Title
Presentation of a report regarding activities throughout 2015, and anticipated major legislative issues in 2016, related the County’s federal Legislative Program.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors receive a report regarding activities throughout 2015, and anticipated major legislative issues in 2016, related the County’s federal Legislative Program.
SUMMARY:
Under this agenda item, the Board will receive a report from the County’s federal legislative advocate, Brent Heberlee with Nossaman LLP, regarding activities undertaken in 2015 and anticipated major legislative issues for 2016. On January 26, 2016, the Board received reports on the County’s Legislative Program and Strategic Grant Services Program. Due to weather conditions on the east coast, Mr. Heberlee was unable to travel to California to make his presentation on the County’s federal efforts on that day, and had to be rescheduled. Mr. Heberlee’s written report is included in Exhibit A to this report.
On January 13, 2015, the Board of Supervisors adopted the 2015-16 Legislative Program, which sets forth the County’s legislative agenda for the 2015-16 state and federal legislative sessions. The Board received an annual report on the program on January 26, 2016, but did not recommend any changes. The Program includes legislative principles which provide authority to advocate for the County’s interests on a wide variety of issues, and specific legislative priorities on issues of critical importance to the County. The Strategic Grant Services Program relies on the guidance of the Legislative Program in conjunction with the Board’s Strategic Initiatives in order to strategically focus resources on the highest priority grant opportunities for the County.
DISCUSSION:
The County Administrative Office - Intergovernmental & Legislative Affairs Division (IGLA) is charged with the design and execution of the County’s Legislative Program and Strategic Grant Services Program. Both programs are designed to align with the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiatives which lay out a forward-looking vision for planning and management of County resources across programs to secure maximum return and benefit for County residents.
Monterey County maintains a long-standing and successful Legislative Program. The Board adopted the 2015-2016 Legislative Program on January 13, 2015. The two-year program is designed to align with the two-year cycles of the state and federal legislatures. The program provides staff and the County’s legislative and funding advocates with the authority needed to take timely actions to protect, defend, or advance the County’s interests in Sacramento and Washington D.C.
The current Legislative Program includes thirteen (13) legislative priorities and ten (10) legislative principles to provide broad authority and flexibility in order to respond to issues in the timeliest manner possible. Issues are designated as legislative priorities when it is anticipated that: 1) the issue being addressed will have a significant impact on the County or County residents; 2) that accomplishing the requested action/strategy related to the priority will require significant effort by County staff and/or the County’s legislative and/or funding advocates; and 3) the issue(s) described in the priority have risen to the very highest level of priority for the Board of Supervisors. The Legislative Program authorizes the County to expedite response to various legislative issues as they arise throughout the year, and is enhanced by the legislative programs that many department heads participate in through their various professional organizations.
Staff recommends that the current Legislative Program remain unchanged for the remainder of the current legislative cycle (through 2016). In the fall of 2015, staff solicited input from County department heads and Board offices regarding proposed changes to the program. Staff believes that the current program provides broad coverage on these issues; however, if the Board of Supervisors’ Legislative Committee recommends major changes to the program at a future date we will return to the Board for authority to make those changes.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrative Office - Intergovernmental & Legislative Affairs Division prepared this report. Information contained in this report was provided by Monterey County’s federal legislative advocate.
FINANCING:
Monterey County’s Legislative Program is funded in County Administrative Office-Department 1050, Intergovernmental & Legislative Affairs Division-Unit 8054. Approval of this recommendation will not result in additional General Fund contributions.
Prepared by: Annette D’Adamo, Management Analyst III
Approved by:
______________________________
Nicholas E. Chiulos
Assistant County Administrative Officer
Attachments:
Exhibit A - Federal Legislative Report - Brent Heberlee, Nossaman LLP