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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13B - COMMITTEE - LEGISLATIVE 06-20-13 MINUTESCITY OF SANTA ANA LEGISLATIVE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MINUTES JUNE 20, 2013 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:11 am by Vincent Sarmiento at City Hall, Room 831. ATTENDANCE Members Present: Councilmember Michele Martinez Councilmember Vincent Sarmiento Members Absent: none Staff Present: Kevin O'Rourke, Debra Kurita, Sonia Carvalho, Maria Huizar, Mark Lawrence and Becky Magallon AGENDA ITEMS 1 Selection of Committee Chair Motion to elect Vincent Sarmiento as Committee Chair. Motion: M. Martinez 2. 3. Vote: Ayes: M. Martinez, V. Sarmiento Noes: (0) Absent: (0) Public Comments - None. Second: V. Sarmiento Establishment of Bylaws • Meeting dates, location and time City Attorney Sonia Carvalho will draft the committee bylaws which will contain standard language and be consistent with other Council committees such as the Development and Transportation Committee. Committee meetings will be scheduled as needed and at the request of the Chair or staff. On occasion, there may be a need to meet on short notice to review emergency legislation. Legislative City Council Committee Minutes June 20, 2013, Page 1 13B-1 4. Discussion of City's Legislative Platform Process Mark Lawrence reviewed the proposed guidelines for a legislative platform to guide the Council Legislative Committee in making recommendations in support or in opposition of State and Federal bills. The guidelines include staff and City Council scheduling regular meetings with state and federal lobbyists to inform them of the City's priorities so they can track them and alert the City of any upcoming relevant legislation action. Councilmembers Sarmiento and Martinez expressed the need for a legislative plafform to identify City legislative priorities. They added that we currently have a disjointed process and City Council has not always been informed of upcoming legislation affecting Santa Ana. They also expressed concern with the inconsistency in communicating with past federal and state lobbyists. Sonia Carvalho reported that her law firm in Washington DC prepares a thorough legislative report which also includes information on grants as well as commentaries on important issues. She'll share this report with the City. Michele Martinez mentioned that she sits on legislative committees for SCAG and TCA and those agencies have staff dedicated to legislative issues and prepare detailed legislative reports which will be useful to Santa Ana. She added that Santa Ana can work together with legislative committees for these agencies so that City staff doesn't have to do all the research. City of Brea is an example of a city currently doing that. Vincent Sarmiento agreed that working with other agencies will be helpful; however, their platform may be somewhat different because they emphasize on regional issues, and that it would be important for Santa Ana to have its own legislative platform. Staff and Legislative Council Committee will meet with the lobbyists to create a legislative platform. The proposed platform will then be reviewed and approved by the City Council. Kevin O'Rourke suggested that one of the new management analysts to be added to the City Manager's Office be in charge of tracking legislation and informing the City Council of other agencies' legislative trips to Sacramento or Washington. 5. Establish guidelines for City's legislative action process • Resolutions and letters of support/opposition regarding legislative matters Mark Lawrence reviewed the suggested process, which would include the adoption of a resolution by the City Council to allow the Council Legislative Committee to approve letters of support/opposition on behalf of the City Council Legislative City Council Committee Minutes June 20, 2013, Page 2 13B-2 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 Michele Martinez expressed concern that Holland & Knight subcontracts with other lobbyists to provide legislative services and that their history is more as attorneys. Vincent Sarmiento added that he didn't get a comfort level with Holland & Knight, which could be because they are a very large firm. Staff will add this item to the next City Council agenda to reject all bids, delegate authority to the Legislative Council Committee to interview interested firms, and come back to the City Council with a recommendation. 8. State Lobbyist (Townsend Public Affairs) communication Kevin O'Rourke reported that he met with Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) and the firm has recently become more active and has been providing timely assistance to the City. Staff has asked TPA to track the Governor's proposal on the Enterprise Zone. Vincent Sarmiento mentioned that it will be valuable to get a lobbyist report that is tailored to Santa Ana. 9. Committee Member Comments No additional Committee member comments. 10. Future Items, date and location for next meeting No future meeting date was selected. Staff will call the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m. 4-y L?"aj?- Becky Magallon Executive Assistant City Manager's Office Legislative City Council Committee Minutes June 20, 2013, Page 4 13B-4