2015-05-13 LEGISLATIVE - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mayor Pro Tern Vincent Sarmiento highlighted that affordable housing is an area of interest for the City. Dan Maldonado asked for a briefing on types of housing projects the City is interested in or has been working on. Councilwoman Michele Martinez added that housing for homeless is also an area of interest for the City. Dan Maldonado asked whether the homeless population included many veterans, as funding is available for that demographic. Chief Carlos Rojas confirmed there are. 3. Quarterly State Legislative Update from Townsend Public Affairs — Report outlining legislative advocacy work from January 2015 to March 2015 Casey Elliot provided a state legislative advocacy update to the Committee. Casey mentioned Townsend Public Affairs continues to provide state budget advocacy. A budget revision will be released in the middle of May. In the first quarter, budget advocacy efforts revolved around redevelopment dissolution and the Governor's funding toward drought related efforts. Cori Williams reported Townsend Public Affairs was successful with two partnership grants the City was involved in. America on Track and Awards for Innovation in Higher Education both received substantial funding. Additionally, the second cycle of the Active Transportation Program grant has begun. The City was successful in the previous round of funding. The City is only one of three areas listed as a disadvantaged community in Orange County which gives Santa Ana a significant advantage in the current cycle. The application is due June 1, 2015. Casey Elliot mentioned many bills were passed during the first part of the legislative session. The City is backing Speaker Toni Atkins package of bills supporting affordable housing. The City supported Senator Jim Beall's transportation bill which establishes the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program and Senator Bill Monning's bill requiring a safety warning on all sealed, sugar- sweetened beverage containers. Casey Elliot commented on the adoption of Governor Jerry Brown's Executive Order directing the State Water Resources Control Board to implement a 25% mandatory water usage reduction throughout California. Additional provisions mandate an initiative to replace turf with drought - tolerant landscaping in partnership with local governments. Regulations provide the State Water Resources Control Board several enforcement tools including the ability to levy fines against those not meeting conservations targets. Regulations will take effect on June 1, 2015. Councilwoman Michele Martinez asked regarding the availability of funds for municipalities to comply with the mandated turf removal from medians. Casey Elliot responded the Executive Order did not make any provisions for funding but it is expected that funds will be made available in the May revision of the State budget. Councilwoman Michele Martinez mentioned the Metropolitan Water District will be proposing the addition of $150 million in funding for turf removal and /or replacement but even with additional funds the demand will not be met. She sees a need for the State to match funding given that municipalities do not have funding allocated in their budgets to comply with the turf removal /replacement mandate. The Councilwoman asked Townsend Public Affairs to inform the City should additional funding become available. Legislative Council Committee Minutes May 13, 2015, Page 3