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File Number: 13-506 <br />incorporated into the legislative priorities that are developed by the proposed City Council ad <br />hoc committee for the remainder of the 2013-2014 legislative session: <br />Unwinding of the City’s Successor Redevelopment Agency: The City could benefit from <br />advocacy at the state level regarding the State Department of Finance’s interpretations of the <br />codified process for the elimination of redevelopment agencies statewide. This process has <br />proven to be contentious and is presently the subject of ongoing litigation. <br />Public Safety Realignment: The City could use additional assistance in ensuring that the <br />ongoing transfer of state prisoners into County jails and their subsequent release into the <br />community is carried out in a successful manner that maintains public safety. <br />Additional Funding for Local Priority Projects: By securing the services of a state advocate, <br />staff believes the City could better position itself to take advantage of additional funding <br />opportunities that may develop for priority local projects as the state’s financial position <br />continues to improve. <br />Proposed Process and Time Line <br />In order to assist in the formulation of a statewide platform, as well as the selection of a state <br />advocacy firm, staff recommends Council appoint an ad hoc committee made up of three <br />Council Members. This subcommittee would provide policy guidance regarding a <br />request-for-proposals process, candidate interviews, and subsequent recommendations to <br />Council for the finalization of a contract with an advocacy firm. <br />Once the contract is in place, a draft statewide legislative platform would be developed with <br />input from the subcommittee, the legislative advocate, as well as staff from across the <br />organization. This draft then would be brought forward to the City Council for consideration <br />and adoption. <br />Both houses of the State Legislature are currently in recess, and expected to reconvene for <br />the second half of the 2013-2014 legislative session beginning in January. Having a contract <br />in place by January 2014 would place the City on a firm footing to begin the new year. <br />Fiscal Impacts <br />Contract costs for statewide advocacy services generally run in the order of approximately <br />$5,000 per month ($60,000 per year on annualized basis), although exact costs could vary. <br />Should Council ultimately decide to move forward with such a contract, final costs and <br />proposed funding sources would be assessed at a subsequent date. <br />Although the state legislative process is intricate and often unpredictable, the City will receive <br />some form of a return on its investment. As an example, the City’s contract with its advocate <br />in Washington D.C. helped to facilitate several large federal grants, including a $2.1 million <br />Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant for the expansion of the Lit San Leandro <br />fiber optic network, as well as a $2.4 million Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) <br />grant that provided funding to hire five additional police officers for three years . <br />PREPARED BY: Eric Engelbart, Assistant to the City Manager, City Manager’s Office <br />Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 10/15/2013