City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Kevin Werner, City Administrator
Date: 04/11/2023
Subject: League of Cal Cities - Response to requests for Letters of Support RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The Legislative Response Committee Members are recommending that the City Council authorize the Mayor to send a letter to the Cal Cities legislative representative requesting the City of Ripon not be included on future correspondence without concurrence from the City Administrator that the City is in support of the Cal Cities position.
BACKGROUND:
The City receives many requests to support or not support a variety of legislation being proposed, some of which will have a direct impact on the City or Ripon residents and/or businesses. These type of requests typically provide a short turnaround time to provide the requested letter of the City’s position on the legislation.
The following summarizes the process staff follows in responding to these requests:
Determine if the request has an impact on the City government and/or its’ residents and/or businesses. If staff believes the legislation does have a direct impact, typically go on to the next step; if not, no further action.
Review legislation to determine if providing the requested support or opposition to the legislation is in-line with City Council priorities or previous City Council action. o If staff believes supporting or opposing the legislation is in-line, an email is sent to all Council Members providing information on the proposed legislation and that a letter regarding the City’s position is being prepared for the Mayor’s signature.
o If any Council Member communicates a concern with the letter regarding the City’s position, or if the proposed legislation is not in-line with City Council priorities or previous action, staff does not move forward with preparing a letter stating the City’s position.
Any Council Member may request that the City’s position on proposed legislation be added to the City Council agenda for discussion/action. The Mayor may direct the Legislative Response Committee review the proposed legislation and provide a recommendation to the City Council.
Recently, Cal Cities sent an email stating the City of Ripon would be included on a letter supporting the Cal Cities position if there was not a response requesting the City be removed from the list of cities supporting their position. The Mayor requested the Legislative Response Committee meet to discuss this approach and how best the City should manage these types of requests.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Committee Members met on March 28, 2023 and reviewed the current process of responding to requests for a City position on proposed legislation, and specifically, the Cal Cities recent approach of assuming the City supports their position if something to the contrary is not communicated.
Committee Members are concerned that because of the short turnaround time of reviewing these requests from Cal Cities that there may be a time the City of Ripon is included as supporting the Cal Cities position without staff having an opportunity to go through the City’s process.
Therefore, the Legislative Response Committee Members are recommending that the City Council authorize the Mayor to send a letter to the Cal Cities legislative representative requesting the City of Ripon not be included on future correspondence unless they receive concurrence from the City Administrator that the City is in support of the Cal Cities position.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.