Title
Receive reports and consider recommendations from the Legislative Committee to:
a. Adopt revised Legislative Committee Roles and Responsibilities;
b. Adopt the 2017-18 Legislative Program;
c. Adopt the 2017 Strategic Grant Services Program; and
d. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the submittal of grant applications that do not require the authorization of unbudgeted financial resources.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors receive reports and consider recommendations from the Legislative Committee to:
a. Adopt revised Legislative Committee Roles and Responsibilities;
b. Adopt the 2017-18 Legislative Program;
c. Adopt the 2017 Strategic Grant Services Program; and
d. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the submittal of grant applications that do not require the authorization of unbudgeted financial resources.
SUMMARY:
The Legislative Committee met on November 14, 2016, and made recommendations to the Board of Supervisors related to the work of the Legislative Committee, Legislative Program, and Strategic Grant Services Programs. The Legislative Committee Roles and Responsibilities set forth the parameters of the Committee working on behalf of the Board related to the Legislative and Grant programs. The 2017-18 Legislative Program sets forth the County’s interests related to the upcoming 2-year state and federal legislative cycles, provides authority to advocate in support or defense of County interests on a wide variety of issues of critical importance to the County, and includes policies governing legislative activities. The 2017 Strategic Grant Services Program concentrates funding efforts on the County’s highest priority needs, or on projects which require a high level of collaboration among departments and program partners, and sets forth policies governing program activities. Additionally, a Resolution is recommended for adoption which will authorize the submittal of grant applications which do not require the authorization of unbudgeted financial resources to take timely advantage of grant opportunities.
DISCUSSION:
The County Administrative Office - Intergovernmental & Legislative Affairs (IGLA) Division is charged with the development and execution of the County’s Legislative Program and Strategic Grant Services Program. Each year, IGLA staff works with County departments to develop these programs to reflect the interests and priorities of the Board of Supervisors. Once the programs are drafted, they are reviewed by the Legislative Committee, which provides direction regarding desired changes, and considers a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to approve the program documents.
Alignment with Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives: The 2017-18 Legislative Program and 2017 Strategic Grants Services Program have been designed to align with the Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives (Economic Development, Administration, Health and Human Services, and Public Safety). By doing so, program staff can more accurately report on the comprehensive efforts undertaken by both programs in the advancement of Board priorities.
Linking the Efforts of the Legislative Program and Strategic Grant Services Program: Wherever possible, linkages have been created between the Legislative Program and Strategic Grant Services Program. Doing so assists IGLA staff and the County’s legislative advocates and grant consultants to maximize the impact of their efforts. Together the programs seek to impact funding opportunities from state and federal budget authorizations - which translate into available funding opportunities for local projects and programs.
Legislative Committee Roles and Responsibilities: The Legislative Committee Roles and Responsibilities were last approved by the Board of Supervisors in November 2011. Due to the creation of the Strategic Grant Services Program (SGSP) and the SGSP’s close link with the Legislative Program, it is recommended that the Roles and Responsibilities be amended to indicate that the Board approves the Legislative Program and the Strategic Grant Services Program, and that subsequent direction on the programs be provided by the Legislative Committee.
2017-18 Legislative Program: The Legislative Program was developed in close collaboration with County departments to represent the County’s state and federal legislative interests in the upcoming 2-year state and federal legislative sessions. Once adopted by the Board, the Legislative Program provides authority and guidance regarding the County’s legislative efforts - enabling actions to be quickly taken to protect or defend the County’s interests in our State and national capitals. The Program contains three (3) major sections:
1. Legislative Principles: Which provide broad direction and authority to IGLA staff and the County’s legislative advocates to advance the County’s interests.
2. Legislative Priorities: Which define the priority interests and concerns of the County and include descriptions of each issue along with key objectives to guide advocacy efforts.
3. Policies Governing Legislative Activities: Which provide guidelines for the Board of Supervisors, IGLA staff, County legislative advocates, County departments, County advisory board and commissions, and County employees regarding acceptable legislative and political activities.
