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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - March 20, 2019 C-12TM CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA ITEM C-1 2 AGENDA TITLE: Receive Report Regarding Communication Pertaining to ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry). Local Government Financing: Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure: Voter Approval MEETING DATE: March 20, 2019 PREPARED BY: City Clerk RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive report regarding communication pertaining to ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry). Local Government Financing: Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure: Voter Approval. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City received a request for communication from the League of California Cities regarding ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry). Local Government Financing: Affordable Housing and Public Infrastructure: Voter Approval. There was a need to send a letter of support immediately in light of a pending hearing. ACA 1 would lower the voter threshold requirements for special taxes by a local government for the purpose of providing funding for affordable housing and public infrastructure projects from two-thirds approval to 55 percent approval. Local governments have widespread and urgent infrastructure needs and the high cost of housing in the State is well-documented. Local communities need additional flexibility to promote the development of affordable housing close to jobs and to continue to provide critical infrastructure for a better quality of life. ACA 1 provides voters an opportunity to consider treating investments in local infrastructure and affordable housing in a similar manner as schools. California voters have demonstrated through their past approval of major State school, housing, and water bonds, that they understand the importance of investing in their future. The attached letter was sent on March 7, 2019. A copy of the initial request is also attached. This report is provided for informational purposes only, pursuant to policy. FISCAL IMPACT: Not applicable. FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable. -(AAA .& J - ifer M. F aid() City Clerk APPROVED: Stephen Schwab. , City Manager N:\Administration\CLERK\Council\COUNCOM\LeagueReceiveReportMaster.doc CITY COUNCIL MARK CHANDLER, Mayor DOUG KUEHNE, Mayor Pro Tempore BOB JOHNSON JOANNE MOUNCE ALAN NAKANISHI CITY OF LODI 2015 "Wine Region of the Year" CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209) 333-6702 / FAX (209) 333-6807 www.lodi.gov cityclerkPlodi.gov March 7, 2019 The Honorable Cecilia Aguiar-Curry California State Assembly State Capitol Building, Room 5144 Sacramento, CA 95814 STEPHEN SCHWABAUER City Manager JENNIFER M. FERRAIOLO City Clerk JANICE D. MAGDICH City Attorney RE: ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry). Local government financing: Affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval. Notice of SUPPORT The City of Lodi is pleased to support your bill, ACA 1, which would lower the voter threshold requirements for special taxes by a local government for the purpose of providing funding for affordable housing and public infrastructure projects from 2/3rds approval to 55% approval. As you know, local governments have widespread and urgent infrastructure needs and the high cost of housing in the state is well-documented. Local communities need additional flexibility to promote the development of affordable housing close to jobs and to continue to provide critical infrastructure for a better quality of life. ACA 1 provides the voters an opportunity to consider treating investments in local infrastructure and affordable housing in a similar manner as schools. California voters have demonstrated through their past approval of major state school, housing, and water bonds, that they understand the importance of investing in their future. Thank you for your leadership and let's pass ACA 1 to provide voters with an opportunity to weigh in on local investments on infrastructure and affordable housing — issues that are so critical to the state's future, prosperity and quality of life. For these reasons, the City of Lodi supports ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry). Sincerely, -7tc'/z a h-.� Mark Chandler Mayor, City of Lodi cc: Senator Cathleen Galgiani, Fax: (916) 651-4905 Assemblymember Jim Cooper, Fax: (916) 319-2109 Stephen Qualls, League of California Cities, squalls[rcacities.orq Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, citylettersccacities.org Jennifer Ferraiolo From: Stephen R. Qualls <squalls@cacities.org> Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2019 10:37 AM Subject: URGENT: Letters Needed. ACA 1. 55% threshold Attachments: ACA 1 (Aguiar Curry) Support.docx; ACA 1 Sample Letter.docx Let me know if you have any questions. ACA 1 Offers Flexibility for Local Financing of Infrastructure and Affordable Housing Author seeks letters to build support Financing the repair and upgrade of infrastructure and addressing affordable housing needs is one of the greatest challenges facing cities and counties in the coming decades. ACA 1, authored by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, provides additional flexibility to local agencies by reducing the voter -approval threshold from two-thirds to fifty-five percent for cities and counties to fund critical public infrastructure and affordable housing. The author is seeking to build support from local governments for this measure. Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, as a former mayor and city council member from Winters-- who also served on the League board of directors --understands the difficulties cities and counties face when seeking to improve their infrastructure and address homelessness and affordable housing. As chair of the Assembly Local Government Committee, she believes local governments need more flexibility to solve their own problems. The current jumble of vote thresholds affecting infrastructure and affordable housing investments in California make no sense. When cities and counties ask their voters to make these needed investments they face a stringent two-thirds vote threshold. However, when the state seeks voter approval for the recent housing and park bonds the vote requirement is a simple majority. But the vote threshold is just fifty-five percent for local school construction - such confusion. Nearly 20 years ago, the state's voters agreed (Prop. 39 of 2000) that the two-thirds threshold was too strict for investments in school construction and lowered that threshold to 55 percent. ACA 1 provides the voters an opportunity to treat investments in local infrastructure and affordable housing in a similar manner as schools. While prior lower vote threshold measures have bogged down in the Legislature, the potential exists for the Legislature to place this measure on the 2020 ballot. Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry is currently seeking to build support, while recognizing that the timing of any final legislative decisions on what to place on the ballot is still months away. California voters have also demonstrated - through their past approval of major state school, housing, and water bonds - that they understand the importance of investing in their future. The Legislature should pass ACA 1 and provide voters with an opportunity to weigh in on local investments on infrastructure and affordable housing - issues that are so critical to the state's future, prosperity and quality of life. The League supports this measure and urges cities to send in support letters as well. Copies of the League's support letter and a sample letter can be found at www.cacities.org/billsearch<http://www.cacities.org/billsearch> by plugging ACA 1 into the search function. Thank you, Stephen Qualls Central Valley Division Regional Public Affairs Manager League of California Cities c. 209-614-0118 f. 209-883-0653 squalls@cacities.org 1 www.cacities.org<http://www.cacities.org/> 1 FACSIMILE COVER SHEET CITY CLERK'S OFFICE 221 WEST PINE STREET - P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 PHONE (209) 333-6702 FAX (209) 333-6807 cit%cIlk ' Iodi.gov or pfarris@lodi.gov DATE: March 7, 2019 FROM: Pamela M. Farris Deputy City Clerk TO: Assemblymember Jim Cooper, 916-319-2109 Senator Cathleen Galgiani, 916-651-4905 COMMENTS: Attached please find the Notice of Support for ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry). Local government financing: Affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval. THIS TRANSMITTAL CONTAINS 2 PAGE(S), INCLUDING THIS COVER SHEET. forms\aafaxjen.doc CITY COUNCIL MARK CHANDLER, Mayor DOUG KUEHNE, Mayor Pro Tempore BOB JOHNSON JOANNE MOUNCE ALAN NAKANISHI CITY OF LODI 2015 "Wine Region of the Year" CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209) 333-6702 / FAX (209) 333-6807 Iodi.nov cityclerk{7Iodi.gov March 7, 2019 The Honorable Cecilia Aguiar-Curry California State Assembly State Capitol Building, Room 5144 Sacramento, CA 95814 STEPHEN SCHWABAUER City Manager JENNIFER M. FERRAIOLO City Clerk JANICE D. MAGDICH City Attorney RE: ACA 1 (Aquiar-Currv). Local government financing: Affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval. Notice of SUPPORT The City of Lodi is pleased to support your bill, ACA 1, which would lower the voter threshold requirements for special taxes by a local government for the purpose of providing funding for affordable housing and public infrastructure projects from 2/3rds approval to 55% approval. As you know, local governments have widespread and urgent infrastructure needs and the high cost of housing in the state is well-documented. Local communities need additional flexibility to promote the development of affordable housing close to jobs and to continue to provide critical infrastructure for a better quality of life. ACA 1 provides the voters an opportunity to consider treating investments in local infrastructure and affordable housing in a similar manner as schools. California voters have demonstrated through their past approval of major state school, housing, and water bonds, that they understand the importance of investing in their future. Thank you for your leadership and let's pass ACA 1 to provide voters with an opportunity to weigh in on local investments on infrastructure and affordable housing — issues that are so critical to the state's future, prosperity and quality of life. For these reasons, the City of Lodi supports ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry). Sincerely, Mark Chandler Mayor, City of Lodi cc: Senator Cathleen Galgiani, Fax: (916) 651-4905 Assemblymember Jim Cooper, Fax: (916) 319-2109 Stephen Qualls, League of California Cities, squalls@cacities.org Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, cityletters(ccacities.org 03/07/2019 THU 09:47 FAX fool *************************** *** FAX MULTI TX REPORT *** *************************** JOB NO. 4519 DEPT. ID 101 PGS. 2 TX INCOMPLETE TRANSACTION OK 919163192109 Cooper 919166514905 Galgiani ERROR FACSIMILE COVER SHEET CITY CLERK'S OFFICE 221 WEST PINE STREET - P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 PHONE (209) 333-6702 FAX (209) 333-6807 cityclrk(iodi.gov or prnrris a Iocli.gov DATE: March 7, 2019 FROM: Pamela M. Farris Deputy City Clerk TO: Assemblymember Jim Cooper, 916-319-2109 Senator Cathleen Galgiani, 916-651-4905 COMMENTS: Attached please find the Notice of Support for ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry). Local government financing: Affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval. THIS TRANSMITTAL CONTAINS 2 PAGE(S), INCLUDING THIS COVER SHEET.