CC SR 20250204 04 - Legislative Platform
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 02/04/2025
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to adopt the City’s 2025 Legislative Platform
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-__, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE CITY’S 2025
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager
REVIEWED BY: Same as below
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Draft Resolution 2025-XX, City’s 2025 Legislative Platform (Page A-1)
B. Draft 2025 Legislative Platform (clean copy) (Page B-1)
C. Draft 2025 Legislative Platform (redlined copy) (Page C-1)
D. City Council Policy No. 29 (Page D-1)
BACKGROUND:
Consistent with City Council Policy No. 29 (Attachment D), the City monitors and acts upon
legislation, programs, and funding opportunities that may have an impact on Rancho Palos
Verdes, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and the surrounding region. Since 2022, the City Council
has adopted an annual Legislative Platform that identifies the most salient issues in a given year,
in order to focus much of the City’s advocacy and grant application efforts on those areas. The
Platform may also be used to prepare letters of support or opposition for Council consideration
and guide legislative advocacy visits to Sacramento and Washington D.C.
DISCUSSION:
The draft 2025 Legislative Platform (Attachments B) has been developed in collaboration with
Legislative Subcommittee Members, Mayor David Bradley and Mayor Pro Tem Paul Seo, City
staff, and the City’s current state lobbyist, California Public Policy Group (CPPG). The draft
largely builds upon the prior year’s Platform, which continues to support legislation and programs
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CITYOF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
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4
that support local control, particularly in the arenas of housing and local land use; investments in
enhancing public safety; community services to support mental health and the maintenance of
park facilities; environmental quality; enhancing government transparency and effectiveness; and
funding opportunities to support priority projects. The Platform also pinpoints key stakeholders
and coalition partnerships that can help advance the City’s efforts. Lastly, it includes a list of
"Opportunities" for the City’s priority projects to identify funding opportunities that staff and
lobbyists can explore. This collaborative approach ensures the development of a comprehensive
and strategic legislative agenda for the City in the upcoming year.
Attached for the City Council’s review is a draft redline version of the proposed 2025 Legislative
Platform (Attachment C). Some of the major changes include:
• Priority Projects: Updated the Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project
with updated construction costs and added new costs for annual maintenance of
dewatering wells. The project also emphasizes the importance of identifying outside funds
to support these costs.
• Priority Projects: Amended the Civic Center Campus Master Plan to prioritize the build
out of the emergency services elements and identify funding to support the Plan. In
addition, partner with Wayfarers Chapel to consider relocating its historic structure to the
Civic Center as a preferred alternate location.
• Housing and Local Land Use: Added a priority to oppose housing legislation that requires
high-density housing in areas within Cal Fire’s Very High Fire Severity Hazard zones that
may put residents at risk in a wildfire.
• Public Safety: Placed a renewed emphasis on deterring theft and drug possession by
supporting the implementation of Proposition 36 and similar legislation that imposes
tougher penalties for such crimes.
• Community Services: Added a priority to (a) support legislation that equitably reallocates
state funding to local school districts based on performance only; and (b) garner support
from federal representatives to obtain or jointly use two U.S. Coast Guard properties,
Battery Barnes and Point Vicente Lighthouse.
• Environmental Quality: Support legislation that recognizes landslides as a disaster that
constitutes a state of emergency under the Emergency Services Act.
• Government Transparency and Effectiveness: Support legislation that requires the State
to be held to the same Brown Act standards that cities adhere to.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
If adopted this evening, the 2025 Legislative Platform, as well as the bills the City monitors will be
available on the City’s website at www.rpvca.gov/LegislationCorner.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the City’s current contract with CPPG will expire at the end
of February 2025. As such, staff has issued a Request for Proposals for State and/or Federal
Legislative Services to identify one or two lobbyists to monitor legislation and identify funding for
the City’s priority projects. The selected lobbyist(s) will be expected to use the 2025 Legislative
Platform as a road map to begin their advocacy work immediately. The City Council is tentatively
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scheduled to consider approving one or more contracts for lobbying services at its March 4, 2025
meeting.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve the 2025 Legislative Platform by adopting the
attached resolution.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative action are available for the City
Council’s consideration:
1. Do not adopt the attached draft resolution and provide direction to staff on suggested
modifications.
2. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
3
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES,
CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE CITY’S 2025
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
WHEREAS, the City Council has an interest in providing position statements on a
variety of state, federal, and regional legislative issues that impact the City and its
residents; and
WHEREAS, the Council annually takes action on numerous legislative proposals
brought forward throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is committed to maintaining and
enhancing a high quality of life and safety for all residents; and
WHEREAS, on August 4, 2020, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes adopted
Resolution No. 2020-46, expressing opposition to proposed planning and zoning
legislation that usurps local control and imposes unfunded mandates, and expressing
support for actions to further strengthen local democracy, authority, and control; and
WHEREAS, on July 6, 2021, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes adopted Resolution
No. 2021-31, adopting the City’s Housing and Local Land Use Legislative Platform; and
WHEREAS, on November 2, 2021, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes adopted
Resolution No. 2021-057, adopting the City’s 2022 Legislative Platform; and
WHEREAS, on December 20, 2022, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes adopted
Resolution No. 2022-071, adopting the City’s 2023 Legislative Platform; and
WHEREAS, on December 19, 2023, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes adopted
Resolution No. 2023-61 expressing support and requesting funding for the Portuguese
Bend Landslide Remediation Project and Resolution No. 2023 -62, supporting the 2024
Legislative Platform that addressed issues ranging from hate crimes to equal access of
public safety funding; and
WHEREAS, the City Council continues to take an active advocacy role on a variety
of topics, including housing and local land use legislative policies, proposed by the State
Legislature.
.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes does
hereby resolve as follows:
Section 1: The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein
by reference.
A-1
Section 2: The City Council hereby adopts and approves the City’s 202 5
Legislative Platform attached (Attachment A) and incorporated herein by this reference
as the official legislative policy of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Section 3: The 2025 Legislative Platform will be used to guide legislative advocacy
including position letters on proposed legislation and seek outside funding to support
priority projects and needs.
Section 4: The City Clerk shall certify to the passage, approval, and adoption of
this resolution, and shall cause this resolution and its certification to be entered in the
Book of Resolutions of the City Council of the City.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED the 4th day of February 2025.
__________________________
_
David Bradley, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the
above Resolution No. 2025-__ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said
City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on February 4, 2025.
________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
A-2
B-1
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
LEGISLATIVE
PLATFORM
2025
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 2 of 7
2025 Legislative Platform
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Adopted by Resolution No. 2024-XX on February 4, 2025.
PURPOSE
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes’ 2025 Legislative Platform (Platform) outlines the policy
positions of the City Council on current issues that impact the City. This Platform serves as
a guideline to actively engage with pending legislation and funding opportunities at the
Federal State and Local levels, with City Council approval.
The City looks forward to working with regional, county, state, and federal partners to best
serve its residents. The statements outlined in the Platform represent the City’s
overarching position on legislative and regulatory issues of interest.
PRIORITY CITY PROJECTS
Through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), major projects are planned for a period
of five years. The list below includes important projects of regional significance listed
within the CIP that do not have sufficient funding. The City is in support of legislation,
policies, programs, or administrative actions that would provide funding to realize these
priority projects.
A. Greater Portuguese Bend-Landslide Complex Remediation Project
Total Cost:
$150 million for project construction (Dewatering Extraction Wells and Water
Intrusion Prevention Implementation)
$20 million for annual operations and maintenance of planned infrastructure
Status: Construction
Description: The Greater Portuguese Bend-Landslide Complex is the largest active
landslide in North America, encompassing two of the City’s roughly 14 square
miles, directly impacting Palos Verdes Drive South (a major arterial) and a
Sanitation District trunk line – both of which serve neighboring cities and thousands
of residents and visitors daily. The project seeks to protect life, public health,
safety, and the environment through mitigation of land movement in the landslide
complex area.
Funding Opportunities:
County Funded Capital and O&M projects (including County Sanitation
District, County Flood Control District, as well as County Capital
improvement projects)
B-2
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 3 of 7
2025 Legislative Platform
State Funded Capital and O&M projects (including State budget earmarks,
State Office of Emergency Services Support, as well as other state funded
projects)
B. Civic Center Campus Master Plan
Total Cost: $150 million
Status: Updated, preliminary Conceptual Site Plan complete. Moving on to the
selection of a project management firm and the Master Plan and Design
Development Stage.
