REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the Proposed 2017 Priority Advocacy Issues and Long-term Legislative Advocacy Positions (LAPs)
Report
BACKGROUND
A goal of the City's Intergovernmental Relations Program is to enable timely and effective advocacy of City interests on pending legislation and issues that significantly impact City business. The City can initiate advocacy on the basis of any existing City Policy, including the City Charter, Municipal Code, General Plan Elements, and the Council Policy Manual, which is where many of the City’s other legislative goals are addressed. However, every year, the Council adopts the City’s advocacy platform which includes the priority advocacy issues for the coming year.as well as long-term Legislative Advocacy Positions (LAPs) found in each chapter of the Council Policy Manual. This report provides Council with the opportunity to review the Proposed 2017 Priority Advocacy Issues.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.4.14, Legislative Advocacy Positions
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378 (a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
DISCUSSION
Proposed 2017 Priority Advocacy Issues (Attachment 1) is presented for Council consideration. Priority advocacy issues focus on regional, state, and federal activity already underway or expected within the upcoming calendar year and where the pending legislation or issue is expected to have significant impact on City business. Staff is proposing 11 Priority Advocacy Issues:
1. Investment Funding for Workforce Development
2. Interoperability/Public Safety Communications System
3. Environmental Regulatory & Conservation Issues
4. Regional and State-wide Water Supply Issues
5. Local Authority Over Wireless Telecommunications Facilities
6. School Mitigation Fees
7. Regional Transportation Plan: Taxicabs/Network Companies
8. Massage Therapy
9. Anticipated Legislation regarding the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems by Law Enforcement and First Responder Immunity when interfering with Unmanned Aircraft Systems
10. Medical Marijuana/Recreational Marijuana
11. Affordable Housing/Homelessness
The City captures long-term LAPs by issue categories in each chapter of the Council Policy Manual, CouncilPolicy.inSunnyvale.com. Long-term LAPs do not require annual Council adoption; however, any edits to those positions must be approved by Council. Staff is proposing clarifying edits as shown in redline below to the following sections of the Long-term LAPs: Council Policy 3.0 - Environmental Management and Council Policy 5.0 - Socio-Economic (Attachment 2).
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Proposed 2017 Priority Advocacy Issues (Attachment 1 in the report) and Council Policy Long-term Advocacy Positions as proposed to be amended (Attachment 2 in the report).
2. Approve the Proposed 2017 Priority Advocacy Issues (Attachment 1 in the report) and/or Council Policy Long-term Advocacy Positions as proposed to be amended (Attachment 2 in the report) with additional modifications.
3. Other direction as provided by Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Approve the Proposed 2017 Priority Advocacy Issues and Council Policy Long-term Advocacy Positions as proposed to be amended.
Staff
Prepared by: Yvette Blackford, Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Walter C. Rossmann, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed 2017 Priority Advocacy Issues
2. Council Policy Long-term Advocacy Positions