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Communications as an area of responsibility for the Council Committee, and added that, if <br />in agreement, staff would bring the item to Council as a Receive and File. <br />MOTION: Adopt Council Committee Bylaws to include Communications to <br />Powers and Duties: <br />MOTION: Solorio SECOND: Sarmiento <br />VOTE: AYES: Sarmiento, Solorio, <br />NOES: None (0) <br />ABSTAIN: None (0) <br />ABSENT: Tinajero (1) <br />The Committee expressed best wishes to Alma Flores, Strategic Communications <br />Manager, as she leaves the City. <br />Federal Legislative Update from Holland & Knight <br />Dan Maldonado and Leslie Pollner provided a federal legislative update which included FY <br />2018 appropriations, immigration issues such as the travel ban and DACA and the tax <br />reform. Dan Maldonado explained that concerns have been raised with the tax reform plan <br />at the state and local levels because it's believed that the House and Senate will move to <br />eliminate the state and local tax (SALT) deduction which would impact local government. <br />He added that Holland & Knight have been meeting with members of the California <br />Republican Delegation to urge them to support retaining the SALT deduction. <br />Councilmember Sarmiento asked if any announcements have been made by the <br />Administration on punitive measures on cities that have declared themselves as sanctuary <br />cities. Dan Maldonado responded that the issue is primarily in the court system and that <br />because of some of the disasters there has been a step back on the enforcements, <br />however, he believes we will start seeing some effort as we get to border security funding <br />issues and a focus on interior enforcement. <br />Councilmember Sarmiento mentioned that the Committee had requested a timeline of <br />pending grants at the last meeting, and staff advised him that once the Schedule for <br />Expenditure of Federal Awards numbers from the previous fiscal year are available, a report <br />will be presented to the Council, most likely in November. <br />4. State Legislative Update from Townsend Public Affairs <br />Casey Elliot reported that the California State Legislature concluded their legislative <br />session on September 15th and there are about 500 bills on the Governor's desk. He added <br />it was a productive session and shared some of the important items affecting Santa Ana <br />that were able to be addressed such as affordable housing and the Park Bond. Casey <br />Elliott also presented a summary of efforts undertaken by Townsend Public Affairs on <br />behalf of the City during the last legislative session. <br />Councilmember Sarmiento asked for the status of SB 231 and clarification on whether <br />banning outdoor cannabis cultivation would make Santa Ana ineligibility for State grants. <br />Casey Elliott mentioned that it's his understanding that local governments will not be <br />eligible for grants if they do a complete ban of outdoor cannabis cultivation. <br />Councilmember Solorio mentioned we want to avoid having City restrictions that would be <br />Legislative Affairs, Ethics and�T� acar� Council Committee Minutes <br />Ccto 8 aCe 2 <br />