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Home My WebLink About012621-03.2Tri-Valley Cities | Legislative Framework A 2018-2020 TRI-VALLEY CITIES LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK TVC CITY CONTACT INFORMATION Town of Danville 510 La Gonda Way Danville, CA 94526 (925) 314-3388 dfriedmann@danville.ca.gov City of Dublin 100 Civic Plaza Dublin, CA 94568 (925) 833-6650 dublininfo@dublin.ca.gov City of Livermore 1052 South Livermore Avenue Livermore, CA 94550 (925) 960-4040 info@cityoflivermore.net City of Pleasanton 123 Main Street P. O. Box 520 Pleasanton, CA 94566 (925) 931-5001 bhopkins@cityofplesantonca.gov City of San Ramon 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road San Ramon, CA 94583 (925) 973-2500 citymanager@sanramon.ca.gov Tri-Valley Cities | Legislative Framework 1 INTRODUCTION & STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK OVERVIEW Background The Tri-Valley Cities of Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and the Town of Danville have joined together to work on legislative issues, projects and initiatives at the State and Federal level. Each city and town is represented by the Mayor, City Manager and Staff Liaison. Coordination of the group is rotated annually between each city. Activities include quarterly meetings to discuss legislative matters, and an annual State Legislative visit to Sacramento in the spring, and an annual Federal Legislative visit to Washington, D.C. in the winter. The objective of these trips is to hold meetings with state and federal representatives, promote the Tri-Valley Legislative Agenda, and attend either the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Annual Winter Meeting or the National League of Cities’ Annual Congressional City Conference. The Cities and Town have contracted with a state and federal advocacy firm, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) and prior to TPA, Jordan & Associates. The Cities and Town, have experienced success in advocacy for legislation and leveraging funding for projects that meet the needs of the region. Previous successful efforts include: • Interstate 580, 680 and State Route 84 improvements; and • East Bay Regional Communication System; and • Tri-Valley Housing Opportunity Center. Overview The Cities and Town have determined that the development of a Strategic Framework would assist the region with a more focused effort and improve strategic advocacy at all levels of government (e.g. federal, state, regional, local). This document sets a clear direction regarding the region’s priorities, including desired objectives, estimated timelines for completion, and potential partnerships with regional agencies (e.g. transportation agencies) for each legislative effort. The goal of the Strategic Framework is to provide focus, drive alignment, promote strategic relationships, and assist in 2018-2020 TRI-VALLEY CITIES LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK 2 Tri-Valley Cities | Legislative Framework promoting a clear and concise narrative to maintain and improve the quality of life for Tri- Valley residents and businesses and enable continued opportunities for public and private investment within the region. TRI-VALLEY CITIES VALUES STATEMENT The Tri-Valley Cities of Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and Town of Danville value regional leadership, collaboration, and problem solving to maintain and improve the quality of life for Tri-Valley residents and businesses, and enable continued opportunities for public and private investment within the region. Each City or Town provides a unique perspective on how to best meet the needs of their residents. The Cities and Town agree to respect the individuality of each community while focusing on collaboration towards common efforts and regional solutions. The Cities and Town are committed to open and honest communication with a goal of building consensus and a united approach to advocacy for solutions that will serve the residents and businesses of the Tri-Valley. LEGISLATIVE ACTION FRAMEWORK The current political landscape has required the Cities and Town to develop a different legislative framework in order to create positive outcomes for the region. Historically, the practice has been to advocate at the federal level for funding of local projects by meeting with federal legislators and seeking direct funding through federal “earmarks.” The elimination of federal “earmarks” by the Obama Administration as a funding mechanism for local projects and initiatives has severely limited the region’s legislative advocacy efforts. The new reality is that Federal funding is now primarily distributed by Federal Agencies via grant programs. While these grants are available to cities, in practice local and regional governmental entities apply to respective federal agencies for these funds through a competitive application process. To be successful in this environment, the Cities and Town must be strategically focused and rely on relationship building and other public private partnerships to achieve successful outcomes. The Legislative Action Framework provides a mechanism to better equip the Cities and Town Tri-Valley Cities | Legislative Framework 3 to work together on issues of joint interest. The process includes the following objectives: • Identifying and prioritizing Focus Areas; • Identifying and prioritizing specific projects and/or initiatives within each Focus Area; Developing the Tri-Valley Legislative Platform that highlights project leads, regional partnerships, timelines and specific outcomes; and • Developing a two-year Action Plan Framework which serves to implement the aforementioned objectives. Focus Areas Focus Areas