COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David W. Rowlands, City Manager
DATE: April 1, 2025
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Approving a City Legislative Platform
Description:
The City Council will consider approving the Legislative Platform to guide the City’s legislative and intergovernmental activities.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution approving the Legislative Platform to guide the City’s legislative and intergovernmental activities.
BACKGROUND:
The City would like to establish a Legislative Platform to facilitate the City’s quick response to County, State, and Federal legislation and proposals in a proactive manner because often there is insufficient time for the City Council to take formal action on a particular project or piece of legislation. The City previously had a legislative platform for Federal legislation in 2012 and 2018.
In developing the draft 2025 Legislative Platform, staff reviewed current Legislative Platforms for the City of San Luis Obispo, the City of Santa Barbara, and the City of Moorpark. Additionally, the City of Santa Maria’s Department Directors provided items they are currently monitoring.
DISCUSSION:
Previously, the Federal platform focused on Water Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, Public Safety, Economic Development, Telecommunications, Defense, and General Government Issues. The proposed platform includes Governance, Human Resources, Planning and Housing, Homelessness, Finance, Library, and Recreation and Parks, in addition to the topics previously listed.
The new platform is robust and includes a more comprehensive listing of types of legislation that will be supported or opposed by the City. An issue’s exclusion from the Legislative Platform does not construe that the City will not have a position on a particular issue.
2 Fiscal Considerations
Legislation and regulatory processes can generate very significant fiscal impacts on the City and the community, including one-time and/or recurring expenditures, revenues and appropriations. These may or may not be consistent with the City’s adopted budget. Any grant-related legislation may impact the City’s budgets, such as requiring a match or subsidy.
Impact to the Community
Should the Legislative Platform not be approved, it may cause the City to take longer to send letters of support or opposition, which in turn could cause f inancial impacts to the City and/or to the private/public sector.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution
B. Legislative Platform