City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 28, 2025
Agenda Item: 5.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David White, City Manager, City Manager's Office, Administration Subject: Approval of the City of Santa Monica Legislative Platforms for the 2025-2026 Federal and State Legislative Sessions
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve the attached 2025-26 Federal and State Legislative Platform Drafts; and
2. Adopt a finding that the action above does not constitute a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Summary
The City of Santa Monica engages state and federal lobbying firms, Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange (SYASL) and The Ferguson Group, to advocate for its legislative objectives, secure funding opportunities, and represent its interests in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. These firms collaborate with City staff to advance policy goals, monitor and influence legislation, and liaise with elected officials and agencies.
The City has developed updated State and Federal Legislative Platforms for the 2025- 2026 legislative sessions, aligning advocacy efforts with key priorities: addressing homelessness, maintaining clean and safe public spaces, fostering economic recovery, advancing racial justice and equity, and promoting sustainability.
Staff is recommending City Council adopt the updated 2025-2026 Federal and State Legislative Platforms. These platforms will continue to guide the City’s legislative and policy advocacy, ensuring alignment with Council’s adopted priorities and providing a 2 of 7
transparent framework for engagement with state and federal policymakers. The adoption of the legislative platforms will have no direct financial impact or require any additional budget actions. The associated consulting contracts are already funded within the City’s budget and are entering the second year of five-year agreements.
Background
The City of Santa Monica has consistently prioritized proactive engagement with state and federal policymakers to advocate for its legislative objectives and secure funding opportunities. To this end, the City has retained professional lobbying firms since at least the early 1990s including Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange (SYASL) for state-level advocacy and The Ferguson Group (TFG) for federal-level advocacy.
In 2016, the City Council adopted its first formalized Federal and State Legislative Platforms. These platforms were created to align advocacy efforts with Council-adopted priorities, provide transparency, and ensure a rapid and coordinated response to emerging legislative issues. The platforms have been regularly updated since their inception, typically on an annual or biannual basis, to reflect evolving community needs and policy objectives.
The platforms have guided legislative advocacy in several areas, including:
• Monitoring and influencing proposed legislation.
• Advocating for funding opportunities through budget allocations, Community Project Funding, and grant submissions.
• Liaising with elected officials to promote City positions on legislative and regulatory matters.
Prior to 2016, Council had been presented with proposed Federal Legislative Agendas for their consideration and approval, which included broad statements of support or opposition to programs, policies or concepts legislated by the federal government.
Additionally, the Council had taken positions on proposed state legislation of interest to Santa Monica both when presented by staff in packages or on a case-by-case basis. 3 of 7
This year, both firms, in collaboration with City staff, have again developed updated legislative platforms to guide the City’s legislative and policy advocacy over the upcoming 2025-2026 Federal and State legislative sessions. Maintaining up-to-date legislative platforms at both the federal and state level serves to clarify City policies, create additional transparency, and enable staff to rapidly weigh in on matters of legislative importance with the backing of Council’s adopted positions.
Discussion
Staff is putting forward for the Council’s review and approval updated versions of the State and Federal Legislative Platforms (Attachments A & B) that maintain the alignment of our advocacy efforts to the following:
• Addressing Homelessness: Prevent housed Santa Monicans from becoming homeless and increase the supply of affordable housing, address the behavioral health needs of vulnerable individuals and advocate for regional capacity to address homelessness.
• Clean & Safe Santa Monica: Create an atmosphere marked by clean and safe public spaces and neighborhoods, including parks for recreation and leisure activities.
• Cultivate Economic Recovery & Expand Community & Cultural Offerings:
Cultivate economic opportunity and recovery and invest in community and cultural amenities and programs for all community members, focused on expanding opportunities for youth, teens and seniors.
• Racial Justice, Equity & Social Diversity: The City of Santa Monica acknowledges the effects of generational and institutional racism and discrimination, and its consequences that continue to impact our residents and businesses. These lessons of our history cannot be ignored. The City is 4 of 7
committed to advancing racial equity and social diversity to improve the wellbeing of people who live, work, learn, play, and do business in our City and create a community where differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by race, class, gender, disability or other identities. Everyone in Santa Monica must have an opportunity to thrive.
