Housing

AB 325 (Alejo) – Oppose
As Introduced on February 13, 2013

AB 325, by Assembly Member Luis Alejo, would expand, from one to over four years, the statute of limitations to sue a county or city, challenging the adoption of a housing element or a number of related local ordinances. 

CSAC opposed previous efforts to expand the statute of limitations as it leaves local agencies, business, and developers unfairly open to uncertainty long after decisions have been made. Working with the American Planning Association, Rural County Representatives of California, and the League of California Cities, we have offered amendments that would provide an additional alternative to challenge the adequacy of a housing element rather than open local agencies up to litigation for an unreasonable period of time. It is unclear at this time whether the author and sponsors will accept our suggested compromise. 

AB 325 is set for hearing before the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee on April 3. 

Land Use

AB 116 (Bocanegra) – Support if Amended
As Amended on March 20, 2013

AB 116, by Assembly Member Raul Bocanegra, would extend, by 24-months, the expiration date of any approved tentative map or vesting tentative map that has not expired as of the effective date of the Subdivision Map Act and will expire prior to January 1, 2016. 

CSAC does support the 24-month map extensions for more recently approved maps. However, if AB 116 were signed into law as currently in print, it would enact the eighth automatic map extension since 1990. As a result, some unexpired tentative maps may be upwards of 18 years old. Another two year extension on such old maps could prevent local governments from meeting goals and priorities established after original map approval, as well as comply with many new mandates that local agencies must now consider in approving a map. In addition to multiple housing element updates, local governments are dealing with new requirements as a result of the passage of AB 32 and SB 375 to address climate change impacts and move towards the development of more compact, sustainable communities, all of which impact local land use decisions. 

Again, CSAC supports another automatic 24-month extension for newer maps, but respectfully requests the following amendments to address our concerns with older maps:

• Provide an automatic extension of 24-months to maps that are 12 years or younger at the effective date of the extension; and
• Provide an extension at the discretion of the county or city for maps that are 12 years or older at the effective date of the extension, with tolling for those applications with maps that have been under litigation.

We believe these amendments strike a balance that allows development projects to continue to move forward as the housing market and overall economy recover yet provides for necessary local agency review of old maps to ensure they are consistent with current local planning documents. 
AB 116 is set for hearing before the Assembly Local Government Committee on April 3.

AB 453 (Mullin) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on February 19, 2013

AB 453, by Assembly Member Kevin Mullin, would make a local agency formation commission eligible for the award of grants and loans managed by the Strategic Growth Council for the purpose of developing, adopting, and implementing a regional plan or other planning instrument to support the planning and development of sustainable communities. Currently, councils of governments, metropolitan planning organizations, regional transportation planning agencies, cities, counties, and joint powers authorities are eligible. 

AB 453 is set for hearing before the Assembly Local Government Committee on April 3. 

AB 728 (Muratsuchi) – Request for Comment
As Amended on March 19, 2013

AB 728, by Assembly Member Al Muratsuchi, would authorize the governing board of a school district, by a 2/3 vote of its members, to render a city or county zoning ordinance that applies to an advertising display inapplicable to nonclassroom facilities when specified conditions are met.

AB 728 is set for hearing before the Assembly Education Committee on April 3. 

AB 967 (Hueso) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on February 22, 2013

AB 967, by Assembly Ben Hueso, would authorize a local enforcement agency, including an environmental agency, housing department, or building department, to make determinations regarding substandard housing. Specifically, local code enforcement officers would be able to make determinations related to pest infestations and cite for inadequate garbage storage and removal facilities.

CSAC is requesting counties review this measure and provide feedback as soon as is practical.

AB 1037 (Perez, Manuel V.) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on February 22, 2013

AB 1037, by Assembly Member Manuel V. Perez, would designate as an agricultural land use any employee housing consisting of no more than 36 beds in a group quarters, 12 units or spaces designed for use by single families or households, or 48 units or spaces operated by a governmental or nonprofit agency and designed for use by single families or households. Currently, the Employee Housing Act only designates as an agricultural land use any employee housing consisting of no more than 36 beds in a group quarters or 12 units or spaces designed for use by single families or households. 

CSAC is requesting counties review this measure and provide feedback as soon as is practical.

AB 1092 (Levine) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on February 22, 2013

AB 1092, by Assembly Member Marc Levine, would require a new construction project with 4 or more offstreet parking spaces to include one electric vehicle charge station per every 4 offstreet parking spaces included in the project. 

CSAC is requesting counties review this measure and provide feedback as soon as is practical.


SB 454 (Corbett) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on February 21, 2013

SB 454, by Senator Ellen Corbett, would create the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Open Access Act that would require, among other things, that an electric vehicle charging station that is installed in a public parking space be made available for use by the general public. The bill would provide that persons desiring to use the electric vehicle charging station shall not be required to pay a subscription fee in order to use the station, and shall not be required to obtain membership in any club, association, or organization as a condition of using the station. The bill would require an electric vehicle charging station to provide one or more specified options of payment to the general public and would strongly encourage owners of electric vehicle charging stations in public parking spaces to clearly mark their charging stations with Department of Transportation approved signage at the station and at the entrance to the parking area or facility where the station is located. 

CSAC is requesting counties review this measure and provide feedback as soon as is practical.

SB 673 (DeSaulnier) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on February 22, 2013

SB 673, by Senator Mark DeSaulnier, would require counties and cities to cause a cost benefit analysis to be prepared, to be paid for by the applicant, prior to approving or disapproving a proposed development project that would permit the construction of a retail or other commercial facility project, estimated to receive over $1 million in public subsidies. 

CSAC is requesting counties review this measure and provide feedback as soon as is practical.

SB 684 (Hill) – Support
As Introduced on February 22, 2013

SB 684, by Senator Jerry Hill, would authorize the extension, preservation and retention of existing redevelopment signs with approval of the county or city. The bill does not authorize new signage nor are the existing signs under this proposal billboards. 

This measure is necessary in light of the elimination of redevelopment agencies and the unintended consequence that existing sign agreements cannot be extended because there is no longer a redevelopment agency to authorize the extension. Before the elimination of redevelopment agencies, these signs were exempt from the Outdoor Advertising Act. Signage agreements needed authorization from the redevelopment agency and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). SB 684 simple clarifies that existing redevelopment signs can be extended with approval of a county or city, in place of the redevelopment agency, and Caltrans. 

SB 684 is set for hearing before the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee on April 9. 

Public Works

SB 328 (Knight) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on February 19, 2013

SB 328, by Senator Stephen Knight, would authorize counties to utilize the construction manager at-risk project delivery method for public works projects in excess of $1,000,000 and to award the construction manager at-risk construction contract using either the lowest responsible bidder or best value method

CSAC is requesting counties review this measure and provide feedback as soon as is practical.