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HOUSING from page 1- · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·---- ·. ·- · · Last year, local governments strongly opposed (Chair, Assembly Housing and Community Develop- SB 910 (Dunn), which proposed fines and penal- ment Committee), Assembly Member Wiggins ties; established presumptions of non-validity on (Chair, Assembly Local Government Committee). local housing elements when there was a disagree- ment with the state over the interpretation of the What Cities Can Do law; and threatened to hold local gas tax revenues (or possibly VLF) revenues hostage until a local Cities supporting the principles listed in AB government capitulated to the desires of state 2863 should immediately send a support letter to plan reviewers. More than 280 cities sent letters the author, with copies to your legislators, and opposing that bill. These efforts temporarily both the Assembly Local Government and Housing halted the movement of SB 910, and opened the Committees. In addition, ask your legislator to door for negotiations over alternative approaches, co-author this legislation. If your legislator is the author or a coauthor of this bill, make sure to Although the negotiations with SB 910 sup- thank them for their leadership in seeking bal- porters so far have been productive, the final anced housing element reform. Copies of a outcome of these discussions remains unclear. In sample support letter for AB 2863 are available on addition to the anticipated threats during the the League's Website at www.cacities.org/ negotiations by the SB 910 proponents to move legtracking. this punitive legislation, a January 23 memo, `jointly-authored by Assembly Members Alan Lowenthal, Patricia Wiggins, and Senator Dunn, AB 2863 - DECLARATIONS OF established a May deadline for the legislative LEGISLATIVE INTENT housing element working group. The memo states, Address issues involving the development of "We prefer that legislation coming out of this working group be the product of consensus. How- regional housing need projections. ever, we want to make it clear that if the working · Resolve issues and problems associated with the group is unable to reach consensus or continues to distribution of regional housing needs within a be delayed, the three of us will work on our own council of governments. to move legislation this yc~r." · Clarify and improve the housing element review In this charged legislative environment, the process. League and other local government groups will · Develop a neutral dispute resolution process and continue good-faith negotiations with the working fair enforcement alternatives to deal with disputes group. However, if the discussions break down, over questions of compliance. local government groups need to preserve our options to place a comprehensive housing element Develop fiscal tools and incentives to assist local governments in their efforts to encourage housing reform proposal in front of the Assembly Local and finance the infrastructure to support housing, Government and Housing Committees. as well as establish an ongoing state commitment to funding affordable housing. Now is the time for cities to write letters advocating for housing element reform. The · Require state laws and policies that affect housing and land use to be internally consistent. principles for reform listed in the box to the right reflect the key issues that the League, CSAC, Establish additional legal protections to local California Councils of Government (CalCOG), and agencies that approve affordable housing and that the American Planning Association (APA) are establish local proactive affordable housing .jointly advocating in the current negotiations policies. group chaired by Assembly Member Lowenthal Visit the League's Official Web Site--www. cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 3