HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-22 LegislativeCITY OF SANTA ANA
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COMMITTEE
MINUTES
March 22, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 2:40 pm by Chair Vicente Sarmiento at City Hall Ross
Annex, Room 1600.
ATTENDANCE
Members Present: Councilmember Angelica Amezcua
Mayor Pro Tem Vicente Sarmiento, Chair
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: David Cavazos, Robert Cortez, Alma Flores, Mark Lawrence, Jose
Sandoval, Francisco Gutierrez, Hassan Haghani, Fred Mousavipour,
Kelly Reenders, Gerardo Mouet, William Galvez, Jose Gonzalez,
Jorge Garcia, Julie Castro, Manny Escamilla, Daniel Soto and Yasmin
Vazquez. Also present were Tony Cardenas from League of California
Cities, Chris Townsend (via phone), Cori Williams and Casey Elliot
from Townsend Public Affairs and Leslie Pollner and Dan Maldonado
from Holland & Knight.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No comments.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Approval of Minutes of the October 19, 2015
MOTION: Approve minutes.
MOTION: Amezcua SECOND: Sarmiento
VOTE: AYES: Amezcua, Sarmiento
NOES: None (0)
ABSTAIN: None (0)
ABSENT: None (0)
Legislative Council Committee Minutes
March 22, 2016, Page 1
2. Quarterly Federal Legislative Update from Holland & Knight - October 2015 to
March 2016
Leslie Pollner commented the Empowerment Zone Employment Tax Credit was
recently extended for another year.
Dan Maldonado mentioned President Obama's budget includes $125 million for the
Streetcar through the New Starts/Small Starts program. The project has the support
of Senator Feinstein who is one of the senior appropriators on the Senate
Appropriations Committee. Mayor Pro Tem Sarmiento added that during visits to
Washington DC, the City of Santa Ana group along with Holland & Knight, met with
staff from Senator Feinstein and Boxer's offices as well as Congresswoman Loretta
Sanchez and thus they are well informed of the Streetcar project.
Leslie Pollner stated the City submitted an application for Promise Zone funding
which will be highly competitive. Holland & Knight secured letters of support from
Senators Feinstein and Boxer as well as Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.
Leslie Pollner also mentioned Holland & Knight assisted the City in arranging
congressional and agency meetings during the City advocacy trip to Washington D.0
in October, 2015. Mayor Pro Tem Sarmiento was appreciative of Holland & Knight's
efforts to bring national exposure to the City.
Leslie Pollner touched on several items. Holland & Knight worked in concert with the
City of Santa Ana and several other cities impacted by the HOME Investment
Partnership Program cuts to successfully increase funding levels in the final FY 16
Omnibus package. The City of Santa Ana received Urban Areas Security Initiative
funding totaling $5.43 million from Department of Homeland Security / Federal
Emergency Management Agency. Lastly, although Holland & Knight was able to
thwart efforts to pass the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act at the end of
2015 (which includes language from the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Forever
Act) by February 2016 the bill passed.
Mayor Pro Tem Sarmiento asked which grants the City has pending. Jorge Garcia
mentioned the City has been successful in receiving Active Transportation funding
and continues to pursue Federal funding through the Transportation Investment
Generating Economic Recovery grant. Also at the Federal level, it is important the
City continue to search for funding for homelessness and veterans.
3. Quarterly State Legislative Update from Townsend Public Affairs - October 2015
to March 2016
Casey Elliot announced James Peterson has joined Townsend Public Affairs and
along with himself and Cori Williams, James will be working to further the City's
legislative agenda.
Casey Elliot provided the Committee with an update on the release of the Governor's
budget in January noting strong revenues are expected and therefore entities are
looking to increase their funding as a result.
Legislative Council Committee Minutes
March 22, 2016, Page 2
Regarding the statewide regulatory framework for medicinal cannabis, Casey Elliot
reported a package of three bills, AB 243, AB 266 and SB 643, was signed into law
and is now in the process of being implemented by the State. He also mentioned the
State's first Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation Chief was hired in February.
Mayor Pro Tem Sarmiento asked if any of the new regulations impact the City. Casey
Elliot responded the State is interested in keeping local control intact but some items,
such as taxes, may put pressure on cities. He also mentioned the high likelihood of
an initiative qualifying for the November ballot regarding recreational marijuana use.
Casey Elliot commented that in the wake of high profile violence involving assault
weapons, numerous gun control bills have been introduced in Legislature with some
receiving enough support to move forward. Mayor Pro Tem Sarmiento remarked on
the relationship between the release of low or mid-level offenders due to Proposition
47 and the increase in crime in Santa Ana and wondered if realignment funds are
available from the State. Casey Elliott stated the Governor has not proposed
additional realignment funds in the current budget but rather may pursue a ballot
initiative to provide more rehabilitation to offenders while they are incarcerated.
Cori Williams reviewed Townsend Public Affairs grant coordination efforts mentioning
the City was awarded a total of $13,674,000 in Active Transportation Funding;
11,519,000 from the statewide Active Transportation Program and $2,155,000 from
the SCAG Active Transportation component. The next grant cycle in 2017 will have
application deadlines in 2016 and Townsend Public Affairs will work closely with the
City during the submittal process.
Cori Williams mentioned new funding available through the California Youth Soccer
and Recreation Development Program by the Department of Parks and Recreation
for heavily populated, low-income urban areas with high unemployment and youth
crime rates. Qualifying projects must include a water conservation component.