• Sustainable & Connected Community: Ensure that City policies and programs enhance our resources, prevent and remedy harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefit the social and economic wellbeing of the community for the sake of current and future generations.
Adoption of the legislative platforms is a public statement by the Council of its legislative priorities at the federal and state level. This action, combined with consultation of positions adopted by statewide and national advocacy organizations such as the League of California Cities, National League of Cities, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and Independent Cities Association in addition to collaborations with regional partners though Joint Powers Authorities like Westside Cities Council of Governments and Southern California Association of Governments, allows staff to review and adopt positions on legislative items of particular concern to Santa Monica.
More specifically, in practice, as legislation is introduced in the U.S. Congress and the California state legislature of relevance to Santa Monica, the City’s federal and state representatives use the legislative platforms to develop recommended positions on each bill—typically either a “Support,” “Oppose,” or a “Watch” (i.e. monitor without supporting or opposing) position. On any bill that is a close call or where more input is needed or there are particular sensitivities or strong City implications at play, the representatives refer the bill to City staff for further analysis and feedback. The representatives then draft letters of support or opposition, as appropriate, that are reviewed by City staff and signed by the Mayor on behalf of the Council to submit to the City’s elected representatives as well as relevant authors and legislative committees for particular bills. The City’s representatives or City staff at times weigh in further to advocate for the City’s legislative positions through meeting with legislators or agency 5 of 7
officials and providing testimony at committee hearings. In addition to legislative advocacy related to particular bills at the federal and state levels, the City’s representatives use the adopted legislative platforms to inform advocacy for and pursuit of resources that advance the City’s priorities and positions, in the form of grants or legislative appropriations.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed 2025-2026 Federal and State Legislative Platforms. Adoption of these platforms will enable the City’s staff and representatives to continue credibly and effectively advocate for its priorities, securing funding opportunities, and advance policies that benefit the Santa Monica community.
Possible Alternative Actions
1) Reaffirm the Proposed Platforms: The Council could choose to adopt the platforms as presented, reaffirming the City’s existing legislative positions with minor updates. The proposed platforms are substantially similar to those currently guiding staff and consultant advocacy efforts, with only minor refinements made to reflect updated priorities or clarify existing positions.
Adopting the platforms now ensures the City’s interests are effectively represented and its policy objectives are advanced in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
2) Modify the Proposed Platforms: The Council could revise the platforms before adoption to reflect additional priorities or refine existing positions. While the current draft incorporates minor updates, Council may identify further changes during its deliberations. This approach would allow for customization to address specific emerging issues or areas of concern.
3) Delay Adoption: The Council could defer adoption of the platforms to allow additional time for review and discussion. However, because the proposed platforms are substantially similar to the current ones already guiding staff and consultants, delaying adoption is not recommended unless there are significant changes being considered. A delay could hinder the City’s ability to clearly communicate its positions or influence legislation effectively. 6 of 7
It is important to note that the platforms can be amended at any time should the Council wish to address additional topics not currently covered. Prompt adoption of these platforms remains the most efficient and transparent way to reaffirm the City’s legislative priorities and maintain credibility in its advocacy efforts.
Environmental Review
The approval of the City’s Federal and State Legislative Platforms is not a “project” subject to CEQA. Pursuant to CEQA Section 21065, the project does not meet the definition of a “project” subject to CEQA as it will not “cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment”. Additionally, per Section 15378(b) of the CEQA Guidelines, a “project” does not include administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. The adoption of these updated legislative platforms ensures the City continues to effectively utilize its federal and state legislative representative services. Therefore, the updated legislative platforms are not subject to CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of recommended action. Both consulting firms will begin year two of their five-year contracts for services with the City, contingent upon funding availability. Staff will return to Council if specific budget actions are required in the future.
Prepared By: Josh Kurpies, Council Office and Legislative Affairs Liaison Approved Forwarded to Council
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Attachments:
A. DRAFT-2025-2026 Federal Legislative Platform
B. DRAFT-2025-2026 State Legislative Platform