At its March 14 meeting, the City Council approved an initiative to create a Council subcommittee on State Legislation.  The subcommittee will meet as needed to guide City staff and the City's lobbyist on State legislative issues.  The reason for the subcommittee is that legislative issues sometimes move too quickly to delay a decision to support or oppose legislation until a regularly scheduled Council meeting.  The subcommittee members nominated at the March 14 meeting were Mayor Hanel, Deputy Mayor Ulledalen and Councilperson McCall.  The subcommittee will function until the Legislature adjourns in late April.  A resolution is attached that accomplishes the initiative's stated purpose.

The City Council may:

• Approve the attached resolution that creates the Legislative Subcommittee.  The subcommittee will meet as needed and should be able to respond quicker than the full Council when fast moving State legislation requires it.
• Disapprove the attached resolution.  The full Council will be asked to take positions on legislation.  Following last week's motion to schedule weekly special meetings to consider State legislation, the Council may be able to meet staff needs for quick decisions on the legislation or staff may require more freedom to guide the lobbyist if issues arise between Council meetings. 

The only financial impacts will be the staff costs of asking for a subcommittee meeting, preparing and posting meeting notices and the time to prepare for and meet with the subcommittee.  None of those activities is expected to be burdensome for the staff.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached resolution that confirms the Mayor's appointment of a three member State Legislation Subcommittee.