AgdaPkt 2006-07-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Legislative 9A Page 7 Bill Action ................................................................ finding qualified design firms for public projects and that the broader indemnification requirements are necessary to protect taxpayers. Although the League has heard from cities that they oppose the bill, we have also heard from cities that either they "can live with the bill's requirements" or that they already use the types of indemnification provisions specified in the bill. Because the bill would limit the flexibility and ability of local agencies to use this type of tool in public contracts, the League opposes AB 573. AB lli passed the Senate Judiciary Committee this week and will be heard next on the Senate Floor. Staff: Yvonne Hunter; Status: Pending on AsmFlr; Position: Oppose. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AB 1665 (Laird). Flood Control. After a lengthy hearing in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, the vote on AB 1665 was put over for a week. AS 1665, sponsored by the Admin- istration, would address a variety of flood protection issues, Many provisions are non-controversial and supported by many groups. Others. however, are extremely controversial and have attracted extensive opposition. These include requirements that cities and counties that benefit from state investment in levee improvement agree to share the state's liability before the state will invest funds to upgrade the levee beyond its original design, The controversial provisions also include granting the Reclamation Board the author- ity to assess property owners fees to pay for up- grades to levees for which the state has legal responsibility. At the hearing, several sections were deleted from the bill - some to be negotiated and amended, some to remain deleted but included in another vehicle. The shared lIabílíty/indemnification portion of the bill to which the League had objected is one of the issues that was deleted and will be included in another bill. Based upon several sources at the Capitol, the different shared liability/indemnification provisions of various bills will all be deleted. Instead, one comprehensive approach to flood liability and indemnification will be crafted, with the likely legisla- tive vehicle being AB 1528 (Jones), which is cur- rently sitting in Senate Rules Committee. This is likely an issue that will be negotiated during the July summer recess. The League will participate in those discussions. With the liability provision deleted, the League no longer opposes AB 1665. Staff: Yvonne Hunter; Status: Pending in SenNR&Wa; Position: Pend- ing. AS 802 (Wolk). Flood Issues. General Plans. AB 802 passed the Senate Local Govern- ment Committee this week with no opposition. It would enhance how city and county general plans identify and respond to flood issues. Many of the new requirements are taken from the general plan guidelines, which suggest optional items for inclu- sIon. AB 802 will move next to the Senate Appro- priations Committee, Staff: Yvonne Hunter; Status: Pending in SenAppr; Position: Support. AS 1899 (Wolk). Show Me the Flood Pro- tection. AB 1899 moved out of the Senate local Government Committee this week after an exten- sive hearing. The complexity of the issue and difficulty in finding a workable solution to the prob- lem of how to enhance flood protection for new developments was demonstrated by the myriad of perspectives presented at the committee, The League has provided Assemblymember Wolk with extensive comments based upon recom- mendations from the League flood control working group. Thursday, the League's Environmental Quality and Housing, Community and Economic Development Policy Committees considered the working group's recommendation and the EQ Committee engaged in a lively discussion with Assemblymember Wolk. Both policy committees unanimously adopted a position that differs slightly from the flood control Continued on Page 8 Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS. PAGE 7 June 23, 2006 . Issue #25