CC SR 20221220 02 - 2023 Legislative Platform
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 12/20/2022
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to adopt the City’s 2023 Legislative Platform.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Adopt Resolution No. 2022-__, thereby approving the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
2023 Legislative Platform; and
(2) Approve amendments to City Council Policy No. 29 by adding clarifying language
that the City Council will adopt a legislative platform annually based on their
position on legislative items.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: McKenzie Bright, Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Draft Resolution No. 2022-__, a resolution adopting the City’s 2023
Legislative Platform (page A-1)
B. Redline Draft City of Rancho Palos Verdes 2023 Legislative Platform
(redline comparison to 2022 Platform) (page B-1)
C. Unmarked Draft City of Rancho Palos Verdes 2023 Legislative Platform
(page C-1)
D. Draft amendments to City Council Policy No. 29 (redline) (page D-1)
E. Existing City Council Policy No. 29 (page E-1)
F. October 18, 2022, staff report
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
Many cities and other organizations that frequently take positions on federal and state
legislation adopt an annual legislative program or platform. Legislative platforms outline
policy statements regarding legislative and re gulatory issues that are of interest to the
organization and are likely to come forward during the legislative session.
1
Pursuant to City Council Policy No. 29, the City Council monitors bills under consideration
by the federal government, state, and county, and will take a position on a bill, depending
on its potential impact to the City, Peninsula or South Bay.
Over the last several years, the City has taken an increasingly active role in advocating
for City interests primarily at the state level. On August 4, 2020, the City Council adopted
Resolution No. 2020-46, expressing opposition to proposed planning and zoning
legislation that usurps local control and imposes unfunded mandates, and expressing
support for actions to further strengthen local democracy, authority, and control. On July
6, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-31, thereby adopting the City’s
Housing and Local Land Use Legislative Platform. On November 2, 2021, the C ity Council
adopted Resolution No. 2021-057, thereby adopting the City’s 2022 Legislative Platform.
Staff, in consultation with the Legislative Subcommittee, comprised of Councilmembers
Alegria and Cruikshank, developed the City’s 2023 Legislative Platform based on the
City’s existing policies and goals for the upcoming legislative session.
Staff recommends the City Council consider adopting the 2023 Legislative Platform, as
drafted (see Attachment B for redline comparison to 2022 Platform and Attachment C for
clean copy).
The 2023 Legislative Platform outlines the City’s policies on the following components:
• Priority project: Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project
• Housing and Local Land Use
• Public Safety
• Community Services
• Environmental Quality
• Government Transparency and Effectiveness
Major changes from the 2022 Legislative Platform include:
• Spotlighting the Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project as a “Priority
Project”
• Emphasizing the need for both sustainable and affordable housing development
• Highlighting the need for additional mental health resources
• Encouraging policies that allow for regional considerations/determinations, such
as at the council of government level, to better meet the needs of regions in L os
Angeles County
The 2023 Legislative Platform consolidates the positions the Council has taken on a
variety of bills and is designed to provide City Staff, as well as the City’s federal and state
legislative delegation, with general guidance on legislative and regulatory issues of
interest and concern to the City Council. The Legislative Platform will also inform
organizations with an advocacy presence in Washington and Sacramento, such as the
League of California Cities, California Contract Cities Association, South Bay Cities
2
Council of Governments, and the City’s lobbyist of the City Council’s legislative interests.
The platform will assist Staff in communicating about legislative and regulatory issues of
interest and will enable Staff to quickly act in the event an issue of direct impact to the
City requires immediate attention.
During the Council meeting on October 18, 2022, after receiving a report on the 2022
Legislative Session (see Attachment F), Councilmember Cruikshank requested that
keywords be added to the Legislative Platform to assist in finding bills of interest, as well
as a list of potential partners for target issue areas.
The Legislative Platform itself functions as the keywords that Staff and the City’s lobbyist
use to assist in determining bills to bring forward for City Council consideration, as well
as potentially drafting language for bill introduction.
In terms of partners and potential coalitions, Staff continuously monitors for potential
partners and coalitions on all issue areas, including neighboring cities, cities with similar
policy priorities, existing groups such as the League of California Cities a nd the South
Bay Cities Council of Governments, and other, more targeted groups as they develop,
such as the Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative. Staff has included potential coalition
partners following each section in the Legislative Platform. It should be noted that only
the City’s current coalition groups were mentioned, but Staff will continue to assess new
partnerships, including with neighboring cities and cities with similar interests throughout
the state, and the listed groups are not intended to be an exhaustive list, merely a starting
point.
