To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Marissa Montenegro 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
2023-2024 State and Federal Legislative Platform
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt the Sonoma County 2023-2024 State and Federal Legislative Platform
end
Executive Summary:
On February 7, 2023, staff provided the Board with an update on the Sonoma County 2023-2024 State and Federal Legislative Platform. Staff recommended the platform include the following priorities:
(1) Disaster Response Preparedness and Recovery
(2) Affordable Housing and Homelessness
(3) Health: Public Health and Behavioral Health
(4) Climate Action
(5) Transportation and Infrastructure
(6) Tribal Affairs
The draft platform has been updated based on Board feedback and a final draft is attached for Board review and approval. Staff recommends adoption of the attached 2023-2024 Sonoma County State and Federal Legislative Platform. Adoption of the platform provides policy direction to guide legislative affairs staff and state and federal lobbyists in the County’s legislative efforts.
Discussion:
On February 7, 2023, staff provided the Board with an update on the Sonoma County 2023-2024 State and Federal Legislative Platform. Staff recommended the platform include the following priorities:
(1) Disaster Response Preparedness and Recovery
(2) Affordable Housing and Homelessness
(3) Health: Public Health and Behavioral Health
(4) Climate Action
(5) Transportation and Infrastructure
(6) Tribal Affairs
During deliberations, your Board addressed the following issues which have been added to the draft platform presented to your Board with this item:
• Low Wage Worker Pay Replacement Disaster Program;
• State financial assistance to support vulnerable communities impacted by disaster; allowing for the swift response to the actual needs of our most vulnerable survivors who may not qualify for or have the means to wait for federal disaster response support;
• Sustainable disaster response and recovery resources for essential workers;
• Increased insurance incentives for reducing wildfire risks such as home hardening programs;
• Investments in community resilience centers such as the Veteran’s Buildings and Fairgrounds;
• Workforce recruitment and retention issues;
• Investments in Health Equity Infrastructure;
• Marine conservation efforts such as the study of the reintroduction of sea otters;
• Informed, environmentally conscious, and integrated pest management of invasive weeds on public and private lands throughout the State; and
• Emerging transparency issues and virtual meeting participation.
The draft platform has been updated based on Board feedback and a final draft is attached for Board review and approval.
State priorities include:
S1. Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
S2. Affordable Housing and Homelessness
S3. Behavioral Health
S4. Public Health
S5. Climate Action and Resiliency
S6. County Roads and Infrastructure
Federal priorities include:
F1. Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
F2. Housing and Homelessness
F3. Health Care
F4. Climate Action
F5. Infrastructure
F6. Tribal Affairs
State and Federal Appropriations Requests
As an emerging opportunity within the Infrastructure priority, community funded project “earmarks” have continued for FY 2024, which will allow Congress to direct funding to specific projects in their districts and states.
In previous years, funded earmark projects have ranged from transportation to public safety projects and various other areas such as health care and housing. The County has been successful over the last two years with through the Accessing Coordinated Care and Empowering Self Sufficiency (ACCESS) Sonoma and the County’s Equitable Energy Resilience and EV Infrastructure Project. Other local investments include Sonoma County Transportation Authority’s award for State Route 121/12 and 8th Street East Intersection Improvements and SMART’s award for the extension to Healdsburg.
While each Subcommittee varies on funding limits for earmarks, funded awards generally average between $1 - 3 million for each project.
On February 17th, proposals were solicited from County departments for submission to our federal representatives under FY24 Congressionally Directed Spending (earmark) guidance. The turnaround time between guidance being released and the submission deadlines was much shorter than prior years. Twelve proposals were received from departments and were reviewed and prioritized with our federal lobbying teams with five projects successfully submitted to our member offices. On April 6th, Senator Padilla submitted his Transportation-HUD earmark requests which included $1.4 million for the Sonoma County Equitable Energy Resilience for Multifamily Homes project.
Submitted to Senator Dianne Feinstein:
• Larson Park Renovation Project - Implementation Funds - $1,000,000
The Larson Park Renovation Project is a shovel-ready project envisioned and developed by the community during the last 7 years and is now ready for construction. Larson Park is located adjacent to Flowery Elementary School in the heart of the underserved and disadvantaged Sonoma Springs area, which serves Boyes Hot Springs, Fetters Hot Springs, and Agua Caliente neighborhoods and is the largest and most densely populated area outside city limits in Sonoma County.
