City Council to Review Federal and State Legislative Platforms

The Pasadena City Council on Monday will discuss and possibly adopt the city’s recommended federal and state legislative platforms for the coming year, which was presented last week to the council’s Legislative Policy Committee. 

These platforms are prepared annually by the City Manager’s Office, which oversees Pasadena’s legislative activities, in coordination with city departments and the city’s state and federal lobbyists. Once adopted by the council, these platforms provide guidance to staff that reviews and analyzes the numerous legislative bills that are being discussed. 

This year, one of the most significant recommendations in the platforms is the inclusion of language on COVID-19 so that cities of all sizes may receive direct assistance and not just those with large populations. 

In previous COVID-19 relief legislation, Pasadena did not meet the required population thresholds to qualify for direct local aid. This includes the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the rental assistance program in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, signed into law by President Trump on Dec. 27. 

This language is a new section in the legislative platforms and includes support for direct assistance to local governments of all population sizes to address the catastrophic loss of revenue resulting from the pandemic and other disasters, said a report prepared for Monday’s meeting.

“The language also includes support for increasing the federal cost share for the FEMA Public Assistance program to 100 percent,” the report reads. “Additionally, the language notes support for direct financial assistance to local health jurisdictions to support expanded case investigation, contact tracing, testing, and vaccine distribution.”

The section also includes support for direct financial assistance to publicly owned utilities to credit delinquent utility bills for their customers, the report said. 

Another COVID-19 related addition to both federal and state platforms is the consideration of “added support for funding public libraries” to provide programs and resources to those impacted by the pandemic such as those who have lost their jobs or are underemployed, those experiencing mental health issues, needing help with schoolwork, and experiencing social isolation.

The City Manager’s Office regularly consults with the city’s lobbyists and legislative advocates, CapitalEdge Advocacy, Inc. for the federal aspect, and Emanuels Jones and Associates for the state, to build close working relationships with city staff and legislators and prepare the legislative platforms. 

Aside from the regular work of preparing the legislative platforms, the lobbyists also alert staff about critical bills before federal and state legislative bodies; do extensive research, analysis and monitoring on important bills; lobby the state Legislature, the governor’s office, Congress, and the Executive Branch; do research about various grant programs and assist in applying for them; assist in drafting bill amendments; serve as the city liaison with the federal and state governments; and schedule one-on-one meetings with elected officials 

The agenda report also noted that many strategic policies and implementation under the Trump administration were unclear, with several policies being the subject of litigation and having required congressional approval. 

“With the Biden administration in its early stages, staff anticipates renewed legislative activity across numerous federal policy issues,” the report states. “The federal platform reflects changes to address some of these issues and eliminates language no longer relevant.”

Monday’s meeting of the City Council can be accessed through www.pasadenamedia.org and at www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/agendas. 

Comments may be submitted by email to correspondence@cityofpasadena.net, or through
www.cityofpasadena.net/city-clerk/public-comment.