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tf/l- '" S8 435 from page 1 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The bill undercut those communities that had already done the most to increase densities and streamline development requirements. Local governments were also concerned that develop- ers-through the bill's confusing ratio system, which required specified density bonuses and conces- sions to be provided to developers building only five percent of units at very low income- would attempt to use this law to evade local inclusionary zoning programs. Since its enactment, SB 1818 has created much uncertainty and confusion among local planners and attorneys as to how to implement its provisions, and harmonize them with other state laws and local requirements. Some jurisdictions have even down zoned areas of high-density zoning so that devel- opers could not be in position to demand densities that exceeded existing infrastructure. Other co~ munities - especially those that had made prior efforts to streamline development requirements - were forced to reconsider the effect of developers being arbitrarily entitled to three additional conces- sions. This year's SB 435 (Hollingsworth), sponsored again by CAR and the CRLAF, compounds upon the flaws of the earlier measure by: 1) Requiring local governments to provide a fourth concession, when the developer uses less than 50 percent of the density bonus. 2) Removing the existing requirement for a developer to demonstrate that a requested waiver or reduction in development standards is neces- sary to make the units economicAlly feasible. 3) Deleting some key language in the law that city attorneys were using as a defense against the law's applicability to local inclusionary zoning programs. The League, along with the American Planning Association and the California State Association of Counties, have been meeting with the.sponsor's representatives over several months to determi!le if a satisfactory solution could be reached with the language in both this bill as well as problems created by existing law. So far, however, there has not been sufficient progress made and therefore, cities need to be alerted that SB 435 will be heard in the Assembly Housing and Community Develop- ment Committee on Wednesday, June 15. If it passes that committee, the bill has also been double referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee where it is anticipated it would be heard on June 29. The League opposes SB 435 and encourages concerned cities are to write letters and contact their legislators to educate them about local issues related to both sa 1818 and. this SB 435. A copy of the League's opposition letter is available online at the League's Advocacy Center, www.cacities.orv/ advocacvcenter. MI: ~'.,i.f!! !'c~ ~ !mt!. ~!!!. ~~!!~!'. c,AC' The following are summariesof just a few of the legislative bills that are currently being acted upon by the League of California Citie:.>. For more information about these and other bills, please visit the League website's new "Issues and Advocacy" page (www.cacities.org/ issuesand~dvocacv) - a one-stop location , to access information about legislation, policy issues and related developments. You can track information on bills (www.cacities.org/legtracking), locate legisla- tors and legislative committees, send letters to legislators or the media through the online Advocacy Center, research League policy positions, access useful related links, and much more. REVENUE: AND TAXA T~ON. ~jL3§~ (Huff) Utility Users Taxes: Exemp- tion. AB343 would require that local jurisdictions, including cities, exempt compressed natural gas used by a local. agency or school district for trans- portation from utility users tax, as specified. Utility users tax (UUT) is a loca!!y administered revenue source. City officials are most familiar with the needs and demands withÏi, their local community and are the best judges of how local taxes should be applied. PAGE a/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Website n www.cacities.org