Fremont City Council Meeting: 05/06/25 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: City Manager's Office
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Plans, Policies and Studies
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5424) DOC ID: 5424
Updated: 4/30/2025 6:23 AM by Dina Lewis Page 1
ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK - Consideration and Adoption of Legislative Framework
Contact Persons:
Name: Geneva Bosques
Title: Director of Communications and
Legislative Affairs
Div/Dept: City Manager's Office
Phone: 510-284-4094
E-Mail: [email protected]
Executive Summary: The Legislative Framework outlines and prioritizes the City's legislative interests. The Framework serves as a guiding document for staff to follow when analyzing or taking action on legislative areas of interest. The Framework is updated in accordance with City Council’s stated priorities and to reflect other important considerations in the legislative environment. Staff recommends Council adopt this updated Legislative Framework and authorize the City Manager to implement the City's legislative work plan.
BACKGROUND: Since 2001, the City Council has formally adopted a Legislative Framework (Framework) to guide the City's legislative work program. This includes advocacy with local, regional, State, and federal agencies; interaction with advocacy organizations; and engaging on specific bills considered in the legislature.
The City of Fremont is a member of many legislative and government entity advocacy groups, including but not limited to: League of California Cities, National League of Cities, United States Conference of Mayors, California Fire Chiefs Association, California Park and Recreation Society, California Police Chiefs Association, etc. These organizations advocate on behalf of cities at the regional, state, and federal levels. In addition, the City of Fremont maintains professional contracts with Holland and Knight (Washington D.C.) and Townsend Public Affairs (Sacramento) to assist with direct legislative advocacy.
City staff regularly monitors and analyzes proposed legislation to determine potential impacts to City services and operations. Staff prioritizes efforts that clearly align with established City policy and the City Council Priorities. Staff conducts limited advocacy through position letters, proposed amendments, or formal comments at hearings, should issues arise that could significantly impact City services, operations or prioritized policy areas.
Positions on Statewide ballot measures are required to be brought to the City Council for consideration. Additionally, legislation or regulatory issues that do not clearly fall within the adopted Framework, or when there is disagreement in interpretation, would also be brought back to the City Council for consideration and/or action, on a case-by-case basis.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: At this year’s City Council Retreat, the City Council renewed its established priorities: to continue to address homelessness, focus on public safety and focus on environmental sustainability. Additionally, the City Council reaffirmed the foundational Council Staff Report (ID # 5424) Meeting of May 6, 2025 Updated: 4/30/2025 6:23 AM by Dina Lewis Page 2
principle of financial sustainability, with an emphasis on economic development in support of this principle. Staff will prioritize legislation supporting these adopted Council Priorities. The Framework is broad by design, in an effort to be adaptable over the course of the two-year State legislative cycle, and possibly beyond.
Each legislative principle documented in the Framework includes broad policy statements that articulate the City’s legislative priorities by addressing major areas of interest. Staff continuously evaluates the legislative climate to identify new areas of legislative concern with the overarching goal of improving quality of life in Fremont.
A record number of bills were introduced earlier this year by State lawmakers for consideration in the 2025/26 California legislative cycle. City staff are currently monitoring and prioritizing bills that address the City Council’s adopted Priorities. Key issues the City will be keeping an eye on this session include the State’s budget, housing and homelessness, environment and climate change, economic development, federal funding, and public safety.
The newly proposed Framework document will replace and update the previous version, adopted in 2023. The updated Framework includes an overview of the City’s legislative work plan and more specifically defines advocacy positions which guide areas of priority in alignment with City Council Priorities. This year’s proposed Framework also includes a new section which will prioritize advocacy for legislation that protects current and future federal funding that the City receives.
Once adopted, the City Manager, or her designee, will oversee the Framework implementation and will administer day activities. Staff will continue to share regular updates and progress on the Legislative Affairs section of Fremont.gov.
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: N/A
ATTACHMENTS: None.
LINKS: Legislative Affairs on Fremont.gov:
https://www.fremont.gov/government/legislative-affairs
ATTACHMENTS:
• 2025 Legislative Framework
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt the Legislative Framework.
2. Authorize the City Manager to implement the City's legislative work plan.
3. Authorize the City Manager, Mayor, or designee to transmit documents that are consistent with the City's legislative priorities.