REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Temecula City Council approves rate increase for Solid Waste and Recycling

On July 28, the Temecula City Council approved a request from the City’s Waste Hauler, CR&R Incorporated, to increase rates for commercial solid waste and recycling rates by 12 percent. CR&R, Incorporated is contracted with the City of Temecula to handle the city’s solid waste and recycling services.

The rate increase was based on an annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment and increased costs associated with state laws, AB 341 and AB 1826. The state laws require all California cities and counties to reduce solid waste and recycle organic waste by certain percentages. Commercial properties and multifamily properties five units or larger that produce 4 cubic yards or more a week must reduce and recycle the amount of solid and organic waste produced.

Rates will rise by 1.8 percent based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) with a $0.76 increase in landfill fees. The rate increase includes an additional 9.98% to comply with AB 341 and AB 1826, and People’s Republic of China’s action in 2018 to ban the import of recyclable materials from entering the country, referred to as the “China Sword.” The rule prohibits CR&R, and other waste companies from selling and importing recyclable materials to China.

New customers also will pay a one-time $50 fee to establish service. The rate increase takes effect in Fiscal Year 2020-21.

Cathedral City to phase out Vacation Rentals by 2022

The Cathedral City Council in late July took action that would essentially cease the operation of all short-term vacation rentals located in residential neighborhoods in the city over the next two years.

On July 29, the city council listened to testimony from more than 50 people who remotely participated in the hearing. Vacation rental opponents complained about the parking and noise problems generated from the rentals. Supporters contended that rentals provide an economic and tax benefit to Cathedral City, and that the city should increase fees to focus on non-permitted properties and small group of properties responsible for repeatedly violating city rules.

The council’s action was the culmination of public and task force meetings that took place over the past year. The City Council in 2019 established a short-term vacation rental task force to review existing city rules and propose additional recommendations governing vacation rentals; the task force produced a list of approximately 90 recommendations.

The City Council ultimately believed no amount of regulation and enforcement of short-term vacation rentals could adequately address the problems, recommending that all vacation rentals located in residential neighborhoods be phased out over the next two years. However, Vacation rentals located in Homeowners’ Associations or that are in homesharing arrangements will remain exempt.

The City Council was scheduled to meet again on August 26 to discuss additional rules affecting shortterm vacation rentals. The City Council did not yet meet to consider the proposals when this article was written.

Proposals include increasing penalties for vacation rentals that are caught violating or non-compliant with city rules or limiting their operation. Rentals caught operating without a city permit could face fines of $5,000 for the first violation, $10,000 for the second violation with the possibility of fines going even higher for each following violation. Short-term rentals could be required to close pools or limit operation of other outdoor amenities between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Short-term rentals could be required to cap occupant capacity at two guests per bedroom with a maximum of ten people per unit. Guests also could be required to check-in in person or use video technology. The city council will consider proposals on August 26.

San Marcos scheduled to adopt 2020 Climate Action Plan by End of Year

City of San Marcos is working on updating its existing Climate Action Plan (CAP) and is expected to vote on the CAP in November or December this year.

Climate Action Plans (CAP)s are strategic documents created by California city and county governments that assess and determine how each jurisdiction will reduce its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by a certain date. Climate Action Plans include broad policy objectives indicating how each jurisdiction plans to achieve its carbon reduction goals.

In 2006, California adopted the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) requiring California to reduce its GHG emissions by a certain percentage by 2020. Later, SB 32 was adopted in 2016 requiring the state and local governments to collectively reduce California’s GHG emissions by 40 percent of 1990 levels by 2030.

San Marcos’ CAP identified that 54 percent of carbon emissions were generated from automobiles and other vehicles, 39 percent from buildings, and 7 percent from solid waste, water and wastewater sources.

San Marcos last adopted its Climate Action Plan in 2013. The 2013 CAP aimed to reduce the city’s GHG emissions by 12 percent by 2020 and by 28 percent by 2030. Under the 2020 climate plan, San Marcos is basing its 2030 goals on the 599,000 of metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) it produced in 2012. The city’s 2020 draft CAP aims to reduce its GHG emission by 42 percent compared to 2012 levels by 2030.

different strategies to reduce carbon emissions. The strategies address transportation and fossil fuels, building efficiency, energy and water usage, renewable and zero carbon energy, solid waste and recycling, and tree shade. The city hopes to achieve its targeted MTCO2e reductions under each strategy by 2030.

Possible strategies to be considered include adopting employee vanpools and shuttle services to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT), encourage greater use of electric vehicles and mass transit, develop or derive greater use of electricity from renewable or zero carbon energy resources, expand recycling programs, planting more trees in the city, and adopting new design measures and incentives to reduce energy and water consumption of new and existing buildings.

San Marcos accepted public comment on the Climate Action Plan until September 7. City officials will gather and review all comments to incorporate into the city’s final draft. The city’s Planning Commission will review and consider the report in October. The public can view updates, the report and other information related to the Climate Action Plan (CAP) by visiting the San Marcos Development Department Climate Action website at, https://www.san-marcos.net/departments/ development-services/planning/climate-actionplan-update. The city’s full Climate Action Plan report is available at https://www.san-marcos.net/ home/showdocument?id=24726.

San Diego approves new incentives to encourage more housing

The San Diego City Council last July approved a new density bonus program aimed at building more homes for low- and moderate-income San Diegans. The Density Bonus program works in conjunction with the city’s Affordable Housing Density Bonus program approved by the city council in 2016.

The new Density Bonus Program allows builders that are already utilizing the maximum existing affordable housing density bonus of 50% to utilize its “complete communities’ strategy for all 52 of the new moderate-income program receiving an the city’s communities. The strategy redefines how additional density bonus of 25% if 10% units set aside housing will be planned and built in consideration are deed-restricted at 120% of Area Median Income to a community’s recreation, transportation, (AMI) or lower. The new density bonus program is a infrastructure and revitalization needs. part of the San Diego’s broad strategy to build more housing.

The San Diego City Council in June approved its 2021-2029 Housing Element. The Housing Element WEBINARS asks San Diego to build a total 108,000 new units between 2021-2029. In July, the city council adopted its “complete communities’ strategy for all 52 of the city’s communities. The strategy redefines how housing will be planned and built in consideration to a community’s recreation, transportation, infrastructure and revitalization needs.