Title
a. Consider recommendations from the Legislative Committee to adopt the 2025 Legislative Program, approve the 2025 Legislative Workshop agenda; authorize the development and submission of potential State Budget and Federal Appropriation requests, and approve the 2025 Strategic Grant Services Program;
b. Receive an annual report from Ballard Spahr LLP on federal legislative advocacy;
c. Receive an annual report from Nossaman LLP on state legislative advocacy;
d. Receive an annual report from Nossaman LLP on grant activities; and
e. Provide direction to staff.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Consider recommendations from the Legislative Committee to adopt the 2025 Legislative Program, approve the 2025 Legislative Workshop agenda; authorize the development and submission of potential State Budget and Federal Appropriation requests, and approve the 2025 Strategic Grant Services Program;
b. Receive an annual report from Ballard Spahr LLP on federal legislative advocacy;
c. Receive an annual report from Nossaman LLP on state legislative advocacy;
d. Receive an annual report from Nossaman LLP on grant activities; and
e. Provide direction to staff.
SUMMARY:
Under the direction of the Legislative Committee, staff has prepared the 2025 Legislative Program, 2025 Legislative Workshop Agenda, 2025 Strategic Grant Services Program, and a list of potential projects for staff to develop and submit if offered that opportunity as part of the State Budget and Federal Appropriations process. On December 2, 2024, the Legislative Committee recommended these actions to the Board. The program documents are updated annually and once adopted guide the County’s legislative and funding advocacy efforts throughout the year. Additionally, the Board will receive annual reports from the County’s state and federal legislative and funding advocates on 2024 activities and on potential major issues in 2025.
DISCUSSION:
The County Administrative Office is charged with the development and execution of the County’s Legislative Program and Strategic Grant Services Program. Each year, staff works with the Board, County departments, and the County’s state and federal legislative and funding advocates, under the direction of the Legislative Committee to craft the programs. The programs are designed to support the Board’s priorities and work together to advocate for funding through state and federal programs which translate into local grant funding opportunities.
2025 Legislative Program
Every other year the Board adopts a two-year legislative program which aligns with the two-year cycles of the State Legislature and Congress. The County of Monterey maintains a long-standing and successful Legislative Program, ensuring that the interests of the County are well represented in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. The program provides the County a voice in State and Federal funding and policy decision-making and ensures that County leaders are apprised of evolving initiatives impacting the County and its residents. Once adopted, the Legislative Program provides authority to advocate in support or defense of issues, enabling actions to be taken quickly to protect or defend the County’s interests.
The Legislative Program addresses a multitude of County priorities related to economic development, administration, health and human services, infrastructure, and public safety. County policy concerns are most often centered on resources to carry out state and local service responsibilities, the authority to carry out those responsibilities in local communities, and partnerships with the State and Federal governments. The Program also highlights several top legislative and funding priorities to focus on in 2025.
In light of the recent Vistra Energy fire in Moss Landing, staff recommends that additional language be added to the 2025 Legislative Platform to support new environmental health, public health, public safety and emergency response requirements related to lithium-ion battery energy storage system facilities. This language has not been reviewed by the Legislative Committee.
Exhibit A - 2025 Legislative Program
Exhibit B - 2025 Legislative Program - redline version
Exhibit C - Proposed language on Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage System Facilities
2025 Legislative Workshop Agenda
On an annual basis, the Board of Supervisors hosts a Legislative Workshop (a special meeting) with the County’s state and federal legislative representatives to discuss the County’s priority issues for the next year. The Legislative Workshop will be held on Friday, February 7, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers (Monterey County Government Center, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas, CA) and via Zoom.
Legislative Workshop participants include the Board of Supervisors, appropriate County department heads to make the County presentations, and the following elected officials and/or their staff representatives: U.S. Senator Alex Padilla; U.S. Senator Adam Schiff; Congressman Jimmy Panetta; Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren; Senator John Laird; Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas; and Assemblymember Dawn Addis.
The proposed Legislative Workshop agenda focuses on presentations on the County’s 2025 Legislative Priorities by County departments, remarks from each state/federal legislator or their staff representative on their priorities for 2025, and remarks from each member of the Board of Supervisors.
