HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 21-017 support for local government controlRESOLUTION NO.21-017
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SARATOGA EXPRESSING SUPPORT FRACTIONS TO FURTHER
STRENGTHEN LOCAL DEMOCRACY, AUTHORITY, AND CONTROL AS RELATED
TO LOCAL ZONING AND HOUSING ISSUES
WHEREAS, each year, the State of California legislature proposes and adopts a number
of bills addressing a range of housing issues; and
WHEREAS, the State of California legislature does not allow sufficient time between each
legislative cycle to determine if the adopted legislation is successful in bringing about the desired
change related to California's housing issues; and
WHEREAS, the primary focus of the bills that have been proposed and adopted is to usurp
the authority of local jurisdictions to determine for themselves the land use policies and practices
that best suit each city and its residents and instead impose mandates that do not take into account
the root causes of the lack of affordable housing or the needs and differences of jurisdictions
throughout the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the ability of local jurisdictions to determine for themselves to determine
matters such as which projects require review beyond a ministerial approval, what parking
requirements are appropriate for various neighborhoods within their jurisdiction, what plans and
programs are suitable and practical for each community, and what zoning should be applied to
land in the jurisdiction rather than having these decisions imposed upon them without regard to
the circumstances of each individual city and county, is a matter of great import to the City of
Saratoga; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Saratoga feels strongly that our local
government is best able to assess the needs of our community in a way that also respects the needs
of the region and objects to the proliferation of State legislation that deprives us of that ability;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Saratoga hereby
resolves as follows:
l . The City of Saratoga is opposed to the current practice of the State of California legislature
of continually proposing and passing multitudes of bills that directly impact and interfere
with the ability of local governments to control their own destiny through the planning and
zoning authority that has been granted to them.
2. The City of Saratoga will explore various ways to protect the ability of local governments
to retain local control over planning and zoning as each individual city and county within
the State of California is best suited to determine how the planning and zoning in their
jurisdiction should be carried out to meet the housing needs of the community.
The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Saratoga
City Council held on the 7"' day of April 2021 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Yan Zhao, Vice Mayor Tina Walia, Council Members Mary -Lynne
Bernald, Kookie Fitzsimmons, Rishi Kumar
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Yan Z ao, Mayor
AT T:
DATE: YJ S 1vn
De bie Bretschneider, CMC
City Clerk