Submitted to Senator Alex Padilla:
• Equitable Energy Resilience - Multifamily Homes - $1,409,000
Due to significant financial and social barriers, low-income and multi-family housing units have been historically difficult to break through to with energy resilience upgrade efforts. The Sonoma County Equitable Energy Resilience Program for Multi-family Homes will operate in partnership with existing energy incentive programs (e.g.: from the Bay Area Regional Energy Network, Sonoma Clean Power, and others) to provide gap funding to complete energy conservation upgrades at low-income, multi-family housing, and install small solar arrays with back-up storage.
Submitted to Congressman Mike Thompson:
• County of Sonoma - Tierra de Rosas Public Infrastructure Improvements - $2,000,000
This project provides backbone infrastructure needed to construct Casa Roseland, a 75-unit affordable housing development in the Roseland neighborhood of Santa Rosa for households earning between 30% and 60% AMI. Casa Roseland is one component of a planned mixed-use development, which includes 100 units of market rate rental housing, a community civic building, a mercado food hall, and a one-acre public plaza. The Sonoma County CDC acquired the 7.4-acre project site, in the community visioning and planning process for over a decade.
The infrastructure needs for the master planned development include removal of existing utility lines for the former retail uses of the shopping center, new gas, electric, water, sewer, and storm sewer for the new uses, including stormwater catchment basin for entire development to reclaim stormwater for irrigation on the Public Plaza. New public streets, sidewalks, curb, gutters, street trees and street lighting also included in project’s infrastructure portion.
• Landside Passenger Access Improvements - $1,686,276
Design and construction of wayfinding, ADA-compliant passenger land-side paths of travel, bike lockers, ride share shelter, roadway improvements to pavement from long term parking facility, and rental car return locations to airport terminal. Project will include installation of a transportation radio frequency identification system (RFID) for security improvements. The RFID will track all commercial vehicles accessing close contact with the front of the terminal and enhance service for individuals in underserved communities. Environmental and planning has already been completed.
Submitted to Congressman Jared Huffman:
• NoCal Coastal Fishing Infrastructure Project - $2,000,000
Replacing the Spud Point - Bodega Bay ice-making plant with new, energy-efficient, climate friendly refrigeration equipment is critical to the commercial and recreational fishing operations along the Northern California coast. The current equipment is over forty years old and requires costly maintenance every year to ensure this industry has a reliable source of ice to preserve their catch. Funding the ageing infrastructure with new, state-of-the-art, American made equipment is good for the economy and the climate.
• Landside Passenger Access Improvements - $1,686,276
Design and construction of wayfinding, ADA-compliant passenger land-side paths of travel, bike lockers, ride share shelter, roadway improvements to pavement from long term parking facility, and rental car return locations to airport terminal. Project will include installation of a transportation radio frequency identification system (RFID) for security improvements. The RFID will track all commercial vehicles accessing close contact with the front of the terminal and enhance service for individuals in underserved communities. Environmental and planning has already been completed.
State members requested funding proposals to meet appropriations deadlines set by state senate and assembly leadership. As previously reported, the state budget picture is bleak and limited funds are anticipated. The CAO’s office solicited department proposals which were reviewed and prioritized with input from state advocacy firms. To support a prioritized and consistent request to our members, the following projects were selected and submitted to our state delegation members:
Submitted to Senator McGuire and Assemblymember Connolly:
• County of Sonoma - Tierra de Rosas Public Infrastructure Improvements - $3,888,130
Phase 1B - Excavation and backfill for installation of wet utilities, including off-haul of contaminated soils; installation of detention basin for stormwater capture system under future Public Plaza; and installation of wet utilities (stormwater, sewer, water, and fire) for affordable housing. This project provides backbone infrastructure needed to construct Casa Roseland, a 75-unit affordable housing development in the Roseland neighborhood of Santa Rosa for households earning between 30% and 60% AMI. Casa Roseland is one component of a planned mixed-use development, which includes 100 units of market rate rental housing, a community civic building, a mercado food hall, and a one-acre public plaza. The Sonoma County CDC acquired the 7.4-acre project site, in the community visioning and planning process for over a decade.
Staff will continue to work with your Board, state and federal advocacy consultants and staff subject matter experts to develop strategic advocacy plans within each state and federal priority area as well as the local priority project lists for state and federal appropriations requests.
Staff recommends approval of the attached Sonoma County 2023-2024 State and Federal Legislative Platform to support continued advocacy for Sonoma County.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
February 7, 2023: Board received draft 2023-2024 state and federal legislative platform and end-of-session report.
March 27, 2021: Board approved 2021-2022 state and federal legislative platform.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
2023-2024 State and Federal Legislative Platform
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
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