HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2411-3774CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, January 13, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
11.Discussion regarding State and Federal Legislative Advocacy and Adoption of the Policy
and Services Committee Recommendations on the 2025 State and Federal Legislative
Guidelines. Staff Presentation
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: January 13, 2025
Report #:2411-3774
TITLE
Discussion regarding State and Federal Legislative Advocacy and Adoption of the Policy and
Services Committee Recommendations on the 2025 State and Federal Legislative Guidelines.
RECOMMENDATION
The Policy and Services Committee recommends that the City Council adopt the 2025 State and
Federal Legislative Guidelines (Attachment A) and receive a legislative update.
BACKGROUND
As part of the City’s state and federal legislative advocacy program, staff and Townsend Public
Affairs, the City’s federal and state legislative advocates, work to identify and analyze potentially
impactful legislation and communicate the City’s public advocacy positions to legislators. The
program is guided by the Advocacy Process Manual1 and a City Council-approved set of
Legislative Guidelines. The guidelines provide direction to staff and the City’s legislative
advocates on issues that are important to the City Council and likely to become a legislative issue.
In consultation with the Mayor, staff use the guidelines to respond to issues throughout the year.
These guidelines allow for flexible and quick responses to emerging issues in the fast-paced
legislative environment without returning to the City Council each time an issue arises.
ANALYSIS
Legislative Guidelines
The Policy and Services Committee discussed the 2025 State and Federal Legislative Guidelines
at its November 6, 2024 meeting2 and voted to advance the updated guidelines to the City
Council for adoption. Updates reflect Committee direction, topics the City Council has expressed
interest in and issues expected to be prominent in the upcoming legislative year.
1 Advocacy Process Manual: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/intergovernmental-
affairs/advocacy-manual-updated-jan-2020.pdf
2 Policy and Services Committee, November 6, 2024; Agenda Item 1; Staff Report #2407-3241
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=15686
Legislative Update
As mentioned above, Townsend Public Affairs are the City’s legislative advocates in Sacramento
and Washington, D.C. Townsend’s Update Memo (Attachment B) previews the upcoming
legislative year for the state and federal governments, including anticipated issues, budget
outlooks, and legislation that may be of interest to the City.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. The City Council budgets annually for the
legislative advocacy services and these efforts are led by staff in the City Clerk’s Office in close
collaboration with the City Manager’s Office with stakeholder support across other City
departments on key issues.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Staff from multiple departments meet regularly with Townsend to discuss legislative actions
and advocacy that could impact the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City’s legislative advocacy activities are not a project under section 15378(b)(25) of the
California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (administrative activities that will not result in
direct or indirect physical changes in the environment).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Draft 2025 State and Federal Legislative Guidelines
Attachment B - Townsend Public Affairs Update Memo
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Page 1 of 4
The City of Palo Alto’s 20245 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines
Adopted January 22, 2024
These Guidelines reflect and activate the City Council’s priorities; they do not supplant them.
They work to guide staff and the City’s legislative advocates on issues that are important to the
City Council, and likely to become a legislative issue. These Guidelines are not rank‐ordered and
are meant to allow for a flexible and quick response by staff and advocates, without the need to
return to the City Council to seek guidance. The Guidelines work in conjunction with the City
Council‐approved Advocacy Process Manual and the City Council action to do “Strategic
Weighing in on Issues of Interest”1 (June 22, 2021 CMR 12344; Minutes). The City Council’s
annual priorities are also guidance for the City’s legislative platform.
The below Foundational Principles represent the ideals that form the core of the City’s policy
agenda. The Legislative Guidelines all rise from and strengthen four foundational principles:
1.Promote Local Fiscal Sustainability:
Support measures that promote fiscal stability, predictability, financial independence, and
preserve the City’s revenue base and maximum control over local government budgeting.
Also protect local revenue sources and prevent unfunded mandates.
2.Support Funding Opportunities:
Protect, seek, and increase funding for programs, projects, and services. Seek opportunities
that allow the City to compete for regional, state and federal funding. Support funding for
programs including, but not limited to, economic development, infrastructure investment,
housing, transportation projects (such as road improvements, rail grade separations,
bicycle and pedestrian safety, multi‐modal transportation systems and transit‐oriented
development), air quality, water quality and local water reliability, parks and recreation,
historic preservation, natural resources, hazard mitigation, public safety and public health.
