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Home My WebLink AboutRES-25-7488 (AB 647 and SB 634)Page 1 of 2 RES-25-7488 CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH RESOLUTION NO. RES-25-7488 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO ASSEMBLY BILL 647 (GONZALEZ), AND SENATE BILL 634 (PEREZ) WHEREAS, The legislature of the State of California each year proposes, passes, and has signed into law a number of bills addressing a range of housing issues; and WHEREAS, the legislature of the State of California does not allow sufficient time between each legislative cycle to determine if the legislation is successful in bringing about the change for the State of California’s housing issues; and WHEREAS, the majority of these bills 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 needs and differences of jurisdictions throughout the State of California; and WHEREAS, the ability of local jurisdictions to determine for themselves 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 rather than having these decisions imposed upon cities without regard to the circumstances of each individual city; and what zoning should be allowed for properties in the Coastal Zone is a matter of great importance of the City of Hermosa Beach among other items related to local zoning and housing issues; WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Hermosa Beach feels strongly that our local government is best able to assess the needs of our community and objects to the proliferation of State legislation that deprives us of that ability; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City of Hermosa Beach is opposed to Assembly Bill 647 and Senate Bill 634. SECTION 2. The City of Hermosa Beach is opposed to the current practice of the legislature of the State of California of continually proposing and passing Docusign Envelope ID: DB016248-4B04-4195-8058-72E2D36F792B Page 2 of 2 RES-25-7488 multitudes of bills that directly impact and interfere with the ability of cities to control their own destiny through use of the zoning authority that has been granted to them. SECTION 3. The City of Hermosa Beach will explore various ways to protect the ability of cities to retain local control over zoning as each individual city within the State of California is best suited to determine how the zoning in their city should be allocated in order to meet the housing needs of the community- particularly in the Coastal Zone where coastal resources must be protected. SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall email a copy of this adopted resolution to the League of California Cities at CityLetters@calcities.org, and the offices of Assemblymember Gonzalez and Senator Perez. PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED on this 13th day of May 2025. Mayor Rob Saemann PRESIDENT of the City Council and MAYOR of the City of Hermosa Beach, CA ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: Myra Maravilla Todd Leishman City Clerk Interim City Attorney Docusign Envelope ID: DB016248-4B04-4195-8058-72E2D36F792B 1315 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 | hermosabeach.gov | HermosaBchCity HermosaBeachCity April 17, 2025 The Honorable Mark Gonzalez Member, California State Assembly 1021 O Street, Suite 6150 Sacramento, CA 94249 RE: AB 647 (Gonzalez) Housing development approval: residential units. Notice of OPPOSITION (As of 3/28/25) Dear Assembly Member Gonzalez: The City of Hermosa Beach must respectfully oppose AB 647 (Gonzalez) which mandates local governments ministerially approve ten units on any residentially zoned lot that allows for eight or fewer residential units. These ten units would consist of eight residential units, one accessory dwelling unit, one junior accessory dwelling unit, including one deed-restricted affordable unit. While the City of Hermosa Beach recognizes and supports the important goal of increasing housing, this blanket approach overlooks the unique context of cities across California and undermines local control, which the City cannot support. The legislation dismisses local standards such as density, height, setbacks, open space, lot coverage, and parking. This disregard for standards fails to protect public health, safety, welfare, and the overall quality of life for both current and future residents. The City of Hermosa Beach acknowledges the vast housing needs in our State for all income levels. Through extensive public engagement, the City of Hermosa Beach worked to obtain a certified Housing Element and implemented zoning changes to guide and facilitate housing development. However, year after year, the State Legislature imposes new mandates without understanding the impacts on local efforts to produce housing. This legislation irresponsibly usurps local land use control and disregards local development patterns. For these reasons, the City of Hermosa Beach must oppose AB 647 (Gonzalez). Sincerely, Dean Francois Mayor of Hermosa Beach cc.The Honorable Ben Allen, California State Senator, District 24 The Honorable Al Muratsuchi, California State Assemblymember, District 66 Jeffrey Kiernan, League