City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: February 4, 2025
From: Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator
Department: City Administration
Submitted by: Angela Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator
Subject
City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform Recommendation
Discuss the proposed City of Vernon 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform (Platform), provide feedback, and direct staff to place the Platform on the February 18, 2025 agenda for adoption.
Background
A Legislative and Regulatory Platform is a summary of policy statements that provide a framework for a City’s response to state and federal legislation and regulation. The Platform is intended to reflect the City Council’s goals and priorities as well as its position on issues that are currently, or are anticipated to be, the focus of legislation and regulation at the state and federal levels. Council’s adoption of this platform authorizes the City’s active and timely engagement to influence state and federal decision-making on legislative, administrative, regulatory, and funding issues. As a full-service community, the City of Vernon (City) recognizes the need for active legislative engagement to protect and enhance the interests of Vernon’s residents and businesses. Accordingly, City officials and staff maintain close relationships with Vernon’s state and federal representatives to advocate, influence, and monitor pertinent legislation.
The purpose of the proposed 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform (Attachment 1) is to clearly outline the position of the City on priority issues and matters that impact the City's ability to operate effectively, while allowing the consideration of additional legislative and budget issues that arise during the legislative session.
In 2025-2026, the City’s legislative advocacy efforts will consist of:
• Actively maintaining meaningful relationships with Vernon’s federal and state representatives and advocacy firms through virtual or in-person meetings, written correspondence, and webinars
• Facilitating community meetings with Vernon’s local and state representatives • Tracking and influencing legislation through the correspondence described above • Collaborating, when appropriate, with the Gateway Cities, Cal Cities and the National League of Cities, in addition to other local government/professional associations such as:
Southern California Public Power Authority, California Municipal Utilities Association, the American Public Power Association, Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association, California Police Chiefs Association, and International Association of Chiefs of Police • Participating in legislative webinars and subscribing to relevant list serves to acquire information about legislation and projects pertinent to Vernon • Facilitating meetings between the City’s advocacy firms – California Public Policy Group (CPPG) and Emanuels Jones and Associates (EJA) – and the City’s Executive Team and staff, including City Council presentations from CPPG and EJA.
Discussion
The 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform contains topics that have the potential for county, state, and federal participation and provides the City’s legislative representatives and advocacy firms with a clear understanding of the City’s priorities. The priorities outlined within the Platform have been drafted in consultation with the City’s advocacy firms and are intended to facilitate, guide, and codify the City Council and staff’s ability to address legislation and promote City interests, with the ultimate goal of preserving local control and local legislative authority.
These Platform priorities will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to facilitate effective advocacy. Policy topics include the following: Municipal Finance, Economic Development, Governance & Transparency, Public Safety, State & Federal Funding Priorities, Public Health & Environmental Control, Community Development, and Utilities and Environment.
Each priority includes policy statements that articulate the City’s legislative goals by addressing major areas of interest, while providing flexibility to respond to unanticipated legislation.
Position Letters from Council Members
For proposed legislation, either consistent with the City’s adopted platform or with legislative positions the City has taken in the past, City staff has the authority to prepare position letters for the Mayor’s signature. Items not within this framework nor addressed in an adopted Platform will be brought to Council for direction. Legislative priorities may only address issues relevant to, or impacting the City or its provision of municipal services.
Conclusion
In the City’s continued efforts to proactively and appropriately address legislation that promotes City interests and preserves local control and legislative authority, staff recommends City Council approve the 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Proposed 2025-2026 Legislative and Regulatory Platform