Title
Receive reports from the County’s federal and state legislative advocates and grant consultants regarding legislative and grant activities throughout 2016, and anticipated major legislative issues for the 2017-18 state and federal legislative sessions and grant priorities for the 2017 calendar year. (ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS ADDED VIA SUPPLEMENTAL)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors receive reports from the County’s federal and state legislative advocates and grant consultants regarding legislative and grant activities throughout 2016, and anticipated major legislative issues for the 2017-18 state and federal legislative sessions and grant priorities for the 2017 calendar year.
SUMMARY:
This agenda item provides Annual Reports to the Board on the activities of the County’s federal and state legislative advocate’s and grant consultant’s, reporting on activities and accomplishments during 2016, and anticipated major issues or projects for 2017. Reports will be provided by:
- Brent R. Heberlee, Nossaman LLP - Federal Legislative Advocate
- John E. Arriaga & Laurie Johnson, JEA & Associates - State Legislative Advocates
- Jennifer Capitolo & Ashley Walker, Nossaman LLP - Grant Consultants.
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. Both programs are designed to align with the Board’s 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. The Programs work together to protect and defend the County’s interests in Washington D.C. and Sacramento, and to provide much needed funding for County priority projects and programs.
IGLA works closely with the County’s federal and state legislative advocates and grant consultants in the strategic execution of these programs under the Board adopted Legislative Program and Strategic Grant Services Program and subsequent ongoing direction by the Board’s Legislative Committee.
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.
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.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
The County Administrative Office - Intergovernmental & Legislative Affairs Division prepared this report with contributions from 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:
- Federal Legislative Program Annual Report - Nossaman LLP
- State Legislative Program Annual Report - JEA & Associates
- Strategic Grant Services Program Annual Report - Nossaman LLP