify potential impacts on the City. A brief summary of these resolutions and staff’s recommendations are provided below. A full description and formal analysis of the resolutions by League staff and the respective sponsors can be found in the Annual Conference Resolutions Packet (Attachment 3).
1. A RESOLUTION OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES CALLING ON THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO AMEND RULE 20A TO ADD PROJECTS IN VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES TO THE LIST OF ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND TO INCREASE FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR RULE 20A PROJECTS.
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is sponsoring a resolution in response to intensifying fire seasons and hazards associated with exposed energized utility lines. Specifically, this resolution proposes that the League of California Cities call upon the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to amend the Rule 20A program by expanding the criteria for undergrounding overhead utilities to include projects in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. To facilitate more undergrounding projects in these high-risk zones and implement urgent prevention and mitigation actions, the proposed resolution also calls on the CPUC to increase utilities’ funding allocations for Rule 20A projects.
The CPUC’s Rule 20 program lays out the guidelines and procedures for converting overhead electric and telecommunication facilities to underground electric facilities. Rule 20 funding criteria is provided at four levels, with progressively diminishing ratepayer funding for such projects. For an undergrounding project to qualify for the Rule 20A program, there are several criteria that need to be met. The project must have a public benefit and: eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of overhead lines; involve a street or road with a high volume of public traffic; benefit a civic or public recreation area or area of unusual scenic interest; and, be listed as an arterial street or major collector as defined in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Guidelines.
This resolution is in line with the League’s 2019 Strategic Goal of Improving Disaster Preparedness, Recovery and Climate Resiliency.
Concurring Cities: Hidden Hills, La Canada Flintridge, Laguna Beach, Lakeport, Malibu, Moorpark, Nevada City, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estates, Rolling Hills, and Ventura.
League of CA Cities Policy Committees Assigned:
• Environmental Quality Policy Committee
• Transportation, Communication, & Public Works Policy Committee
Staff Recommendation: Support
2. A RESOLUTION CALLING UPON THE FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TO ADDRESS THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TRANSBOUNDARY POLLUTION FLOWS INTO THE SOUTHERNMOST REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA AND THE PACIFIC OCEAN
The League of California Cities’ San Diego County Division is sponsoring a resolution that seeks to address concerns over the contaminated flows from the Tijuana River into California that have resulted in the degradation of water quality and water recreational areas in Southern California. Specifically, the resolution states that the League of California Cities should call upon the State and Federal governments to restore and ensure proper funding for the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP) and work binationally to address water quality issues resulting from transboundary flows from Mexico into the United States containing untreated sewage, polluted sediment, and trash. League of California Cities policy has long supported efforts to ensure water quality and oppose contamination of water resources. This resolution is also in line with previous Hermosa Beach policy positions.
Concurring Cities: Calexico, Coronado, Imperial Beach, and San Diego.
League of CA Cities Policy Committees Assigned:
• Environmental Quality Policy Committee
Staff Recommendation: Support
General Plan Consistency:
This report and associated recommendation have been evaluated for their consistency with the City’s General Plan. Relevant Policies are listed below:
Governance Element:
1.6 Long-term Considerations. Prioritize decisions that provide long-term community benefit and discourage decisions that provide short-term community benefit but reduce long-term opportunities.
4.1 Regional Governance. Play an active role in the South Bay Cities Council of Governments, the Southern California Association of Governments and other regional agencies to protect and promote the interests of the City.
4.3 Collaboration with Adjacent Jurisdictions. Maintain strong collaborative relationships with adjacent jurisdictions and work together on projects of mutual interest and concern.
Fiscal Implications:
There are no fiscal implications to the City at this time. Adequate funds are available in the FY2019-2020 budget for conference travel and related expenses.
Attachments:
1. League of California Cities Conference Overview
2. Designation of Voting Delegate/Alternate Form
3. 2019 Annual Conference Resolutions Packet
Respectfully Submitted by: Nico De Anda-Scaia, Assistant to the City Manager
Noted for Fiscal Impact: Viki Copeland, Finance Director
Approved: Suja Lowenthal, City Manager