Bills of interest will be brought before the City Council in accordance with City Council
Policy No. 29 for a formal position (see Attachment E). If a bill requires immediate
attention, the City Council shall be notified of the City’s intention to send a letter, signed
by the City Manager, expressing the City’s proposed position. The bill will be brought
before the City Council at its next meeting to adopt a formal position.
If acceptable, Staff recommends adopting the attached resolution thereby approving the
City’s 2023 Legislative Platform as an attachment to the resolution.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Legislative Platform and bills the City monitors will be available on the City’s website
at rpvca.gov/LegislationCorner. The Legislation Corner also provides historic information
on the City’s previous platforms and bill positions. The Legislative Corner will be updated
to reflect the 2023 Legislative Platform, if adopted this evening.
During the Legislative Session, Staff additionally includes legislation updates as part of
the City Manager’s Weekly Administrative Report.
CONCLUSION:
3
In response to the City’s continued advocacy efforts and to memorialize the City’s
positions, Staff recommends the City Council adopt the attached resolution (Attachment
A) thereby approving, as drafted or with revisions, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes 2023
Legislative Platform (Attachment C).
In addition, Staff recommends the City Council amend City Council Policy No. 29, as
drafted (see Attachment D), memorializing the adoption of an annual legislative platform
within the City Council’s legislative policy process.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative action is available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
4
Resolution No. 2022-__
Page 1 of 2
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA,
ADOPTING THE CITY’S 2023 LEGISLATIVE
PLATFORM
WHEREAS, the City Council has an interest in weighing in on state, federal, and
regional legislative issues that impact the City and its residents; and
WHEREAS, the Council annually takes action on numerous legislative proposals
brought forward throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is committed to maintaining and
enhancing a high quality of life and safety for all residents; and
WHEREAS, on August 4, 2020, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes adopted
Resolution No. 2020-46, expressing opposition to proposed planning and zoning
legislation that usurps local control and imposes unfunded mandates, and expressing
support for actions to further strengthen local democracy, authority and control; and
WHEREAS, on July 6, 2021, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes adopted Resolution
No. 2021-31, adopting the City’s Housing and Local Land Use Legislative Platform; and
WHEREAS, on November 2, 2021, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes adopted
Resolution No. 2021-057, adopting the City’s 2022 Legislative Platform; and
WHEREAS, the City Council continues to take an active advocacy role on a variety
of topics, including housing and local land use legislative policies, proposed by the State
Legislature.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes does
hereby resolve as follows:
Section 1: The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein
by reference.
Section 2: The City Council hereby adopts and approves the City’s 2023
Legislative Platform attached (Attachment A) and incorporated herein by this reference
as the official legislative policy of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Section 3: The 2023 Legislative Platform will be used to guide legislative advocacy
including position letters on proposed legislation .
A-1
Resolution No. 2022-__
Page 2 of 2
Section 4: The City Clerk shall certify to the passage, approval, and adoption of
this resolution, and shall cause this resolution and its certification to be entered in the
Book of Resolutions of the City Council of the City.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THE 20TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2022.
___________________________
Barbara Ferraro, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the
above Resolution No. 2022-__ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said
City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on December 20, 2022.
________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
A-2
20232 Legislative Platform
Page A-1
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
20232 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
DATE ADOPTED: Resolution No. 20221-__ on November December 202, 20221.
PURPOSE
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes’ 20232 Legislative Platform (Platform) outlines the
policy positions of the City Council on current issues which directly or indirectly impact
the City. This Platform serves as a guideline to actively pursue pending legislation through
monitoring and communications activities, with City Council approval and is primarily
based upon positions previously adopted by the City Council.
The City looks forward to working with regional, state, and federal partners to best serve
residents. The statements outlined in the Platform represent the City’s general position
on legislative and regulatory issues of interest and concern.
PRIORITY CITY PROJECTS
Through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), major projects are planned for a
period of five years. The list below includes important projects of regional significance
listed within the CIP that do not have sufficient funding. The City is supportive of
legislation, policies, programs, or administrative actions that would assist in funding these
projects.
A. Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project
Total Cost: $33 million
Status: Environmental analysis and documentation
Funds Committed: $2.3 million
The Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex (PBLC) is the largest active landslide in
the continental United States, encompassing two of the City’s roughly 14 square
miles, directly impacting Palos Verdes Drive South, a major arterial street providing
transportation for the wider region , including neighboring cities of Palos Verdes
Estates and the City of Los Angeles (San Pedro). Continued land movement poses
a catastrophic environmental threat to the California coastline due to an above-
ground sewer trunk line located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean at severe risk of
rupture. The project seeks to protect life, public health, safety, and the environment
through mitigation of land movement in the PBLC area.
1. HOUSING AND LOCAL LAND USE
A. Oppose legislation that usurps local control and erodes the City’s authority to
control its own affairs.
B. Support actions which further strengthen local democracy, authority, and control.
B-1
20232 Legislative Platform
Page A-2
C. Support policies or programs that allow city and state collaboration on housing
production, alongside sustainable transportation, broadband deployment, and
other key infrastructure areas to support our communities. Support state grants,
legislation, or programs which provide funds to cities and/or developers to
encourage sustainable and affordable housing development. Support policies or
grants which encourage the development of regional housing trusts.
D. Oppose legislation that penalizes a city or local government if the units identif ied
in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) are not constructed. Oppose
legislation that proposes to convert RHNA from a planning process to a production
standard.
E. Support legislation that preserves local authority to manage public rights -of-way
including the appearance and aesthetics of equipment placed within them.
F. Support legislation that preserves local authority to zone and plan for the
deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in public rights-of-way.
G. Oppose legislation that diminishes the authority of local jurisdictions to process
permits and enforce building codes or mandates the manner of enforcement.
H. Oppose legislation that seeks to limit or eliminate municipal authority to regulate
street or sidewalk vendors.
I. Support legislation and administrative actions that protect the ability for a local
jurisdiction to preserve open space in and around a local government’s jurisdiction.
J. Support legislation and administrative actions that provide state and federal
funding for major public works projects such as the Portuguese Bend Landslide
Remediation Project.
o Potential Coalition Partners: League of California Cities (Cal Cities), South Bay
Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), California Contract Cities Association
(CCCA), Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Palos Verdes
Peninsula Cities (PV Cities), Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative
2. PUBLIC SAFETY
A. Support legislation that enhances emergency preparedness, resiliency, and public
safety.
B. Support legislation that strengthens and enforces legal protections for all
individuals who are victims of crimes.
B-2
20232 Legislative Platform
Page A-3
C. Support measures that provide funding to local agencies for training, effective
disaster preparedness, sheriff’s station infrastructure, fire department
infrastructure, and emergency planning.
D. Support legislation, regulations, or administrative actions ensuring all cities,
including contract cities, have equal access to public safety funding.
E. Support legislation which maintains law enforcement’s ability to utilize automatic
license plate reading (ALPR) cameras as an investigatory tool.
F. Support legislation that provides tools to deter catalytic converter theft.
E.G. Support legislation that provides tools to deter organized and serial retail
theft.
H. Support legislation to accelerate the development and implementation of
enhanced electrical utility infrastructure, including undergrounding of utility
equipment that ensures reliable utility service and public safety and prevents the
use of public safety power shutoffs.
F.I. Support legislation that protects insurance coverage for properties within very high
fire zones.
O Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department (LASD), PV Cities
3. COMMUNITY SERVICES
A. Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs that employ evidence-
based best practice strategies to reduce the number of people experiencing
homelessness by preventing homelessness for those at risk; promoting mental
health and substance abuse services; providing emergency and transitional
housing; expanding permanent affordable housing; and promoting self -
empowerment through counseling, job training, and other supportive services.
B. Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs that reduce the number
of people experiencing homelessness by promoting mental health and substance
abuse services; providing emergency and transitional housing; expanding
permanent affordable/supportive housing; and promoting self-empowerment
through counseling, job training, and other supportive services for those who suffer
from mental health issues and/or substance abuse.
C.B. Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs which seek to
provide mental health services, including youth and young adult programs,
community resource centers, and education in accessing mental health care.
B-3
20232 Legislative Platform
Page A-4
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, Los Angeles Homeless
Services Authority, PV Cities, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
4. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
A. Support legislation, regulations, or administrative actions to remediate the harmful
effects of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and other chemicals in coastal
waters, especially near Santa Catalina Island and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
B. Support legislation that provides rebate programs, tax credits, and other financial
incentives that encourage property owners to invest in water efficient systems and
landscaping and energy efficiency and renewable energy systems.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, PV Cities, coastal cities
5. GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
A. Support legislation that grants full cost reimbursement to local agencies by the
state and federal government for all mandated programs.
