HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/02/06 Item 12
CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STATEMENT
February 6, 2007, Item ; c~
ITEM TITLE:
SUBMITTED BY:
REVIEWED BY:
LEGISLATIVE REPORT FROM ADVOCATION, INe.
ASSISTANT CIT~NAGE~l,,", 0w"7
CITY MANAGER J I D
BACKGROUND
The City of Chula Vista retains the services of Advocation, Inc., a Sacramento-based
lobbying firm that assists the City in identifying, reviewing, tracking and affecting the
passage of legislation in the State Capitol. At the Council's request, representatives from
the fIrm will present a report on which issues are the focus .of attention in the Legislature and
in the Governor's office for the session that has just been convened, what outcomes the
State's leaders hope to achieve, and which members of the Legislature are expected to shape
those outcomes.
4/5THS VOTE: YES D NO 0
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Environmental Review Coordinator has reviewed the proposed activity for
compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined
that the activity is not a "Project" as defmed under Section 15378 of the State CEQA
Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the
activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the report and provide direction to staff and to Advocation, Inc.
BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable
DISCUSSION
At the January 9, 2007 meeting of the Chula Vista City CouncillRedevelopment Agency,
the CouncillBoard (Council) requested that the proposed contract with Advocation, Inc.
be amended to require a minimum of two presentations by the firm each year to provide
the Council with information on activities in Sacramento, how those might affect Chula
Vista, and what actions the firm is taking on the City's behalf.
Tonight's presentation will include an overview of those issues that have moved to the
forefront of the State Legislative agenda for the recently convened two-year session, a
discussion of what outcomes the Administration and the Legislature hope to achieve with
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February 6, 2007, ItemJL
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respect to those issues, and which members of the Senate and Assembly are anticipated to
take the lead in achieving those outcomes. This is also an opportunity for the Council to
publicly discuss legislative priorities for the coming session.
Finally, as a result of the Council's action on December 19, 2006 to place the
responsibilities formerly held by the Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator under the
office of the City Manager, the following protocols have been enacted:
. Communications Manager Colleen Carnevale has absorbed the duties for managing
the Advocation contract, and will be responsible for reviewing and (with the
assistance of other city staff) analyzing legislative proposals as they are introduced.
. Proposals that fall within the guidelines of the City's adopted Legislative Program
will be submitted to the Legislative Committee with a recommendation to support,
oppose or attempt to amend the proposal.
. With the Legislative Committee's concurrence, the Communications Manager and
Advocation will advance the City's position through letters, meetings with
legislators, testimony before various State committees or agencies, etc.
. Measures that do not fall within the guidelines of the Legislative Program, but are
seen as having a significant impact on the City or its operations, will be submitted to
the entire Council for consideration and direction.
. Quarterly reports will be given to the Council by the City Manager's office,
indicating what proposals the City is supporting or opposing, what actions have been
taken to advance the City's position, and what legislative or administrative actions
are taking place that are of interest or concern to Chula Vista.
. A year-end report will also be given to the Council, summarizing the activities of the
past session and the results of the actions undertaken on the City's behalf.
Staff is assessing the City's Legislative Program, which has not been comprehensively
evaluated or revised in several years. This document will be submitted to the Legislative
Committee and then to the Council as an information item for review and comment in the
next few months, and subsequently brought forward as an agenda item for formal adoption.
DECISION MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is
not site specific and consequently the 500 foot rule found in California Code of
Regulations section 1 8704.2(a)(l) is not applicable to this decision.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with accepting this report. Council direction to
pursue specific legislative goals (i.e. obtain funding for certain projects, amend existing
law to increase local government revenues) may result in a fiscal impact, however that
cannot be anticipated at this time.
ATTACHMENTS
None
Prepared by: Colleen M Carnevale, Communications Manager, Office of the City Manager
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