CC Resolution No. 18-010 Establishing a Policy for Legislative AdvocacyRESOLUTION NO. 18-010
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO
ESTABLISHING A POLICY FOR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
WHEREAS, the City Council has an interest in weighing in on state, federal, and regional
legislative issues that impact the City and its residents; and
WHEREAS, the Council established the Legislative Advocacy Committee to make
recommendations on legislative advocacy issues that could impact the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council annually takes action on numerous legislative proposals brought
forward throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, Councilrnembers, and staff are often unable to respond to legislative
action alerts sent by various city associations in a timely manner given legislative positions are
currently considered by the full Council on a case by case basis; and
WHEREAS, establishing a Legislative Advocacy Policy and Annual Legislative Platform would
provide a streamlined process for responding to legislative proposals that may impact the City
and focus the City's limited advocacy resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Cupertino adopts
and approves the Policy on Legislative Advocacy attached and incorporated herein by this
reference, as the official legislative advocacy policy of the City of Cupertino.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cupertino this
6th day of February, 2018, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST:
Members of the City Council
Paul, Sinks, Chang, Scharf, Vaidhyanathan
None
None
None
APPROVED:
Grace Schmidt, City Clerk
~
~Paul,~
City of Cupertino
Resolution No . 18-010
Page 2
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY POLICY
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines regarding City resources and support for
legislative priorities approved by the City Council.
II. BACKGROUND
A Legislative Platform identifies the City's broad advocacy positions on issues and legislation
with local impacts. Advocacy positions are short-term in nature, typically related to pending
legislation and current issues, and guide Council and staff on intergovernmental matters
directly related to service delivery, or otherwise contribute to the City's operational success
and/or health and well-being of its residents.
III. OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of establishing an annual Legislative Platform is for the City Council to
adopt official City positions on clearly stated legislative issues at the start of a legislative
session. By doing this, the legislative approval process is streamlined by receiving clear
direction at the beginning of the legislative session from the City Council on pertinent
legislative issues.
IV. POLICY STATEMENT
1. Each year the City Manager shall present for Council's consideration a draft
Legislative Platform. Once approved by the City Council, this "platform" informs
official City advocacy positions on pending legislative issues.
2. The Legislative Platform is utilized by staff throughout the year to determine, in
consultation with the Legislative Action Committee, City positions on legislation
and intergovernmental issues and minimizes the need for staff to request further
direction from Council on legislation and issues as they arise .
3. During the year, staff monitors and researches pending legislation to identify bills
that could significantly impact Cupertino. With authorization from the Legislative
Action Committee, City staff shall prepare position letters consistent with the
Council-approved Legislative Platform for the Mayor's signature.
4. Items not addressed in the City's Legislative Platform will require Council approval
prior to any legislative advocacy efforts.
5. Legislative priorities should focus on issues directly relevant to or impacting the
provision of municipal services. Generally, the City will not address matters that are
not pertinent to the City's local government services, such as international issues.
Resolution No. 18-010
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V. Implementation
The City Manager shall monitor the provisions of this policy. Disagreements in interpretation of
the City's Legislative Platform shall be resolved by the City Council.
City departments are encouraged to monitor and be knowledgeable of any legislative issues
related to their discipline. However, any requests for the City to take positions on a legislative
matter must be directed to the City Manager's Office. City departments may not take positions
on legislative issues without City Manager's Office review and approval from the Legislative
Action Committee.