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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIntergovernmental Relations Committee (formerly Legislative �Po J� fe CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH COUNCIL - ADMINISTRATOR COMMUNICATION HUNTINGTON BEACH Date: March 25, 1997 To: Mayor and City Council From: Tom Harman..kN Subject: Renaming the Legislative Committee At its February 7, 1997 meeting, the Legislative Committee voted 3-0 to recommend to the City Council to rename the Legislative Committee to the Intergovernmental Relations Committee. While a minor change, we thought that the new title better depicts the subject matter that the committee is asked to consider and bring to the full Council. I have requested the City Clerk to place this topic on the Aril 7 1997 City Council P P � y agenda as an H Item under my name. • aX � r'-,3 Cif81 cs CM 0 ?cs < cn � X c J• 4 CITY OF �TUM 1014 i CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION IKMaT"WN UACM TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Legislative Committee(Harman, Dettloff, Green) DATE: February 14, 1996 SUBJECT: Committee Report,February 21, 1996,City Council Meeting: Goals and Objectives At its first meeting in November, 1995, the Legislative Committee felt that it should establish a set of Goals and Objectives and formalize a process to establish policy and authorize work on legislative and intergovernmental issues. At this time, the Legislative Committee is providing its recommended 1996 Goals and Objectives to the City Council for its review, comments, and approval. The Goals and Objectives are intended to provide consistency to the Committee's decision making and to staffs work. Goals and Objectives will also serve as a measure of the committee's effectiveness. The Legislative Committee's Goals& Objectives will be reviewed and adopted annually during November/December. RB:paj Page 4 - Council/Agency Agenda -2/20/96 (4) C-1. COUNCIL COMMITTEEICOUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS tCity Council) Legislative Committee's 1996 Goals and Objectives (120.25)- Communication from the Legislative Committee (Councilmembers Harman, Dettloff and Green) requesting the review, comment and approval of the Legislative Committee's 1996 Goals and Objectives. [Approved 5-0 (Leipzig, Green - Absent) Also Council Committee will meet with legislators regarding issue of law that allows cities immunity from lawsuits caused by activities such as roller blading, etc.] L, HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE 1996 Goals and Objectives l. Pursue all revenue opportunities to augment the city's financial capability to provide services to the community. 2. Keep City Council informed of any opportunities available to participate in intergovernmental affairs germane to the needs and desires of the community. 3. Maintain an on-going dialog with the city's State and Federal legislators to: ® Convey the city's positions and concerns, and ®Learn the legislators' positions, an issue that could affect the citizens of Huntington Beach. 4. Monitor and keep the organization informed of the activities of legislative bodies which have influence upon the City of Huntington Beach at the Federal, State, regional and local levels of government. 5. Encourage staff participation in the monitoring of intergovernmental affairs within their professional purview and to interact with the Legislative Committee on issues of concern. J 1 CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH MEETING DATE: DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: AD95-101 7-0 / CounciVAgency Meeting Held: Deferred/Continued to: ❑ Approved Conditionally Approved ❑ Denied City Clerk's Signtature Council Meeting Date: 08-07-95 Department ID Number: AD95-101 CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION SUBMITTED TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SUBMITTED BY: MICHAEL T. UBERUAGA, City Administ r �— PREPARED BY: RICHARD BARNARD, Deputy City Administrator SUBJECT: ESTABLISHMENT OF A CITY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Statement of Issue,Funding Source,Recormnended Action,Alternative Action,Analysis,Environmental Status,Attachment(s) Statement of Issue: Council Member Tom Harman has requested, after staff review, input from City Council Members regarding options which could improve the method the city uses in communicating with the State and Federal legislative bodies regarding city positions on legislative proposals that come before them which impact local government. Council Member Harman is suggesting the creation of a City Council Legislative Committee to meet with staff to discuss and formulate positions on legislative proposals which may impact our city. Fundinq Source: N/A Recommended Action: Approve the creation of a City Council Legislative Committee and request the Mayor to appoint two Council members to serve on the committee. Alternative Action(s): 1. Do not establish a Legislative Council Committee 0013479.01 -2- 07/24/95 4:18 PM REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION MEETING DATE: 08-07-95 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: AD95-101 Analysis• Attached to this RCA are two memo's: 1) A memo prepared by Council Member Tom Harman to the Honorable Mayor and City Council Members; and 2) A memo prepared by Deputy City Administrator Richard Barnard to Council Member Harman, out lining suggested modifications to the city's legislative program. Council Member Harman is suggesting that Option 1, as outlined in the May 26, 1995, memo to Council Member Harman from Richard Barnard, be approved by the City Council. Under this option the City Council would authorize the establishment of a Legislative Council Committee to work with staff to review requests the city receives regarding legislative matters and to work with the Mayor and City Administrator on preparing responses. Once City Council establishes the Legislative Committee, the Mayor would appoint two City Council members to sit on the committee. Environmental Status: N/A Attachment(s)• 1. Memo dated May 26, 1995, from Richard Barnard, Deputy City Administrator to Council member Tom Harman. 2. Memo dated June 9, 1995, from Council Member Tom Harman to Honorable Mayor and City Council Members. City • - Page Number 0013479.01 -3- 07/24/95 4:18 PM J�"ie CITY OF HUNTINCTON' BEACH CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION .xJn ON sEAeH TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Tom Harman, City Council Member DATE: June 9, 1995 SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF PROCEDURES TO BE USED BY CITY TO COMMENT ON PENDING LEGISLATION IN SACRAMENTO Statement of Issue: Some type of procedure should be adopted by the city to provide a mechanism whereby the city could respond timely to legislation being proposed in Sacramento. Current Policy: The current City Council policy for commenting on pending legislation requires that the matter come before the entire City Council on an RCA Using this procedure, it may-.:=�' - take as much as two weeks for the matter to be brought to the attention of the Council for action. The Problem:. The problem with this procedure is that it is slow and cumbersome. According to Rich Barnard, the city frequently receives requests from legislators for support/opposition that must be sent back to them within 1 2 days, if not the very same day the request is received. Often times the proposed legislation can have a profound effect on the City of Huntington Beach. Because we lack the ability to respond timely, we are potentially • placing ourselves in great jeopardy. Proposed Solution: I have asked Rich Barnard to give me his thoughts and comments concerning this problem. His memo to me dated May 26, 1995, is attached. Rich recommends two possible options. 