DATE:
February 11, 2025
TO:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM:
Christina Gilmore, Intergovernmental Relations
Manager
Arn Andrews, Assistant City Manager
VIA:
Kimbra McCarthy, City Manager
TITLE: Legislative Program Priorities for 2025
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, state, and federal legislative advocacy during the 2025 session.
Reviewing and updating the Legislative Platform at the beginning of each legislative session is an important component of the City’s legislative program. This helps to ensure that the City Council’s current priorities are reflected in the Platform and provides direction to staff and the City’s legislative advocacy firm to enable efficient and effective engagement on the regional, state, and federal issues and initiatives that affect the City’s priorities, programs, and operations.
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 2021, the City engaged the services of California Public Policy Group (CPPG), formerly known as Renne Public Policy Group, to assist Council and staff on the City’s regional and state legislative advocacy efforts. In 2024, the City entered into a one -year agreement with Murray, Montgomery, and O’Donnell Partners (MMO) to provide federal legislative advocacy services to support the Council’s desire to expand the City’s legislative program to include federal legislative advocacy.
Regional and State Legislative Advocacy
In February 2024, the City Council adopted a 2024 Regional and State Legislative Platform developed with input from Councilmembers, key staff from all City departments, and CPPG. The platform carried forward 11 issue areas identified in the 2022 and 2023 Legislative Platforms with
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125 policy statements reflecting the City’s legislative priorities. The State Legislative Platform provides ongoing direction for City staff and the state legislative advocate to engage in a variety of legislative issues and is a guiding document for the City to promote and preserve its interests at the regional and state levels.
During the 2024 legislative session, the City, with assistance from CPPG , engaged on state legislative measures in the areas of transportation, water, governmental operations, and childcare, and took formal positions on four pieces of legislation, achieving favorable outcomes or securing critical amendments on two of those measures.
Protection of the $20.0M Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program Cycle 6 State Funding
One of the goals of the legislative advocacy program is to apply for and preserve grant and funding opportunities and awards at the state and federal level that can support the City’s Strategic Priorities. In spring 2024, the City was faced with the possible elimination of a crucial $20.0 million in Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) Cycle 6 funding for the Rengstorff Grade Separation project that was included in the Governor’s May revision to the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget. Working closely with CPPG, staff embarked on a multi- faceted advocacy campaign during the 2023-2024 legislative session to preserve the TIRCP Cycle 6 funds.
The potential loss of funding for this project in the state budget jeopardized matching funds from the California Public Utilities Commission, federal sources, and hundreds of millions in local investments, while escalating both costs.
Staff and CPPG worked together to secure Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), the City’s Senate representative, as a key champion. Recognizing the broader regional impact on other Bay Area grade separation projects, a coalition of a local stakeholders from neighboring communities was formed to advocate for funding preservation. Simultaneously, staff and CPPG collaborated to develop bill language to be included in the final transportation budget trailer bill that was compliant with the Department of Transportation federal matching requirements.
These strategic advocacy efforts culminated in the successful inclusion of the City of Mountain View and CPPG-developed language within the final transportation budget trailer bill, Assembly Bill 173 (Committee on Budget) [Chapter 53, Statutes 2024]. This language requires the Administration to identify the $20 million allocation to the City of Mountain View in F iscal Year 2025-26, enabling the project to proceed and unlocking vital regional and federal matching funds.
Throughout the budget process, staff, in close collaboration with CPPG, was able to work directly with key decision -makers, including the Senate and Assembly budget committee chairs, the Senate President Pro Tempore, the Assembly Speaker, the Undersecretary of CalSTA, the Executive Director of Caltrans, and the chair of the California Transportation Commission , to preserve this critical funding source for the Rengstorff Grade Separation Project.
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Intergovernmental Outreach and Coordination
In addition to the legislative advocacy activities described above, staff has represented the City’s intergovernmental interests in several other areas. This has included:
• Meeting with legislators and staff to communicate the City’s interests;
• Seeking grants and state and federal earmarks;
• Preparing position papers for meetings during the National League of Cities Congressional Cities Conference;
• Attending legislative conferences to assist Councilmembers and to represent the City’s interests;
• Coordinating the City’s participation in quarterly meetings with the Moffett Federal Airfield and NASA Ames Community;
• Coordinating meetings between the City and NASA Ames to discuss Ames’ future plans and issues of mutual interest on Moffett Federal Airfield;
• Coordinating meetings between former U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo, the Department of the Army, and the City to discuss the potential use of the Shenandoah Square property; and
• Providing intergovernmental support to Mayor Kamei in her prior role as the President of the Cal Cities Peninsula Division.