Exhibit D - Legislative Workshop Agenda
State Budget Requests
It is currently unknown if the County will be invited to submit State Budget requests. If so, these requests are likely to be very limited. If invited to make a submission the projects recommended by the Legislative Committee, in order of priority, are:
1. San Lucas Clean Drinking Water Project - $TBD
2. Nacimiento and San Antonio Dams and Reservoirs Safety Projects - $TBD
Exhibit E - State Budget/Federal Appropriation Requests - Short Project Descriptions
Federal Appropriation Requests
In 2021, Congress revived federal appropriation requests (earmarks), currently referred to as Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests in the Senate and Community Project Funding (CPF) requests in the House.
In the FY25 appropriations process, which is ongoing, the County submitted nine requests. One project, the Pajaro County Sanitation District Sewer System Improvements project, totaling approximately $1.1 million is continuing to move forward.
It is unknown if the County will be invited to submit requests in the FY26 appropriations cycle. Requirements for project submission are quite rigorous including detailed project summary and description, funding details, demonstration of community support, estimated start and completion dates, etc. Pending further guidance from Congress, the Legislative Committee recommends that the County move forward as if there will be an opportunity so that we can liaise with appropriate congressional staff and be prepared to quickly submit requests if the process is opened (potentially in March 2025).
The Legislative Committee recommends that the Board authorize the County’s legislative team to work with County departments and our federal delegation to develop the following projects for submission in the FY26 appropriations process. In order of priority, there projects are:
1. San Lucas Clean Drinking Water Project - $TBD
2. Nacimiento and San Antonio Dams and Reservoirs Safety Projects - $TBD
3. Salinas Skate Park and BMX Pump Track - $500,000
4. Salinas Regional Soccer Complex - $TBD
5. County Parks Outdoor Education and Environmental Stewardship Project - $200,000
6. County Parks Outdoor Accessible and Inclusive Fitness Project - $200,000
7. Nacimiento Lake Drive Repaving Project - $2.1 million
8. Homeless Encampment Resolution - Reclamation Ditch Restoration $500,000
Exhibit E - State Budget/Federal Appropriation Requests - Short Project Descriptions
2025 Strategic Grant Services Program
The Strategic Grant Services Program assists in funding efforts on some of the County’s high priority projects. Working with County departments, the program coordinates, facilitates and provides strategic expertise from the identification of grant funding opportunities through application submittal. Priority projects must align with the Board’s priorities and Legislative Program goals and meet all grant requirements to submit a strong and competitive application.
The 2025 Strategic Grant Services Program is resourced to work on 10-15 grants per year, varying depending on their complexity. Once adopted by the Board, the Legislative Committee provides routine program guidance and direction. The Program consists of a 12-month Work Plan and a Grant Needs Inventory to guide research for potential funding opportunities.
Exhibit F - 2025 Strategic Grant Services Program
Annual Reports
The annual reports provided by the County’s federal and state legislative advocates and grant consultants highlight activities undertaken on behalf of the County during 2024, and their oral presentations will focus on anticipated major issues or projects for 2025. Reports will be provided by:
• Maria Tripplaar and Katlyn Koegel, Ballard Spahr LLP - federal legislative advocates - Exhibit G
• Ashley Walker and Kasha Hunt, Nossaman LLP - state legislative advocates - Exhibit H
• Ashley Walker and Kasha Hunt, Nossaman LLP - grant consultants - Exhibit I
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrative Office Legislative Program prepared this report. Significant contributions to the development of the programs were made by the Legislative Committee, County department heads/staff, and the County’s state and federal legislative advocates and grant consultants.
FINANCING:
The Legislative Program and Strategic Grant Services Program are funded by the County Administrative Office (Department 1050) - Intergovernmental & Legislative Affairs Division (Unit 8054). Approval of the recommendations contained in this report will have no impact on the General Fund.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The Legislative Program and Strategic Grants Services Program work to advance all categories of the Board’s Strategic Initiatives.
x Economic Development
x Administration
x Health & Human Services
x Infrastructure
x Public Safety
Prepared by: Annette D’Adamo, Legislative Program Manager, ext. 3045
Approved by: Nicholas E. Chiulos, Chief Assistant CAO, ext. 5145
Attachments:
• Exhibit A - 2025 Legislative Program
• Exhibit B - 2025 Legislative Program - redline version
• Exhibit C - Proposed language on Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage System Facilities
• Exhibit D - 2025 Legislative Workshop Agenda
• Exhibit E - State Budget/Federal Appropriations Requests - Short Project Descriptions
• Exhibit F - 2025 Strategic Grant Services Program
• Exhibit G - 2024 Annual Federal Legislative Report
• Exhibit H - 2024 Annual State Legislative Report
• Exhibit I - 2024 Annual Strategic Grant Services Program Report
• PowerPoint Presentation