Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-18; League of California Cities Membership (Districts - All); Haber, JasonTo the members of the: CITY COUNCIL Da~{tB\2£5CA~CC ✓ CM_ ACM V DCM (3) ~ September 18, 2025 Council Memorandum To: From: Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director Geoff Patnoe, City Manager g Via: Re: League of California Cities Membership (Districts -All) {city of Carlsbad Memo ID# 2025054 This memorandum provides information regarding the City of Carlsbad's membership in the League of California Cities. Background The League of California Cities (Cal Cities) is a nonprofit member organization established in 1898 to represent California's incorporated cities. Its mission is to expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy, thereby enhancing the quality of life for all Californians. Of California's 483 incorporated cities, Cal Cities lists 476 as current members. Cal Cities' 2025 Advocacy Priorities are to: • Protect local revenues and expand economic development tools • Strengthen climate change resiliency and disaster preparedness • Modernize and invest in critical infrastructure • Secure investments to prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing. Carlsbad City Council Policy No. 39 -Intergovernmental Affairs Program (Attachment A) states that: The city will maintain an ongoing membership in the League of California Cities, which serves to promote the unified position of municipalities in San Diego County and throughout California to the state and federal legislature. Discussion Carlsbad's Cal Cities membership delivers strong, multi-dimensional value-financial, operational, and strategic-helping advance the city's priorities, build staff capacity, and protect local interests. Carlsbad's Cal Cities membership dues are $31,888 for calendar year 2025. Membership is renewed annually in accordance with City Council Policy No. 39, with funding appropriated to the General Fund (Non-departmental) account, as approved by the City Council in the annual Operating Budget. City Manager's Office Intergovernmental Affairs 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2820 t Council Memo -League of California Cities Membership (Districts -All} September 18, 2025 Page 2 The City of Carlsbad benefits from many aspects of its Cal Cities membership, including: Legislative advocacy and revenue protection • Unified state and federal representation Cal Cities advocates with state and federal lawmakers, leading to the protection of local revenues (e.g., state/federal grants, prevention of unfunded mandates} and advancing priorities in infrastructure, housing, public safety, and environmental resilience. • Ballot measure and legal successes Cal Cities has spearheaded and defended significant ballot measures and litigation benefiting member cities, such as the constitutional protection of local tax revenue. • Communication and alerts Access to real-time legislative advocacy, alerts and online bulletin boards connecting city staff with Cal Cities lobbyists and peers across the state for rapid knowledge exchange. Policy development and city networking • Policy committees and regional division participation Carlsbad officials participate in issue-specific groups, such as the Coastal Cities Working Group and serve on the Environmental Quality, Revenue and Taxation, and Transportation, Communication, and Public Works Policy Committees, which provide opportunities to help shape state and national municipal policy. • Leadership and caucus roles Council and staff may take on leadership positions within Cal Cities' San Diego County Division and at the statewide level, as well as through professional and diversity caucuses, boosting Carlsbad's municipal profile and voice. • Collaboration platforms Members participate in best practice sharing and problem-solving forums, supporting innovative city programs and operational improvements. Professional development, continuing education and training • Conferences, seminars, institutes and academies • Elected officials, city appointees and staff routinely attend Cal Cities training and educational events held throughout the year, including the following: • Annual Conference & Expo • City Managers Conference • City Attorneys Conference • Municipal Finance Institute • Fire Chiefs Leadership Seminar • Public Works Officers Institute • City Clerks New Law & Elections Seminar Council Memo -League of California Cities Membership (Districts -All) September 18, 2025 Page 3 • Newly elected City Council Members receive training at Cal Cities' Mayors and Council Members Academy, which covers the legal, financial and practical fundamentals of being an elected city official and provides networking opportunities to foster relationships with peers from across the state. • Carlsbad Planning Commissioners receive training at Cal Cities' Planning Commissioners Academy, which provides city appointees with information about the roles and responsibilities of a Planning Commissioner, offers a basic legal and practical framework, and helps foster relationships with fellow Planning Commissioners. • Discounted registration fees and free continuing education Cal Cities Members receive registration discounts for the conferences and training events noted above, and receive free access to many other educational events throughout the year, including roundtable discussions, webinars and featured speaker events, resulting in substantial savings for the city's professional