BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2549
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 2549 (Ridley-Thomas)
As Amended April 24, 2014
Majority vote
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 8-1
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|Ayes:|Achadjian, Levine, Alejo, | | |
| |Bradford, Melendez, | | |
| |Mullin, Rendon, Waldron | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Gordon | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Allows the City of Milpitas to organize an independent
local commission to investigate and study issues related to
economic development in the City. Specifically,
this bill :
1)Allows, on or before April 1, 2015, the City of Milpitas to
organize an independent local commission to investigate and
study issues related to employment, revenues, and economic
activity in order to identify and recommend ways to raise
revenues to increase city staff to adequate levels, to invest
in infrastructure and development projects, and to increase
economic activity in the McCarthy Ranch area of Milpitas near
the Newby Island landfill.
2)Requires the commission to be comprised of seven people to be
appointed by the City Council of Milpitas, as follows:
a) One member of the business community who is also a
member of the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce;
b) One employee of the City of Milpitas Fire Department;
c) One employee of the City of Milpitas Police Department;
d) One member of a local union that is unaffiliated with
public employee unions representing workers for the City of
Milpitas;
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e) One owner of real property within the McCarthy Ranch
area of Milpitas near the Newby Island landfill; and,
f) Two citizens of the City of Milpitas.
3)Requires the commission to elect its own chairperson.
4)Requires the City Manager of Milpitas to be an ex officio
member of the commission and report on the commission's
activities to the Milpitas City Council.
5)Specifies that the commission's authority shall cease one year
from the formation of the commission.
6)Sunsets the authority of the City of Milpitas to organize an
independent local commission on January 1, 2017, unless a
later enacted statute that is enacted before January 1, 2017,
deletes or extends that date.
7)Finds and declares the need for a special law and that a
general law cannot be made applicable because of the unique
circumstances in the City of Milpitas, where parcels on the
west side of Interstate 880 and to the east of Coyote Creek in
the McCarthy Ranch area of Milpitas near the Newby Island
landfill, the San Francisco Bay area, and the regional water
pollution control plant and the particular challenges to
economic development as a result of their restrictive
location.
8)Makes a number of other findings and declarations related to
economic development in the City of Milpitas.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose of this bill. This bill allows the City of Milpitas
to organize an independent local commission to investigate and
study issued related to employment, revenues, and economic
activity, and specifies the membership of the commission. The
bill is sponsored by the City of Milpitas.
2)Author's statement. According to the author, "The City has
attempted to form an agency to help it (1) meet its
obligations, (2) replace public safety and other positions
lost, and (3) spur economic activity only to be told that
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State law was ambiguous with respect to forming a new agency.
The City is focused on encouraging development in a specific
area, which presents certain challenges and would like the
Legislature to clarify that it may form an agency to pursue
development in that area."
3)Is legislation needed? The Legislature may wish to consider
whether legislation is needed to form this independent local
commission. The City of Milpitas could form this commission
via resolution or ordinance, as long as the City of Milpitas
does not grant the commission any power that would normally be
reserved for the City of Milpitas and its legislative body.
In this case, the commission is only tasked with investigating
and studying issues related to economic development in order
to identify and recommend ways to raise revenues for specified
purposes - the recommendations are not binding, and the City
Council of Milpitas can consider those recommendations and
make its own decision about whether to adopt the
recommendations.
4)Arguments in support. Supporters argue that this bill will
help the City of Milpitas encourage both public and private
investment to secure new public safety positions within the
city.
5)Arguments in opposition. None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Debbie Michel / L. GOV. / (916)
319-3958
FN: 0003186