LEGISLATIVE
FRAMEWORK
Legislative Affairs Program Overview
The Legislative Framework outlines the City’s priorities and principles for the City’s legislative interests at the federal, State, and regional levels. This framework informs staff and the Fremont community about the goals that guide the City of Fremont in its legislative strategy.
In alignment with the two-year California State Legislature Legislative cycle, the City develops legislative advocacy positions to support policies in accordance with the established Fremont City Council adopted priorities. Staff uses the guiding Legislative Framework, to develop a work plan that includes researching, monitoring, and advocating for legislation and/or funding to help advance the City’s vision, goals, and policies.
Once adopted by the City Council, the Legislative Framework, will remain in effect until amended. If the Council would like to consider taking action on a statewide ballot measure or legislative issue that does not clearly fall within the adopted City Legislative Framework, staff will bring that to Council for consideration and formal adoption on a case by case basis.
Fremont City Council Priorities
Annually the Fremont City Council adopts priorities that guide City staff’s work plan throughout the calendar year. The Council’s adopted priorities serve as the foundation of the City’s legislative framework and are also used to guide staff’s limited time and resources to review and prioritize legislation review and funding opportunities.
Existing Policies and Plans
Adopted policies and plans also inform the City’s legislative advocacy efforts. The following documents may be found on the City’s website at www.fremont.gov or by accessing the links below.
City of Fremont General Plan
City of Fremont Climate Action Plan
City of Fremont Age-Friendly Action Plan
City of Fremont Mobility Plan
City of Fremont Parks & Recreation Master Plan
City of Fremont Trails Strategy Plan
City of Fremont Business and Economic Recovery Framework City of Fremont Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Fremont Housing Element
City of Fremont Fiber Optic Master Plan
1 Established Legislative Advocacy Positions
There are a number of principles considered to be in direct support of basis or core City services. To underscore issues and focus advocacy resources, the City’s Annual Legislative Advocacy Positions are as follows:
Quality of Life The City supports legislation and policies that provide opportunities to protect and enhance our residents’ quality of life through active living, a healthy lifestyle and diverse recreational services.
Protect Local Control The City values its ability and authority to exercise local control and fiscal sustainability, enable excellent public services and protect and enhance the quality of life for Fremont residents and businesses, and supports efforts to streamline regulations that simplify the job of running the City and opposes efforts that erode the City’s ability to control its own affairs.
Keep Fremont Safe The City supports legislation and policies that enable local officials to access expanded resources to provide quality police, fire, emergency management, mental health, emergency medical services, traffic safety, youth violence, crime prevention and education, crime mitigation and delinquency prevention efforts for Fremont community members.
Ensure Competitiveness Through Strategic Economic Development The City embraces efforts to obtain funding for economic development, including planning and implementation of regional transportation; economic stimulus programs; workforce development and education initiatives; small business entrepreneurship training and assistance; and new business attraction and growth. Advocate for equal access to state and federal funding opportunities, including grant eligibility criteria for cities.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The City supports legislation and efforts that assist publicly funded government institutions to create organizational policies and procedures that incorporate the concepts of “diversity, equity and inclusion” in daily operations including hiring and employment practices, labor negotiations, racial equity, contracting opportunities, public engagement, education and methods of service delivery to all residents and visitors.
Promote Investment in Transportation, and Infrastructure Maintenance and Rehabilitation The City supports legislation and policies that promote investing in the maintenance and rehabilitation of aging infrastructure and building new system capacity to support smart growth principles and safety improvements.
Prevent, Reduce and Eliminate Homelessness The City recognizes and values the importance of all community members having stable housing, access to jobs, the ability to earn a livable and sustainable wage, and access to essential services. The City supports efforts and legislation that seeks to alleviate the State’s large homelessness problem via funding and programmatic assistance (including expanded mental health and SUD resources) to cities and counties.
2 Pursue efforts to create new financing tools to support, build, and preserve affordable housing The City remains firmly committed to the production of high quality, affordable housing for a range of income levels and target populations such as families, seniors, homeless, and those with special needs.
