Transportation 

SB 1183 (DeSaulnier) – Support if Amended
As amended on April 21, 2014.

SB 1183, by Senator Mark DeSaulnier, would allow a city, county, or regional parks district to propose to the voters the imposition of a surcharge of up to five dollars on each vehicle registration to fund the construction or maintenance of paved or natural surface multi-use paths. The bill would provide a new tool to fund off-road bike paths, which currently lack a stable funding source. CSAC has recommended amendments that would allow agencies to use funding raised by an approved surcharge for a broader array of bicycle infrastructure and the sponsors have indicated that they are open to this approach.

SB 1183 was passed by the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee and is set for hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 12.

SB 1151 (Cannella) – Support
As amended on April 21, 2014

SB 1151, by Senator Anthony Cannella, would impose an additional thirty-five dollar fine on specified violations within zones posted with school warning signs and signs indicating increased fines. The additional fine revenue from these violations would be allocated to the Active Transportation Program for the purpose of school zone safety projects. Counties, along with cities and public schools and districts, are eligible recipients of Active Transportation Program grant funds to improve safety around schools and promote alternative transportation options. 
SB 1151 is on the Senate floor.

Public Works Administration

AB 2471 (Frazier) – Oppose
As amended on April 24, 2014

AB 2471, by Assembly Member Jim Frazier, would impose arbitrary and burdensome timelines on the negotiation of a change order for a public works project. CSAC opposes this bill because it would expose counties to liability and prejudgment interest if its timeframe for negotiating a change order and making payments due pursuant the bill’s provisions are not met. CSAC hopes to work with the author to refocus the bill on the issue of prompt payment for undisputed portions of a project instead of constraining the change order process.

AB 2471 was passed by the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee and will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 14.

Housing

AB 1537 (Levine) – Support
As amended on April 21, 2014

AB 1537, by Assembly Member Marc Levine, would create a pilot project allowing Marin County and certain cities within the County, to move to a suburban default density to demonstrate that they have zoned an adequate amount of land to accommodate their respective shares of lower-income housing under the Regional Housing Needs Allocation Process. The pilot would last through 2023 require the jurisdictions to report to the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Legislature regarding the development of affordable housing under the suburban default density. The bill no longer applies to the counties of El Dorado, Placer and Yolo.