TO:City Council
FROM:Mikey Taylor, Councilmember
DATE:August 27, 2024
SUBJECT: League of California Cities Channel Counties Division Meeting Update on July 19, 2024
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive report.
2. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Direct and indirect costs are included in Adopted FY 2024-25 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
League of California Cities (Cal Cities) is an association of California city officials who work together to enhance their knowledge and skills, exchange information, and combine resources so they may influence policy decisions that affect cities.
Founded in 1898 on the principles of local control and interagency cooperation, Cal Cities has grown from a handful of public officials to include the voluntary membership of 479 California cities. Today, Cal Cities and its member cities are working hard to strengthen the effectiveness of their advocacy efforts. Cal Cities' mission statement reflects this commitment to "restore and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians."
Cal Cities Channel Counties Division Meeting Update on July 19, 2024 August 27, 2024
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DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Cal Cities coordinates quarterly Channel Counties Division meetings to bring together local officials from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. At the meeting, members discuss regional issues and coordinate legislative efforts. The City of Atascadero hosted the recent division meeting at the Charles Paddock Zoo. Councilmember Mikey Taylor and Legislative Affairs Manager Mina Layba attended.
A. Welcome by City of Atascadero Mayor:
Mayor Alice Patino welcomed division members to the City of Atascadero. She provided background information on the Charles Paddock Zoo. Mayor Patino acknowledged and thanked her fellow councilmembers and city staff for assisting with the coordination of the dinner. She invited division members to attend their concert in the park on Saturday, featuring the band Garden Party.
B. Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Cynthia Stringfield - Charles Paddock Zoo Director: Dr. Stringfield shared that the Paddock Zoo is municipally owned and operated. The Paddock Zoo is accredited since 1990. There are only 200 accredited zoos worldwide. Dr.
Stringfield has California roots and received her doctorate from UC Davis. She was part of the Santa Barbara Zoo health team and was involved in the Los Angeles Zoo’s California Condor Project. For fifteen years, Dr. Stringfield taught animal husbandry at Moorpark College. She left the state to become Vice President of Conservation, Education, and Animal Health at the Tampa Zoo. Dr. Stringfield returned to California to head the Charles Paddock Zoo on July 1, 2024.
The intended primary keynote speakers were from the California Business Roundtable to discuss the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act. The measure was removed from the November ballot by the California Supreme Court on June 20, 2024. The keynote speaker was canceled.
C. Updates:
1. Board of Directors Update: Division Chair and Mayor of San Luis Obispo Erica Steward welcomed everyone to the meeting. She shared that Cal Cities recently had a financial audit. The organization's operations and budget are in good financial health. She also reported that Cal Cities hired three new lobbyists this year to oversee Revenue and Taxation, Housing, and Public Safety. Chair Steward reviewed Cal Cities' annual goals to remind the membership of its legislative priorities. The Division will host another legislative webinar to review the outcome of the legislative cycle this fall.
Cal Cities Channel Counties Division Meeting Update on July 19, 2024 August 27, 2024
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2. Cal Cities Update: Channel Counties Division Public Affairs Manager Dave Mullinax shared information on ballot measures supported by Cal Cities Board of Directors. In November, voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on Proposition
5. Proposition 5 would lower the supermajority vote requirement from two-thirds (66.67 percent) vote to 55 percent for local jurisdictions to issue bonds for affordable housing and public infrastructure projects. Another measure, Proposition 36, allows first and second-time, simple, non-violent drug offenders the opportunity to seek treatment in drug rehabilitation rather than face incarceration. This measure would undo Proposition 47. Governor Newsom tried to block the initiative, while the legislature failed to pass bills that would make changes to Proposition 47.
3. Announcements/Upcoming Events: The Channel Counties Division will be hosting its board election. Ballots will be sent electronically. Division candidates are Laura Hernandez, Councilmember - City of Port Hueneme, and Eric Friedman, Councilmember - City of Santa Barbara.
The next Channel Counties Division meeting will be held at the Cal Cities Annual Conference in Long Beach in October. The date and time of the meeting are to be determined.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goal:
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
PREPARED BY: Mina Layba, Legislative Affairs Manager
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