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M E M O R A N D U M
To: Christine Daniel, City Manager
Chad Smalley, Economic Development and Housing Manager
From: Christopher Townsend, President, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
Niccolo De Luca, Vice President
Ben Goldeen, Federal Director
Andres Ramirez, Senior Associate
Date: May 16, 2022
Subject: Summary of 2019, 2020, and 2021 State and Federal Advocacy and Funding Services
Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (TPA) has enjoyed a long, successful working relationship with the City of Emeryville and prides itself on providing the City the experience, resources, and political network expected from a premiere advocacy firm while also providing the unique brand of customer service the City deserves. This includes personal attention, accessibility and passion for your mission.
Over the past several years, TPA’s record of service for the City has generated significant project funding and legislative successes. Our ability to directly secure nearly $10 million for City priority projects is a direct result of our expertise in numerous policy areas, including, but not limited to:
transportation; housing and economic development; public safety; and community facilities.
On the legislative front, we have authored multiple bills for the City that have been signed into law, in addition to demonstrating the skill and experience required to navigate through the complex processes of state legislation and administration. This includes strategies and activities to monitor, amend, stop, and adopt legislation and regulations.
Below is a quick summary of the many wins we have helped secured on the City’s behalf.
Summary of State and Federal Funding Highlights (2021)
As we have seen at both the Federal and State level, new initiatives and various funding opportunities have taken form over the last year. As an example, there is an increase in federal infrastructure grants being available in 2022. There has also been an increase in the opportunities that direct approved funds to be spent on specific projects, sometimes referred to as “Member Requests” or “District Directed Spending”, along with competitive grant applications.
In 2021, TPA worked with the elected City leadership and Administration to develop, advocate, and secure several major City initiatives through various funding means working in partnership with our elected leaders in Sacramento and Washington DC.
The TPA/City team worked together to secure $2,500,000 in direct state funding to the City by the Department of Toxic Substances Control for site remediation of former Corporation Yard to prepare the site of the temporary Corporation Yard for an affordable housing project. Senator Nancy Skinner and her office were great champions of this effort.
Attachment 1
Summary of Recent State and Federal Advocacy Page 2 of 2 In addition to the financial wins at the State level, the City also has done very well at the Federal Level.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee put forward an earmark request also for remediation for affordable housing into the House Transportation-HUD appropriations bill in the amount of $2,000,000. Senator Dianne Feinstein put forward a request for the 40th Street redesign into the Senate Transportation-HUD appropriations bill in the amount of $1,000,000. The earmark from Congressmember Lee was approved and the request from Senator Feinstein was put on hold due to changing the process of the project.
We currently have state and federal earmark requests pending as part of the 2022-2023 budget process and will have a better sense of the status of these requests over the next few weeks.
Summary of State Legislative Highlights
The TPA/City team also achieved great success in the State Legislature on City sponsored legislation.
Two major pieces of legislation were signed by Governor Newsom in 2019 and 2021. Those bills are described below.
o Assembly Bill 723 (Quirk) Transactions and use taxes: County of Alameda (2019) ➢ The City of Emeryville was the sponsor of this legislation. In partnership with the Mayor and City Council, TPA vigorously shepherded and advocated for the passage of this local piece of legislation. This bill exempts specified transactions and use taxes (TUTs) from counting towards the statutory 2% combined rate cap.
➢ Working with the City team, TPA drafted letters of support, testified in committee hearings, and had ongoing discussions with multiple Legislators, to explain that this measure would give the City needed flexibility to obtain additional revenue to provide much-needed general purpose local government services such as road repairs, park maintenance, fire protection, and homelessness prevention. ➢ This was a somewhat controversial piece of legislation, with a previous version having been vetoed by the Governor. The successful revisions and amending of this bill are a testament to the dedicated work ethic, teamwork, and strong presence that the City of Emeryville, our delegation, and TPA maintain in the Capitol.
➢ As a result, Assembly Bill 723 was signed by the Governor, and chaptered into law on October 11, 2019. AB 723’s final form passage serves as a benchmark for future success in Emeryville.
o Senate Bill 591 (Becker) Intergenerational housing (2021) ➢ This legislation, specifically for the City of Emeryville and sponsored by the City, authorizes the establishment of an intergenerational housing development for senior citizens, caregivers, or transition age youths.
➢ This legislation was the first of its kind in the State of California. ➢ The TPA team and Council Member Bauters led the charge on this effort which included drafting the legislation, working hand in hand with Senator Josh Becker and his office, working with Senate Housing Committee staff, Senate Judiciary Committee staff, Senate Human Services Committee staff, Assembly Housing Committee, the Governor’s Office, and others.
➢ The team helped build a large coalition supporting this much needed legislation and as a result was signed by Governor Newsom on September 28, 2021.