Cal Cities Board votes on ballot measures and bills, approves new member group
By Brian Hendershot, Cal Cities Advocate managing editor
The Cal Cities Board of Directors met last week in Sacramento to act on two ballot measures and several policy committee recommendations. The Board also approved a new member group for young elected officials.
Ballot measure positions
The Board opposed a proposed constitutional amendment put forth by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and funded by the California Business Roundtable. The initiative would change how local governments can adopt certain taxes and prohibit existing and future property transfer taxes that local governments may impose. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates it would create an annual loss to local governments totaling up to a couple of billion dollars.
The Board decided to take no position on SB 42 (Umberg), a statewide ballot measure that would remove the prohibition on public campaign financing and allow general law cities to enact public campaign financing. It would also set up a public funding system for state and local election campaigns.
The Board heard from proponents and opponents of the two ballot measures prior to voting. Both votes required a two-thirds majority.
New bill positions and policies approved
The Board moved to support five bills: AB 1605 (Ransom), SB 1156 (Caballero), AB 1942 (Bauer-Kahan), SB 1167 (Blakespear), and AB 1642 (Harabedian).
Both AB 1605 and SB 1156 would ban alcohol sales for repeat DUI offenders through changes to state-issued IDs. AB 1605 would create a prohibition for at least one year; SB 1156 would create a prohibition for three to 10 years.
The measure by Asm. Rebecca Bauer-Kahan would create a mandatory, statewide registration and license plate system for certain e-bikes. Individuals who operate a Class 2 or Class 3 e-bicycle without proper registration would be subject to fines starting at $100 for a first offense. Local governments would be responsible for enforcing the new system.
Similarly, SB 1167 proposes several changes to California law governing the classification, marketing, and regulation of e-bikes and similar motorized devices. The bill primarily seeks to clarify distinctions between electric bicycles, mopeds, motor-driven cycles, and electric motorcycles. It would also expand consumer protection and enforcement provisions related to e-bike sales and advertisements.
AB 1642 would require the Department of Toxic Substances Control to adopt emergency regulations for investigating, testing, and removing contaminants following a wildfire, as well as adopt health-based standards for hazardous chemicals. The bill would take effect immediately.
The Board adopted a support if amended position for AB 1557 (Papan), a bill that would lower entry-level speed limits for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes as well as establish new requirements and civil penalties for manufacturers and retailers. Cal Cities is urging the author to adopt changes related to manufacturing requirements, including visual demarcation.
After a robust discussion, the Board voted to oppose AB 1914 (Shiavo). The measure would require cities to develop a childcare plan or integrate that plan into their general plan on or after Jan. 1, 2028. The Board also voted to oppose AB 1738 (Carrillo), which would require cities to offer homeowners and contractors remote building inspections for certain residential permits by July 1, 2027.
The Board adopted a watch position for AB 1674 (Ahrens), which would establish a grant program for developers and grocery store operators in designated food deserts. Cities in a food desert or an area at risk of becoming a food desert would need to ensure applicants for new housing developments do not reduce the site's capacity for a large grocery store or provide equivalent mitigation.
The Board also approved minor changes to its standing public safety policy related to Proposition 36.
Young Elected City Officials member group formed
The Board voted to create a new member group for young elected officials at the request of a group of members spanning the state. The group plans to focus on information sharing and collaboration — online and in-person — in its first year. Member groups serve an important purpose of bringing together people or cities with similar characteristics or interests.
The next Board meeting is July 16-17 at Redondo Beach.