REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Jason Simpson, City Manager
Prepared by:Gina Gonzalez, Director of Economic Development and Legislative Affairs Date:June 11, 2024
Subject:2024 City of Lake Elsinore Legislative Platform Recommendation
Review and approve the updated Legislative Platform; and reaffirm the Legislative Policy 400-14.
Background
On June 23, 2015 the Lake Elsinore City Council adopted Council Policy ”Legislative Program Policy and Procedures,” now numbered as Policy No. 400-14. The purpose of the Policy is to establish procedures to advance the City’s Legislative Platform by outlining a detailed and streamlined process through which the City Council, staff, and the City’s legislative advocates can act in a timely manner in response to municipal and community needs, grant opportunities, or legislative alerts. The Platform, attached hereto as Attachment 1, is a compilation of general policy statements and City-specific policy statements adopted by the City Council to identify specific priority areas of interest for the City and region that would benefit the community. The Platform is developed by a review of legislative priorities from Cal Cities and National League of Cities, input from the City Council and staff (including reference to City legislative positions in the past), research of current law and pending legislation, and discussions with local legislative staff. The Platform may be updated from time to time by the City Council as necessary, to reflect legislative changes and/or changes in City Council policies and priorities.
Discussion
Since the City’s incorporation, the Mayor and City Council have taken positions on legislation and issues at the county, state, and federal levels. On June 23, 2015, the City Council adopted a formal legislative program consisting of a Platform and City Council Policy to ensure that positions on critical legislation could be addressed expeditiously. The Legislative Platform summarizes the Mayor and City Council’s positions on priority issues and is used to guide city officials and staff in responding to legislative proposals at the county, state, and federal levels throughout the year. 2024 Legislative Platform
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Legislative Platform
The Legislative Platform is designed to be a living document that evolves and enables city officials and staff to quickly respond to issues impacting the City. The Platform was prepared based upon the City’s history of legislative actions, departmental review, alignment with the City’s adopted Strategic Plan, and review of priorities from the League of California Cities.
The Platform is divided into eight categories including:
➢Community Services
➢Environmental Quality
➢Governance, Transparency & Labor Relations
➢Housing and Community Development
➢Economic Development
➢Public Safety
➢Revenue & Taxation
➢Transportation, Communications & Public Works
The Platform has been updated to align with updates to the goals and objectives outlined in Lake Elsinore 2040 Plan considered in combination with the regulatory changes that have occurred since the Platform was last presented for review in June 2015.
The proposed changes to the Platform are summarized below. ➢Community Services
•Social Services: Provision updated to reflect support for regional partnerships on a regional basis that provide for social services programs/initiatives that serve the needs of the Lake Elsinore community.
•Homelessness: Section revised to reference support for legislation and funding to address homelessness with comprehensive “regional strategies” for supportive services. ➢Public Safety
•Cybersecurity: Section added that addresses support for legislation that strengthens and enhances cybersecurity efforts, helps protect against malicious cyber incidents, and enhances the security and resilience of critical infrastructure. ➢Revenue & Taxation
•Contracting: Section added that addresses support for removing barriers to use in-house staff for public support contracts over $5k and oppose barriers to contracting out and limiting negotiation indemnification protections in public contracts. •Prop 13: Section added that addresses opposition to legislation weakening taxpayer protections or raise tax revenue at the expense of residential or business community. •Tax-exempt Debt: Section added that addresses opposition to legislation that restricts or limits that city’s use of tax-exempt debt or tax increment financing. •Funding for AB 109, Prop 47, and Prop 57: Section added that supports legislation for continued financial support to deal with the impacts of the Public Safety Realignment Act, Proposition 47 (Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative), and Proposition 57 (Public Safety and Rehabilitation), particularly lowered thresholds and penalties for theft-related 2024 Legislative Platform
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crime, as well as wrap around services for substance abuse counseling, mental health services, and employment, medical, and housing assistance. ➢Transportation, Communications & Public Works
•Broadband: Section added to support grants and other funding opportunities that will help the City implement its Broadband Master Plan and Smart City key initiatives.
City Council Policy
The Legislative Program Policy and Procedures (Attachment 2) outlines the procedure for City staff to address, track, and act quickly in response to legislative proposals and regulations. The procedure provides for the City Manager to review requests to take positions on an issue. For approved requests in accordance with the Platform, a communication will be prepared for the Mayor’s approval and signature, and shared with the members of the City Council. Requests inconsistent with the Platform or silent on issues will continue to be placed on a City Council agenda for consideration.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact with adoption of the 2024 City of Lake Elsinore Legislative Platform.
Attachments
Attachment 1- 2024 City of Lake Elsinore Legislative Platform Attachment 2- Legislative Program and Policy Procedures Policy No. 400-14 Economic & Legislative Affairs