Proposed Updates to City
Council Legislative
Advocacy Policy 00-040
City Council Meeting
January 24, 2023
Lon Peterson, Director of Communications
Scott Alonso, Intergovernmental Relations & Legislative Affairs Officer Presented by:
Background
• The City Council last updated its legislative
advocacy policy in 2013.
• In Feb. 2020, the City formed the Communications
and Intergovernmental Office.
• In 2020, the Intergovernmental Relations and
Legislative Affairs Officer position was created.
• In 2021, the City adopted its first formal legislative platform for federal advocacy purposes.
Policy Purpose
3 • It provides the Mayor and City Council with principles and direction to guide legislative positions for City of Santa Rosa staff and the Council on behalf of the City. • It enables the City to have quick and sustained
engagement on legislative and advocacy issues at the
local, regional, Sacramento or Washington, D.C. levels. 4 • The proposed policy streamlines the City’s approval process to officially take a position on a particular policy matter.
• The Mayor’s authority to approve a policy position is also clarified in the updated policy – if the Mayor’s
proposed action is in line with the Council’s approved
legislative platform.
• The policy clarifies that the Council will have legislative platforms and update them on a consistent basis.
Policy Update
5 The Communications & Intergovernmental Relations
Office recommends the City Council approve a resolution updating the Council’s Legislative Advocacy Policy 00-
040.
Recommendation
Questions?