Title
Staff Report for City Council Review of 2017 Federal Legislative Priorities
Staffreport
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council review and authorize the attached list of recommended projects and advocacy efforts as part of the City of San Leandro’s 2017 federal legislative work plan.
BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS
Each year, the Mayor and/or some members of the City Council travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter meeting or the National League of Cities - Congressional Cities Conference. While in the Capitol, they have the opportunity to attend meetings with San Leandro’s elected representatives or staff in Congress, or with federal agency staff in order to learn more about various grant opportunities, and to advocate San Leandro’s needs and interests at the federal level. This process, which is coordinated by the City’s federal advocacy representative Len Simon, may include the presentation of written material in support of city projects or advocacy efforts related to various policy areas that are of direct relevance to the City. These efforts have proven successful in recent years, as demonstrated by various federal grant awards. Examples include two grants from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office (a $250,000 award for two school resource officers, and an approximately $75,000 award for engagement efforts with Chinese-speaking community residents), as well as a $2.1 million grant from the US Department of Commerce - Economic Development Administration for the expansion of the Lit San Leandro fiber optic loop.
It is important to identify projects or policy areas that are of importance to the City of San Leandro so that members of the City Council, City staff, or the City’s federal advocates take action as opportunities arise to advance the City’s interests. To this end, staff identifies for City Council consideration a number of projects and issue areas for incorporation into the City’s federal work plan, which are further outlined in the attached draft federal platform.
Next Steps
If authorized by Council, staff will include these summaries in the packet of materials for delivery to Len Simon, the City’s federal advocate, who will attend the City Council Work Session on January 9, 2017 to provide an update of what has occurred at the federal level over the past year as well as his forecast of what may be expected in 2017. These materials will also assist in any federal advocacy efforts carried out on behalf of the City by the Mayor, members of the City Council, Mr. Simon, or City staff over the course of the year ahead.
Fiscal Impacts
The costs for the City’s contract with Simon & Company for federal advocacy services, along with anticipated costs for attendance at US Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities events are already appropriated in the adopted City budget. Should any of the projects identified in the federal platform ultimately receive federal grant assistance, some local matching funds could be required. Such costs would be further evaluated and presented for the City Council’s consideration as needed prior to acceptance of any grant awards.
ATTACHMENTS
• 2017 Federal Advocacy Platform
PREPARED BY: Eric Engelbart, Deputy City Manager, City Manager’s Office