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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-01-16 LEGISLATIVECITY OF SANTA ANA LEGISLATIVE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MINUTES JANUARY 16, 2014 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 11:06 by Vincent Sarmiento at City Hall, Room 831. ATTENDANCE Members Present: Councilmember Michele Martinez Councilmember Vincent Sarmiento, Chair Members Absent: none Staff Present: David Cavazos, Sonia Carvalho, Carlos Rojas, William Galvez, Mark Lawrence and Becky Magallon. Also present were Dan Maldonado and Leslie Pollner from Holland & Knight; Chris Townsend, Casey Elliott and Heather Stratman from Townsend Public Affairs; and Tony Cardenas from the League of California Cities, OC Division. Public Comments: There were no public comments. AGENDA ITEMS Minutes The September 9, 2013 and December 17, 2013 minutes were approved by a vote of 2:0. 2. December 17, 2013 Legislative Council Committee Briefing Councilmembers Sarmiento and Martinez provided a briefing on the December 17, 2013 Legislative Council Committee meeting. The Committee met with Molly Ward, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House staff as well as representatives from Senator Barbara Boxer and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez's offices. Mr. Sarmiento thanked staff and Holland & Knight for helping coordinate the meetings. The Committee members introduced Santa Ana's legislative priorities including the Santa Ana Jail. Holland & Knight will continue conversations with these federal elected officials in more detail. 3. Federal Legislative Platform /Funding Priorities /Jail Operations Legislative City Council Committee Minutes January 16, 2014, Page 1 Councilmember Sarmiento mentioned that this is the first time that the City Council has set a Legislative Committee and it's a good opportunity to discuss legislative issues and develop a process to work with the federal and state advocacy. The Legislative Committee needs to make lobbyists aware of what the Council priorities are since there has been an ineffective and disconnected way in the past. Dan Maldonado mentioned that he is pleased to do the advocacy work that the City of Santa Ana wants to accomplish. Dan Maldonado and Leslie Pollner briefly discussed the 2014 political landscape, the FY 2014 budget forecast, the upcoming hot legislative topics and the 2014 Congressional calendar. Dan Maldonado mentioned that he was impressed with the Santa Ana jail philosophy and will work to engage Senator Dianne Feinstein. He added that he toured Santa Ana's Grade Separation Project with Public Works Interim Director William Galvez and is now more familiar with the project. David Cavazos mentioned that Santa Ana is losing $380,000 annually because we are subsidizing and there's a need to increase the rates to U.S. Marshal Service and ICE. He added that he, along with Acting Police Chief Rojas, will be in Washington, DC the first week in February to meet with Department of Justice and Homeland Security to discuss their contract with Santa Ana. Councilmembers Sarmiento and Martinez expressed concern with this subsidizing practice having gone so long and are glad to see that the issue is being addressed. Dan Maldonado mentioned that the federal priorities lay out what the City is concerned with. Then lobbyists can be aware of these federal priorities and can then look at reauthorization or funding available. Councilwoman Martinez mentioned that transportation will be a top priority. She, along with other Councilmembers, also sit on board of directors for regional transportation agencies and believes it's imperative to collaborate with each other on issues of mutual interest. Dan Maldonado mentioned that once they have the City's legislative platform they can do an analysis and see how other City projects can fit in so that it's looked at in a broader framework and they can strategize what funding is available. David Cavazos mentioned that we need guiding principles for Santa Ana, which need to include local control and protection of local revenue. He added that the legislative platform will go to the Legislative Committee first, and then to the entire City Council for approval. This will provide lobbyists and staff a list of City priorities to be used as a guide to support /oppose legislation. Mr. Cavazos also mentioned that there will need to be a process to monitor progress. Legislative City Council Committee Minutes January 16, 2014, Page 2 Mark Lawrence informed the Committee that the City is hiring two new senior administrative assistants and one of them will be assigned to working on grants. Once hired, Mark Lawrence will schedule a conference call between staff dealing with legislation and the lobbyists. He added that it's important that lobbyists are proactive and inform the City of what grants would be appropriate for Santa Ana. Sonia Carvalho commented that the legislative process needs to identify what level of authority the City Manager and staff will have so that staff and lobbyists can act quickly when necessary. Councilwoman Martinez added that Councilmembers serve on different regional boards and often travel to Washington, DC and Sacramento to represent those boards. Mark Lawrence will inform lobbyists of these trips so that the Councilmembers can be utilized in advocacy efforts for Santa Ana projects. 4, State Legislative Platform /Funding Priorities The Legislative Committee members thanked Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) for their past assistance. Vince Sarmiento mentioned that the City is currently creating a 5 -year strategic plan, which will identify main areas that the City will focus on in the next five years. Mr. Sarmiento added that once a legislative platform is adopted, it will be very helpful to get regular updates from lobbyists that identify how they relate to Santa Ana's specific needs. Chris Townsend mentioned that Townsend Public Affairs has represented the City of Santa Ana for 14 years, and the last time he had meeting with the City Manager about a legislative platform was 14 years ago. He added that he's excited about continuing to work with Santa Ana. It will help to define protocol on how to have access to Councilmembers. TPA can also work with staff on grant applications. Tony Cardenas from the League of California Cities, Orange County Division, said that Santa Ana's timing in adopting a platform is very good. The League of Cities works with cities to adopt their platforms and there are sample platforms on their website. He suggested that the City focus on local control in the land use area and protection of revenues. Casey Elliott with Townsend Public Affairs mentioned that once they are aware of the City's priorities, they will have the ability to compare and react quickly to any possible funding; having direction from the Legislative Committee will give them the ability to move quickly. Chris Townsend said he was glad to see this opportunity to leverage state - federal nexus and he's excited to see the coordination with both state and federal lobbyists. He mentioned that they can work in conjunction with other community organizations that are active in Sacramento such as Bowers, Discovery Science Center, and others. Legislative City Council Committee Minutes January 16, 2014, Page 3 Vince Sarmiento thinks the City is looking at a much better outlook in local and federal advocacy and he thanked Townsend Public Affairs and staff for seeing the City through some difficult moments and would also like them to share in some of the City's success. Mr. Sarmiento welcomed Holland & Knight as the new federal lobbyist as well as their input on best practices and how to make the City's legislative process more efficient. He added that the Legislative Committee and staff will work on preparing the City's guiding principles and will work with the City Attorney so the Committee has the authority to act quickly. Committee Member Comments Michele Martinez thanked Holland & Knight as well as Townsend Public Affairs for taking time to attend the meeting. She informed them that she will be in Sacramento in January and in Washington, DC in February. 1-1i7RsIq;T 1 T114 Ui Meeting was adjourned at 12:07pm Becky Magallon Executive Assistant City Manager's Office Legislative City Council Committee Minutes January 16, 2014, Page 4