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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCM Establish Legislative Platformarrr of Agenda Item No: 5. b Meeting Date: January 20, 2015 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: CITY MANAGER Prepared by: Rebecca Woodbury, Management Analyst City Manager ApproJo!� SUBJECT: RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE PENDING LEGISLATION OR OTHER EFFORTS RELATED TO THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolution BACKGROUND: For many years, the eleven Cities and Towns in Marin have worked together through the Marin County Council of Mayors and Counciimember's ("MCCMC") Legislative Committee to discuss legislative bills and their impact on Marin. Since 1999, MCCMC has contracted with a lobbyist to keep abreast of legislation & ballot measures and act as a liaison with local office of the Marin Assembly member, Senator and Congressional representatives. This legislative analysis is completed in concert with the League of California Cities. In addition to topics taken up by the MCCMC Legislative Committee, each year a variety of issues are brought to the attention of City Council by advocacy groups, members of the public, other elected officials, and City staff. Current protocol is for staff to seek approval on a case by case basis from the City Council on letters supporting or opposing pending legislation or other efforts related to the City's goals at regularly scheduled City Council meetings. Often the approach has limited the City from responding in a timely basis as bills make their way through the process. ANALYSIS: Staff is proposing the City adopt a legislative platform (Exhibit 1) which focuses the City's legislative and advocacy efforts around topics that specifically relate to City services. The proposed resolution authorizes the City Manager to send letters supporting or opposing pending legislation as well as voter initiatives, budgetary actions, grants, and other local efforts that are in accordance with this platform. This would improve the City's ability to respond to these requests in a timely manner and ensure San Rafael's voice is represented on issues that pertain to the functional areas of City services and activities. Issues outside the parameters of this platform or requests requiring City Council Resolutions would still be brought forward to the City Council at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting for Council consideration. FISCAL IMPACT: None. FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: / i(c� -4 9 - 3 - I / Council Meeting: I %of .:toi�; Disposition; kESot-cJ?IC�,+J rwwo RESOLUTION NO. 13870 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ESTABLISHING A LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND A PROCEDURE FOR SUPPORTING OR OPPOSING PENDING LITIGATION WHEREAS, each year Federal and State legislation impacts the functional areas of City services and activities; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael is particularly concerned about legislation related to Local Control; City Finances; Police, Fire and Emergency Preparedness; Environmental Sustainability; and Land Use and Transportation; and WHEREAS, with the best interest of the City in mind, the City of San Rafael often submits letters to support or oppose legislation or other efforts related to the goals of the City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of San Rafael as follows: 1. The objective of the City of San Rafael's Legislative Platform is to focus the City's advocacy efforts around the functional areas of City services, activities, and the City Council's established objectives and priorities. 2. The City's legislative and advocacy efforts would focus on topics that specifically relate to City services in the following areas: a. Local control. Support local control of resources, tools, and decision- making. Oppose preemption of local authority. Support the use of state incentives for local government action rather than mandates. Protect and enhance local government discretion. b. City Finances. Protect and increase local funding, policies, or programs that impact the City's budget and economic health. Oppose unfunded mandates. Pursue or retain federal and state funding for key efforts. Protect local revenue sources at appropriate levels. Promote economic development. c. Police, Fire, and Emergency Preparedness Issues. Support legislation, programs, and policies that impact the City's funding for and ability to provide police, fire, and emergency preparedness services. d. Environmental Sustainability. Support programs related to and consistent with the City's Climate Change Action Plan including climate and environmental protection, zero waste goals, and sustainable building. e. Land Use and Transportation. Support funding for transportation improvements, maintenance and rehabilitation. Preserve local control over land use decisions. Support affordable housing development. Promote livability and sustainable development. Support funding for parks and open space. 3. In addition to these priorities, the League of California Cities sets annual strategic priorities. The City may also choose to support League annual priorities when they are beneficial to the City of San Rafael. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes the City Manager to respond to pending legislation or other efforts related to this legislative platform with letters indicating support or opposition signed by the City Manager and one member of the City Council. I, Esther C. Beirne, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Tuesday, the 20'"' of January 2015, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Colin, Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None Esther C. Beirne, City Clerk CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ROUTING SLIP 1 APPROVAL FORM INSTRUCTIONS: USE THIS FORM WITH EACH SUBMITTAL OF A CONTRACT, AGREEMENT, ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION BEFORE APPROVAL BY COUNCIL /AGENCY. 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