Promote the “strategically urban” vision of the General Plan The City supports policies that promote a strategically urban mix of land uses and urban form in transit-rich areas.
Advance climate action, adaptation, and resiliency The City is committed to being a climate- ready community that works to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions; expand clean energy policies; improve community adaptation and resiliency to climate change; improve environmental standards and the regulatory process; improve water conversation and support State and Federal incentives and financial support for preservation of natural resources.
Improve Federal, State, regional, County, and local coordination and planning to strengthen community disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience The City supports legislation and policies that provide resources and support to reduce community risks and increase capabilities to manage major emergencies when they occur. Significant community risks include catastrophic earthquake, climate-related emergencies (sea level rise, catastrophic wildfires, and flooding), and other human-caused and naturally occurring threats and hazards.
Strengthen Youth Programs, Services and Activities The City supports legislation and policies that furthers the City’s commitment to nurturing a safe, supportive community that is responsible to the full range of needs of all children, youth and their families.
Smart City Initiatives: The City supports legislation and policies that allow the City to continue to develop a cohesive smart city agenda, including areas of City operations, public safety, sustainability, and community engagement to ultimately improve Fremont’s resilience and quality of life.
Legislative Program Administration:
Under the direction of the City Manager, the Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs will have oversight over the City’s legislative platform and administer day to day legislative matters. Legislative Affairs staff also work with City departments to analyze legislative initiatives to determine the impact on the City. The main functions of the Legislative Affairs Program are listed below:
1. Legislative requests: All legislative requests for review, support or opposition will be directed to the City Manager’s Office. Requests can be brought to the attention of the City through a variety of channels:
• State and Federal Legislative Advocates
• Fremont City Council Members
• City of Fremont Staff
• City Residents and Businesses
• Elected Representatives
3 • League of California Cities
• Other Governmental Associations
2. Assessment and research: City staff will review legislative requests in coordination with any relevant departments, lobbyists and legislative representatives such as League of California Cities, to analyze whether the legislation aligns with the City’s adopted policies, priorities and positions. If the legislation is found to be in alignment, City staff will monitor and track the legislation, providing updates when necessary. Concurrent with this evaluation, staff will on a limited basis, draft a position letter and take the appropriate course of action when the proposed legislation could have a significant impact on City services and/or operations.
3. Advocacy: Staff will utilize legislative advocates to occasionally advocate in support, support with changes, or in opposition to legislation in strict conformance with Council priorities and the guiding principles: City Legislative Affairs staff will notify lobbyists of the City’s position and direct them to take appropriate action with legislators. The City reserves the right to remain neutral on a given piece of legislation.
4. Draft of sponsor legislation: City staff and legislative advocates will work with the City’s legislative representatives to articulate the City’s stance on a policy and to ensure said stance is codified in statute.
5. City correspondence with relevant legislators: City staff will draft position letters for the City Manager and/or Mayor to review and sign. This letter will be distributed to the appropriate legislators and posted on the City’s website.
6. Council approved resolution: If a legislative proposal, regulation, or ballot measure arises that is not addressed by the adopted Legislative Framework and it is determined that it may impact the City, City staff will draft a staff report and resolution for consideration by the full City Council. Approved resolutions will be forwarded along with a letter signed by the Mayor to the appropriate legislators.
7. Council outreach: A copy of all legislative letters and regular program updates will be distributed routinely to the City Council.
Legislative Program Work Plan
1. Seek federal, state, regional and county funding assistance for City projects, services, and programs.
a. Identify City projects for potential submittal for federal, state or regional funding consideration.
b. Provide information to City departments on potential grant funding opportunities.
2. Advocate and request letters of support for City initiatives and grant applications.
3. Inform and provide information to our legislators, City Council and staff on the legislative process and monitor key issues and legislation that could have a potential impact on the City.
4. Promote the City’s legislative interests at the federal, state, regional, and county levels.
5. Serve as an active partner and participant with other local governments, Fremont Unified School District, the League of California Cities, regional agencies, and local
4 professional organizations on legislative/regulatory issues that are important to the City and our region.