HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 12-020 in Opposition of AB 1627RESOLUTION NO. 12-020
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA
OPPOSING ASSEMBLY BILL 1627 — BUILDING STANDARDS; VEHICLE MILES
TRAVELED.
WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 1627, otherwise known as the Healthy Neighborhoods Act, would
prohibit local governments from issuing local building permits until the building plan has satisfied
standards being developed by California Energy Commission (CEC) designed to reduce vehicle miles
traveled (VMT) by occupants of residential and nonresidential buildings; and
WHEREAS, the Healthy Neighborhoods Act creates a broad mandate to regulate individual
choice and specifically seeks to reduce VMT by the occupants of residential and nonresidential
buildings, which consequently empowers a state agency to regulate the choice of individuals; and
WHEREAS, local building departments will be prohibited from issuing a building permit until
the building plan complies with the minimum VMT standards set by the CEC; and
WHEREAS, the bill has overly restrictive and intrusive requirements imposed on new units and
their occupants, which will further exacerbate California's economy by making new construction in the
state less marketable and desirable; and
WHEREAS, the California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and
school districts for certain costs mandated by the state, but the Healthy Neighborhood Act would not
require state reimbursement because local governments have the ability to levy fees sufficient to pay for
the state -mandated program; and
WHEREAS, Saratoga is predominantly a built -out residential community with few commercial
and office buildings and less public transit access as compared to other cities within Santa Clara County
and because of its infrastructure, residents have limited transportation choices and rely heavily on their
personal vehicles to commute to work; and
WHEREAS, significant strides are currently being made to reduce vehicle miles traveled
through more coordinated regional planning efforts such as general plan legislation, specifically stated in
Senate Bill 375, Chapter 728, and the adoption of this bill may compromise the efforts of SB 375;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Saratoga opposes
Assembly Bill 1627 introduced by State Assembly Member Roger Dickinson.
The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Saratoga City
Council held on the 4th day of April 2012 by the following vote:
AYES: Council Member Manny Cappello, Emily Lo, Howard Miller, Vice Mayor Jill
Hunter, Mayor Chuck Page
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
((1( DATE: ql SP -o 1-2—
CrysMorrow, City Clerk
huck Page, Mayor