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BRAD HALPERN
Mayor
RAY PEARL
Mayor Pro Tern
NEDEDAVIS
Councilmember
MINUTES
KELLY HONIG
Council member
Study Session of the City Council
March 23, 2022
CALL TO ORDER:
SUSAN McSWEENEY
Councilmember
This Study Session meeting of the Westlake Village City Council was called to order by Mayor Halpern on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 4:30 p.m., at 31200 Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Halpern led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Also Present:
Councilmembers Mcsweeney, Honig, Davis, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
None
City Manager de Geus, City Attorney Boga, Deputy City Manager Eskandar, Administrative Services Director Wilson, Planning Director Forbes, City Clerk Mann and Senior Planner Sinkula.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Councilmember Davis moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Councilmember Honig seconded the motion.
YES:
NO:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Councilmembers Mcsweeney, Honig, Davis, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
None
None
None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
City Council Minutes - Study Session
City of Westlake Village March 23, 2022 2
STUDY SESSION:
1. DISCUSSION ON THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND THE 2022
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
City Manager de Geus introduced the item, stating that the City has been more = engaged in the legislative process in the past few years and has retained the Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG) as the City's legislative advisors. He noted that RPPG will provide an update on the legislative calendar, briefly discuss the City of Westlake Village's Legislative Platform, the Governor's budget, and bills that are being monitored during this session.
Mr. de Geus mentioned that on March 14, 2022, the Administrative Committee, comprised of Mayor Halpern and Mayor Pro Tern Pearl, reviewed this topic. He noted that Deputy City Manager Eskandar is the lead staff member on the City's legislative matters.
Deputy City Manager Eskandar introduced Ms. Sharon Gonsalves, Director of Government Affairs with RPPG. He noted that Ms. Gonsalves will be attending the meeting virtually as she is in Sacramento where she is continuing her engagement in legislative committee meetings.
Ms. Gonsalves led the presentation and introduced her core team that includes Dane Hutchings and Alyssa Silhi. She reviewed the critical dates in the 2022 legislative calendar, noting that this is the second year of a two-year term.
Mr. Eskandar noted that the Council adopted the Legislative Platform with several policy areas of focus which would be the highest priority for the City. The policy areas included:
• Local Control
• Public Safety
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Contract City Authority
• Environment & Sustainability
• Technology
He highlighted that RPPG is focused on a subset of these policy areas specific to:
land use and housing; public safety; and, environmental and sustainability. He noted that while those are the main focus areas, RPPG holds regular updates with staff where they provide a variety of information on several legislative matters of interest that are happening in Sacramento and staff provides them with status updates from the City .
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City of Westlake Village March 23, 2022 3
Ms. Gonsalves stated that RPPG reviewed the City's Legislative Platform adopted in 2021 and is not recommending any modifications at this time. RPPG will review it again this fall before the 2023-2024 legislative session begins and if needed, make recommendations for any changes to the City's Legislative Platform. Ms.
Gonsalves then provided an overview of the Governor's proposed budget and timeline, the State legislative priorities, and highlighted bills that RPPG will be monitoring during the remainder of the legislative session as they fall into the four main policy areas of focus; land use and housing; public safety; and, environmental and sustainability. Finally, she provided an update on redistricting maps, the California Business Round Table ballot initiative, and next steps in the remaining legislative process.
Mr. Eskandar reviewed the City's legislative calendar and informed the City Council that this would be the first of two study sessions.
Mayor Pro Tern Pearl emphasized that the purpose of the Legislative Platform is to allow staff to work with current legislators on funding requests for projects. The City would stand better opportunities to receive funding if our projects can be tied into a Governor's initiative or areas of statewide significance. Councilmember Davis concurred and noted the need to come up with specific projects that would deliver a financial benefit to the City.
Ms. Gonsalves thanked the City Council for their input. Deputy City Manager Eskandar shared that efforts to develop relations with legislators can benefit the City with future funding opportunities as legislators learn more about the City and advocate for specific carve-outs such as those that benefit small populations. He noted that in many cases, Westlake doesn't meet the funding requirements, as it is not a disadvantaged or rural community. Showing that small population communities need funding may help in the future.
City Manager de Geus noted that rather than oppose legislation, he would explore opportunities to partner with legislators to accomplish shared values that fit within the context of Westlake Village.
Councilmember Davis mentioned that it would be beneficial if we could join efforts with neighboring cities, either in Los Angeles or Ventura County, which have relationships to one another and would benefit from regional opportunities such as broadband. Rather than look at projects within our boundaries, we could be leaders in our area and collectively seek assistance from our legislators in Sacramento.
Mayor Halpern acknowledged that legislators do forget about the small cities, and we do need funding, especially Federal funding, which tends to be earmarked for the large and disadvantaged cities.
City Council Minutes - Study Session
City of Westlake Village March 23, 2022 4
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 5:49 p.m. to the Regular Session scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Brad
~~ Halpern, Mayor
Attest:
Antoinette Mann, City Clerk