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City of San Leandro <br />Meeting Date: October 21, 2013 <br />Staff Report <br />Agenda Section:File Number:13-506 ACTION ITEMS <br />Agenda Number:10.A. <br />TO:City Council <br />FROM:Chris Zapata <br />City Manager <br />BY:Chris Zapata <br />City Manager <br />FINANCE REVIEW:Not Applicable <br />TITLE:Staff Report for Council Ad Hoc Committee on State Legislative Platform and <br />Advocacy Services <br />SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br />Staff recommends that Council authorize the creation of an ad hoc committee to provide <br />recommendations on the development of a state legislative platform as well as a process <br />through which a contractor will be selected to provide state-level advocacy services on behalf <br />of the City. <br />BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS <br />The City of San Leandro for many years has maintained a contract with Simon and Company, <br />Inc. of Washington D.C. for federal advocacy services. However, the City does not presently <br />maintain a contract for similar services at the state level. <br />Due to an improving economy and an increasingly stable state budget, the State of California <br />is presented with many new opportunities. Nevertheless, the State is still burdened with many <br />legacy challenges as well, including ongoing efforts related to the dissolution of <br />redevelopment agencies statewide. Staff believes that the City could better position itself to <br />harness these opportunities and adapt to these challenges by adopting a state legislative <br />platform and securing the services of a private firm who specializes in state-level advocacy. <br />State advocacy services for the City have traditionally been handled by the League of <br />California Cities, however, due to the sheer volume and diversity of constituent cities served <br />by this organization, their ability to provide focused and timely assistance to San Leandro is <br />severely constrained. As a result, staff believes the City could more effectively tailor its <br />approach and interactions with state agencies with the assistance of an independent <br />contractor working directly on behalf of the City. <br />Issues of Concern <br />Staff recommends that the following ongoing issues of concern at the state level be <br />Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 10/15/2013