REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the Proposed 2014 Priority Issues and Legislative Advocacy Positions Policy
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. This report provides Council with the opportunity to review Council Policy 7.3.2, Legislative Advocacy Positions, which identifies the City's priority advocacy issues and any short-term legislative positions not yet addressed by City policy (the Council Policy Manual, General Plan, etc.).
The annual identification of priority issues focuses the City's limited advocacy resources on Council's advocacy priorities. Priority issues are those "hot" issues where activity is either 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.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.3.2, Legislative Advocacy Positions
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
N/A.
DISCUSSION
Staff has drafted Attachment 1, Proposed 2014 Priority Issues and Legislative Advocacy Positions for Council consideration. No short-term Legislative Advocacy Positions are proposed at this time. The City captures Long-term Advocacy Positions by issue categories in each chapter of the Council Policy Manual, CouncilPolicy.inSunnyvale.com <http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/CodesandPolicies/CouncilPolicy.aspx>.
Staff is also proposing edits to Council Policy 7.3.2, Legislative Advocacy Positions, to cross-reference and include language from Council Policy 7.3.13, Support for Councilmembers; Staff-Council Communications (Attachment 2).
National Security Agency's Prism Program
Council action on June 11, 2013 requested an opportunity for Council discussion on a potential Legislative Advocacy Position (LAP) to address the National Security Agency (NSA) Prism Program and related 4th Amendment elements.
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 Web site.
ALTERNATIVES
1) Approve the Proposed 2014 Priority Issues and Legislative Advocacy Positions (Attachment 1) and Council Policy 7.3.2, Legislative Advocacy Positions as proposed to be amended (Attachment 2).
2) Approve Proposed 2014 Priority Issues and Legislative Advocacy Positions (Attachment 1) and/or Council Policy 7.3.2, Legislative Advocacy Positions as proposed to be amended (Attachment 2) with additional modifications.
3) Other direction as provided by Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Approve the Proposed 2014 Priority Issues and Legislative Advocacy Positions (Attachment 1) and Council Policy 7.3.2, Legislative Advocacy Positions as proposed to be amended (Attachment 2).
Staff
Prepared by: Yvette Blackford, Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Robert Walker, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Gary M. Luebbers, City Manager
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed 2014 Priority Issues and Legislative Advocacy Positions
2. Council Policy 7.3.2, Legislative Advocacy Positions as proposed to be amended.