1 MEMORANDUM
DATE: May 16, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Judie Wilke, Assistant City Manager
By: Viviana Garzon, MPA, Administrative Analyst II
SUBJECT: Budget Discussion Paper: Addition of a Legislative Analyst in the City Manager’s Office and Expansion of the Scope of Services for the City’s Current State Legislative Advocacy Group
BACKGROUND
At the May 9, 2023, City Council meeting, in an effort to be more proactive when it comes to State legislation, Council Member Mullins requested a budget discussion paper on the addition of a Legislative Analyst in the City Manager’s Office and Council Member Perez requested staff include an analysis of increasing the Scope of Services to the existing contract with Emanuel Jones & Associa tes (EJA), the City’s current state legislative advocacy service group.
DISCUSSION
Legislative Analyst
The City has a n approved classification for the position of Legislative Analyst and currently there is one Legislative Analyst in the City that works in the Burbank Water & Power Department . The Legislative Analyst’s responsibilities include managing an effective legislative outreach program, coordinating action on all legislative and regulatory matters that may impact the City’s interest including, but not limited to, energy, water, and telecommunications; and recommending positions and strategies in response to legislative and regulatory issues at the state and federal level.
A Legislative Analyst provides significant value by supporting legislative analysis, tracking, and advocacy efforts. They also provide valuable assistance to City staff and Council Members in monitoring and analyzing legislati on at the state and federal levels.
In addition, the Legislative Analyst can help the City and Council stay informed and CITY MANAGER’S
OFFICE
2 engaged in legislative matters that affect the community, while also identifying potential opportunities for the City to advance its legislative priorities as presented in the annual Council adopted Legislative Platform . The total salary with benefits for a Legislative Analyst is between $114,265 and $152,872.
Increasing the Scope of Services to the existing contract with Emanuel Jones & Associates
EJA is a state legislative advocacy service group that has represented the City of Burbank since 1999. The firm is conveniently based in Sacramento, California, which is the center of the state’s legislative activity. S taff at EJA provide the City with legislative and regulatory monitoring, analysis, and advocacy. EJA provides valuable assistance to staff in all areas related to legislation as well as communicating with key stakeholders ; there has been a significant amount of State legislation impacting local governments over the past years and it is difficult for one staff to be aware of all of it. An i ncrease in the Scope of Services could provide the City with more support in this area at a smaller cost compared to hiring additional staff.
Proposed changes to the current Scope of Services could include the addition of:
• Three in person presentations to City Council per year. Currently , there is one legislative update included in the contract. This would increase the number of in - person legislative updates to City Council from one to four per year at key periods during the legislative process.
• M onthly written legislative update reports to City Council. • T hree virtual legislative workshops (1 hour each) for C ouncil Members (no more than 2 Council Members per meeting; optional meeting for Council) and key staff to outline the legislative process, important dates, timing of committee actions, how things work in Sacramento, bill updates, state budget updates, etc. • One intensive 2-hour virtual workshop with the City’s executive team and/or key staff in October to help draft the upcoming Legislative Platform and share insight into existing and potential State legislation for the following year.
EJA’s current annual contract is $57,000. These changes would increase the contract with the City by approximately $7,000 per year.
FISCAL IMPACT
The recurring annual cost of a Legislative Analyst position is $114,265.74 – $152,872.
The recurring annual cost to increase the Scope of Services for the City’s current state lobbying group is approximately $7,000.
CONCLUSION
Having a dedicated position to focus on both the state and federal legislation for the whole City does have its benefits. However, at this time staff recommends Council consider increasing the annual budget for the City’s contract with EJA by $7,000. EJA’s contract is 3 on an annual basis and staff can re-evaluate in one year. EJA's existing relationship with the City and their expertise in state legislative advocacy make them well-suited to provide the City with valuable assistance in monitoring, analyzing, and advocating for legislative and regulatory matters that affect Burbank's interests.