TITLE:
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ADOPT LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND UPDATES TO COUNCIL POLICY 000-8
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DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE/GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
PRESENTED BY: JAY BARKMAN, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER
CONTACT INFORMATION: JAY BARKMAN, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER, (714)-754-5347
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council adopt Legislative Platform and revisions to Council Policy 000-8 on Legislative Positions.
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BACKGROUND:
On May 20, 2025, the draft Legislative Platform (Attachment 1) was presented to the City Council. At the request of Councilmember Reynolds, the item was deferred to provide additional input. Also, Councilmember Marr, requested staff update Council Policy 000-8 (Attachment 2) to reflect the current process being proposed. Staff solicited further input from the Legislative Review Team at their meeting on July 23, 2025, and presented revisions to the Legislative Platform and Council Policy 000-8.
City Council Policy 000-8 authorizes the Mayor to execute legislative position letters on behalf of the City Council when the City’s legislative partners have acted. Those partners are identified in the policy as the National League of Cities, League of California Cities, Association of California Cities - Orange County, or the Orange County Council of Governments.
ANALYSIS:
Legislative Platform & Process
Over the course of 2024 and 2025, staff worked to identify issues and legislation at the federal and state levels that impact the City. This included bills that the League of California Cities, Association of California Cities - Orange County, and other groups have noted of potential concern. In addition, discussions with Department Directors on past or current legislative proposals and issue areas of concern were collected into the attached proposed Legislative Platform for the City Council to consider (Attachment 1).
The purpose of this platform is to aid staff and City advocates in identifying legislation or budget proposals aligned with the City Council adopted goals. The platform provides a streamlined process for the City Council, City Manager, staff, and our legislative advocates to proactively engage on bills and budget proposals. Adoption of the platform will allow staff and advocates to engage throughout the remainder of this year.
The proposed Legislative Platform provides the framework outlining the City’s policy priorities, goals, and strategies for influencing legislative outcomes. The Legislative Platform prioritizes key areas in alignment with the City Council’s Goals to:
- Strengthen the public’s safety and improve the quality of life.
- Maintain and enhance the City’s facilities, equipment, and technology.
- Diversify, stabilize, and increase housing to reflect community needs.
- Achieve long-term fiscal sustainability; and
- Advance environmental sustainability and climate resiliency.
The proposed Legislative Platform is structured around these 5 key priorities reflecting the City Council’s commitment to fostering a safe, sustainable, and inclusive community. Below is an overview of how these priorities would be addressed by issue area:
Public Safety & Quality of Life: Support for measures that address community risks, reduce substance abuse, and crime prevention. Additionally, support measures improving transit, housing stability, and programs that serve our youth and seniors. Oppose unfunded mandates and reductions that impact local services.
Fiscal Sustainability: Support for continued funding of essential services to residents and protecting local revenues. Oppose restrictions on fees to recoup costs for services.
Housing: Support measures that promote coordination and resources to address and prevent homelessness. Oppose eliminating CDBG or other funds that provide housing assistance or support the City’s Bridge Shelter.
Facilities and Infrastructure: Support funding for parks, infrastructure, and community facilities. Oppose legislation or diversion of local funds for these amenities.
Environmental and Climate Resiliency: Support investments to transition to clean energy and oppose eliminating programs that assist local agencies in planning or implementing projects to achieve sustainability.
City staff will return to the Legislative Review Team before the end of 2025 to review bills still pending and consider City priorities for the second year of the legislative two-year cycle. A final review will be presented to the City Council at the beginning of 2026. The goal is to review the platform every two years, coinciding with the beginning of the two-year legislative cycle. Staff will provide the Legislative Review Team and City Council with regular updates throughout the year on the progress of legislation and budget actions.
Once the platform is approved by the City Council, any legislation consistent with the principles will be identified by staff. Initial steps may include requesting information from a bill author, clarification of their intent, and discussions with legislative partners. Through these conversations, the City may share with legislative staff how proposed legislation impacts City operations and recommend amendments. This process may include the City Attorney and the Legislative Review Team.
Finally, legislation in alignment with the key principles of the platform, or identified by the City’s legislative partners, may be presented to the Mayor for a formal position letter. The goal of this process is for bills to be proactively identified. Bills not aligned with the platform or lacking any recommended position by the City’s legislative partners may still be considered by the City Council. Councilmembers, community members, or other groups can request bill positions, which will be presented to the Legislative Review Team for review and consideration before consideration by the City Council. When a position is adopted, a letter will then be sent to the bill’s author with copies to the City Council and other stakeholders as deemed appropriate by staff.
Council Policy 000-8
The updates in Attachment 2 remove references to a Chief of Staff position that no longer exists in the City Manager’s Office and replaces it with the Government Affairs Manager. Lastly, the Legislative Platform is included in the process allowing the Mayor to execute position letters on issues consistent with the platform.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council may direct staff to make additional revisions to the Legislative Platform.
FISCAL REVIEW:
There is no direct fiscal impact to the City’s Operating budget with this action, however, several principles in the legislative platform seek to identify or protect funding received by the City, which can have an impact should new funding be received or eliminated.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this report and has approved it as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
The Legislative Platform seeks to achieve City Council goals as listed below:
- Strengthen the Public’s Safety and Improve the Quality of Life
- Achieve Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability
- Diversify, Stabilize and Increase Housing to Reflect Community Needs
- Maintain and Enhance the City’s Facilities, Technology and Equipment
- Advance Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resiliency
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve the proposed Legislative Platform and updates to City Council Policy 000-8.