3.Preserve Local Control:
Preserve and protect the City’s powers, duties, and discretion to enact and engage in local
processes and policy making concerning local affairs and oppose efforts and legislation
from state and regional bodies that preempt local authority and do not align with City
priorities. Advocate for longer lead times for implementation of new legislation that
adversely impacts Palo Alto. Oppose items that preempt or reduce the authority or ability
of local government to determine how to effectively operate local programs, services,
activities, and governance.
4.Protect the health and safety of the community:
Support policies and funding that enrich the quality of life for the Palo Alto community with
services that provide for a safe, fulfilling, and vibrant life. Support policies that promote
equity.
1 City Council, June 22, 2021; Agenda Item # 7; Staff Report # 12344
https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=81546&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto
Page 2 of 4
The City of Palo Alto’s 20245 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines
Adopted January 22, 2024
The Legislative Guidelines create the framework for organizing the City’s policy interests, while
guiding staff and contracted legislative advocateslobbyists in their advocacy efforts on behalf of
the City. The items below provide direction for the City’s efforts when addressing reasonable
government actions.
Transportation
The City supports government action that:
• Deters single occupancy drivers and alleviates local traffic congestion
• Supports local and regional public transportation
• Regulates technology that diverts traffic into residential neighborhoods
• Provides funding for rail grade separations, rail efficiency improvements, and other means
of reducing the local impacts of regional transportation systems
• Streamlines funding between the state, federal, and local governments that help reduce
the amount of time and resources it takes to fund and complete transportation projects.
• Sustains local, regional, and state funding sources for the development and maintenance
of transportation and does not condition receipt of funds on non‐transportation related
factors
• Supports expansion and/or maintaining and operations of public transit options throughout
Palo Alto, especially funding for transit
• Supports state legislation that maximizes local control related to land use requirements
near transit (especially if it impacts the City’s approach to planning for complete
communities)
Climate and Environment
The City supports government action that:
• Reduces GHG emissions and supports just, equitable, and cost‐effective progress toward
GHG reduction, and carbon neutrality goals, and electrification
• Maintains or expands funding resources for local governments to reduce GHG emissions
• Reduces airplane noise, health impacts, and/or airplane emissions
• Promotes residential, commercial, and vehicle electrification programs
• Promotes workforce development to provide increased workforce needed for
electrification and grid modernization
• Promotes the use of renewable resources, water conservation, and the flexible use of
existing resources
• Continues support for a statewide ban on polystyrene containers and packaging
materials
• Provides opportunities for staff, in partnership with the San Francisquito Creek Joint
Powers Authority and other regional stakeholders, to advance efforts to improve the
creek’s watershed and floodplain (especially related to local bridges)
• Supports efforts to protect local communities from sea level rise and other impacts of
climate change
Page 3 of 4
The City of Palo Alto’s 20245 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines
Adopted January 22, 2024
• Supports responsible processing of recyclables once removed from Palo Alto and other
communities, including promoting processing facilities and recyclables markets within
the United States
• Strengthens and modernizes the State and Local electric grids and grid capacity
• Supports the protection of our natural environment, including open space, trees/tree
canopy, and biodiversity
Financial
The City supports government action that:
• Supports the long‐term stability of CalPERS and the ability of local governments to mitigate
and manage with flexibility its pension obligations
• Protects the funding sources for the sustainable delivery of City services
• Supports the continued deductibility of tax‐exempt municipal bonds and the restoration of
Advance Refunding of Tax‐Exempt Municipal Bonds
• Supports the continuance of tax credits available at the federal level to support low‐
income individuals in achieving housing affordability and financial stability
• Supports the lowering or maintaining maintenance of voter thresholds for local revenue
measures
• Supports maximum flexibility for local government in contracting and contract
negotiations
• Supports reforms to local revenue financing tools for the purpose of supporting the
development of affordable housing and public infrastructure
• Supports efforts to attract and retain resources for current and future smaller businesses
in Palo Alto
• Preserves local discretion in the assessment, collection, and usage of development fees
Governance, Transparency, and Human Resources
The City supports government action that:
• Preserves local government’s ability to manage its own employment issues, including, but
not limited to hiring, evaluating, disciplining, and/or terminating and negotiating collective
bargaining agreements with employees’ representatives
• Supports reasonable regulatory efforts surrounding policies regarding cybersecurity,
drones, shared mobility services, returning to Obama‐era net neutrality regulations, and
smart city initiatives
• Provides for the incremental and thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence
technologies
• Protects individual privacy and allows the City to safeguard customer information
