January 28, 2025
2025 Priority Advocacy Issues, Long-term
Advocacy Positions (LAPs) and Annual
Review of New Laws
2City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Agenda Outline
• Annual Review of New Laws
• Review of 2025 Priority Advocacy Issues and Long-Term Advocacy Positions
• Introduction of Federal and State Advocacy Team
3City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Annual Review of New Laws
AB 2232 (Maienschein) Accessibility to emergency information and services:
emergency shelters: persons with pets.
AB 262 (Holden) Children’s camps: safety and regulation.
Community Services
SB 707 (Newman) Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024.
AB 2427 (McCarty) Electric vehicle charging stations: permitting: curbside charging.
Environmental Quality
AB 2715 (Boerner) Ralph M. Brown Act: closed sessions.
AB 2561 (McKinnor) Local public employees: vacant positions.
Governance, Transparency,
and Labor Relations
AB 1886 (Alvarez) Housing Element Law: substantial compliance: Housing Accountability Act.
SB 1037 (Wiener) Planning and zoning: housing element: enforcement.
Housing
SB 1216 (Blakespear) Transportation projects: Class III bikeways: prohibition.Transportation Several noteworthy bills that have an impact to the City… 4City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 • Legislative Advocacy Positions (Council Policy 7.4.14) identify the City’s broad advocacy positions on issues and legislation.
short-term in nature and support the General Plan and guide Council and staff on intergovernmental matters.
• Priority Advocacy Issues
issues where legislative activity is either already underway or imminent and expected to have significant impact on City business.
• Long-term Advocacy Positions (LAPs)
ongoing policy positions adopted by Council.
Definitions
5City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Legislative Advocacy Process
Council identifies Priority Issues and Legislative Advocacy Positions Annually (typically in January).
Council Adopts
Legislative Platform
Staff monitors legislation with potential City impacts. Staff Tracks Legislation
Staff coordinates quick responses to pending legislation based on Council-approved policies i.e., Council Policy Manual, General Plan, Municipal Code etc.*
Staff Submits
Position Letters
City position letters are posted on Sunnyvale.ca.gov and on Council meeting agendas (Info Only).
Staff Publishes City
Letters
*City Manager approval is required in cases when it is unclear if an official City policy supports performing advocacy.
6City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Proposed 2025 Priority Advocacy Issues
1. Funding and Local Strategy for Workforce Development
2. Interoperability/Public Safety Communications System
3. Environmental Regulatory & Conservation Issues
4. Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems by Law Enforcement and First Responder Immunity when interfering with Unmanned Aircraft Systems
5. Affordable Housing, Homelessness and Land Use
6. Engagement with the Federal Aviation Administration Regarding Airplane Noise 7City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Summary of Proposed Changes to Priority Advocacy Issues Funding and Local Strategy for Workforce Development
Keep Priority Advocacy Issue. Renamed and updated policy language with current data and status.
Interoperability/Public Safety Communication System
Keep Priority Advocacy Issue. Deleted bill language (SB 719) that filed passage.
Environmental Regulatory & Conservation Issues
Keep Priority Advocacy Issue. Updated policy language under Promote Building Electrification to include federal reference.
Engagement with the Federal Aviation Administration Regarding Airplane Noise Keep Priority Advocacy Issue. Updated policy language to reflect current discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration and San Jose Airport staff.
8City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Summary of Proposed Changes to Long-term Advocacy Positions (refer to Attachment 4 for redline version)
Council Policy 7.0 – Planning and Management
Proposed Deletion 7.0 F(10) Miscellaneous
Summary:
Remove language that urges the Governor to issue executive orders regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Consideration:
Outdated, no longer needed.
Council Policy 7.0 – Planning and Management
Proposed Deletion 7.0 F(11) Miscellaneous
Summary:
Remove language that advocates for Sunnyvale’s communities of interest during the Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) (re)districting process.
Consideration:
New map was adopted on May 13, 2024, by the County Committee on School District Organization. 9City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Summary of Proposed Changes to Long-term Advocacy Positions (cont’d) (refer to Attachment 4 for redline version)
Council Policy 3.0 Environmental Management
Proposed Addition 3.5 Energy
Summary:
3.5(6) – Advocate for the federal government to provide legislative relief in re-imposing all-electric requirements.
Consideration:
New policy position added per Council direction at the May 21, 2024 Council Meeting (RTC 24-0545).
Council Policy 7.0 Planning and Management
Proposed Addition C. Intergovernmental Relations
Summary:
C (5) - Support legislation that reflects and reinforces Sunnyvale's Statement of Values as adopted by the City Council.
Consideration:
New policy position added to reference Council action at the January 14, 2025 Council Meeting (RTC 25-0170). 10City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 • Receive and file the Annual Review of New Laws Report • Review existing Priority Advocacy Issues and LAPs
• Consider staff recommendations
• Provide other direction on changes to Priority Issues and/or LAPs
Council Direction
11City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (TPA) Company Overview
• Founded in 1998 to support organizations that improve our communities.
• Has represented over 300 clients, including 250 local public agencies.
• Helped secure over $3.2 billion for client projects.
• Over 150 client bills signed into law.
12City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Overview of Advocacy Program
13City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 TPA uses a collaborative approach to provide “the best of all worlds.” • Attention of a Small Firm: Customized and focused customer service from a dedicated client manager as well as senior executives based in Sacramento and Washington, DC. • Strength of a Large Firm: Extensive network of relationships and knowledge of public policy issues and grant funding opportunities from a large team of legislative advocates with the breadth and depth of lobbying experience not available at smaller firms. • Commitment of Senior Executives: Active participation by the firm’s senior executives to develop strategy, engage top-level relationships, and personally ensure high-quality customer service.
The Townsend Public Affairs Advantage
14City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Looking Ahead: Key State Issues for 2025
15City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 2025 Key Federal Issues
16City of Sunnyvale – Priority Issues, LAPs and New Laws – January 2025 Client Service Team
Thank You
Questions?