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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13C - COUNCIL COMMITTEE RPT - LEGISLATIVE MINUTESCITY OF SANTA ANA LEGISLATIVE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MINUTES SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 12:04 p.m. by Vincent Sarmiento at City Hall, Room 831. ATTENDANCE Members Present: Councilmember Michele Martinez Councilmember Vincent Sarmiento, Chair Members Absent: none Staff Present: Kevin O'Rourke, Debra Kurita, Sonia Carvalho, Mark Lawrence and Becky Magallon AGENDA ITEMS Minutes The June 20, 2013 minutes were approved by a vote of 2:0 2. Public Comments - none 3. Discussion on Federal Lobbyist Councilmember Sarmiento suggested doing a two -step approach in which the City retains someone for immediate assistance and then goes out for a permanent lobbyist. Sonia Carvalho reported that the immediate need for a lobbyist — municipal bond and UUT — has been covered. She added that the Committee has authorized the City Manager to act on the Committee's behalf. As such, the City Manager can hire a temporary lobbyist and use their services on an as- needed basis. The Committee agreed. Councilmember Sarmiento would like to see a federal lobbyist that will focus on all areas of the city, someone that is well rounded and is also familiar with mobility. Councilwoman Martinez suggested to contact other regional agencies such as OCTA, SCAG, and TCA and ask who they use as a federal lobbyist. She added that we may decide to have more than one. Legislative City Council Committee Minutes SepjwPp%g, j013, Page 1 Kevin O'Rourke added that it should be someone who is recognized in the transportation field and has a good reputation. Vince Sarmiento commented thai he has seen large firms bring in special firms that have an expertise in whatever is necessary at the time. However, we need someone soon. Michele Martinez mentioned that the City needs to start the process soon to hire a permanent lobbyist. Vincent Sarmiento asked that staff give the Committee recommended guidelines and options on what would be best for the permanent lobbyist. Mr. Sarmiento noted that other agencies get detailed analysis from their lobbyists including regular meetings with staff. He added that state and federal lobbyists as well as the League of California Cities should be represented at the Committee meetings. Kevin O'Rourke agreed and cited the Fairfield model in which the lobbyist attended meetings in person or by phone and provided regular updates. Mr. O'Rourke asked the Committee members to share with staff the names of lobbyists they have encountered in other agencies and they have been impressed with. Staff will provide the Committee with a proposal to include some models, options and what other cities are spending for the Committee's review. Mark Lawrence assured the Committee that they would have the opportunity to review the questions for the RFP ahead of time. 4. Establishment of Bylaws Update Sonia Carvalho reported that staff is preparing bylaws for every Council Committee. These will be presented as a resolution to the entire City Council for approval. She asked the Committee for any specific items that should be included in the bylaws for the Legislative Committee. Councilmember Sarmiento mentioned that the bylaws need to specify that the Council Committee has the authority to send legislative letters on behalf of the City Council. He added that we should require lobbyists to provide an analysis with every request for legislative letters. Staff asked if the Committee should become an ad hoc committee since it only consists of two members. Sonia Carvalho mentioned that an ad hoc does not have the authority to take action on behalf of the Council and that it's only formed for a limited period of time. It will remain as a Council Committee because it needs to oversee the lobbyist contracts and is taking a position on legislative matters that are immediate. Mark Lawrence asked the Committee for input on how the current communication system with the Committee is working when requests for Legislative City Council Committee Minutes Sep ira�gv9_2p13, Page 2 legislative letters come in. The Committee mentioned that the current process is fine, however, they'd like to see the lobbyist do an analysis for every request, which will help the Committee make an informed decision. S. Future Items, date and location for next meeting Because the next meeting falls on December 25th, staff will look for alternate dates in mid - December. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m. �7J Becky Magallon Executive Assistant City Manager's Office Legislative City Council Committee Minutes SepirlU 0 113, Page 3 13C -4 CITY OF SANTA ANA LEGISLATIVE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 17, 2013 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 11:30 a.m. by Vincent Sarmiento at the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, 1650 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC. ATTENDANCE Members Present: Councilmember Michele Martinez Councilmember Vincent Sarmiento, Chair Members Absent: none Staff Present: Dan Maldonado and Leslie Pollner from Holland & Knight. AGENDA ITEMS Meeting with Molly Ward, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director Met with the Associate Director for the White House Intergovernmental Affairs Office, Kellyn Helmrick- Blossom, along with White House Staff Assistant Elias Alcantara. The meeting covered several of the City's top priorities, including: Discussed the impact of continuing reductions in UASI funding and outlined the regional importance of the City. The White House indicated its willingness to coordinate a meeting with the Department of Homeland Security /Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS /FEMA) at the appropriate time. Discussed the importance of having the City considered as one of the Promise Zones, a program for deeply disadvantaged areas, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUD). Up to 20 zones will be considered in the next year's cycle of funding. Discussion focused on the flexibility of the program to consider disadvantaged neighborhoods of a city or county for Promise Zone designation - a key feature, given the general view of Orange County as a higher income region. The next step will be for the City to follow up with HUD early next year to position the City for consideration. The White House brought up a number of initiatives in which they are seeking active city input and participation, including their skills summit in partnership with community colleges, the climate change task force with the cities co- chaired by the White House Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the White House Intergovernmental Affairs Office and Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment. On ACA, we discussed having the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Region IX officials work directly with City officials to determine the most effective enrollment outreach. 2. Meeting with Senator Barbara Boxer, 112 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC Met with Senator Boxer's Chief of Staff Laura Schiller, Legislative Director Sean Moore and the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Director of Infrastructure and Economic Development, David Napoliello. 13C -5 Provided an overview of the City's demographics, its regional importance, and the downtown development. Discussed what the timetable looks like for the re- authorization of MAP -21; provided an overview of the City's fixed guideway project, together with the grade separation project; its importance not only to the City's transit dependent population but to downtown transit oriented development, including affordable housing, job development and walkability. Senator Boxer's staff indicated their interest in working with the City to help further its transit development objectives. Follow -up with Senator Boxer should be a high priority for the City. 3. Meeting with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez' Office, 1114 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC Met with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez's Legislative Director, Eduardo Lerma (with the House adjourning the previous weekend, House members left town including the Congresswoman who returned to the District). Covered the reductions in UASI funding and the need to have DHS /FEMA re- calibrate our region's threat assessment to reflect more equitably the region's threat vulnerabilities and strategic values. Her staff indicated that given the Congresswoman's role on the House Homeland Security Committee, she would work with the City to advance this effort. The next step is for the City to develop a game plan on how it will push forward reconsideration of its UASI position and how it should coordinate with regional FBI, a key source in FEMA's threat assessment. Highlighted the City's serious concerns regarding the insufficient reimbursement being paid by the US Marshall (USM) and the Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) for its prisoners being held at the Santa Ana jail. We explained that as a result, the City has suffered substantial losses in the millions over the years. Further, we pointed the inequity in payments as compared to the higher per diem rates for other cities. We indicated that the City manager had spoken with the Congresswoman and would be preparing a letter for the Congresswoman to consider sending to the Department of Justice /USM and DHS /ICE on the per diem rates. Provided an overview of the City's fixed guideway project, discussing the City's transit dependent ridership, the project's regional as well as downtown significance (transit oriented development, environmental benefits); and how the grade separation helps to advance transit flow, transit oriented development and regional linkages. We indicated that we would request her assistance in gaining federal support for the project once we have completed all of the review and financial plan requirements. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m. Becky Magallon Recording Secretary Legislative City Council Committee Minutes Dec"C ,6013, Page 2