Thorne, Olson in Sacramento today for Legislative Action Day

Pleasanton Mayor Jerry Thorne and Councilman Arne Olson will be in Sacramento today to talk to legislators about transportation, public safety, economic development, housing and infrastructure and water policy issues.

They are part of the League of California Cities annual “Legislative Action Day,” an event that brings hundreds of city officials to the state capital to focus on the organization’s and individual cities’ legislative priorities.

The issues to be discussed by the Pleasanton representatives are aligned with the city’s general interests as well as the City Council’s current work plan.

Thorne and Olson also will ask legislators to make changes in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) law by either extending the current planning period to allow communities to reduce building toward achieving the RHNA-imposed housing numbers or by suspending RHNA housing numbers until the current state drought is over.

This year, Scotts Valley Councilwoman and League president Stephany Aguilar will lead the delegates in the legislative briefings, focusing on the organization’s legislative priorities and top bills.

Wednesday’s opening general session will cover a range of topics including the state budget, economic development tools, transportation funding, affordable housing, water conservation and a very harmful redevelopment proposal that would change the rules on the dissolution process.

Several legislators are scheduled to brief League members.

Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, will discuss pending transportation funding proposals.

Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), a former councilman, will discuss progress with AB 266, the medical marijuana measure sponsored by the League and the California Police Chiefs Association.

Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto) will outline the priorities of the Assembly Republican Caucus.

League staff has prepared fact sheets with talking points for city officials to use in their meetings with legislators. These will cover:

Transportation and Public Works

Economic Development and Redevelopment

Affordable Housing

Medical Marijuana

Also to be considered during the day are these pending legislative bills:

Community revitalization authority: This bill authorizes the creation of a new entity at the local level called a Community Revitalization Investment Authority (CRIA) that would provide a redevelopment option for the most disadvantaged and poorest areas of our state.

Office of Emergency Services: This measure will direct the state Office of Emergency Services to establish a program to reimburse local fire departments for costs incurred in sending firefighters to training courses.

Income taxes: credits and low-income housing allocation increase: This bill would increase the state’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit by $300 million to build and rehabilitate affordable housing.

The annual Legislative Action Day provides an opportunity for mayors and council members to meet with their legislators face to face in the Capitol.