Description: The development of the approximately 19-acre Ken Dyda Civic Center
Campus into a modern and functional community hub has been a long-standing
goal of the city. The project’s current preliminary conceptual site plan, as of June
2024, includes a new City Hall, parking improvements, a Council Chambers,
improved site amenities including an amphitheater, village green, public plaza, and
parking and access enhancements. Of greatest urgency, however, is the
development of a 9.5 acre Emergency Zone on the east end of the campus. FEMA-
approved plans for this Zone include an emergency operations center, incident
management command center, helipad, helopod, evacuation area, and emergency
supply storage and staging area. FEMA has indicated that the Emergency Zone
must be developed within four years or approximately Summer 2028. Otherwise,
the parcel may revert to Federal control and become subject to sale. As such, the
City’s current priority is the funding and development of this Emergency Zone.
Secondly, partner with Wayfarers Chapel to consider the feasibility of relocating to
the Civic Center site as a preferred alternate location. During Summer 2024, the
Chapel was significantly damaged by landslide movement in Portuguese Bend and
has since been dismantled and stored off site to preserve the remainder of the
historic structure until it can be restored in another location.
The approved financial plan for the overall project includes a maximum amount of
$45.4 million, which is a combination of both cash on hand and a long-term loan.
Additional funding sources are critical to building out the site per the Master Plan
and FEMA’s requirements.
Funding Opportunities
State budget earmarks
State of California GoBIZ iBank Zero to Low Interest Loans
B-3
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 4 of 7
2025 Legislative Platform
PRIORITY POLICY AREAS
1. HOUSING AND LOCAL LAND USE
A. Oppose legislation that infringes on local control and erodes the City’s authority to
manage its own affairs. Support actions which further strengthen local democracy,
authority, and control.
B. Support state grants, legislation, or programs which encourage sustainable and
affordable housing development. Support policies or grants that facilitate the
development of regional housing trusts.
C. Oppose legislation that penalizes cities or local governments if the units identified
in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) are not constructed. Oppose
legislation that proposes to convert RHNA from a planning process to a production
standard. Oppose RHNA legislation that requires high density housing in cities with
fire hazard severity zones and other vulnerabilities that may put residents at risk in
the event of a natural disaster.
D. Support legislation that preserves local authority to manage public rights-of-way
including the aesthetics of infrastructure placed within them.
E. Support legislation that preserves local authority to zone and plan for the
deployment of telecommunications infrastructure within public rights-of-way.
F. Oppose legislation that diminishes the authority of local jurisdictions in processing
permits, enforcing building codes, or mandating the manner of enforcement.
G. Oppose legislation that seeks to limit or eliminate municipal authority to regulate
street or sidewalk vendors.
H. Support legislation and administrative actions that protect a local jurisdiction to
preserve open space in and around their jurisdiction.
I. Support legislation efforts that allow for local land use and zoning decisions and
oppose efforts that strip a local government’s authority to make decisions in regard
to parking requirements.
o Potential Coalition Partners: League of California Cities (Cal Cities), South Bay
Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), California Contract Cities Association
(CCCA), Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Palos Verdes
Peninsula Cities (PV Cities), Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative
B-4
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 5 of 7
2025 Legislative Platform
2. PUBLIC SAFETY
A. Support legislation that strengthens and enforces legal protections for all
individuals who are victims of crimes, including those that are victims of hate
crimes or hate incidents.
B. Support legislation and other measures that enhance and provide equal access to
public safety funding for municipal public safety divisions, including training,
effective emergency preparedness and planning, resiliency, law enforcement and
fire department infrastructure, and public safety.
C. Support the implementation of Proposition 36 that imposes tougher penalties for
serial retail theft and drug possession. Support legislation that increases public
awareness of the fentanyl crisis and provides treatment and resources to
rehabilitate those with addictions.
D. Support legislation to accelerate the development and implementation of
enhanced electrical utility infrastructure, including the undergrounding of utility
equipment to ensure reliable utility service and public safety and thereby reduces
the need for public safety power shutoffs.