B. Support legislation that ensures the retention of existing local revenue sources,
including the City’s share of property taxes, sales and use taxes, transient
occupancy taxes, etc. Support legislation that will enhance revenue for cities.
C. Support legislation modernizing the methods by which a local agency may comply
with the Brown Act. Support legislation that allows for the continued use of
teleconferencing platforms to continue holding hybrid public meetings outside of a
declared state of emergency. Hybrid meetings increase access to public meetings
and encourage greater transparency.
D. Support legislation which allows for regional considerations or public health orders
that consider regional factors when determining public health needs within Los
Angeles County, particularly at the council of governments (COG) level, in
relationship to public health, homelessness, and sustainability, among other areas
of regional importance.
E. Oppose legislation that would prohibit or limit local governments’ ability to contract
out for the provision of services.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, PV Cities
B-4
2023 Legislative Platform
Page A-1
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
2023 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
DATE ADOPTED: Resolution No. 2022-__ on December 20, 2022.
PURPOSE
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes’ 2023 Legislative Platform (Platform) outlines the policy
positions of the City Council on current issues which directly or indirectly impact the City.
This Platform serves as a guideline to actively pursue pending legislation, with City
Council approval.
The City looks forward to working with regional, state, and federal partners to best serve
residents. The statements outlined in the Platform represent the City’s general position
on legislative and regulatory issues of interest and concern.
PRIORITY CITY PROJECTS
Through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), major projects are planned for a
period of five years. The list below includes important projects of regional significance
listed within the CIP that do not have sufficient funding. The City is supportive of
legislation, policies, programs, or administrative actions that would assist in funding these
projects.
A. Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project
Total Cost: $33 million
Status: Environmental analysis and documentation
Funds Committed: $2.3 million
The Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex (PBLC) is the largest active landslide in
the continental United States, encompassing two of the City’s roughly 14 square
miles, directly impacting Palos Verdes Drive South, a major arterial street providing
transportation for the wider region , including neighboring cities of Palos Verdes
Estates and the City of Los Angeles (San Pedro). Continued land movement poses
a catastrophic environmental threat to the California coastline due to an above -
ground sewer trunk line located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean at severe risk of
rupture. The project seeks to protect life, public health, safety, and the environment
through mitigation of land movement in the PBLC area.
1. HOUSING AND LOCAL LAND USE
A. Oppose legislation that usurps local control and erodes the City’s authority to
control its own affairs.
B. Support actions which further strengthen local democracy, authority, and control.
C-1
2023 Legislative Platform
Page A-2
C. Support policies or programs that allow city and state collaboration on housing
production, alongside sustainable transportation, broadband deployment, and
other key infrastructure areas to support our communities. Support state grants,
legislation, or programs which encourage sustainable and affordable housing
development. Support policies or grants which encourage the development of
regional housing trusts.
D. Oppose legislation that penalizes a city or local government if the units identified
in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) are not constructed. Oppose
legislation that proposes to convert RHNA from a planning process to a production
standard.
E. Support legislation that preserves local authority to manage public rights -of-way
including the appearance and aesthetics of equipment placed within them.
F. Support legislation that preserves local authority to zone and plan for the
deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in public rights-of-way.
G. Oppose legislation that diminishes the authority of local jurisdictions to process
permits and enforce building codes or mandates the manner of enforcement.
H. Oppose legislation that seeks to limit or eliminate municipal authority to regulate
street or sidewalk vendors.
I. Support legislation and administrative actions that protect the ability for a local
jurisdiction to preserve open space in and around a local government’s jurisdiction.
o Potential Coalition Partners: League of California Cities (Cal Cities), South Bay
Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), California Contract Cities Association
(CCCA), Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), Palos Verdes
Peninsula Cities (PV Cities), Our Neighborhood Voices Initiative
2. PUBLIC SAFETY
A. Support legislation that enhances emergency preparedness, resiliency, and public
safety.
B. Support legislation that strengthens and enforces legal protections for all
individuals who are victims of crimes.
