title
APPROVE THE 2023 STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt by motion the 2023 State and Federal Legislative Programs and authorize the City Manager to pursue the objectives outlined in these Programs through advocacy efforts in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.
body
Summary
Maintaining a strong presence in both Sacramento and Washington, D.C. is essential to the City of Stockton to ensure funding, advance beneficial legislation, and prevent harmful legislation or rulemaking. This is most effectively done using consulting services to represent the City of Stockton (City) in carrying out its legislative programs and advocating its public policy, positions, concerns, needs, and recommendations at the state and federal levels.
In recent years the City has developed, and Council had adopted, legislative programs that outline the City’s advocacy priorities and positions. This allows the City to be responsive to developments in state and federal issues and pursue funding and legislation that benefits our community. The State and Federal Legislative Programs have proven to be valuable tools to direct the City’s legislative advocacy efforts.
The legislative programs presented for Council consideration and approval have been updated for the 2023 legislative sessions to adjust for the City’s priorities, leverage advocacy efforts, and address emerging issues.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City of Stockton (City) adopted its first formal State and Federal Legislative Programs for the calendar year 2012. Prior to 2012, the City of Stockton had not adopted formal legislative programs and, as a result, the City’s legislative priorities and the impacts of legislation on the City were not entirely clear to our legislative delegations. Since then, the City has been diligent in developing and adopting State and Federal Legislative Programs to provide a unified focus and establish principles, priorities, and City positions related to state and federal legislative matters.
Throughout each year, the State Legislature and the United States Congress initiate legislation, some of which affects local government. The League of California Cities and contracted legislative advocacy firms keep the City of Stockton informed on proposed legislation from these bodies. The National League of Cities (NLC) also provides information and advocacy for municipalities at the federal level. At times, it is in the City’s best interest to take a position on proposed legislation or funding opportunities. The Council adopts the annual legislative programs to provide the parameters and authority for staff and designated City advocates to pursue the City’s interests in a timely manner within a rapidly changing environment.
Legislative programs are developed by staff in the City Manager’s Office based on previous legislative positions taken by the City, the adopted Council goals, benchmarking of other comparable municipalities, and in anticipation of key issues coming forward in each respective year. The legislative programs are also revised in consultation with City departments, state and federal legislative advocates, and then presented to the City Council for consideration and adoption.
On February 15, 2023, City staff coordinated the annual Strategic Planning workshop with Mayor and Council members to provide an overview of past accomplishments and update the current federal and state administration priorities. During the workshop, the Mayor and Council provided input into the City’s state and federal priorities to refine the most significant issues. The result is the combined efforts of staff and our legislative advocates, which will continue to inform legislative advocacy efforts in Sacramento and Washington D.C.
Some examples of priorities pursued in recent years through our State Legislative Programs include assisting the City by working with Big 13 Cities to secure an additional $1 billion in Statewide Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) funds; working with Senator Eggman in 2022 to secure an additional $4 million funding for aquatics infrastructure repairs above a previous appropriation; assisting the City in securing $1 million in funding for homeless shelter navigation projects; pursuing opportunities on multiple fronts with Senate and Assembly representatives and State Water Board staff to fund the rehabilitation of two groundwater wells in South Stockton; continuing to advocate for active transportation, infrastructure and affordable housing resources, as well as reasonable and measured relief from state-regulated flood requirements.
Examples of priorities pursued through our Federal Legislative Program in recent years include assistance in securing a $108 million loan through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA); working with the US Army Corps of Engineers to expedite permitting of the Alexandria and Five Mile Slough Culvert Replacement project; ongoing work to support public safety grants from the Bureau of Justice Assistance; providing status updates and informational documentation on federal legislation such as American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA); monitoring and advising City staff of federal grant funding opportunities such as Department of Transportation RAISE and Safe Streets for All; and providing guidance on submitting applications for Community Project Funding House appropriations for the 2023 year.