E. Support legislation or other methods that protect insurance coverage for properties
within and adjacent to very high fire zones and geologic hazard abatement districts.
Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, Department of Insurance,
State Controller, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), Los Angeles
County Fire Department, PV Cities
3. COMMUNITY SERVICES
A. Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs that employ evidence-
based strategies to reduce the number of unhoused people or individuals with
housing insecurity; promoting mental health and substance abuse services;
providing emergency and transitional housing; expanding permanent affordable
housing; and promoting self-empowerment through counseling, job training, and
other wrap around supportive services.
B. Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs that aim to provide
mental health services, including youth and young adult programs, community
resource centers, and education in accessing mental health care.
C. Support increased and sustainable funding for the construction and maintenance
of community park facilities; preservation of open space and trails, proactive
B-5
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 6 of 7
2025 Legislative Platform
maintenance for brush clearance to help reduce wildfire risks, and recreation
programs.
D. Support legislation that equitably reallocates state funding to support local school
districts based on performance and does not impart financial incentive for lack of
scholastic performance and improvement.
E. Continue working with Federal representatives and agencies to transfer or enter
into a joint use agreement for the Point Vicente Lighthouse and Battery Barnes
bunker properties that are currently owned and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, Cal Cities,
SBCCOG, CCCA, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Los Angeles County,
CARE Court, Allcove and South Bay Health District, PV Cities, Palos Verdes
Peninsula Unified School District
4. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
A. Support legislation that recognizes landslides as a disaster that constitutes a state
or local emergency under the Emergency Services Act
B. Support legislation, funding, regulations, or administrative actions to remediate the
harmful effects of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and PFAS in coastal
waters, especially on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
C. Support legislation that provides rebate programs, tax credits, and other financial
incentives to encourage property owners to invest in water efficient systems and
landscaping, and energy efficiency, including renewable energy systems.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, Los Angeles County, PV Cities,
coastal cities
5. GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
A. Support legislation that grants full cost reimbursement to local agencies by the
state and federal government for all mandated programs.
B. Support legislation that ensures the retention of existing local revenue sources,
including the City’s share of property taxes, sales and use taxes, transient
occupancy taxes, development and other operating fees etc.
C. Support legislation that requires State legislature to be held to the same Brown Act
requirements that cities and counties must adhere to.
B-6
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 7 of 7
2025 Legislative Platform
D. Support legislation modernizing the methods by which a local agency may comply
with the Brown Act. Support legislation that allows for the continued use of
teleconferencing platforms to hold hybrid public meetings outside of a declared
state of emergency, thus increasing access to public meetings and promoting
greater transparency.
E. Support legislation which allows for regional considerations within Los Angeles
County, particularly at the council of governments (COG) level, in relation to public
health, homelessness, and sustainability, among other areas of regional
significance.
F. Oppose legislation that would prohibit or limit local governments’ ability to contract
out for the provision of services.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, PV Cities
B-7
B-8
Feburary 2025
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CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
LEGISLATIVE
PLATFORM
2025
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 2 of 8
2025 Legislative Platform
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
2025 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Adopted by Resolution No. 2024-XX on February 4, 2025.
PURPOSE
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes’ 2025 Legislative Platform (Platform) outlines the policy
positions of the City Council on current issues that impact the City. This Platform serves as
a guideline to actively engage with pending legislation and funding opportunities at the
Federal State and Local levels,, with City Council approval.
The City looks forward to working with regional, county, state, and federal partners to best
serve its residents. The statements outlined in the Platform represent the City’s
overarching position on legislative and regulatory issues of interest.
PRIORITY CITY PROJECTS
Through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), major projects are planned for a period
of five years. The list below includes important projects of regional significance listed
within the CIP that do not have sufficient funding. The City is in support of legislation,
policies, programs, or administrative actions that would assist in provide funding to realize
these priority projects.
A. Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex Remediation Project
Total Cost:
$33 150 million for project construction (Dewatering Extraction Wells and Water
Intrusion Prevention Implementation)
$20 million for annual operations and maintenance of planned infrastructure
Status: Environmental analysis and documentationConstruction
Description: The Greater Portuguese Bend-Landslide Complex is the largest active
landslide in the continental United StatesNorth America, encompassing two of the
City’s roughly 14 square miles, directly impacting Palos Verdes Drive South (, a
major arterial) street providing transportation and a Sanitation District trunk line –
both of which serve for the wider regionneighboring cities and thousands of
residents and visitors daily, including neighboring cities of Palos Verdes Estates and
the City of Los Angeles (San Pedro). Continued land movement poses a
catastrophic environmental threat to the California coastline due to an above-
ground sewer trunk line located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean at severe risk of
rupture. The project seeks to protect life, public health, safety, and the environment
through mitigation of land movement in the landslide complex area.
C-2
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 3 of 8
2025 Legislative Platform
Funding Opportunities:
County Funded Capital and O&M projects (including County Sanitation
District, County Flood Control District, as well as County Capital
improvement projects)
State Funderd Capital and O&M projects (including State budget earmarks,
State Office of Emergency Services Support, as well as other state funded
projects)
B. Civic Center Campus Master Plan
Total Cost: $150 million
Status: Updated, Ppreliminary Conceptual Site Plan complete. Moving into on to
the selection of a project management firm and the Master Plan and Design
Development Stage.
Description: The development of the approximately 19-acre Ken Dyda Civic Center
Campus into a modern and functional community hub has been a long-standing
goal of the city. The project’s current preliminary conceptual site plan, as of June
2024, includes a new City Hall, parking improvements, a Council Chambers,
improved site amenities including an amphitheater, village green, public plaza, and
parking and access enhancements. Of greatest urgency, however, is the
development of a 9.5-acre Emergency Zone on the east end of the campus. FEMA-
approved plans for this Zone include an emergency operations center, incident
management command center, helipad, helopod, evacuation area, and emergency
supply storage and staging area. FEMA has indicated that the Emergency Zone
must be developed within four years or approximately Summer 2028. Otherwise,
the parcel may revert to Federal control and become subject to sale. As such, the
City’s current priority is the funding and development of this Emergency Zone.
Secondly, partner with Wayfarers Chapel to consider the feasibility of relocating to
the Civic Center site as a preferred alternate location. During Summer 2024, the
Chapel was significantly damaged by landslide movement in Portuguese Bend and
has since been dismantled and stored off site to preserve the remainder of the
historic structure until it can be restored in another location.
The approved financial plan for the overall project includes a maximum amount of
$45.4 million, which is a combination of both cash on hand and a long-term loan.
Additional funding sources are critical to building out the site per the Master Plan
and FEMA’s requirements.
Funding Opportunities
State budget earmarks
State of California GoBIZ iBank Zero to Low Interest Loans
C-3
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 4 of 8
2025 Legislative Platform
PRIORITY POLICY AREAS
1. HOUSING AND LOCAL LAND USE
A. Oppose legislation that infringes on local control and erodes the City’s authority to
manage its own affairs. Support actions which further strengthen local democracy,
authority, and control.
B. Support policies or programs that allow City, regional, and State collaboration on
housing production, alongside sustainable transportation, broadband deployment,
and other key infrastructure areas necessary to support our communities. Support
state grants, legislation, or programs which encourage sustainable and affordable
housing development. Support policies or grants that facilitate the development of
regional housing trusts.
C. Oppose legislation that penalizes cities or local governments if the units identified
in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) are not constructed. Oppose
legislation that proposes to convert RHNA from a planning process to a production
standard. Oppose RHNA legislation that requires high density housing in cities with
fire hazard severity zones and other vulnerabilities that may put residents at risk in
the event of a natural disaster.
D. Support legislation that preserves local authority to manage public rights-of-way
including the aesthetics of equipment infrastructure placed within them.
E. Support legislation that preserves local authority to zone and plan for the
deployment of telecommunications infrastructure within public rights-of-way.
F. Oppose legislation that diminishes the authority of local jurisdictions in processing
permits, enforcing building codes, or mandating the manner of enforcement.
G. Oppose legislation that seeks to limit or eliminate municipal authority to regulate
street or sidewalk vendors.
H. Support legislation and administrative actions that protect a local jurisdiction to
preserve open space in and around their jurisdiction.
