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9A Page 30 5B 1754 from page 1 .............................................. The measure is an outgrowth of discussions on housing solutions conducted over a year and a half by the League's Housing/General Plan Task Force. The bill would create a voluntary pilot project with local-state partnership to provide high density housing through the creation of 100 housing/infill infrastructure investment districts statewide. The projects must be consistent with regional planning objectives and allow construction of more than 500 units of housing with average net density of 25-40 units per acre, with 15 percent of the housing affordable to low and moderate income families. (Visit www.cacities.ora/billsearch and search for S8 1754 League for a League spon- sored background summary.) "We see this measure as a positive approach to encourage cities to build the kinds of infill projects so many of our cities need, Ð said San Diego Council member and League Second Vice President Jim Madaffer, who served as chairman of the Housing/General Plan Task Force. "It's wor1ds away from the 'hammer and stick' ap- proach that we so often see from the State Capi- tol." sa 1754 Establishes Funding Mechanism for Services, Infrastructure "Whenever cities consider building new housing, they face the challenge of identifying funding to pay for increased services and infra- structure needs," Madaffer explained. "New residents mean that you need more parks, more schools, more streets and more cops and firefighters. "This bill creates financing districts for cities that want to build housing and apply for the volun- tary program, and uses tax-increment financing to help pay for these expenses. Locals contribute, as does the state, by authorizing tax-increment financing for these purposes. "Ifs a chance to build partnerships at all levels of govemment, to achieve our shared goal of more affordable housing and greater density. "With the Legislature's failure to pass an infrastructure bond package, the S8 1754 ap- proach becomes even more important for cities," Madaffer added. "Cities can't afford to wait sev- eral years to address our local infrastructure needs. We need solutions now." League Urges City Support for sa 1754 There are early signs that the positive, collabo- rative approach taken in S8 1754 is likely to win broad-ranged support. The League urges cities to review the measure and submit letters of support to the Senate Local Government Committee prior to their April 5 hearing. Please be sure to send a copy of your letter to League Policy Analyst Genevieve Morelos via e-mail at gmorelos@cacities.org. Genevieve can also be reached by phone at (916) 658-8254. To view a copy of the measure, check on the hearing schedule or obtain other information, please visit the Bill Search section of the League's website (www.cacities.org/billsearch). If you have questions on this measure, contact League Legislative Director Dan Carrigg via e-mail at dcarrigg@cacities.org, or by phone at (916) 658. 8222. Cities Should Also Review sa 1800 (Ducheny/Cedillo): Bill Set for Senate/ Trans/Housing April 4 Cities are encouraged to closely review SB 1800 (Ducheny/Cedillo), an expansive land use bill that will have many implications for local govern- ments. Although this proposal contains some concepts that were explored in League Housing/ General Plan Task Force discussions with homebuilders, the League board of directors ultimately rejected this approach last year as being overly restrictive of local land use authority, and its "one-size-fits-all" approach. Continued on Page 9 PAGE 8 . PRIORITY FOCUS March 17,2006 . Issue #11 Visit the League's Official Website..www.cacities.org