Item 4.2 - Resolution Opposing Sections of Assembly Bill 805City of Poway
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
APPROVED O
APPROVED AS AMENDED ❑
(SEE MINUTES)
DENIED ❑
REMOVED ❑
CONTINUED
RESOLUTION NO. (1-0(1
DATE: May 2, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Tina White, City Manager
CONTACT: Wendy Kaserman, Assistant City Manager W<
(858) 668-4502 or wkaserman@poway.org
SUBJECT: Resolution Opposing Sections of Assembly Bill (AB)
805 Changing the Voting Structure of the San Diego
Association of Governments (SANDAG)
Summary:
Assembly Bill (AB) 805, introduced by Assembly Member Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher,
proposes substantial changes to the voting structure of the San Diego Association of
Governments (SANDAG), Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), and North County Transit
District (NCTD). Board votes at SANDAG would shift from a combination of tally and
weighted votes, to a purely weighted voting system, potentially giving full control of the
agenda, votes, and programming of regional funds to the cities of San Diego and Chula
Vista.
While there are components of the bill that have merit, including additional oversight of
audit functions and provisions allowing MTS and NCTD taxing authority, the bill in its
current form has the potential to be extremely detrimental to Poway by marginalizing the
power of the City's vote on the use of regional transportation dollars. Consistent with the
City's adopted legislative platform to oppose legislation that limits local control, the City
has expressed opposition to those sections of the bill that change the voting structure at
SANDAG through both letters and committee testimony. To further demonstrate the City's
opposition to these changes, staff is recommending the City Council adopt the attached
resolution opposing specific components of the bill.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends the City Council approve the attached resolution opposing sections of
AB 805 that change the voting structure at SAN DAG.
Discussion:
AB 805 erodes local control from 16 of the 18 cities in San Diego County by giving the
cities of San Diego and Chula Vista an unfair advantage in votes at SANDAG. SANDAG
serves as a regional organization that plays a key role in programming the use of
TransNet dollars, as well as other transportation funding. The regional voice is lost when
you give the largest cities the ability to control the organizations' agendas, voting, and
programming of funds.
1 of 4 May 2, 2017 Item #4.2
Resolution Opposing Sections of AB 805
May 2, 2017
Page 2
The current bicameral voting system requires a majority of tally votes and weighted votes
for approval of any item. This is far more equitable than what AB 805 proposes and
is reflective of the fact that, while member jurisdictions vary in population, some smaller
jurisdictions contribute a disproportionally high level of TransNet sales tax dollars.
There is a component of AB 805 the City of Poway believes has merit. Poway was one
of the first cities to call for an audit following the recent discovery that revenue projections
were overstated for Measure A, therefore the City could support language in AB 805 that
provides additional oversight of audit functions.
AB 805 has currently passed out of both the Committee on Local Government and the
Committee on Transportation and is scheduled to be heard by the Committee on
Appropriations. The City has expressed its opposition to the changes to the voting
structure at SANDAG both by sending letters to the committee members and Mayor Vaus
testified in person at the April 24, 2017 meeting of the Committee on Transportation. City
Council adoption of the attached resolution will further emphasize the City's opposition to
those key portions of the bill that impact the voting structure at SANDAG.
Environmental Review:
This item is not subject to CEQA review.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with adopting the attached resolution.
Public Notification:
There is no public notification required for this item.
Attachments:
A. Resolution Opposing Sections of AB 805
Reviewed /Approved By:
"
Wendy Raserman
Assistant City Manager
Reviewed By:
Morgan Foley
City Attorney
Apr ved By: lldw
Tina M. White
City Manager
2 of 4 May 2, 2017 Item #4.2
RESOLUTION NO. 17-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
POWAY, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING SECTIONS OF
ASSEMBLY BILL (AB) 805 CHANGING THE VOTING
STRUCTURE OF THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENTS (SANDAG)
WHEREAS, on September 20, 2016, the City Council adopted the City's 2016
Legislative Platform to convey the City's position on important policy issues;
WHEREAS, per the Legislative Platform the City opposes legislation that limits
local control;
WHEREAS, Assembly Bill (AB) 805 proposes to substantially change the voting
structure at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) by replacing the
current combination of tally vote and weighted vote with a purely weighted vote
structure potentially giving full control of the agenda, votes, and programming of
regional funds to the cities of San Diego and Chula Vista;
WHEREAS, the proposed changes to the voting structure would erode local control
from 16 of the 18 cities in San Diego County by giving the cities of San Diego and Chula
Vista an unfair advantage in votes at SANDAG. SANDAG serves as a regional
organization that plays a key role in programming the use of TransNet dollars, as well as
other transportation funding. The regional voice is lost when you give the largest cities the
ability to control the organizations' agendas, voting, and programming of funds;
WHEREAS the current bicameral voting system requires a majority of tally votes
and weighted votes for approval of any item. This is far more equitable than what AB
805 proposes and is reflective of the fact that, while member jurisdictions vary in
population, some smaller jurisdictions contribute a disproportionally high level of
TransNet sales tax dollars: and
WHEREAS, the proposed changes to the voting structure at SANDAG have the
potential be very detrimental to Poway by marginalizing the power of the City's vote on
the use of regional transportation dollars.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Poway
as follows:
Section 1: The City will vigorously oppose those sections of AB 805 changing the
voting structure at SANDAG from a combination tally and weighted vote to a purely
weighted vote due to the profoundly negative impact these changes would have on the
City of Poway including marginalizing the power of the City's vote on the use of regional
transportation dollars and likely limiting access to those transportation dollars in the
future.
3 of 4 Attachment A May 2, 2017 Item #4.2
Resolution No. 17-
Page 2
PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Poway,
California, at a regular meeting this 2nd day of May 2017.
Steve Vaus, Mayor
ATTEST:
Nancy Neufeld, CMC, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) SS
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO )
I, Nancy Neufeld, City Clerk, of the City of Poway, California, do hereby certify under
penalty of perjury that the foregoing Resolution No. 17 -"* was duly adopted by the City
Council at a meeting of said City Council held on the "' day of "' 2017, and that it was so
adopted by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
Nancy Neufeld, CMC, City Clerk
City of Poway
4 of 4 May 2, 2017 Item #4.2