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TELECOM from page 4.... .. . . . . . . . . . local government by providing high capacity voice/ video/data networks that they could never afford on their own, while costing the operator relatively little due to the fact that the incremental cost of building additional capacity is relatively low. Many local franchises require the cable operator to provide an I-Net - but AB 2987 doesn't require operators to provide an Institutional Network even if paid for by the local agency. The bill would effectively terminate existing Institutional Networks and prevent the deployment of new Institutional Networks. Solution: Amend the bill to require operators to provide an I-Net, with the number of network connections or sites based on the population of the local agency. Alternatively, require existing Institutional Networks provided by incumbents to continue, but require new entrants to pay a propor- tionate share of the cost to the incumbent. ........................ HOUSING from page 1 This is, therefore, a good time to take stock on where things stand on land use and housing legislation. The 2006 Legislative Session has been a contentious one for land use issues: infrastructure funding, redevelopment reform, eminent domain and (Kelo), housing elements, 20-year land sup- plies, density bonus battles, etc. Infrastructure Bond Package. Two of the most important developments for housing in this legislative session have been the passage of a $38 billion infrastructure bond package, with funding for transportation, housing, schools, levees; and passage of measure that protects local Proposition 42 transportation funds. Voter approval in November remains a significant hurdle, however, as we are reminded by the voters' rejection of the library bond (Prop. 81) and many local transportation taxes in the June pri. mary. Eminent Domain (Kela) and Redevelop. ment Reform. Early in the year, redevelopment 9A Page 5 agencies were running a gauntlet of legislative proposals aimed at stripping away eminent domain authority, forcing higher housing set- asides, and imposing other restrictions. Thanks to the excellent efforts of the California Redevel- opment Association and opposition from local governments, many of the most onerous propos- als have been defeated or stalled. Several bills, however, including S8 1206 (Kehoe), continue to have provisions that merit opposition. Yet, the real battle will come over the "Anita Anderson" initiative measure, which is anticipated to qualify for the November ballot. This measure not only contains many limitations on the use of eminent domain, it also expands broadly into the field of "regulatory takings. and would require compensation by state or local governments to property owners for impacts of state or local laws on property. Housing Elements and Other laws. A number of bilts were introduced in this area, but many have either stalled or have been signifi- cantly amended. S8 1800 (Ducheny), a homebuilder-sponsored bill which required 20. year land supplies to be dedicated to housing and expanded state control over local housing ele- ments, remains stalled In the Senate due to significant environmental and local government opposition. Other measures which the League opposed, such asA8 2526 (Arambula) and S8 1177 (Hollingsworth) are also stalled. While amend- ments have improved other bills, the League remains opposed to SB 1330 (Dunn), which expands attorney fee provisions against local governments, and several other measures. League's Housing/land Use Package. The League's housing package also has thinned out over the Legislative Session. Two League- sponsored measures both failed to emerge from the Appropriations Committee suspense files due to costs to the state, and the adoption of $2.85 billion the housing bond S8 1689 (perata). These are S8 1754 (Lowenthal), which expanded tax increment financing for high-density housing development, and AB 2503 (Mullin), which re- Continued on Page 6 Visit the League's Official Website..www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS. PAGE 5 June 23, 2006 . Issue #25