I. Support legislation efforts that allow for local land use and zoning decisions and
oppose efforts that strip a local government’s authority to make decisions in regard
to parking requirements.
o Potential Coalition Partners: League of California Cities (Cal Cities), South Bay
Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), California Contract Cities Association
Commented [CJ1]: This section remains important to the
City but has been removed for succinctness, since it is
reiterated in other parts of this section.
C-4
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 5 of 8
2025 Legislative Platform
(CCCA), Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Palos Verdes
Peninsula Cities (PV Cities), Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative
2. PUBLIC SAFETY
A. Support legislation that strengthens and enforces legal protections for all
individuals who are victims of crimes, including those that are victims of hate
crimes or hate incidents.
B. Support legislation and other measures that enhances and provide equal access to
public safety funding for municipal public safety divisions, including for training,
effective emergency preparedness and planning, resiliency, law enforcement and
fire department infrastructure, and public safety.
C. Support measures that provide funding to local agencies for training, effective
disaster preparedness, law enforcement infrastructure, fire department
infrastructure, and emergency planning.
D. Support legislation, regulations, or administrative actions that ensure equal access
to public safety funding,
E. Support legislation which maintains law enforcement’s ability to utilize automatic
license plate reading (ALPR) cameras and/or other surveillance camera devices as a
preventive and an investigative tool.
F. Support legislation that provides tools to deter catalytic converter theft.
C. Support legislation or other methods that provides tools to deter organized and
serial retail theft. Support the implementation of Proposition 36 that was approved
by voters in November 2024. Prop 36 imposes tougher penalties for serial retail
theft and drug possession; increases public awareness of the fentanyl crisis; and
provides treatment and resources to rehabilitate those with addictions.
G.D. Support legislation to accelerate the development and implementation of
enhanced electrical utility infrastructure, including the undergrounding of utility
equipment to ensure reliable utility service and public safety and thereby reduces
the need for public safety power shutoffs.
H.E. Support legislation or other methods that protect insurance coverage for
properties within and adjacent to very high fire zones and geologic hazard
abatement districts.
Commented [CJ2]: These items have been consolidated
with Item B above.
Commented [CJ3]: Currently, the City and LASD do not
experience challenges utilizing ALPR and other surveillance
equipment to enhance safety.
Commented [CJ4]: This issue has become less prominent,
compared to other issues. However, City and LASD will
continue to provide education on ways to deter catalytic
converter thefts.
C-5
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City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 6 of 8
2025 Legislative Platform
Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, Department of Insurance,
State Controller, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), Los Angeles
County Fire Department, PV Cities
3. COMMUNITY SERVICES
A. Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs that employ evidence-
based strategies to reduce the number of unhoused people or individuals with
housing insecurity; promoting mental health and substance abuse services;
providing emergency and transitional housing; expanding permanent affordable
housing; and promoting self-empowerment through counseling, job training, and
other wrap around supportive services.
B. Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs that aim to provide
mental health services, including youth and young adult programs, community
resource centers, and education in accessing mental health care.
C. Support increased and sustainable funding for the construction and maintenance
of community park facilities,; preservation of open space, and trails, proactive
maintenance of brush clearance to help reduce wildfire risks, and recreation
programs.
D. Support legislation that equitably reallocates state funding to support local school
districts based on performance and does not impart financial incentive for lack of
scholastic performance and improvement.
E. Continue working with Federal representatives and agencies to transfer or enter
into a joint use agreement for the Point Vicente Lighthouse and Battery Barnes
bunker properties that are currently owned and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, Cal Cities,
SBCCOG, CCCA, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Los Angeles County,
CARE Court, Allcove and South Bay Health District, PV Cities, Palos Verdes
Peninsula Unified School District
4. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
A. Support legislation that recognizes landslides as a disaster that constitutes a state
and local emergency under the Emergency Services Act.
A.B. Support legislation, funding, regulations, or administrative actions to
remediate the harmful effects of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and PFAS
in coastal waters, especially near Santa Catalina Island andon the Palos Verdes
Peninsula.
C-6
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 7 of 8
2025 Legislative Platform
B.C. Support legislation that provides rebate programs, tax credits, and other
financial incentives to encourage property owners to invest in water efficient
systems and landscaping, and energy efficiency, including renewable energy
systems.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, Los Angeles County, PV Cities,
coastal cities
5. GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
A. Support legislation that grants full cost reimbursement to local agencies by the
state and federal government for all mandated programs.
