TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Legislative Committee
SUBJECT:
title
Update on the 2020 Oregon Legislative Session.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Information only.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
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SUMMARY:
The Oregon State Legislature convened February 3, 2020 for a 35-day session. Before any official representing the City of Salem can attempt to influence legislation on a particular matter, during the interim or a legislative session, the City Council must adopt an official position related to that matter. To make the best use of Council and staff resources, and position the City to respond more expeditiously to moving legislation, the Council approves policy statements which are intended to guide public officials and the City's contracted lobbyist in responding to and formulating positions on issues expected to come before the Oregon Legislature.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
At the December 9, 2019 meeting, the Salem City Council approved the legislative policy statements for the interim legislative session and authorized the City Council Legislative Committee to act on behalf of the Council in adopting positions on bills outside the scope of the policy statements.
Council also approved the following list of policy priorities from which staff or Salem’s lobbyist may advocate including the following:
• Funding capital projects to protect Salem’s drinking water
• Support for timely Department of Revenue implementation of local government initiated payroll tax measures
• Funding for local government to reduce hardships that lead to homelessness and chronic homelessness such as support for:
o Mobile crisis intervention, a navigation center, and sobering center pilot projects,
o Additional funding support for mental health, and
o Additional funding for permanent supportive housing.
• Support for the Yaquina Hall affordable housing project to mitigate costs of delay in schedule and loss of tax credits, such as donation of the building and funding the $1.5 million gap
• Support on two initiatives from Marion County which benefit Salem as well: (1) Court Care, childcare in domestic abuse situations, and (2) preservation of mobile home parks.
The Council requested informational updates on the Legislative Committee’s activities at each City Council meeting beginning January 27, 2020 through March 23, 2020. The 2020 Legislative Session began February 3 and ends March 8, 2020.
Bills were released January 27, 2020. The Legislative Committee met February 7, 2020 to review proposed legislation (Attachment 1). The Legislative Committee is scheduled to review legislation again on February 21, 2020. The City Council update for March 9 Council meeting will report on the Legislative Committee’s activities for February 21.
To continue a coordinated and unified response during the upcoming session, the Mayor and Councilor are asked to communicate the nature of their legislative contacts to staff via an email to the Courtney Knox Busch (cbusch@cityofsalem.net <mailto:cbusch@cityofsalem.net>). The email should identify the date of the legislative contact, the delegate(s) with whom contact was made, bill(s) discussed, and a summary of the position(s) and comments shared. Staff will forward the communication to contracted legislative consultant, the Legislative Committee and City Council as appropriate.
Courtney Knox Busch
Strategic Initiatives Manager
Attachments:
1. Positions on Bills Reviewed By Legislative Committee February 7, 2020