TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY OF CHINO
FROM: LINDA REICH, CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT
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Proposed Revision of the City of Chino Citywide Legislative Policy.
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RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. 2024-002, approving a revised Citywide Legislative Policy.
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FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this action.
CITY OF CHINO MISSION / VISION / VALUES / STRATEGIC ISSUES
The recommendation detailed above further the City’s values and strategic issues that serve as key pillars on which identified priorities, goals, and action plans are built, by fostering:
• Financial Stability
• Responsible Long-Range Planning
• Exemplary Leadership
• Public Service Excellence through Internal and External Partnerships
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BACKGROUND
On October 18, 2022, the City Council adopted a revised City of Chino Legislative Platform and Policy and created the Legislative Policy Committee (LPC) of the City Council, outlining its associated tasks, purpose, and procedures. The LPC is a Brown Act body with continuing subject matter jurisdiction, published agendas, and meetings held in a publicly accessible facility. Meetings are currently held on an “as-needed” basis, with staff, and often the City’s consultants, providing presentations, updates, and recommended City positions on legislative and policy proposals.
In 2023, the Legislative Policy Committee reviewed and adopted positions on numerous bills. Some were referred by staff to the Committee for consideration, while others were flagged as significant by the League of California Cities and various municipal government and professional associations. On several occasions, the City’s existing policy, which requires that official City positions be formulated or recommended by the Legislative Policy Committee, created delays in providing timely City input on critical legislative issues.
At the January 9, 2024, Legislative Policy Committee meeting, staff recommended that the existing policy be amended to authorize staff to adopt an official City position and act in a timely manner, as appropriate, when an item is determined to correspond with the City’s legislative platform. The Committee recommended approval of amendments that authorize staff to take positions on legislation in line with the City’s adopted policy. On January 16, 2024, the amended policy was brought to the Council for consideration, with the recommendation of the LPC for approval.
During the discussion of the proposed amendments, Mayor Ulloa recommended making additional revisions to include stronger language supporting increased law enforcement authority against crime. The City Council concurred and directed staff to incorporate the additional amendments into the revised policy.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
The proposed amendment to the Citywide Legislative Policy authorizes City Staff to approve official City positions with the qualification that the official position is consistent with the Citywide Legislative Policy and that the Committee or City Staff report to the City Council on any positions, updates, recommendations, or actions taken at the next regular meeting of the City Council.
It also includes updates to the “Public Safety and Community Services” section of the policy to incorporate stronger policy language as directed by the City Council at its January 16, 2024, meeting. Those proposed amendments update the Public Safety section to support legislation that protects and enhances the rights and tools of law enforcement to disrupt and combat crime, protects the rights of businesses and the public to defend themselves, holds criminals accountable, discourages crime through tougher sentencing, and expands funding for professional development and recruitment of public safety officers per City Council direction.
When incorporating the requested Public Safety changes, staff identified additional recommended amendments for review by the Legislative Committee and City Council.
The Citywide Legislative Policy, as proposed to be amended, incorporates changes that:
1. Make the title of the document uniform throughout.
2. Reword several sections and make grammatical changes throughout.
3. Create a new, separate section related to “Community Services, Parks, and Recreation.” Move several items previously under the joint “Public Safety and Community Services” section under the new “Community Services, Parks, and Recreation” section.
4. Authorize staff to formulate and approve official City responses for those legislative proposals that are consistent with the adopted Citywide Legislative Policy.
5. Allow the Mayor, Legislative Committee Members, or the City Manager to sign communications on behalf of the City when the position is consistent with the Citywide Legislative Policy.
At its March 21, 2024 meeting, the Legislative Policy Committee reviewed the Citywide Legislative Policy, as proposed to be amended, and recommended its approval by the City Council. Per the policy itself, changes are to be adopted by Council resolution.
Resolution No. 2024-002, approving a revised City of Chino Citywide Legislative Policy, is attached for the Council’s consideration.
Attachments: Resolution 2024-002
City of Chino Citywide Legislative Policy