Local Positions

How does the League stand on local issues?

Government.  Natural Resources.  Social Policy.

Government

Law Enforcement: Supports the efforts of local government to maintain high quality law enforcement services, the use of ancillary personnel to handle activities not requiring the services of a sworn officer, consideration of a "police services assessment tax," and the establishment of a reporting system for citizen complaints. (Adopted 1983, Amended 1996, Edited 2005)

Natural Resources

Land Use & Open Space: Supports consistency in development and preservation of the natural assets of our environment through adequate planning, acquisition, development and maintenance of park, recreation and open space lands, including inter-jurisdictional coordination of policies and programs, encouragement of innovative design concepts and preservation of scenic corridors. (Adopted 1970 and 1975; Updated 1992, Edited 2005)

Social Policy

Affordable Housing: Supports changes in local government regulations to reduce the cost of housing in the following ways: streamlining he building approval process, continuing requirements to provide open space and parks, encouraging residential units above commercial uses, considering rezoning some commercial land to residential use, considering zoning changes which preserve the neighborhood character and address parking and traffic impacts, preserving the current housing stock, encouraging the building of rental units; and increasing the amount of housing available for moderate- and low-income residents. (Adopted 1981, Edited 2005)

Child Care: Supports extended child care facilities, school child care programs, zoning to allow child care in commercial districts, affordable conditional use permits and advocacy for the concerns of all children in the communities. (Adopted 1986, Edited 2005)

Commercial Development: Supports development of existing commercial areas in a manner which retains the character of the community and is accompanied by comprehensive planning for traffic control and adequate parking, with a mixture of housing and commercial development where feasible. (Adopted 1979, Edited 2005)

Community Recreation and Enrichment: Supports coordination of programs offered by public and private agencies, accounting procedures that are made available for public scrutiny and demonstrate an efficient use of taxes, available child care, and encouragement of extracurricular activities for junior high and senior high school youth. (Adopted 1976, Updated 1997, Edited 2005)

Redevelopment: Supports use of redevelopment funds--with community input--for safety, beautification; recreation facilities; renovation of existing buildings; creation of new public and commercial structures; historical preservation; parking; improvement of streets, sidewalks, and infrastructure; and provision of low- and moderate-income housing in our communities. (Adopted 2004, Edited 2005)

Senior Citizens: Supports encouraging communities to coordinate senior citizen services, removing barriers for seniors, broadening community awareness of senior services available, providing for senior housing, and encouraging development of a mechanism for setting senior priorities. (Adopted 1979 & 1991, Combined 2005)

School Curriculum Supports planning for maintenance of quality curriculum in Junior and Senior High Schools including vocational pursuits and college requirements, curriculum decision-making with community input, teacher retention on the basis of merit, creative use of staff and a reorganization of school districts. (Adopted 1982, Edited 2005)

Surplus School Land & Facilities: Supports cooperation between school districts and city governments in planning for utilization of school assets in a manner that meets educational goals and also considers the needs of the community. (Adopted 1980, Edited 2005)

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