DATE: May 24, 2016
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Federal and State Legislative Priorities Program
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Council provides feedback on the proposed Legislative Program (Attachment I), specifically the general and specific legislative priorities.
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BACKGROUND
For the past several years, the City has had no formal comprehensive legislative program that outlines the public policy priorities of the City. The purpose of a legislative program is to help provide direction to staff and to the City’s legislative advocates in Sacramento and Washington D.C. The legislative program informs interested parties of the City’s stances on any piece of legislation, state-wide referenda, grant funding opportunity, or local ballot measure. Additionally, a legislative program serves as a basis for action regarding any piece of Federal or State legislation or funding opportunity.
DISCUSSION
The attached document is an example of what a formal annual legislative program might look like. The General Legislative Priorities reflected in the document have been compiled by staff based on previous actions by and conversations with Council in an effort to give structure to this conversation. It is assumed they will be confirmed, changed, added to, or deleted by Council based on this process; and that the final document will directly reflect Council’s review and input.
The City Council Priorities of Safe, Clean, Green, and Thriving, supported by Fiscal Sustainability and Organizational Health, serve as the general guiding principles for Hayward’s draft legislative priorities. Under the proposed legislative program, the City has two foundational priorities: maintaining financial stability including preserving revenue sources and maintaining local control, particularly over land-use decisions. These essential parameters will guide a majority of the City’s actions in support of or in opposition to proposed legislation at all levels. In addition to these parameters, the Legislative Program provides the opportunity to specifically oppose or support a policy.
The Legislative Program will continue to be coordinated through the City Manager’s Office. Public policies are often brought to the attention of the City through our State and Federal Legislative Advocates, City Council, other elected officials, City staff, residents, and other governmental associations like the League of California Cities. Under this legislative program, the City will have a formal course of action to take on a given policy. The steps may include:
• Direction to Lobbyists to advocate in support or opposition to policy
• Mayoral correspondence with relevant parties, including legislators
• Correspondence authored or authorized by the City Manager as needed, consistent with Council’s adopted legislative program
• Council resolutions and/or actions (e.g., work sessions, public hearings, appointing task forces, etc.)
• Council and staff outreach with relevant legislators
• Travel to Sacramento/Washington D.C. for in-person advocacy
NEXT STEPS
Following this work session and the feedback received from the Council, staff will make necessary changes to the legislative program and present the final version to Council along with a resolution establishing the legislative program for the City.
Prepared by: John Stefanski, Management Analyst I
Staff contact
Recommended by: Kelly McAdoo, Assistant City Manager
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Approved by:
Fran David, City Manager
Attachments:
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Attachment I |
Draft Legislative Program |