Regional Public Affairs Manager League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org Docusign Envelope ID: DB016248-4B04-4195-8058-72E2D36F792B 1315 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 | hermosabeach.gov | HermosaBchCity HermosaBeachCity April 17, 2025 The Honorable Maria Elena Durazo Chair, Senate Local Government Committee California State Capitol, Room 407 Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: SB 634 (Pérez) Homelessness: civil and criminal penalties Notice of OPPOSITION (As Amended 03/26/25) Dear Senator Durazo: The City of Hermosa Beach must respectfully oppose SB 634 (Pérez), which would prohibit local jurisdictions from adopting or enforcing ordinances to address homelessness. While we recognize the bill’s intent, SB 634 would severely limit cities' ability to respond to the growing homelessness crisis in communities across California. Cities are implementing balanced approaches that protect both the rights of individuals experiencing homelessness and the broader community’s needs for clean, safe, and accessible public spaces. SB 634 hinders this progress by prohibiting local governments from adopting any regulation, policy, or guidance that imposes civil or criminal penalties on a person experiencing homelessness. By eliminating all enforcement mechanisms, SB 634 gives people the right to stand, sit, lay, sleep, or put up a tent in any public place. Cities have been sued by business owners for allowing encampments to block access to businesses and by disability rights advocates over encampments that have obstructed sidewalks and public spaces. Without the ability to use civil or criminal enforcement remedies, cities would face increased legal liability and more importantly, have no meaningful way to respond to urgent health and safety concerns. The City of Hermosa Beach recognizes that we must remain focused on connecting unhoused residents to housing and services, but cities also need basic tools to meet their legal obligations and protect public spaces. SB 634 also directly contradicts cities’ efforts to address encampments in response to the Governor’s November 2024 executive order. The order directed state departments and agencies to adopt policies to address homeless encampments on state properties and encouraged local governments to adopt similar policies or risk losing access to state homelessness funding. Cities want to help the state to realize our shared vision of reducing homelessness and supporting our most vulnerable residents. However, SB 634 leaves cities without any enforcement tools, hindering cities' ability to carry out the Governor’s directive and jeopardizing state funding cities receive to address homelessness. Docusign Envelope ID: DB016248-4B04-4195-8058-72E2D36F792B 1315 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 | hermosabeach.gov | HermosaBeachCity HermosaBchCity Local jurisdictions are already working within a complex and evolving legal landscape, including recent federal court decisions like Johnson v. Grants Pass, which clarified constitutional limits on how cities can address homelessness through enforcement actions. In response to the Grants Pass ruling, the Governor stated: “Today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets. This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and well- being of our communities.” SB 634 directly undermines this decision by stripping local governments of the authority to tailor enforcement strategies to their unique circumstances. It also disregards the years of legal effort cities have invested to gain the clarity now provided by the Court. The City of Hermosa Beach urges the Legislature to support policies that empower local governments to act with compassion and urgency — not tie their hands behind their backs. SB 634 does not reflect the nuanced, community-led solutions that are showing promise across the state. For these reasons, the City of Hermosa Beach must oppose SB 634 (Pérez). Sincerely, Dean Francois Mayor of Hermosa Beach cc.The Honorable Ben Allen, California State Senator, District 24 The Honorable Al Muratsuchi, California State Assemblymember, District 66 Jeffrey Kiernan, League Regional Public Affairs Manager (via email) League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org Page 2 Docusign Envelope ID: DB016248-4B04-4195-8058-72E2D36F792B State of California ) County of Los Angeles ) ss ) City of Hermosa Beach May 22, 2025 Certification of Council Action RESOLUTION NO. RES-25-7488 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO ASSEMBLY BILL 647 (GONZALEZ), AND SENATE BILL 634 (PEREZ) I, Myra Maravilla, City Clerk of the City of Hermosa Beach do hereby certify that the above and foregoing Resolution No. RES-25-7488 was duly approved and adopted by the City Council of said City at its special meeting thereof held on the 13th day of May 2025, and passed by the following vote: AYES: NOES: MAYOR SAEMANN, COUNCILMEMBERS JACKSON, KEEGAN, AND FRANCOIS NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: MAYOR PRO TEMPORE DETOY Myra Maravilla City Clerk Docusign Envelope ID: DB016248-4B04-4195-8058-72E2D36F792B