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Councilmember Sarmiento mentioned that this is the first time that the City <br />Council has set a Legislative Committee and it's a good opportunity to discuss <br />legislative issues and develop a process to work with the federal and state <br />advocacy. The Legislative Committee needs to make lobbyists aware of what the <br />Council priorities are since there has been an ineffective and disconnected way <br />in the past. <br />Dan Maldonado mentioned that he is pleased to do the advocacy work that the <br />City of Santa Ana wants to accomplish. Dan Maldonado and Leslie Pollner briefly <br />discussed the 2014 political landscape, the FY 2014 budget forecast, the <br />upcoming hot legislative topics and the 2014 Congressional calendar. <br />Dan Maldonado mentioned that he was impressed with the Santa Ana jail <br />philosophy and will work to engage Senator Dianne Feinstein. He added that he <br />toured Santa Ana's Grade Separation Project with Public Works Interim Director <br />William Galvez and is now more familiar with the project. <br />David Cavazos mentioned that Santa Ana is losing $380,000 annually because <br />we are subsidizing and there's a need to increase the rates to U.S. Marshal <br />Service and ICE. He added that he, along with Acting Police Chief Rojas, will be <br />in Washington, DC the first week in February to meet with Department of Justice <br />and Homeland Security to discuss their contract with Santa Ana. <br />Councilmembers Sarmiento and Martinez expressed concern with this <br />subsidizing practice having gone so long and are glad to see that the issue is <br />being addressed. <br />Dan Maldonado mentioned that the federal priorities lay out what the City is <br />concerned with. Then lobbyists can be aware of these federal priorities and can <br />then look at reauthorization or funding available. <br />Councilwoman Martinez mentioned that transportation will be a top priority. She, <br />along with other Councilmembers, also sit on board of directors for regional <br />transportation agencies and believes it's imperative to collaborate with each <br />other on issues of mutual interest. <br />Dan Maldonado mentioned that once they have the City's legislative platform <br />they can do an analysis and see how other City projects can fit in so that it's <br />looked at in a broader framework and they can strategize what funding is <br />available. <br />David Cavazos mentioned that we need guiding principles for Santa Ana, which <br />need to include local control and protection of local revenue. He added that the <br />legislative platform will go to the Legislative Committee first, and then to the <br />entire City Council for approval. This will provide lobbyists and staff a list of City <br />priorities to be used as a guide to support /oppose legislation. Mr. Cavazos also <br />mentioned that there will need to be a process to monitor progress. <br />Legislative City Council Committee Minutes <br />January 16, 2014, Page 2 <br />13BB -2 <br />