Agenda Item #14.1
For Council Meeting of January 25, 2022
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT ALONSO, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS OFFICER, COMMUNICATIONS & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS SUBJECT: 2022 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Communications & Intergovernmental Relations Office that the Council, by resolution, adopt the City’s 2022 Federal Legislative Platform.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 2022 federal legislative session is now underway. To be best positioned to respond to what is anticipated to be a very active year, City staff have identified federal legislative priorities in a proposed 2022 federal legislative platform for consideration by the City Council. Defined priorities, approved by the City Council, will help communicate the City’s federal legislative and project priorities to the California Federal Delegation, Congress, regional and federal agencies.
BACKGROUND
Since 2018, the City has been actively working with our contracted federal lobbyist team, MMO Partners, to engage our federal representatives and federal government agencies on our community’s critical recovery and resiliency needs. Since then, additional wildfires, more frequent Public Safety Power Shutoff events, and the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic have only increased the City’s need for participation in these advocacy efforts. Last year, the City Council adopted a federal legislative platform for the first time.
The City will have multiple opportunities to secure funding during the second year of the 117th Congressional session. This includes the 2022 federal funding cycle and process, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and potentially the Build Back Better Act.
To prepare for these activities, staff has identified federal legislative priorities in the proposed 2021 legislative platform for consideration by the City Council. The priorities focus efforts in the following core areas: COVID-19 Relief, Mitigation and Recovery; Wildfire Recovery and Resiliency; Surface Transportation; Water and Energy Resiliency; Housing and Community Development; and Public Safety.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
Not applicable.
ANALYSIS
The statements outlined in the proposed 2022 Federal Legislative Platform (Exhibit A) are intended to help communicate the City’s federal legislative and project priorities to the California Federal Legislative Delegation, Congress, regional and federal agencies. As defined, the Council-approved platform will allow City Councilmembers and City staff to address proposed legislation efficiently and administrative, or regulatory actions to advance and protect City interests.
City staff, in coordination with MMO Partners, will monitor federal legislation and administrative or regulatory proposals, taking appropriate action when necessary, in alignment with the approved 2022 Federal Legislative Platform and in compliance with the City’s existing Legislative Advocacy Council Policy No. 000-40 in order to advance and/or safeguard the City’s priorities in Washington, D.C.
City staff met with Department leaders and staff members to review the federal legislative platform. MMO Partners also joined those meetings to gather feedback from City staff. MMO Partners provided feedback and analysis regarding the proposed issue areas and priorities in the platform.
FISCAL IMPACT
Currently, the approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the City’s General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378 in that there is no possibility that the implementation of this action may have significant effects on the environment, and no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution / Exhibit A – 2022 Federal Legislative Platform
CONTACT
Scott Alonso, (707) 543-4624, [email protected]
2022 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
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