1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: October 1, 2024
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Courtney Padgett, Assistant City Manager
BY: Cathryn LaBrado, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT: Approval of a Support Position on a Resolution Relating to Fair and Equal Treatment of All Governmental Officials at All Levels at the 2024 League of California Cities Conference
RECOMMENDATION
Direct the City of Burbank’s voting delegate or alternate delegate to vote in support of a Resolution Relating to Fair and Equal Treatment of All Governmental Officials at All Levels at the 2024 League of California Cities Conference.
BACKGROUND
The City of Burbank is a member of the League of California Cities, a nonprofit advocacy organization that represents the interests of over 400 municipalities across the state. The Cal Cities 2024 Annual Conference is scheduled for October 16-18, 2024 at the Long Beach Convention Center and presents an opportunity for city officials to attend informative sessions, learn about the challenges that California’s cities face, collaborate on solutions, and celebrate the accomplishments of Cal Cities and member jurisdictions.
The Annual Business Meeting occurs during the General Assembly on the last day of the conference, where member cities take action on conference resolutions . Resolutions serve as policy guidance for Cal Cities and are meant to i mprove the quality, responsiveness, and vitality of local government in California. This year, one resolution has been submitted for consideration along with background materials, supporting letters, and analyses (Attachment 1).
DISCUSSION
Per Cal Cities bylaws , proposed r esolutions are referred to an appropriate policy committee for review and recommendation as well as the General Resolutions Committee
2 before being presented to the General Assembly for a vote. This year’s Resolution was referred to the Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations Policy Committee (Policy Committee). The Policy Committee will meet virtually on October 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. to review the Resolution and make a recommendation that will be sent to the Resolutions Committee. The Resolutions Committee will meet on October 17, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. to review the Resolution and the recommendation of the Policy Committee.
The following Resolution was submitted for consideration at the Cal Cities 2024 Annual Conference by the City of Glendora:
A RESOLUTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA
CITIES CALLING FOR THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LAWS THAT ENSURE THAT “WHAT APPLIES TO ONE, APPLIES TO ALL” IN THE FAIR AND
EQUAL TREATMENT OF ALL GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
The Resolution is aimed at urging legislators to pass laws that treat lawmakers and city officials equally received concurrence from the cities of Arcadia, Azusa, La Verne, Lomita, and Rancho Palos Verdes . Over the past several years, the California Legislature has passed and the Governor has signed many laws that apply to local governments and do not apply to the state or the state Legislature. Examples of rules that apply to other agencies but not the California Legislature include minimum wage, whistleblower protections, public access, and more. Additionally, legislators in California are able to bypass open meeting laws via partisan caucuses that allow them to gather privately.
Emmanuel Jones & Associates, the City’s state advocacy firm, has indicated that the Resolution as presented may need to be amended as it lacks clear terms. The Resolution Committee may make these changes and/or send the Resolution back to the Policy Committee for further discussion. Despite that, the spirit of the Resolution surrounds protecting local control and advocating for equality in exemptions and applicability of California laws. Based on that, it’s recommended that Council support the Resolution Relating to Fair and Equal Treatment of All Governmental Officials at All Levels at the 2024 Cal Cities Conference.
Voting Delegate
Cal Cities encourages each City Council to consider the proposed resolutions, determine a city position, and direct the appointed voting delegate to represent the City accordingly at the General Assembly, which will convene on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.
Each member city has the right to cast one vote per resolution. At the January 9, 2024 Council meeting, Council appointed Mayor Schultz as the annual statewide voting delegate for Cal Cities and Vice Mayor Perez as the alternate. T he voting delegate and alternate must be registered to attend the conference and attend the Annual Business Meeting. In January 2024, Mayor Schultz was appointed by Council as the vo ting
3 delegate, followed by Vice Mayor Perez as the primary alternate, and Council Members Anthony, Takahashi, and Mullins as second alternates. As of September 25, 2024 Mayor Schultz, Vice Mayor Perez, and Council Members Mullins and Takahashi are scheduled to attend this year’s annual conference.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. Costs for registration, travel, and attendance at the annual conference are budgeted in the Fiscal Year 20 24-25 Adopted Budget.
CONCLUSION
The City of Burbank is an active member of Cal Cities and utilizes the Annual Conference to advocate on behalf of the community. It is vital that the City of Burbank be represented at the Annual Business Meeting and cast a vote on the proposed resolution in accordance with City Council direction. Therefore, it is recommended, through City Council’s approval of this report, the voting delegate submit a support position on the proposed Resolution in alignment with the majority decision of City Council. Abstaining, opposing, or supporting this resolution will not commit Burbank into adopting or implementing any of Cal Cities’ policy positions.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – League of California Cities 2024 Resolutions Packets