Staff Report
PREPARED BY: Laurel Prevetti
Town Manager
Reviewed by: N/A Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney NA Finance
N:\\MGR\AdminWorkFiles\2016 COUNCIL REPORTS\10-04-16\ Legislative Policy Report
MEETING DATE: 10/04/16
ITEM NO: 11
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: DISCUSS AND ADOPT THE POLICY COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION
FOR LEGISLATIVE POLICY
RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss and adopt the Policy Committee’s recommendation for Legislative Policy.
REMARKS:
The Council Policy Committee expressed interest in creating a policy to identify procedures to guide
individual Council Members or the entire Town Council in the legislative process to endorse/propose
amendments/oppose federal and state legislation, and regional and local measures.
On August 4, 2016, the Council Policy Committee considered a draft Legislative Policy that would create
a streamlined approach for the review of legislation (see Attachment 1). The draft Policy identifies
specific legislative principles, policy goals, and legislative strategies to ensure that any position taken by
the Town is aligned to the Town’s interests of local control, potential funding opportunities, or other
issues relevant to the governance of Los Gatos. After its discussion, the Committee recommended that
the proposed Policy be approved by the Town Council.
ALTERNATIVES:
Alternatives to the recommendation provided above include:
1. Adopt the proposed Policy with revisions identified by the Council.
2. Not adopt a Legislative Policy.
3. Provide other direction to staff.
COORDINATION:
This staff report and the proposed Policy was prepared in collaboration with the Town Attorney.
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE POLICY
SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Draft Legislative Policy
COUNCIL POLICY MANUAL
Title: Legislative Policy
Policy Number: 2-18
Effective Date: 10/5/16
Pages:
Enabling Actions:
Revised Date:
Approved:
Small Town Service Community Stewardship Future Focus
PURPOSE
The purposes of the Legislative Policy are to: identify opportunities for the Town to participate
in state, federal, and regional legislation and other policy matters, and describe a process for
Town positions, actions, and related activities.
BACKGROUND
Council Members have the opportunity to learn of legislative issues from their work on the
Council, general awareness of current topics, and their service on other Board and Committees as
representatives of the Town. The Town Manager encourages all Town Departments to monitor
and be knowledgeable of any legislative issues related to their disciplines. The Town Manager
and Town Attorney similarly stay engaged with their professions as well as monitor the activities
of the League of California Cities and other organizations. The Town benefits from a Legislative
Policy to articulate overarching legislative principles to guide the Town’s engagement in the
legislative process as outlined in this Policy.
LEGISLATIVE PINCIPLES
The Town should take a position and advocate for the position when proposed federal, state,
County, or other agency legislative or measure has a potential direct impact on the Town.
Direct impact includes and is not limited to issues of local control, revenue reductions, grant
eligibility, unfunded mandates and regulatory burdens.
POLICY GOALS
1. Advocate the Town’s legislative interests at the federal, state, regional, and County levels.
2. Inform and provide information to our legislators, Town Council, and staff on the key
issues and legislation that could have potential impact on the Town.
3. Serve as an active participant with other local governments, the League of California
Cities, local profession o rganizations, and/or other entities on legislative/regulatory issues
that are important to the Town and our region.
4. Seek grant and funding assistance for Town projects, services, and programs to enhance
services for our community.
Title: Legislative Policy
Page:
2 of 3
Policy Number:
2-18
LEGISLATIVE STRATEGIES
1. Communicate legislative positions on proposed federal, state, and County legislation,
measures, initiatives, and governmental regulations.
2. Work with Town Departments to develop positions on proposed federal and state
legislative measures based on analysis done by the League of California Cities,
communication with legislators’ offices, and other local government/professional
associations in formulating our positions.
3. Take positions only on proposals that clearly impact our Town or are a threat to local
control.
4. Activel y track key bills through the legislative process, utilizing various legislative
websites, government/professional associations, and other means.
5. Communicate the Town’s position to our federal, state, regional, and County
members, bill author(s), Committee s, and/or other governmental bodies through
correspondence, testimony, and in -person meetings.
6. Work cooperatively with other cities, associations and the League of California
Cities on advocating our legislative positions.
7. As necessary, participate in the drafting and amending of proposed federal, state,
regional, and/or County measures that have the potential to significantly impact the
Town.
8. Meet with legislators and their representatives, as well as other federal, state,
regional, and/or County governmen t officials on a regular basis to discuss local
government issues, proposed legislation, requests for funding assistance, and Town
programs and services.
9. Seek federal, state, and County funding through earmarks, grants, and other
discretionary funding for Town projects, services, and programs.
10. Annually identify Town projects for potential submittal for federal earmark
consideration and develop a submittal packet for leg islators that provides information
and need for the projects.
11. Provide information to Town Departments on potential grant funding opportunities
and recognition programs.
12. Advocate and request letters of support for Town projects and grant applications or
other resources that are being considered for federal, state, regional, and/or County
fundin g.
LEGISLATIVE POSITION PROCESS
The process for responding to legislative proposals is as follows:
1. Once the Town Manager and/or Town Attorney determines that a legislative proposal
may impact the Town, a letter outlining the Town’s position (support, neutral or oppose)
will be drafted for the Mayor’s signature.
2. The Town Manager will circulate the draft position letter to the Town Council for review.
3. If there is Council objection, the position letter will be placed on the next Town Council
agenda for consideration.
Title: Legislative Policy
Page:
3 of 3
Policy Number:
2-18
4. If there is no objection, staff will finalize the position letter for the Mayor’s signature and
forward the signed letter to the bill’s author, the League of California Cities, and other
stakeholders as deemed appropriate.
5. A copy of the fina l letter will be distributed to the Town Council.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Robert Schultz, Town Attorney