January 13, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Legislative Guidelines &
Legislative Advocacy Updates
Christine Prior, Deputy City Clerk
Chantal Cotton Gaines, Deputy City Manager
Carly Shelby, Senior Associate, Townsend
Public Affairs
1 • Adopt the 2025 State and Federal Legislative Guidelines as recommended by the Policy & Services Committee
• Receive a legislative advocacy update from Townsend Public Affairs
Recommendation
1 • Framework for used by staff and legislative advocates, in consultation with the Mayor, to respond to legislative issues • Allow for flexible and quick responses to emerging issues • 2025 updates (Attachment A; Packet pgs. 118-121)
Legislative Guidelines
Slide
4 Advocacy Program
Anticipated Issues for
2025
Overview of Advocacy
Efforts
Presentation Overview
Funding Updates
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates Slide
5 Overview of Advocacy Program
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates Townsend Public Affairs Provides State and Federal Legislative and Grant Funding Advocacy Services to the City of Palo Alto:
Federal
Legislative
Advocacy
Grant Writing
and Funding
Advocacy
State
Legislative
Advocacy
Slide
6 6
Examples of Advocacy Efforts for the City
21 3 4
State Legislative
Advocacy
Federal Legislative
Advocacy
Grant Application
Development and
Submittal
Agency and
Regulatory Support
• Engagement on over 50
Legislative Proposals during
2023-24 Legislative Session
• Successful budget advocacy
efforts to protect City Funding
• Strategic Coalition Engagement
• Federal Appropriations process
navigation and earmark success
• Federal agency engagement on
high natural gas prices
• Successful advocacy trips in DC
• Development of over 5 large-
dollar amount grant proposals
• Strategic eligibility and
competitive application advice
• Consistent meetings with staff
on priorities and opportunities
• Communication with HUD,
Caltrans, and other agencies on
funding and project
implementation
• Post-submittal grant and
funding advocacy
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates Slide
7 Recap of 2024 Key State Issues
Housing Production and Affordability
RHNA Reform
Climate Resiliency
Homelessness and Behavioral Health
Public Safety and Organized Crime Reduction
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates Slide
8 2025 Legislative Session: Key Dynamics
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates Legislature
Reconvened
January 6, 2025
First Year of Two-
Year Session
25% Member
Turnover
New Bill
Introduction
Maximums 50 to
35 New Committee
Leadership CA/DC Dynamics
Slide
9 Governor’s
January Budget Proposal
Despite a projected $2 billion
deficit from the Legislative
Analyst’s Office, Governor
Newsom’s plan delivers a
balanced $322.2 billion budget
with no deficit and a modest
surplus, backed by $16.9 billion in
reserves.
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates Slide
10 Looking Ahead: Key Issues for 2025
Housing Financing
Cap and Trade
Reauthorization
RHNA Reform
Property Insurance
Availability and
Affordability
Local Artist Contract
Protections
Regional
Transportation
Funding
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates Slide
11 2025 Key Federal Issues
119th Congress:
Leadership and
Administration
Changes
FY 2024
Appropriations
Process –March
Federal Earmarks –
Community Project
Funding
Current Pending Community
Project Funding Request:
$1,250,000 for Fire Station
No. 4 Improvements –
Championed by
Congresswoman Eshoo
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates Slide
12 Advocacy Program
• Regular check in meetings with City staff
• Identification of legislative and budget
priorities for 2025
• Consistent reports and updates on priority
issues
• Legislative platform review and updates
• Advocacy trip planning
• Ongoing advocacy in Sacramento and
Washington, DC on behalf of City
legislative priorities and budget requests
• Relationship development with Legislative
Delegation and Leadership
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates Slide
13 California Advocacy | Federal Advocacy | Grant Writing www.TownsendPA.com | (949) 399-9050
Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
California Advocacy,
Featuring:
Niccolo De Luca
Vice President
[email protected]
Casey Elliott
Vice President
[email protected]
Carly Shelby
Senior Associate
[email protected]
Federal Advocacy,
Featuring:
Ben Goldeen
Fed. Advocacy Director
[email protected]
Joseph Melo
Senior Associate
[email protected]
Sammi Maciel
Fed. Funding Associate
[email protected]
Grant Writing,
Featuring:
Alex Gibbs
Grants Director
[email protected]
Anastasia Heaton
Senior Associate
[email protected]
Barbarah Torres
Senior Associate
[email protected]
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates 1 • Adopt the 2025 State and Federal Legislative Guidelines as recommended by the Policy & Services Committee
Recommendation Motion