CITYCOUNCILPOLICY
SUBJECT: POSITIONSONBALLOTMEASURESANDLEGISLATIVE NO.: A-16
ADVOCACY
PURPOSE:
To establisha policy governingpositionson ballot measuresandStateandFederal legislativeadvocacy.
POLICY:
1. PositionsonBallotMeasures
a. TheCity Councilisgenerallydiscouragedfromtakingapositiononlocal or Statemeasures/propositionsunlessthemeasure/proposition:
i. Would directly impact the Citys finances, responsibilities, legal authority, or operations; AND
ii. The measure/proposition hasbeenreferred to staff for analysisby majorityvoteof theCity Council. Theguidingprincipleslistedin 2.a.i belowshallbeusedto informtheCouncilsconsiderationof whetherto referameasure/propositionto stafffor analysis.
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 impactthe Citys finances, responsibilities, legal authority, or operations, or asignificantportionof theresidentialor businesscommunityof MountainView thatcould, in turn, impact City governmentfinances, responsibilities, legalauthority, or operations; AND
b) Is intendedto protector increaselocalrevenues; OR
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CITYCOUNCILPOLICY
SUBJECT: POSITIONSONBALLOTMEASURESANDLEGISLATIVE NO.: A-16
ADVOCACY
c) Is intendedto protector increaselocalcontrol; OR
d) Is intendedto protect or increasefunding or otherwisebenefit specificprogramsor servicesutilizedin MountainView; OR
e) Is opposinganunfundedmandate; OR
f) Is consistentwith existingCity policy, pastaction, or currentCity Councilmajorgoals; AND
g) HasbeenreviewedbytheCity Manageror his/herdesignee.
b. Full Councilactionis requiredregardinglegislationthatis not clearlywithin theguidingprinciplesabove. An exceptionto thisruleis thefollowing: if a significantitemrequiresactionbeforeCouncilapprovalcanbeobtained, and theCity Managerdeemsit appropriateto act, consultationwith theMayor andViceMayorwill beundertakenpriorto action.
c. Full Councilactionis requiredif theMayoror staffsrecommendedposition is inconsistentwith thatof theLeagueof CaliforniaCitiesfor Stateissuesor theNationalLeagueof Citiesfor Federalissues.
d. Full Councilactionis requiredto supportor opposeanytypeof grassroots advocacyaction, suchassocial, political, or economicmovements, thatare notlegislation.
3. Councilmembersrepresentingthe City on regionalor other bodiesshall vote consistentwith theCitysadoptedLegislativePlatform.
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CITYCOUNCILPOLICY
SUBJECT: POSITIONSONBALLOTMEASURESANDLEGISLATIVE NO.: A-16
ADVOCACY
4. Thispolicyis not intendedto limit theprerogativeof individualCouncilmembers from expressingtheir individualsupportfor or oppositionto anylocalmeasure, Stateproposition, Stateor Federallegislation, or grassrootsadvocacyactions.
However, in doing so, the membershouldclearlystatethey arespeakingfor themselves, notonbehalfof theCouncilor theCity.
Revised: February8, 2022, ResolutionNo. 18642
Revised: February26, 2013, ResolutionNo. 17762
Revised: September12, 2006
EffectiveDate: July12, 1994, ResolutionNo. 15720
CNLPOL
A16-402CP
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