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Item 8 - Regain Local Control from State LegislatorsOctober 20, 2020, Item #8DATE: October 20, 2020 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Barry Leonard, Councilmember SUBJECT: Regain Local Control from State Legislators Summary: The City of Poway was recently contacted by California Cities for Local Control, a coalition of cities throughout the State of California. These cities are uniting in a show of strength to regain local control from the State legislators. The State Constitution intended cities to have a certain amount of local control. Local leaders know better how to manage their cities than State Legislators, especially in the areas of land use, housing and zoning issues. Yet, every year, the State Legislature signs into law a number of bills that usurp the authority of local jurisdictions. These bills often impose mandates that do not take into account the individual needs and differences of jurisdictions throughout the State. Poway's residents, businesses, City staff and elected officials are capable of making the correct decisions for our City and we deserve the ability to make those decisions independent of State Legislation. Local government is best able to assess the needs of our Poway community. Housing and zoning decisions should not take a "one size fits all" approach. By uniting with California Cities for Local Control we would have greater power and leverage than we do by acting individually. I suggest we add Poway's voice to the growing list of California municipalities seeking to regain the local control our State Constitution intended. Recommended Action: I am seeking concurrence from the Mayor and my fellow Councilmembers to unite with California Cities for Local Control and to direct staff to prepare a resolution expressing support to take actions to strengthen local democracy, authority, and control as related to land use, housing and zoning issues. Attachments: A. Mission Statement of California Cities for Local Control Reviewed/ Approved By Wendy Kaserman Assistant City Manager 1 of 2 Reviewed By: Alan Fenstermacher City Attorney Approved By: October 20, 2020, Item #82 of2 Mission Statement California Citiz.ens FOR Local Control Volunteer Organization Our mission is to spread awareness and ennst support to ensure that Cities can continue to marnage ·their own land use and zoning issues. We must not allow the State Legislature to mandate· changes to oor Cities that will remove local control and be detrimental ·to oor communities .. We do th:is lby readhing out to Cal'ifomia Ciity Elected Officials to educate and enlist them to our cause. Our acfivi.ties in dude, but are oot 1mited 101 signing onto petitions, having Cities pass resolutions in support of our efforts, and seeking out allies for possible legal action against the State and/or to iPromote efforts for a ballot ·nitiati.ve to legislate the desired results. With this alliance of City Elected Officials working together as one, we stand a better chance of having our message resonate, 'loud and clear to all groups that proclaim to support us. WE Will NOT STAND FOR THIS LOSS OF LOCAL CONTROL AND UNFUNDED MANDATES being imposed upon us by our State. Attachment A