Executive Director of Parks and Recreation, Gerardo Mouet, commented the
department is very interested in the grant and has determined Santa Anita Park
would be the most competitive for this opportunity.
Casey Elliot stated Assemblymember Anthony Rendon was officially sworn-in as the
new Speaker of the California Assembly in February and due to the new term limit
rules he could be Speaker for the next eight years. Speaker Rendon has indicated
he will not author any bills this year and instead will focus on the State budget and
helping advance State priorities.
Casey Elliot mentioned several categories of legislation which have been introduced
this year including affordable housing, medicinal cannabis, and gun control. This is
the second year of a two-year session ending in August 2016 and there will be no
hold-over legislation. Items will need to be voted on or be reintroduced in January
2017. Mayor Pro Tern Sarmiento asked Townsend Public Affairs to keep the City
informed on affordable housing, gun control and redevelopment legislation.
In relation to water conservation, Cori Williams reported the State Water Resources
Board voted in February 2016 to extend Governor Brown's conservation mandate
until October 31, 2016. The only modifications to the mandate affect the total
conservation adjustment credit and the supplier conservation standard.
Legislative Council Committee Minutes
March 22, 2016, Page 3
Councilwoman Amezcua asked Townsend Public Affairs to keep the City informed as
to the $1.6 million earmarked in the Governor's budget for early education. Casey
Elliot remarked the Governor is working on a proposal to consolidate several funding
streams to develop a more comprehensive approach to early education.
4.League of California Cities Briefing - October 2016 to March 2016
Tony Cardenas stated the League of California Cities opposes AB 2614 which would
allow the licensure of out-of-state felons to engage in specified activities relating to
medical cannabis. The League has not taken a position on the Parker Initiative, a
statewide ballot measure to legalize the use of recreational marijuana. SB 897 seeks
to add an additional year of temporary disability to the two years already available to
public safety employees. Any expansion of worker's compensation benefits will have
a direct impact to local budgets. The League also opposes SB 876 which gives an
individual the right to rest or sleep in any public space. Lastly, transportation
continues to be a high priority in the State legislature.
5.Review the 2015 Legislative Platform Scorecard
City Manager David Cavazos thanked City agencies for their legislative efforts and
briefly reviewed the Legislative Platform Scorecard. He mentioned the importance of
preserving local control, ensuring fiscal stability, capitalizing on funding opportunities,
and continuing to work in partnership with the region and other agencies. He noted
the Platform is not all encompassing and changes can be made year to year. He
commented on the progress made on the body camera program, the number of legal
and illegal medical marijuana dispensaries, the numerous grants received by the City
for safe mobility, and the items added last year relating to homelessness and
veterans. He mentioned immigration reform has been a constant theme for the City,
the focus on gang prevention, anti-gang and education programs, the recent
improvements at the Santa Ana Zoo, the City's attention to affordable housing and
Promise Zone funding, the decrease in unemployment and the City's work with the
Department of Housing and Urban Development. He commented on the AA credit
rating by Standard & Poor's, renewable energy funding opportunities, receivership
actions taken by the City, water conservation efforts resulting in the meeting of
conservation goals, and the approved bike lane project. Regarding the Santa
Ana/Garden Grove Fixed Guideway, City Manager David Cavazos reported on the
125 million in the President's budget for the project and the agreement with OCTA.
He stated grade separation projects are important for transportation and
redevelopment efforts, the Bristol Street project is progressing well and commented
on the importance of infrastructure improvement such as the bridge projects
throughout the City. Lastly, he remarked on Team Santa Ana's focus on an Open
Data Platform, transparency and engagement and technology.
Mayor Pro Tem Sarmiento commented on the $17.5 million in homelessness funding
received by the County of Orange and his desire for staff to lobby for a proportionate
allocation of the funds to be directed to the City's efforts. City Manager David
Cavazos explained the City's practice of seeking a dollar-for-dollar partnership with
the County to leverage funds.
Legislative Council Committee Minutes
March 22, 2016, Page 4
6.Discuss Streetcar Project Funding Timeline
Mayor Pro Tern Sarmiento asked Holland & Knight to report on the Streetcar funding
timeline which all agreed was discussed earlier in the meeting.
7.Discuss Holland & Knight Expanded Scope of Service
City Manager David Cavazos recognized the work of all the City's partners, especially
the efforts of Holland & Knight. Due to the success achieved in Washington D.C. and
the need to increase lobbying efforts, the City has requested Holland & Knight submit
an expanded scope of work. Councilwoman Angelica Amezcua asked the cost to
increase services and City Manager David Cavazos responded the cost would be an
additional $1,400 per month. Mayor Pro Tem expressed his support and would like to
determine how the City can leverage its position at the State level as well.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Councilwoman Angelica Amezcua thanked Townsend Public Affairs, Holland & Knight and
the League of California Cities for attending the meeting and expressed her excitement about
being a part of the committee.
Chair Sarmiento also thanked meeting attendees and specifically Councilwoman Angelica
Amezcua for her willingness to join the committee.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
ADJOURNMENT - 4:03 pm — The next meeting of the Legislative Council Committee is
scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 2:30 pm at City Hall Ross Annex, 20 Civic Center
Plaza, Santa Ana California, Room 1600.
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Legislative Council Committee Minutes
March 22, 2016, Page 5