B. Support legislation that ensures the retention of existing local revenue sources,
including the City’s share of property taxes, sales and use taxes, transient
occupancy taxes, development, and other operating fees, etc.
C. Support legislation that requires State legislature to be held to the same Brown Act
requirements that cities and counties must adhere to.
C.D. Support legislation modernizing the methods by which a local agency may
comply with the Brown Act. Support legislation that allows for the continued use of
teleconferencing platforms to hold hybrid public meetings outside of a declared
state of emergency, thus increasing access to public meetings and promoting
greater transparency.
D.E. Support legislation which allows for regional considerations within Los
Angeles County, particularly at the council of governments (COG) level, in relation
to public health, homelessness, and sustainability, among other areas of regional
significance.
E.F. Oppose legislation that would prohibit or limit local governments’ ability to
contract out for the provision of services.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, PV Cities
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City of Rancho Palos Verdes Page 8 of 8
2025 Legislative Platform
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CITY or ~ RANcHO A'ILDS VERDES
Feburary 2025
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 29
DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED: 08/01/95 (amended 02/19/02, 03/04/14,
04/20/21, and 12/20/22)
SUBJECT: City Council Position on Legislative Items
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City that staff shall monitor regional, County, State and
Federal legislative matters and initiatives, and consider the potential impact(s)
such legislative initiatives on the City or the region, in line with the City Council’s
annually adopted Legislative Platform. Thereafter, staff shall prepare and present
periodic updates on such legislative matters for the City Council to consider
whether to take a position(s) on the same and, if so, what position(s) to take.
The legislation monitored will include both those issues that the City Counci l
determines either to support or oppose and those that the City Council may choose
to identify as issues of concern, but not take a position on. The determination of
what position to take on pending legislation shall be solely that of the City Council.
Staff will periodically, at the request of a Council member or in accordance with the
Legislative Platform, place matters of pending legislation on the City Council
agenda for consideration. Staff will provide regular updates on the status of any
legislative action affecting any issues of concern to the City Council through the
Weekly Administrative Report.
If the majority of the Council votes to take a position on a certain legislation, staff
shall prepare the appropriate correspondence, for the Mayor’s signature, to the
relevant Federal, State, County and/or regional legislative representative(s)
expressing the position of the City, and copies provided to the City Council. Such
correspondence shall be posted on the City’s website under the Legislation Corner
homepage.
Individual Council members may wish to support or oppose a specific piece of
legislation irrespective of whether the City Council has or has not taken a position
on such legislation. Any legislative activity by an individual Council member,
including preparing legislative correspondence, may be conducted by any Council
member, who shall state that he or she is not acting on behalf of the City and is
representing his or her own personal views. However, staff shall not assist in any
legislative activity of an individual Council member, including the preparation of
legislative correspondence, unless the legislative item has appeared on a Council
agenda and has received a majority vote of the Council.
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Summaries and updates on legislation that staff monitors and/or that the City
Council has taken a position on shall be provided as part of the City Manager’s
Weekly Administrative Report to each member of the Council for review.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council initially adopted a policy for Council involvement in Federal and
State legislative advocacy in 1995. Although the policy seems to have worked
adequately over the first seven years, by 2002 it was thought that it did not allow
the City to respond rapidly to requests to support or oppose legislation that may
be before a committee or on the floor or the Assembly or before Congress and
needs immediate action on the part of supporters or opponents. Therefore, the
policy was amended in 2002 to address these perceived deficiencies. In 2014, the
policy was amended again to revise the procedure for monitoring legislation, and
to explicitly include legislative issues at the County and regional level. In 2021, the
policy was amended to reflect updated Staff processes. In 2022, it was amended
to reflect the City’s adoption of an annual Legislative Platform.
The City Council’s revised legislative policy establishes an internal process for
identifying, tracking and advocating its position on pending legislation
synchronized to the fast-paced “legislation time clock.” Through this proactive
policy, the City Council hopes to have a stronger “voice” in the Peninsula/South
Bay region, Los Angeles County, Sacramento and Washington, DC.
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