Item 7.1: Legislative Program
Adrianna Hernandez, Special Projects & Legislative Manager Anne Steinberger, Marketing and Communications Manager
History
FEBRUARY 2021
Conducted a Request For Proposals
for State Legislative Advocacy
AUGUST 2021
Selected Nielsen, Merksamer,
Parrinello, Gross & Leoni, LLP to
Implement City Strategic Advocacy
Program
2 Nielsen
Merksamer
Services
3 Implement strategic advocacy program and related
activities to attain objectives of the City.Implement
Review proposed, introduced, and amended legislation
and its impact on the City.Review
Facilitate meetings with state legislators, state agency representative, and others.Facilitate
Identify and assist with potential funding opportunities for City services, projects, and programs.
Identify &
Assist
2022
Legislative Session
Accomplishments
• $30 million state funding for the
Cinematic Arts Academic Center &
Library
• $20 million state funding for
SANDAG dedicated to SR-125 debt
reduction
• Legislation advocacy
4 2023-2024
Legislative Platform
2023-2024
Guiding
Principles
Maintain
Local Control
Promote
Fiscal
Responsibility
Promote
Economic
Development
Support
Funding
Opportunities
6 2023-2024
Legislative
Priorities
AB 837 (Alvarez): Surplus Lands Act Exemption
for Chula Vista University and Innovation
District
Removal of Toll-Only Operation of SR- 125
Chula Vista Bayfront Development
Harborside Park Redevelopment/Homelessness
Grade Separations at Major Railroad/Transit
Crossings
7 Advocacy Guidelines
8 Coordination of
Legislative Program
9 City Council
Approves Legislative
Platform
City Manager
Implements
Legislative Program
Legislation or Issues
of Interest Referred
to City Manager
Office
Issue is addressed in
the Legislative
Platform
City Manager will
coordinate and
implement response.
Issue is NOT
addressed in
Legislative Platform
or Council direction
Proposed legislation
will be referred to
Council for direction
Roles &
Responsibilities
10 Mayor &
City Council
• Establish legislative
priorities
• Meet with state and
federal legislators
• Work with external
entities on policy
concerns
• Determine positions on
resolutions proposed for
adoption by the League
of California Cities, and
similar entities
• Assume an active
advocacy role with
legislators
• Mayor and/or City
Manager author
advocacy letters
expressing City’s
position on legislation
City Manager
• Ensure alignment of City
actions on legislation
with the Legislative
Platform
• Coordinate contacts and
communications with
legislators
• Direct and oversee the
City’s lobbyists, set
priorities for action
consistent with City
Council direction
• Prepare and/or sign
advocacy letters
expressing the City’s
position on legislation
• Coordinate, brief, and
provide support to City
Council members for
visits with state and/or
federal legislators
City Departments
• Inform the City Manager
of policy issues of
importance to the City
and any specific bills that
may impact the
department
• Evaluate proposed
legislation that may
affect the City
• Suggest organizations,
individuals, publications,
and/or legislators who
may be partners in
advocating the City's
position on certain
legislation
Advocacy
Methods
Calls to
policymakers,
their staff, or
legislative
committee staff
Meeting with
legislators and
their staff,
stakeholders, and
other groups
active on the
same issue or bill
Testifying at a
committee
hearing regarding
the City’s position
and/or concerns
Building
coalitions and
partnerships with
entities that
advance the
Legislative
Program
11 Recommended Action:
Approve the 2023-2024 Legislative Platform