development needs. Legal, research, and recognition support • Legal advocacy Cal Cities provides legal advocacy by filing and supporting litigation on issues affecting cities. • Exclusive research, data and publications Cal Cities regularly provides timely legislative updates, and members receive the CA Cities Advocate newsletter, and Western City Magazine. Additionally, Cal Cities' City Attorneys Department also annually updates The California Municipal Law Handbook, a seminal reference source for municipal lawyers. Members also benefit from access to other definitive Cal Cities-produced legal reference guides such as Open and Public IV: A Guide to the Ralph M. Brown Act. • Recognition and awards Member cities are eligible for awards recognizing excellence in municipal service, such as the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence and the Institute for Local Government's Beacon Award. These honors highlight innovative programs and projects that deliver tangible benefits in areas like Public Safety, Housing, and Public Works, while demonstrating best practices that often result in measurable cost savings or more effective service delivery. Summary of membership benefits and return on investment CalCities' summary of the city's membership benefits and their customized report estimating the city's return on investment (December 2024) are provided as Attachments Band C. By CalCities' calculation, the city derived a 365:1 rate of return on its membership dues in 2024, paying $31,888 in dues and receiving value in return worth $11,640,051, and a 411:1 rate of return over the past five years, paying $149,568 in dues from 2020 through 2024 and receiving a total return of $61,537,260. Council Memo -League of California Cities Membership (Districts -All} September 18, 2025 Page 4 Attachments: A. City Council Policy No. 39 -Intergovernmental Affairs Program B. CalCities Membership Benefits C. CalCities Customized Return on Investment report (December 2024} cc: Sheila Cobian, Assistant City Manager Cindie McMahon, City Attorney Attachment A City Council Policy No. Date Issued 39 03/16/2021 POLICY STATEMENT Resolution No. 2021-058 Subject:· Intergovernmental Affairs Program Purpose To establish the guidelines of the city's intergovernmental affairs program. Background The city's intergovernmental affairs program enables the city to efficiently and effectively address intergovernmental and legislative matters affecting the city. By establishing a standing City Council Legislative Subcommittee and an Intergovernmental Affairs Director position, the city recently enhanced its capacity to monitor, analyze and respond to a steadily increasing stream of new legislation and an increasingly complex network of relationships existing among governmental agencies at the federal, state and local level. This policy establishes an appropriate and flexible intergovernmental affairs program for the City of Carlsbad. Statement of policy 1. It shall be the policy of the City of Carlsbad to actively monitor and advocate for legislation and other intergovernmental matters affecting the city as directed by the City Council to protect the city's interests and local legislative authority. 2. The city will maintain an ongoing membership in the League of California Cities, which serves to promote the unified position of municipalities in San Diego County and throughout California to the state and federal legislature. 3. The City Council will adopt a Legislative Platform that clearly expresses the city's position on, and provides a basis for prioritizing and acting upon, a broad range of intergovernmental and legislative matters. • The Legislative Platform will be reviewed annually by the City Council Legislative Subcommittee and amended as needed by the City Council. 4. The City Council will adopt Legislative Priorities to guide the city's advocacy efforts during the state's biennial legislative session. • The Legislative Priorities will be reviewed annually by the City Council Legislative Subcommittee and amended as needed by the City Council. 5. The City Council Legislative Subcommittee will work in coordination with the Intergovernmental Affairs Director, City Manager's Office, City Attorney's Office, city departments, legislative consultants and the Carlsbad community to: March 16, 2021 Item #8 Page 4 of 56 City Council Policy Statement No. 39 March 16, 2021 Page 2 a. Receive information and advise the City Council on intergovernmental and legislative matters affecting the city; b. Continuously monitor state and federal proposed legislation, and: i. Review proposed legislation for consistency with the Legislative Platform; ii. Make recommendations to the City Council to identify high priority bills; and iii. Make recommendations to the City Council to adopt advocacy positions on high priority bills not addressed by the Legislative Platform; c. Proactively seek to identify local and regional legislative needs and recommend bill sponsorship opportunities to the City Council; and d. Engage and inform the Carlsbad community (residents, businesses, stakeholder groups) and other governmental agencies on intergovernmental and legislative matters affecting the city. 6. Only the Mayor or the Mayor's designee may sign a letter on behalf of the city or the city's subsidiary entities, to oppose or support legislation, or otherwise advocate in support or opposition of intergovernmental matters. 