2017 Strategic Grant Services Program: Once adopted by the Board, the Strategic Grant Services Program provides authority and guidance regarding the efforts of IGLA staff and the County’s grant consultants in the pursuit of grant funding for the County’s highest priority projects. The Program contains three (3) major components:
1. 2017 Work Plan: A result of close collaboration with County departments, the Work Plan identifies priority projects and funding sources to guide efforts over a 12-month period. The Work Plan is designed to be flexible to adjust to the County’s changing priorities, and leaves 20% of Program capacity unallocated to take advantage of new or unanticipated funding opportunities.
2. Grant Needs Inventory: A comprehensive inventory of County projects which require a source of grant funding developed in consultation with the Board and department heads. This all-inclusive listing guides the research of IGLA staff and the County’s grant consultants.
3. Policies Governing Program Activities: Which outlines the roles of the Board of Supervisors, IGLA staff, the County’s grant consultants, and County departments in the execution of the Program.
Authorizing Resolution: The Policies Governing Program Activities includes a recommended Resolution by the Board of Supervisors which, if adopted, will provide authorization to County departments to submit grant applications which do not require a commitment of County funds, beyond what is included in an adopted County budget. Adoption of the Resolution will significantly improve the County’s ability to submit grant applications, as often the time between a notice of funding availability and the submission deadline is only a few weeks, making it difficult to gain Board approval prior to application submission. If the Board approves the Resolution, it will become effective immediately.
Annual Reports: Annual reports on the activities of the Legislative Program and Strategic Grant Services Program are scheduled for the Board in January 2017. A snapshot of program activities and accomplishments follows:
Federal Legislative Program: With the assistance of the County’s federal legislative advocate, Brent Heberlee at Nossaman LLP, and in collaboration with County departments, the Program: 1) identified, analyzed, and influenced over 100 legislative and regulatory initiatives affecting the County’s fiscal and policy priorities; 2) successfully advocated funding increases for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and State Criminal Alien Assistance Programs (SCAAP) that resulted in over $1.2 million in County funding; 3) advocated on a broad range of legislative proposals (e.g. BLM/Laguna Seca Turn 6, Nacimiento-Fergusson Road critical repairs, military Base Realignment and Closure, marijuana legalization, early childhood development, mental health, voting rights, drought relief, transportation); and 4) facilitated meetings with the County’s federal legislators on Capitol Hill and senior executive branch officials.
State Legislative Program: With the assistance of the County’s state legislative advocates, John Arriaga and Laurie Johnson at JEA & Associates, and in collaboration with County staff, the Program: 1) identified, analyzed and influenced over 500 legislative and budget items affecting the County’s fiscal and policy priorities: 2) in collaboration with the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), successfully advocated for funding for Monterey County including a $2.25 million lump-sum reimbursement for AB 85 healthcare realignment activities and $156,000 in increased funding for the 2016 election under AB 120; and 3) advocated on a broad range of legislative proposals (e.g. broadband expansion, early childhood education, $1 Million for Salinas River clean-up activities); and facilitated meetings with the County’s state legislators and senior agency officials both in Sacramento and Salinas.
Strategic Grant Services Program: With the assistance of the County’s grant consultants, Jennifer Capitolo and Ashley Walker at Nossaman LLP, and in partnership with County departments, the Program facilitated over $2 million in grant awards as of 11/15/16. Additionally, Nossaman provided significant legislative assistance in the passage of SB 831 (Alejo) which provides $10 million to the Water Resources Agency for the Interlake Tunnel Project. Over $10 million in grant applications are currently pending, with award announcements expected by year end. Over the course of 2016, the Program sent out 71 funding opportunity alerts to County departments and nonprofit partners.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrative Office - Intergovernmental & Legislative Affairs Division 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 Programs are funded by the County Administrative Office (Department 1050) - Intergovernmental & Legislative Affairs Division (Unit 8054). Approval of the recommendations contained in this report 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 on file with the Clerk of the Board:
- Legislative Committee Roles and Responsibilities
- 2017-18 Legislative Program
- 2017 Strategic Grant Services Program
- Resolution