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How to Use the Legislative Platform <br />Purpose <br />The purpose of the Legislative Platform is to provide a means for summarizing the City's <br />legislative priorities to guide advocacy efforts at the state and federal level. The Legislative <br />Platform contains broad policy statements pertaining to a variety of issues that affect the City of <br />Santa Ana. <br />Platform Overview <br />The Legislative Platform provides a streamlined process through which the City Council, City <br />Manager, City staff, and the City's legislative advocates can act in a timely manner in response <br />to legislative proposals. The Legislative Platform is adopted annually and serves as an opportunity <br />to identify specific priority areas of interest for the City and the region, which benefit the <br />community. The Legislative Platform is developed and maintained using legislative positions <br />taken by the City Council, input from the City Council and City staff, research of current law and <br />pending legislation, and discussions with local legislative staff in consultation with the City's <br />legislative advocates. <br />When the need to respond to state and federal legislation arises, staff composes letters outlining <br />the City's position. These letters include one of the following positions: support, support if <br />amended, oppose, oppose unless amended, neutral, or watch. Legislation that is consistent with <br />the Legislative Platform are reviewed, approved and signed by the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, or City <br />Manager. In addition, legislative positions that are deemed time -sensitive and are consistent with <br />the Legislative Platform may be approved and signed by the City Manager when the Mayor and <br />Mayor Pro Tern are unavailable. Once approved, a position letter is sent to the bill's author, the <br />City's legislative advocate, and other stakeholders as deemed appropriate by staff, and a copy of <br />the letter is distributed to the City Council. <br />Legislation that is inconsistent with or silent in the City's Legislative Platform may be placed on a <br />public meeting agenda for consideration by the City Council or a subcommittee of the City Council. <br />The City Manager may also provide a letter of concern or interest on behalf of the City of Santa <br />Ana without taking a formal position on a piece of legislation, upon concurrence of the City Council <br />or subcommittee of the City Council. <br />Legislative Positions <br />Support —Asupport position indicates to the corresponding legislature, regulatory agencies, and <br />other stakeholders, that the City of Santa Ana is in favor of the legislation in question. A support <br />position may include the following resources: position letters, councilmember testimony to <br />committees, and meetings/phone calls with members of the legislature and/or regulatory agency. <br />Support if Amended — Asupport if amended position indicates to the corresponding legislature, <br />regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders, that the City of Santa Ana is in favor of the legislation <br />in question, if the requested changes are adopted. Asupport if amended position may include the <br />following resources: position letters, councilmember testimony to committees, and <br />meetings/phone calls with members of the legislature and/or regulatory agency. <br />Neutral — A neutral position indicates to the corresponding legislature, regulatory agencies, and <br />other stakeholders, that the City of Santa Ana is impartial on the legislation in question and does <br />not wish to take a position. <br />19C-7 <br />