HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-06-26; City Council; 16257; Community Grassroots NetworkCITY OF CARLSBAD -AGENDA BILL ao
m# ] & ,557 TITLE:
RECEIVE REPORT ON AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO
MTG. b -%-ol STAFF REGARDING THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA
CITIES COMMUNITY GRASSROOTS NETWORK
DEPT. CM
DEPT. HD.
CITY ATTY. ’ z
CITY MGR a
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive report on and provide direction to staff regarding the League of California Cities
Community Grassroots Network.
ITEM EXPLANATION:
The past two decades have seen a phenomenal level of growth in state government. A
recent report by The California Budget Project (CBP) found that between the state budget
years of 1977-78 and 2000-01 state general fund spending grew 574 percent (from $11.7
billion to $78.8 billion). This is an average of 25 percent per year, unadjusted for inflation.
It includes all state general fund spending, including the backfill to local governments from
the recent cut in the Vehicle License Fee (VLF). Today state revenues as a percent of
personal income earn California a 14’h place ranking among all states, while California local
tax revenues as a percentage of personal income rank 33’ among all states.
While the state budget has grown phenomenally, increasingly it has come at the expense of
local revenues and local authority:
l In 1991-1992 the state began taking local property tax to fund schools without
increasing overall funding to schools. In 2001 this revenue shift cost cities statewide
over $1.6 billion.
l On a statewide basis, property tax revenues have dropped from 15% (1976) to 7%
(2001) of all cities’ revenue.
l Vehicle license fees were slashed 25% in 1999 and 35% in 2000, with only a conditional
legislative commitment to fund the difference from the state general fund (known as the
VLF backfill).
l Last year, over the strong objections of California cities, the legislature passed and the
Governor signed SB 402, which imposes a mandatory system of binding arbitration on
local governments involved in salary and benefit disputes with public safety employees.
It effectively puts important financial decisions in the hands of an outside private party
and lays the groundwork for further legislative intrusion in employee management in the
future.
l The legislature continues to pass bills that impose unfunded mandates and preempt
local authority, limiting your ability to respond to the challenges and opportunities of this
community (LAFCO legislation).
Because the League of California Cities (League) feels like the State will continue to
impose upon Local Agency funds, the League is proposing to implement a new strategy,
one which is based upon a network of local elected and appointed officials with their own
extensive community contacts, including personal and professional acquaintances among
legislators and the Governor. Mobilizing these resources represents the League’s thinking
as to what the best options are for changing the current imbalance of power between the
state and local government.
PAGE 2 OF AGENDA BILL NO. /61 z7
The League’s proposed Grassroots Network (Attachment 1) would provide 14 new and
reallocate 3 existing staff in 10 field offices to support the League’s 16 regional divisions
and 476 cities in advancing legislation that benefits all cities. These staff would be available
to assist city officials and the League’s regional divisions to work more closely with
legislators, legislative district staff, news media, and community groups to form coalitions
that will help protect city revenues and local control. In developing the Grassroots Network,
the League board included a number of important accountability measures, including:
l The board will establish long-range goals (e.g., constitutional protection of local
revenues) and annual objectives (e.g., specific legislation) for the program, and provide
regular reports to the membership;
l The board will retain a qualified firm to conduct periodic unbiased, professional
evaluations of member attitudes about the program and its effectiveness; and
l After five full years of operation, the League membership will be asked to vote on
whether to continue operation of the program and the dues to fund it.
The League is proposing that through the Grassroots Network, activities will be organized
among city officials to support the common legislative agenda of the cities of the state; e.g.,
protecting local revenues, securing additional state funding for transportation; protecting
local control, etc. Their proposal adds a new dimension to such lobbying efforts by carrying
out activities to influence legislative outcomes in each legislator’s district.
The League has also incorporated a 6-year review/sunset date for this program to evaluate
its effectiveness.
Staff is requesting that Council provide direction as to whether or not the City should
support and participate in the League of California Cities Grassroots Network.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City of Carlsbad’s dues to the League of California Cities is projected to be $10,883 for
FY 200112001. The approval of the grassroots network would add an additional $5714 for
FY 2001/2002, bringing the total dues to $16,597. The fee schedule is based upon a cities
population (Attachment 2). The additional funds have already been appropriated in the
City’s FY 2001/02 budget.
EXHIBITS:
Attachment 1: League of California Cities proposed Grassroots Network
Attachment 2: League of California Cities Membership Fee Schedule
CONTACT:
Joe Garuba
434-2893
ATTACHMENT A i
Grassroots Network
0 verview
City officials have experienced deep frustration in recent years as the state government has amassed more resources and
power at the expense of local government services.The League has a solid reputation as an advocate of city interests, but in
the new era of term limits, traditional lobbying methods are often a poor match for grassroots campaigns and financial
contributions by other competing interests. Many organizations have already responded to the new political reality in Sacra-
mento by investing in a stronger grassroots organization, including the powerful education lobby, which recently launched a
new, high profile and well-funded grassroots organization called EdVoice.The League now has to respond in kind to this new
climate by building a solid grassroots network to coordinate city officials’ efforts locally to influence legislators, their staff,
potentially helpful community groups, and the news media.