DISCUSSION
2025 Regional and State Legislative Platform
The proposed 2025 Regional and State Legislative Platform is based on the framework of the adopted 2024 Legislative Platform. Proposed modifications to the Platform are based on feedback received from each City department regarding the major issues they are focused on.
The proposed 2025 Regional and State Legislative Platform:
• Carries forward 11 policy issue areas identified in the 2024 Regional and State Legislative Platform;
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• Includes the addition of three, the modification of four , and the deletion of one policy statement across seven issue areas; and
• Lists a total of 134 policy statements.
Proposed Revisions for 2025
The proposed 2025 Regional and State Legislative Platform is included as Attachment 1. All unaltered text has been previously adopted by the City Council as part of the 2024 Regional and State Legislative Platform. All proposed modifications and addition s to the 2025 Regional and State Legislative Platform can be identified in Attachment 1 in bolded, blue, underlined, and italicized text and are summarized below.
A. Administration, Finance, Human Resources, and Risk Management
• Monitor Education Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) allocations and advocate for fair distribution of ERAF and Excess ERAF funds to prevent negative fiscal impact on the City. (Addition)
C. Housing and Community Development
• Support legislation that would require IOUs to provide increased transparency, communication, predictability, and certainty to the City and developers for key energy infrastructure to ensure continued progress in meeting our affordable housing production goals. (Addition)
• Support legislative efforts that provide increased funding and policy incentives for Prohousing-certified jurisdictions up to and including the streamlining of regulatory and planning requirements for local governments that show good-faith commitments to advancing housing solutions. (Addition)
E. Economic Development
• Support nonresidential antidisplacement legislation that promotes and protects the ability of small or legacy businesses to remain and stay in the community, including business protection and replacement requirements. (Modification)
• Support policies and programs for the visual and performing arts/artist community that enhance and increase economic vitality for local businesses, create new jobs, increase the tax base, and promotes tourism. (Modification)
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I. Recreation, Parks, and Library Services
• Support legislation and funding opportunities (e.g., State Park grant funds, conservancy grant funds, and project mitigation funds) that would help the City fund acquisition, design, and/or improvements for parks, open space, natural resources, the urban forest, historic preservation, the arts, and cultural resources. (Modification)
J. Public Safety, Emergency Services, and Law Enforcement
• Monitor and evaluate legislation that would increase accountability and transparency for law enforcement agencies and personnel. (Modification)
• Support legislation that would strengthen gun safety measures and accountability for gun crimes. (Modification)
K. Transportation and Public Works
• Support additional funding for Caltrain electrification. (Deleted)
2025 Federal Platform Development
In 2024, in coordination with MMO, staff conducted nine “Deep Dive Meetings” with City Councilmembers and City departments. The purpose of these meetings was to introduce Council and City departments to MMO; discuss policy priorities, issues, initiatives, or projects that would inform the development of a federal legislative platform for 2025; and identify how MMO could best support the City in its advocacy.
To facilitate a dialogue with members of the City Council, MMO asked the following questions:
• What are your goals/expectations for City’s federal advocacy program/engagement?
• From your perspective, what are Mountain View’s top three to five funding and/or infrastructure needs or policy priorities?
• How familiar are you with the federal budget/appropriations process? What additional questions, if any, do you have regarding the federal budget process?
• Are you involved in any outside advocacy organizations as a private citizen or as member of the Council that you would like us to be aware of? (e.g., regional political party chair, nonprofit board, etc.)
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• Are there local, regional, state, or federal boards that you sit on as a member of the Council that you would like us to be aware of? (e.g., SVCE?)
• Do you attend the National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional Cities Conference in Washington? Do you serve on a NLC policy or standing committee?
• Do you have connections with federal elected, appointed, or career officials who could be of assistance in helping advance the City’s federal program interests in projects, legislation, or regulations?
To facilitate a dialogue with City departments, MMO asked the following questions:
• What are the major issues/projects/initiatives, identified in recent the Capital Improvement Program ( CIP) or other planning document (i.e., STIP/TIP, local hazard mitigation plan, public safety priorities, etc. ) that your department is spearheading which would help us understand your department priorities?
• What is your department’s experience applying for/securing/using federal funding , competitive grants, and formula funding?
• Are there any pending grant applications for state or federal dollars that we should be aware of?
