City Council
Staff Report
From: Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Report Type: INFORMATION REPORTS
Meeting Date: August 5, 2024
Report #:2407-3294
TITLE
Update on Pending State and Federal Legislation, Advocacy and Grant Writing Activities; CEQA status – not a project
RECOMMENDATION
This is an informational report; no action is requested.
BACKGROUND
The City Council annually adopts Legislative Guidelines 1. They provide a baseline for the City’s legislative advocates at the State and Federal level to advocate on the City’s behalf in relation to proposed legislation. The guidelines reflect and activate Council’s priorities; they do not supplant them. Where the guidelines provide sufficient direction, the City’s legislative advocates may discuss Palo Alto's interests with legislators and their staff and/or may prepare a letter of advocacy in alignment with the guidelines for the Mayor's signature. This is key to enabling the City to weigh in on fast-moving developments.
This report provides an update on topics covered in Council’s last legislative update on May 6, 20242. Attached to this report is a memo from Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), the City’s legislative consultants, highlighting recent legislative, budgetary, and judicial actions impacting the City. The first section details state bills on which the City has adopted positions and bills TPA is monitoring for the City, including the bill’s status, summary and the City’s position (if one has been adopted).
The memo next summarizes state and federal budgetary and appropriation actions, including the successful inclusion of state budget trailer bill language that protects Palo Alto’s grade separation 1 City of Palo Alto 2024 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/city-manager/legislation/adopted-2024-legislative- guidelines.pdf
2 City Council, May 6, 2024; Agenda Item #12; Staff Report # 2402-2635, https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=72027&repo=r-704298fc&searchid=ec595473-1479-4f2f- 899a-634054ef13de
funding and inclusion of a funding request for Fire Station No. 4 in the FY 25 Federal Appropriations package.
Finally, the memo summarizes two Supreme Court decisions of interest to the City.
As in previous election years, the Council will consider positions on state and local ballot measures later in the fall.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving this report. The City Council budgets annually for legislative advocacy services.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Staff from multiple departments are involved in the City’s legislative advocacy process. Staff meets regularly with the City’s legislative consultants to review pending state and federal legislation and grant opportunities linked to state and federal programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City’s legislative advocacy activities are not a project under section 15387(b)(5) of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (administrative activities that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Townsend Public Affairs Memo
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Staff: Christine Prior, Deputy City Clerk