Major Elements
The Network would consist of 10 field offices that would be staffed by 14 new and 3 existing staff (15 coordinators/2 support).
The coordinators would work with city officials and the regional divisions of the League to promote key League legislative
prioriiies with legislators, district staff, local media and other supporting community groups. They would arrange meetings,
plan news conferences, organize letter writing and media campaigns, and coordinate grassroots efforts with community
groups with similar agendas. In short, they would increase the impact of the League’s 16 regional divisions and the already
busy city officials in each division on the state legislature’s and governor’s decisions affecting cities.
The Network would cost cities an additional $1.6 million each year in dues. This is the equivalent of four one hundredths of
one percent (0.04%) of the $3.8 billion cities collect each year in sales and use taxes, and about one tenth of one percent of
the $1.57 billion cities receive each year in VLF revenues. Most observers believe both revenue sources could become
victims of legislative raids in the next recession. Individual city costs for the Network will vary depending on city population. For
example, a city of 50,001 to 60,000 population would pay an additional $4,643. Such a dues increase will require amendment
of the League bylaws approved by no less than 2/3 of the voting League membership.
Membership Review
The idea of the Grassroots Network originated with the Ci Managers Department and was more fully developed by a
special Task Force appointed by the League board of directors. Information on the program was developed and disseminated
to the full League leadership ( board, divisions, departments, policy committees and caucuses), as well as to every city
manager. Dozens of presentations on the proposal were made to each League division, many departments, and to most of
the area city manager groups throughout the state.
Accountabilitv to the Membership
Based upon membership input, the Task Force recommended, and the board adopted, significant changes to the original
proposal. These include: establishing long-term goals, annual program objectives, and regular reports to the membership; an
unbiased, professional evaluation three times during the first five years; and a vote of the membership after five years to
continue the program. Under the League’s current bylaws, the board may also vote to discontinue the Grassroots Network at
any time.
Next Steps
Cities are now asked to vote to approve the addition of article XVI to the League’s bylaws relating to the establishment of the
Grassroots Network, along with a new increased dues schedule to pay for the program. A ballot will be sent to each city.
Ballots returned to the League must be postmarked no later than July 6,200i.
Revised 05'07707
ATTACHMENT B
Attachment B:
Proposed Dues to Establish the Grassroots Network
1
501
601
701
801
901
1,001
1,251
1,501
1,751
2,001
2,251
2,501
2,751
3,001
4,001
5,001
7,501
10,001
15,001
20,001
25,001
30,001
40,001
50,001
60,001
70,001
80,001
90,001
100,001
125,001
150,001
200,001
500,001
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
500
600
700
800
900
1,000
1,250
1,500
1,750
2,000
2,250
2,550
2,750
3,000
4,000
5,000
7,500
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
125,000
150,000
200,000
500,000
640,000
640,000
PIUS
99
197
216
259
317
494
611
727
865
921
1,020
1,078
1,176
1,316
1,570
2,044
2,359
2,848
3,279
4,105
4,930
6,068
7,382
8,504
9,346
9,817
10,464
11,464
13,075
14,392
16,357
17,176
819
oer e
Base
Dues for
2002
Est.1
$39
103
205
225
269
330
514
635
756
900
958
1,061
1,122
1,223
1,369
1,633
2,125
2,453
2,961
3,411
4,269
5,127
6,311
7,677
8,844
9,720
10,210
10,883
11,923
13,598
14,968
17,011
17,863
852
,oDulation over 200.001
41',693
PIUS. 757
(El
Total Dues
Including
~ Grassroots
Network
2002 (Est.)
1C + Dl
$59
157
312
342
410
503
784
969
1,152
1,373
1,461
1,618
1,710
1,865
2,088
2,490
3,241
3,741
4,516
5,201
6,511
7,818
9,624
11,708
13,487
14,823
15,570
16,597
18,182
20,737
22,826
25,942
27,241
1,299
66,125
1,201
82,393 Over per each full 7 0,000 of population over 500,001 .-.. 51,950 1 _~_I ~ ^ ‘i3@-&l; 54,028 "":l-j;~ggJgg~';,
For purposes of establishing the grassroots network, the $5,000 dues cap in League bylaws article IV, section 2, is
suspended for the years 2001 and 2002. The dues cap will apply to base dues without interruption and will apply
to total dues in year 2003 and years following.
The League board will consider in September whether a cost-of-living adjustment for dues will be needed in 2002.
This table shows 2002 dues with a cost-of-living adjustment of 4%.