anchor the work of the Cities and Town by providing clearly defined areas of interest. The Cities and Town will prioritize their Focus Areas and determine which of the Focus Areas will be included in the Action Plan. The City Managers and Mayors may evaluate and amend Focus Areas as needed. The seven (7) Focus Areas are as follows (listed in priority order): 1. Public Infrastructure 2. Transportation 3. Housing 4. Local Control 5. Fiscal Sustainability 6. Economic Development 7. Public Safety Projects Projects were identified and prioritized for each Focus Area. Based upon the Focus Areas identified to include in the Action Plan, the Cities and Town will select projects and identify specific outcomes to be included in the Action Plan. An Engagement Plan will be outlined for each project/initiative and a Fact Sheet will be developed. The Engagement process is explained in further detail on page 5. The specific projects within the Focus Area are as follows (listed in priority order): Public Infrastructure 1. Secure funding for local roads and bridges. 2. Expand renewable energy infrastructure (e.g., solar, wind, etc.). 3. Improve water infrastructure (e.g., potable, recycled water, etc.). 4. Secure funding for Storm Water Management Infrastructure/Green Infrastructure. 4 Tri-Valley Cities | Legislative Framework Transportation 1. Implement Tri-Valley Transportation Council (TVTC) Regional Priorities. 2. Implement capacity improvements and regional highway connectivity on State Route 84 and Interstates 580 and 680. 3. Accelerate connection of the Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority’s Valley Link project to the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE). 4. Complete the Iron Horse Trail from Danville to Livermore, including improvements over crossings within each jurisdiction. Housing 1. Strengthen local control to address state housing mandates. 2. Monitor and influence regional housing policy (e.g. Plan Bay Area, RHNA cycles, etc.). 3. Secure and protect local funding sources for workforce housing opportunities (e.g. CDBG, etc.). 4. Work to minimize homelessness within the region. Local Control 1. Advocate for CEQA reform. 2. Strengthen local land use control. 3. Support permit streamlining initiatives. Fiscal Sustainability 1. Advocate for fiscal reform to ensure retention of local revenue sources (e.g. sales tax, property tax, gas tax, reform county pool allocations, etc.). 2. Support and secure regional and state grants for eligible capital projects and/or initiatives. 3. Advocate for sustainable statewide CalPERS pension reforms. Economic Development 1. Support regional collaboration around business innovation. 2. Promote private investment. 3. Recruit and retain local employers. Public Safety 1. Protect local COPS Funding. 2. Strengthen law enforcement (e.g. AB109). 3. Reduce repeat offender crimes. Tri-Valley Cities | Legislative Framework 5 Engagement Plan This plan will expand engagement to four (4) levels: Federal, State, Regional, and Local, and will include a strategic focus on relationship-building. For each specific project and initiative, it is important to evaluate and strengthen existing, and cultivate new, relationships. These relationships will be key to preparation of an Engagement Plan which will clearly identify steps and tasks to achieve project success. With established working relationships, the municipalities will be poised to better understand partners and how to leverage support for projects and initiatives. The Engagement Plan will identify partners at each of the four levels, and the project liaisons from each municipality will work on the selected projects or initiatives and outline a communication loop to ensure that information is shared at all levels regarding status, next steps and desired outcomes. The plan will also provide an analysis of how the project or initiative aligns with partner agency priorities, and identify any additional relationships that need to be developed and/or expanded. The municipalities will be responsible to work with the lobbyist/consultant/ contract staff to develop an Engagement Plan that will identify goals and strategies for each selected project or initiative. TVC Federal State Regional Local Iron Horse Trail PARTNERSHIPS FederalDOTFHWA StateCalTransLocalDivision RegionalMTC LocalEBRPDAlamedaCTC TVC Federal State Regional Local Iron Horse Trail PARTNERSHIPS FederalDOTFHWA StateCalTransLocalDivision RegionalMTC LocalEBRPDAlamedaCTC 6 Tri-Valley Cities | Legislative Framework 2018–2020 FOCUS AREAS AND PROJECTS Areas of Focus: Local Control, Transportation, and Housing Projects: Primary Priority • Strengthen local land use and control. Secondary Priorities • Accelerate connection of the Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority’s Valley Link project to the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE). • Complete the Iron Horse Trail from Danville to Livermore, including improved over crossings within each jurisdiction looking for grant funding. • Strengthen local control to address state housing mandates. Tertiary Priorities • Secure and protect local funding sources for workforce housing opportunities (e.g. CDBG, etc.). • Implement capacity improvements and regional highway connectivity on State Route 84 and Interstates 580 and 680. NEXT STEPS Working together with TPA we will focus on developing relationships through Engagement Plans in an effort to progress toward measurable outcomes for each project. The Legislative Framework may be periodically updated to adjust to the changing conditions of the Tri-Valley Area and the policy objectives of the region. 8 Tri-Valley Cities | Legislative FrameworkTri-Valley Cities | Legislative Framework