C. Support measures that provide funding to local agencies for training, effective
disaster preparedness, sheriff’s station infrastructure, fire department
infrastructure, and emergency planning.
D. Support legislation, regulations, or administrative actions ensuring all cities,
including contract cities, have equal access to public safety funding.
C-2
2023 Legislative Platform
Page A-3
E. Support legislation which maintains law enforcement’s ability to utilize automatic
license plate reading (ALPR) cameras as an investigatory tool.
F. Support legislation that provides tools to deter catalytic converter theft.
G. Support legislation that provides tools to deter organized and serial retail theft.
H. Support legislation to accelerate the development and implementation of
enhanced electrical utility infrastructure, including undergrounding of utility
equipment that ensures reliable utility service and public safety and prevents the
use of public safety power shutoffs.
I. Support legislation that protects insurance coverage for properties within very high
fire zones.
O Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department (LASD), PV Cities
3. COMMUNITY SERVICES
A. Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs that employ evidence-
based best practice strategies to reduce the number of people experiencing
homelessness by preventing homelessness for those at risk; promoting mental
health and substance abuse services; providing emergency and transitional
housing; expanding permanent affordable housing; and promoting self -
empowerment through counseling, job training, and other supportive services.
B. Support legislation and local, state, and federal programs which seek to provide
mental health services, including youth and young adult programs, community
resource centers, and education in accessing mental health care.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, Los Angeles Homeless
Services Authority, PV Cities, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
4. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
A. Support legislation, regulations, or administrative actions to remediate the harmful
effects of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and other chemicals in coastal
waters, especially near Santa Catalina Island and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
B. Support legislation that provides rebate programs, tax credits, and other financial
incentives that encourage property owners to invest in water efficient systems and
landscaping and energy efficiency and renewable energy systems.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, PV Cities, coastal cities
C-3
2023 Legislative Platform
Page A-4
5. GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
A. Support legislation that grants full cost reimbursement to local agencies by the
state and federal government for all mandated programs.
B. Support legislation that ensures the retention of existing local revenue sources,
including the City’s share of property taxes, sales and use taxes, transient
occupancy taxes, etc. Support legislation that will enhance revenue for cities.
C. Support legislation modernizing the methods by which a local agency may comply
with the Brown Act. Support legislation that allows for the continued use of
teleconferencing platforms to continue holding hybrid public meetings outside of a
declared state of emergency. Hybrid meetings increase access to public meetings
and encourage greater transparency.
D. Support legislation which allows for regional considerations within Los Angeles
County, particularly at the council of governments (COG) level, in relationship to
public health, homelessness, and sustainability, among other areas of regional
importance.
E. Oppose legislation that would prohibit or limit local governments’ ability to contract
out for the provision of services.
o Potential Coalition Partners: Cal Cities, SBCCOG, CCCA, PV Cities
C-4
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 29
DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED: 08/01/95 (amended 02/19/02, 03/04/14,
and 04/20/21, and 12/20/22)
SUBJECT: City Council Position on Legislative Items
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City that staff shall monitor regional, County, State and
Federal legislative matters and initiatives, and consider the potential impact(s)
such legislative initiatives on the City or the region, in line with the City Council’s
annually adopted Legislative Platform. Thereafter, staff shall prepare and present
periodic updates on such legislative matters for the City Council to consider
whether to take a position(s) on the same and, if so, what position(s) to take.
The legislation monitored will include both those issues that the City Council
determines either to support or oppose and those that the City Council may choose
to identify as issues of concern, but not take a position on. The determination of
what position to take on pending legislation shall be solely that of the City Council.
Staff will periodically, at the request of a Council member or in accordance with the
Legislative Platform, place matters of pending legislation on the City Council
agenda for consideration. Staff will provide regular updates on the status of any
legislative action affecting any issues of concern to the City Council through the
Weekly Administrative Report.
If the majority of the Council votes to take a position on a certain legislation, staff
shall prepare the appropriate correspondence, for the Mayor’s signature, to the
relevant Federal, State, County and/or regional legislative representative(s)
expressing the position of the City, and copies provided to the City Council. Such
correspondence shall be posted on the City’s website under the Legislation Corner
homepage.