7. Only the City Council may authorize a letter to be sent on behalf of the city or the city's subsidiary entities to oppose or support legislation not clearly addressed by the Legislative Platform. Procedure 1. The city will utilize the League of California Cities' Summary of Existing Policy and Guiding Principles as an organizational framework for structuring the city's Legislative Platform. 2. The City Council Legislative Subcommittee will review the Legislative Platform annually, and will recommend amendments to the City Council for adoption, as needed. 3. The Intergovernmental Affairs Director will monitor the League of California Cities' CA Cities Advocate, Action Alerts and other informational resources, and will engage the City Attorney's Office, city departments, city boards, committees and commissions, legislative consultants, federal, state and local governmental agencies, affiliated professional associations and the Carlsbad community to identify and inform the City Council Legislative Subcommittee on emerging and ongoing legislative trends, proposed legislation and other intergovernmental matters having a direct and significant impact on the city's fiscal, operational and environmental health, and the overall quality of life enjoyed by Carlsbad residents and other stakeholders. March 16, 2021 Item #8 Page 5 of 56 City Council Policy Statement No. 39 March 16, 2021 Page 3 a. The City Council Legislative Subcommittee will consider emerging and ongoing legislative trends and proposed legislation in reviewing the city's Legislative Priorities annually, and will recommend amendments to the City Council for adoption, as needed. b. The Intergovernmental Affairs Director will identify and inform the City Council Legislative Subcommittee on proposed legislation and other intergovernmental matters that may have a direct and significant impact on the city's fiscal, operational and environmental health, and the overall quality of life enjoyed by Carlsbad residents and other stakeholders. i. If the City Council Legislative Subcommittee deems such to be a potential high priority bill or other intergovernmental matter clearly consistent or inconsistent with the Legislative Platform, the City Manager and Intergovernmental Affairs Director shall be authorized to request, and the Mayor or the Mayor's designee shall be authorized to take appropriate action in support or opposition. ii. If the City Council Legislative Subcommittee deems such to be a potential high priority bill or other intergovernmental matter not clearly consistent or inconsistent with the Legislative Platform, the City Council Legislative Subcommittee will develop and present a recommended advocacy position to the City Council for consideration. iii. In cases when the City Council Legislative Subcommittee cannot reach a decision as to whether a proposed piece of legislation should be deemed a high priority bill, or whether it is consistent or inconsistent with the Legislative Platform, the matter will be referred to the City Council to make such determination. iv. As the State Legislature nears the end of the legislative session each year, hundreds of bills are often amended and passed over the course of only a few days. In cases when a late-breaking bill amendment is determined by the City Manager to have a potentially significant beneficial or detrimental effect on the city; and when such amendment is scheduled to be heard by the Legislature before it can be reviewed by the City Council Legislative Subcommittee or City Council, as may otherwise be required; the City Manager and Intergovernmental Affairs Director shall be authorized, in coordination with the Mayor, to take appropriate action in support or opposition of the proposed amendment, consistent with a position taken by the League of California Cities or another affiliated professional association. March 16, 2021 Item #8 Page 6 of 56 City Council Policy Statement No. 39 March 16, 2021 Page 4 c. The city's legislative positions, as further defined below, are established and advocated for in accordance with the procedures outlined above. The city's advocacy efforts in support of a legislative position may include the following resources and activities: position letters; staff, consultant and council member testimony to committees and other legislative and regulatory bodies; and meetings and phone calls with members of legislative and regulatory agencies. i. Support -A support position indicates to the corresponding legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders, that the City of Carlsbad is in favor of the legislation in question. ii. Support if Amended -A support if amended position indicates to the corresponding legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders, that the City of Carlsbad is in favor of the legislation in question, if the requested changes are adopted. iii. Neutral -A neutral position indicates to the corresponding legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders, that the City of Carlsbad is impartial on the legislation in question and does not wish to take a position. iv. Oppose -An oppose position indicates to the corresponding legislature, regulatory agency, and other stakeholders that the City of Carlsbad is against the legislation in question. v. Oppose Unless Amended -An oppose unless amended position indicates to the corresponding legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders, that the City of Carlsbad is against the legislation in question, unless the requested changes are adopted. vi. Watch -A watch position indicates to the corresponding legislature, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders, that the City of Carlsbad is dedicating resources to monitor the legislation in question. 