• Maintain existing records collection and retention requirements
• Promote teleconferencing flexibilities under the Ralph M. Brown Act
• Allows the City to support the collaborative work of regional partners, trade associations,
Page 4 of 4
The City of Palo Alto’s 20245 Federal and State Legislative Guidelines
Adopted January 22, 2024
other local governments and organizations, and Joint Powers Authorities
• Provides for the equal treatment of all individuals
Housing
The City supports government action that:
• Supports reasonable housing policies that recognize local autonomy to maintain the local
public process and preserve local government’s ability to determine land use policies and
development standards
• Provides flexible, ongoing funding for (a) affordable housing, (b) homelessness, and (c)
infrastructure (such as parks, utilities, roads, and transit) required to support the increased
housing production and keep pace with local development goals
• Promotes the development and enhancement of safe and affordable housing and
accessible housing within the City for all economic segments of the population
• Promotes funding and tax incentives for the identification, acquisition, maintenance,
adaptive reuse, and restoration of historic sites and vacant structures
• Fosters reasonable ratios between jobs and housing
• Supports the development and implementation of efficient and environmentally
sustainable land use and building practices
• Supports the provision of greater lead times for Palo Alto to implement state legislation
when necessary to comply with new land use and housing requirements within the local
context
Public Safety
The City supports government action that:
• Supports efforts which seek to modify policing services, including but not limited to
alternative public safety models and funding to address community mental health
issues, expansion of requirements regarding police data and rules regarding prior
employment information transparency, and expansion of data and communications
including radio encryption
• Provides for greater public safety support resources especially related to organized retail
theft operations
• Reduces weapons‐related violence via the enactment of common‐sense firearm reforms
• Enhances fire and emergency training and response capabilities. Mitigate fire safety
risks. Advocate for funding and policy to mitigate wildfire risks and funding for fire
services in general as well as funding for emergency services.
• Updates, implements, and refines processes, services, and programs affecting the City.
This includes, but is not limited to, public safety reform efforts and streamlining
reporting mandates
• Support legislation that would address ongoing safety concerns and help prevent acts of
violence motivated by hate, including improving data collection and reporting
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M E M O R A N D U M
To: The Honorable Greer Stone and Members of the Palo Alto City Council
CC:Ed Shikada, City Manager
Chantal Cotton Gaines, Deputy City Manager
Christine Prior, Deputy City Clerk
From: Townsend Public Affairs
Christopher Townsend, President
Niccolo De Luca, Vice President
Alex Gibbs, Grants Director
Carlin Shelby, Senior Associate
Joseph Melo, Senior Federal Associate
Date: December 30, 2024
Subject: State and Federal Legislative Updates
Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (TPA) has prepared this report for the City of Palo Alto to provide a
summary of State, Federal, and funding efforts and highlight the current status of the legislative
process.
STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Legislature Commences 2025-26 Session
On December 3, the California State Assembly and Senate reconvened for an Organizational
Session to welcome new legislators, adopt house rules, and elect their respective leadership
teams. Overall, 29 newly elected Senators and Assembly Members were sworn in during the
convening of the 2025-26 Legislative Session. This number is slightly less than the 37 new
lawmakers that were sworn in at the beginning of the 2023-24 Session. This means that over half
of the state’s 120 legislators began their tenures on or after 2023.
One notable change to the Standing Rules in each house is a reduction in how many bills
legislators may introduce during a two-year Session. Assemblymembers and Senators are now
only permitted to introduce 35 bills, a change from 50 in the Assembly and 40 in the Senate, in
order to allow more time for consideration of measures and improve the deliberative process. So
far, approximately 140 bills, resolutions, and constitutional amendments have been introduced
since December 2nd.
Assemblymember Robert Rivas and Senator Mike McGuire were re-elected as Assembly
Speaker and Senate pro Tempore, respectively, and both addressed their chambers kicking off
their Regular and Special Sessions. Members from both houses introduced bills in the Special
Session related to shoring up resources for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pay for federal
litigation expenses, one of which appropriates $500,000 to the Department. More details on the
Special Session and funding to DOJ are anticipated to coincide with the Governor’s January
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Budget. Next, we can expect changes to committee chairs and membership as members and
staff get settled in.
•Ensuring grade separation funding rescinded in last year’s budget is reinstated and the
City’s projects can move forward: In 2022, the Budget Act allocated $113,790,000 from
the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) for critical grade separation
initiatives in Burlingame, Mountain View, and Palo Alto. The City of Palo Alto was
specifically awarded $23.79 million for the Connecting Palo Alto project, which focuses on
grade separation at Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road.