1 am in favor of option 1 as outlined in Rich's memo. Pending Legislation June 9, 1995 Page -2- Request for Individual Council Person's Input: If any Council person has any thoughts, comments, or suggestions on this topic, please communicate them to Rich Bamard by June 23, 1995. 1 will meet with Rich after that date and, after using your input, bring to the City Council a recommendation in the form of an "H" Item on the Council Agenda. TH:paj xc: Mike Uberuaga, City Administrator Ray Silver, Assistant City Administrator Rich Barnard, Deputy City Administrator Attachment HN CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION HL*mNGTON BEACH TO: Tom Harman, City Council Member FROM: Richard Barnard, Deputy City Administrator DATE: May 26, 1995 SUBJECT: Modification to the City's Legislative Process As you requested, 1 have outlined two options for your consideration which would modify our current policy of communicating city concerns to State and Federal elected representatives regarding pending legislation. The impetus for both options is to providing some flexibility which will allow the city to quickly respond to fast moving legislative initiatives when the city receives requests to take action from the State and County League of California Cities. Option 1 1. Establish a City Council appointed Standing Legislative Committee to work closely with city staff. 2.. The Legislative Committee would be responsible for review of legislative proposals and development of the city's Legislative Council Committee's response to pending legislative initiatives. The committee would work with staff on city responses for the Mayor's signature and would work with the Mayor and city staff in making contact with appropriate State and Federal elected officials. All correspondence would be copied to the City Council, City Administrator, and City Department Heads. 3. The Legislative Committee would periodically report on its activities to the City Council under the Agenda heading, *Council Committee/Council Liaison Reports". i Legislative Process May 26, 1995 Page -2- Option 2 1. Have city staff monitor the State League of California Cities weekly Legislative Bulletin and identify legislative proposals in which letters or calls to legislators need to be made indicating city support or opposition in accordance with the League of California Cities' position. A. City staff will draft letters or arrange for calls to be made to State Legislators to support or oppose legislation as put forth by the State and County League of California Cities. If a position other than that being recommended by the League of Cities is viewed as being in the best interest of the city, then the issue can be brought to either the full City Council or an appointed City Council Legislative Committee for consideration. B. If requests for city positions come from individuals or agencies other than the State and County League of California Cities the issue can be brought before the full City Council or an appointed City Council Legislative Committee for review and consideration. Under either Option 1 or 2, the city would improve its ability to quickly communicate city concerns regarding pending legislative proposals to State and Federal elected representatives. A key element in the legislative process is having in place a process which allows for a quick response to legislative initiatives. In the legislative process timing is everything. The city's response mechanism needs to be designed to meet the legislative demands that are placed upon the city during the legislative session . Perhaps, after you review this memo, you may wish to have the Mayor appoint a City Council committee to meet with staff and discuss the options or any other modifications which will allow for the city to quickly respond. The proposed options are designed to improve the city's ability to influence pending legislation which is before the State Legislature and Congress. Each year there are several legislative initiatives which will have either positive or negative impacts upon our community. The elected representatives who are considering these legislative initiatives need to hear from local government so they will be better informed about the impact their vote will have on local communities. Not hearing from us in a timely manner, State and Federal ' n Legislators may not have information available to them which could influence Legislative Process May 26, 1995 Page -3- their decision to vote for or against legislation which directly affects our community. The legislative process is dynamic and can move at both lightening speed or at a snails pace, depending upon the perception of the members of the State Legislature, the Governor, or Congress, and the President. In order for the city to be effective, the logistical mechanics of responding must be in place and ready to be activated at a moments notice. There are numerous examples where a quick reaction by the city is needed in order to have an impact upon the legislature or Governor. Our current policy does not allow for a quick city response. Two recent examples where the city was requested to respond quickly can be seen with SB10B(KiIlea) and AB318(Katz). SB10B (Killea) passed both the Assembly and Senate in one day's time and was on the Governor's desk the same or next day to be signed into law. This is an example of just how fast legislation can move. Once the Orange County League became aware of the status of the bill a call went out to all cities across Orange County to immediately write and call the Governor's Office to request a veto. AB318 (Katz) is another example where the city received a call from the State League requesting an immediate call and letter to Assembly Member Doris Allen requesting her opposition because the bill was coming up for a vote on the Assembly floor within the next day or two. While it may feel like our single call or letter to the State and Federal elected officials have little or not effect, when joined with all the other cities theoughout the County, State, or Nation, the message becomes very powerful I hope the forgoing information is helpful and will lead to further discussion about how the city can best respond to legislative matters. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this please let me know. RB:paj CC: Michael Uberuaga, City Administrator � ri