To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Departmental
SUBJECT:
title
Adoption of the 2021 Legislative Platform
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Review the changes made to the legislative platform statement regarding Richardson Grove proposed at the Dec. 8 meeting and provide input and direction on those platforms (Attachment 1);
2. Review the changes made to the legislative platform statement regarding invasive weed management proposed at the Dec. 8 meeting and provide input and direction on those platforms (Attachment 2);
3. Review the changes made to the legislative platform statement regarding Redwood Creek proposed at the Dec. 8 meeting and provide input and direction on those platforms (Attachment 3);
4. Provide input and direction to staff as desired on state and federal policy issues to receive priority advocacy services;
5. Adopt the proposed state and federal legislative platforms (Attachment 5), incorporating any changes desired by the Board, as the final platforms for 2021;
6. Direct the County Administrative Officer (CAO) to submit the final version to the county’s state delegation, federal congressional representatives, Governor Gavin Newsom, the incoming presidential administration, and the county’s lobbyists and member associations; and
7. Authorize and direct the CAO to advocate as needed to support the county’s legislative platform, and resolutions adopted by the Board, during 2021.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
All county funds
DISCUSSION:
On Dec. 8 your Board received a presentation on the 2021 state and federal legislative platforms. During the meeting, your Board discussed potential changes the following three platform statements:
• COMPLETION OF THE RICHARDSON GROVE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, ALLOWING TRUCKS
Changes to this platform statement are included in Attachment 1
• INVASIVE WEED MANAGEMENT FUNDING
Changes to this platform statement are include in Attachment 2. In addition to the proposed changes, this platform statement was inadvertently included in the Natural Resources section as well as the Agriculture section of the Legislative Platform presented on Dec. 8. It has since eliminated from the Natural Resources section and now only appears in the Agriculture Section.
• REDWOOD CREEK LEVEE REHABILITATION AND ESTUARY RESTORATION
Changes to this platform statement are included in Attachment 3.
As stated in the Dec. 8 agenda item on the legislative platform, in order to most effectively approach advocacy services, staff is seeking direction to identify primary legislative priorities for the county. Below your Board are recommendations for 2021 priorities:
State Priorities
• Support increased state investments for public health programs and ongoing COVID-19 response
• Protecting realigned services
• Cannabis - enhancing Humboldt’s ability to compete, retaining local control, and receiving revenue from taxes
• Rural broadband and net neutrality
• Affordable housing, supportive services
• Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) integration
• Child and family support
• Juvenile justice
• Local energy and relief from power shutoffs
• Disaster preparedness and response
• Transparency in policing and social justice
• Humboldt bay transportation infrastructure
• Exemptions for independent contractors
Federal Priorities
• Support increased federal investments for local public health programs and ongoing COVID-19 response.
• Protect key healthcare and safety-net programs, including Medicaid/Medi-Cal.
• Support long-term reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs, including increased funding for local roads and bridges.
• Provide federal support to local governments along the coast to help develop and implement sea level rise adaptation plans and projects.
• Support long-term reauthorization of key public lands programs, including the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program and the Payments-in-lieu-of-Taxes (PILT) program.
• Support enhanced broadband service to rural north coast of California.
• Support decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level and allow federal financial institutions to work directly with local cannabis businesses.
• Support increased federal investment for key homelessness and affordable-housing programs.
Once the Board’s modifications, if any, are incorporated, the County Administrative Office will finalize the 2021 state and federal legislative platforms and transmit them to state legislative and federal congressional delegations, and the county’s legislative advocates.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impacted directly associated with today’s recommendations. However, many of the proposed legislative actions have potential financial benefits for the county.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by advancing local interests in natural resource discussions , and engaging in discussion of our regional economic future.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
All county departments, SYASL, Paragon Government Relations, Rural County Representatives of California, Governor, State Legislators and Staffs, Congressional Delegates and Staffs, California State Association of Counties, National Association of Counties
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposed changes to Richardson Grove platform statement
2. Proposed changes to invasive weed management platform statements
3. Proposed changes to Redwood Creek platform statements
4. 2021 Legislative Platform - Redline version
5. 2021 Legislative Platform - With proposed changes
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: H-2
Meeting of: 12/8/20
File No.: 20-1538