In recent years, the legislative programs were shared by our legislative advocates with all members of our respective legislative delegations as well as with key staffers in both state and federal executive departments. This made our positions and priorities clear and public before legislation began to be drafted and project lists established.
Present Situation
Over the past year, City Staff has engaged with our advocates to assess the needs and opportunities of the City, determine areas of improvement, and prepare legislative priorities for the coming year. The proposed 2023 State and Federal Legislative Program (Attachment A) was developed by Staff in the City Manager’s Office in consultation with City Council, City Staff, and with feedback from our legislative advocates. Input from the February Strategic Planning workshop, held on February 15, 2023, has also been incorporated into the State and Federal Legislative Program.
The Legislative Programs continue to follow the outline established in previous years, including Legislative Principles, Priorities, and Positions.
• Legislative Principles are foundational statements of broad legislative objectives or philosophies that form the basis for establishing legislative priorities and positions.
• Legislative Priorities are the key issues that the City and contracted advocates will be pursuing; it is the task list or scope of work for advocacy in a given year.
• Legislative Positions are statements related to other legislative themes or issues that have come up in the past or that the City anticipates may come up in the future. They are not priority issues, but if legislation arises, and the City needs to issue a letter of support or opposition, the position of the City has already been established.
The intent is to annually update the Legislative Programs at the beginning of each legislative session, which convenes on July 1 for the State Legislature and October 1 for the Federal Legislature. Legislative Priorities may vary significantly from year to year while Legislative Positions may somewhat change, and Legislative Principles should remain fairly consistent.
Priorities for the City of Stockton established in the State and Federal Legislative Program not only represent the City’s key interests, but they align with present and emerging state and federal administration priorities. The 2023 State Priorities seek funding for improvements to Van Buskirk Park in alignment with the Park Reuse Plan design and community input and to address pedestrian and traffic safety in the heavily traveled roadways of Dr. MLK Jr., Blvd Underpass and Pershing Avenue, as well as securing additional funding for waterway improvements around Mormon Slough and McLeod Lake. As a new initiative, the City will focus on funding for blight abatement activities to incentivize revitalization and economic development opportunities. As was the focus in 2022, the City will continue to target youth resiliency and expand youth workforce development opportunities by increasing access to training programs, technical education, and job placement and retention services. State advocacy efforts include incentivizing missing middle housing stock, pursuing funding for workforce housing, and supporting efforts to increase funding to local government for Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) and affordable housing.
The proposed 2023 Federal Legislative Priorities reflect an emphasis on securing funding for improvements to Van Buskirk Park, as well as identifying funding for construction of backbone fiber and ethernet to support traffic operations. The City will actively seek budget allocations for major transportation infrastructure projects to improve roadway efficiency and pedestrian safety at important roadways throughout the City. Federal priorities also include funding for installation of solar and battery storage systems at critical municipal facilities such as the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and New City Hall, to ensure public safety services remain online during power outages. Additionally, the City aims to invest in capital improvements and ADA-compliant upgrades at Pixie Woods to increase appeal and environmental safety for park visitors.
For proposed legislation either consistent with the City’s legislative programs or consistent with legislative positions the City has taken in the past, adoption of the 2023 Legislative Programs will provide the necessary authorization that will allow City staff, under the direction of the City Manager, to prepare position letters for signature. All members of City Council will receive copies of position letters that are sent. The City’s advocacy firms may also be authorized to express the City’s position in person to legislative representatives.
Once adopted, the 2023 State and Federal Legislative Programs will provide the parameters and authority for staff and advocates to pursue City of Stockton interests with the state and federal governments. This will allow the City to act quickly and efficiently in cases where we have simply been unable to represent our interests in the past. As stated before, it will also notify our delegations in advance of our positions and priorities on key issues. Overall, adoption of the 2023 State and Federal Legislative Programs will allow the City to be more organized, transparent, and efficient in our advocacy efforts at both levels of government.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is no financial impact to the City of Stockton directly related to this agenda item.
Attachment A - State and Federal Legislative Program