4. The Intergovernmental Affairs Director will provide the City Council with a monthly update on the progress of high priority bills and other intergovernmental matters. March 16, 2021 Item #8 Page 7 of 56 Attachment B LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES Membership Benefits Membership with Cal Cities comes with a wide range of benefits for elected city officials and city staff -from insider opportunities to help shape statewide policies of importance to your city, to unique networking and learning experiences that make our collective work more powerful and effective. Engage in statewide advocacy campaigns to safeguard local control and secure resources for cities. Engage in one of Cal Cities' 16 Regional Divisions. Work closely with Regional Public Affairs Managers and other local elected officials to develop region-specific programs, carry out grassroots activities, and share best practices. Access Cal Cities' robust advocacy and public affairs resources and engage in actions and events to collectively advocate for the issues that matter most to cities. Access the legal advocacy program that protects the interests of cities in matters before state and federal appellate courts by filing "friend-of-the-court" briefs. City attorneys are eligible to participate in the Legal Advocacy Committee and work closely with attorneys from across the state. Receive timely updates, action alerts, and in-depth analyses on priority legislation impacting cities from subject-matter experts. Serve on Cal Cities policy committees and help shape state and federal policy on issues affecting cities. Serve in leadership positions that help drive Cal Cities' priorities and policy. Attend statewide Cal Cities conferences and events providing a wide range of learning opportunities for new and experienced city officials. Engage in one of Cal Cities' ten professional departments where you can participate in educational and networking opportunities with your colleagues in similar city positions from across the state. Subscribe to the Ca/ Cities Advocate newsletter for breaking stories on legislative developments, as well as updates on conferences and education events, grant opportunities for cities, and more. Attend webinars to learn about the most pressing issues of the day as they develop -from broadband deployment and wildfires to rental assistance, and more. Participate in virtual roundtable discussions with colleagues from across the state in member-driven conversations on key issues of shared concern. Participate in policy briefings with state leaders. Join a Cal Cities diversity caucus and connect with city officials who share common interests and issues. Receive recognition through one of many awards programs, including the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence, the Mayors and City Council Members Torch Program, Local Streets and Roads, and division and department awards. Share your knowledge of complex municipal issues or projects with other Cal Cities members by proposing sessions and presenting at conferences and events. Participate on planning committees for conferences and events: Help plan and support conferences specific to your department. Subscribe to Western City magazine, a monthly publication that analyzes broader statewide policy issues and highlights the innovative work of city officials from across the state. Elevate your city's visibility: Be highlighted in Western City magazine, #LocalWorks, #CityVoices, and on social media. Join listservs to exchange information with other Cal Cities members interested in a specific subject area. Participate in issue groups such as the Rural City Information Exchange and Coastal Cities Group. Participate in online communities: Post questions, provide resources to other cities, or poll colleagues on current issues in your field. Members ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Non- members ✓* ✓ ✓* ✓ *Available at an additional cost for nonmembers. LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP --A GREAT INVESTMENT CARLSBAD VLF/Property Tax Swap (I) Local Revenues protected by Prop. 22 C2l SB89 VLF Shift Customized Return on Investment Report December 2024 4,085,010 4,489,463 4,323,147 2,568,668 2,415,631 2,877,707 -707,923 -715,343 -755,304 SB 1 Transportation Funds -Local Streets and Roads C3l 2,121,977 2,325,974 2,463,686 CARES Act 1,413,290 ARP Act I 12,615,746 Total Return I 9,481,023 21,131,471 8,909,235 5,135,123 6,171,173 3,219,694 3,275,049 -761,821 -777,057 2,782,483 2,970,886 10,375,480 11,640,051 1. Net gain in revenues by virtue of the VLF/Property Tax Swap. Growth in Prop Tax in Lieu of VLF versus estimated growth in VLF had it remained. Attachment C 24,203,916 14,356,749 -3,717,447 12,665,006 1,413,290 12,615,746 61 537,260 2. Prop. 22 ended the Legislature's ability to borrow or delay HUTA and Prop. 42 gas tax funds. Also includes growth in HUTA from 5B1 annual inflation adjustment. 3. New Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account funds. 5B1 HUTA growth included in Prop 22 line above. RMRA is also constitutionally protected. Our mission is to expand and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life for all Californians. * This document was prepared by the League of California Cities.