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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCM Legislative Topical PrioritiesAgenda Item No: 4. b Meeting Date: October 15, 2012 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: CITY MANAGER Prepared by: Nancy Mackle, City Manager City Manager Approval` SUBJECT: DISCUSSION OF LEGISLATIVE AND TOPICAL PRIORITIES FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION RECOMMENDATION: Provide direction to staff regarding Legislative and Topical Priorities BACKGROUND: For many years, the incorporated cities and towns in Marin have worked together through the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmember's ("MCCMC") Legislative Committee to discuss legislative bills and their impact on Marin. The MCCMC Legislative Committee keeps abreast of legislation and ballot measures and act as a liaison with local office of the Marin Assembly member, Senator, and Congressional representatives. The legislative analysis is completed in concert with the League of California Cities. The Legislative Committee has obtained support for these activities on a contractual basis, most recently filled by Dane Wadle who was also staff for the City of Novato. In addition to topics taken up by the MCCMC Legislative Committee, each year a variety of issues are brought to the attention of the San Rafael City Council by advocacy groups, members of the public, other elected officials, City staff, and individual Councilmembers themselves. The range of topics varies greatly, including issues relating to federal, state, regional, and local policy. ANALYSIS: There are a number of different ways that municipalities determine the sort of legislative and/or topical issues that may be brought to the Council for their consideration. Many jurisdictions have no formal policy of what the Council may take action on, but may have informal procedures or past practices that guide Councils. Others, such as larger jurisdictions with one or more staff dedicated to legislative issues, follow very detailed plans updated annually to reflect that year's priorities. City of San Rafael staff receives a significant number of requests for Council action on legislative and other issues that may or may not directly relate to regular city operations. City staff is seeking Council direction on what sort of parameters, if any, that staff should use when assessing potential legislative and other topical issues for Council consideration. In this discussion, it may be useful for the City Council to consider the legislative priorities of MCCMC Legislative Committee and the League of California Cities. The MCCMC Legislative Committee has a statement that is circulated annually to its members. It describes their "scope of advocacy" as: FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Disposition: L CITY COUNCIL • Fiscal Protection: protect city revenues from state • Local Control: support legislation that enhances local control of resources to provide services while supporting regional co operation. Oppose unfunded mandates and preemption of local authority and control of land use • Transportation Investment: promote stable transportation finance structure for state and local government. Multimodal, enhancing livable communities • Housing/Land use: protect local government land use authority. Oppose punitive housing legislation, and legislation that restricts or reduces local discretion on land use decisions. • Other legislation can be recommended to MCCMC at a regular meeting The League of California Cities sets annual priority areas. For 2012, those areas are: 1) Support sustainable and secure public employee pensions and benefits, 2) Promote local control for strong cities, and 3) Build strong partnerships for a stronger Golden State. In addition to seeking City Council direction on a policy or procedure regarding legislative and other topical issues, staff is seeking direction as to how the "Procedures for City Councilmember Requests for Council Consideration of New Matters" should be related to this issue. This document (attached) was put into place effective May 25, 2010. FISCAL IMPACT: Any sort of parameters around legislative and topical issues will have a corresponding impact on staff time. For example, a very broad policy or procedure would require greater staff time and a more focused approach would require less. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Provide direction to staff ATTACHMENT: "Procedures for City Councilmember Requests for Council Consideration of New Matters," effective May 25, 2010. PROCEDURES FOR CITY COUNCILMEMBER REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF NEW MATTERS EFFECTIVE MAY 25, 2010 BACKGROUND: Agendas of the City Council are set typically by the City Manager, in consultation with the Mayor. Agenda items range from those required by charter and ordinance to matters legally requiring a City Council determination, such as land use appeals. The City Manager considers the variety of work under way, based on the Council's established two-year objectives and priorities, in determining agenda items for a particular calendar date. Public policy matters can be considered and placed on a variety of Agendas, including regular and special Council meetings and study sessions. PROCEDURES: Any Councilmember may make a request during the "Councilmember Reports" portion of the regular agenda to place a specific matter on a future agenda for City Council consideration and action. (Please note that to clarify this procedure, staff has recently changed the title of this portion of the agenda to "Councilmember Reports/Requests for Future Agenda Items.") The following procedures shall apply to any request for consideration of a specific new item of business at a meeting of the City Council. No substantive discussion of the subject matter shall be allowed. 1. Upon consensus of at least three Councilmembers, the matter shall be referred to staff. Unless otherwise directed by the Council, after a matter is so referred, the City Manager may proceed directly to agendize the matter for a City Council meeting or study session, or may elect first to provide an oral or written report to the Council concerning the matter and to seek further direction from the Council. 2. In the alternative, upon the concurrence of at least two Councilmembers, the City Manager may be directed to schedule a study session at which the staff or requesting Councilmember(s), as appropriate, will present the subject to the City Council for discussion. a. In any such presentation, staff or the requesting Councilmember(s) shall include: • Such background information as is necessary to inform the City Council of the pertinent facts about the subject; • An explanation why Council consideration of the matter is or may be appropriate; and • A statement of the City Council action ultimately desired, and the expected significance of such action. b. At the end of any such study session, the requesting Councilmember(s) may request that the matter be agendized for further Council consideration and/or action. Upon the concurrence of at least three Councilmembers, the matter shall be referred to staff. Unless otherwise directed by the Council, after a matter is so referred, the City Manager may proceed directly to agendize the matter for a City Council meeting or study session, or may elect first to provide an oral or written report to the Council concerning the matter and to seek further direction from the Council. 3. The City Manager shall have the discretion at any time to seek direction from the City Council as to the proper application of this policy.