DATE:
January 25, 2022
TO:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM:
Christina Gilmore, Assistant to the City
Manager
VIA:
Kimbra McCarthy, City Manager
TITLE: Legislative Program Priorities for 2022
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Study Session is to receive City Council input on the proposed legislative program priority issues to guide the City’s regional and State legislative advocacy during the 2022 legislative session.
BACKGROUND
As part of the Fiscal Years 2021-22 and 2022-23 Strategic Action Plan, Council adopted a project to develop and implement an enhanced legislative program under the Organizational Strength and Good Governance strategic priority.
In June 2021, the City Council allocated funding in the Fiscal Year 2021 -22 Adopted Budget to retain the services of a legislative advocacy firm to provide staff with additional resources to support and increase Council opportunities to engage with regional and State leaders as well as influence legislative outcomes in a more meaningful way.
In November 2021, after releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) and conducting a thorough review and evaluation of proposals, the City entered into a one-year agreement with Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG) to provide legislative advocacy services.
DISCUSSION
During November 2021 through January 2022, in coordination with RPPG, staff conducted 16 “Deep Div e Meetings” wi th City Councilmembers and all City departments. The purpose of the se meeting s was to introduce Council and City departments to RPPG; discuss policy priorities, issues, initiatives, or projects that would inform the development of a legislative platform for 2022; and identify how RPPG could best support the City in its advocacy.
Legislative Program Priorities for 2022
January 25, 2022
To facilitate a dialogue with members of the City Council, RPPG asked the following questions:
• How can RPPG best support the City in its advocacy?
• What State policies would have the most impact on your community?
• What specific policies would you like to see the City engage in most?
• What are the major funding needs or priorities that you are most passionate about?
• Are you involved in any outside advocacy organizations as a private citizen or as a Councilmember (e.g., regional political party chair, nonprofit board, etc.)?
• Are there local, regional, or St ate boards that you sit on as a Council member (e.g., Silicon Valley Clean Energy, etc.)?
• Are you a member of the League of California Cities Board of Directors or any policy committees?
• Are there relationships you have with State elected officials, members in the Newsom Administration, or any regulatory official that you believe would be useful in RPPG’s efforts to advance funding or policy priorities on behalf of the City?
To facilitate a dialogue with each City department, RPPG asked the following questions:
• Are there any major issues/projects/initiatives your department spearheads t hat RPPG should know about?
• Have there been any pieces of State legislation, in the past few years, that have been on your radar?
• Are there any major policy topics that RPPG should be looking for?
• Are there any pending grant applications for State or Federal dollars?
• Are there any ongoing conversations with your lawmakers on one -time budget funding requests?
• As a department head, how engaged are you in your professional association?
Legislative Program Priorities for 2022
January 25, 2022
Proposed 2022 State Legislative Platform
The proposed 2022 State Legislative Platform consists of 11 issue areas with 97 policy statements reflecting the most important legislative priorities and issues RPPG heard from Council and City departments. The proposed 2022 State Legislative Platform is included as Attachment 1.
A few of the critical themes of the 2022 State Legislative Platform are highlighted below:
• Housing, Land Use, and Homelessness—Continue to be recognized by the State as a leader in addressing housing needs and advocate for m ore resources to address ongoing community needs.
• Climate Resiliency and Adaptation —Continue to lead in the region with innovative and solutions-based approaches to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and carbon neutrality.
• Transportation and Public Works —Continue to seek opportunities to modernize transportation connectivity and advocate for funding to support the City’s needs.
The proposed issue areas and policy statements also reflect the legislative guiding principles outlined in City Council Policy A-16, summarized below (Attachment 2):
• Protects or increases local control or revenue;
• Protects or increases funding or otherwise benefits specific programs or services utilized in Mountain View;
• Opposes an unfunded mandate; and
• Is consistent with existing City policy, a past action, or current City Council major goals (strategic priorities).
RECOMMENDATION
To meet the Council strategic goal to develop and implement an enhanced legislative program, staff seeks City Council input on the following question:
Are there any policy issues, priorities, or policy statements that Council would like to discuss, seek further clarification on, add , or remove from the proposed 2022 State Legislative Platform?
Legislative Program Priorities for 2022
January 25, 2022
NEXT STEPS
Following feedback from the City Council at this Study Session, staff will finalize the proposed 2022 State Legislative Platform and bring the item to Council for adoption on the consent agenda on February 8, 2022.
PUBLIC NOTICING
This City Council agenda is advertised on Chann el 26, and the agenda and this Study Session memorandum appear on the City’s website.
CG/4/CAM
608-01-25-22SS
201559
Attachments: 1. Proposed 2022 State Legislative Platform
2. Positions on Ballot Me asures and Legislative Advocacy —Council Policy A-16