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�5-A-19 Legislative Bill Action ................................ ............................... issuance of $10 billion in general obligation bonds to finance a broad variety of local infrastructure and economic development projects. The act would be administered by the California infrastruc- ture and Economic Development Bank. Funds may be awarded to local governments through a combination of grants and/or loans, with additional priorities to projects which support specified "smart growth" criteria: consistent with regional jobs/housing priorities, support increased residen- tial density developments, support transit oriented development, and identified quality of life improve- ments. Matching grants are required, but this requirement may be reduced or waived in cases where the project would achieve more than one of the identified priorities, or the local government can demonstrate significant hardship in generating a local match. Staff: Dan Carrigg, Status: Intro- duced, not yet assigned to committee, Position: Support. ACA 11 (Levine); SCA 11 (Alarcon). Local Bonds Infrastructure Projects. These mea- sures propose reduced voter thresholds for local infrastructure projects, but in different ways. ACA 11 (not to be confused with last year's measure approved by the Legislature for the March, 2004, state ballot which would designate up to 3 percent of state funds for state and local infrastructure projects) authorizes the issuance of local general obligation bonds for a broad range of infrastructure projects with a majority vote. It also reduces the threshold for school bonds for repairing or replac- ing structurally unsafe schools from 55 percent to a majority. SCA 11 authorizes a local government to issue an infrastructure bond with a majority vote if the bond allocates at least 25 percent of the bond for affordable housing, 25 percent for trans- portation, 25 percent for open space, and the balance for general infrastructure needs. Existing League policy supports reduced local voter thresholds which would allow a simple majority of voters to establish local priorities, including the right to raise taxes or issue general obligation bonds. These measures will be re- viewed at the upcoming meeting of the League's Housing, Community, and Economic Development Committee, and amendments may be suggested to make them more flexible. Staff: Dan Carrigg, Status: Introduced, not yet assigned to commit- tee, Position: Support in Concept Pending Review SB 115 (Torlakson). Zoning Disclosure. Residential Purchases. Requires developers of subdivisions, sellers of condominiums, and sellers of all other residential real property to disclose to the purchaser the residential zoning, including permitted housing densities, of all land within one - quarter mile of the boundary line of the affected property. Existing League policy on zoning supports a process that is open and fair to the public. SB 115 will promote that concept by ensuring that—in the excitement and confusion of purchasing a new home — prospective buyers are made aware of the surrounding zoning, including the permitted hous- ing densities on surrounding properties. Legislation attempting to curb community opposition issues has been prevalent in recent years. Too often these approaches focus on the "back end" of the problem by attempting to limit opportunities for public discussion, curtail local land use authority and discretion, or shift land use decision - making to the state. SB 115 however, takes a pro - active approach to this issue and focuses on the "front end" by ensuring that new home purchasers are made aware of surrounding zoning issues as they make the critical decision whether or not to purchase a home. Staff: Dan Carrigg, Status: SenJud; Hrg -3/18, Position: Support. SB 465 (Soto). Transit Oriented Develop- ment. Financing. Sponsored by the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (Los Angeles County), this measure is intended to provide funding to facilitate the development of land within an adopted transit village plan area pursuant to the Transit Village Development Planning Act of 1994. This measure permits cities and counties to adopt PAGE 10/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site -- www.cacities.org