REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Informational Report on COVID-19 Legislative Updates from Townsend Public Affairs for January 1-14, 2021
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara engages in a variety of legislative efforts, including developing an annual legislative platform through its Legislative Advocacy Positions (LAP), advancing the City's goals and policy positions with regional, state, and federal elected officials and agencies, participating in regional and state committees, boards, and commissions, responding to requests for legislative support or comments for bills, ballot measures, and initiatives, identifying budget opportunities and applying for grant funding to support City programs and infrastructure. In the absence of fulltime legislative City staff, consulting services enhances staff's ability to continue to successfully implement the City's legislative program and corresponding LAP Policy.
In January 2020, the City entered into an agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, LLC (Townsend) for state and federal legislative advocacy services, which includes tracking legislation and providing progress reports as part of the firm's scope of work.
DISCUSSION
Townsend has been keeping staff apprised of state and federal COVID-19-related legislative activity since the beginning of the pandemic. These pertinent updates have helped guide the implementation of City COVID-19 programs, including meal distribution and small business assistance, and were previously included as part of the City Manager's verbal COVID-19 updates to the Council.
Attached is a summary of Townsend's updates for the period between January 1-14, 2021. Staff will begin sharing these updates on a monthly basis.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a "project" within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no p...
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