• Are there federal programs/policies that you follow and/or would like additional information?
• Are you a member of a national or state professional association? Do you attend national association annual meetings in Washington? What issues does the national association follow that are of special interest to you?
• Have you participated in recent federal/state lobbying meetings? If so, what issues/projects did you discuss?
Proposed Federal Legislative Platform
The proposed 2025 Federal Legislative Platform consists of four issue areas with 49 policy statements reflecting the most important legislative priorities and issues MMO heard from Council and City departments. The proposed 2025 Federal Legislative Platform is included as Attachment 2.
A few of the critical themes of the 2025 Federal Legislative Platform are highlighted below:
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• Expand Affordable and Work Force Housing: Significantly increase resources to achieve the City’s affordable housing pipeline, implement a middle -income strategy, and advance fair access to housing.
• Enhance Community and Economic Development: Enhance Mountain View as a great place to live that values community health and well- being. Preserve Mountain View’s unique character, restore wildlife habitats, and promote arts and culture. Provide parks, open space, and other key amenities.
• Develop Travel Mobility and Community Infrastructure: Develop a mobility network that enhances connectivity across Mountain View and establishes sustainable corridors.
Promote transit and safe active transportation options that reduce single -occupancy vehicle trips and traffic and increase walking and biking.
• Bolster Mountain View’s Resiliency, Sustainability, and Safety: Support federal programs that invest in community mitigation, including against the adverse impacts of sea level rise, earthquakes, drought, wildfire, and other disasters.
Council Policy A-16, Positions on Ballot Measures and Legislative Advocacy
The proposed regional, state, and federal issue areas and policy statements are consistent with the legislative guiding principles outlined in City Council Policy A -16, summarized below (Attachment 3):
• D irectly impact s 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;
• P rotects or increases local revenues;
• P rotects or increases funding or otherwise benefit specific programs or services utilized in Mountain View;
• O pposes an unfunded mandate; and
• Is consistent with the adopted State and Federal Legislative Platform, existing City policy, past action, or current City Council major goals (Strategic Priorities).
2025 State and Federal Legislative Timelines and Important Dates
The State Legislature resumed the 2025 -26 legislative session on January 3, 2025. The Federal Government Fiscal Year 2025 began on October 1, 2024. The 119th Congress convened its Legislative Program Priorities for 2025
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session on January 3, 2025 and is scheduled to adjourn on December 19, 2025. Upcoming key legislative dates are summarized in the tables below.
Table 1: Key State Legislative Dates
Key State Legislative Dates Action
January 10 Governor must present budget proposal to the Legislature.
January 24 Last day to submit bill requests to the Office of Legislative Counsel.
February 21 Last day for bills to be introduced.
April 10-21 Legislative spring recess.
May 2 Last day for policy committees to hear and report to fiscal committee’s fiscal bills introduced in their house.
June 15 Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget must be passed by the Legislature.
June 30 Governor must sign Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget.
July 18-August 18 Legislative summer recess.
September 12 Last day for each house to pass bills.
October 12 Governor must take action all measures passed by the Legislature.
Table 2: Key Federal Legislative Dates
Key Federal Legislative Dates Action
October 1, 2024 Fiscal Year 2025 begins.
November-December 2024 Federal agencies begin to release grant notices.
February-March 2025 Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Released.
March-April 2025 Congressional Budget Hearings begin. Fiscal Year 2026 Congressional deadlines for community project funding.
May-June 2025 Appropriations committees begin to mark up Fiscal Year 2026 bills.
July-September 2025 Appropriations committees release Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding.
September 30, 2025 Fiscal Year 2025 ends.
QUESTION FOR COUNCIL
Staff seeks City Council input on the following question:
Question: Are there any policy issues, priorities, or policy statements that Council would like to discuss, seek further clarification on, modify, add, or remove from the proposed 2025 Regional and State and Federal Platforms?
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NEXT STEPS
Following feedback from the City Council at this Study Session, staff will finalize the proposed 2025 Legislative Platforms and bring the item to Council for adoption on the Consent Agenda on February 25, 2025.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The City Council agenda is advertised on Channel 26, and the agenda and this Study Session memorandum appear on the City’s website.
CG-AA/6/CAM
608-02-11-25SS
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Attachments: 1. Draft 2025 Regional and State Legislative Platform
2. Draft 2025 Federal Legislative Platform
3. Council Policy A-16, Positions on Ballot Measures and Legislative Advocacy