•Protecting Locally Contracted Artists from Litigation: Local agencies, including the City of
Palo Alto, have encountered difficulties in contracting with local artists using local funds
due to different interpretations of state contracting law and the standards governing who
is and is not a licensed artist. TPA will be working with the legislature and other local
agencies to create clarity and allow the City to move forward with its robust local art
program without the threat of costly litigation.
•Brown Act Flexibility extension: Several statutes associated with remote meeting
flexibilities for elected officials during times of emergency or other extenuating
circumstances are set to expire during the 2025-26 legislative session. TPA will be working
with the legislature and other local stakeholders to extend and/or expand these flexibilities
to accommodate the needs of elected officials, public transparency, and even the cities
non decision making bodies, such as subcommittees.
•Proposition 36 Implementation: In the November 2024 election, voters overwhelmingly
passed Proposition 36, which overturned certain provisions associated with penalizing
serial theft offenses within Proposition 47 (2014). TPA will work with the legislature and
local stakeholders on legislation aimed at the seamless implementation of some of the
provisions contained within Proposition 36, including diversion programs and resources
for repeat offenders with behavioral health or substance use disorders.
State Budget Update: November Income Tax Withholdings Below Projections; 2025-26
Fiscal Outlook Highlights Budget Challenges
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delayed from November to December due to the later Thanksgiving holiday. Encouragingly, the
week following Thanksgiving saw collections rise approximately 20% over the same period last
year, with this uptick likely bolstering December's totals.
FEDERAL UPDATES
Congressionally Directed Spending Submittal
$1,250,000. This funding amount is reflective of
bipartisan negotiations, budget topline numbers, and requests among all 50 states. It is
anticipated that this funding will remain stabilized as the FY 25 Federal Appropriations process
continues. TPA advocates will continue to advocate for its inclusion in subsequent appropriations
process actions and will monitor the progress of the Senate.
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Federal Appropriations Update
After a week of rollercoaster negotiations, Congress has approved a legislative package to avert
a government shutdown and extend current government funding levels until March 14, 2025. The
bill, H.R.10545 also includes provisions providing more than $100 billion in disaster relief and
several extensions of health care and agriculture programs.
This final package comes after two previous attempts failed earlier in the week. The first proposal,
which Republicans negotiated with Democrats, included measures to regulate pharmacy benefit
managers, limit trade with China, and allow year-round sales of certain ethanol-blended fuels.
However, this proposal was withdrawn after President-elect Donald Trump opposed it, urging
Republican leaders to address the debt limit first.
A second plan, which removed most of the provisions from the first, aimed to suspend the debt
limit until January 2027. This plan was rejected on December 19, with a vote of 174-235, as 38
Republicans opposed it and only two Democrats supported it.
The latest plan resembled the second but excluded the debt limit suspension and extensions for
the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program and the MaryLee Allen Promoting
Safe and Stable Families Program. The House approved this plan by a vote of 366-34 with one
member voting present.
Relevance to Palo Alto:
As a result of negotiations, the package was narrowly focused on four main provisions:
1. Extending current government funding until March 14, 2025.
2. Enacting supplemental appropriations for disaster relief efforts.
3. Extending certain expiring health care programs.
As a result, impacts on the City are limited to avoiding the impacts of expiring programs and a
lapse in funding.
Summary of H.R. 10545, the American Relief Act, 2025
Spending Provisions
•The legislative package included a continuing resolution (CR) extending current funding
from Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations through March 14, 2025.
•Anomalies (adjustments to funding that differ from FY24 appropriations) include:
o Allocate an annualized $625 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to maintain the acquisition schedule for the Geostationary Earth Orbit
weather satellite program.
o Permit the Federal Aviation Administration to use funds necessary for air traffic
operations, aviation safety oversight, and the hiring and training of air traffic controllers.
o Authorize the Energy Department to utilize funds required for specialized security
activities.
o Grant the Education Department the flexibility to allocate funds needed to administer
federal student loan and aid programs.
•The bill blocks an automatic cost of living pay increase for Members of Congress, the Vice
President, and other executive and senior-level government officials.
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Extensions
•Several programs that were set to expire are extended through March 14, 2025, these
include:
o The CFTC Whistleblower Program
o The Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund
o Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
o Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program.
o DHS’ and the Justice Department’s authority to counter uncrewed aircraft systems
that pose a credible threat.
o The Homeland Security Department’s National Cybersecurity Protection System.
o US Agency for International Development’s Food for Peace program.
