CITY COUNCIL POLICY
SUBJECT: POSITIONS ON BALLOT MEASURES AND FEDERAL
AND STATE POLICY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
NO.: A-16
PURPOSE:
To establish a policy governing positions on ballot measures and State and Federal legislative advocacypolicy.
POLICY:
1. Positions on Ballot Measures
a. The City Council is generally discouraged from taking a position on local or State measures/propositions unless the measure/proposition:
i. Would directly impact the City’s finances, responsibilities, legal authority, or operations; AND
ii. The measure/proposition has been referred to staff for analysis by majority vote of the City Council. The guiding principles listed in 2.a.i below shall be used to inform the Council’s consideration of whether to refer a measure/proposition to staff for analysis.
2. State and Federal Legislative Advocacy
a. Actions of support or opposition to State or Federal legislation can be taken by the Mayor or staff without City Council approval, as staff resources permit, if the position is consistent with the following guiding principles:
i. The legislation:
(a) Would directly impact the City’s finances, responsibilities, legal authority, or operations, or a significant portion of the residential or business community of Mountain View that could, in turn, impact City government finances, responsibilities, legal authority, or operations; AND
(b) Is intended to protect or increase local revenues; OR (c) Is intended to protect or increase local control; OR Attachment 1
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
SUBJECT:
POSITIONS ON BALLOT MEASURES AND FEDERAL
AND STATE POLICY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
NO.: A-16
(d) Is intended to protect or increase funding or otherwise benefit specific programs or services utilized in Mountain View; OR
(e) Is opposing an unfunded mandate; OR
(f) Is consistent with the adopted State and Federal Legislative Platform, existing City policy, past action, or current City Council major goals; AND
(g) Has been reviewed by the City Manager or his/her designee.
b. Full Council action is required regarding legislation that is not clearly within the guiding principles above. An exception to this rule is the following: if a significant item requires action before Council approval can be obtained, and the City Manager deems it appropriate to act, consultation with the Mayor and Vice Mayor will be undertaken prior to action.
c. Full Council action is required if the Mayor or staff’s recommended position is inconsistent with that of the adopted State and Federal Legislative Platform,League of California Cities for State issues or the National League of Cities for Federal issues.
d. Full Council action is required to support or oppose any type of grassroots advocacy action, such as social, political, or economic movements, that are not legislation.
3. Councilmembers representing the City on regional or other bodies shall vote consistent with the City’s adopted State and Federal Legislative Platform.
4. The City Council does not take positions or action in support of or opposition to foreign policy and/or international affairs matters.
5. This policy is not intended to limit the prerogative of individual Councilmembers from expressing their individual support for or opposition to any local measure, State proposition, State or Federal legislation, foreign policy or international affairs issue, or grassroots advocacy actions. However, in doing so, the member should
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
SUBJECT:
POSITIONS ON BALLOT MEASURES AND FEDERAL
AND STATE POLICY LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
NO.: A-16
clearly state they are speaking for themselves, not on behalf of the Council or the City.
Revised: February 8, 2022, Resolution No. 18642
Revised: February 26, 2013, Resolution No. 17762
Revised: September 12, 2006
Effective Date: July 12, 1994, Resolution No. 15720
CNLPOL
A16-402CP-so