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O� .�'S' 2006 LEGISLATIVE YEAR from page 4•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• could impa�t the ability of redevelopment agencies previous draft, and scheduled a hearing to con- to use eminent domain to acquire property needed sider it on less than a week's notice. for affordable housing and other redevelopment projects. The League, NLC and other local government partners do not support the new draft. As �eported The Senate Local Government Committee by NLC, cities' suggestions for changes to the first held a joint hearing this week involving four other draft were ignored and the bill, as Rep. John committees, to explore reforms to the state's rules Dingell (Mich.) explained, "shifted in the direction regarding the use of eminent domain. Reforms of a selected group of stakeholders," the tele- could inctude changing the definition of a frnding of phone companies. blight, which can trigger the involvement of a redevelopment agency in a project where eminent NLC identified two major concerns with the domain could be used. More action on this issue new draft: could occur in January, when the Legislature reconvenes. • Local govemment has fewer means to enforce public safety under the new draft than the Federal Action on Eminent Domain old draft. The industry sets public safety stan- dards, not local government. Congress has also taken up the eminent domain issue. Last week, the House of Repre- • Video franchise fees are limited to 5 sentatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 4128, percent of subscriber revenue, not the 5 percent which pre-empts local govemment from receiving of gross revenues that is standard today. There is federal funds for any project involving the use of also no recovery over 5 percent for public access eminent domain. channels or institutional networks. The Senate has not yet acted on the issue. The League of California Cities is working They could take up a different measure, adopt the closely with NLC on responses to this latest House measure, or take not action at all. development, including urging that the committee work in a bipartisan way to consider proposals The League is working closely with the Na- that take local government concerns into account. tional League of Cities (NLC) and other national We will keep members apprised as these discus- and regional local government organizations to sions continue. educate senators about the importance of pre- serving this critical redevelopment tool. City Officials Need to "Get Smart" on Telecom! TELECOMMUNICATIONS REFORM These recent developments underscore the The legislative session shut down in Septem- urgent need for California city officials to educate ber without the Legislature having moved any themselves about the telecom issue, and how telecom reform measure. Assemblymember reforms could affect local franchising authority. Levine, chair of the Assembly Utilities and Com- The current issue of Westem City magazine merce Committee, had committed to continue includes a cover story on the telecom issue ("How discussions among all stakeholders throughout the Telecommunications Revolution Will Affect the fall. Your City"). You may view a copy of the story on the Western City website (www.westemcitv.coml. At the national level, there was sudden move- Reprints of the story are also available by contact- ment the week of November 7, when the House ing League staff memberAdrienne Sprenger Commerce Committee released a new version (asprenger@cacities.org). that was friendlier to the telephone industry than a Continued on Page 6 Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS - PAGE 5 November 18, 2005 - Issue #45