Item 69/2025
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: Matthew West
Dept:
City Manager Dept: City Manager
Date: 2/25/2025
Subject: Approval of overnight travel to attend the 2025 SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly in Palm Desert from May 1 through May 2, 2025. (Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
For the City Council to approve overnight travel to attend the 2025 SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly in Palm Desert, CA from May 1, through May 2, 2025.
BACKGROUND
Founded in 1965, Southern California Association of Governments ( SCAG) is a joint powers authority under California state law, established as an association of local governments and agencies that voluntarily convene as a forum to address regional issues. Under federal law, SCAG is designated as a metropolitan planning organi zation. Under state law, SCAG is designated as a regional transportation planning agency and a council of governments.
The SCAG region encompasses six counties (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura) and 191 cities in an area covering more than 38,000 square miles.
The agency develops long -range regional transportation plans, including a sustainable communities strategy and a growth forecast, regional transportation improvement programs, regional housing needs allocations, and a portion of the South Coast Air Quality Management Plan. SCAG’s 86 -member governing board, the Regional Council, conducts the affairs of SCAG; implements the General Assembly’s policy decisions; acts upon policy recommendations from SCAG policy committees and external agencies; appoints committees to study specific problems and programs; and amends, decreases or increases the proposed budget to be reported to the General Assembly.
DISCUSSION
This year, SCAG will host the 60th annual Regional Conference and General Assembly on May 1-2, 2025, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert. The 2025 Regional Conference and General Assembly will encourage regional leaders from the public and private sectors to network and share best practices and lessons learned while working toward Item 69/2025
common goals. Per City Council Policy Number 100-19, the City Council is being requested to 1) concur that the costs incurred in attending the 2025 SCAG Conference are justified based on the benefits of attending and 2 ) authorize and approve o vernight travel for two (2) City Council members and up to two (2) City staff. The costs associated with the convention are provided in the “Fiscal Impact” section of this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to the General Fund as all expenses for this conference have been approved as part of the adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2023-25. The cost for the two Council Members and two City staff to attend the conference is approximately $1,430.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Approve overnight travel for up to two City Council Members and up to two City staff to attend the 2025 SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, CA from May 1, 2025 through May 2, 2025.