CITYCOUNCILPOLICY
SUBJECT: POSITIONSONBALLOTMEASURESAND LEGISLATIVE NO.: A-16
ADVOCACY
PURPOSE:
Toestablisha policy governingpositionsonballotmeasuresandStateandFederal legislativeadvocacy.
POLICY:
1. PositionsonBallotMeasures
a. TheCity Councilisgenerallydiscouragedfromtakingapositiononlocalor Statemeasures/propositionsunlessthemeasure/proposition:
i. Would directly impact the City’sfinances, responsibilities, legal authority, or operations; AND
ii. Themeasure/propositionhasbeenreferredto staff for analysisby majorityvoteof theCityCouncil. Theguidingprincipleslistedin 2.a.i belowshallbeusedto informtheCouncil’sconsiderationof whetherto referameasure/propositiontostaffforanalysis.
2. StateandFederalLegislativeAdvocacy
a. Actionsof supportor oppositionto Stateor Federallegislationcanbetaken by the Mayor or staff without City Council approval, asstaff resources permit, if thepositionisconsistentwith thefollowingguidingprinciples:
i. Thelegislation:
a) Would directly impacttheCity’sfinances, responsibilities, legal authority, oroperations, or asignificantportionoftheresidentialor businesscommunityof MountainViewthatcould, in turn, impact City governmentfinances, responsibilities, legalauthority, or operations; AND
b) Isintendedtoprotector increaselocalrevenues; OR
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CITYCOUNCILPOLICY
SUBJECT: POSITIONSONBALLOTMEASURESAND LEGISLATIVE NO.: A-16
ADVOCACY
c) Isintendedtoprotector increaselocalcontrol; OR
d) Is intendedto protector increasefunding or otherwisebenefit specificprogramsorservicesutilizedin MountainView; OR
e) Isopposinganunfundedmandate; OR
f) Isconsistentwith existingCity policy, pastaction, or currentCity Councilmajorgoals; AND
g) HasbeenreviewedbytheCityManageror his/herdesignee.
b. FullCouncilactionisrequiredregardinglegislationthatisnotclearlywithin theguidingprinciplesabove. An exceptionto thisruleisthefollowing: if a significantitemrequiresactionbeforeCouncilapprovalcanbeobtained, and theCity Managerdeemsit appropriateto act, consultationwith theMayor andViceMayorwill beundertakenpriortoaction.
c. Full Councilactionisrequiredif theMayoror staff’srecommendedposition is inconsistentwith thatof theLeagueof CaliforniaCitiesfor Stateissuesor theNationalLeagueof CitiesforFederalissues.
d. Full Councilactionis requiredto supportor opposeanytypeof grassroots advocacyaction, suchassocial, political, or economicmovements, thatare notlegislation.
3. CouncilmembersrepresentingtheCityonregionalorotherbodiesshouldusetheir discretionandtakeactionsbasedontheprinciplesabove.
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CITYCOUNCILPOLICY
SUBJECT: POSITIONSONBALLOTMEASURESAND LEGISLATIVE NO.: A-16
ADVOCACY
4. Thispolicyisnotintendedtolimit theprerogativeof individualCouncilmembers fromexpressingtheirindividual supportfor or oppositionto anylocalmeasure, Stateproposition, Stateor Federallegislation, or grassrootsadvocacyactions.
However, in doing so, themembershouldclearlystatetheyarespeakingfor themselves, notonbehalfoftheCouncilor theCity.
Revised: February26, 2013, ResolutionNo. 17762
Revised: September12, 2006
EffectiveDate: July12, 1994, ResolutionNo. 15720
CNLPOL
A16-402CP
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