City Council Subcommittee Agendas and Minutes

Legislative Subcommittee August 24, 2016 9:00 a.m. Doetsch Conference Room Campbell City Hall – 70 N. First Street Members: Vice Mayor Liz Gibbons Councilmember Michael Kotowski AGENDA 1. Draft Legislative Advocacy Principles* 2. Discussion of measures on the November 8, 2016 General Election ballot* In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, assisted listening devices are available for meetings held in the Council Chamber. If you require accommodation to participate in the meeting, please contact Al Bito, Deputy City Manager, at 408-866- 2128 or e-mail alb@cityofcampbell.com. *indicates written report MEMORANDUM City Manager’s Office To: Legislative Subcommittee Date: August 22, 2016 From: Margarita F. Mendoza, Administrative Analyst Via: Al Bito, Deputy City Manager Subject: Draft Legislative Advocacy Principles RECOMMENDATION 1. City Council Legislative Subcommittee review and comment on the proposed draft “Legislative Advocacy Principles;” and 2. Forward a recommendation to calendar discussion and action by the City Council at its September 20, 2016 meeting. BACKGROUND The City Manager’s Office coordinates a legislative review program focused on supporting legislation that will enhance City services and programs; and protects the interests of our community. Conversely, the City will oppose legislation that negatively impacts City interests. As a member of the League of California Cities (League), the City is informed about legislation that impacts municipal government. In addition, Councilmembers or City staff is alerted to specific legislation due to their membership in regional agencies or boards, such as the Valley Transportation Authority Board or Santa Clara County Cities Association. On occasion, the League or a regional agency requests that the City take a position on a piece of pending legislation and/or write an advocacy letter to the Legislature consistent with the City’s position. The process for responding to such requests is to convene the Legislative Subcommittee composed of two City Councilmembers, to review the legislation or ballot measure and staff’s recommended position. The Subcommittee will then forward their recommended City positions on the legislative bills or ballot measures to the full City Council for action. DISCUSSION Staff is presenting the attached draft “Legislative Advocacy Principles” in order to permit a City’s position on a particular bill or measure in a timely manner. At times, there is inadequate time to bring an item to the full City Council for action and meet the deadlines of the legislative process. Draft Legislative Advocacy Principles Page 2 of 2 August 22, 2016 These advocacy principles will allow staff to consider a pending piece of legislation or ballot measure and determine if it falls within the Council’s adopted guidelines and thus authorize an official statement on the City’s position to be articulated without taking the proposed legislation or ballot measure to the City Council. In order for staff take a City position, the legislation or ballot measure must meet the following objective: 1. Would directly impact the City’s finances, responsibilities, legal authority, operation; In addition, the intent of the legislation must: 2. Protect Local Revenues; or 3. Maintain Local Control; or 4. Prevent Unfunded Mandates; or 5. Pursue or Retain Funding for Key Efforts. The legislation and measure would also require review from the City Manager or his/her designee. However, if the legislation does not fall within the objectives of the principles, staff will continue its current practice of taking the item to the City Council for discussion. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the Legislative Advocacy Principles. The staff time to review and issue position letters on legislation and ballot measures is part of the City Manager’s Office responsibilities and weaved in to the annual budget. ALTERNATIVES 1. Provide edits to the draft Legislative Advocacy Principles. 2. Take no action and keep the current practice. Attachment: 1. Draft Legislative Advocacy Principles.  SECTION 1.31 LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY PRINCIPLES I. PURPOSE The purpose of establishing legislative advocacy principles is to permit a City's position on a particular legislative bill in a timely manner. These principles will allow staff to consider a pending piece of legislation or ballot measure and determine if it falls within the Council's adopted principles, therefore allowing the City to issue a position statement without taking the legislation to Council. If the legislation does not fall within the guidelines, it will be taken to Council for discussion and direction. II. POLICY SCOPE A. Actions of support or opposition to State or Federal legislation can be taken by the Mayor or staff without City Council approval, as staff resources permit, if the legislation is consistent with the following guiding principles: i. Would directly impact the City’s finances, responsibilities, legal authority, or operations, AND ii. Is intended to protect or increase local revenues; OR iii. Is intended to protect or increase local control; OR iv. Is opposing an unfunded mandate; OR v. Is consistent with existing City policy, past action, or current City Council strategic priorities; AND vi. Has been reviewed by the City Manager or his/her designee. B. Full Council action is required if: i. Legislation is not clearly within the guiding principles above. ii. The recommended Mayor or staff position is inconsistent with the League of California Cities for State issues or the National League of Cities for Federal issues. iii. The requested support is for any type of grassroots advocacy action, such as social, political or economic movements, that are not legislation. C. An exception to this rule is if a significant item requires action before Council approval can be obtained, and the City Manager deems it appropriate to act, consultation with the Mayor and Vice Mayor will be taken prior to action. D. Councilmembers representing the City on regional or other bodies should use their discretion and take action based on the principles above.