•The measure provides $12 billion for the Housing and Urban Development Department’s
Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program to support long-term
recovery efforts in communities affected by major disasters in 2023 and 2024.
•It provides $8.1 billion for the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief
Program.
•It authorizes the use of funds to cover 100% of the costs associated with rebuilding the
Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship in
March. Any funds obtained by state and local authorities in Maryland from insurance or
lawsuits related to the Key Bridge are used to reduce the federal government’s liability for
the cost of reconstruction.
•The measure provides $1.5 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to address emergency
situations and repair damage to Corps flood control projects, including $745 million to
prepare for floods and hurricanes.
•It allocates $3.3 billion for Environmental Protection Agency state and tribal assistance
grants, including $3 billion for capitalization grants to help repair wastewater and drinking
water infrastructure damaged by hurricanes or wildfires.
•It provides $3.1 billion to the Interior Department for expenses related to natural disasters
in 2024 and previous years, including $2.3 billion for the National Park Service.
•The measure allocates $1 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
including $399 million to acquire hurricane hunter aircraft, $344 million to replace or repair
damaged property and equipment, and $300 million for fisheries disaster relief.
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•It provides $1.5 billion for the Commerce Department’s Economic Development
Administration to aid areas that received a major disaster designation in 2023 and 2024.
•The bill allows recipients of FEMA disaster relief and preparedness grants to retain
unspent administrative funds for up to five years. It also permits them to repurpose these
funds to assist with other declared disasters or to enhance their capacity to respond to
future emergencies.
Health Programs
The funding package includes several extensions and flexibilities for health programs, including:
•An extension of flexibilities allowing for greater Medicare coverage of virtual telehealth
services until March 31, 2025. These were set to expire at the end of 2024.
•$1.1 billion from January 1 to March 31, 2025 for the Community Health Center Fund
which provides federal funding for community health centers. Funding was set to expire
on December 31, 2024.
•The measure extends several expiring provisions through March 31, 2025 including:
o Increased Medicare payments to low-volume hospitals.
o Add-on payments for ground ambulances.
o A floor on the geographic index used to calculate provider payment rates under
Medicare.
o The Medicare-dependent hospital program.
•Other health programs extended through March 31, 2025 include:
o The National Health Service Corps, which provides scholarships and loans to
medical students.
o The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program.
o The Special Diabetes Program and Special Diabetes Program for Indians.
o The Personal Responsibility Education Program and Sexual Risk Avoidance
Education Program.
GRANT FUNDING UPDATES
The TPA team works directly with City staff and department heads to discuss funding needs and
match them with available priorities. Each month, TPA provides the City with a grant opportunities
memo, which details upcoming funding opportunities with a focus on transportation and
infrastructure, environmental sustainability, public safety, community services, and clean energy
needs. Further, the TPA team regularly meets with City staff to discuss these opportunities in
greater detail, along with other local/regional programs.
TPA’s efforts in crafting, editing, and submitting competitive grant applications on behalf of the
City include:
Program Request Amount Description
California Business,
Consumer Services and
Housing Agency –
Encampment Resolution
Fund
$5,427,000 – PENDING
(evaluating if the changed
circumstances impact
eligibility)
Funding to be used for
encampment clean up and
connecting homeless individuals
to supportive services.
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Program Request Amount Description
MTC – Transit Oriented
Communities
$3,100,000 – PENDING Application for additional electric
vehicle charging stations to be
installed within the City.
CalRecycle Beverage
Container Recycling
Grant
$165,000 – PENDING Application to install publicly
accessible water refill stations
throughout the City’s public
spaces.
CalOES State and Local
Cyber Security Grant
Program
$250,000 – NOT AWARDED Funding to be used to improve
local cybersecurity infrastructure
capabilities to prevent fraud and
attacks.
Bureau of State and
Community Corrections –
Organized Retail Theft
Grant
$5,176,812 – AWARDED Successfully awarded to assist
the City in combatting organized
retail theft occurrences through
increased public safety resource
coordination.
