Area leaders watching Legislature
City, county officials keeping an eye on Sacramento
Since the Legislature reconvened earlier this month, many area leaders are watching for activity that could affect their agendas, business, constituents.
Here’s a rundown of what’s on the top of the minds of several locals:
– Michael Rock, city manager, Yuba City Rock said the city plans to track Senate Bill 710 – Crimes: parole, theft, and DNA collection – as well as the governor’s executive order regarding homelessness, which requires 100 travel trailers and the use of Cal Trans right-of-way lands and state fairgrounds and decommissioned and/or vacant hospitals
for the use of emergency funding.
“The governor’s order is unclear who will pay for ongoing expenses should homeless persons occupy these facilities,” he said.
One bill that raises concerns for the city is Senate Bill 773, which basically deems the permit application for the creation of an accessory dwelling unit approved if the local agency has not acted on the completion of the application within 60 days. Rock said this is a clear violation of local control and if applications don’t meet standards for approval, it will create serious problems for the city.
On the other side of the coin, Rock said the city is optimistic that Senate Bill 710 will be approved and more legislation similar to it will make its way to the governor “to right the wrongs of the terrible realignment legislation – AB 109,” which was passed in 2011.
“The governor released a draft budget ... and at $222 billion (nearly double the annual state budget from 2011) I am hopeful that the North State Public Safety Training Center request of $15 million will be approved so that we can build a training center that will benefit public agencies throughout the North State and provide the best possible training for police and fire personnel,” Rock said.
– Curt Aikens, general manager, Yuba Water Agency
Aikens said the agency’s primary focus will be on the governor’s recently proposed $4.75 billion Climate Resilience Bond to ensure the Legislature is aware that the local community would benefit from the appropriate funding levels – flood protection, wildfire prevention, and fish and wildlife habitat enhancement projects such as those proposed in the pending voluntary agreements, which are part of the Bay-delta Water Quality Control Plan.
The agency plans to also work with their trade associations, other hydropower facility operators and other carbon neutral energy generators to ensure the state understands the climatic benefits of hydropower facilities.
Aikens said his team is optimistic about the approval and implementation of the voluntary agreements. He said they would improve fish and wildlife habitat in the Yuba River, and others throughout the region, as well as ensure water reliability for cities, farms and public water agencies throughout California.
– Steven Smith, county administrator, Sutter County
Smith said the most in