The Legislative Platform formally establishes the City’s legislative priorities and provides City of Fairfield representatives, including the City Council Legislative Subcommittee, a basis to influence legislation that benefits the City and citizens of Fairfield.  Legislative guiding principles and areas of focus are defined in the City’s Legislative Platform annually.  These areas of focus provide a general framework for all legislative review and possible City sponsorship of state or federal legislation, either directly or in concert with supporting agencies.

The goals of the Legislative Platform are to:

• Provide a framework for and support initiatives that may come before the City Council Legislative Subcommittee

• Ensure a consistent and unified message from the City of Fairfield on legislative matters
• Enhance the credibility of the City’s voice in the legislative process
• Regularly assess the needs, priorities, and issues relevant to the City in order to prepare an annual federal and state legislative platform for City Council adoption
• Consider and promote City-sponsored legislation as necessary
• Centralize information on all pertinent legislation and/or regulations
• Engage in a thorough analysis of relevant legislation and/or policy regulations
• Develop necessary and appropriate contacts and working relationships with elected officials and representatives of the county, state, and federal governments
• Coordinate, support, and strengthen lobbying efforts
• Reduce the costs of oversight associated with duplication of efforts and uncoordinated actions

Proposed 2020 Platform

The 2020 proposed platform reflects the current issues and challenges the City faces in the areas of infrastructure, affordable housing, economic development and resources, homelessness, and local government.  The platform reflects input from each city department head as well as various state and federal legislative advocates.

The highest priority and focus for the 2020 legislative session will be in the following areas:

• Protect and secure local authority and revenue sources in order to preserve existing infrastructure and community programs
• Seek resources, tools, and opportunities to reduce homelessness as well as impacts
• Seek funding through grants and other resources that support neighborhood revitalization and youth initiatives that improve quality of life in low-income, high-crime neighborhoods
• Seek funding for local transportation infrastructure and low-income/homeless housing services
• Continue to assess the ongoing effects of Criminal Justice Reform and Proposition 64
• Seek funding and possible legislation to recover costs associated with PG&E PSPS events

If the 2020 Legislative Platform is approved, the outline will provide a tool for the City to promote the City’s legislative principles, and determine how best to collaborate with our state lobbyist, key stakeholders, and state and federal representatives.  The Mayor may respond as necessary throughout the year to suggestions for action from the City Manager’s Office that are in accordance with the City Council’s adopted Legislative Platform including, but not limited to:

• Signing letters to elected officials and regulatory agencies supporting or opposing proposed legislation, policies, regulations, and the like
• Contacting the City’s state or federal representatives either in person or via telephone to voice concerns and/or offer suggestions on legislation that affects the City
• Offering testimony during legislative committee hearings in support or opposition to legislation
• Asking other City Council members to participate in any of the above activities

Dawn M. La Bar, Special Projects Manager

707-428-7749

dlabar@fairfield.ca.gov