January 13, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Legislative Guidelines &Legislative Advocacy Updates
Christine Prior, Deputy City Clerk
Chantal Cotton Gaines, Deputy City Manager
Carly Shelby, Senior Associate, Townsend
Public Affairs
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•Adopt the 2025 State and Federal Legislative Guidelines as
recommended by the Policy & Services Committee
•Receive a legislative advocacy update from Townsend Public
Affairs
Recommendation
1
•Framework for used by staff and legislative advocates, in
consultation with the Mayor, to respond to legislative issues
•Allow for flexible and quick responses to emerging issues
•2025 updates (Attachment A; Packet pgs. 118-121)
Legislative Guidelines
Slide 4
Advocacy Program
Anticipated Issues for
2025
Overview of Advocacy
Efforts
Presentation Overview
Funding Updates
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates
Slide 5
Overview of Advocacy Program
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates
Townsend Public Affairs Provides State and Federal Legislative and Grant
Funding Advocacy Services to the City of Palo Alto:
Federal Legislative Advocacy
Grant Writing and Funding Advocacy
State Legislative Advocacy
Slide 6
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Examples of Advocacy Efforts for the City
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State Legislative
Advocacy
Federal Legislative
Advocacy
Grant Application
Development and
Submittal
Agency and
Regulatory Support
•Engagement on over 50
Legislative Proposals during
2023-24 Legislative Session
•Successful budget advocacy
efforts to protect City Funding
•Strategic Coalition Engagement
•Federal Appropriations process
navigation and earmark success
•Federal agency engagement on
high natural gas prices
•Successful advocacy trips in DC
•Development of over 5 large-
dollar amount grant proposals
•Strategic eligibility and
competitive application advice
•Consistent meetings with staff
on priorities and opportunities
•Communication with HUD,
Caltrans, and other agencies on
funding and project
implementation
•Post-submittal grant and
funding advocacy
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates
Slide 7
Recap of 2024 Key State Issues
Housing Production and Affordability
RHNA Reform
Climate Resiliency
Homelessness and Behavioral Health
Public Safety and Organized Crime Reduction
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates
Slide 8
2025 Legislative Session: Key Dynamics
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates
Legislature Reconvened January 6, 2025
First Year of Two-Year Session
25% Member Turnover
New Bill Introduction Maximums 50 to 35
New Committee Leadership CA/DC Dynamics
Slide 9
Governor’s January Budget Proposal
Despite a projected $2 billion
deficit from the Legislative
Analyst’s Office, Governor
Newsom’s plan delivers a
balanced $322.2 billion budget
with no deficit and a modest
surplus, backed by $16.9 billion in
reserves.
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates
Slide 10
Looking Ahead: Key Issues for 2025
Housing Financing Cap and Trade Reauthorization RHNA Reform
Property Insurance Availability and Affordability
Local Artist Contract Protections Regional Transportation Funding
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates
Slide 11
2025 Key Federal Issues
119th Congress: Leadership and Administration Changes
FY 2024 Appropriations Process –March
Federal Earmarks – Community Project Funding
Current Pending Community
Project Funding Request:
$1,250,000 for Fire Station
No. 4 Improvements –
Championed by
Congresswoman Eshoo
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates
Slide 12
Advocacy Program
•Regular check in meetings with City staff
•Identification of legislative and budget
priorities for 2025
•Consistent reports and updates on priority
issues
•Legislative platform review and updates
•Advocacy trip planning
•Ongoing advocacy in Sacramento and
Washington, DC on behalf of City
legislative priorities and budget requests
•Relationship development with Legislative
Delegation and Leadership
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates
Slide 13
California Advocacy | Federal Advocacy | Grant Writing
www.TownsendPA.com | (949) 399-9050
Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
California Advocacy,
Featuring:
Niccolo De Luca
Vice President
ndeluca@townsendpa.com
Casey Elliott
Vice President
celliott@townsendpa.com
Carly Shelby
Senior Associate
cshelby@townsendpa.com
Federal Advocacy,
Featuring:
Ben Goldeen
Fed. Advocacy Director
bgoldeen@townsendpa.com
Joseph Melo
Senior Associate
jmelo@townsendpa.com
Sammi Maciel
Fed. Funding Associate
smaciel@townsendpa.com
Grant Writing,
Featuring:
Alex Gibbs
Grants Director
agibbs@townsendpa.com
Anastasia Heaton
Senior Associate
aheaton@townsendpa.com
Barbarah Torres
Senior Associate
btorres@townsendpa.com
City of Palo Alto | Advocacy Program Overview and Legislative Updates
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•Adopt the 2025 State and Federal Legislative Guidelines as
recommended by the Policy & Services Committee
Recommendation Motion