AgdaPkt 2002-05-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT . To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager May 6,2002 Subject Support of Assembly Bill 2954 Recommendation Approve the attached resolution supporting AB 2954 Background Assembly Bill 2954, authored by Assemblyman Joe Simitian, will help address the increasing need for licensed child care facilities by reducing obstacles to the development of new facilities. Current law requires that a city's general plan include a land use element addressing the distribution, location, and extent of use of the land for housing, business, open space, and other categories, but does not contain such a requirement related to child care facilities. This bill requires that, upon adoption or revision of a city's or county's general plan on or after January 1,2003, the land use portion of the general plan address the distribution of child care facilities. Within Redwood City, there is a significant need for additional child care space. It is estimated that there are licensed child care slots for only one out of every three children that need child care. That imbalance is duplicated throughout the state, where local land use policies can often serve as a barrier to continued development of licensed child care facilities. This bill is designed to reduce that barrier and foster the careful planning of the distribution of child care facilities, enhancing the community and complementing a general plan's other land use objectives such as trip reduction and economic development. It is the intent of the bill to advance the further development of high quality, affordable, and accessible licensed child care facilities in order to assist working families, businesses, and the economy. Alternative 1. The City Council could choose not to adopt the attached resolution, and not go on record in support of Assembly Bill 2954.