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Council adopts updated legislative platform; adds online sales tax distribution and FEMA threshold concerns
Summary
Port Hueneme’s City Council reviewed and adopted its legislative platform with two additions: advocacy on equitable distribution of online sales tax revenue and urging revision of FEMA damage-threshold requirements for small jurisdictions.
The Port Hueneme City Council on Jan. 21 reviewed and adopted an updated legislative platform to guide staff advocacy at the state and federal levels over the coming year.
City staff recommended two additions to the platform after discussion in 2024: support for more equitable distribution of sales tax revenue from online sales fulfillment, and advocacy to lower the threshold for federal disaster assistance eligibility (staff noted current FEMA thresholds can be difficult for small cities to meet). The staff report said the League of California Cities had taken positions on portions of the first topic and that congressional offices had shown interest in the second after recent storms.
The Citizen Advisory Commission reviewed the draft and offered three recommendations, summarized in the staff report: (1) consider adding language supporting virtual participation for legislative bodies; (2) consider modifying language on alternative energy to emphasize support for science-backed energy sources; and (3) consider language that supports increased communication between local law enforcement and federal agencies. Staff recommended adoption of the platform with the two staff-proposed additions and said it would research the CAC suggestions further if the council wanted.
Council approved the platform as presented by unanimous vote and asked staff to research the CAC recommendations and return with suggested language if appropriate.
Council Member Hernandez asked whether “homeland security” references in the draft were meant to cover terrorism-related funding only; staff clarified that emergency preparedness and homeland security are separate headings in the platform and that emergency preparedness language could be broadened to include state as well as federal support. The motion to adopt the platform passed unanimously.