Individual Council members may wish to support or oppose a specific piece of
legislation irrespective of whether the City Council has or has not taken a position
on such legislation. Any legislative activity by an individual Council member,
including preparing legislative correspondence, may be conducted by any Council
member, who shall state that he or she is not acting on behalf of the City and is
representing his or her own personal views. However, staff shall not assist in any
legislative activity of an individual Council member, including the preparation of
legislative correspondence, unless the legislative item has appeared on a Council
agenda and has received a majority vote of the Council.
D-1
Summaries and updates on legislation that staff monitors and/or that the City
Council has taken a position on The League of California Cities’ “Legislative
Bulletin” and any appropriate publication that summarizes legislation shall be
provided as part of the City Manager’s Weekly Administrative Report to each
member of the Council for review.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council initially adopted a policy for Council involvement in Federal and
State legislative advocacy in 1995. Although the policy seems to have worked
adequately over the first seven years, by 2002 it was thought that it did not allow
the City to respond rapidly to requests to support or oppose legislation that may
be before a committee or on the floor or the Assembly or before Congress and
needs immediate action on the part of supporters or opponents. Therefore, the
policy was amended in 2002 to address these perceived deficiencies. In 2014, the
policy was amended again to revise the procedure for monitoring legislation, and
to explicitly include legislative issues at the County and regional level. In 2021,
the policy was amended to reflect updated Staff processes. In 2022, it was
amended to reflect the City’s adoption of an annual Legislative Platform.
The City Council’s revised legislative policy establishes an internal process for
identifying, tracking and advocating its position on pending legislation
synchronized to the fast-paced “legislation time clock.” Through this proactive
policy, the City Council hopes to have a stronger “voice” in the Peninsula/South
Bay region, Los Angeles County, Sacramento and Washington, DC.
D-2
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 29
DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED: 08/01/95 (amended 02/19/02, 03/04/14 and
04/20/21)
SUBJECT: City Council Position on Legislative Items
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City that staff shall monitor regional, County, State and
Federal legislative matters and initiatives, and consider the potential impact(s)
such legislative initiatives on the City or the region. Thereafter, staff shall prepare
and present periodic updates on such legislative matters for the City Council to
consider whether to take a position(s) on the same and, if so, what position(s) to
take.
The legislation monitored will include both those issues that the City Council
determines either to support or oppose and those that the City Council may choose
to identify as issues of concern, but not take a position on. The determination of
what position to take on pending legislation shall be solely that of the City Council.
Staff will periodically, at the request of a Council member, place matters of pending
legislation on the City Council agenda for consideration. Staff will provide regular
updates on the status of any legislative action affecting any issues of concern to
the City Council through the Weekly Administrative Report.
If the majority of the Council votes to take a position on a certain legislation, staff
shall prepare the appropriate correspondence , for the Mayor’s signature, to the
relevant Federal, State, County and/or regional legislative representative(s)
expressing the position of the City, and copies provided to the City Council. Such
correspondence shall be posted on the City’s website under the Legislation Corner
homepage.
Individual Council members may wish to support or oppose a specific piece of
legislation irrespective of whether the City Council has or has not taken a position
on such legislation. Any legislative activity by an individual Council member,
including preparing legislative correspondence, may be conducted by a ny Council
member, who shall state that he or she is not acting on behalf of the City and is
representing his or her own personal views. However, staff shall not assist in any
legislative activity of an individual Council member, including the preparation of
legislative correspondence, unless the legislative item has appeared on a Council
agenda and has received a majority vote of the Council.
E-1
The League of California Cities’ “Legislative Bulletin” and any appropriate
publication that summarizes legislation shall be provided as part of the City
Manager’s Weekly Administrative Report to each member of the Council for
review.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council initially adopted a policy for Council involvement in Federal and
State legislative advocacy in 1995. Although the policy seems to have worked
adequately over the first seven years, by 2002 it was thought that it did not allow
the City to respond rapidly to requests to support or oppose legislation that may
be before a committee or on the floor or the Assembly or before Congress and
needs immediate action on the part of supporters or opponents. Therefore, the
policy was amended in 2002 to address these perceived deficiencies. In 2014, the
policy was amended again to revise the procedure for monitoring legislation, and
to explicitly include legislative issues at the County and regional level.
The City Council’s revised legislative policy establishes an internal process for
identifying, tracking and advocating its position on pending legislation
synchronized to the fast-paced “legislation time clock.” Through this proactive
policy, the City Council hopes to have a stronger “voice” in the Peninsula/South
Bay region, Los Angeles County, Sacramento and Washington, DC.
E-2