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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-04 LEGISLATIVE CITY OF SANTA ANA LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MINUTES October 4, 2017 An audio recording of this meeting is available on the City of Santa Ana website, http://www.ci.santa-ana.ca.us/. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 12:37pm by Councilmember Vicente Sarmiento at City Hall Ross Annex, Room 1600. ATTENDANCE Members Present: Councilmember Vicente Sarmiento Councilmember Jose Solorio Members Absent: Councilmember Sal Tinajero Staff Present: Judson Brown, Julie Castro-Cardenas, Robert Cortez, Alma Flores, Jorge Garcia, Maria Huizar, Cynthia Kurtz, Becky Magallon, Daisy Perez. Also present were Tony Cardenas from the League of California Cities, Casey Elliot and Cori Williams from Townsend Public Affairs, and Dan Maldonado and Leslie Pollner from Holland & Knight via telephone. PUBLIC COMMENTS • Gil Salmon, Vice Chair of ETAC, encouraged the Committee to track SB 231 which is waiting for the Governor's signature and brought to the Committee's attention that banning outdoor cultivation of cannabis would make Santa Ana ineligible for State grants. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Approval of Minutes of the July 19, 2017 Legislative Affairs, Ethics and Transparency Council Committee Meeting MOTION: Approve minutes. MOTION: Sarmiento SECOND: Solorio VOTE: AYES: Sarmiento, Solorio NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT: Tinajero (1) 2. Bylaws —Add Communication to Area of Review Jorge Garcia reported that at the July 19, 2017 Legislative Affairs, Ethics and Transparency Committee meeting, the Committee requested a change to the Bylaws to include Legislative Affairs, Ethics and Transparency Council Committee Minutes October 4, 2017, Page 1 Communications as an area of responsibility for the Council Committee, and added that, if in agreement, staff would bring the item to Council as a Receive and File. MOTION: Adopt Council Committee Bylaws to include Communications to Powers and Duties: MOTION: Solorio SECOND: Sarmiento VOTE: AYES: Sarmiento, Solorio, NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT: Tinajero (1) The Committee expressed best wishes to Alma Flores, Strategic Communications Manager, as she leaves the City. 3. Federal Legislative Update from Holland & Knight Dan Maldonado and Leslie Pollner provided a federal legislative update which included FY 2018 appropriations, immigration issues such as the travel ban and DACA and the tax reform. Dan Maldonado explained that concerns have been raised with the tax reform plan at the state and local levels because it's believed that the House and Senate will move to eliminate the state and local tax (SALT) deduction which would impact local government. He added that Holland & Knight have been meeting with members of the California Republican Delegation to urge them to support retaining the SALT deduction. Councilmember Sarmiento asked if any announcements have been made by the Administration on punitive measures on cities that have declared themselves as sanctuary cities. Dan Maldonado responded that the issue is primarily in the court system and that because of some of the disasters there has been a step back on the enforcements, however, he believes we will start seeing some effort as we get to border security funding issues and a focus on interior enforcement. Councilmember Sarmiento mentioned that the Committee had requested a timeline of pending grants at the last meeting, and staff advised him that once the Schedule for Expenditure of Federal Awards numbers from the previous fiscal year are available, a report will be presented to the Council, most likely in November. 4. State Legislative Update from Townsend Public Affairs Casey Elliot reported that the California State Legislature concluded their legislative session on September 15th and there are about 500 bills on the Governor's desk. He added it was a productive session and shared some of the important items affecting Santa Ana that were able to be addressed such as affordable housing and the Park Bond. Casey Elliott also presented a summary of efforts undertaken by Townsend Public Affairs on behalf of the City during the last legislative session. Councilmember Sarmiento asked for the status of SB 231 and clarification on whether banning outdoor cannabis cultivation would make Santa Ana ineligibility for State grants. Casey Elliott mentioned that it's his understanding that local governments will not be eligible for grants if they do a complete ban of outdoor cannabis cultivation. Councilmember Solorio mentioned we want to avoid having City restrictions that would be Legislative Affairs, Ethics and Transparency Council Committee Minutes October 4, 2017, Page 2 detrimental to our eligibility for grants. Councilmember Sarmiento asked staff to seek our State Lobbyist's guidance to confirm we are eligible. Councilmember Solorio asked if there had been a change to SB 649 giving more land use authority when cell towers are in parks or city-owned premises. Casey mentioned that wording was included in the bill to provide some overall flexibility on the local control issue, and that if the bill is vetoed, he anticipates a similar bill will be back next year. 5. League of California Cities Briefing Tony Cardenas provided a list of planning and funding related bills on the Governor's desk. He added that SB 649 is the League's number one priority and that they are seeking for the Governor to veto the bill. Mr. Cardenas also discussed SB 35 which was approved and is waiting to be signed. The League of Cities will be doing an analysis on the entire funding package and the impacts to cities. Tony Cardenas also reported that SB1 transportation revenues will be available to cities as of January 1, 2018, and we will know in January if repeal of SB1 is going to be before the voters in June 2018. The League will be fighting for SB 1. 6. Santa Ana Report Card on Legislative Bills and Letters July 1 2016 to June 30, 2017 Jorge Garcia provided the Committee a report card outlining positions the City has taken on various bills and reported that staff will continue to track positions taken on future legislation as well as outcomes, which will be helpful in preparing a more robust platform for the Committee and for Council's consideration. Councilmember Sarmiento thanked staff for the report card and suggested a similar format be used for grants the City applies for. He also suggested the report outline how successful we've been and the dollar amounts we've been able to garner. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS • No comments. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Any federal proposals on use of drones. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 1:28 pm. The next committee will be held at noon on January 10, 2018. G`/YiL iywt Becky Magallon Secretary to the City Manager City Manager's Office Legislative Affairs, Ethics and Transparency Council Committee Minutes October 4, 2017, Page 3