HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-07-22 City Council (10)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT:CITY MANAGER’S
OFFICE
DATE:
SUBJECT:
JULY 22, 2002 CMR:315:02
BALLOT MEASURE AND LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
PROCESS
RECOMMENDATION
The Policy and Services Committee recommends that Council approve a ballot measure and
legislative advocacy process and adopt the following guidelines as the basis for the City’s
legislative advocacy program.
BACKGROUND
On February 22, 2000, Council referred the discussion of a process for having Council take
positions on ballot propositions to the Policy and Services Committee. Staff developed a
proposed ballot measure process and forwarded it to the Policy and Services Committee for
review. On June 18, 2002, the Committee reviewed the proposed process and made a number
of changes, which staff has incorporated into this report. In addition, the Committee directed
staff to include guidelines to allow Council to address specific legislative proposals and to
allow the Mayor to continue to sign legislative letters based on the City’s legislative
advocacy guidelines.
DISCUSSION
This proposal will establish a process by which the City Council can take positions on State
ballot measures, and respond to legislative issues at both the state and federal level. The
process includes legislative objectives that will be used to guide the City’s legislative efforts.
This will afford the needed flexibility in the legislative program to allow the City to respond
to legislative matters in a timely manner, while providing solid guidelines and principles to
assist Council and staff in identifying issues that are important to the City.
The ballot measure and legislative advocacy process is as follows:
CMR:315:02 Page I of 3
Two Council Members draft a Council Colleagues Memorandum to refer a ballot measure
or legislative issue to the Policy and Services Committee for review.
Staff generates an informational report for the Policy and Services Committee
summarizing the ballot measure or legislative issue. This report will include an analysis
of City policy as it relates to the item, if applicable. It will also indicate if the League of
California Cities has taken a position on the issue.
The-item is agendized, for the Policy and Services Committee meeting.
The Policy and Services Committee reviews and discusses the ballot measure or
legislative issue at the meeting.
When evaluating ballot measures or legislative issues, Council Members should
determine if the issues are consistent with the following guidelines, including, but not
limited to:
¯Protects local revenues (e.g. taxes, fees, etc. designated for use by local governments)
¯Protects/increases local government discretion
¯Protects/increases funding for specific programs or services (e.g. park bonds, etc.)
¯Supports key programmatic goals (e.g. expansion ofrecyclable materials, etc.)
¯Prevents unfunded mandates
¯Is consistent with existing City policy
¯Has a direct impact upon the City
Policy and Services Committee members vote on the propositions and/or legislative
issues that the Committee determines are consistent with the City’s interests.
If the vote is unanimous, the matter is forwarded to the Council as a consent calendar
item.
If a timeliness issue exists, the item will be referred without minutes, and a one page
executive summary will be provided. If no timeliness issue exists, the item will be
referred with minutes in the usual manner.
As in previous years, the Mayor is empowered to take legislative action and sign legislative
advocacy letters that have been analyzed by the City Manager’s staff and found to be
consistent with the guidelines in bullet point number 5 above.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This report does not represent any change to existing City policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This staffreport does not represent a project under the Califomia Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA).
CMR:315:02 Page 2 of 3
PREPARED BY:
CHRIS
Assistant to the City Manager
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: ’--~)~/").
~-~MILY-~SON
Assistant City Manager
CMR:315:02 Page 3 of 3