13B - COMMITTEE - LEGISLATIVE 06-20-13 MINUTES

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Maria Huizar mentioned that the Code of Conduct/Ethics Committee will be meeting in July or August and will discuss the Council norms which will include various Council policies. City Attorney's Office staff will draft guidelines for the Legislative Committee's review. Once the Committee approves them, a resolution will be prepared for approval by the City Council. This resolution will delegate the authority to the Legislative Committee. Guidelines will include information on how individual Council members can support/oppose legislation. The guidelines will also include specific language to be used in letters when the Mayor is representing the entire Council. Under the new guidelines, staff will have the authority to take action on issues that have been identified on the platform as City priorities. Staff will come to the Legislative Committee for direction on any legislative action that is not part of the platform. The process will also include a mechanism to use when there's need for immediate legislative action and there's no time to schedule a Committee meeting. 6. Relationship with League Lobbying Team Kevin O'Rourke commented that the League of California Cities meets once a week with lobbyists that represent cities. Santa Ana's lobbyist can attend this weekly meeting and make the League aware of what current legislation is important to Santa Ana. Federal Lobbyist Request for Proposals (RFP) Mark Lawrence informed the Committee that he received an email from Holland and Knight proposing to enter into a six-month short term month to month arrangement with the City to allow the City an opportunity to assess their services. Michele Martinez mentioned that other cities, such as Brea, have a hybrid arrangement with one lobbyist providing both state and federal legislative services. She added that Council was not given the opportunity to review the Request for Proposals. Vincent Sarmiento likes the idea of a hybrid approach; however, now that there is a legislative structure, he'd be open to hiring two lobbyists. He's looking at this process through a different lens and is open to other possibilities. Several options were discussed such as hiring a lobbyist on a retainer and drawing from it as services are needed/rendered or hiring a lobbyist on an hourly basis and calling on them as needed. Sonia Carvalho mentioned that it's important that the RFP includes Council's interests. It sends a negative message to the organizations when the City opens an RFP and delays awarding of contract. Legislative City Council Committee Minutes June 20, 2013, Page 3 13B-3